Pratt & Whitney acquires Aiir Innovations to bolster AI-assisted borescope inspections
Pratt & Whitney announced the acquisition of Amsterdam-based Aiir Innovations in July 2026. (Pratt & Whitney)
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced on 15 July that it acquired Amsterdam-based company Aiir Innovations.
The Connecticut-based company announced the acquisition would spur the use of AI-assisted borescope software to expand engine inspection capabilities.
“Broadening the integration of AI-assisted inspection capability strengthens our ability to detect issues earlier, improve turnaround times, increase time on wing and reduce operational disruption for our customers,” Rob Griffiths, senior vice president, Commercial Engines Operations at Pratt & Whitney said in a company statement, adding it would “fundamentally reshape how engines and components are inspected, maintained and supported throughout their lifecycle”.
The software enables inspectors to conduct more consistent assessments at speed, further reducing inspection times. Pratt & Whitney said it applied the AI technology on its V2500 engine and recently completed pilots on its GTF and F135 engines.
“Today when an inspector goes and boards and strips an engine, that information is fed back in and it's analyzed back [at the factory], as an example, right? Now using AI, you get faster response, more predictable response, more consistent response,” Rick Deurloo, president, Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney told reporters during a media event at the company's 1,200 acre facility in Middletown, Connecticut on 1 July.
According to the company, the software can adapt to inspector feedback and improve its classification performance over time, drawing down formerly time-consuming processes to minutes.
Jill Albertelli, president, Military Engines at Pratt & Whitney, told reporters that her division is prototyping the AI borescope technology on its F135 engines, which she said would be an “advantage” for the company's engine maintenance teams around the world.
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