EPI will have a full technical and commercial responsability for the TP400-D6 it is developing with its four partners (Snecma Moteurs, Rolls Royce, MTU and ITP). A first for such a company born on a multinational cooperation. « We will also be responsible of the certification process says Günter Kappler, because the engine will have a dual use, commercial and military ».
The TP400-D6 will be first certified by the European authority, the JAA. If any American customer materializes, EPI will also go for an American certification with the FAA, based on the European process with added specific requirements.
« The official kick off for the long certification process will take place next Thursday June 19th, says Günter Kappler. A team from the JAA is going to watch continuously the development of our engine ».
First engine run will take place in August 2005 and flight test should start in October 2007 with a certification following closely, according to Günter Kappler. Since the official launch of the program last April 30th, the total development time will not exceed 55 months.

« In the meantime, our job is to organize technically the work of the four partners and check that everybody is doing its workshare » adds Günter Kappler.
Now that the contract is finalized and the industrial scheme well understood by everybody, EPI has entered the important phase of readjusting the specifications, especially in terms of fuel consumption and weight. Because the engine has a commercial vocation, engineers will have to stick very strictly to the contractual specifications. It is interesting to note that any possible penalty would have to be equally shared among the partners whoever the responsible is....

« Each company will take care that the specifications of its module are met says Günter Kappler. With 46 people working for it, EPI is like a coductor: we give every musician a task to perform, but we don’t train them. On the other hand, we check that they all work together well and the music they produce is good. ».

EPI will be around to support the engines for the next decades but not only : the European company will be the melting point of the four partners for any future project. Every turboprop derivative will be submitted to the partners who will be able to accept or decline their participation.