601Pilot
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Engine Woes Force ACA To Pull Some 328JETs Out Of Service
01/16/2004
Problems with the Pratt & Whitney Canada (PW&C) PW300-306B engines powering Fairchild Dornier 328JETs at Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) led the carrier to take some aircraft off line, causing disruptions in its Delta Connection schedule.
Frequent trouble with the -306B fan blades resulted in removal of the engines for overhaul more frequently, and ACA said it has been tough to get replacement engines from PW&C.
Shortly after AvCraft Aviation bought the 328JET program last year, it estimated PW&C had included 20-40 spare engines for five aircraft that were 20%-80% completed in the deal (DAILY, April 14, 2003). ACA flies 30 of the aircraft.
"The engine replacement rate on our 328 fleet is over 20 times higher than our CRJ fleet," an ACA spokesman said. The engine situation was "well known," he added, noting that ACA had dealt with it proactively by being able to detect potential fan blade failures. The airline has not experienced a -306B failure in flight.
A Delta Connection spokeswoman said the carrier received notification toward the end of December and plans to reaccommodate displaced passengers through the end of February on other Delta Connection airlines.
PW&C has dealt with the fan blade problem, which involves the cooling system, through a product upgrade program, an AvCraft spokesman said, noting that the "fix" is currently being applied throughout the 328JET fleet.
PW&C will most likely pick up the tab for the upgrade. In a recent research note, UBS analyst Robert Ashcroft noted that the 328JET's engine maintenance is "worse than expected" and that ACA has a maintenance contract that "makes this the problem of the engine manufacturer."
01/16/2004
Problems with the Pratt & Whitney Canada (PW&C) PW300-306B engines powering Fairchild Dornier 328JETs at Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) led the carrier to take some aircraft off line, causing disruptions in its Delta Connection schedule.
Frequent trouble with the -306B fan blades resulted in removal of the engines for overhaul more frequently, and ACA said it has been tough to get replacement engines from PW&C.
Shortly after AvCraft Aviation bought the 328JET program last year, it estimated PW&C had included 20-40 spare engines for five aircraft that were 20%-80% completed in the deal (DAILY, April 14, 2003). ACA flies 30 of the aircraft.
"The engine replacement rate on our 328 fleet is over 20 times higher than our CRJ fleet," an ACA spokesman said. The engine situation was "well known," he added, noting that ACA had dealt with it proactively by being able to detect potential fan blade failures. The airline has not experienced a -306B failure in flight.
A Delta Connection spokeswoman said the carrier received notification toward the end of December and plans to reaccommodate displaced passengers through the end of February on other Delta Connection airlines.
PW&C has dealt with the fan blade problem, which involves the cooling system, through a product upgrade program, an AvCraft spokesman said, noting that the "fix" is currently being applied throughout the 328JET fleet.
PW&C will most likely pick up the tab for the upgrade. In a recent research note, UBS analyst Robert Ashcroft noted that the 328JET's engine maintenance is "worse than expected" and that ACA has a maintenance contract that "makes this the problem of the engine manufacturer."
