P&WC Sees Regional Turboprop Demand Flying High for Next Decade

RAA - MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA--(Marketwire - May 21, 2012) - Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) continues to see a sustained demand for regional turboprop aircraft and estimates a market for 3,000 regional turboprop aircraft in the next 20 years, with the majority of the regional aircraft in the 70 to 100 seat capacity. Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE:UTX).

"We are experiencing excellent growth in the regional turboprop market and believe demand will only increase," said Richard Dussault, Vice-President, Marketing, P&WC. "Deliveries of turboprops have grown steadily at P&WC since 2003. All indicators point to an acceleration of demand and we have taken the right steps to ensure that we can meet that demand in a timely manner, with products that exceed our customers' expectations."

Today P&WC produces engines for the ATR 42 and ATR 72, Bombardier Q400 and XAC MA60 aircraft. P&WC recently marked the delivery of its 2000^th PW100 family engine to ATR, a milestone that's indicative of strong demand for turboprop engines from regional airlines. ATR delivered its 1000^th twin-engine ATR 72-600 aircraft to Spanish airline Air Nostrum in early May.

Demand for the PW150A engine, powering the Bombardier Q400 aircraft, continues to be strong and P&WC expects to exceed the 1000th-engine-produced mark in 2013.

"P&WC has built strong relationships with regional airframe OEMs and airlines that are driving the demand for our engines," said Dussault. "Demand is also driven by the fact that PW100-powered regional turboprop aircraft typically consume 30 to 45% less fuel and deliver a similar reduction in Green House Gas (CO2) emissions relative to similar-sized regional jets."

P&WC is the largest investor in aviation research and development in Canada, deploying $400 million annually to ensure its products continue to lead the industry. The company is making important progress towards meeting future demand with an entirely new turboprop engine to serve the regional airline market.

"P&WC has launched the detailed design and a technology demonstrator program for an all-new advanced turboprop engine specifically designed to power the next generation of regional turboprop aircraft," said Dussault. "We intend to leverage our experience, technology and customer service track record with regional airlines as we develop the next generation of regional turboprop engines."

Customer Service

P&WC has built the largest, most comprehensive customer service network in the industry around its 10,000 customers who operate in 200 countries. Through its Customer First Centres in Montreal and Singapore, P&WC is always just a call or click away, providing unparalleled technical support. The P&WC network has 30 owned or designated repair and overhaul facilities, nine parts distribution centres, 100 Field Support Representatives, mobile repair teams, 800 rental/exchange engines and 12 customer training facilities operated through FlightSafety International. P&WC offers comprehensive pay-by-the-hour maintenance programs for fleet operators and business aviation customers, with more than 7,000 engines currently enrolled. P&WC also offers repair and overhaul of components and accessories and the sale of new, exchange and used serviceable parts. Advanced diagnostics are also offered, moving operators towards a planned operating environment. P&WC is a one-stop shop for all elements of an operator's needs.

About Pratt & Whitney Canada

Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is shaping the future of aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Every second, a P&WC-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world. P&WC's engines, with close to 600 million hours in the air, are the industry benchmark for innovative design, dispatch reliability, operating economics and easy maintenance. P&WC is firmly committed to ensuring that its products are designed, produced and operated while minimizing environmental impacts throughout their life cycle.

There are currently more than 49,000 engines in service on more than 28,000 aircraft operated by some 10,000 operators in 200 countries. The most extensive support network in the industry, which includes more than 30 company-owned and designated service facilities, supports this global fleet.

Based in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE:UTX). UTC is a diversified company providing high-technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.