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.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada (P&amp;WC) and GE Aviation are working on new-generation turboprop engines for the 90-seat regional aircraft that may be launched in the coming years. While P&amp;WC is studying a clean-sheet design, dubbed <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/nbaa-convention-news/2010-10-13/new-turboprops">Next-Generation Regional Turboprop (NGRT)</a>, GE is planning on a derivative of the GE38 turboshaft: the CPX38
The NGRT is being designed for 90-seaters, in the 5,000- to 7,000-shp power range. The precise level of power will depend on the cruise speed and size of the aircraft. “With the same technology, we could go up to 8,000 shp,” said Richard Dussault, Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada’s marketing v-p.
“In April, we started running some stages of the compressor,” Dussault told AIN. As part of a technology demonstration program, P&amp;WC (Hall 4 Stand D12) is designing a core engine that may run as soon as mid-2013. The entire compressor is scheduled to run in January next year. Engineers will endeavor to validate the compressor’s key parameters­­–airflow, efficiency and pressure ratio–before building the rest of the core.
The core will be made of the compressor, P&amp;WC’s Talon combustor and a high-pressure turbine that will draw elements from the PW1000G geared turbofan. Should the company find a launch customer in the coming months, the core may start running in 2014. If that happens, engineers would use the extra time to design a core that will be more representative of the production configuration.
Flight tests will be part of the development program. At its flight test center at Montreal Mirabel airport, P&amp;WC has added a dedicated pylon, for turboprops and small turbofans, to one of its Boeing 747 SP flying testbeds. “One of our differentiators is our ability to test, validate and certify a complete propulsion system with the nacelle, propeller and accompanying control system,” Dussault emphasized.
Certification could happen in 2017, should the program be launched next year. The NGRT’s main features are fuel burn and maintenance. Over in-service PW100s, it would cut fuel consumption by 20 percent. In addition, maintenance should be simplified thanks to the Fadec’s diagnosis and prognosis capabilities. Time on wing should increase and maintenance costs be cut by 30 percent, according to Dussault.
CPX38 Turboprop 
Meanwhile, GE (Hall 4 Stand B7) is studying its CPX38 turboprop for aircraft “for 70 to 90 seats and higher.” Its power would be in the 4,000- to 6,000-shp range. No hardware change would be needed from a 70- to a 90-seat application, just tailoring the cycle, Tim Varga, GE’s manager of small commercial turboprop programs, explained to AIN.
As the GE38 turboshaft is in development, some tests have been performed for a potential turboprop derivative. Specific high-altitude testing has been done, for example, to measure fuel efficiency and margins. The GE38 is to power the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy twin-engine helicopter.
The CPX38 could enter into service in 2017 if launched now. Typically, such a test program would use four to six test engines, not including flight-test engines, Varga said. He insisted turboprops need to maintain a competitive advantage over turbofans. Therefore, a lot of effort is to focus on cutting fuel burn further.
French engine manufacturer Snecma is understood to be also considering a turboprop for 90-seaters. It did not respond to questions from AIN about the possible program.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

General Electric And Pratt Vying To Power New Turboprop Regional Airliners

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

A pre-show tour highlighted both programs

As GE9X Prepares for EIS, GE Aerospace Looks to RISE

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

HPU 210 uses a Kawasaki motorcycle engine combined with an electric motor and batteries

VoltAero Launches Hybrid-electric Powertrain for Kit-built Aircraft

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

New facilities represent an investment of more than $1 billion

Williams Int’l Building Turbine Engine Factory in Florida

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

$12 million in funding released to support Hydrogen Center of Excellence

Scotland Backs ZeroAvia's Hydrogen Propulsion Manufacturing Site

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Farnborough Air Show 2012

More In Engines

As GE9X Prepares for EIS, GE Aerospace Looks to RISE

A pre-show tour highlighted both programs

VoltAero Launches Hybrid-electric Powertrain for Kit-built Aircraft

HPU 210 uses a Kawasaki motorcycle engine combined with an electric motor and batteries

Williams Int’l Building Turbine Engine Factory in Florida

New facilities represent an investment of more than $1 billion

Scotland Backs ZeroAvia's Hydrogen Propulsion Manufacturing Site

$12 million in funding released to support Hydrogen Center of Excellence

XTI Names Powertrain Partners For TriFan 600 VTOL Aircraft

Three companies will help prepare for the integration of as-yet-unspecified turboshaft engines

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X Completes Most Major Cert Tests

Engine progresses as Rolls-Royce celebrates the delivery of the 9,000th turbofan from Dahlewitz

XTI and VerdeGo Work on Hybrid-electric Propulsion Options

VH4-T propulsion system could be applied to TriFan 600 VTOL and possible uncrewed aircraft

Ampaire Scores FAA G-1 for Hybrid-electric Propulsion System

FAA approves first G-1 certification basis for a hybrid-electric aircraft powertrain

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN