Pratt & Whitney Canada's FAST Technology Delivers Automated Aircraft and Engine Trend Monitoring and Diagnostics

May 14, 2012
The Flight Data Acquisition Storage and Transmission System solution allows for real-time monitoring of aircraft performance trends, providing a complete picture, predictable maintenance and performance optimization.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- (Marketwire - May 13, 2012) – Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has launched a new diagnostic solution that automatically acquires, stores and transmits engine and aircraft performance data. In addition to traditional engine diagnostics and prognostics monitoring, P&WC’s FAST™ (Flight Data Acquisition Storage and Transmission System) solution allows for real-time monitoring of aircraft performance trends, providing a complete picture, predictable maintenance and performance optimization. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

The FAST™ device is installed in an aircraft and measures its various performance indicators. When the engine is shutdown, the data collected is sent wirelessly to P&WC’s appointed Designated Analysis Centre (DAC) for analysis. Within minutes, the DAC and the customer receive electronic notification of the engine’s performance. Customers can choose where and how they wish to be notified of engine performance data.

“Operators in this market use their aircraft as a key tool to run their business and dispatch reliability is paramount,” said Raffaele Virgili, Vice-President, Customer Service, P&WC. “At P&WC we are working toward offering our customers a planned operating environment where maintenance is synchronized with their schedules and downtime is kept to the absolute minimum. Our FAST™ solution integrates all performance metrics into a single hardware/software solution that eliminates the need for manual downloads and allows operators to plan their maintenance events and minimize aircraft downtime.”

With FAST™ technology, operators can plan their maintenance sessions in advance, taking advantage of overnight layovers, for example. Because the FAST™ system provides early detection of minor issues, preventative maintenance can be conducted before issues become mission affecting.   Also, the FAST™ solution provides timely post-flight fault code/event review which enables determination of an aircraft’s immediate availability.

Whether the goal is asset protection, on-condition maintenance, real-time diagnostics or regulatory compliance, P&WC’s FAST™ solution will meet any operator’s needs and provide a planned maintenance environment.

“When you do business with P&WC,” concluded Virgili, “you are entrusting your aircraft to a company that delivers reliability and instills peace of mind; we focus our efforts where our customers need us to: on performance, speed and simplicity. Our FAST™ system delivers on all three fronts.”

P&WC’s FAST™ technology is currently available for the Bombardier Learjet 60 and the Dassault Falcon 7X. It is expected to be available on the Bombardier Q400 in the second quarter of 2012.

Come and see us at EBACE, Hall 6, Booth 1539. Operators are invited to visit P&WC's booth to speak with a customer service representative.

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About Pratt & Whitney Canada

Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is shaping the future of business 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.

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, 200 mobile repair teams who can be on site within 12 hours, 800 rental/exchange engines and 12 customer training facilities operated through FlightSafety International. P&WC offers comprehensive Pay per Hour maintenance programs for fleet operators and business aviation customers, with more than 7,000 engines currently enrolled. The repair and overhaul of components and accessories, and the sale of new, exchange and used serviceable parts are offered within the P&WC network. Advanced diagnostics are also offered, moving operators towards a totally planned operating environment. P&WC is a one-stop shop for all elements of an operator’s needs.

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.