Next Gen turboprop R&D continues at Pratt & Whitney

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Introduction

Maria Della Posta, SVP Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada

April 5, 2015, c. Leeham Co. Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) continues to develop the next generation turbo prop engine despite little interest from Bombardier for a replacement for its slow-selling Q400 or from Airbus, 50% owner of ATR, dominant producer of this type of aircraft.

Maria Della Posta, SVP of sales and marketing, said PWC is confident demand will prevail over the current lack of interest to see a new airplane program launched as early as 2016 or 2017--though she hedges that this could slip a year or two.

Summary

  • In the meantime, PWC continues to undertake Performance Improvement Packages (PIPs) for its ubiquitous PW100 series that is now in its 38th iteration.
  • Emerging market ambitions could create new opportunities for PWC to put its next engine on new entrant turbo prop producers.
  • Airlines seek a new, larger turbo prop than the Q400 and ATR 72.

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