EASA has issued type certification for Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW545D engine that powers Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Ascend. The European air safety regulator confirmed the approval on December 18 at the end of a 20-month process that started when the manufacturer filed its application in April 2022. The engine received Transport Canada and FAA type certification in July.

Textron Aviation is aiming to complete type certification and service entry for the Ascend this year, having launched the midsized twinjet in May 2023. The aircraft's pair of PW545D turbofans are expected to deliver improved fuel efficiency for the latest member of the Citation 560XL family through improvements over the earlier PW545 engines to the high-pressure compressor, single-stage turbine module, and exhaust mixer.

The 4,200-pound-thrust PW545D is the largest and most powerful member of the PW500-series turbofans. P&WC's PW545C already powers the Citation XLS+, while the the -A and -B models are on the Excel and XLS, respectively.

According to Pratt & Whitney, the PW545D will be able to operate with a 50% blend of sustainable aviation fuel. The engine supports the manufacturer’s Flight, Acquisition, Storage, and Transmission health monitoring and diagnostics system. Operators using this technology who are enrolled in the Eagle Service Plan hourly maintenance program will have access to the 6,000-hour time-between-overhaul option.