International Aero Engines (IAE) will begin to consider a “SelectThree” variant of its established V2500 turbofan around the end of 2011 as a potential follow-on to the SelectTwo version unveiled earlier this year and launched by Middle East operator Gulf Air. The powerplant manufacturers making up the group have extended their partnership agreement to 2045 and Asian carrier China Southern has become the largest V2500 customer.
Ian Aitken, president and chief executive of the partnership, which comprises Japanese Aero Engines, MTU Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, told AIN that he expects to hear from engineers “in six months’ time” about possible further V2500 enhancements. He said IAE investment is not constrained to any particular area of engine operations and that improvements could come in soft- or hardware changes or in, say, maintenance costs. “I’ve said, ‘Tell me what is possible’ and then I’ll see the business case. There are a lot of technologies available from each partner.”
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