Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR, the world's number one regional aircraft manufacturer, today announced an agreement to collaborate on an initiative to achieve 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) readiness in PW127 series engines, including the new PW127XT powering next-generation ATR deliveries, by 2025.

“Our collaboration with ATR will be underway throughout 2023 and 2024 and builds on our recent 100 per cent SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines, which was an industry first for regional aviation,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Alongside our efforts to continually enhance aircraft engine efficiency, SAF has a critical role to play on the journey to achieve the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. While all Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have already been certified for 50 per cent SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100 per cent SAF blends in future will allow us to maximize their potential for decarbonization.”

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s chief executive officer added, “It is our collective responsibility as an industry to continue taking action to ensure that the vital connections provided by our aircraft across the globe are operated sustainably. We have recently demonstrated with our collaborators, Braathens Regional Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Canada, that ATR aircraft are SAF-ready. Now, we need to continue to join forces to increase SAF availability, as part of our common journey towards net-zero.”

In June 2022, Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR and Braathens jointly conducted a successful flight test on an ATR 72-600 aircraft with both Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines fueled exclusively with SAF. ATR is aiming to obtain the authorization to use 100 per cent SAF compatible fuel for ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in the next phase of the program.

Working together, Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR will conduct the necessary compatibility studies, engineering analyses, and aircraft ground and flight tests, among others. Certification of 100 per cent SAF will ultimately depend on ASTM International defining a specification for that fuel, which we expect could happen as soon as 2025. The program will adhere to standards established by ASTM International.