Session Four :

Driving India aviation growth through OEMRO Partnership

The fourth business session of the day – Driving Indian Aviation Growth through OEMRO Partnership focused on the industry’s leading products and services, developing an engine for next generation aircraft and also the potential of OEMRO in India. The session was addressed by Gregory Gernhardt, Vice President, Commercial Engines and Services, Asia Pacific, Pratt and Whitney. The session also highlighted the need for the right MRO supplier. Pratt and Whitney, which has developed the Geared Turbofan (GTF) Engine (ultra high-by-pass); will have lower consumption, lower noise levels and lesser emission of greenhouse gases. This engine, catering to next generation aircraft, will reduce the CO2 emissions by 3,000 ton per aircraft, per year, NOx emission will be reduced to half the normal levels, noise levels of stage four minus 20db, 1500 fewer airfoils and lower maintenance cost. The GTF will be available in 2013.

The first model introduced by the Pratt and Whitney was the Turbofan in 1960, the second one in 1981 titled the Turbofan (low-by-pass), third one in 2000 Turbofan (high-by-pass). “With airlines using this engine in the near future, efficiency will increase on a tremendous level. Pratt and Whitney is actively testing all the key components of the GTF engine with 15 technology rigs running around the world. A full-scale GTF demonstration engine is undergoing ground testing at our company’s test facility and it will take to the skies in a flight-test program in mid-2008,” said Gernhardt.

Highlighting the importance of MRO facilities and partnering the right MRO supplier Gernhardt said, “Around 15-20 years ago airlines had their own shops and they conducted their own maintenance. In the current scenario, the MRO facilities are going to experts, mainly due to the equipment handled by experts and quality services like material, logistics, land support etc.” While partnering an MRO supplier, there needs to be assurance of service and flexibility. The partnership relationship needs to FMP, fixed price, fixed labour and time material.