Re: PAL's Woes

Posted by chowpau on
URL: http://philippine-aviation-forum.259.s1.nabble.com/Airlines-in-the-Philippines-tp2p333.html

Arianespace wrote

You are correct. Although there is something wrong with the X designation as
the most appropriate extension by Airbus labels them "E" for enhanced
engine. The argument was you cannot extend the range of the engine. The real
reason however was that when the engine supplier developed improvements they
just put a code X as the unknown, like the A3XX. When they were done and
tested, the E was officially adopted.

I would like also to add before anything gets more confusing that the 343X
extension from Airbus refers to the heavier variant aircraft which has
extended range, as distinguished from the E which refers to the engine with
more thrust. The most appropriate extension is the 343E because that refers
to the engine and not the aircraft.

I kinda remember the code on the last number referring to the engine
manufacturer when I was at Farnborough years ago.

While at it this is how Airbus engine codes go:

First Digit      - Aircraft series
A330-2
A330-3

Second Digit  - Engine Manufacturer
0: General Electric
1: CFM
2: Pratt&Whitney
3: IAE
4: Rolls Royce
6: Engine Alliance

Third Digit    - Engine version
1: first prototype
2: second prototype
3: third prototype
4: fourth prototype

Fourth Digit  - Prototype Improvements
E - Enhanced version
X - Experimental version

You can see the version development of Rolls Royce engine here

I have a book about the A330/340 family

Regarding about the E or X, according to the book I have, particularly the A340-300, E or X are the same. Some considered as E for Enhanced.

This what I have summarized from the book (Airlife's Airliners: 16 A330 and A340 up to year 2003):

A340-200 (early version)
- max range 7450 nm
- MTOW 257,010 kg then increased to 260,000 in 1994
- engine CFM56-5C

A340-200E a.k.a A340-8000
- max range 8000 nm
- MTOW 275,000 kg*
- engine: CFM56-5C4*
* same with the A340-300E/X

A340-300 (initial standard)
- max range 7300 nm
- MTOW 257,000 kg
- engine: CFM56-5C
* Kuwait Airways is the first to use A340-300 initial standard with uprated engines- CFM56-5C4

A340-300E(or A340-300X)
- max range 7450 nm
- MTOW 271,000kg (1992) then to 275,000kg (1995)
- engine: CFM56-5C4
*Singapore Airlines is the first airline to operate the A340-300E

A340-300 Enhanced (batch 2003 onwards)
- max range 7450 nm
- MTOW 275,000kg
- engine: CFM56-5C4/P
- cockpit systems and cabin the same with A340-500/600 series (ISIS, LCD displays etc)