LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OF MAJOR ENGINE MANUFACTURERS
ED KAPLANIAN Commercial Aviation Advisor ekaplanian @ msn . com
PRATT & WHITNEY
In 2024 , Pratt & Whitney will begin delivering an updated version of its PW1100G geared turbofan ( GTF ) that the company says has more power and is 1 % more fuel efficient than the current variant .
The updated turbofan which P & W calls the GTF Advantage , will generate 4 % more thrust at sea level and 8 % more at “ high and hot airports ,” says the company ’ s GTF chief engineer Tom Pelland .
P & W has achieved the efficiency gain through “ technology enhancements throughout the engine core ,” says the company .
“ We get more flow down the core of this engine . We really supercharged this engine ,” says P & W Senior Vice President of Engineering Geoff Hunt .
The updated GTF will have components with improved coating that is more durable and more resistant to corrosion , says Hunt . P & W has completed more than a year of ground & flight testing of the updated GTF .
In addition , the GTF Advantage will be " compatible with 100 % sustainable aviation fuel ," says P & W .
CFM INTERNATIONAL / SAFRAN
In the meantime , with Airbus increasing production on its A320neo family ( on which the ; Leap-1A 60 % share ) to 65 per month by 2023 , overall output will need to rise above its previous high of 40 per week which was achieved in 2019 .
Manufacturing of Leap-1As has already begun to increase during the fourth quarter of 2021 , moving from 12 per week to a 17 per-week target in 2023 , says Jean-Paul Alary , Chief Executive Officer of Safran Aircraft Engines , which is a partner with GE Aviation .
To ensure smooth ramp-up of production , Safran has conducted stress testing of its supply chain to identify potential bottlenecks of key parts . Weaknesses centered on forgings , castings and raw material , Alary says .
“ The current ramp-up is going to be a challenge ,” Alary says , because the supply chain has been extremely compromised by the pandemic crisis .”
Sources : Pratt & Whitney , CFM International ; Pictures Getty Images / Leap-1A , Pratt & Whitney PW1110G
118 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2022