Pratt & Whitney Canada has begun developing an advanced turboprop engine for the regional airline sector, aiming for double-digit reductions in fuel burn and emissions over the current fleet.
The company says it has completed an advanced study phase, identified "key product attributes" for the engine and initiated detailed design of an advanced engine core, including a high-efficiency compressor and low-emissions gas generator that leverage knowledge gained from the PurePower geared turbofan and business jet engine programmes. P&WC will begin core testing next year. The company reports also that it has finished testing on its full-scale PurePower engine core, successfully validating performance and operability goals through more than 260h of testing.
The company says new offerings will be packaged as integrated propulsion systems that include engine, nacelle, propellers and other systems. Sister UTC company Hamilton Sundstrand is working with P&WC to design the IPS, as well as developing the propellers.
"Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW100 family of engines has led the regional turboprop segment since entering service more than 25 years ago. We will leverage our more than 200 million hours of regional turboprop experience to develop the most advanced engine for this important market segment," says John Saabas, PW&C president.
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Source: Flight Daily News
