The first Japanese assembly of the Pratt & Whitney PW1200G engine is underway in Nagoya.

In a PW1200G programme update last week, Pratt & Whitney said that the first build of the MRJ regional jet powerplant at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines (MHI-AEL) is underway.

The engine maker has so far built more than 15 engines for the in-development Japanese aircraft, but all at its Mirabel and Middletown facilities.

The Japanese manufacturer is involved in the final assembly and testing of the geared turbofan, on top of manufacturing of the combustor and high-pressure turbine disks.

Pratt adds that it is working closely with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to prepare the Nagoya facility for final assembly of the PW1200G engine to support the entry into service of the MRJ. While it would not say how many engines will be delivered from the facility, it adds that the site will have the capabilities, techniques and systems to meet the needed production requirements for PW1200G productions.

In the briefing, it adds that icing, thermal environment, stall, drainage, performance, operability and other engine-relevant development tests have also been completed.

Mitsubishi Aircraft is targeting to deliver the first MRJ90 in 2020, followed by the certification of the smaller MRJ70 a year later.

Source: Cirium Dashboard