Pratt & Whitney begins testing Embraer E-Jet engines outside Montreal
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Bombardier competitor's engines take to the skies over Quebec
MIRABEL—Pratt & Whitney Canada has completed its first test flight using its PW1900G PurePower Geared Turbofan engine for Embraer S.A.’s E-Jet aircraft.
The engine’s first successful flight at P&W’s Mirabel Flight Test Center, outside Montreal, kicks off the U.S.-assembled engine’s flight test program.
“The start of engine flight testing is an important milestone for us as we bring the E-Jets second generation from concept to reality,” Paulo Cesar Silva, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said. “The addition of PurePower engines into our proven aircraft with an award winning cabin provides a compelling value proposition for our customers.”
P&W, now a division of United Technologies Corp., said the E-jet program is one of two it and Embraer are partnering on. Brazil-based Embraer is one of the main competitors of Canada’s Bombardier Inc., which is also using P&W engines in its upcoming CSeries aircraft.
“We are excited to be a part of Embraer’s E-Jets E2 program providing the industry-leading benefits of the Geared Turbofan engine, including significant reductions in noise, emissions and fuel burn,” Greg Gernhardt, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, said. “This is a historic time for us as we begin the flight test program for our fourth PurePower airframer customer.”
