A Next-Gen Powerplant For A Next-Gen Chopper

The latest iteration of Helicopter Association International's annual Heli-Expo doesn't even officially kick off until Thursday... and already, we're seeing some major advancements coming from some big names in the helicopter industry.

On Wednesday, Pratt & Whitney Canada told ANN the enginemaker's new-generation PT6C-67E engine will power the upcoming EC175/Z15 medium-sized helicopter, being developed by Eurocopter and Harbin Aviation Industry Group, a subsidiary of China's AVIC II corporation. As Aero-News reported, the EC175 (shown below) was first announced during Heli-Expo 2005.

"This is a great program for our PT6C-67E engine," said Keyvan Fard, Vice President, Regional Airlines & Helicopter Engines, P&WC. "This engine is now equipped with a dual-channel full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system, which offers reduced pilot workload along with increased dispatch reliability."

The PT6C-67E is the latest derivative of the increasingly omnipresent PT6 turboprop/turboshaft family. Agusta Westland's AW139 helicopter and the upcoming Bell/Agusta Aerospace BA609 Tiltrotor also employ variants of the PT6C-67 family of engines.

"The PT6C series, rated from 1,600 to 2,000 shp, is designed with the operator in mind," says Fard. "It also offers among the lowest maintenance costs and emission levels in the industry. As is the case with all our engines, it is backed by P&WC's extensive global customer support network, ranked No. 1 for helicopter engine support by the industry for the last seven years."

FMI: www.pwc.ca, www.eurocopter.com