The Hindu Business Line : Pratt & Whitney eyeing Indian aviation industry

PRATT & Whitney Corporation, part of United Technologies and a pioneer in flight technology powering the civil aviation industry, has firmed up plans with several Indian airlines including Air Deccan.

The President of Pratt &Whitney, Mr Louis R. Chenevert, said that every second aircraft that lands and takes off is powered by Pratt &Whitney engine and the momentum continues with the growth of the aviation sector in the region.

About 30 aircraft ordered by Air Deccan, both ATRs and others, are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, along with the likes of Saras, the indigenous 14-seater, passenger aircraft.

"Pratt & Whitney engines also power scores of Defence aircraft such as F15s and F16s and together with Infotech we are working on design of various engines for modern aircraft both civilian and other applications.

"The aviation industry is witnessing tremendous changes and Pratt & Whitney is part of this changing trend. In about three years, we would be able to come out with a hypersonic engine that would be able to fly at five times the speed of sound," Mr Chenevert said.

Mr Chenevert is in India to commission a development centre of Infotech Enterprises Ltd. Together, Pratt & Whitney and Infotech Enterprises, work on complicated engineering design work through a near shore centre.

"With the Indian aviation industry opening up and more players placing orders for modern aircraft, a good number of them would be powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. We have already made up with Indian Airlines and Air Deccan and expect to be part of other airliners planning their expansion in India," he said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page