Hot Section Plus: Pratt & Whitney Reveals New Aftermarket Upgrade For GTF Engines
A new upgrade option for the PW1100G geared turbofans has been released by听. The kit promises to bring already in-service powerplants' durability nearly to par with its newly certified听听Advantage update.
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- Business Type
- Engine Maker
- Date Founded
- January 1, 1925
- CEO
- Christopher Calio
- Headquarters Location
- East Hartford, United States
The upgrade is done through maintenance visits. Dubbed the "Hot Section Plus," the kit adds 35 new components that P&W says will deliver 90鈥95% of the benefits of the GTF Advantage. The new performance and service life upgrades are also a fuel-economy booster for what is already the best narrowbody engine money can buy.
Gearing Up For 2026: The 鈥淗ot Section Plus鈥
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P&W is striving to make new-build PW1100Gs more robust through the GTF Advantage. The refined design improvements will increase both thrust and durability. P&W anticipates delivering the PW1100G GTF Advantage to clients this year and putting powerplants into service in 2026 after the US听听(FAA) qualified it in February of 2025.
The 鈥淗ot Section Plus鈥 update will be deployed next year to incorporate many of the GTF Advantage enhancements in engines already serving on the flightline. Also听, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the PW1100G engine sub-types that will power the Airbus A321XLR
Power On Tap: The GTF Advantage
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The fuel-efficient geared turbofan (GTF) engine family of America鈥檚 Pratt & Whitney passed multiple major milestones this year. Certification in February by the FAA and EASA has the GTF Advantage (GTF-A) very close to full-rate production and fleet debut. Airbus is planning to have the newly upgraded powerplants on their next generation of听听jets, including the听.
听and up to 1% better fuel economy. It also delivers up to 8% more takeoff thrust. Combined with the design optimizations of Airbus' next single-aisle generation, carriers will be able to fly farther than ever before. The higher thrust will also allow them to haul more cargo or passengers on every flight.
The GTF-A has been enhanced for increased durability with a state-of-the-art hot section. It has increased core airflow, and the high-pressure turbine (HPT) has been designed with advanced airfoils and coatings. The HPT and combustor's cooling design has also been refined to reduce oxidation. P&W improved the production process itself as well to make big improvements to its product.
Extra Information & Related Developments
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听process to reduce downtime on GTF-A series geared turbofans. The printing technique is called "Directed Energy Disposition," and it was developed by P&W鈥檚 North American Technology Accelerator in Jupiter, Florida. The goal is to make every depot cycle faster, simpler, and more efficient for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) teams.
According to the manufacturer, GTFs that have received the Hot Section Plus update will be completely interchangeable with both the new GTF Advantage powerplants. The update kit, combined with the radical new replacement parts production process, will make the next generation PW1100Gs a game changer for airline maintenance.
The GTF-A and the Hot Section Plus听听of previous generation engines, according to the company. The engine maker also says the GTF engine is the most fuel-efficient on the market for single-aisle airplanes. The engines save operators a dramatic amount of money with up to 20% better fuel efficiency than any comparable powerplant