Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

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Thierry Dubois

Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada has a number of engines in development for the medium-twin helicopter category. The latest version of the PT6C family, the PT6C-67E, powers the Eurocopter EC175. Meanwhile, the PW210S is about to enter into service on the now-certified Sikorsky S-76D. Two more PW210 variants will power the AgustaWestland AW169 and the <a href="http://ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2012-04-26/pwc-tapped-power-new-eurocopter-twin">Eurocopter X4</a>. Last year, the Longueuil, Quebec-based engine manufacturer (Booth No. N3718) produced more than 850 turboshaft engines.


The 1,775-shp PT6C-67E has been certified by Transport Canada, the FAA and EASA. Nevertheless, Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada engineers are still working on integration testing at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France flight test center, according to vice president of marketing Richard Dussault. Eurocopter expects the EC175 to be certified this summer. “We have started delivering production engines to Eurocopter, at a low rate,” he added.


The 1,077-shp PW210S, for the latest iteration of the S-76, is also in an early production phase. “We have the capacity to produce 30 to 50 engines this year,” Dussault said. The first customer delivery of an S-76D is scheduled for this summer.


The other two PW210s–the PW210A for the AW169 and the PW210E for the X4–employ the same turbomachinery as the PW210S. The main difference lies in the physical interface with the helicopter, Dussault explained, adding that the engine control system has to be integrated with the platform. In other words, he said, the Fadec has to work closely with the aircraft’s avionics. Finally, the accessory gearbox’s design depends on the systems it has to drive.


The PW210A is already flying on four flight-test AW169s. On the ground, the first part of the block endurance test has been completed, using the new accessory gearbox and specific ratings for the PW210A. This test was aimed at demonstrating mechanical integrity. Software integration and validation is also progressing, and electromagnetic interference and lightning trials for the control system have already taken place. Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada is planning to conduct tests in an altitude test facility in the coming months. It has pegged PW210A engine certification for late this year, and also has on the drawing board an engine maturity test plan, which is over and above certification requirements.


The PW210E should enter into service in 2017 on the X4, a helicopter that is to replace Eurocopter’s AS365/EC155 Dauphin family.

Pratt Builds On PT6C, PW210 Turboshafts

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