Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6 E-Series engine family has surpassed 500,000 flying hours since entering service in 2020. Powering the Daher TBM 960, the Pilatus PC-12 NGX and recently launched PRO, more than 700 PT6 E-Series engines are now in service with operators worldwide. The PT6 engine is the only turboprop certified to fly commercial passenger missions aboard single-engine aircraft in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
“The PT6 E-Series is the most modern version of our legendary PT6 engine family, bringing advanced digital capabilities, fuel efficiency and exceptional performance to general aviation,” says VP, sales and marketing, general aviation Cedric Gauthier. “Reaching half a million flying hours in just a few years reflects the trust our customers place in this engine and underscores how PT6 innovations and reliability continue to set the standard across general aviation.”
The PT6 E-Series is the first turboprop engine family in the general aviation segment with a dual-channel integrated electronic propeller and engine control system. This innovation enables single-lever engine control, providing a more intuitive pilot experience, reducing workload and optimising performance and efficiency throughout the entire flight envelope. The digital control system continuously monitors and adjusts both engine and aircraft parameters to maximise power, efficiency and responsiveness at all altitudes and in all operating conditions. In addition to its performance advantages, the PT6 E-Series delivers fuel savings across diverse mission profiles.
The PT6 engine family has powered more than 155 different aircraft types and amassed over 500 million flying hours since its introduction in 1963. Today’s PT6 engines are up to four times more powerful than the original model, with a 50 per cent improved power-to-weight ratio and up to 20 per cent better specific fuel consumption.