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GE Aerospace is on track to certify its new clean-sheet 1,300 shp Catalyst engine, which powers Textron Aviation’s new Beechcraft Denali turboprop, in the coming months, company officials say.
The engine was on display at the recent National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas. “We’re ... advancing a new aero turboprop technology, the Catalyst engine, completing engine level testing and certification, expected in the coming months.” Larry Culp, GE Aerospace chair and CEO, told analysts during a call on the company’s third quarter 2024 financial results.
The program has completed more than 7,500 hr. of combined testing operations, including more than 2,400 hr. of flight testing, more than 2,200 hr. of certification testing and more than 5,400 hr. of testing its McCauley propeller, officials report.
In addition, Avio Aero has assembled and tested 36 Catalyst engines, which include seven flight-worthy engines that have been delivered to Textron Aviation for the Denali.
Textron Aviation officials project entry-into-service for the Beechcraft Denali in 2025. Previously, delays in the Catalyst certification program have led to delays in Denali.
In its design, GE has taken technology found in its larger turbine engine programs and added much of it into the smaller, 1300-shp Catalyst engine, such as Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The engines are integrated with the Garmin G3000 avionics and autothrottle and the Garmin Autoland function.
The result is less pilot workload, 18% lower fuel consumption than the competition and 10% more power, the company says.
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