Pratt & Whitney Canada has been selected by the European Union’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking to lead the Powerplant Hybrid Application REgional Segment (PHARES) project. This marks the first time a Canadian company will lead a Clean Aviation programme.

As part of the consortium, Pratt & Whitney Canada will work with RTX business Collins Aerospace, ATR, Airbus and several research organisations. PHARES is one of a number of projects RTX is involved with under Clean Aviation’s third call for proposals.

The project will see Pratt & Whitney Canada design and integrate a hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator that targets up to 20 per cent better fuel efficiency on regional missions. It will feature an advanced PW127XT-derivative turboprop engine linked to a Collins 250 kW electric motor drive system via an optimised gearbox, with added thermal efficiency gains. Collins will also design an advanced propeller system to boost fuel efficiency and reduce noise.

“Hybrid-electric propulsion and electrified aircraft systems are key parts of RTX's technology roadmap for optimising performance and enhancing fuel efficiency across multiple future aircraft platforms, and PHARES represents a transformative opportunity to demonstrate the potential for regional aviation,” says Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada.

PHARES forms part of Clean Aviation’s Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft architecture and supports the EU’s climate action plan and the aviation industry’s wider decarbonisation ambitions.