Raytheon Technologies Corporation (RTX), the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, recently revealed a concerning issue in its Q2 results shared on July 25, 2023. They found a unique condition in the powder metal used for making specific engine parts that necessitates accelerated fleet inspection. This unexpected development affects around 600 aircraft, particularly those equipped with PW1100G-JMs, commonly known as the GTF (geared turbofan) engine.
The engines, produced between 2015 and 2020 for the A320neo, appear to be the ones most impacted by this issue. An estimated 1,200 engines will likely need removal and inspection for potential micro-cracks, hinting at fatigue. RTX discovered contamination in the metal used for the engine’s high-pressure turbine discs.
Addressing the Issue
The company’s statement read, “As a result, the business anticipates that a significant portion of the PW1100G-JM engine fleet, which powers the A320N, will require accelerated removals and inspections within the next nine to twelve months, including approximately 200 accelerated removals by mid-September of this year.” Engines on newly delivered aircraft, however, remain unaffected.
Several U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and JetBlue Airways, find themselves impacted by this issue. The extent of the disruption to their networks largely depends on the time it takes to resolve the engine problem. Greg Hayes, RTX CEO, indicated that individual aircraft could potentially be out of service for up to 60 days. Hayes acknowledged the seriousness of the situation saying, “If we didn’t address this, there was risk out there.”
The Long-Term Impact and Competition
Considering the roughly 6,700 A320neo orders that Airbus has on its books, with delivery timelines spanning many years, this is indeed a significant issue. The GTF engines from Pratt and Whitney have been fitted to 45% of all A320neo manufactured since 2017. These engines compete directly with the LEAP engine manufactured by CFM International.
Despite the ongoing GTF engine issues, Hayes doesn’t believe these problems will drive undecided engine customers to the competition. He expressed his confidence by saying that the “smart money” would remain with his company. Pratt & Whitney plans to increase capacity at its 13 maintenance facilities worldwide and utilize engines coming off the production line as spares. This proactive approach aims to facilitate the inspection process as quickly as possible, minimizing the impact on airlines and passengers.
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