Subscription Required

By Scott Hamilton

Aug. 18, 2025, © Leeham News: Pratt & Whitney’s long slog in fixing one technical problem after another with its marque PurePower Geared Turbo Fan engine isn’t over yet. It won’t be for another couple of years.

But during the Paris Air Show in June, those LNA talked to were optimistic that the end of the problems is in sight. And they are surprising optimistic about how well PW managed through the crisis and prospects for the future.

Top people at two firms that advise airlines and lessors on engine selection and maintenance contracts told LNA that for all the grief the GTF caused over the years, including hundreds of Airbus and Embraer aircraft grounded while awaiting new engines, PW gained a lot of traction by working with customers to mitigate revenue and cost losses.

That’s not to say that all are satisfied with PW’s response to the years-long series of disruptions. However, one advisory firm leader told LNA that PW’s Advantage GTF (the latest, advanced version, not yet entering service) will have airlines “flocking” back to PW if the engine performs as advertised.

The Advantage GTF will have 3%-4% more thrust and better fuel economy than the preceding GTF engines. Advanced materials, powders, and parts are expected to be more durable than those used in previous engines.

A revealing side note: these same advisors criticized the response from GE Aerospace for being less than cooperative and for not providing enough mitigation responses to shorter on-wing times for the CFM LEAP engine.

Pratt & Whitney's Asheville (NC) "Industrial 4.0" plant aims to capitalize on digital, advanced manufacturing. Credit: Pratt & Whitney.

PW also has spent more than $1bn on what it calls an industry 4.0 production plant in Asheville (NC).