Terming the claim made by the domestic low-cost carrier (LCC) Go First that faulty engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney led it to file for voluntary bankruptcy as well as suspend operations as unsubstantiated, the US engine maker has said that it is examining all legal options to take the matter to its logical conclusion.
Representatives of the Connecticut-based company, while declining to elaborate on the proposed legal strategy categorically, told Business Today during an exclusive interaction Friday, “While we cannot comment on the specifics of our legal recourse, we will vigorously defend ourselves against Go First’s allegations that Pratt & Whitney is responsible for its financial condition, which is without merit.”
Requesting anonymity on grounds of the matter being sub judice, P&W officials clarified that the current supply chain issues, the earlier upgrades to the contentious geared turbofan engine (GTF) engine and the business disputes with Go First were all separate matters and must, therefore, not be bunched together as “engine issues”.
“The GTF engine’s performance has never been in question. It remains the most efficient option for the Airbus A320neo, delivering the fuel efficiency and emission reductions that airlines need,” another official spoken to for this story claimed.
The person further added that the company had upgraded all next-generation PW1100G-JM engines in service, ahead of the 2020 deadline. The retrofit involved upgrading the low-pressure turbine (LPT) with a more durable configuration, with the company’s all newly produced and overhauled engines incorporating this enhancement.
In a May 6 note, the Mumbai-headquartered Go First had alleged the engines displayed a multitude of defects and a high failure rate from the very start. These included software and combustor problems, leading the airline to remove the first GTF engine installed on a newly delivered aircraft due to erosion of the combustor chamber also called combustor chamber distress.
Other issues such as problems with the engines’ software, start-up times, starter, main gearbox and fan blades were also mentioned. Between 2016 and February 2023, the LCC said it carried out 510 GTF engine removals, including 289 engine changes as a result of at least 28 different defects, and 221 engine swaps.
Responding to a question on the engine’s durability, a third P&W official said the company had constantly worked to improve the time on the wing since the initiation of the engine programme.
19/05/2023 Manish Pant/Business Today
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