The Williams International FJ44-4A-QPM engine, which has been chosen by Pilatus to power its new PC-24 jet, is now type-certified by both the FAA and EASA, Williams announced on Monday. Production deliveries have already begun. Williams says the new engine features an anti-ice and noise-suppressing inlet, an integral pre-cooler to condition engine bleed air and reduce drag losses, and a patented passive-thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzle technology. The PC-24 installation also will be the first to include a new feature from Williams that enables the FJ44 to provide quiet, efficient ground power, eliminating the need for a traditional APU. The new engine also has an advanced health-monitoring FADEC system.
The two engines will provide the PC-24 with enough power to enable a direct climb to the jet’s operational ceiling of 45,000 feet, Pilatus said. The PC-24, which is the first jet aircraft for Pilatus, is equipped with a large cargo door and is designed to handle operations using short and rough runways. Certification and first deliveries are expected later this year. Williams is headquartered in Walled Lake, Michigan; Pilatus is based in Switzerland.
