Sales "Summits" Tout Fuel Efficiency, Environmental
Benefits
Over 180 representatives from
airlines, leasing companies and aviation authorities from
throughout the Asia-Pacific region gathered recently to review
Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine development at the
company's first Asia-Pacific Next Generation Technology Symposiums
in Singapore and Beijing, China. During the summits in each city,
Pratt & Whitney engineers provided comprehensive technical
briefings on the Geared Turbofan engine's design, performance and
development progress.
At the conferences, which were co-hosted by Mitsubishi Aircraft
Corporation and Bombardier Aerospace, airlines were also briefed on
the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and CSeries aircraft programs, both of
which are exclusively powered by the Geared Turbofan engine. Pratt
& Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine targets double-digit
reductions in fuel burn, engine noise, environmental emissions and
operating costs.
"With the rising cost of fuel and growing economic and
environmental pressures, more airlines are depending on aircraft
and engine manufacturers to provide new technologies that will
address these industry-wide concerns," said Todd Kallman,
president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "The Geared
Turbofan engine is the right solution at the right time and we are
excited to bring this game-changing product to operators around the
world."
"It is truly impressive to see the amount of time, resources and
money that Pratt & Whitney is investing in the Geared Turbofan
Engine program," said Derek Cridland, senior vice president of
engineering and maintenance, China Airlines. "With the fuel prices
now at more than US$130 a barrel, the role of engine manufacturers
like Pratt & Whitney is becoming increasingly critical. The
conference offered pertinent information on how the Geared Turbofan
engine can perform at its optimum, reduce operating costs and
simultaneously be environmentally friendly."
"In the face of crunching oil price, the Next Generation
Technology symposium opened up the door to understanding the
application of a technology that will certainly help airlines
breathe a sigh of relief," said Patrick Neo, Chief Engineer of
Singapore-based Jetstar Asia. "With fuel consumption reduced by
double digits, the Geared Turbofan engine will be a real sledge
hammer on operating costs. I am certain that all airlines will look
forward to the Geared Turbofan engine as a new and important
benchmark. I look forward to a solid introduction of the Geared
Turbofan engine on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and Bombardier
CSeries aircraft."
"As a long-time partner of Pratt & Whitney, we are
absolutely thrilled to see that the company is taking the leading
role in introducing game changing new technology," said Tang Bing,
general manager for engineering, China Southern Airlines.
"It is great that new advances in engine types like the Geared
Turbofan engine are being designed to offer airlines a significant
reduction in fuel burn, lower emissions and lower operating costs,
all of which remain a priority for the industry," said Chan Mun
Chung, Engineering Manager at Silk Air.
"The Geared Turbofan engine represents the commitment of Pratt
& Whitney to be the industry leader in technology innovation,"
said Li Hai, president, China Aviation Supplies Holding
Company.
In a Geared Turbofan engine, a state-of-the-art gear system
allows the engine's fan to operate at a different speed than the
low-pressure compressor and turbine, resulting in greater fuel
efficiency and a slower fan speed for reduced noise. The Geared
Turbofan engine builds on more than 20 years of technology
development with improvements in every major module.
Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine
recently completed a 250 hour ground test program. The engine will
begin flight testing mid-year on the company's B747 flight test
bed, followed by additional flight testing on an Airbus-owned A340
later this year.