Critical period emerging for new turboprop developments
Pratt & Whitney Canada vice president of marketing Richard Dussault sees demand for regional turboprops continuing to increase, particularly those seating at least 70 passengers. (Photo: Gregory Polek)
Pratt & Whitney Canada vice president of marketing Richard Dussault sees demand for regional turboprops continuing to increase, particularly those seating at least 70 passengers. (Photo: Gregory Polek)

Turboprop-engine manufacturers continue to develop technologies in anticipation of future demand for new or derivative regional airliners designed to carry approximately 90 passengers, a step up from contemporary aircraft offering around 70 seats. By January 1, Pratt & Whitney Canada hoped to have completed the first phase of a next-generation regional turboprop (NGRT) demonstration program intended to validate characteristics for a main centrifugal compressor. Meanwhile, U.S. competitor General Electric (GE) continues to look for an airframe launch “platform” for the proposed CPX38, which would benefit from its current work to develop the military GE38 turboshaft engine for the U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53K.