ENGINE SNAG: P&W’S SHUTDOWN WOES
IT’S BEEN A bumpy ride for aerospace engine maker Pratt and Whitney (P&W). After a series of engine glitches last year, the company was mired in another controversy recently over its PW1100G engine, which it claims took over 10 years and $10 billion to develop. Following instances of inflight engine shutdowns and aborted take-offs, the European agency, EASA, issued a directive to the carriers for restricting the use of PW1100G engines of a particular ‘faulty’ series on a single aircraft. India’s largest carrier by market share, IndiGo, has been hit badly as it was flying three such aircraft – these have been grounded for the time being. The matter, however, is of grave concern as the same class of engines is repeatedly throwing up safety issues. It is better that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation insists on a thorough check of these ‘faulty’ engines instead of relying on the engine maker and the aircraft manufacturer.