Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR combine efforts to achieve 100% SAF readiness for PW127-powered aircraft

Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW127XT engine (Photo: Pratt & Whitney Canada)

Pratt & Whitney Canada and regional aircraft manufacturer ATR announced an agreement Feb. 9 to collaborate on an initiative to achieve 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) readiness in PW127 series engines, including the new PW127XT powering next-generation ATR deliveries, by 2025.

“Our collaboration with ATR will be underway throughout 2023 and 2024 and builds on our recent 100 percent SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines, which was an industry first for regional aviation,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president of sales and marketing for 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 percent SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100 percent SAF blends in the future will allow us to maximize their potential for decarbonization.”

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s CEO, added, “It is our collective responsibility as an industry to continue taking action to ensure that the vital connections provided by our aircraft across the globe are operated sustainably. We have recently demonstrated with our collaborators, Braathens Regional Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Canada, that ATR aircraft are SAF-ready. Now, we need to continue to join forces to increase SAF availability as part of our common journey towards net-zero.”

In June, Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR and Braathens jointly conducted a successful flight test on an ATR 72-600 aircraft with both Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines fueled exclusively with SAF.

ATR is aiming to obtain the authorization to use 100 percent SAF for ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in the next phase of the program.

Working together, Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR will conduct the necessary compatibility studies, engineering analyses, and aircraft ground and flight tests, among others.

Certification of 100 percent SAF will ultimately depend on ASTM International defining a specification for that fuel, which Pratt & Whitney expects could happen as soon as 2025.

The program will adhere to standards established by ASTM International.