IR News details

• RTX’s Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage^TM engine achieves U.S. FAA type certification
• MTU Aero Engines contributes with technology and maintenance expertise
• First production engine deliveries expected later this year

Munich, 27 February, 2025 | Pratt & Whitney’s GTF Advantage engine has achieved U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification for the Airbus A320neo family. The Advantage is the latest engine from the GTF family to be certified – an achievement to which MTU Aero Engines contributed with its engineering and technology expertise.

“GTF engines already offer the lowest fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for single-aisle aircraft,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “The GTF Advantage engine extends that lead and enhances aircraft capability, providing more thrust and even more value to operators of A320neo family aircraft, especially on longer-range aircraft like the A321XLR, all with a more durable configuration.”

The GTF Advantage will deliver 4-8 percent more takeoff thrust, enabling higher payload and longer range, unlocking new destinations for airlines. It offers better fuel efficiency with lower carbon emissions. Pratt & Whitney is working to ensure that the GTF Advantage will be compatible with future specifications for 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

“MTU is a trusted and committed partner in the GTF program. We fully believe in the engine family’s promising prospects and are excited to see first engine deliveries later this year,” said Lars Wagner, CEO of MTU Aero Engines. “Beyond lower fuel consumption and lower CO₂ emissions, the GTF Advantage is set to further increase robustness in service and on-wing times, and in turn, increase customer satisfaction.”

MTU’s share in the GTF engine family is as much as 18 percent, depending on the application. In addition to being responsible for the high-speed low-pressure turbine and the first four stages of the high-pressure compressor, MTU also manufactures brush seals and integrally bladed rotors made of nickel for high-pressure compressor components beyond its design responsibility. Moreover, MTU assembles one-third of the production PW1100G-JM engines for the A320neo.

The GTF Advantage includes fully redesigned life-limited parts and technology enhancements throughout the gas path. It is fundamentally more durable, with increased airflow in the core to lower operating temperatures and a state-of-the-art hot section to increase time on-wing. In the high-pressure turbine, the enhancements include an advanced airfoil design with improved coatings. The high-pressure turbine and combustor also feature optimized cooling hole size, shape and location.

The GTF Advantage test program incorporated extensive endurance testing to advance product maturity at entry into service. The GTF Advantage accomplished more than twice the amount of testing compared to the current GTF engine. It also benefits from over 100,000 hours of engine and rig testing across all GTF programs, along with 38 million flight hours of in-service operation. Certain elements of the GTF Advantage configuration can be incorporated into today’s GTF engine to support increased time on wing.

Wide-ranging MTU contribution to joint GTF success

During GTF Advantage development, MTU supported its partners by utilizing fleet experience and advanced design and measurement methods to systematically increase the engine’s robustness and efficiency further. It also contributed a significantly improved design for the high-pressure compressor blades combined with an optimized protective coating for use in demanding environmental conditions. MTU’s unique compressor test facility in Munich enabled an early validation of the new high-pressure compressor’s aerodynamics. Additionally, the high-speed low-pressure turbine received an optimized active clearance control system achieving even higher efficiency.

In addition to development and production of the GTF, MTU plays a major role in the global maintenance network for the GTF engine. The company has MRO capabilities for this engine type at its sites in Hannover (Germany) and Zhuhai (China) as well as in Jasionka (Poland) at EME Aero, a joint venture between MTU and Lufthansa Technik. In China, MTU will soon add further MRO capacity for the GTF.

To date, more than 2,200 GTF-powered aircraft have been delivered to over 80 customers worldwide. GTF engines enable up to 20% better fuel efficiency and since entering service, have helped airlines save more than 2 billion gallons of fuel, equivalent to avoiding 20 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions, compared to those aircraft having been powered by prior generation engines. Demand for the GTF engine remains strong, with 11,000 engine orders and commitments in total across all platforms.

See here for more information regarding certification of the GTF Advantage and the engine program. Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com.