Pratt & Whitney Canada is partnering with ATR on a project to achieve 100% sustainable aviation fuel readiness in PW127 series engines by 2025.
Development of new powerplant technologies has had mixed results in the past few years, with some milestones reached but also several projects failing.
Conventional turboprop engines are vulnerable to replacement by new technology, but until a commercially viable new engine becomes available, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 continues to dominate the regional turboprop market.
Naturally, the OEM wants to maintain this position, pursuant to which it is partnering with ATR on a project to achieve 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) readiness in PW127 series engines by 2025.
“While all Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have already been certified for 50% SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100% SAF blends in future will allow us to maximise their potential for decarbonization,” said Anthony Rossi, vice-president sales and marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
P&WC has also boosted the sustainability of it engines by releasing the PW127XT, which offers a 20% reduction in maintenance costs and a 3% improvement in fuel consumption compared with the PW127M.
In January, Air Corsica became the launch operator of the PW127XT following delivery of a new ATR72-600.
Older PW127 models continue to draw demand as well. C&L Aerospace recently acquire five PW127F units – a model that was first certified in 1996.
The U.S. company has now acquired 20 PW127 engines, mostly for teardown to supply a market it believes had long-term potential.
“We have expanded aggressively to meet the needs of ATR operators around the world,” said Warrick Hood, senior vice-president of C&L Aerospace. “C&L is here to be a long-term support provider in the ATR market, assisting operators with PW127 engine sales, purchases, leasing, repair management, spare parts supply, and more.”
