CFM56 or V2500?

[FlyKingfisher]

I was wondering whether engine options for the A320 family have any similarities with choosing an engine while buying a car: "should I go in for a 3.0 litre engine or 2.9 litre one..."

The basic question I've always wanted to ask is: 'Which is the better engine option?'

One of the most striking things I have noticed with A320 family operators is that in Europe (mostly mainland Europe), airlines have opted for CFM56 powered aircraft with a few exceptions such as Olympic Air and Turkish Airlines which operate V2500 types. However most airlines in the UK have opted for V2500 aircraft, notably British Airways and British Midland.

When we see the rest of the world, the Americas, the Middle East, South and East Asia, the Far East and Oceania, airlines operate aircraft with both engine types.

In the US and Canada, most airlines such as Northwest (now Delta), Frontier and Air Canada, operate A320s with CFM56 engines whereas United and US Airways operate those with V2500 engines. US Air operates a mixed fleet consisting of aircraft powered by both engine types.

In South and Central America and Mexico, most airlines viz. Mexicana, TACA, TAME and LAN, operate the V2500 types. Exceptions are Aeromexico, Avianca and Aerolineas, operating A320s powered by CFM56 engines.

In the Middle East, airlines such as Saudia, Royal Jordanian, Egyptair and Eithad operate A320s powered by V2500 engines whereas Air Arabia, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera operate aircraft powered by CFM56 engines.

Recently, Air India received brand new A320s and A321s powered by CFM56 engines even though airlines in India have traditionally used V2500 types and major airlines in the subcontinent continue to do so.

The same mixed bag continues though to East Asia and the Far East. ANA, Air Asia and Vietnam Airlines operate CFM56 types, whereas other operators such as Dragonair, Air Macau, Philippine Airlines, Mandala and Jetstar Asia operate V2500 types.

The high-altitude operator Druk Air (Bhutan) chose A319s powered by CFM56 engines.

Airlines such as Jetstar and Air New Zealand have opted for V2500 powered A320s while the now defunct Ansett was using the CFM56 types.

I'm sure the two engines have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to performance. What about the guys who go and buy the aircraft? Do they get any incentives for choosing one engine over another?

I remember reading a most striking advertisement in a leading aviation magazine: "The Swiss have the cleanest air in the world... They would like to keep it that way. They choose CFM engines." This was when Swissair placed an order for brand new A320 family aircraft in the mid-90s. The ad showed sweeping images of the Swiss alps.

On the other hand, the IAE V2500 ads almost always featured Dragonair. I don't quite remember what their punch line was...

But what do pilots and engineers have to say? At the end of the day it's the nut that holds the wheel to whom an engine makes all the difference... Which engine type does the pilot prefer?

[Jonty]

We operate a 320 fleet with 3 types of engines. For my money the CFM56 and V2500-A5 engines are on a par. ALthough I seem to remember the A5 is slightly more powerful than the CFM. We also operate the V2500-A1 engine and this is, IMHO, rubbish.

[Mäx Reverse]

Engine selection in commercial aviation is IMO still largely motivated by politics - be it on a company ot national scale. My company is one of the few operators that fly both the CFM and the IAE engine - for the forementioned reason.

My personal summary: The IAE takes longer to start (CFM ~ 2x30", IAE ~ 2x60"), needs longer warmup and cooldown times, is harder to regulate (required changes in TLAs are too small in the approach power regime - we usually fly without A/THR for final approach & landing), the EPR-powersetting (1.0xx EPR) is harder to read than a normal N1-gauge (especially in turbulence and/or on the ships with CRT-displays) and the overall failure rate is higher in our fleet compared to the CFMs.

So I'd prefer the CFM right away.

Best Regards, MAX reverse

[reubenjosephdsouza]

AIRBUS A320 FAMILY CAN BE POWERED BY EITHER OF THE BELOW ENGINES:

CFM 56 SERIES,IAE-V2500-A1/A5/A7 SERIES OR THE PW - 4000 SERIES DEPENDING ON THE OVERALL USEAGE OR SELECTION BY THE CUSTOMER.

YES AS MENTIONED IN EARLIER POST THE CFM ARE BETTER IN START TIMES,REALIBILITY ETC AS COMPAIRED TO OLDER V-2500 SERIES , BUT HOWEVER EVERY ENGINE MANUFACTURE HAS A CERTIAN ENGINE ANALYSIS CHART RELATED TO TYPE OF OPS CAPABLE IE ETOPS, IN FLIGHT ENGINE SHUT DOWN RATE OVER THE PAS XXX YEARS, ENGINE TROUBLE ENCOUNTERED FOR THAT KIND OF ENG. ETC AND THEN IF ONE COMPAIRS THE OVERALL PERF OF EACH TYPE CFM/PW/IAE..a customer can select its choice of engine to its type of airframe chosen in the A320 family... guess that y we have diff airlines/regions use diff engine for the same a320 family airframe.

then again the reasons for actually choosing a given engine can be based on many pther reasons, but gegerally its Performance Based..

[Cardinal]

Just a small correction, the PW6000, not the 4000, is the third engine choice available on the A318.

[TopBunk]

From Airbus.com website:

The A318 seats 107 passengers in a typical two-class cabin layout over a range of up to 3,250 nm/6,000 km, powered by CFM56-5 or PW6000 engines.

So no V2500 option, otherwise BA would have specified them.

[mutt]

for actually choosing a given engine can be based on many pther reasons, but gegerally its Performance Based..

Not always true.... in our environment the IAE is the better choice based purely on performance.... so we chose the GE

Mutt