Bangalore. Czech turbine propulsion supplier PBS marked its entrance to the Indian market for unmanned aircraft at the Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bangalore on February 20.

PBS is a renowned Czech export company, which supplies its turbine propulsion units to more than 40 countries around the world. Among the company’s flagship products are turbine propulsion units as well as auxiliary power units and environmental control systems for various types of aeroplanes and helicopters.

It may be noted here that PBS is ready to meet the Indian import rules and is currently defining the necessary steps leading to the development of trade with the Republic of India.

In 2018, PBS launched two new types of jet engine onto the market in the thrust category of 900 and 1500 Newtons. The company thus expanded its line of jet engines to five types in the category from 200 to 1500 Newtons of thrust. It is entering the Indian market of unmanned applications with this unified line of jet engines, and an extended selection of turboprop and turboshaft propulsion units.

“This is not our first experience on the Indian market,” the current Director of the Aerospace Technology Division, Roman Kolka, says about the current business successes. “In India, there are currently 151 Mi-17 helicopters flying with a Safir 5K/G MI auxiliary power unit (APU), which starts the main engines of the helicopter and supplies electrical power for its pre-flight preparation.”

“We would also like to expand our successful cooperation with the suppliers of various types of unmanned aircraft which, similarly to other notable world markets, are experiencing a noticeable rise. We have been active in aviation for over 50 years. Worldwide, we have supplied more than 1,000 jet engines and more than 4,000 APUs. We, therefore, have vast experiences with our own turbine technology and also with installation into various types of aircraft. With our entrance onto the Indian market, we would like to support the Indian manufacturers of aviation applications with our know-how,” adds Mr Kolka.

At the Aero India, PBS mainly displayed its selection of jet engines. Visitors to the PBS stand were able to acquaint themselves with the PBS TJ150 and PBS TJ40 engines specifically.

Both of these propulsion units excel with their excellent thrust-to-weight ratio with respect to the outer diameter of the engine. Other advantages include a compact design, an integrated starter generator, reliability when starting up the engine in harsh climatic conditions with the added possibility of starting in flight at high speeds and high altitudes

PBS develops, manufacturers, and tests more than 90 per cent of its products in-house, and that includes castings from its own precision casting division, which would also be presented at the AERO India.