Pratt & Whitney PW6000
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Pratt & Whitney PW6000 is a high-bypass turbofan engine designed for the Airbus A318 with a design thrust range of 18,000 to 24,000 lbf (80 to 107 kN).
Pratt & Whitney designed the engine with minimum complexity to significantly reduce maintenance cost and achieve weight and fuel consumption savings. However, tests revealed that the initial five-stage high compressor based design did not meet promised fuel burn performance. As a result many of the original customers switched their orders to the rival CFM International CFM56-5. To address the problem, Pratt & Whitney re-certified an updated design utilizing a six-stage high compressor designed by MTU Aero Engines in order to achieve promised performance. The engine final assembly line is located at MTU Aero Engines at their location in Hanover, Germany a unique situation as this is the first time that an engine is being assembled outside Pratt & Whitney facility.
America West Airlines and leasing company CIT Aerospace have chosen PW6000 for their A318 fleet with deliveries expected in 2006 but this order has never been conducted.
LAN Airlines confirmed an order for 15 Airbus A318 aircraft, for a total of 34 engines (30 installed and 4 spares) powered by PW-6000 engines on 15 August 2005. In addition, LAN Airlines signed with Pratt and Whitney to power up to 25 option aircraft. If LAN exercises all options it would mean an additional 56 (50 installed and six spare) engines.
Prior to the LAN Airlines order, 84 CFM56-5 powered Airbus A318 aircraft had been ordered, with 28 currently in service (as of December 2005).
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