The first Pratt and Whitney Geared Turbofan engine, which will be used to power the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, has been assembled and successfully passed its production acceptance test.
The Pratt and Whitney Geared Turbofan Engine’s (PW1200G) assembly was completed at a Mitsubishi facility in Komaki, Japan earlier this month. The engine, the first to be produced anywhere in the world, will be used in the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) test program.
Katsuyuki Shimauchi, CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines Limited (MIHAEL) said, “Thanks to extensive and close cooperation with Pratt and Whitney, we are developing a facility in Komaki to perform final assembly of the PW1200G engine.
“We’re gearing up intensely as we prepare for production by building the capacities and expertise we need to perform this critical work. Our facility is in the process of obtaining approval from the USA’s Federal Aviation Administration to produce these engines.”
The MHIAEL facility in Komaki will be one of two production assembly and test sites for the PW1200G engine. The engine is also being made at Pratt & Whitney’s Mirabel Aerospace Center in Canada.
Graham Webb, vice president of Pratt and Whitney’s commercial engine programs said, “The assembly and test of the first PW1200G engine in Komaki is a key milestone for the PW1200G program.”
The MRJ is Mitsubishi Aircraft’s next generation regional jet and will be powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The MRJ aircraft is currently flight testing and Mitsubishi Aircraft anticipates the first delivery in mid-2020.
The GTF engine’s geared fan architecture enables reductions in fuel consumption, noise footprint and regulated emissions.
