Airbus has started development flight testing of Pratt & Whitney’s forthcoming GTF Advantage engine on an A320neo aircraft, part of the program for finalizing the commercial introduction of the engine, expected in 2024. This flight tests simulate various environments, including hot and cold weather and operation from high-altitude airports.
The flight tests will be conducted at Pratt & Whitney flying test bed in Mirabel, Québec, through the first half of 2023. So far, the GTF Advantage has completed more than 2,400 hours and 7,800 cycles of testing, including a successful test earlier this year with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF.)
The GTF Advantage is an updated version of Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G geared turbofan engine for the A320neo, Airbus’s twin-engine narrow-body jet. According to the engine developer, the design will offer more fuel efficiency and more thrust than the current model for the Airbus’s “new engine option” aircraft, which is achieved with more airflow through the engine core, improved active clearance control between the turbine and seals, and reduced air temperature in the high-pressure compressor.
The new engine, with a Collins Aerospace nacelle, will incorporate sturdier blisk rotors and more durable surface coatings.
Pratt & Whitney notes that its GTF™ geared turbofan engine platform is “the only geared propulsion system delivering industry-leading sustainability benefits and dependable, world-class operating costs.”
It adds that GTF-powered aircraft reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 16-20%, NOx emissions by up to 50%, and noise footprint by up to 75%, versus prior-generation aircraft.
“GTF engines already offer the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the A320neo family,” stated Pratt’s Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines. “The GTF Advantage engine extends that lead. It also enhances aircraft capability by increasing thrust and protects durability by running cooler. For airlines, this means new revenue opportunities and better operating economics.”
