Rolls-Royce is in advanced negotiations to supply the propulsion system for the new turboprop that Embraer is deg. The information was presented during a company event for investors, from Chris Cholerton, who is president of the civil engines division.
According to the company, a proposal was sent to the Embraer team, and says that it is collaborating to develop the necessary technology for the plane. The choice of engine supplier, however, depends on the Brazilian manufacturer.
Rolls-Royce has said it wants to design a new generation of engines, based on Ultrafan technology, which promises greater fuel economy compared to current engines. Previously, the executive also said that the new engine with “propfan architecture”, or turboprops with “reduction boxes” for example, they will be able to improve the operational efficiency of the aircraft and consequently reducing its operational costs.
Other manufacturers, such as GE and Pratt & Whitney, are working with other concepts, but equally looking for lower fuel consumption.
GE invests in the propfan concept, already tested by the company in the 80s, but updated with new materials and concepts. Another work is focused on updating the T408 engine and on the Catalyst project, which has had positive results.
Pratt & Whitney has been working on the Next Generation Turboprop Program (NGTP) for some time, but this has yet to result in a public launch of a new engine.
“I think we are having a compelling proposition”, said Cholerton, without going into further detail. “Ultrafan is at the heart of our future widebody strategy and indeed any future narrowbody opportunities”.
In February of this year, Embraer, Widerøe and Rolls-Royce announced plans to study a zero-emissions regional concept aircraft. Embraer's focus is to make its turboprop available with compatibility to use 100% biokerosene (SAF), and in the future to run on hydrogen.
Rodrigo Silva e Souza, from Embraer, confirmed that Embraer wants an airplane 100% compatible with biofuel, and by 2040 to run on hydrogen, the fuel proposed by Airbus in its projects.
With information AirInsight .
