Page 15 - AAA JUNE - JULY 2022 Online Magazine

airfields and improved time-to-climb perfor-
mance and a higher one-engine inoperative
ceiling (as compared to in production ATRs).

“SAF PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN
ACHIEVING AVIATION’S EMISSION
REDUCTION GOALS,” JONATHAN
WOOD, NESTE’S VICE PRESIDENT
EUROPE, RENEWABLE AVIATION

Sustainable Future
In June, ATR made the first ever 100 per cent
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)-powered test
flight on a commercial regional aircraft. The
historic test flight which took place at Malmo
airport in Sweden, was the result of a partner-
ship between ATR, Swedish airline Braathens
Regional Airlines and SAF supplier Neste. ATR Airlines, Per G Braathen, said sustainability was a focus which
CEO Stefano Bortoli, said that after more than started at Braathens, long before any other airline. He said the
a century of commercial flights powered by recent test proved that 100 per cent SAF is the most immediate
kerosene, “we are at the dawn of a new era.” and effective option to reduce CO2 emissions and move faster to
a decarbonized industry.
The Braathens ATR aircraft flew from Malmo
a coastal city in southern Sweden to Bromma
near Stockholm, in a flight lasting 1 hour and 20 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA’S NEW PW127XT
minutes. ATR has been undertaking a series of (‘XTENDED TIME ON WING’) ENGINE WILL DELIVER
successful ground and flight tests on its ATR A FUEL-EFFICIENCY GAIN OF 3 PER CENT AND
72-600 prototype aircraft, since this year,
which included flights with 100 per cent SAF REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS BY 20 PER CENT
in one engine. Engine maker Pratt & Whitney
also worked closely together with ATR and Efficient Performer
Braathens for the milestone flight. ATR aircraft already burn 40 per cent less fuel and emit 40 per
cent less CO2 than regional jets of similar size. For ATR’s current
The test flight was part of ATR’s 100 per cent generation aircraft (ATR42/72), the future introduction of Pratt &
SAF certification process for ATR aircraft which Whitney Canada’s new PW127XT (‘Xtended Time on wing’) engine
began in September 2021 in cooperation with will deliver a fuel-efficiency gain of 3 per cent and reduce mainte-
Braathens and Neste. This certification process nance costs by 20 per cent. The reduction in maintenance costs
is slated for completion by 2025. Test flights is largely due to the increase in the time required between engine
like this show that it is possible to safely fly on overhauls and hot section inspections to 20,000 hours due to the
100 per cent SAF and will help accelerate the PW127XT 40 per cent ‘extended time on wing’ (additional flight
adoption of SAF in commercial aviation. hours over an aircraft’s entire lifecycle).

“SAF plays a key role in achieving aviation’s The PW127XT incorporates low- and high-pressure compressors,
emission reduction goals,” said Jonathan Wood, a power turbine module, along with a high-pressure turbine that
Neste’s Vice President Europe, Renewable allows it to operate at lower temperatures. The new engine will
Aviation. ‘When used in neat form, at 100 per require just two scheduled engine events on an average per decade
cent concentration as on this test flight, Neste of operations. This engine will be the new production standard
MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces green- for both ATR 42 and ATR 72. The PW127XT’s predecessors—the
house gas emissions over its life cycle by up to PW127M and PW127N, were launched by Pratt & Whitney in 2008
80 per cent compared to fossil jet fuel use, and and 2014. ATR already has a launch customer for the PW127XT
provides additionally non-CO2 benefits through in Air Corsica
significantly reduced particulate emissions,
among others.’ Neste MY SAF is a drop-in ATR’s partnership with Pratt & Whitney stretches back nearly four
fuel and is compatible with current airport fuel decades, when the Canada-based manufacturer was selected to
infrastructure and can be used in existing air- design and produce engines for the very first ATR 42-300 in 1984.
craft engines Chairman of Braathens Regional Pratt & Whitney has remained ATR’s sole engine supplier ever since.

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE June_July 2022 | 15