Writer

Thierry Dubois

Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada (Booth No. 3317) is busy with developments on the PT6C-67E, which powers the Eurocopter EC175 medium twin, and the PW210 family, the powerplant for the Sikorsky S-76D and the AgustaWestland AW169 medium twins.


The PW210S (Sikorsky S-76D) and the PW210A (AgustaWestland AW169) have different certification schedules. The FAA certified the 1,077-shp PW210S last December after a postponement due to delays in the S-76D program.


“We were very happy to certify the PW210S late last year for the S-76D,” said Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada v-p of marketing Richard Dussault. “This marks the start of the PW210 family. We’re in full production. Since certification we’ve been shipping production engines.” Recent testing included icing tests at an external facility.


In July 2010, AgustaWestland selected the PW210A to power its new AW169. First run of the PW210A took place last year, and engine certification is targeted for 2013. Power is said to be in the 1,000-shp class. “We anticipate that AgustaWestland will ramp up their development program this year,” Dussault said.


A derivative of the PW600 turbofan family, the new PW210A/S engines have been designed “to offer the highest power-to-weight ratio and lowest fuel burn in the market,” according to Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada. They incorporate “the most recent advances in materials and compressor design” and offer dual-channel Fadec and diagnostics capability.


Moreover, the PW210A/S features automatic fractional cycle counting. In traditional methods for a takeoff/landing/shutdown cycle, the life debited would always have been one cycle. With today’s diagnostics capability, it is possible to more accurately calculate the low-cycle fatigue usage. Based on power, speed and temperature, the life debited for a single takeoff/landing/shutdown can be less than one cycle. The automated power assurance uses the Fadec to compute the measured gas temperature margins, instead of the pilot using a flight chart. The pilot can activate automated power assurance by pressing one button. The expected benefits are reduced crew workload and better data accuracy for engine health.


Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada is touting its new engines’ flexibility for helicopter operations. They have no mandatory cool-down period to shutdown and also provide a rapid take-off capability. The time between overhaul for the engines is 3,500 hours and there is no scheduled oil change or vibration check.


Meanwhile, certification and entry into service of the 1,775-shp PT6C-67E is targeted for the end of this year. “We are very happy with what’s going in the helicopter market for us,” said Dussault. “The medium-lift segment is drawing a lot of investment, and the oil market creates strong demand for our products. There continues to be good demand from EMS and police services, not like there was at the height of the 2008 market, but it’s steady. As the economy picks up this market will pick up.”


Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada delivered more than 500 engines last year.