Old thread revived - and we've all leapt at it !
Originally Posted by
TVproducerNick
Episode 2 explores the temperamental early engines
I wonder if you will be able to draw close parallels with the current situation on the recently introduced A320Neo, where Pratt & Whitney with the GTF engine have once again got into major reliability and failure issues with a new engine, which is having a considerable impact on the airlines who have ordered it. We are back to new aircraft stacked up at the factory with concrete blocks balancing where the engines should be.
Pratts, once the world leader, have in the meantime had a range of issues with the introduction of other new engines along the way as well, and have lost considerable market share.
Back to the old 747-100. Both TWA and Pan Am scheduled it nonstop daily on London to Los Angeles/San Francisco. BA refused to do so believing it to be beyond reliable 747 range at that time, no BA 747s to LAX until the first -200/RRs came along (I was on the first week's operation). The two US carriers departed Heathrow in the early afternoon, and were more than a little concern to ATC on warm summer days, especially if they were on easterlies going out over solid built-up areas. I wonder if the FE had any procedures they were standing by to implement if they got an engine failure at this stage. Pan Am were more than once referred to as a "Hedge Clipper" on what passed for a climbout, while TWA going off 9R (probably 10R then) were said to be "departing via the Piccadilly Line".