Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), has been chosen by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation) to lead the Powerplant Hybrid Application REgional Segment (PHARES) project. This represents the first occasion on which a Canadian company has both participated in and led a Clean Aviation programme.
As part of the PHARES consortium, Pratt & Whitney Canada will work alongside fellow RTX business Collins Aerospace, ATR, Airbus and a number of technology research organisations. PHARES is one of several projects in which RTX will take part under Clean Aviation’s third call for proposals.
For the PHARES project, Pratt & Whitney Canada will design and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator aimed at achieving up to 20% greater fuel efficiency on regional aircraft missions. The system will combine an advanced PW127XT-derivative turboprop engine with a Collins 250 kW electric motor drive, linked via an optimised propeller gearbox and incorporating thermal efficiency improvements. Collins will also develop an advanced propeller system designed to further enhance fuel efficiency and reduce noise.
“Hybrid-electric propulsion and electrified aircraft systems are key parts of RTX’s technology roadmap for optimising performance and enhancing fuel efficiency across multiple future aircraft platforms, and PHARES represents a transformative opportunity to demonstrate the potential for regional aviation,” stated Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Through our Pratt & Whitney Canada and Collins businesses, we will leverage our industry-leading experience in propulsion and electric power systems, along with our state-of-the-art research facilities.”
PHARES forms part of Clean Aviation’s Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft architecture. By advancing next-generation energy-efficient technologies for regional aircraft, the demonstrator aligns with the European Union’s climate action plan and supports the aviation industry’s decarbonisation objectives.
