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Pratt & Whitney
- Date Based:
- 1925-01-01
- CEO:
- Christopher Calio
- Headquarters Location:
- East Hartford, United States
- Enterprise Sort:
- Engine Maker
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As industrial aviation scrambles to make itself greener, it’s the engine makers who’ve delivered sustainability good points in buckets. Engines just like the Pratt & Whitney GTF, the CFM Leap and the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB have diminished gas burn and emissions by double-digits on new plane. Whereas turboprops already produce considerably fewer emissions than jets, the search for cleaner propulsion took one other step ahead with a brand new engine gaining certification.
The brand new engine for ATR turboprops
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PWC PW127XT turboprop engine has gained kind certification. Picture: Pratt & Whitney Canada
On Saturday, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) introduced its new PW127XT-M regional turboprop engine had been type-certified by Transport Canada. The engine was developed and optimized to energy the ATR fleet of turboprops and can be used on new builds of ATR42 and ATR72 plane. The brand new engine will supersede the PW127M and considerably enhance working prices, reliability, time on-wing and upkeep prices. For the technically minded, the 127XT-M will generate thermodynamic energy of three,360 SHP, mechanical energy of two,750 SHP and 1,200 propellor RPM.
It’s anticipated the PW127XT-M (127XT) will change into the usual engine on ATRs from the ultimate quarter of this yr and be accessible as a retrofit improve on ATR-500 and -600 collection plane. P&WC vp, Regional Aviation and APU Product Advertising and Gross sales, Timothy Swail, mentioned the 127XT is the brand new customary for working economics, upkeep and sustainability for regional plane. “This certification is a crucial step towards the entry into service of recent ATR plane, and we proceed to help ATR because it builds a powerful order guide,” he provides.
Launched on the 2021 Dubai Airshow, the 127XT presents 40% prolonged time on-wing, 20% decrease upkeep prices and a 3% enchancment in gas effectivity. P&WC has developed a custom-made engine upkeep program tailor-made to match the working surroundings and missions of the engine. This permits it to “transfer to the fitting” the schedule for engine overhaul intervals and sizzling part inspections in comparison with the PW127M. The optimized program additionally calls for less than two scheduled engine occasions over ten years, lowering upkeep prices by 20%. That calculation relies on typical mission lengths and a pair of,000 annual flying hours.
ATR runs on 100% SAF in each engines
ATR CEO Stefan Bortoli proclaimed the 100% SAF flights as “the daybreak of a brand new period.” Picture: ATR / Chunlaud Melody
It’s typically quoted that regional turboprops use 40% much less gas and emit 40% much less CO2 emissions than regional jets on flights as much as 400 nautical miles (740kms). The 127XT will add one other 3% acquire and, just like the PW127M, is licensed to run on a 50% sustainable aviation gas mix (SAF). Swail mentioned: “We labored intently with ATR earlier this yr on the flight testing of the brand new PW127XT-M and the earlier PW127M engines utilizing 100% SAF in each engines.”
“Most notably, Braathens Regional Airways flew one among its ATR 72-600 plane utilizing 100% SAF in each its PW127M engines.”
Swail refers to a undertaking involving P&WC, ATR and Braathens Regional Airways in June this yr. The Braathens ATR 72 flew for 2 hours between Malmo and Bromma Airport in Sweden utilizing 100% SAF in each engines, changing into the primary turboprop on this planet to realize this milestone. The undertaking goals to assemble the information and do the testing to organize for a possible 100% SAF drop-in resolution for aviation. ATR CEO Stefano Bortoli poclaimed it “an historic day for aviation. After greater than a century of business flights powered by kerosene, we’re on the daybreak of a brand new period.”
