Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that flight testing of the LTS101 engine upgrade from Airwork New Zealand for the Eurocopter BK117 has been completed.
All flight testing has been completed and paperwork has been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand. A Supplemental Type Certificate is anticipated shortly. This will be followed shortly afterwards by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications.
The LTS101 upgrade, which updates the engines to the LTS101-850B-2, delivers 15 percent more take off power and 18 percent more power for hot day operations.
“The LTS101-850B-2 engine is a drop-in replacement with no external changes,” said Paul Vidano, vice president, Militaries and Operators, Honeywell Aerospace. “Operators can upgrade their engines during normal scheduled inspection intervals or through direct purchase and core credit.”
“Flight testing revealed the Honeywell-powered BK117 exceeds the BK117 C-1 performance,” said Kevin Johnson, group CEO of Airwork. “The LTS101 upgrade will provide significant benefits for BK117 operators.”
One Engine Inoperative (OEI) power increases by 14 percent, providing a 12 percent increase in maximum OEI hover weight, which increases safety during single engine operations. Hot day takeoff power increases by 18 percent, resulting in a 13 percent increase in maximum takeoff gross weight. A 20 percent hot day continuous power increase results in a 25 percent reduction in the time to climb from sea level to 10,000 feet, a three-minute savings.
The LTS101 engine family has accumulated more than 10 million flight hours of operation.  Honeywell has continuously invested in engine improvements through the infusion of new technologies and upgrades. As a result, the engine family has demonstrated a four-fold improvement in reliability since 1996, and unscheduled removals and warranty claims have been driven to the lowest values in the history of the engine.
Honeywell International is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges.