Acropolis Aviation has selected CFM International’s LEAP-1A to power its new Airbus ACJ320neo that is on order for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2018. The UK operator opted for the LEAP over the Pratt & Whitney 1100G.

Acropolis CEO Jonathan Bousfield cited the extensive support network for the CFM engine, as well as his experience with another CFM model, the CFM56-5B, that power the operator's ACJ319, G-NOAH, in the selection.

“We’ve experienced many years of ‘happy monitoring’ with the CFM powerplant on board G-NOAH, which we introduced to revenue service in 2010,” Bousfield said. “The reliability and worldwide support network has been very important for our long and fruitful relationship with CFM International.”

Acropolis (Booth F70) puts about 700 hours a year on G-NOAH, Bousfield said, anticipating that its new ACJ320neo will be used at least that much. The seven-year-old Farnborough Airport-based operator became the launch customer for the ACJ320neo in May 2015 and is scheduled to take delivery of the new model in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Bousfield said the 6,000-nm range of the ACJ320neo will open new city pairs for the operator, including Asia. Acropolis plans to sell the ACJ319 once it takes delivery of its new aircraft.