The US Federal Aviation Administration has granted type certification for engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney's new GTF Advantage engine that will be used on airframer Airbus' A320neo program.
The upgraded version of the company's PW1100G-JM geared turbofan (GTF) engine will become the "production standard" for its share of A320neo aircraft once deliveries begin in the second half of 2025, Pratt & Whitney said Friday.
The A320neo is also powered by the LEAP-1A from CFM International, the joint venture between US-based GE Aerospace and France-based Safran.
The Advantage was created to improve the performance of the GTF by increasing the engine's time on wing before it would have to enter a maintenance cycle. Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of US conglomerate RTX, sought to lower operating temperatures through component enhancements, including a new airfoil design with coating changes in the high-pressure turbine section.
The company noted that elements of the Advantage can be implemented now on the current iteration of the GTF engine to promote increased time on wing before displacing it entirely.
The new engine — which provides for greater takeoff thrust — will complement Airbus' new narrow-body model, the A321XLR (extra-long range), that will be able to compete with widebody jets on long-haul flights, Pratt & Whitney said.
Orders for the A321XLR stand at more than 500, with Airbus delivering its first LEAP-powered aircraft to Spanish airline Iberia.
