Field service reps help JetBlue with new technology
Whether it’s a child on his or her birthday or a pilot getting in the cockpit of a recently delivered A320, there is just something special about getting something new.
“It’s pretty exciting to get to this point, because all that work is coming home,” said Joe Churchill, customer fleet director for Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. Churchill serves as a key field service representative for JetBlue Airways.
He and his team have been working since 2012, when JetBlue selected the Geared Turbofan™ engine to power its total fleet of 85 Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft. The company’s new A320neo, its first, went into service last month.
“The A320neo, with the Pratt & Whitney engine, is going to open up a route map for JetBlue Airways. So we’re going to be able to fly further with increased revenue,” said Neil Sawhny, general manager of engineering for JetBlue Airways.
But before new routes can happen, there is a learning curve for both field service representatives and their customers. It’s an education that started long before the New York-based airline took delivery of the plane in June.
“Of course we need to be technically savvy with the new platform,” said Patrick Dethioux, senior field representative with Pratt & Whitney. “That’s learning all the different aspects of the engine, knowing the comparisons between the V2500 and the GTF, which is crucial because they’ve been working with the ‘V’ for almost 20 years.”
“The process is fairly extensive,” said Steve Woodbridge, field representative with Pratt & Whitney. “There’s a lot of familiarity with the maintenance technicians and power department here. But the process starts well in advance of delivery. We’re looking at spares provisioning and field management program and contractual obligations.”
JetBlue is on the cusp of many "firsts": a new plane, new engines, new routes and new experiences in aviation that are creating fresh opportunities for customers. And they’re not done yet. The airline receives its first A220 aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PW1500G engines, next year.
“I think right now with the GTF this is more of a paradigm shift,” said Sawhny.
“There’s a term here called business partner. We are truly viewed as a business partner. We are not a vendor or a supplier,” Churchill said. “We are expected to be engaged, transparent with each other and working with each other in a mutually beneficial manner. That type of relationship allows you to build deeper relationships.”