Pratt & Whitney Canada and Leonardo achieve first 100% SAF flight with PT6C-67C-powered AW139 helicopter

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Leonardo successfully completed first flight for an AW139 helicopter powered by the PT6C-67C engine using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The 75-minute flight and ground tests that took place on November 21 at Leonardo facility in Cascina Costa di Samarate, Italy, evaluated engine performance at multiple power variations and demonstrated no significant differences in the response to the new fuel compared with the use of Jet A1 fuel. Ensuring compatibility with 100% SAF is part of Pratt & Whitney’s strategy of enabling more sustainable aviation through the pursuit of smarter technologies, cleaner fuels, and greener business practices, supporting the aviation industry’s goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada commented: “Flights such as these are instrumental in our efforts to ensure 100% SAF compatibility for our engines. This is the first time a PT6 engine has been flown using 100% SAF, marking this as a significant milestone for the unrivaled engine series. Proving the engine’s capability with drop-in SAF provides the foundation for the future of the PT6 in sustainable aviation and builds on its legacy of success.”

Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director, Leonardo Helicopters, stated: “The results of this first demonstration flight are a further testament to the outstanding design of the AW139, its high performance, and the excellent relationship we have with Pratt & Whitney Canada. This flight demonstrates another tangible benefit of the most successful helicopter in its class and provides a positive way forward to the many operators carrying out missions in all weather conditions as they aim for more ambitious sustainability goals.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have achieved more than one billion hours of flight across the entire fleet since the introduction of the PT6 in 1963, underscoring the trust and confidence placed in them by aircraft operators worldwide. Nearly 3,000 PT6C turboshaft engines have been manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada and the engine has contributed more than 8.5 million hours towards the one-billion-hour total.