PWC pulls out of military Y8-F600

CHINA’S new Shaanxi Y8-F600 commercial freighter has been put on hold due to missing engine control software from Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC). Shaanxi will now have to develop its own.

P&WC were contracted to supply PW150 engines (right) for the plane but a US-based sub-contractor was forbidden to contribute their part by the US government.

Spokesperson for P&WC, Pierre Boisseau, told Air Cargo News: “One of our US-based suppliers applied for a ‘commodity jurisdiction’ ruling for the proposed modified version of the engine control unit on the Y8/F600 aircraft. The US government ruled that the aircraft is a military application, contrary to the assertions of the Chinese.

“Accordingly, our supplier and Pratt & Whitney Canada determined that proceeding with the programme could not be authorised and we informed the customer that we would not be in a position to proceed.”

The F600 is a civil programme but Shaanxi also makes military versions of the Y8. The company says it is considering other engine options but it may have problems with the length of time it takes to secure certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

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