Pratt & Whitney Canada and Leonardo have announced the successful completion of the first flight for an AW139 helicopter using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in both PT6C-67C engines.
Pratt & Whitney Canada, a division of RTX, and Leonardo have announced the successful completion of the first flight for an AW139 helicopter using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in both PT6C-67C engines. The 75-minute flight and ground tests, conducted at Leonardo’s facility in Cascina Costa di Samarate, Italy, assessed engine performance under various power variations, revealing no significant differences in comparison to the use of Jet A1 fuel.
Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada said, “Flights such as these are instrumental in our efforts to ensure 100% SAF compatibility for our engines. This is the first time a PT6 engine has been flown using 100% SAF, marking this as a significant milestone for the unrivaled engine series. Proving the engine’s capability with drop-in SAF provides the foundation for the future of the PT6 in sustainable aviation and builds on its legacy of success.”
Pratt & Whitney Canada’s engines, particularly the PT6 series, have accumulated over one billion flight hours across the entire fleet since the introduction of the PT6 in 1963. The PT6C engine, employed in the AW139 helicopter, has contributed more than 8.5 million hours to this milestone, showcasing the trust and confidence of operators worldwide.
Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director, Leonardo Helicopters said, “The results of this first demonstration flight are a further testament to the outstanding design of the AW139, its high performance, and the excellent relationship we have with Pratt & Whitney Canada. This flight demonstrates another tangible benefit of the most successful helicopter in its class and provides a positive way forward to the many operators carrying out missions in all weather conditions as they aim for more ambitious sustainability goals.”
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RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, is a global aerospace and defense giant with over 180,000 employees. The company, through its business units Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon, is at the forefront of technological advancements in aviation and defense. The success of this flight marks a critical step in integrating sustainable aviation fuels into helicopter operations, emphasizing the commitment of industry leaders to environmental sustainability in aviation.
