GE Aviation's H80 turboprop engine receives type certification in Brazil and Argentina

GE Aviation's H80 turboprop engine has received type certification from the Brazilian Civil Aviation agency (ANAC) and the Argentine aviation authority (Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil). These certifications follow type certifications for the H80 engine from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

"The H80 engine is generating interest from many parts of the world, and we plan to pursue additional type certificates in other countries, including Canada, China and Russia," said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation's Business and General Aviation Turboprops.

The 800-shp H80 turboprop engine combines the elegant, robust design of the M601 engine with GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls. It will provide the option of a single- or dual-acting governor, allowing customers to have flexibility in propeller selection.

The first aircraft to enter service with the H80 engine will be the Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft. The improved Thrush 510G has a hopper capacity of 510 gallons, a gross weight of 10,500 pounds, and a 29,000-hour wing spar life with no mandatory inspections of the wing spars.

The H80 engine has also been selected to power the Aircraft Industries L410 commuter aircraft. The H80-powered L410 aircraft has been flight testing since November 2011 and is expected to enter service later this year. Along with these applications, Smyrna Air Center is working on a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for an H80-powered King Air C90 aircraft.

GE Aviation Czech will manufactured the H80 engine with plans to produce 70 H80 engines this year. GE Aviation is also taking steps to ensure a smooth entry into service. Line maintenance classes are already underway so customers can learn how to keep their engines remain in top operating condition. GE Aviation has also developed an extensive network of service and support centers around the world.