media releases

RIVALTA DI TORINO – February 27, 2025 – Avio Aero announced today that the Catalyst turboprop engine has been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authority. The FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Part 33 certification involved over 23 engines and more than 190 component tests.

Catalyst is the first new centerline, clean-sheet advanced turboprop of the 21^st century, entirely designed, developed, and manufactured at Avio Aero and GE Aerospace sites in Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

“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 the entry into service in support of our customers”, said Riccardo Procacci, CEO of Avio Aero.

Catalyst is the first turboprop engine to be certified to the latest standards, which include more than 20 significant new requirements. During the certification process, the test engines completed more than 8,000 hours of operation demonstrating and meeting its key performance objectives.

“Catalyst has been through a rigorous certification and testing process. We are pleased with the performance of the engine throughout its ground and flight test campaigns, and we remain fully focused on supporting Textron Aviation as they complete the certification process and prepare for entry into service of the Beechcraft Denali”, stated Paul Corkery, Catalyst General Manager at Avio Aero.

The engine will bring a radical change to this segment, thanks to its industry-best 16:1 overall pressure ratio that enables up to 18% better fuel consumption and up to 10% higher cruise power, compared to competitors in the same class. Catalyst introduces two stages of variable stator vanes, cooled high-pressure turbine blades, and features components made by using additive manufacturing.

The Catalyst engine belongs to the GE Aerospace suite of next generation engines, which are defining the Future of Flight.

About Avio Aero

Avio Aero is a GE Aerospace company that designs, manufactures and maintains components and propulsion systems for civil and military aviation. Today, the company provides its customers with innovative technological solutions to quickly respond to the continuous changes required by the market: additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, as well as technologies dedicated to the production of transmissions, turbines, and combustors. Avio Aero’s head office is in Rivalta di Torino, where its largest production facility is also located. Other important facilities are in Brindisi and Pomigliano d'Arco (Naples), with a total of around 4,800 employees employed in Italy. The company also has a plant and a test center in Poland and a production and testing facility in the Czech Republic, with a total of around 1,100 employees. Through continuous investment in research and development and a consolidated network of relationships with major universities and international research centers, Avio Aero has developed a globally recognized level of technological and manufacturing excellence, as evidenced by the partnerships signed with the world's leading aviation companies.

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Matteo Acciaccarelli, Media Relations Manager

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