The first Pratt & Whitney-powered A318 aircraft was delivered to LAN Airlines, marking the entry into service of the first PW6000 engines. Based in Santiago, Chile, LAN Airlines is the launch customer of the PW6000 and has ordered 44 engines with the potential for up to 85 total engines if all options are exercised. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (UTX) company.
Pratt & Whitney said it has created a new organization to develop, demonstrate and bring to market the company's next generation of commercial engines including the Geared Turbofan engine.
The Next Generation Product Family organization consolidates development efforts across Pratt & Whitney divisions for large business jets, regional jets and the next generation narrow-body aircraft. The new organization will be led by Bob Saia, Vice President, Next Generation Product Family.
Pratt & Whitney is currently executing rig tests to demonstrate key components of the GTF engine. Ground testing of the first GTF demonstrator engine will occur later this year and flight testing in 2008.
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