P&W completes initial flight testing on CSeries engine

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) said the PW1524G geared turbofan engine completed its initial flight test program at P&W Canada's Mirabel Aerospace Center in Quebec, logging a total of 25 flights and 115 flight hr. aboard a flying test bed Boeing 747. The engine will power the Bombardier CSeries (ATW Daily News, June 22).

P&W VP-NextGen product family Bob Saia said, "Results confirmed our earlier sea level test findings validating the geared turbofan’s overall engine design. The engine operated flawlessly, enabling us to conduct double the number of flight hours we initially planned. Our expanded test program enabled us to conduct additional flight testing [that had been] planned for early 2012."

The PW1500G test program is slated to comprise eight test engines. Pratt is targeting engine certification in 2012 with CSeries EIS planned for 2013.