P&W partners AIESL for maintenance of all types of engines

Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney has partnered with Air India Engineering Services Ltd for maintenance of all types of engines, including those powering A320 neos, according to a source.

The two companies are likely to make a joint announcement about the partnership soon, the source told PTI.

A320 neo planes, powered by P&W engines, have been grappling with snags for nearly four years. A substantial number of such neos are operated in India by IndiGo and GoAir.

P&W already has a tie-up with Air India Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) for maintenance of its 4056 engine model. These engines power Boeing 747-series aircraft.

Once the new partnership is in place, AIESL would be carrying out maintenance work for all types of engines manufactured by P&W.

"P&W and AIESL have entered into an agreement under which the latter will maintain P&W engines in the country. In the first phase of the contract, P&W is helping in having a set up in Mumbai for model change," the source said.

Faulty engines would come to AIESL for replacement and then they would be taken to P&W factory for repair. Later, the repaired engines would be refitted in the aircraft concerned, the source added.

Under the pact, P&W would also train Air India staff with respect to handling engines.

A P&W spokesperson declined to comment.

However, a senior company official confirmed the signing of the agreement with the AIESL.

"We are not commenting on the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) plans in India," P&W spokesperson Jenny Dervin told PTI in response to a query on the issue.

AIESL officials were not available for comments.

Aviation regulator DGCA has set a deadline of May 31 for IndiGo to replace all 135 unmodified P&W engines.

As per the source, AIESL has already received the first P&W engine of an IndiGo plane for maintenance work at Mumbai facility, the source said.

"According to the agreement, the P&W officials will come and train AIESL engineers. Initially, their own engineers will do the job along with AIESL engineers