Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW615F engine for Cessna’s Citation Mustang received Transport Canada type certification on 30 December 2005. It is the first of the company’s new generation of very-light jet (VLJ) engines to be certificated.
“Similar approvals from US and European airworthiness authorities will be forthcoming,” says P&WC, which is ramping up production to deliver around 500 PW600-family series engines in 2006, and 1,200 a year within four years. The dual-channel full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC)-equipped PW615F, rated at 1,350lb thrust (6kN), will be followed by the PW610 for the Eclipse Aviation Eclipse 500, with engine certification targeted for the end of March.The PW617 powering the Embraer Phenom 100 VLJ is due for certification in late 2007.
Selected to power the Citation Mustang in January 2003, the PW615F was certificated less than a month after the Mustang received type inspection authorisation from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Meanwhile, Cessna’s third Mustang, the second production aircraft, made its first flight on 27 January, joining the prototype and first production aircraft in the development and certification flight-test programme. The three aircraft are being used for FAA certification, targeted this year. Cessna says the latest aircraft “will primarily be used for systems certification, function and reliability tests and post-certification service tests. Its 90min first flight puts the Mustang certification test programme at more than 360 flights and 580h.” The Citation Mustang prototype is primarily being used for aerodynamic and performance certification, and the first production aircraft is being used for systems and avionics development and certification.
GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Source: Flight International
