Rising demand for helicopters around the world has contributed to sustained growth at Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) as the engine maker continues to grapple with supply-chain challenges stemming from the pandemic.  The RTX business, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has been manufacturing helicopter propulsion systems for 60 years and has built around 20,000 helicopter engines that have amassed a combined total of 80 million flight hours.

Nico Chabee, v-p of marketing and sales for helicopters at P&WC, told AIN that shortages of pilots and mechanics, combined with lingering supply-chain woes, continue to constrain the industry as demand outpaces supply, creating hefty backlogs. “It’s a good problem to have,” he said. “Today we are growing at a pace where people would like us to grow even faster.”

Most recently, the company has been expanding its footprint in Asia. Last year P&WC expanded its Eagle Services Asia facility in Singapore and invested $20 million to expand its manufacturing presence there, with plans calling for a 10% increase in its Singapore-based workforce by 2026.

P&WC also continues to enjoy government support both in Canada and abroad, including from the U.S. Department of Defense. Chabee told AIN the company is not worried about any of its U.S. defense contracts being canceled as a result of federal government cuts.

“I don’t think it’s even a topic of discussion,” he said. While he declined to comment on the possible impacts of U.S. tariffs on Canada, he noted that company leadership is “keeping a close eye on the evolving situation.”

While P&WC forges ahead with its global expansion, the company is also continually investing around $500 million per year in innovations for its existing line of legacy engine models, as well as future products. For example, the company is studying advanced materials that could enable greater thermal efficiency in gas turbine engines to reduce fuel burn and emissions. 

On the future front, P&WC is working with Airbus Helicopters’ PioneerLab team to build a hybrid-electric demonstrator aircraft based on the H145 helicopter, with first flights slated for 2027. That demonstrator will combine one of P&WC’s PW210S engines with a pair of Collins Aerospace 250-kW electric motors.

The company is also researching and experimenting with hydrogen propulsion turbine engines. It is preparing to demonstrate hydrogen combustion technology on a PW127XT turboprop engine for the Canadian government-backed Hydrogen Advanced Design Engine Study (HyADES).