Matthew Bromberg, president, Aftermarket at Pratt & Whitney
Aviation is always a dynamic place. With 12,000 active engines flying around the world, 6,000 professionals and 20 facilities open 24/7, we asked Pratt & Whitney’s Matthew Bromberg, Aftermarket president how their company is reacting to the fun, exciting, dynamic aftermarket. He says this year in particular, Pratt & Whitney is undergoing
a monumental change.
Over the next 15 years, the regional and mainline commercial jet installed base is projected to reach about 45,000 aircraft, which is nearly twice the 23,000 aircraft we have in service today. These aircraft are being rapidly introduced in emerging markets and are replacing aging fleets in North America and Europe.
A large percentage – about two-thirds – of these new aircraft will be powered by next-generation engines, engines that increase fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance visits for aircraft operators. Engines are being designed for less maintenance. Easier maintenance.
As next-generation engines and aircraft are incorporated at an unprecedented rate, those of us on the maintenance side need to take a hard look at what operators require to be successful. Are we still meeting our customers’ needs or should we adjust our offerings and approach?
If we listen closely to airlines and operators, we learn that they demand competition, which leads to high-quality and fair-priced services. And they need a global maintenance partner that they can trust, one who is ready, reliable and proven, to service their next-generation engines today and 50 years from now.
Competition Breeds High-Quality, Fair Prices
Consumers in any market demand choice and competition – the more options the better – and at Pratt & Whitney, we agree. Competition in the aviation maintenance marketplace forces us to become better service providers. It requires that we do what is best for our customers at all times. It is the essence of our industry, and it makes us work hard to improve.
That is why, from the beginning, Pratt & Whitney designed an open, flexible approach to our Geared Turbofan engine maintenance that gives operators the choice they demand. To be close to our global operator base, facilities in the network are being strategically located in Asia, Europe and North America. As this network grows, we expect it to include engine partner shops, airline shops and independent MRO facilities.
Historically, most aircraft operators rely on the engine OEM to provide maintenance for a new engine’s early years of operation. This is because they want cost predictability, and they recognize that new technology is best understood by the manufacturer.