The baseline specification for newly delivered A320 and B737NG family members is changing to reflect recent upgrades to the engines as well changes to the structure and interiors. Both CFMI and IAE have introduced upgrades to their engines. As a consequence, the CFMI designation has changed to the -3. For...
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The baseline specification for newly delivered A320 and B737NG family members is changing to reflect recent upgrades to the engines as well changes to the structure and interiors.
Both CFMI and IAE have introduced upgrades to their engines. As a consequence, the CFMI designation has changed to the -3. For example, the CFM56-7B26 has become the CFM56-7B26/3 on the B737-800 and the CFM56-5B4/P has become the CFM56-5B4/3 on the A320 family. The TechInsertion standard is already in service with the IAE SelectOne program due to be introduced later this year. Both engine upgrades offer lower fuel burn, greater EGT margins, lower emissions and greater on-wing time. Both the TechInsertion and SelectOne upgrades can be retrofitted. While the new standard to the engines are being offered to customers at no additional cost, the improvement in the engines warrants a discount to the existing airframe/engine combinations.
The A320 family is also the subject of further improvements in the form of new interiors and aerodynamics though a decision of new winglets has yet to be made. The improvement to the engines and other areas of the A320 family is sufficient to warrant a change in designation similar to that of the A330-200, A330-300 and A340-300 which saw the Enhanced designation being added. For the A320 family the Enhanced designation should now perhaps be employed though for the B737NG, the upgrade to the engines only should warrant a "T" suffix - the B737-800HT for example denoting a high gross weight version featuring the tech insertion.