Aftermarket upgrade provider Blackhawk Aerospace has completed baseline flight testing for its new Pilatus PC-12 engine programme. With baseline testing complete, it has now installed and is flying the higher horsepower PT6A-67P, which is expected to receive FAA certification in Q2 of 2023 with EASA approval following shortly thereafter.

As Blackhawk moves through the STC process, the company is offering owners and operators the opportunity to secure their delivery position with a pre-certification contract and has received a total of five deposits thus far.

“Pre-certification orders are an important metric for gauging how successful a new STC programme will be,” says Jim Allmon, Blackhawk's president and CEO. “Having five contracts in the pipeline prior to obtaining the STC serves as great supporting evidence for the fact that we have a fantastic programme to offer the PC-12 market.”

Blackhawk's upgrade replaces the stock Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-67B engine with a higher-powered and more efficient PT6A-67P model, which Blackhawk calls the XP67P. Operators will be able to maintain their existing propeller configuration and Blackhawk plans to certify additional propeller options in the future to provide modularity in the upgrade package.

The XP67P engine technology utilises improved metallurgy, which allows a higher Internal Turbine Temperature (ITT) limitation of 850anddeg;C compared to the stock -67B's 800anddeg;C limitation for takeoff. More impressively, maximum continuous ITT for climb and cruise is 760anddeg;C for the -67B and 820anddeg;C for the XP67P. Further, the PT6A-67P is a 1,200 shaft horsepower (SHP) engine that produces 142 more thermodynamic horsepower than the stock -67B. The combination of the higher ITT and increased thermodynamic horsepower produced by the XP67P engine enables operators to utilise full torque to more efficient cruising altitudes. On an ISA day, the stock -67B starts losing power at 15,000 feet, whereas the XP67P can maintain full power to FL250.

Not only does the XP67P conversion deliver improved performance, it also supports the operator's bottom line. Many pre-certification customers called the Blackhawk upgrade a “no brainer” in comparison to the costly overhaul alternative. Factory-new engines allow operators to avoid overhaul unknowns while also directly bolstering the resale value of the aircraft.

Blackhawk continues to accept pre-certification orders to lock in delivery positions for PC-12 operators.