Pratt Commits Over $100M for Engine MRO

Pratt & Whitney outlined more than $100 million in capital improvements at three maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centers for its GTF engines. The investments aim to expand the operations in Texas, Florida, and Arkansas, including installing new equipment, to improve the speed and efficiency of the MRO process for those commercial jet engines.

The civil and military aircraft engine developer has not revealed the schedule for the projects, some of which are apparently completed or underway.

Pratt’s geared engines (GTF) engines were introduced more than 20 years ago to improve fuel efficiency on narrow-body twin-engine commercial jets. The design allows the engine fan and low-pressure turbine to operate at optimal speeds. Initial models were selected by Airbus, Bombardier (for its C-Series aircraft now produced by Airbus as the A220), Embraer, and Mitsubishi Aircraft as engine options for new twin-engine jets being introduced from 2010 onward.

There are reportedly about 2,700 GTF engines in service. These engines have a history of maintenance issues, some of which have been traced to defective powdered material in the manufacturing process, and other premature component wear issues. The scope of the problems has resulted in extended repair and replacement schedules.

Currently, Pratt & Whitney is preparing to implement an upgrade option to a redesigned version of the engine, the GTF Advantage. Airlines operating current-model GTF engines may realize up to 90-95% of the GTF Advantage's durability benefits with the GTF Hot Section Plus (HS+) upgrade option, according to the developer.

The GTF Advantage will become the production standard for the series by 2028, according to Pratt & Whitney.

"These investments demonstrate Pratt & Whitney's continued commitment to lifting our airline customers' GTF fleets," stated senior vice president Rob Griffiths. "Across these three U.S. facilities, we are investing to increase throughput of GTF engines and parts, adding repair capabilities and deploying new technologies to return engines to our customers as quickly as possible."

The largest of three projects is a $78-million program to expand its Commercial Serviceable Assets business by 500,000 square feet, in Irving, Tex. That location buys, sells, and manages used serviceable material (USM) and engines. “At a time when material constraints are one of the main drivers of delays in the MRO process, the investment will increase USM stock by more than 60%, helping to reduce engine turnaround time,” according to Pratt & Whitney.

The Texas project also will support expansion of part-repair development capabilities and MRO quick-turn capacity

A $20-million project expanded Pratt’s West Palm Beach (Fla.) Engine Center by approximately 50,000 square feet, increasing MRO capacity for GTF engines by 40%. The project also added new equipment for engine assembly and disassembly, machining, testing, cleaning, and warehousing.

At Pratt’s Propulsion Systems Division in Springdale, Ark., a 7,000-sq.ft expansion added space for commercial and military engine case repairs. The site also has been improved with new additive manufacturing equipment for GTF engine part repairs, which the manufacturer stated will reduce processing time by more than 60%.

The manufacturer’s Geared Turbofan MRO network is a global organization offering maintenance support GTF-powered aircraft, including Airbus A320neos and A220s, and Embraer E-Jet E2s. It consists of Pratt owned-and-operated centers, airline-affiliated MRO providers, risk-and-revenue sharing providers, and independent operators.