Management at the Engine Alliance believes Kingfisher Airlines and Qatar Airways could make an engine selection for their A380 aircraft next year and the company has held discussions with both carriers about the engine now in operation with Emirates.
The GP7200 built by Engine Alliance partners GE and Pratt & Whitney officially entered service with the inaugural A380 flight by Emirates from Dubai to New York on 1 August.
Onboard the flight Engine Alliance EVP Bruce Hughes told ATI that Indian carrier Kingfisher could make an engine decision in the first quarter of 2009 while Qatar would likely decide later in the year.
Each carrier has five A380s on order, according to the Flight ACAS database. Deliveries for the carriers are scheduled in the 2011 and 2012 timeframe, says Hughes, who notes that Airbus typically prefers that customers make their engine selection about 30 months prior to delivery.
Engine Alliance has discussed the option that allows for operation of the GP7200 at maximum thrust and full payload on hotter days with both airlines. A software feature in the aircraft’s digital controls allows for the maximum thrust operation once the pilot has put the outside air temperature into the system.
The company beat its fuel burn promise to Airbus by about 1%, and Hughes says Engine Alliance has a team in place to examine a 1%-2% improvement in engine fuel consumption over the next five years.
Estimated time on wing for the GP7200 for a standard mission is about 20,000 hours, but could be longer depending on the carrier, Hughes notes.
The expected production rate for the GP7200 in 2009 is about 25 shipsets, says Hughes, with that rate being fairly consistent for the foreseeable future.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: Flight International
