Airbus : what’s new in NEO

The Airbus A320 NEO is visibly different from its predecessor, the CEO. The difference however, is not limited to what meets the eye, it isn’t just the big beautiful P&W engines and the fancy sharklets. The NEO also gets modification in various aircraft systems; fuel, F/CTL, pneumatic,  to name a few. Now, I particularly liked the changes they made in the fuel system.The prime focus has always been to reduce weight, increase robustness of any system on the aircraft. In case of the fuel system, they have always wanted to ensure fuel feed segregation during critical gases of the flight i.e. Take off and landing, and that the CTR TK fuel is consumed first. To ensure that fuel feed segregation happens during the critical phase of the flight and that fuel from CTR TK are consumed first they put a logic in place : Fuel from the CTR TK is consumed first Whenever the slats are extended, which they are for T/O or landing, the CTR pumps stop to ensure that fuel to engines is supp...

Majority of the airlines worldwide, and in India currently have both; the NEO and the CEO as part of their fleet. The NEO ( New Engine Option) are different from the CEO in three broader categories: Engine : NEO are fitted with either P&W or CFM Leap engines. Since majority of fleet in India are fitted with the P&W engine, the comparison will be that of between P&W and CEO CFM engine. Wingtip Modification : All NEO’s have new and big wingtip called “Sharklets”. Though they are heavier than the traditional wingtip, they are more efficient. They provide better lift, lower fuel consumption, and reduce wingtip vortices. Cabin : The cabin on the NEO’s have been slightly modified to give one row of extra seats hence with all economy configuration the NEO’s have 186 seats, while the CEO’s have 180. ( 31 rows on the NEO vs 30 on the CEO) Basic overview / difference between CEO ( P&W ) vs NEO ( CFM 56) engine : NEO ( Pratt and Whitney engine) CEO ( C...