Pratt & Whitney

An Irkut MC-21-300 narrowbody powered by Russian PD-14 turbofan engines made its first flight from Irkutsk, Russia, on the morning of Dec. 15.

OGMA will become a Pratt & Whitney-authorized maintenance center for the geared turbofan engine that powers the Airbus A320neo.

While powerplant suppliers Safran and MTU Aero Engines posted expected drops in aftermarket revenues for the last quarter, executives from each company highlighted several trends that support a cautiously optimistic outlook.

Despite the global air transport market collapse and aircraft production slowdown following the COVID-19 pandemic, Pratt & Whitney believes the longer-term impact may potentially accelerate the adoption of advanced propulsion technology as airframers revise product development strategies.

The request for proposals invites bids from GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to supply 608 engines.

Airbus A220 operators are being urged to monitor Pratt & Whitney PW1500G low-pressure compressor (LPC) operating performance following a mandated upgrade to full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) to prevent compressor stalls.

The release of the second draft on April 24 by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center moves the competition closer to a formal bidding phase scheduled to begin later this year.

Operators of Pratt & Whitney-powered Airbus A320neos face fast-tracked inspection mandates to help eliminate the risk of engine turbine blade fractures caused by mid-frame turbine piston seal debris that have been plaguing older blades.