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LAS VEGAS - Textron Aviation unveiled its newest business jet, the Cessna Citation Ascend, at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting on Monday. The aircraft features twin PW545D engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of RTX (NYSE:RTX).
The PW545D engines are equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) technology, which enables auto-throttle capabilities that aim to simplify engine operation, enhance efficiency, and reduce pilot workload. According to the company’s press release statement, the engines incorporate improvements in the compressor and turbine sections that lower fuel consumption and reduce operating temperatures.
"The Citation Ascend is the latest product of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s longstanding collaboration with Textron Aviation, a relationship that goes back more than 60 years," said Scott McElvaine, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada.
The PW500 engine family has accumulated approximately 27 million flight hours across seven different aircraft models operating in 71 countries. Pratt & Whitney Canada has produced over 5,300 PW500 engines to date, with nearly 4,900 currently in service.
This launch represents the newest addition to the Cessna Citation business jet lineup, continuing the partnership between Textron Aviation and Pratt & Whitney, which has previously collaborated on numerous business jets and turboprops.
In other recent news, Pratt & Whitney Canada has announced a 14-year maintenance and support agreement with Lufthansa Airlines and Austrian Airlines for 41 APS5000 auxiliary power units on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. This long-term deal will ensure maintenance services for the APUs, which are crucial for powering aircraft systems when main engines are not in use. Meanwhile, Raytheon, a business under RTX, has begun the initial production of its SharpSight multi-domain surveillance radar system. This next-generation radar is designed for high-altitude, real-time imaging, offering wide-area search and tracking capabilities in various weather conditions.
Additionally, Raytheon and Anduril Industries have completed a static fire test of an advanced solid rocket motor under a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate. This test is part of efforts to enhance rocket motor manufacturing capacity in response to growing global munitions demand. In other developments, Wizz Air is targeting the end of engine-related groundings by 2027, as stated by the airline’s CFO, Ian Malin. Currently, 38 aircraft remain grounded due to delays in inspections, which is a decrease from a peak of nearly 60 aircraft. The airline is working towards having its entire fleet operational by the end of 2027, despite ongoing challenges with Pratt & Whitney engine bottlenecks.
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