Engine Directory
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Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut, CT 06108, United States Tel: +1 860 565 4321 Fax: +1 203 565 8896 |
Engine Alliance
In May 1996, GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney announced that they would jointly develop a new engine to power the proposed Boeing 747-500X and -600X. This joint venture between two usually fierce competitors reflected the fact that neither GE Aviation (GE) nor Pratt & Whitney (P&W) had an engine in or nearing production which would produce the required 70,000-85,000 lb (311-378 kN) thrust range, to compete with the Rolls-Royce Trent 900. Both GE and P&W had independently forecast worldwide demand for aircraft in this market segment and each had determined that it might not be sufficient to justify the estimated $1billion investment required to develop an all new engine. Both companies, however, concluded that the market segment was too large to ignore. Negotiations between the two culminated in the joint venture agreement, signed on 28 August 1996. This created the 'GE-P&W Engine Alliance, LLC', usually abbreviated to 'Engine Alliance' or just 'EA'. The new company set about the development of a two-spool high-bypass turbofan, initially known as the GP2700, but later re-designated as the GP7000. Design, development, certification and production were to be carried out by the parent companies. EA, supported by the parent companies, would be completely responsible for all customer interfaces, including sales, marketing, contracts, finance and customer support functions. The core competencies of each parent company were to be used to design, develop, certify, and manufacture a state-of-the-art high bypass turbofan engine. GE took responsibility for the new engine’s high pressure core, which was based on their GE90. P&W would produce all other sections, including the low pressure stages and fan, which would be based on their PW4000, and also took responsibility for engine assembly and testing.
By the time that Boeing finally shelved plans for the 747-500X and -600X, Airbus had been studying the development of the A3XX, which would be the world’s largest commercial transport. EA was approached by Airbus to study engines for the new aircraft and the company supported Airbus’ preliminary development with various GP7000 engine designs for the A3XX between 1998 and 2000. Airbus finally launched the A380 programme on 19 December 2000. EA subsequently launched the GP7000 programme on 19 May 2001, when Air France selected the GP7270 to power ten A380-800 passenger aircraft on order. On 4 November 2001 Emirates placed an order for 20 GP7270 powered Airbus A380-800s. Subsequent contracts had, by November 2007, taken Emirates’ firm order for the A380 to fifty-eight aircraft. A series of delays meant that the first GP7000 was six years behind schedule when it commenced its first engine run in March 2004. The GP7000 was certified by the US FAA on 4 January 2006. The first flight of a GP7000-powered A380 took place on 25 August 2006. Emirates became the second A380 operator and the first operator of the GP7000-powered variant when their first aircraft was delivered on 28 July 2008.
To amend, update or comment on this profile, contact Ian Joyce at: ian.joyce@flightglobal.com.
