VIVAERO

GE Aerospace Announces FAA Certification of Catalyst Turboprop Engine

Last week, GE Aerospace announced that its Catalyst turboprop engine has received FAA certification, marking the culmination of a program that involved more than 23 engines and approximately 190 component tests.

The company noted that the Catalyst is the first innovative turboprop engine developed from the ground up in the 21st century and is also the first to be certified to the latest Part 33 standards, which include more than 20 significant new requirements.

Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft Denali, a single-engine turboprop aircraft scheduled to enter service later this year, will serve as the launch platform for GE’s new engine. Riccardo Procacci, president and CEO of Propulsion and Additive Technologies for GE Aerospace, said: “Certification of the Catalyst engine is a significant milestone for our company and a proud moment for all of our team members who have dedicated their efforts to the design, development and testing of this new European turboprop engine. We are fully committed to supporting the ramp-up of the engine in preparation for its entry into service with our customers.”

The engine was designed, developed and manufactured at GE Aerospace facilities in Europe, including Avio Aero in Italy, as well as locations in the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. During the certification process, the test engines accumulated more than 8,000 operating hours.

Paul Corkery, general manager of Catalyst at Avio Aero, noted that “the Catalyst has undergone a rigorous certification and testing process.” He expressed satisfaction with the engine’s performance during ground and flight test campaigns, reaffirming GE’s focus on supporting Textron Aviation as the company completes the certification process and prepares for the entry into service of the Beechcraft Denali. 

The Catalyst engine features a 16:1 overall pressure ratio, delivering up to 18 percent fuel savings and up to 10 percent more cruise power compared to competitive engines in the same 1,200- to 1,400-shp range. In addition, the Catalyst features stator and turbine blade components manufactured using additive manufacturing technology, which represents a significant advancement in engine production technology.