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Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has been awarded type certificate from Transport Canada for its first PurePower Geared Turbofan PW1500G engine, which will power Bombardier’s CSeries airliner.

Since the beginning of initial testing in September 2010, Pratt & Whitney has conducted more than 4,000 hours of rigorous engine testing, which included 340 hours of flight testing on P&W’s experimental 747 flight test aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney next-generation product vice president Bob Saia said the company has successfully demonstrated the durability and performance of the Geared Turbofan engine architecture.

"To date, we have conducted over 9,000 hours of testing on our Fan Drive Gear System, demonstrating the service readiness of our gearbox," Saia added.

Assembled at Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Mirabel Aerospace Centre in Mirabel, Quebec, the PW1500G series feature an advanced gear system that allows the engine’s fan to operate at variable speeds compared with the low-pressure compressor and turbine.

"We have met a number of key milestones over the last few months, accepted the first pair of PW1500G propulsion systems and are in the process of completing final assembly of the first CSeries flight test aircraft."

UTC Aerospace Systems, which was formed after UTC’s acquisition of Goodrich, supplies the nacelle system for the engines.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft CSeries vice president and general manager Rob Dewar said the certification of the PW1500G engine was a significant milestone and critical step in supporting the progressive transfer of the first CSeries flight test vehicle to the flight test programme.

"We have met a number of key milestones over the last few months, accepted the first pair of PW1500G propulsion systems and are in the process of completing final assembly of the first CSeries flight test aircraft," Dewar said.

Designed for 100 to 149-seat market, the CSeries jets will be powered by two PurePower PW1500G engines and are expected to offer 20% fuel savings compared with rival jets, with a 15% operating cost advantage to airlines.

Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies, is involved in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.


Image: The CSeries jets will be powered by two PurePower PW1500G engines. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.

Defence Technology