Pratt & Whitney woes return for IndiGo, airline plans minimum impact
New Delhi: In another wave of engine trouble, India’s largest airline IndiGo will need to send some of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft run on Pratt & Whitney engines for inspection as the US-based engine maker has suggested accelerated inspection of 600 aircraft worldwide. “We are in receipt of the information from the OEM Pratt and Whitney (P&W) regarding the outcome of the latest inspection of their engine. We are working closely with P&W to assess and minimise any potential impact to our fleet," an IndiGo spokesperson said.
In India, IndiGo and Go First are the users of PW1100-run A320neo family of aircraft and industry experts estimate minimum impact on Indian airlines. The latest issue revolves around the metal used in manufacturing the parts of a PW-1100G engine. In 2019, the Indian civil aviation regulator had ordered IndiGo and Go First to modify some A320neo aircraft fitted with P&W engines due to issues related to in-flight shutdowns.
P&W estimates that the PW1100 engine fleet, which powers the A320neo, will experience the most significant impact due to production volumes during this period. Based on the current assessment, P&W anticipates that by mid-September, approximately 200 PW1100 engines will be removed for enhanced inspection. Beyond the initial 200 engines, P&W also anticipates that approximately 1,000 additional PW1100 engines will need to be removed from the operating fleet for this inspection within the next 9 to 12 months, thus impacting 600 aircraft globally.
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