Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has launched a demonstrator program for an all-new advanced turboprop engine aimed at powering the next generation of regional turboprop aircraft. The engine is being specifically designed to set new standards for the regional market by targeting double-digit reductions in fuel burn and environmental emissions over the current fleet. P&WC has completed the advanced study phase, and is now ready to launch the demonstrator program. Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

"Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW100 family of engines has led the regional turboprop segment since entering service more than 25 years ago. We will leverage our more than 200 million hours of regional turboprop experience to develop the most advanced engine for this important market segment," said John Saabas, President, P&WC. "Our next-generation regional turboprop engine will deliver the economic and environmental benefits that make the regional turboprop a competitive advantage for airlines serving short-haul, high-frequency routes."

P&WC has defined key product attributes for the next-generation regional turboprop engine and initiated detailed design of an advanced engine core, including a high-efficiency compressor and low-emissions gas generator. P&WC will begin testing a core demonstrator in 2011 to validate technologies aimed at improved efficiency, advanced aerodynamics and lower emissions. The core incorporates the latest advanced technologies and materials developed for Pratt & Whitney's PurePower® family of engines.

"We continue our strategy of leveraging the entire spectrum of research-and-development capability to bring the best technologies to our engines," continued Saabas. "We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers to ensure that we have the best integrated turboprop propulsion system for their next regional aircraft programs."

P&WC's new offering will be a fully integrated propulsion system including engine, nacelle, propellers and other systems. Hamilton Sundstrand, also a UTC company, is developing state-of-the-art propellers and working closely with P&WC to design an integrated system. P&WC is leveraging the strength and experience of all UTC aerospace businesses to bring the most advanced systems integration technologies to this product offering.

P&WC set the standard for regional turboprop performance with the PW100 and PW150 family of engines. This is the only turboprop engine family designed specifically for the regional market, with optimized engine architecture, world-class reliability, low cost of operation, and an industry-leading dispatch reliability rate of more than 99.97 per cent. P&WC brings its extensive regional experience to the design of its latest regional turboprop offering.