Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has achieved a significant milestone with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granting approval for its PW545D turbofan engine. This approval marks a critical step forward as Textron Aviation prepares to bring the Cessna Citation Ascend to market in 2024.
The FAA issued the type data sheet for the PW545D last month, following Transport Canada’s type certification just two months prior. This engine, rated at 4,218 pounds of thrust, is set to power the newest member of the Citation 560XL family, offering a range of 1,900 nautical miles, a maximum cruise speed of 441 knots, and a 30-minute climb to FL450.
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Unveiled during the 2023 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), the Citation Ascend is priced at $16.725 million and boasts advanced features such as Garmin G5000 avionics, autothrottles, a flat cabin floor, increased payload capacity, and enhanced range. The aircraft’s performance is bolstered by the PW545D engine, which includes a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system that integrates with the autothrottle, an enhanced three-stage compressor, and a high-pressure turbine module.
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The PW545D is part of the PW500 engine family, which has proven reliability with approximately 4,600 engines in service and around 24.5 million flight hours logged. This family of engines also powers other Citation models, including the Bravo, Excel, XLS, XLS+, Ultra Encore, and Encore+.
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As the aviation industry anticipates the arrival of the Citation Ascend, the PW545D engine is poised to play a crucial role in delivering the aircraft’s impressive performance and capabilities.
IMAGE CAPTION: The PW545D will provide for a 1,9000-nm range on the Cessna Citation Ascend.
