News
P&WC’s PW210A turboshaft engine poised for EIS on AW169

“At P&WC, we pride ourselves in our EIS preparedness for every engine we introduce into the market,” says Irene Makris, Vice President, Marketing. “It is a rigorous process and one we routinely enhance through our ACE continuous improvement approach.”

According to Makris, the PW210 helps shape a new generation of twin-engine helicopters setting new standards in fuel burn, power-to-weight ratio and operating economics. The engine was designed with the operator in mind, delivering a wide range of power options for reliability and durability. It is simple in concept, with only five major rotating components.

The engine features a Dual Channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) that raises the bar for ease of pilot operation and maintenance diagnostics. Engine information can be downloaded from the FADEC and engine memory storage device to P&WC standard ground-station software, a powerful tool linked with P&WC’s online interactive publications and the latest diagnostic tool, SpotlightTM. SpotlightTM provides simple, guided troubleshooting through an intuitive interface integrated with P&WC’s maintenance manuals.

Ease of Maintenance

The PW210 has been designed for low maintenance and maximum availability: 3,500 hours Time Before Overhaul; no scheduled oil change, no boroscope or vibration checks, and an easily accessible and integrated nozzle for compressor wash – all of which help to maximize time-on-wing with no compromise in reliability.

“AgustaWestland brought the AW169 from concept to its pending EIS in a short timeframe,” says Makris. “P&WC worked closely with the airframe OEM to meet tight deadlines while at the same time designing and delivering an advanced engine that meets rigorous requirements.”

In terms of its EIS preparedness, the necessary arrangements have been made to ensure engine rental and spare parts availability within the P&WC Global Service Network. More than 30 Field Support Representatives and Mobile Response Technicians around the world have been trained to support the new engine. The PW210 family of engines has more than 10,000 hours of flight and the fleet leader – the PW210S – has accumulated close to 2,000 flight hours without issue. The engine’s durability and best-in-class performance can be traced back to the rigorous and extensive in-development testing that P&WC conducted, including over 20,000 hours of bench testing and maturation testing which was completed in 2014. The PW210A engine received Transport Canada Certification in July, 2014 and EASA validation in December, 2014.

The AW169 4.6 tonne, twin-engine helicopter is the first new aircraft in its weight category to enter the market in more than 30 years, setting new certification and safety standards. More than 150 AW169 aircraft have been ordered for use in executive/corporate transport, air ambulance, law enforcement, offshore transport and utility.