Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Technic Strengthen Partnership with an Advanced CFM56 and V2500 Center of Excellence

Nov. 1, 2010
The 25,000-square-meter (269,000-square-foot) Turkish Engine Center is located adjacent to the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in the Anatolian peninsula.

ISTANBUL, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, and its joint venture partner, Turkish Technic, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines (ISE: THYAO), celebrated with an official grand opening ceremony this weekend for its advanced CFM56® engine and V2500® engine overhaul facility in Istanbul, Turkey.

Positioning itself as the Center of Excellence for CFM56 and V2500 maintenance, repair and overhauls within the region, the 25,000-square-meter (269,000-square-foot) Turkish Engine Center is located adjacent to the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in the Anatolian peninsula. The facility has the capacity to service more than 250 engines annually.

"Turkey and its surrounding region are very strategic markets for Pratt & Whitney," said Pratt & Whitney President David Hess. "The opening of the Turkish Engine Center and our expanding partnership with Turkish Technic, which has 76 years of experience in the MRO market, is a testament to our commitment to forging a stronger presence in Turkey."

"This is an exciting phase for both Turkish Technic and Pratt & Whitney," said Dr. Ismail Demir, Turkish Technic general manager and Turkish Engine Center chairman of the board. "We are extremely pleased to be embarking on this journey with Pratt & Whitney."

Designed to meet the Gold standards of the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Rating System, the Turkish Engine Center is built with recycled material and uses renewable energy sources for a portion of its energy load. In addition the site is anticipated to reduce its overall water usage by 40 percent compared with conventional facility designs.

"Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Technic have strong commitments to environmental policies," said Todd Kallman, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines & Global Services president. "Therefore, we continuously focus on integrating operational and sustainable practices that help conserve energy while minimizing waste."

"The combined expertise and shared learning of Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Technic will ensure the success of the Turkish Engine Center," said Daniel Tennant, Turkish Engine Center general manager. "Our experienced and competent team is dedicated to deliver only first-class quality products and services to our customers in the region."

Turkish Technic is the leading maintenance service organization in its region, providing MRO services for Boeing and Airbus airframes, engines, auxiliary power units, landing gear and components. Turkish Technic serves airlines in Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with its maintenance base in Istanbul and highly qualified workforce of more than 3,000 personnel.

In recent years, Pratt & Whitney has significantly increased business activities in Turkey: in 2005, both Alp Aviation and Kalekalip (now part of Kale Aero) were awarded manufacturing contracts for critical components of the Joint Strike Fighter's (JSF) F135. In June 2009, Pratt & Whitney and Kale Havacilik San, A.S. (Kale Aero), signed a memorandum of understanding with the intent to develop a joint venture located in Istanbul to produce aircraft engine components.  

Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners (GSP) is a total service provider for engines made by Pratt & Whitney, International Aero Engines, General Electric, Rolls-Royce and CFMI. In addition to engine overhaul and repair services, GSP provides customers with improved engine performance and increased asset value through a portfolio of services including line maintenance, engine monitoring and diagnostics, environmentally friendly on-wing water washes, leased engines, custom engine service programs, and new and repaired parts.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

CFM and CFM56 are trademarks of CFM International

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney