Pratt & Whitney Issues GTF Inspections

Pratt & Whitney announced that their PW1100 series Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines will require inspections as micro-cracks have been discovered in this engine series. It affects over 1,200 power plants globally. These inspections are also required in the PW1200 series, that powers the A220 series and the Embraer E2 series.

Locally, both Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines A321-271Ns will be affected as airframes will need to be grounded and engines inspected. Hawaiian said that they will have their A321Ns inspected on the mainland, and will do them in increments, and adjust flight schedules as need be. Of their 18 A321Ns, Hawaiian already has two parked on their maintenance ramp awaiting replacement PW1100s. Delta has not mentioned their plans for their 37 A321Ns, though with their large fleet, other aircraft could substituted for their grounded A321Ns. Delta recently converted a majority of their west coast flights to Hawai‘i to the A321N. American Airlines, which also flies their A321Ns to Hawai‘i, is unaffected as they have CFM LEAPs powering their A321-253Ns.

Further information in this Airways Magazine article, this CH-Aviation.com article, and this KHON2 News report.