Page 30 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 Online Magazine

t was always to be expected that next-gen-
eration engine programmes would not
only bring about a dramatic advance
Ito the industry, but that there would be
some amount of discomfort as these engines
were introduced into service by expectant
airlines. Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan
(GTF) engine is now operational on three air-
frame platforms; Embraer’s E2, Airbus A220
(formerly Bombardier’s C Series) and the
A320neo and have already saved more than
66,500,00 gallons of fuel since they entered
into service. Just over two years after the
first CFM LEAP powered aircraft entered
commercial service (August 2016), more than
890 LEAP engines have now been installed
on more than 75 aircraft worldwide. LEAP-1A
engines power 5 percent of all A319neos, 27
percent of all A320neos and 5 percent of all
A321neos for a market share of 63 percent
for the European built single-aisle jetliner.

Surging Ahead
An industry source also informs Asian
Airlines & Aerospace, that Pratt & Whitney
is now on track to meet its 2018 commitment
for GTF deliveries, after having implemented
production improvements with its partners to
address the most critical issues and that GTF
engines are now demonstrating improved reli-
ability to its customers. Pratt & Whitney has
booked more than 2,000 new GTF engine
orders in the last 12 months, with Air China, ENGINE
Shenzhen Airlines, VietJet Air and Vietnam
Airlines, amongst the most recent customers.
“In Asia Pacific, much of the attention has REVOLUTION
been on our efforts to cater for the expected
increase in demand for Maintenance, Repair
and Overhaul (MRO) services, as more Engine OEMs and MRO firms are looking
than 2,500 GTF engines are expected to towards future opportunities
be delivered in the next three years. With
the spotlight on the GTF, it is never timelier Atul Chandra
to reiterate Pratt & Whitney’s commitment
to go beyond for all our customers here.
We currently have a balanced portfolio of
engines at different lifecycles operating in the Airbus’ A320 aircraft family, with more than 6,000 engines
the region, including the PW4000, GP7200 sold. “With an average life of eight to nine years and with 60
and V2500 engines,” says Pratt & Whitney’s percent of V2500 engines under long-term service agreements,
Senior Director of Aftermarket Operations we expect MRO demand for the V2500s to grow as more than
in Asia Pacific. McWilliams also states that half of these engines have yet to see a shop visit. This is in line
GTF operators have saved fuel worth more with industry reports that predict steady MRO demand on the
than US$75 million since the engines entered V2500, peaking at around US$3.7 billion by 2021,” stresses
service. International Aero Engines (IAE) McWilliams. To cater for the high volume of future V2500
V2500 engine was a popular powerplant for shop visits, Pratt & Whitney is increasing V2500 capacity at

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