Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX, has achieved a significant milestone in the development of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The company announced that its GTF engine has received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to power the new extended-range jet. The type certificate, specifically for the PW1100G-JM engine, was updated on December 12 to include its application on the A321XLR.
This certification is a crucial step towards the A321XLR’s planned entry into service in 2025. The aircraft is designed to offer airlines greater flexibility in route planning, enabling them to serve longer-range destinations with a single-aisle aircraft. The A321XLR has been growing in popularity among airlines seeking to expand their networks efficiently, especially for long, thin routes.
“This is an important milestone for the GTF engine program, which was the first engine to power the A320neo aircraft family,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney.
“The longer range and higher payload capability of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft will provide customers with expanded route flexibility to more destinations. A321XLR operators will benefit from the GTF’s best-in-class fuel efficiency and the lowest carbon emissions available for single aisle aircraft.”
According to Pratt & Whitney, 13 customers have already chosen the GTF engine to power 217 A321XLR aircraft. The company highlights the engine’s fuel efficiency as a key advantage, claiming it offers up to 20% better fuel efficiency compared to previous-generation engines.
Since its introduction in 2016, the GTF engine has saved operators an estimated 2 billion gallons of fuel, equating to 20 million metric tons of CO2, the company says.
Looking ahead, Pratt & Whitney is developing an enhanced version of the engine called the GTF Advantage. This upgraded model is expected to be certified and delivered next year, offering further improvements in fuel efficiency, takeoff thrust, and time on the wing. The GTF Advantage engine is being designed as a fully interchangeable and intermixable option with the current GTF model.
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