Pratt & Whitney Canada Signs FMP(R) Agreement With DRF Luftrettung

LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 1, 2011) - Pratt & Whitney Canada Customer Service Centre Europe GmbH (CSC Europe) signed a 13-year Fleet Management Program (FMP^®) agreement with DRF Luftrettung of Germany for comprehensive maintenance support of its PW206B2 engines. This long-term FMP^® agreement with CSC Europe provides DRF Luftrettung with expanded coverage until 2024. CSC Europe is a joint-venture between Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) and MTU Aero Engines. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

DRF Luftrettung employs some 50 helicopters for around-the-clock emergency air rescue missions and the transport of intensive care patients between clinics at eight HEMS (helicopter emergency medical services) bases. Some 1,000 emergency physicians, paramedics, pilots and technicians work for DRF Luftrettung across its 31 HEMS bases located in Germany, Austria and Denmark. Every year the DRF Luftrettung flies about 37,000 missions. All helicopters are optimally equipped for the care of emergency and intensive care patients.

"This second FMP is testament to a superior cost-effective product delivered by a talented and dedicated team," said Clemens Linden, General Manager of CSC Europe, "The CSC is honoured that DRF Luftrettung continues to place their trust in us and our long-standing relationship for their vital HEMS missions."

The tailored FMP^® Term Cost Plan (TCP^®) provides maintenance support solutions that guarantee operating costs over the term for 34 of the PW206B2 engines installed on DRF Luftrettung's fleet of Eurocopter EC135P2 helicopters.

"The long term cooperation with Pratt & Whitney Canada has influenced our decision to renew the FMP agreement with the CSC in the long run." said Jürgen Zoller, Director Technical Operations, DRF Luftrettung. "We are pleased to continue with our reliable partner and consider both the product and the service as an important contribution to keep our aircraft flying."

With P&WC Engine Service Agreements, customers are able to fully capitalize on a team dedicated to total event management for each maintenance task by taking full ownership and closely tracking each event until the aircraft is back in the air. This brings together, in one team, the best expertise from across key P&WC front-line services.

As a leading helicopter engine manufacturer, P&WC has developed solid relationships with a multitude of operators and OEMs in the market. We offer a product line that is broad, targeted and tailored. In the last eight years alone, we have seen a threefold increase in the number of helicopter engines delivered annually.

P&WC customer service

In addition to the most advanced engine technology available, Pratt & Whitney Canada brings world-class customer service backed by a worldwide network of more than 100 field support representatives (FSRs), distribution centres in key locations around the world and more than 80 mobile repair technicians; a broad pool of rental and exchange engines; a customized Fleet Management Program (FMP®) and Eagle Service™ Plan (ESP); comprehensive warranty coverage; as well as an extensive Customer Service Network with more than 30 facilities around the world.

P&WC and the helicopter industry

Since the 1970s, P&WC has produced more than 12,000 engines for the helicopter market, accumulating more than 43 million flying hours. The company has certified 31 models for more than 25 applications and engines destined for the helicopter industry.

We continue to make significant investment in our market-leading PW200 and PT6 turboshaft families of engines; and we continue to direct our R&D investments toward customer-driven initiatives that target outstanding performance and reliability, optimal power-to-weight ratio, fuel burn, operating economics and environmental performance.

About Pratt & Whitney Canada

Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada is shaping the future of business aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Every second, a Pratt & Whitney Canada-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world. Pratt & Whitney Canada's engines, with more than 500 million hours in the air, are the industry benchmark for innovative design, dispatch reliability, operating economics and easy maintenance. Pratt & Whitney Canada 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 47,000 P&WC engines in service on over 27,000 aircraft operated by some 10,000 operators in 198 countries. The most extensive support network in the industry, which includes more than 30 company-owned and designated service facilities, supports this global fleet. P&WC has been taking front-line services to the next level with its Customer First Centre (CFirst). CFirst brings together a multidisciplinary and multilingual support team to resolve issues so that customers can return to service quickly. CFirst handles more than 100,000 contacts every year.

Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), Pratt & Whitney Canada 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.