Pratt & Whitney unveils engineering, technology center

Commercial and military jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., formally opened its new Engineering and Technology Center in the heart of its East Hartford, Connecticut, campus. Hundreds of people were on-hand for the ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony, including Pratt & Whitney President Robert Leduc, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (1st District), and U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (2nd District).

The new state-of-the-art building features 425,000ft² of space and will accommodate up to 1,750 Pratt & Whitney employees. It was enabled through a collaboration with the State of Connecticut through the 2014 Connecticut Aerospace Reinvestment Act (CARA). The facility will serve as a global engineering headquarters for the design of Pratt & Whitney's PurePower commercial and F135 military aircraft engines.

"This new facility that we dedicate today becomes the nerve center of Pratt & Whitney's continued excellence and global leadership in the design of the finest commercial and military engines in the world," Leduc said. "We are attracting top engineering talent who will keep Pratt & Whitney on the leading edge of aviation technology for decades to come.”

The traditional ceremonial ribbon cutting was taken to new lengths, with the ribbon literally encircling the building, held by hundreds of Pratt & Whitney employees and their families, including Maureen LeClair and Robert Gilbert, who recently celebrated their 54th and 55th years with the company, respectively.

The Pratt & Whitney Engineering and Technology Center is being considered for LEED Gold Certification with the U.S. Green Building Council.

PurePower for Vietnam
Pratt & Whitney received PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine orders from Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air at a ceremony attended by U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Hanoi for the APEC 2017. The GTF engines will power 20 A321neo Airbus aircraft. For Vietnam Airlines, the deal, valued at $1.5 billion at list prices, includes a 12-year EngineWise Fleet Management Program.

A further GTF engine order valued at $600 million at list prices will power 10 new VietJet aircraft. This deal also includes a 12-year EngineWise Fleet Management Program. The order follows a February 2016 contract signing for GTF engines to power 63 VietJet aircraft.