Neelam Mathews

Indian budget airline IndiGo is working with Pratt &amp; Whitney to ensure it meets a May 31 deadline set by the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to replace all remaining nonconforming PW1100G engines to improve the durability of the defective third-stage low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades.&nbsp;Design limitations since the inception of the GTF have resulted in aircraft on ground (AOGs), delayed deliveries and heavy compensation incurred by the OEM. The FAA, EASA and the DGCA have all mandated the major modification to the LPT 3, an IndiGo official told AIN.

 


The world’s largest Neo customer, IndiGo now operates 106 A320neos. The company has replaced some 60 percent of the 212 engines involved to meet an FAA directive applicable by the end of the year, said IndiGo COO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer during a conference call on January 27 to discuss the third fiscal quarter 2020 financial results. The DGCA had postponed an earlier deadline from January to ensure each Neo carried both remodified engines.

 


“After June, we will be flying full throttle, and I'm excited about what will happen after that,” said IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta. Delays in delivery for the Neos have resulted in IndiGo having to keep its A320ceos longer than planned. Dutta revealed that all the Ceos will have left the fleet by next year. “If Airbus would give us airplanes faster, we would take them faster,” he said.

 


Around ten remodified engines at a time can be loaded on 747 freighters from the U.S. to India. “It takes eight hours to change the engines generally. The work is carried out by P&amp;W engineers along with Indigo engineering staff in India,” said an IndiGo official.

 


IndiGo awaits delivery of 635 A320neo family jets at a rate of one aircraft a week for the next 12 years.&nbsp;By the end of December, its 257-strong&nbsp;fleet consisted of 96 A320neos, 126 A320ceos, 10 A321neos, and 25 ATR turboprops.&nbsp;

 


Meanwhile, fellow budget carrier GoAir still needs to replace 24 PW1100Gs from its fleet of 42 Neos. In November, it chose the Pratt &amp; Whitney engines for another 72 A320neo family aircraft it had ordered. It expects deliveries to start in 2021.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

IndiGo Lays Out Plan for Pratt Engine Replacement

The Indian LCC must replace all nonconforming engines on its remaining A320neos by May 31

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN