P&WC Increases Time Between Overhaul for PW210 Turboshaft Engine Family as New Entries Into Service Accelerate
March 1, 2016
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) today announced that it has extended the basic time between overhaul (TBO) for its PW210 turboshaft engines from 3,500 to 4,000 hours. This will increase time-on-wing and reduce maintenance costs by over 10 percent for operators. The extension applies to all PW210 engines currently in service and those to be produced in the future. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).In an effort to offer greater value to its helicopter customers, P&WC is also deploying additional commercial initiatives that will reduce direct maintenance costs (DMC) by up to 15 percent for operators with very short missions. These initiatives will enable further savings under P&WC's Eagle Service Plan® (ESP) program and Fleet Management Program® (FMP) solution.This is just the latest in P&WC's ongoing efforts to support its customers with solutions that lower DMC and deliver bottom-line value. "We understand the importance of reducing costs for our customers," said Irene Makris, Vice President, Marketing, P&WC."The PW210 has been designed for low maintenance and maximum availability. In addition to the 4,000-hour TBO, its benefits include no scheduled oil changes, no scheduled borescope or vibration checks and an easily accessible and integrated nozzle for compressor wash, all of which make it simpler to maintain and reduce maintenance expenses."More PW210-Powered Aircraft to Enter ServiceThe PW210 is P&WC's latest family of helicopter engines and is fast proving itself to be an industry leader. Its strong performance and reliability are among the reasons P&WC is able to extend the TBO. They are also why more and more operators worldwide are choosing this engine in fields of all kinds, including emergency medical services, journalistic missions, VIP transport, power line inspections and oil and gas industry applications.It has already made successful entries into service as the engine of choice for Finmeccanica's AW169 in December 2015 and for the Sikorsky S-76D™ in January 2014. Raising the industry bar for a clean-sheet engine design, it has flawlessly accumulated close to 10,000 flight hours on the S-76D helicopter. National Helicopter Services Limited (NHSL), based in Trinidad and Tobago, operates five Sikorsky S-76D aircraft powered by PW210S engines and is the fleet leader. It has accumulated close to 5,000 flight hours since entering into service. Entries into service will accelerate in 2016, with a number of operators set to begin flying PW210-powered helicopters this year. "We continue to find homes for the PW210 with new customers and platforms and to cross new boundaries as it establishes its pedigree around the world," noted Makris.Innovative New TechnologiesThe PW210 is shaping a new generation of intermediate- and medium-class twin-engine helicopters, setting exceptional standards in fuel efficiency, power-to-weight ratio and operating economics. With every aspect of the engine designed with the customer in mind, the PW210 delivers a wide range of power options. It is elegantly simple in concept, with only five major rotating components.The PW210 engine also doubles as an auxiliary power unit (APU), powering electrical, heating and cooling systems while the aircraft is on the ground, with a locked or disengaged main rotor - saving the cost and weight of a third engine.The engine features dual channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC) that raises the bar for ease of pilot operation and maintenance diagnostics. Engine information can be downloaded from the FADEC and engine memory storage device to P&WC's standard ground-station software, a powerful tool linked to P&WC's online interactive publications and diagnostic tool, Spotlight™. Spotlight provides simple, guided troubleshooting through an interactive interface integrated with P&WC's maintenance manuals.A Global Leader in Turboshaft Performance and Customer SupportToday, P&WC's PW200 turboshaft family is the industry frontrunner in the 600 to 1,100 shaft horsepower (shp) class. The new PW210 sets high standards in fuel efficiency, power-to-weight ratio and operating economics. Similarly, P&WC's PT6 turboshaft family delivers the best value for all types of missions in the 1,000+ shp class and is the number-one choice of customers for medium- and super-medium helicopters.The engine's performance is backed by the most extensive customer service network in the world. Round-the-clock support, provided by the company's Customer First (CFirst) Centres, sets the industry benchmark for rapid, real-time customer support."P&WC constantly demonstrates its ability to deliver the right services and solutions to customers that have a positive impact on their bottom line," noted Makris.Come and see us at HAI Heli-Expo, booth #1817. Interested operators are invited to drop by P&WC's booth to speak with a customer service representative.About Pratt & Whitney CanadaFounded in 1928, P&WC is a global leader in aerospace that is shaping the future of aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), P&WC is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. United Technologies Corp, based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the global aerospace and building systems industries.
