GE Aviation completed its first advanced turboprop (ATP) combustor tests at its U.S. headquarters in Cincinnati to support development of Textron Aviation Inc.'s new single-engine turboprop (SETP) aircraft, launched in November, 2015. The successful combustor tests set the stage to transition follow-on ATP component rig, core and full engine testing to GE's facilities in Europe.

“Today, more than 400 GE Aviation engineers in Europe – located in Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and Germany – are executing an expedited certification schedule for ATP, made possible by leveraging proven technologies from our large commercial engines business and more than $1B in ATP program investment,” said Brad Mottier, vice president of GE Aviation's Business and General Aviation and Integrated Systems business. “The conceptual reverse-flow combustor test in Cincinnati used additive manufacturing to reduce component manufacturing schedules ahead of upcoming production-type combustor hardware tests in Italy. We're pleased with the results of our first tests and look forward to completing the ATP detailed design review in 2017 followed by the first full engine test in 2018.”

GE Aviation plans to build its new turboprop business headquarters in Czech Republic, with a slated opening by 2020, creating more than 500 new jobs. The new facility would join GE Aviation's existing turboprop manufacturing facility in Letany, Prague, called GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., which employs more than 400 workers building GE's 750-850 shaft horsepower (SHP) H Series turboprop, which entered service on the Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft in 2012.

The 1,300SHP-rated turboprop ATP is the first entry in GE's new family of turboprop engines aimed at Business and General Aviation aircraft in the 1,000-1,600 SHP range. The ATP features an industry-best 16:1 overall pressure ratio (OPR), enabling the engine to achieve up to 20% lower fuel burn and 10% higher cruise power compared to competitor offerings in the same size class with 4000-6000 hour maintenance time between overhauls (MTBO) and class-leading performance retention.

Textron Aviation's GE-powered SETP is expected to have a range of more than 1,500 nautical miles and speeds higher than 280 knots. Key features of GE's new ATP engine include: -Ruggedized, modular architecture based on the CT7 turboshaft for better performance at lower operating costs. -All-titanium, 3D aero compressor for light-weight and efficient power generation. -Cooled turbine blades enabling higher thrust and fuel efficiency… leveraging the CT7 family's 100 million flight hours and more than 5 million flight hours in hot/harsh environments. -Additive manufactured structural components for reduced weight, quicker improved performance and durability. -Integrated electronic propulsion control for optimized single-lever engine and propeller control.

The ATP program highlights GE's continuous investment across Europe. In addition to GE's more than $100M investment in the Czech Republic since its 2008 acquisition of Walter Engines, GE acquired Italy's Avio Aero in 2013. Through the end of this decade, GE is investing more than $1 billion to build Avio as a strong supplier to industrial and aviation industries – including business aviation applications like the ATP. Today, GE Aviation employs more than 12,000 workers in 22 facilities across Europe.