GE Aviation will build a new facility in the Czech Republic to produce engines for Textron Aviation’s new single-engine turboprop, the company announced this week. The all-new ATP (advanced turboprop) engine will achieve 20 percent better fuel burn and 10 percent higher cruise power compared to competitors in the same class, GE says. The GE Turboprop Center of Excellence facility is expected to go online by 2020, with a staff of about 500. Besides production capabilities, the facility also will support research on new products, including a 5,000-shp turboprop engine for the regional market.
Until the Center of Excellence goes online, design and testing for the ATP engine will take place in GE’s existing facilities, the company said. Textron has released few details about the new turboprop, which will aim for a range of more than 1,500 nm and top speed of about 280 knots, making it competitive with the Pilatus PC-12. Textron is expected to reveal more details about the design this summer at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
