While Pratt & Whitney engines have been certified to operate with 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the last ten years the jet engine maker is currently teaming up with the world’s largest regional jet manufacturer ATR to ready the PW127-series engines to be SAF ready by 2025. This will include the new PS127XT.
The Pratt & Whitney engines have been targeted to power the ATR 42 and ATR72 aircraft with 100% SAF by 2025. In June 2022, ATR, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Braathens Regional Airlines jointly conducted a successful flight test on an ATR 72-600 aircraft with both PW127M engines fuelled solely with SAF.
“Our collaboration with ATR will be underway throughout 2023 and 2024 and builds on our recent 100% SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines, which was an industry first for regional aviation,” said Anthony Rossi, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Alongside our efforts to continually enhance aircraft engine efficiency, SAF has a critical role to play on the journey to achieve the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. While all Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have already been certified for 50% SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100% SAF blends in future will allow us to maximise their potential for decarbonisation.”