Airbus Helicopters has chosen Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and Collins Aerospace to help develop a hybrid-electric propulsion system for the airframer’s PioneerLab demonstrator.
PioneerLab is one of several demonstrators Airbus is using to develop technology “bricks” that could be incorporated into its current and future product lines. The aircraft, based on the twin-engine H145 platform, is based at Airbus Helicopters’ facility in Donauworth, Germany, and has been flying for about a year. To date, Airbus’s tests with it have been related to proving out autonomous flight controls, but the OEM has also targeted optimized engine performance and improved efficiency — up to 30 percent compared to a conventionally powered aircraft — and aims to deliver on the latter through a hybrid-electric powerplant.
For this, its existing Safran Arriel 2E engines will be replaced by a Pratt & Whitney PW210 derivative linked with two Collins Aerospace 250 kW electric motors and controllers through a common gearbox.
In a press release announcing the news, P&WC said the configuration would allow the electric motors to provide high torque capability during take-off and landing.
“With world-class efficiency and reliability, Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW210 engine is very well-suited to perform as part of a hybrid-electric helicopter propulsion system,” said Maria Della Posta, president, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “To help achieve the goals of this innovative project, we’ll draw on expertise from our growing list of hybrid-electric demonstrator programs, including the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator, STEP-Tech and SWITCH.”
Collins will develop the 250 kW motor and controller at its Electronic Controls and Motor Systems center of excellence in Solihull, England, with flight tests of the hybrid-electric PowerLab set to begin in 2027.
“The combined 250 kW motor and controller we’re designing for PioneerLab are part of our family of electric motors and controllers that can be scaled up or down to meet the future electrification needs of aircraft across multiple segments,” said Henry Brooks, president, Power & Controls for Collins Aerospace. “By serving as part of hybrid-electric propulsion architectures or helping to electrify onboard systems, these motors and controllers will support the aviation industry’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from future platforms.”
