Pratt & Whitney offers airlines a new programme that could reduce fuel use and emissions by up to 8 percent annually
Fri 6 Aug 2010 – Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has launched a new fuel conservation programme that could help airlines save 3 to 8 percent in annual fuel consumption and costs, even for those with fuel reduction programmes already in place. Pratt & Whitney is joining forces with Flight Sciences International to offer the EcoFlight Solutions service through its Global Service Partners network. According to Pratt & Whitney, the savings that could be made through the programme could add up to $20 to $50 million a year. For a mid-sized airline with a fleet of 48 wide- and narrow-body aircraft, reducing fuel burn by 5 percent could save 20 million gallons of fuel and 193,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, it claims.
The programme will leverage services already provided by the two companies, including aircraft fuel consumption optimization, EcoPower engine wash, advanced engine monitoring and line maintenance support. Flight Sciences International has been providing commercial airlines with fuel conservation programmes since 1992.
“Fuel is the number one expense for the airline industry and can account for up to 50 percent of an airline’s operating costs,” said Joanne Hastings, Director, Pratt & Whitney Line Maintenance Services. “Airlines struggle to safely use as little fuel as possible, especially in these tough economic times. This innovative fuel conservation programme is an elegant solution for airlines committed to reducing their environmental impact while realizing significant savings.”
Pratt & Whitney claims it EcoPower engine wash system reduces fuel burn by as much as 1.2 percent. JetBlue Airways, which started washes last year at New York JFK, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Orlando airports, says it has since saved around 4 million pounds (1,800 tonnes) of fuel and eliminated more than 5,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The low-cost airline recently signed a two-year extension agreement with Pratt & Whitney for EcoPower engine washes on its fleet of V2500 and CF34 engines, with options to expand the service to 13 additional airport locations.
Air India is the latest airline to take up EcoPower and will establish an engine wash service at Mumbai International Airport for its own fleet and those of other airlines in the region. The service centre will have the ability to perform washes on nearly all commercial engines in service today.
“The service is especially valued since fuel prices in India are among the highest in the world,” commented Hastings.
At the recent Farnborough Air Show, Pratt & Whitney announced it is on target for the first engine test, due within the next few months, of its much-vaunted, next generation PurePower PW1500G engine for the Bombardier CSeries. The test programme will run a total of eight test engines over the next 24 months with aircraft first flight and engine certification scheduled for 2012.
The PurePower PW1000G engine family’s advanced gear system is expected to deliver double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions, with a 50 percent reduction in noise and NOx emissions over today’s engines. It is the exclusive power for the CSeries, which is scheduled to enter service in 2013, and the Mitsubishi Regional Jet due to enter service the following year.
