Powering Sustainable Aviation: Smarter, Cleaner, Greener

The future of sustainable aviation will be powered by advances in engine and fuel technology, and, for the 37,000 people of Pratt & Whitney, we know our customers are looking to us to create solutions that are not only good for the environment, but good for their business, too.?

Earlier today, the Pratt & Whitney leadership team shared our strategy for sustainable propulsion, which builds on the decades of work we’ve done to make our engines more fuel efficient and paves the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Pratt & Whitney’s sustainability strategy is anchored by three key elements:?smarter technology, cleaner fuel?and?greener business. Some advanced technologies, like our Geared Turbofan (GTF) family of engines introduced in 2016, are flying today and delivering meaningful benefits to customers around the world, with 16-20% better fuel efficiency than prior generation engines. Today, we introduced the GTF Advantage configuration, which saves even more fuel while providing greater thrust – providing benefits for the planet and our customers.

The technologies of the future that we are developing today include hybrid-electric propulsion and preparing for cleaner fuel alternatives like hydrogen and biofuels. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are a key technology that can be deployed today, in today’s current flying fleet, that will significantly reduce carbon emissions, but today’s supply of SAF is expensive and is not produced at the scale the industry needs. We support initiatives by governments around the world to help mature SAF technology and stimulate the development of a secure, robust, and affordable supply to our airline customers. Our engines are ready for SAF right now – we just need the SAF.

On the greener business front, we have reduced water usage and scrap in our manufacturing process through innovative solutions driven by our highly engaged workforce, and that work will continue. For example, with continued development of manufacturing processes and facilities, such as the new state-of-the-art plant in Asheville, N.C., we are focused on reducing waste, increasing recycling and limiting carbon footprints. What’s good for employees and our facilities is also good for the environment.

Our total-company approach to sustainability is a team effort, now spear-headed by the recent appointment of Pratt & Whitney’s first chief sustainability officer, Graham Webb, who will ensure we have full engagement, alignment and execution of sustainability strategies across our business.

These changes are imperative for our growth, but also to fulfill our responsibility to our customers and communities. Our core mission is to connect people, grow economies and help defend freedom by making and servicing dependable engines. With the demand for air travel expected to grow for the industry to nearly 8 billion passengers annually by 2040, passengers can rely on Pratt & Whitney to make travel sustainable.

As the past 12 months have repeatedly shown, the world’s economy depends on fast, efficient and reliable air travel. As an industry leader, Pratt & Whitney will continue to play an essential role in these efforts.

There’s much more to the Pratt & Whitney sustainability story – and the dedicated people who come to work every day to put our principles into practice. I invite you to learn more at?prattwhitney.com/sustainability.?