send alerts specific to engine serial numbers. No other civilian turboprop is currently using a digital twin for preventative health maintenance; however, GE Aviation is already using the digital twin on its commercial and military technology. To date, GE has invested $400 million in the engine’s development and has finalized an agreement with the Czech government to build its new turboprop headquarters for development, test and engine-production in the Czech Republic. Engineers ran the Catalyst for the first time on Dec. 22, 2017. Certification tests will take place over the next two years, with entry into service targeted for 2020. GE Aviation’s Passport engine integrated propulsion system received FAA certification in 2016 and is slated to enter service later this year on the Bombardier Global 7000 large cabin, long range business aircraft. The Passport is built on technologies proven and refined on multiple GE programs. The engine surpasses the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) Tier 6 emissions standards, meets the Federal Aviation Administration’s Stage 4 noise regulations. The Passport includes a high performance core similar to that on the LEAP engine (developed by CFM International, the 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines) derived from the eCore program, materials and design conditions similar to the GE90 and GEnx engines, low emission technology from the GP7000 and advanced technology such as the blisk and composites from military engines. In 2013, GE announced agreements with IHI of Japan and Techspace Aero (Safran) of Belgium to become joint venture partners on GE’s Passport. IHI and Techspace Aero are responsible for more than 37% of the Passport engine. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, IHI is responsible for the low-pressure turbine module, aerodrive systems, fan hub frame and aft fan case (30% of the Passport program). Techspace Aero, located in Liège, Belgium, is responsible for the booster module, lube tank and pump and the heat exchangers (7% of the Passport program).
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) bolstered its PW800 customer list in late February when it announced that the PurePower engine had been selected for the Dassault 6X business jet. The PW812D is expected to yield thrust of 13,000 to 14,000 lbs and using the same core technology as the company’s family of geared turbofans on commercial aircraft that have amassed more than 585,000 hours in service. The PurePower PW800 engine incorporates the latest generation of technologies: delivering double-digit improvement in fuel efficiency, setting a new “green” engine standard for emissions with the advanced TALON X combustor, and its low-noise design and low vibration levels will result in an exceptionally quiet cabin, enabling a more comfortable passenger experience, according to P&WC. PW800 series engines also are flying on the new Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft. Last year, P&WC confirmed that it was working on a 2,000 shp variant of its PT6 turboprop engine designed to work with single lever controls that could be fitted onto an aircraft such as a larger version of the Pilatus PC-12 or a new model King Air. P&WC is also making gains on the service side of the house. At this year’s Heli-Expo, it announced a comprehensive service agreement with Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH) to provide a comprehensive Engine Services Agreement that will cover approximately 240 P&WC engines flown by the Dallas, Texas-based, air medical service provider, through its subsidiaries, Med-Trans Corporation, REACH Air Medical Services, AirMed International and Guardian Flight. AMGH, one of the largest air medical
transport providers in the US, provides emergency medical services (EMS) using a mix of helicopters, aircraft and ground ambulances. In addition to Fleet Management Program (FMP) coverage that encompasses AMGH’s fleet of 100 PW206B engines, the new 10-year Engine Services Agreement will also provide fixed overhaul and hot section inspection costs for its fleet of 140 PT6A engines and a host of P&WCSMART programs that also offer guaranteed prices and genuine P&WC parts and labor. “AMGH has had engine maintenance agreements with P&WC for many years and this umbrella Engine Services Agreement will cover helicopter engines already maintained by P&WC in addition to a large number of turboprop engines which were previously not covered,” said Fred Buttrell, chief executive officer of AMGH. “We selected P&WC for this agreement because of our previous experience with it and because we wanted to establish fixed engine maintenance prices up front, reduce risks and improve the overall reliability of the fleet.” Momentum is continuing to build for Honeywell Aerospace’s HTS900 turboshaft after its selection for XTI’s TriFan 600 VTOL, Kopter’s SKYe SH09 utility helicopter and Eagle Copter’s Bell 407 retrofit program. The 820 shp HTS900 is designed to increase power output, reduce fuel consumption and allow for future engine growth within the same compressor architecture and features dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system with a manual back-up provision to ease pilot workload and to facilitate engine maintenance planning and troubleshooting.
BART: MAY - JUNE - 2018 - 65
CHOICE
PurePower PW800 has been selected to power the new Falcon Business Jet.