General Electric and Pratt & Whitney are pressing Boeing for an exclusivity deal to power the proposed 777-200X/300X long range derivatives, as repeated demand for increased levels of thrust progressively drive up development costs.
The two powerplant suppliers, along with Rolls-Royce, are briefing airlines on 110-114,000lb (490-507kN) thrust engine growth plans for the latest revised 340,500kg (750,000lb) maximum take-off weight version of the 777-200X/300X. Boeing is understood to want to conclude a fresh memorandum of understanding for a higher thrust engine by mid-year.
General Electric's GE90 growth programme and Pratt & Whitney's study turbofan would hinge on a sole-source arrangement with Boeing. Rolls-Royce is proposing a further development of its existing 777 engine in the form of a wider diameter fan, Trent 8110, but is not making exclusivity on the airframe a precondition.
"Three way competition is not going to work. We do not see how any of the three current engines on their own can reach these thrust levels without a major engineering effort and investment in technology," says P&W.
GE chairman Jack Welch has reportedly put the price of GE90 growth development at around $500 million, which others consider on the low side. The required outlay for P&W is likely to be particularly high, given that its existing PW4000 series is at its growth limit. Its troubled 98,000lb (436kN)-thrust PW4098 development is not due to enter service on the first Korean Air 777-300 until September, 12 months late (Flight International, 23 December-5 January, P4).
As part of any new memorandum of understanding, all three engine makers seem to want some form of firm commitment from Boeing that it will finally press ahead with the much- delayed 777-200X/300X development.
Boeing is increasingly focusing its attention on the proposed 777-300X, rather than the ultra-long haul 200X, in an effort to counter the sales success of the similarly sized Airbus Industrie A340-600, which offers a range of around 13,875km (7,500km).
Source: Flight International
