Page 16 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 Online Magazine

MRO AIRBUS SHARKLET

Affordable Retrofit Solution

The Sharklet In-Service Retrofit delivers substantial benefits
By Atul Chandra

AIRBuS WHICH HAS BEEN OFFERING ITS both A319 and A320 is approximately 4000 to launch a Sharklet retrofit opportunity.
Sharklet Wingtip Production Retrofit and In- aircraft. According to Caillaud, “The whole process
Service Retrofit (ISR) option for A320 Family The price of the Sharklet Retrofit is lasted a little bit less than three years, from
customers since 2013 and 2015 respectively, aligned to the cost of the option available on starting from scratch to certification of
is seeing strong demand for the offering. new A320ceos, which is US$1 million and this the Sharklet Retrofit solution. We avoided
Sharklets are standard across A320neo is also approximately the price being quoted any testing on an actual aircraft for retrofit
(new engine option) Family jetliners aircraft for the retrofit solution. The Sharklet retrofit solution as all the testing had already been
and while it remains on option for A320ceo has extended aircraft performance in term of completed for the line-fit programme.”
(Current Engine Option) Family customers; payload, range and climb capacity in addition This was because the line-fit programme
more than 95 percent have selected Sharklets to obvious fuel-efficiency benefits. A320 was ahead of the retrofit programme by
for their brand-new CEOs. “Altogether for the Family jetliners fitted with the new wingtips six months and had received approvals,
Sharklet retrofit we will equip more than are also generating Co2 savings of 900 tonne certification etc.
350 aircraft and this is the orders we have per aircraft per year. An additional advantage The first ISR retrofit on a Jet Blue
currently and on backlog. So, there remains of linefit and retrofit of the wingtips is the A320ceo aircraft was completed in October
a market potential for 3500 more aircraft,” increased design service goal of the aircraft, 2015. Asian airlines have expressed keen
says Sebastien Caillaud, Commercial & which allows an operator the option of flying interest in the ISR option, especially those
Embodiment Director - Sharklet Retrofit. the jetliner for many more years. that operate flights on longer sector lengths.
In-Service Retrofits have been available only Airbus decided to proceed with the ISR Sharklet retrofit customers in Asia include
on A319 and A320 aircraft since 2015 and option for A320 Family operators due in part Spring Air, China Eastern, Tibet Airlines,
the market for the in-service retrofit across to a strong push from many of its customers Go Air and others. The composite metallic

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16 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016