SINGAPORE -- The GE-P&W Engine Alliance represents the strengths of the two leading aircraft engine manufacturers in the world, backed by two of the world's most successful, financially stable companies, General Electric and United Technologies, parent of Pratt & Whitney.
Created in 1996, the Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney to develop, manufacture, sell and support a family of engines for the new class of high-capacity, long-range aircraft, such as the Airbus A380.
The Engine Alliance is using state-of-the-art technology from GE and Pratt & Whitney, building on both companies' long history in commercial aviation to deliver engines with unprecedented reliability, performance, proactive environmental compatibility and value.
To date, airlines such as Emirates, Air France, FedEx and leasing giant International Lease Finance Corporation have purchased 200 GP7200 family engines for their A380s. Emirates will be the first to put the engine into service in 2006.
The Engine Alliance enjoys the full backing of General Electric and United Technologies which gives the GP7000 family a firm foundation. The strengths of GE and UTC-Pratt & Whitney include:
- Some 35,000 large commercial aircraft engines with hundreds of millions of hours of service at airlines worldwide.
- A customer support network that covers the world.
- Overhaul, repair and service centers at more than 50 locations around the globe.
- Partnerships with MTU of Germany, Snecma Moteurs of France and Techspace Aero of Belgium for the GP7000.
The GE-P&W Alliance is currently focused on developing and validating two models of the GP7000 family. The GP7270, rated at 70,000 pounds of thrust, will be used on the A380-800 passenger model and the GP7277, at 77,000 pounds of thrust, will power the A380-800 freighters. The base engine will be certified at more than 81,000 pounds of thrust so that it accommodates future growth of the A380 family.