Press Release
Longueuil, Quebec, August 20, 2001
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. is pleased to announce that the first Eurocopter EC135 helicopter powered by its new PW206B2 engine was delivered to the Swedish National Police at a ceremony held at Tullinge Airport in Stockholm on August 10.
"We are delighted to see the first PW206B2 engine enter into active service," said Eric Gizard, Vice President, Turboshaft Engines, P&WC. "The PW206B2 is the first growth engine designed for the EC135 helicopter and will further reinforce P&WC’s position as the leader in the light-twin helicopter market."
The EC135 delivery ceremony was attended by Sten Heckscher and Lars Nylen, Chief of Police and Chief of Investigation, respectively, of the Swedish National Police, Dr. Siegfried Sobotta, Executive Vice President, Eurocopter, and Werner Kantsperger, P&WC Manager, Customer Service Center (CSC)-Ludwigsfelde, Germany. It was followed by a flying display of the new helicopter.
The PW206B2-powered EC135 helicopter was granted LBA certification on July 10; full Category "A" certification is expected in October. The Swedish National Police are scheduled to receive another six EC135 helicopters powered by the PW206B2 engine over the next two years.
The PW206B2 engine is built from the PW207 engine series power section, coupled with an angled reduction gearbox of the existing PW206B engine. It introduces a new 30-seconds One Engine Inoperative thermodynamic power rating at 608kW (816shp), an increase of 11 per cent over the PW206B engine. As a result, the EC135 will be able to operate at higher Category "A" take-off weights.
The PW200 family of engines also powers the Agusta A109E Power, the Bell M427, the MDHI MD Explorer, as well as the Kazan Ansat. As of the second quarter 2001, 230 PW200-powered helicopters operated in 34 countries around the world, with over 345,000 hours of operating time. Key segments include the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), law enforcement and corporate markets. In 2000, PW200 engines powered over 70 per cent of new light-twin helicopters deliveries, making P&WC’s PW200 engine the market leader in this segment.
P&WC provides operators with a Total Customer Support program. This plan was developed over the years in support of P&WC’s fleet of gas turbine engines worldwide. It comprises a network of field support representatives, factory-based technical support, a 24-hour help line for spares and logistics support, dedicated customer training centres, and a worldwide service network.
P&WC, based in Longueuil, Quebec, is a world leader in aviation engines powering business and regional aircraft and helicopters. The company also offers advanced engines for industrial applications. P&WC’s operations and service network span the globe. In 2000, sales were in excess of $2.4 billion Cdn. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, a high-technology company based in Hartford, Connecticut.