You all didn't expect me to miss one of these threads, did you?
Quoting SQ773 (Thread starter): May be its just me, but I can hardly see any new aircraft powered by PW engines...Seems like RR and GE are the only playesrs when it comes to new aircrafts... |
. Yes, I'll explain more later.
Quoting WhiteHatter (Reply 1): They had problems with their PW6000 engine for the A318 which caused them a lot of difficulty, and also with the larger PW4000 for the 777 at one point. |
Basically pratt has missed too many promises in a row. While
RR and
GE have had major problems, they have been more proactive in fixing them. The big issues.
1. PW4062 compressor surge: requires more frequent overhauls or costs $$$
2. PW4172 botch. Customers *needed* this for the high gross weight A332/A333's. Since Pratt can only offer 68k, customers are forced to go elsewhere.
3. PW4098 fuel efficiency miss. 4% higher fuel burn than promise is not ok on any airframe, much less a longhaul airframe.
4. Pw6122/6124 miss in fuel burn.
Grrr... one manager and his "what part of 5 stages in the HPC don't you understand" sunk an entire product line. Grrr...
5. PW2000 family turbine life at only 1/2 the takeoffs between overhauls vs. Promise (partially fixed with the latest turbine kit).
6. And we could even go back to the Jt9D having a horrid entry into service that destroyed the prior "Pratt glow."
Quoting PM (Reply 2): This has been discussed many times. I'm not sure we can say there's anything "wrong" with PW engines but they've missed the boat (several boats) latterly. |
Sadly, Pratt missed a bunch, see above.
Quoting PM (Reply 2): o, when Air China chose an engine for their 20 A330s, that should have been an obvious PW sale. |
Air China needed the range/payload only the 72k thrust level could provide. Hence the engine change. Otherwise, the Pratt's had a small advantage in TSFC... the pw4168 is a great engine! Pratt's best actually. But without a pw4172... no sale. In my opinion, the pw4168 is the best engine on the A330.
But unless you can take the range/payload hit... it doesn't make sense for too many customers due to the lack of thrust.
Now, I shouldn't be so negative. The pw4090 is a great engine, just everyone wants 92k+ thrust today. The pw4062 burns the least fuel on the 744. And the pw2000 series has the lowest fuel burn on the 757. (It just was a hanger queen of an engine for its first decade. That cost way too many orders.)
Hope this helps,
Lightsaber