Aviation Engines, Propulsion & Auxiliary Power Units

LONDON - Rolls-Royce is closing in on a deal to secure up to $260 million (£200 million) in British taxpayer subsidies to support the development and testing of a demonstrator model for its new UltraFan 30 engine. Funding is expected to be allocated via Britain’s Aerospace Technology Institute, marking a major milestone in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s push to reindustrialize the country. The financial package aims to help the FTSE 100 manufacturer re-enter the lucrative short-haul narrow-body aircraft market - a sector it exited more than a decade ago - competing directly for next-generation Airbus and Boeing supply contracts expected by the end of the decade.

The potential agreement follows more than a year of negotiations and pressure from Rolls-Royce, which previously warned it could move engine production to Germany if state support was not forthcoming. Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic has highlighted the project as a transformative opportunity that could generate as much as $155 billion (£120 billion) for the UK economy and create up to 40,000 skilled jobs across the supply chain, while noting that international competitors routinely receive substantial government backing. Although timing remains subject to final talks, an official announcement could be made as early as next week.

Source: Financial Times
Associated URL: https://www.ft.com/content/b0d490eb-d136-4114-87d4-d7b013d9cb11?syn-25a6b1a6=1

LAS VEGAS - Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) announced at the NBAA-BACE show in Las Vegas that Transport Canada officially certificated an all-new turboprop engine, the PT9, on September 30.

Developed quietly over several years and involving 14,000 hours of run time across 12 test engines, the 2,000shp (1,490kW)-class engine fills the 1,700–2,300shp output range. P&WC has already filed for validation with the FAA and EASA. Targeted at powering the next generation of general aviation products rather than replacing the venerable PT6, the PT9 is designed with an architecture suited to both single- and twin-engined platforms. P&WC has not revealed a launch customer, but the engine maker says it is in advanced discussions with several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Designed with a modular architecture inspired by P&WC's larger PW127XT and PW800 engines, the PT9 reduces fuel consumption by 20% and produces 33% more power at altitude compared to previous-generation engines. The engine retains the same 0.48m (19 in) barrel diameter as the PT6 and will be built at the same facility in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Key features include an integrated electronic engine and propeller control system to prevent overheating, fewer life-limited parts to lower maintenance costs, and modularity for future hybrid-electric integration. P&WC plans to reveal additional technical capabilities and OEM partners in the coming months.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/2026/10/pratt-whitney-canada-reveals-newly-certificated-clean-sheet-pt9-turboprop/

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Pratt & Whitney’s GTF Advantage engine entered service this month on a United Airlines Airbus A321XLR. The manufacturer says the upgraded geared turbofan should roughly double time on wing compared with the current PW1100G, while also offering better fuel efficiency and 4–8% more thrust at high-altitude airports.

P&W plans to run production of the Advantage at a low rate for six to nine months before a cutover that is expected to make all new GTFs Advantage units by 2028. Engines are being assembled in the US and at partner MTU Aero Engines’ facility in Munich, with key hot-section parts coming from P&W’s plant in Asheville, North Carolina.

The upgrade targets the durability problems that have dogged the GTF fleet since its introduction, including a July 2023 recall triggered by a powdered metal defect that has grounded hundreds of A320neo-family aircraft on a rolling basis. P&W enlarged the engine’s core and redesigned its compressors to lower operating temperatures. New coatings and repositioned cooling holes are designed to resist sand ingestion, known as CMAS attack, which is especially damaging in hot, dusty regions such as India and the Middle East.

Owners of the roughly 2,800 GTF engines already delivered will be able to buy a Hot Section Plus retrofit. P&W says the upgrade will deliver 90–95% of the Advantage’s durability gains and is now seeking FAA certification for it. P&W also plans to bring the key hot-section improvements to the PW1500G and PW1900G engines that power the Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 regional jets.

Source: AIN
Associated URL: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2026-10-20/how-pw-expects-boost-gtf-advantage-engines-durability