Lean, connected, automated initiatives resulting in increased efficiency, productivity

Pratt & Whitney is modernizing and transforming its Operations business with Industry 4.0 technologies in the pursuit of unbeatable manufacturing and assembly excellence. The company is leveraging digital communication technologies like the Intranet  of things (IoT) and connected devices, along with advanced manufacturing technologies including automation, robotics, virtual reality, and closed-door machining, to create a fully integrated manufacturing environment. These initiatives drive immense amounts of data that can be immediately converted to useable information.

“We’re driving higher levels of process capability, optimized with lean principles, automated where appropriate, and in a connected environment that collects data, runs analytics, and provides information to operators and leaders in real-time,” said Praba Baptist, vice president, Operational Excellence, Pratt & Whitney. “This digital ecosystem has allowed us to continuously improve, sharing best practices for adoption across our manufacturing footprint. This is the next evolution in lean manufacturing and one way we are going beyond for our employees, customers, and shareholders.”

CORE™: A Framework for How Pratt & Whitney Does Business

A key driver of Pratt & Whitney’s transformation is the Raytheon Technologies CORE Operating System. CORE, which stands for Customer Oriented Results and Excellence, provides a common language, toolset, and methodology for delivering on customer commitments. It was designed with Industry 4.0 capabilities built in and is a framework for how Pratt & Whitney does business.

Investments supporting CORE and Pratt & Whitney’s Operational Excellence strategy — including connected factory, automation, and enhanced process control — have improved the overall effectiveness of its manufacturing footprint with enhanced employee experience, which in turn has resulted in reduced variation and waste in the production of the company’s products.

 

Connecting the Factory by 2024

Pratt & Whitney’s connected factory initiative enables integrated, real-time demand planning to ensure alignment to meet customer demand. Automated workflows, real-time materials and data tracking, scheduling, and energy optimization are just a few examples of how a connected factory can improve efficiency while reducing time and waste.

This initiative has increased productivity and asset turnover, and the ability to have the right quantity of the right part at the right place at the right time.

The company has connected over 40% of total machines to date and plans to connect 100% of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) machines and 75% of Aftermarket machines enterprise-wide by 2024. All new machines procured during and after that time will automatically be added to the connected system.

 

Automating for Superior Safety, Quality, Productivity & Cost

The introduction of highly automated solutions across Pratt & Whitney’s manufacturing footprint is targeted at improving safety, quality, productivity, and cost.

The company is focused on automating repetitive motion situations like torquing and directly loading and unloading heat treat operations. The efforts to use automation have improved quality by controlling the process, increasing productivity and machine utilization.

Pratt & Whitney is incorporating automation to enhance highly manual areas benefitting process control, while digitally harmonizing the “4Ms of manufacturing”— i.e., material, methods, machines, and man.

By incorporating these solutions, it creates a standard method that is scalable and opens a new level of speed and efficiency in delivering to the needs of Pratt & Whitney’s customers.

 

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. 

Pratt & Whitney today announced that it has started FAR33 certification testing of the GTF Advantage engine. The company continues to run extensive endurance testing to ensure product maturity at entry into service, building on more than 15 million of hours of service experience. To date the engine has completed more than 2,000 hours of development and certification testing, including a successful test on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) earlier this year.

“GTF Advantage offers even more value to our customers, especially on longer-range aircraft like the A321XLR,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “It will extend GTF’s lead as the most sustainable, fuel-efficient and powerful engine for the A320neo family – and it will be highly reliable on day one.”

The GTF Advantage engine reduces fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by an additional 1%, making it 17% better than prior-generation engines. With up to 34,000 pounds of takeoff thrust, GTF Advantage will also enable increases in payload and range, thereby unlocking more destinations for airlines. The engine is currently scheduled to become available to customers in 2024.

“GTF Advantage provides more thrust while running cooler, with more airflow and improvements in aerodynamics, coatings and clearance control,” said Jim Pennito, vice president of A320neo family engines at Pratt & Whitney. “We’re able to do all this thanks to our revolutionary geared fan, which gives us an architecture with a long runway for the future.”

Later this year, the GTF Advantage engine will continue FAR33 certification testing on the wing of the company’s flying test bed in Mirabel, Canada. The engine will also start aircraft-level validation testing on the Airbus A320neo development aircraft in Toulouse, France.

Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines have saved airlines more than 800 million gallons (more than three billion liters) of fuel and more than eight million metric tons of carbon emissions. More than 1,300 GTF-powered planes have been delivered to 62 operators across three aircraft families: Airbus A320neo, Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jets E2. GTF engines have powered more than four million flights, carrying more than 500 million passengers to their destinations around the world. Learn more at pwgtf.com.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. 

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and Collins Aerospace (Collins), both Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) businesses, today announced the launch of a new hybrid-electric technology demonstrator program applicable to future advanced air mobility vehicles. The Scalable Turboelectric Powertrain Technology (STEP-Tech) demonstrator extends Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace’s longstanding collaboration on hybrid-electric technology development, which is a core element of both companies’ strategies for powering sustainable aviation and enabling customers to achieve the goal of net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.

The STEP-Tech demonstrator will be based at the Raytheon Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, CT, and will focus on developing high voltage distributed turboelectric hybrid-electric propulsion concepts in the 100-500kW class, with potential to scale to 1MW and beyond. The modular and scalable nature of the STEP-Tech demonstrator platform enables a wide range of configurations to be rapidly prototyped and demonstrated. Having completed proof of concept studies earlier this year, ground testing with the platform is targeted to commence in late 2022.

“Innovation has always been at the heart of Pratt & Whitney, and we are delighted to expand our work on hybrid-electric technology by leveraging our close collaboration with Collins,” said Geoff Hunt, senior vice president, engineering and technology, Pratt & Whitney. “Hybrid-electric offers the potential to not only unlock even greater efficiency in future aircraft, but also support the emergence of a whole new arena of advanced air mobility solutions. Ultimately our continual pursuit of advanced propulsion technologies will help enable aviation’s pathway to net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050.”

The STEP-Tech demonstrator platform will include full end-to-end system capabilities, including a high-efficiency turbogenerator, energy storage, power electronics and modular electrically driven propulsors. Successfully demonstrated technology could be implemented in a range of novel aircraft applications, including high speed eVTOL, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and small to medium sized commercial air transporters.

Henry Brooks, president, Power & Controls for Collins Aerospace, said, “With Pratt & Whitney’s track record in aircraft propulsion and Collins’ legacy of innovation in electric power systems, we are exceptionally well-positioned to lead the advancement of hybrid-electric technology for the next generation of sustainable aircraft. Our demonstrator programs will help mature technologies and components that can be adapted to a range of different applications, from smaller eVTOLs, to regional turboprops, to single-aisle airliners.”

Existing P&W-Collins collaborations on hybrid-electric technology include the regional aircraft flight demonstrator, based on a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 turboprop, and supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec. Hybrid-electric propulsion provides opportunities to optimize engine performance across different phases of flight, enabling greater fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions across a range of different aircraft segments. Hybrid-electric technology is also highly scalable, which means that motor components and electric control systems developed as part of the demonstrator announced today may eventually support larger scale applications, including single-aisle commercial aircraft.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

About Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies business, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and broad expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit www.CollinsAerospace.com.

Fast, secure, and reliable connectivity will support the carrier’s post-pandemic recovery.

Malaysia Airlines has renewed its partnership with SITA for a comprehensive upgrade that will link its global operations to its hub in Kuala Lumpur with fast, secure, and reliable network connectivity.

As part of the five-year agreement, Malaysia Airlines will leverage SITA Connect, specifically designed for the air transport industry, to meet the airline’s needs in and outside airports. SITA Connect will lower connectivity costs, improve the quality of service, enable ease of access to new features and applications, and facilitate their passengers’ check-in process worldwide, benefiting from SITA’s global presence at over 650 airports across 220 countries and territories.

SITA Connect will also provide network connectivity that allows team members to access central systems from anywhere, supporting the airline’s worldwide operation for employees working remotely. Security was a key factor in selecting SITA’s solution to support the airline’s critical operational systems.

Izham Ismail, Group CEO, Malaysia Airlines, said: “We’re excited to ramp up our operational capabilities as the industry’s recovery takes hold, with the support of our trusted technology partner SITA. Boosting the connectivity, security, and agility of the backbone technologies that support Malaysia Airlines will ensure we are ready for the influx of passengers over the coming months and poised to deliver a seamless travel experience for all.”

Sumesh Patel, APAC President at SITA, said: “SITA has a long history of collaboration with Malaysia Airlines. We’re excited to renew the relationship once more by upgrading several services that will ultimately help deliver a smooth passenger process. Operational efficiency is under the microscope in the wake of the pandemic, and we’re committed to helping the industry recover with smart solutions that are resilient, agile, and cost-effective.”

The $400m transaction was oversubscribed and is linked to the company’s sustainability performance.

SITA, a global IT provider for the aviation industry, has signed a $400m inaugural sustainability-linked revolving credit facility over a minimum three-year term. The backup facility will support the company’s general business needs, such as developing new solutions and strategies to alleviate the air transport industry’s challenges of today and in the future.

The syndication was oversubscribed. As part of the arrangement, four new banks have signed up to support SITA in addition to the company’s five existing banking partners, underlining investor confidence in the technology provider. SITA’s robust cost control, effective cash management, and strengthening green credentials are factors contributing to investor interest.

This new backup syndicated facility will supersede the company’s previous bilateral committed lines and is now directly linked to pre-agreed environmental KPIs and yearly targets, with a bonus or a malus on the interest margin depending on SITA’s performance.

In recent years, SITA has ramped up its emission reduction efforts, achieving CarbonNeutral® status under The CarbonNeutral Protocol in 2021. More recently, the company announced its commitment to setting science-based targets via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to join other leading companies to combat climate change aligned to net-zero and the 1.5^oC scenario of the Paris Agreement.

The syndicated credit facility linked to environmental performance is an innovative step forward in the company’s ongoing sustainability efforts. It includes significant reduction targets relating to Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions to align with SBTi frameworks. SITA’s performance against these targets will be externally audited.

Société Générale and Crédit Industriel et Commercial are acting as joint coordinators and bookrunners of the transaction. Société Générale has been mandated as ‘ESG Coordinator’ and ‘Facility Agent’ while Crédit Industriel et Commercial acted as ‘Documentation Agent’. In addition, Barclays, Credit Suisse, and J.P. Morgan joined as mandated lead arrangers. Bank of China, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), and Unicredit are taking part as lead arrangers while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) is taking part as arranger.

Nicolas Husson, CFO of SITA, said: “Sustainability is high on our agenda and we are deeply committed to ensuring a sustainable future for all, including for our employees, customers, and partners. We are delighted to secure financing that is directly linked to the performance of our sustainability ambitions.”

• Gas turbine-based concept significantly reduces impact on the climate
• Operation with SAFs and hydrogen in all thrust categories possible

Through its Clean Air Engine (Claire) technology agenda, MTU is hard at work on reducing the climate impact and energy use of aviation propulsion systems in three stages. Zero emissions is the big goal. The company is focusing its efforts on the evolution of the gas turbine on the basis of the Geared Turbofan (GTF) and on revolutionary concepts. The favored revolutionary concepts include the Flying Fuel Cell and the Water-Enhanced Turbofan, or WET Engine. “This GTF-based engine will significantly reduce CO₂ and NOx emissions as well as formation of contrails,” says MTU COO Lars Wagner.

“Since the concept is based on the gas turbine, the WET engine can rely in full on MTU’s expertise,” explains Dr. Stefan Weber, Senior Vice President Engineering and Technology at MTU in Munich. The WET engine uses residual heat from the engine’s exhaust gas. To do this, a steam generator is used to evaporate water and inject it into the combustion chamber. This kind of “wet” combustion increases the engine’s efficiency, but that isn’t all. It also reduces nitrogen oxide emissions massively. The water needed for this is collected from the exhaust gas inside a condenser connected to a water separator. Fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and formation of contrails are also sharply reduced.

Weber continues: “The WET Engine can be operated with jet fuel, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), and hydrogen, and it can be used in short-, medium-, and long-haul flights. That means it covers the range where almost all of the aviation sector’s climate impact is generated.” By reducing climate impact by about 80 percent, this concept will achieve near climate neutrality as early as 2035. “It is also highly efficient, so it cuts costs and conserves valuable resources.”

In addition to the planned market launch in 2035, the Water-Enhanced Turbofan is to undergo further optimization between now and 2050. Near drop-in fuels – SAFs with chemical adjustments – can be used to achieve maximum reductions in climate impact. The adjustments needed, if any, will be minor. “If the WET Engine was operated with hydrogen, it would not only have further advantages in terms of climate-related emissions, but would also potentially reduce the engine’s weight and air resistance thanks to more-compact design and construction, as the heat exchangers needed for the concept can utilize the full cooling potential of cryogenic hydrogen,” explains Dr. Claus Riegler, Senior Vice President Technology & Engineering Advanced Programs at Germany’s leading engine manufacturer in Munich.

About MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector, the company ranks among the top three service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2021, the company had a workforce of over 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of almost 4.2 billion euros.

 

Your contact:

Martina Vollmuth

Press Officer Technology

Tel.: +49 89 14 89 53 33

Cell phone: +49 176 1001 7133

E-mail: martina.vollmuth@mtu.de

 

 

For the full collection of press releases and photos, go to http://www.mtu.de

• Cooperation with DLR: Maiden flight planned for mid-decade
• Market launch in short-haul applications planned for 2035

Aviation propulsion systems are a major factor in achieving zero emissions in the skies. As part of its Clean Air Engine (Claire) technology agenda, MTU Aero Engines is working on various concepts for all thrust and power ratings to achieve the aviation industry’s big goal. The company is focusing its efforts on the evolution of the gas turbine on the basis of the Geared Turbofan and on revolutionary propulsion concepts. “Among other things, we are forging ahead with the full electrification of the powertrain,” explains MTU COO Lars Wagner. “We’ve identified converting liquid hydrogen into electricity using a fuel cell as the area with the greatest potential for achieving this.”

MTU’s revolutionary concept is called the Flying Fuel Cell (FFC). A team of about 70 experts – and growing – is currently working on the FFC in Munich. The principle behind it is that a fuel cell converts liquid hydrogen into electrical energy. This means a high-efficiency electric motor drives the propeller. There are various advantages to this approach. First, fuel cells are highly efficient. Beyond that, they do not emit CO₂, nitrogen oxides (NOx), or particulates; the only emissions are of water. “The FFC reduces the impact on the climate by as much as 95 percent, so it’s practically zero,” explains Dr. Stefan Weber,  Senior Vice President Engineering and Technology.

Plans call for the FFC to be used at first on shorter commuter and regional flights. Weber continues: “We’re aiming to launch on the market in 2035 there.” With improved efficiency, the Flying Fuel Cell will then be used in short- and medium-haul flights as well starting in 2050, further reducing the climate impact of commercial aviation.

Cooperation with DLR

Work to develop the FFC technology is proceeding in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). A Do228 is being used as a technology platform and flight demonstrator. The goal is to replace one of the two conventional gas turbine propulsion systems with a 600 kW electric powertrain with energy supplied by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell and test the new configuration. The partners aim to launch the flying lab in the middle of this decade. Extensive ground tests and advance testing will take place before then.

“MTU’s job is to develop the entire hydrogen-powered fuel cell powertrain, including the liquid hydrogen fuel system and controls,” explains Barnaby Law, MTU’s Chief Engineer Flying Fuel Cell. The Do228 research project is being headed by the DLR, which is providing the research aircraft and conducting the flight experiments. The research institution is also responsible for integrating the powertrain into the aircraft.

At the same time that this work is under way, MTU is also cooperating with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and working on approval requirements. Weber adds, “We have embarked on an innovation partnership where we are working together to study possible options for future certification of a flying fuel cell, since everyone involved is in uncharted territory here.” New standards, approval specifications, and documentation procedures will have to be defined in order for flying fuel cells to operate safely as an innovative propulsion concept.

COO Wagner sums up: “For an engine manufacturer like MTU, developing an airworthy fuel cell is a big opportunity, since the experience and data we gain in the process, including in the areas of control and qualification under aviation law, will be crucial to the further product development process.”

About MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector, the company ranks among the top three service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2021, the company had a workforce of over 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of almost 4.2 billion euros.

Your contact:

Martina Vollmuth

Press Officer Technology

Tel.: +49 89 14 89 53 33

Cell phone: +49 176 1001 7133

E-mail: martina.vollmuth@mtu.de

 

 

For the full collection of press releases and photos, go to http://www.mtu.de

• Evolutionary and revolutionary propulsion concepts and sustainable aviation fuels in the spotlight

Zero-emissions flight is the big goal for the entire aviation industry and a particular vision for MTU Aero Engines. In its Clean Air Engine (Claire) technology agenda, MTU not only sets out possible solutions and potential for sustainable commercial propulsion systems, but also time horizons for achieving zero-emissions flight in three stages. “Alternative, sustainable aviation fuels play an important role,” explains MTU COO Lars Wagner. Claire was unveiled to the public at this year’s ILA, to be held in Berlin from June 22 to 26.

The lodestar for the new version of Claire – which follows the first iteration, released in 2007 – is the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting the increase in temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels if at all possible. The aviation industry previously focused on CO₂ emissions in setting its targets, but in the future, the influence of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and contrails will also be taken into account as other important parts of aviation’s impact on the climate. “We’re tackling this new challenge,” says Dr. Stefan Weber, Senior Vice President Engineering and Technology at MTU in Munich, “and as part of that, we’ve aligned our entire technology agenda toward the new global objectives.”

The company has charted a clear course, with the propulsion concepts formulated for the near and medium term all aimed at reducing the impact on the climate. At the same time, lowering energy consumption remains important as well. MTU has bold ideas and approaches in this area, going beyond existing ones to tap into further potential. Wagner says, “Our goal with this is to fulfill our role as a technological pace setter worldwide once again.” The company is pursuing a two-pronged strategy here: furthering the evolution of gas turbines based on the Geared Turbofan (GTF), and developing revolutionary propulsion technologies.

The next step in the evolution of the gas turbine

Weber continues: “To really harness all the available potential, we’re already working on the second-generation GTF.” The goal here is to further reduce the fan pressure ratio, thereby increasing the bypass ratio. The thermal efficiency of the core engine can also be further improved through approaches such as integrating the design of compressor and turbine components. The company also plans to use new materials. “These new materials must be lightweight, extremely heat-resistant, and able to stand up to environmental influences. We’re focusing on the best material classes, such as sixth-generation single crystals and metal powders for turbines,” explains Dr. Claus Riegler, MTU’s Senior Vice President Technology & Engineering Advanced Programs. Driven by sustainable aviation fuels or liquid hydrogen, the second-generation GTF could already reduce the impact on the climate by as much as 65 percent compared to a gas turbine from the year 2000.

Revolutionary propulsion concepts

“We know that the evolution of the gas turbine alone won’t be enough if we are to meet our ambitious climate targets. Revolutionary new propulsion concepts will be needed,” Weber says. MTU is also hard at work in this area. Its two favored revolutionary concepts are the gas turbine-based Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET Engine) and the Flying Fuel Cell (FFC). MTU’s fuel cell concept, the Flying Fuel Cell, calls for electrifying the entire powertrain, which will make it possible to operate aircraft with nearly zero emissions.

Sustainable alternative fuels (SAFs) and hydrogen will play an important role in all of these efforts. “SAFs open the door to climate-neutral aviation, for which they are absolutely necessary, but that’s not all. They can and should already be used to help achieve direct and significant reductions in climate impact,” Riegler notes. SAFs can be used on a “drop-in” basis right away, meaning that no adjustments are needed in either the aircraft or the engine. The production methods have been developed and approved, but there are only a few facilities capable of operating at an industrial scale. “We need these fuels now. It is imperative to create the necessary production capacity in the short term. We’re working to help achieve that,” MTU’s COO Wagner says forcefully.

Zero emissions from aviation in three stages

Here’s what the Claire technology agenda is like in detail. The first stage is determined by the GTF, which has been in use in series since 2016 and is already able to reduce climate impact by a significant amount today when combined with SAFs.

As the second step, to be completed by 2035, the goal is to have not only the next-generation GTF, but also the Water-Enhanced Turbofan – driven by SAFs or hydrogen – ready to use in all thrust categories, along with the Flying Fuel Cell for shorter, regional flights. A GTF powered by hydrogen is also conceivable during this phase. Says Riegler, “These solutions promise significantly lower impact on the climate.” The optimized GTF achieves 65 percent, the WET engine 80, and the FFC 95 percent.

2050 marks the third Claire stage. MTU’s goal is to further improve overall efficiency both for the GTF and for the WET engine. Near drop-in fuels – SAFs with chemical adjustments – can be used to achieve maximum reductions in climate impact. If the WET engine is operated with hydrogen, this would not only have further advantages with regard to climate-related emissions, but would additionally have the potential to reduce weight and the air resistance of the engine thanks to more-compact design and construction.

With improved efficiency, plans call for the Flying Fuel Cell to be used in short- and medium-haul flights as well starting in 2050, further reducing the climate impact of commercial aviation. To achieve this, the experts at MTU plan to further improve the efficiency of individual components to put the goal of zero emissions within reach.

For MTU, one thing is clear: “With an eye to the goals of the Paris Agreement, propulsion systems and sources of energy that make climate-neutral flying possible will have to be brought to market well ahead of 2050,” Wagner explains. Weber adds, “Together with our partners from industry and the academic and research sector, we aim to reduce the impact of aviation on the climate right away.”

About MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany’s leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today’s active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany’s industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country’s military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2021, the company had a workforce of more than 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of almost 4.2 billion euros.

Rolls-Royce is officially announcing the development of turbogenerator technology, which includes a new small engine designed for hybrid-electric applications. The system will be an on-board power source with scalable power offerings and will complement the Rolls-Royce Electrical propulsion portfolio, enabling extended range on sustainable aviation fuels and later as it comes available through hydrogen combustion.

Current battery technology means all-electric propulsion will enable eVTOL and fixed wing commuter aircraft for short flights in and between cities and island-hopping in locations like Norway and the Scottish Isles. By developing turbogenerator technology, that will be scaled to serve a power range between 500 kW and 1200 kW, we can open up new longer routes that our electric battery powered aircraft can also support.

Rolls-Royce experts based in Germany, Norway and Hungary are developing the turbogenerator design and working on its system integration and are focused on ensuring smart power distribution during flight. The turbogenerator will recharge batteries after take-off or power propellers directly, enabling aircraft to switch between power sources in flight. The research and development of this technology is being part funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Rob Watson, President – Rolls Royce Electrical, said: “Rolls-Royce will be the leading provider of all-electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsion systems for Advanced Air Mobility and will scale this technology over time to larger platforms. I would like to thank the German Government for their support. As part of our strategy, we are looking at offering the complete sustainable solution for our customers. This means extending routes that electric flight can support through our turbogenerator technology. This will advance hybrid-electric flight and mean more passengers will be able to travel further on low to net zero emissions aircraft.

“Rolls-Royce is also set to build on our existing network to offer maintenance services for electrical systems. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is able to offer mtu microgrid solutions to support fast-charging of electric aircraft and deliver reliable, cost-effective, climate friendly and sustainable power to vertiports.”

Last year, Rolls-Royce announced a pathway to net zero carbon emissions and its electrical technology is one way in which the company is helping decarbonise critical parts of the global economy. Rolls-Royce is committed to ensuring its new products will be compatible with net zero operation by 2030 and all its products will be compatible with net zero by 2050.

Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, announced today the successful flight test of dual PW127M engines with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on a Braathen Regional Airlines’ ATR 72-600 aircraft. Both PW127M engines were fueled exclusively with Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel and flew for two hours total, Malmo to Bromma Airport and return. This was a collaborative effort involving the airline, ATR, and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

“We are extremely pleased with the successful testing of our PW127M engines on 100% SAF,” said Timothy Swail, vice president, Regional Aviation and APU Product Marketing and Sales for Pratt & Whitney Canada. “We have worked closely with ATR and Braathens leading up to the flight testing and share their enthusiasm over the future application of SAF in the aviation industry.”

The flight marked the first time Pratt & Whitney engines simultaneously flew on 100% SAF and the first turboprop in the world to reach this exciting milestone. Commercial aircraft today are certified to fly on 50% SAF blends, and the results of today’s test will be used to prepare for a potential 100% SAF drop-in solution for aviation. SAFs have the potential of reducing emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional kerosene and are a potential solution to help aviation achieve its Net Zero by 2050 goal.

ATR CEO Stefano Bortoli, said: “Today is a historic day for aviation. After more than a century of commercial flights powered by kerosene, we are at the dawn of a new era. In recent months, with the support of Pratt & Whitney Canada we carried out a series of successful flights with sustainable fuel in one engine. We now decided it was time to perform the first test flight with 100% SAF in both engines. This helps us to certify our aircraft to fly solely on sustainable fuels faster and to enable more sustainable air links as a result. The flight represents a true milestone for the entire aviation industry as it shows that this technology works and can be promptly adopted by many in our industry to speed up the transition to zero emission aviation.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have been 50% SAF compatible since the late 2000s. The company’s family of regional turboprop engines consume up to 40% less fuel and emit 40% fewer emissions than similar-sized jet-power aircraft on similar routes. Pratt & Whitney is Canada’s top R&D investor in aerospace; these investments have been a driving force in the company’s growth and Canada’s global aerospace reputation.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units.

For further information: Pratt & Whitney, +1 (860) 565-9600, media@prattwhitney.com