WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Map) - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than 50 representatives from airlines and leasing companies around the world gathered to review Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine development program during the company's Next Generation Technology Symposium in West Palm Beach, Fla. At the three-day conference, airlines received comprehensive technical briefings on the engine's design, performance and development progress and viewed the full-scale Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine during ground runs at the company's advanced test facility. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"Being able to demonstrate first-hand the engineering and development progress we've made on the Geared Turbofan engine is one more way we are showing airlines that this game-changing technology is real, ready and available now," said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, and host of the event. "We are excited to receive direct feedback from our customers as we prepare to enter detailed design for the production configuration of the Geared Turbofan engine later this year."

During the symposium, which was co-hosted by Bombardier and Mitsubishi, airlines were briefed on the CSeries aircraft and Mitsubishi Regional Jet programs, both of which are exclusively powered by the Geared Turbofan engine.

"It is one thing to see presentations on engine concepts, but it is really impressive to actually see the Geared Turbofan engine running at test -- it's very quiet," said Marty Olson, senior vice president, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). "As ILFC would consider being a launch customer for the GTF-powered aircraft, it is encouraging to see the progress the company is making and it shows that Pratt & Whitney is serious about delivering on its promises."

"It is truly impressive to see the amount of time, resource and money Pratt & Whitney is devoting to the Geared Turbofan Engine program," said Hal Calamvokis, Strategic Planning manager, easyJet Airline Co. Ltd. "Considering the cost and environmental challenges facing this industry what we need is action -- not talk -- and I commend Pratt & Whitney for putting their money where their mouth is."

"The environmental benefits of the Geared Turbofan engine are significant and timely in the current world of exorbitant fuel prices and environmental sensitivity," said Bob Pekarek, director, Powerplant and Component Engineering, Northwest Airlines. "I was impressed at how quiet the Geared Turbofan engine was at idle and full take-off power, requiring only minimal hearing protection and allowing the ability to hold a conversation while the engine was running at those high speeds. Typically, being that close to an engine at take off power requires maximum hearing protection and there is no chance of holding a conversation. The dramatically reduced fuel burn, noise and emissions of the Geared Turbofan engine are significant advantages."

"With rising fuel prices, a difficult economy and growing environmental focus, we look for an engine that can deliver double-digit reductions in fuel burn, emissions and operating costs while significantly reducing noise," said Nico Buchholz, senior vice president, Corporate Fleet Planning, Lufthansa. "These criteria are essential for an airline."

Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine recently began Phase II ground testing at the company's advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Phase II of the ground test program will focus on engine performance and acoustic characteristics with a flight-capable nacelle system prior to mid-year flight testing. The Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine has logged approximately 200 hours since ground testing began in November 2007.

In 2007, Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine was selected as the exclusive power for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the proposed Bombardier CSeries. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet program was officially launched on March 28, 2008, with an order from All Nippon Airways. The CSeries program is expected to launch later this year. Both aircraft are scheduled to enter service in 2013.

The Geared Turbofan engine is expected to set new standards in environmental performance and operating value for the next generation of commercial aircraft. In a Geared Turbofan engine, a state-of-the-art gear system allows the engine's fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and a slower fan speed for reduced noise. The Geared Turbofan engine builds on more than 20 years of technology development with improvements in every major module.

Pratt & Whitney has over 17,000 aircraft engines installed with hundreds of airlines around the world. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney is a leading participant in two joint venture companies that manufacture commercial aircraft engines: International Aero Engines, which makes the V2500 for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and the Engine Alliance, whose GP7200 engine is FAR 33 certified for the new Airbus A380.

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 building industries.

This release includes "forward looking statements" concerning future business opportunities and other matters involving this engine that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward looking statements include changes in the health of the global economy and the strength of end market demand in the aerospace industry; as well as company specific items including the ability to achieve cost reductions at planned levels; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies including this engine, and new products including the engine discussed in this press release; and delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers. For information identifying other important economic, political, regulatory, legal, technological, competitive and other uncertainties, see UTC's SEC filings as submitted from time to time, including but not limited to, the information included in UTC's 10-K and 10-Q Reports under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Cautionary Note Concerning Factors that May Affect Future Results," as well as the information included in UTC's Current Reports on Form 8-K.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney