Pratt & Whitney Canada Joins in Launch of Aerosud's First Indigenous Turboprop Civil Certified Aircraft in Africa

June 20, 2011
Aerosud has developed a new, low-cost yet highly advanced aircraft optimized for reconnaissance and surveillance roles.

PARIS, FRANCE--(Marketwire - June 19, 2011) - PARIS AIR SHOW - Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is powering the first indigenous turboprop civil certified aircraft in Africa with the unparalleled P&WC PT6A engine. Aerosud, an established leader in the South African aviation industry, has developed a new, low-cost yet highly advanced aircraft optimized for reconnaissance and surveillance roles. Pratt & Whitney Canada is a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE:UTX).

"P&WC takes considerable pride in powering the first indigenous turboprop civil certified aircraft on the African continent with our high power PT6A-66 turboprop engine," stated Michael Perodeau, Vice President, Corporate Aviation and Military Programs, P&WC. "The performance, reliability, and versatility of the PT6A engine family continue to earn the confidence of customers worldwide."

Aerosud's long and significant expertise in major aircraft design and modification programs, combined with the dependability of the PT6A engine make for a winning combination.

"We are extremely proud to be Pratt & Whitney Canada's first OEM customer on the African continent," said Paul Potgieter, Group Managing Director, Aerosud Holdings. "We look forward to a good, long-term relationship with P&WC."

The PT6A engine family remains the world's most popular engine in its class and is one of P&WC's greatest success stories. Experience gained from the PT6A has helped spawn many of the engine families that have made P&WC a world leader in the gas turbine engine market. Dependability and versatility have been the hallmarks of the PT6A and continue to be the foundation of the many new PT6A models incorporating the latest advanced technologies. New aerodynamic and material technologies have enabled the PT6 engine to gain more power without significantly increasing in size.

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(R)) and Eagle Service(TM) Plan (ESP); comprehensive warranty coverage; as well as an extensive Customer Service Network with more than 30 facilities around the world.

Come see us at the Paris International Air Show: UTC Chalet, A344-346.

Interested operators are invited to drop by the UTC Chalet to speak with a P&WC representative.

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. Please visit www.utcaero.com for news from Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies at the Paris Air Show 2011.