OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2012. In April 2012, a conference named The Prospects of the PS-90A Family Development took place in Moscow. During the conference, a presentation was held to introduce the PS-90A3u engine designed to replace the PS-90A family installed on the certified Il-96, Tu-204/214, Il-76TD-90 aircrafts and their versions.

The conference was organizes by Aviadvigatel OJSC and Perm Engine Company OJSC involving United Engine Corporation Managing Co. Among the participants of the conference were almost all the Russian airlines having the PS-90A family powered aircrafts in service: Rossiya Airlines, Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, Red Wings, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Transaero, Aviastar-TU and Polet Airlines. The number of participants who met with Perm building companies also comprised Russian Ministry of Industry & Trade representatives, top managers and senior specialists of Iliushin and Tupolev Co., United Aircraft Corporation, Iliushin Finance Co., Commercial Aviation Institute (National Unitary Enterprise), Central Institute of Aviation Motors n.a. P.I. Baranov (National Unitary Enterprise), Aircraft Building Alliance International Association.

Taking a chair of the conference, Alexander Inozemtsev, the General Director of Aviadvigatel OJSC highlighted that a decision to design the PS-90A family new modification was driven by the necessity to offer engines, based on up-to-date design solutions and engineering technologies, to the potential Perm builders' partners.

Alexander Semyonov, a Deputy General Designer - Aircraft Engine Chief Designer of the Perm Design Bureau, told in detail about the PS-90A3u Project and prospects of the new modification. The PS-90A2 engine, certified in 2009, was designed aiming at performance improvement in relation to that reached for the baseline PS-90A. While developing the new engine, the designers were focused on the interchangeability between the PS-90A and PS-90A2. Even though they did reached complete interchangeability in geometry and weight, as well as in the attachment assemblies, interface variance had to be implemented for the Tu-204SM aircraft.

In 2011, Aviadvigatel made a decision to retrieve the idea of retrofitting the existing PS-90A fleet using the engine that would have all the technology advantages over the PS-90A2 given that no airframe development is required. Such an engine was defined as PS-90A3u. The main design feature of this engine different with PS-90A2 is the fan case adopted from the baseline PS-90A engine to reduce engine weight and cost. The PS-90A2 engine certified in compliance with AP-33 meets containment requirements for the "root blade-out" condition. However, the reinforced case is rather heavy, so that it does not allow the engine to comply with the TRD as fully as required. The PS-90A3u, in turn, will be certified in accordance with Russian Airworthiness Directive (NLGS-3). Besides, the new engine modification has the EEC and onboard monitoring adapted to the interface of the aircrafts being powered by the Perm engines.

The Chief Designer of the Perm Design Bureau expressed an assurance that the PS-90A3u will have a longer on-wing life compared to the baseline PS-90A and lower repair expenses. At this, airlines can not only place orders for the new engines but also reconstruct the existing PS-90A and PS-90A3u during overhaul. To implement such reconstruction the following is needed: to replace the HPT, install a new rear compartment retaining a number of in-service parts, partially replace the LPT and combustor parts and units, develop the HPC, install a new ACS and improve a number of the external systems so that the PS-90A3u can be used for any of the existing aircrafts.

Speaking of the PS-90A3u benefits, the Chief Designer called the attention of the colleagues to the increased engine mean time between overhauls. "It will provide airlines with more effective use of the aircrafts by cutting-down the on-ground time while replacement, decrease a Shop Visit Rate (SVR) and the total Shop Visit time will fall from 50 to 22 months per engine life cycle. Engine reliability will significantly grow allowing the customers to minimize flight delays and pre-flight service time. Decrease of maintenance labour to 0.2 man-hour per 1 flight hour by increasing the maintenance rate and decreasing of Engineering Service Load (ESL), will cut down engine maintenance expenses of airlines to 30%. High stability of the engine modules efficiency, primarily HPT, will decrease the fuel consumption to 4% per 10,000 run hours, and the gas temperature margin at the turbine inlet along with the new HPT design and cooling system will allow to retain the engine thrust constant in operation", stressed A. Semyenov.

Currently, Aviadvigatel jointly with Perm Engine Company are engaged in mastering batch production of the PS-90A3u. "We have issued a big portion of the PS-90A3u documents and now are at the Design Documentation production phase. We will try to install the PS-90A3u for one Tu-204 and one Il-76TD-90 aircraft (single engine for each) for "advance" run time purposes", said A.Semyenov.