The future of the International Aero Engines (IAE) consortium is facing uncertainties in the wake of Pratt & Whitney's launch of the PW6000 and stated intent to develop the follow-on PW8000 in direct competion with the V2500.
The go-ahead of the PW6000 for the Airbus A318 has fuelled speculation that Rolls-Royce, the other major IAE shareholder, plans to try and buy out P&W's share to clear the way for further V2500 developments as the basis for a next generation engine of its own.
Rolls-Royce's managing director airlines, John Cheffins says P&W's actions "sends signals that they don't wish to develop any further V2500 derivatives, and we'd like to. It's certainly not clear what P&W wants to do."
The US engine builder remains categorical it will never sell its share in the consortium. "We have never said we will sell our share of IAE and we see no need to renegotiate the agreement," according to P&W's senior vice-president programmes, Bob Leduc.
Barry Eccleston, outgoing president of IAE, says: "The V2500 is a major part of the shop load for Rolls-Royce and P&W, and for that reason alone I don't think either will want to walk away from the programme".
IAE has a backlog of 1,700 engines through to 2006. Eccleston admits, however, that the shareholders need to meet to reaffirm IAE's future. "These sort of decisions will have to be made relatively soon."
Rolls-Royce believes the issue will be forced once P&W launches the PW8000. P&W considers the move essential in the long term as it intends to use the engine as the basis for a new generation of geared fan engines throughout the entire thrust range to 80,000lb (355kN). A senior Rolls-Royce executive says: "We will soon have to sit down and have an adult discussion about a conflict of interest."
P&W president Karl Krapek has made no secret of plans to use the PW6000/PW8000 developments to regain the market dominance it once enjoyed with the JT8D and lost to CFM International's CFM56.
"I'd rather have a 100% share than one-third of a half share," says Krapek, with reference to his company's share in the V2500.
The joker in the pack appears to be the emergence of a joint plan by Rolls-Royce and BMW Rolls-Royce, to develop technology for a new engine core that could provide the basis for a new family up to 35,000lb-thrust resulting in the formation of an "IAE 2", grouped around Rolls-Royce.
Source: Flight International
