AviTrader_Monthly_MRO_e-Magazine_2014-05

Company Profile: Pratt & Whitney
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Geared for efficiency
Issues regarding engine performance are getting
a greater hearing industry-wide. There is
growing emphasis on the need to develop and
deploy more advanced propulsion technologies
to counteract high fuel prices and maintenance
costs.
Undoubtedly, the race to deliver greater engine
efficiency is heating up as new aircraft programmes
are coming out of the design stage.
Pratt & Whitney (P&W) for instance is banking
on its new “geared turbofan” to stay ahead of
the game.
Royal Brunei Airlines is the latest carrier to sign
a letter of intent with Pratt & Whitney for the
PurePower PW1100G-JM engines to power seven
firm A320neo aircraft (together with three
options). To date, the PurePower engine family
has more than 5,300 orders and commitments,
including options, from more than 50 global
customers.
Matthew Bromberg, president, Aftermarket at
Pratt & Whitney, delivered a keynote address
to a packed crowd at the recent MRO Americas
2014 conference discussing the forces that
have shaped today’s MRO environment and
trends influencing the future of the industry.
In an interview with AviTrader MRO he explains
that capacity and demand for MRO services
are two trends impacting the global engine
Matthew Bromberg, President, Aftermarket at Pratt &
Whitney
Advanced propulsion technologies aim to address issues with engine efficiency.
MRO market today. “We see demand growth
decreasing as fleets become younger,” says
Bromberg. He adds that over the next decade,
the average age of aircraft will drop as new aircraft
are introduced and old aircraft are retired.
Regarding capacity, Pratt & Whitney sees three
key drivers affecting capacity: commonality,
globalisation, and outside investment. “As the
worldwide fleets grow, they become less diverse
and more common. Over the past decade,
Boeing and Airbus aircraft models have
reduced from 13 platforms to seven. Today,
75 percent of all aircraft are narrow-body, and
90 percent of those are Boeing 737 and Airbus
A320. Consequently, the industry will require
less diversity among parts, tools, and shops,
and less capacity to deliver the same MRO services,”
Bromberg shares.
Globalisation is another driver. Bromberg reminds
that thirty years ago, airlines all had internal
MRO capability. Fifteen years ago, many
airlines began outsourcing MRO, but on a local
or regional level. He adds: “Today shops are
competing on a global scale, and, outside investment
is having an effect on engine MRO.
Motivated by strong OEM market fundamentals,
not only are airlines and existing MRO
providers adding capacity, but outside investors
such as private equity firms, continue to pour
money and people into the MRO marketplace.”
To address these trends, Pratt & Whitney is
Photo: Pratt & Whitney
transforming the aftermarket business to
offer their customers “better quality, speed
and value.” Bromberg reports that the company
will be introducing more innovation
into the MRO business and providing faster
overhaul services, “recognising that every
day an engine is in our shop, it is not generating
revenue for our customers. We will
also transform into a comprehensive service
organisation, supporting engine fleets with
long-term maintenance agreements. In this
model, our incentive is aligned with our customers:
keep the engine in service and operating
efficiently.”
Improving engine reliability is crucial for engine
operators. According to Bromberg Pratt
& Whitney engine service agreements provide
operators with predictable maintenance costs,
optimised engine performance, reliability and
increased residual value.
“Our service agreements are centrally managed,
enabling us to leverage fleet knowledge,
identify trends and issues that may affect engines
in the future, and proactively manage
engines in operation. Engines under long-term
agreements stay on wing longer and consume
less fuel,” assures Bromberg.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design,
manufacture and service of aircraft engines,
auxiliary and ground power units, and small
turbojet propulsion products.
AviTrader MRO - May 2014