Hamilton Sundstrand, AVIC EM Lay Cornerstone to Mark Start of Production for C919 Electric System

XI'AN, China, July 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation and AVIC Electromechanical Systems Company Limited (AVIC EM) today laid the cornerstone of the  facility to co-develop and manufacture the electric power system for the new Commercial Aviation Corporation of China (COMAC) C919 jetliner. Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and AVIC EM, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), announced their joint venture agreement to develop the C919 jetliner electric system earlier this year.

"Today's ceremony represents a great milestone for Hamilton Sundstrand and AVIC EM. We are confident that together, as a tier one supplier to COMAC, we will deliver the optimal electric power system solution for the C919," said Alain M. Bellemare, president, Hamilton Sundstrand.

Located in Xi'an, the new 5,000-sq.-meter facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012.  "We are pleased to lay the cornerstone of our new facility with Hamilton Sundstrand," said AVIC EM President Wang Jian. "This ceremony brings us one step closer in our journey to support first flight of the C919, the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China."

AVIC EM designs and produces a wide range of aerospace airborne systems and products for both the Chinese and international markets.

In addition to the contract to provide electric systems with AVIC EM, COMAC selected Hamilton Sundstrand in early 2010 to provide the pilot controls and fire and overheat protection system for the 150-seat class C919. The combined value of these awards is estimated to be worth more than $1.5 billion in sales over the life of the program.

With 2010 sales of $5.6 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn. Among the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated system solutions for commercial, regional and corporate aircraft. It is also a major supplier for international space programs.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning potential production and sale of Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace products and services. Important uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include issues that may arise regarding the formation of the joint venture entity; the severity and duration of global recessionary conditions; the impact of reduced levels of economic activity on air travel; declines in end market demand in the aerospace industry; financial difficulties of commercial airlines, including limited availability of credit; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation