The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have awarded type certification for the A320neo with CFM International’s LEAP-1A engine. This certification paves the way for the delivery of the first A320neo equipped with this engine type in mid-2016.

The award comes six months after the initial Certificate of Airworthiness received from the EASA and FAA for the A320neo, powered by the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM. The first A320neo was delivered on 20th January 2016.

The two Leap-powered aircraft assigned to the flight test campaign have now successfully accumulated over 1,000 flight hours in more than 350 flights – including 150 flight hours completed with the same aircraft in an airline-like environment to ensure operational maturity at entry into service.

Certification of the remaining aircraft/engine variants with Leap engines will follow in the coming months. When all flight testing has been completed, the neo development fleet (with both engine options) will have achieved a combined total of 3,000 flight hours.