ROTOR PRO: WHAT ELSE IS PRATT &
WHITNEY CANADA DOING TO
REDUCE ENGINE EMISSIONS?
Nico Chabée: We are exploring the use of alternate power sources including electric, hybrid electric, and hydrogen.
Pratt & Whitney Canada technicians expertly maintain and inspect engines, like this PW206B2 that powers the Airbus H135 twin-engine helicopter
ROTOR PRO: WHAT TECHNOLOGIES ARE HELICOPTER ENGINE MANUFACTURERS AND MROS USING TO BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS?
Nico Chabée: Pratt & Whitney’s sustainability strategy is centered around three pillars: smarter, cleaner, and greener.
We have been a leader in propulsion systems and technology for decades. In our view, the challenge that climate change presents to the world is also an opportunity for the global aviation industry to make change through new technology.
For example, we are continually advancing fuel efficiency in aircraft propulsion systems. We are conducting ground and flight testing of traditional engines as part of a process to ensure they are compatible with higher blend ratios of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Combined with engine efficiency gains, wider adoption of SAF will be critical to reducing the net carbon emissions of aviation by 80%.
ROTOR PRO: HOW CAN SAF HAVE AN IMPACT ON REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASSES?
Nico Chabée: From an industry standpoint (including ICAO and others), the immediate and most efficient path to decarbonization would be drop-in SAF up to a 50% blend, which does not require any technological or infrastructure changes to the current operating fleet. All Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have been 50% SAF compatible for more than a decade. We are working with a variety of customers and OEMs on moving our engines to 100% SAF compatibility, and we have conducted a number of test flights that have produced excellent results.
Of course, the mass use of SAF is predicated on the availability and pricing of SAF blends today. This is even more specific to the rotorcraft industry, which will have other challenges to implement the other CO2 reduction options.
76 May/June 2023
Hybrid-electric technology will offer even more fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. In
December 2022, Pratt
& Whitney completed the first engine run of the regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, marking a key milestone towards flight testing, targeted to begin in 2024. The propulsion system’s initial run took place at Pratt & Whitney’s innovation facility in Longueuil, Quebec, and performed flawlessly.
We believe that whatever we learn about power conditioning, about batteries, and about making the system work as a propulsion system onboard a real aircraft will be transferable to the helicopter market segment.
Pratt & Whitney Canada was also the first OEM to offer a carbon offsetting service. Our carbon offset service is a transparent, cost effective, and flexible way for all Pratt & Whitney Canada-powered operators and operators of non-Pratt & Whitney Canada- powered aircraft to support mixed-fleet customers, to offset the carbon footprint of an aircraft, and support their sustainability objectives. To make this approach work, Pratt & Whitney Canada estimates the CO2 emissions based on the engine model and reported flight hours, and compensates the emissions by sourcing high-quality carbon offset credits from South Pole, a globally recognized carbon offset provider.
This solution reinforces Pratt & Whitney Canada’s long-standing commitment to offer environmentally responsible products and solutions. This year we invested in a diverse group of Gold and Verified Carbon Standard offset projects, and focused on projects that have a high social impact.
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