Pratt & Whitney buys Dutch AI firm Aiir to speed up engine inspections
What's the deal? Pratt & WhitneyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a business unit of RTXDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has acquired Dutch technology company Aiir InnovationsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to expand its use of AI across aircraft engine inspection and maintenance. The company announced the deal on July 15, 2026, but did not disclose financial terms.
What does Aiir do? The startup has built AI-assisted software that analyses borescope inspection footage, helping engineers spot potential engine issues faster and more consistently. Processes that previously demanded significant manual effort can now finish within minutes, Pratt & Whitney said.
Why now? The technology is already in use by commercial customers and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers, where it has cut engine inspection times. It has been deployed on the V2500 engine and completed pilot programmes for the GTF and F135 engine families.
What's the endgame? Pratt & Whitney plans to expand the software across more engine programmes, supporting MRO work on commercial, civil, and military aircraft worldwide. The platform improves over time by incorporating feedback from inspectors and includes customisable reporting tools.
What they're saying: "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," said Rob Griffiths, senior vice president of commercial engines operations at Pratt & Whitney.
The signal: The deal underscores how aerospace giants are folding AI into maintenance to reduce aircraft downtime and lift operational performance for airline and defence customers.
Read more: Yahoo Finance
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