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FAA certifies Pratt & Whitney's new geared turbofan advantage engine

FAA certifies Pratt & Whitney's new geared turbofan advantage engine
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American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney | Simple Flying

American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is marking a significant milestone in the advancement of its fuel-efficient geared turbofan (GTF) engine family. The company’s new GTF Advantage (GTF-A) engine achieved type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday.

The next-generation engine will power Airbus A320neo family aircraft, providing increased fuel efficiency and lower operating temperatures. It will also promote improved operations for aircraft at shorter field airports with increased thrust capability.

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, announced the news early Thursday. The manufacturer’s President of Commercial Engines, Rick Deurloo, commented on the milestone:

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“GTF engines already offer the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for single-aisle aircraft. The GTF Advantage engine extends that lead and enhances aircraft capability, providing more thrust and even more value to operators of A320neo family aircraft, especially on longer-range aircraft like the A321XLR, all with a more durable configuration. ”

The company just celebrated the A321XLR with base GTF engines receiving type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last week. It followed Pratt & Whitney’s competitor CFM International receiving type certification for its LEAP-1A engines on the A321XLR last summer.

Specifically, the GTF-A offers up to one percent better fuel efficiency with lower carbon emissions. Additionally, it offers increased takeoff thrust by as much as eight percent. The performance upgrade will allow airlines to operate with higher payloads and fly further, potentially unlocking new destinations.

Notably, both base GTF and GTF-A are completely interchangeable, meaning airlines could operate one of each if necessary. Pratt & Whitney is also working to ensure that the GTF-A will be compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Thanks to redesigned parts and technology improvements, the engine is more durable. It also has a state-of-the-art hot section which will expand time on wing. Despite having 20 fan blades –the same amount as the base GTF engine– it has increased core airflow which keeps it cool while operating.

The GTF-A boasts enhancements to high-pressure turbine (HPT), such as an advanced design of airfoil and improved coatings. Plus, sizes of HPT and combustor’s cooling hole have been optimized with revamped hole drilling techniques to reduce oxidation.

Pratt & Whitney first announced the GTF-A in 2021. In four years since then, they have extensively tested endurance advancing maturity by entry into service; product endured more than double testing performed on current GTF engine.

While derivative some new elements can be incorporated into base engines in operation today; over 100000 hours rig testing across family current recorded nearly forty million in-service flight hours said Deurloo Simple Flying next step learnings apply back base

More than twenty-two hundred powered delivered eighty customers around world variations designed power A220 series Embraer E190 E195-E2

Along successes faced headwinds vibrations corrosion metal contamination led mandatory inspections hundreds resulting grounding planes

Despite complications demand remains strong platforms currently eleven orders commitments

The first expected delivered late agrees number sent correspond deliveries

“With certification track fitting mark milestones celebrates century powering” explained

Organizations Included in this History
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