Pratt & Whitney Canada is preparing to launch the very first 90-seat turboprop engine. P&W expect the new engine to be completed in three to four years, making the expected release date to be in 2016.
The new turboprop will be in the class of 5,000-7,000 shaft horsepower. The current P&W 150A engine, which powers the Bombardier Q400, only has a maximum 5,071shp. P&W wants 20% better fuel efficiency than the 100 and 150 series. The company will accompany the new engine with an integrated propulsion system. A full core demo of the engine will be tested by the end of next year, with the first components being tested this summer.
GE Aviation is also considering the development of an engine for the 70 to 100-seat market. The military will use the GE38 engine for their CH53K helicopter that will take-off on its first flight later this year. GE is preparing a concept engine known as the CPX38, which will be based off of the GE38. The CPX38 will be adapted for commercial buyers and will enter the market around the same time as the Pratt & Whitney engine. GE is aiming for 15% less fuel consumption than the average turboprop. Like the P&W 90-seater, the CPX38 will also have an integrated propeller system.
Although GE is noticing strong usage of the 50-seater, Regional General Manager Chuck Nugent believes there is a migration to higher seat range turboprops.
Responding to the Turboprop Market
Due to higher fuel costs, airlines are losing money on short-haul routes. Richard Dussault, VP of Marketing for P&W, stated that airlines are ready for a larger turboprop. He thinks that if they could get one tomorrow, they would.
Mr. Dussault also believes airframers are eager for a stretched turboprop. As of right now, the 30-seater is the dominant turboprop in the US market, while the 50-seater is most popular in Europe. Although the total market for turboprops is down 16%, the majority of the drop is in 30-seat planes.
Europe-based turboprop manufacturer ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato thinks that in roughly five years there will be a market for airplanes that are slightly larger than 70-seaters.
Globally, 55% of regional airline fleets are comprised of turboprops.
Bombardier's VP of Marketing Philippe Poutissou thinks that the regional aircraft market has a general trend leaning toward larger turboprops. P&W's Dussault says that he has observed a trend where regional jets increase in increments from 30, to 50, to 70, and now to 90 seats. He sees the company's move toward 90-seats as a natural evolution.
Key Players – Global Aircraft, Engines, Parts & Equipment Industry
- American Champion Aircraft Corporation, ATR, BAE Systems, Bell Helicopter Textron, Bombardier, CFM International, Cirrus Design Corporation, Diamond Aircraft Industries, Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica, European Aeronautic Defense and Space, Airbus, EADS Socata, Eurocopter, GE Aviation, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Ilyushin Aviation Complex JSC, International Aero Engines, IRKUT Corporation, Lancair International, Lockheed Martin, MD Helicopters, NH Industries, Pilatus Aircraft, Piper Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce plc, RUAG Aerospace, Snecma, Stork Aerospace Industries, Stork Fokker AESP, S.A.B.C.A., The Boeing Company
