Aviation Engines, Propulsion & Auxiliary Power Units

MONTREAL - The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed special certification conditions for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW220A engine. Designed for twin-engine, transport-category helicopters, the PW220A features an innovative "idle cruise regime," or ICR, that allows one engine to power the aircraft during cruise flight while the other operates in a low-idle state.

Existing airworthiness regulations lack definitions and safety frameworks for the concept, and the proposed requirements aim to ensure the engine achieves a safety level equal to current standards. P&WC originally applied for type certification in November 2021 and received an extension in May 2025, maintaining its initial certification basis alongside the new rules.

Under the proposed guidelines, specific limits will be established for parameters such as horsepower, torque, rpm, gas temperature, duration and occurrence counts for both active maximum continuous power and two-minute power under ICR. Additional requirements focus on critical operational safety, including the engine control system's ability to automatically recover from ICR, performance under induction icing, resistance to hail and rain ingestion, and endurance testing. Notably, the engine must demonstrate the capability to spool up from ICR to 95% rated power within five seconds. Public comments on the proposed special conditions are open through Oct. 9, 2026.

Source: AIN
Associated URL: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-09-01/faa-issues-special-conditions-pw220a-idle-cruise
Author: Matt Thurber 

INDIANAPOLIS - Rolls-Royce announced on August 27 that it has completed a $1 billion, decade-long investment in its Indiana manufacturing, assembly, and test facilities - the largest investment the company has ever made in the United States. The upgrade modernized advanced manufacturing across the Indianapolis campus and added new full engine-test capability, including ground test facilities and an altitude test facility in West Lafayette.

More Rolls-Royce defense products are built in Indianapolis than anywhere else in the world, and the campus supports engines for platforms including the B-52 bomber, the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne, the V-22 Osprey, the Navy's MQ-25A Stingray, and the C-130J.

Indiana officials, including Gov. Mike Braun and several members of the state's congressional delegation, framed the announcement as a win for the state's manufacturing workforce, noting Rolls-Royce's three-decade presence in Indiana. The company employs roughly 3,500 people in Indianapolis and supports thousands more jobs through its state supply chain.

Nationally, Rolls-Royce has invested more than $1.5 billion in U.S. facilities and nearly $2.5 billion in R&D over the past decade, and its U.S. operations contributed $6.2 billion to the economy in 2024 while supporting more than 30,000 jobs across 26 states. The Indianapolis campus also houses LibertyWorks, the company's advanced-research arm, which maintains a $75 million, 10-year research alliance with Purdue University.

Source: Rolls-Royce
Associated URL: https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2026/27-08-2026-rr-completes-dollars-1-billion-investment-in-indiana.aspx

NEW DELHI - Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines have officially signed a contract with SAFHAL, their joint venture established in 2023, to power India’s next-generation heavy rotorcraft. The new deal covers the design, development, manufacture, supply, and lifecycle support for the 3,500-4,000 shp (2,610-2,983 kW) Aravalli engine.

Engineered to equip HAL’s planned 13-tonne (28,660 lb) Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and its naval variant, the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), the engine represents a significant step toward self-reliance in aerospace engine development.

The IMRH program, which has been in development for over a decade, aims to replace the Indian Air Force’s aging fleet of Mil Mi-17 helicopters with an indigenously designed platform capable of carrying up to 36 troops. While early prototypes will initially rely on interim engines producing around 2,800 shp (2,088 kW), the higher-rated Aravalli powerplant will power production aircraft if SAFHAL completes development.

Source: Flightglobal
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters-defence/2026/08/hal-safran-sign-contract-for-powerful-new-helicopter-engine/