Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has appointed Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems to develop a low-cost fuel metering and electronic engine control system for the initial turbofan version of the PW600 family, triggering speculation that a formal development effort is now under way for a launch application.
The contract covers development hardware for the first engine which is due to start test work in the fourth quarter, but "it may" lead to longer term contracts for an eventual production version, says P&WC. There are plans to offer turbofan, turboshaft and turboprop derivatives. As all are aimed at the lower power bracket, the engine family is expected to provide P&WC with successors to the PT6 and JT15D.
The company adds, however, that the contract award does not signal any "changes to the status", of the PW600 which has yet to formally secure a customer.
Woodward and Snecma Control Systems (SCS) of France are jointly offering the mechanical and electrical hardware, while maintaining system responsibility. SCS will lead the electronic engine control efforts with its Canadian division, Messier-Dowty. The PW600 accord builds on links with Woodward on the PT6, PW100 and PW200 programmes.
Source: Flight International
