GE’s Catalyst engine is certified by the FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the type certificate for General Electric’s (GE) Catalyst turboprop engine on February 27.
This has been a long process of about 10 years since the new engine was announced to power Textron Aviation’s Denali single-engine turboprop.
The US company announced the business aircraft in 2015, selecting the then General Electric Advanced Turboprop (ATP) to power it.
Until then, most turboprop aircraft on the market relied on the popular and reliable PT-6 engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada and other similar engines.
The Catalyst was the first turboprop engine developed from scratch this century and incorporates several advances. However, GE took a long time to meet the FAA requirements, which delayed the Denali’s entry into service.
The single-engine turboprop emerged as a competitor to the Pilatus PC-12, originally associated with Cessna but later becoming part of the Beechcraft portfolio.
Entry in service with Denali in 2026
“The certification of the Catalyst engine is a significant milestone for our company and a proud moment for all our team members who have dedicated their efforts to the design, development, and testing of this brand-new European turboprop engine. We are now fully committed to supporting the production ramp-up of the engine towards entry into service in support of our customers,”
said Riccardo Procacci, President and CEO, Propulsion and Additive Technologies at GE Aerospace.
According to GE, more than 8,000 operating hours were completed during this period.
The Catalyst has a 16:1 thrust ratio that allows for up to 18% lower fuel consumption and 10% more power at cruise level. Additionally, the engine “introduces two stages of variable stator vanes, cooled high-pressure turbine blades, and features components made by using additive manufacturing.”
GE designed, developed, and manufactured the Catalyst in Europe, at facilities in Italy (Avio Aero), the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.
The engine will enter service with the Beechcraft Denali starting in 2026, Textron Aviation told Flight Global.
About the Author
Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
