Pratt's GTF to enter detailed design phase this summer

Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G geared turbofan program for the Bombardier CSeries and Mitsubishi Regional Jet will enter the detailed design phase by midsummer, VP-Next Generation Product Family Bob Saia told ATWOnline yesterday. This stage, which follows completion of the preliminary design phase, will take 12-15 months, leading to first engine runs by the third quarter of 2010. "We start testing in the middle of next year, we get engine certification at the end of 2011 and start flying on the MRJ. . .and we fly on the CSeries in the middle of 2012," Saia said. "We are progressing well with both our models."

The Technology Demonstrator Program, which mated the fan drive gear system of the PW1000G to a PW6000 core, validated the performance of the key GTF components over the 406-hr. program that included 120 hr. of actual flight time, Saia said (ATWOnline, March 30). Introduction of emissions trading in the EU and a possible carbon tax on fuel in the US boost the attractiveness of the PW1000G, he believes. Assuming a 500-nm. mission and 2,200 trips per year with carbon dioxide permits trading at $30 per tonne, the 3,000-tonne reduction in emissions from the engine translates into an $88,000 per-aircraft annual savings, he said.