Design and development[edit]

Pratt & Whitney designed the engine with minimum complexity to significantly reduce
maintenance cost and achieve weight and fuel consumption savings. However, tests revealed
that the initial five-stage high compressor based design did not meet promised fuel burn
performance. As a result, many of the original customers switched their orders to the rival CFM
International CFM56-5. To address the problem, Pratt & Whitney re-certified an updated design
utilizing a six-stage high compressor designed by MTU Aero Engines in order to achieve
promised performance. The German company manufactures the high-pressure compressor and
the low-pressure turbine. The HP compressor is driven by a single-stage turbine. On the LP
spool a three-stage turbine drives a single-stage fan and a four-stage LP compressor.
The engine made its first flight August 21, 2000 on a test aircraft flown from Plattsburgh
International Airport (KPBG), successfully completing a 1-hour-20-minute flight.[1]The engine final
assembly line is located at MTU Aero Engines at their location in Hanover, Germany.
LAN Airlines confirmed an order for 15 Airbus A318 aircraft, for a total of 34 engines (30 installed
and 4 spares) powered by PW-6000 engines on 15 August 2005. In addition, LAN signed with
Pratt and Whitney to power up to 25 option aircraft. If LAN exercises all options it would mean an
additional 56 (50 installed and six spare) engines.
Prior to the LAN order, 84 CFM56-5 powered Airbus A318 aircraft had been ordered, with 28
currently in service as of December 2005.