GE Aerospace is gearing up the Catalyst turboprop’s production system and aftermarket support operation in preparation for the expected service entry of Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft Denali.
The engine maker has shifted focus after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February finally certificated the 1,200-1,400shp (895-1,044kW) Catalyst following numerous delays.
“Once we certify, we start transitioning into production readiness and service infrastructure,” says Paul Corkery, GE’s general manager of the Catalyst programme.
“We’re laser focused on our customer, Beechcraft,” he adds. “We want to make sure that we’re ramping our production and supporting everything they need.”
The engine, designed by GE’s Italian subsidiary Avio Aero and produced in Prague, powers the single-propeller Denali, an aircraft with 1,600nm (2,963km) of range that will compete primarily with the Pilatus PC-12. Textron expects the Denali will be certificated next year.
Supply chain and labour shortages are challenges to overcome, but GE is working internally and with partners to ensure everyone involved is ready for the ramp.
“It’s difficult. It’s challenged. But we’re on track,” Corkery says.
GE has already starting assembling production-conforming Catalyst engines and expects soon to begin delivering those to Beechcraft. Corkery declines to specify planned production rates for the engine, however.
Corkery’s team has been busy reviewing the services business that support GE’s Passport business jet engine and the small turbofan it produces under the GE Honda Aero Engines partnership. The goal is to “understand the infrastructure that you need to have a great launch of the product”, Corkery says.
GE has also been studying a possible hybrid-electric modified version of Catalyst under a European clean-energy project.
