The FAA has approved type certification for GE Aviation’s H80 turboprop engine. FAA engine certification follows similar certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that the engine received in December.
“The U.S. FAA type certification on the H80 engine paves the way for entry into service on the Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft,” said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation’s Business and General Aviation Turboprops.
The H80 engine is the first GE Aviation engine to receive its initial type certification from EASA. The turboprop engine combines the design of the M601 engine with GE’s 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no hot section inspection, company officials said. The H80 engine will feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls. It will provide the option of a single- or dual-acting governor, allowing customers to have flexibility in propeller selection, company officials said.
The first aircraft to enter service with the H80 engine will be the Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft. The improved Thrush 510G has a hopper capacity of 510 gallons, a gross weight of 10,500 pounds, and a 29,000-hour wing spar life with no mandatory inspections of the wing spars, company officials said.
Production ramp up for the H80 engines is underway at GE Aviation Czech, where the engines are manufactured. GE Aviation anticipates producing 70 H80 engines this year.
GE Aviation has already begun line maintenance classes for customers and has developed a network of service and support centers around the world.
For more information: GEcom/Aviation
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