Engines
EASA OKs PW545D Turbofan for Cessna Citation Ascend
European approval follows Transport Canada and FAA nods in July 2024
Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545
Pratt & Whitney Canada now has European, U.S., and Canadian type certifications for its PW545D engine.

EASA has issued type certification for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW545D engine that powers Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Ascend. The European air safety regulator confirmed the approval on December 18 at the end of a 20-month process that started when the manufacturer filed its application in April 2022. The engine received Transport Canada and FAA type certification in July.

Textron Aviation is aiming to complete type certification and service entry for the Ascend this year, having launched the midsized twinjet in May 2023. The aircraft's pair of PW545D turbofans are expected to deliver improved fuel efficiency for the latest member of the Citation 560XL family through improvements over the earlier PW545 engines to the high-pressure compressor, single-stage turbine module, and exhaust mixer.