Pratt & Whitney to Provide PurePower® PW1200G Engines on Mitsubishi Regional Jet Order for Trans States Holdings

NAGOYA, Japan, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney will provide exclusive power for 50 firm and up to 50 options for new Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircraft ordered by Trans States Holdings as part of a contract announced today.  The agreement represents 100 firm PW1200G engines for the aircraft with 8 spare engines and options for up to 100 additional engines with deliveries scheduled to start in 2014.  In addition, Trans States Holdings has signed an exclusive 12-year maintenance contract with Pratt & Whitney for these engines. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"We believe that the MRJ is a game-changing regional jet with its incredibly fuel efficient next generation Pratt & Whitney PurePower® geared-turbofan engines, together addressing the vital needs of the environment, as well as the critical needs of passengers and airline operators," said Richard Leach, president of Trans States Holdings.  "The MRJ will reduce fuel consumption, noise and NOx emissions—this means savings on operating costs."

Each Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircraft is powered by two PurePower PW1200G engines with double digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs when compared with today's engines.

"The state-of-the-art aerodynamic design, combined with a game-changing engine will reduce fuel consumption, noise and NOx emissions," said Hideo Egawa, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft. "This will contribute to improved competitiveness and profitability for the airlines, and also open the door to a greater number of airports at which the MRJ can be operated."

"Pratt & Whitney is very proud to add Trans States Holdings to our growing list of distinguished PurePower engine family customers," said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines & Global Services. "We now have more than 600 PW1000G engines on order, when options are exercised."

Established in 1998, Trans States Holdings, Inc. is the largest privately held regional airline holding company in America and the parent company of three regional airlines, Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines and Compass Airlines.  Trans States Airlines, established in 1982 as Resort Air, currently operates as United Express and US Airways Express.  The current fleet of 30 Embraer regional jets served nearly 2.2 million passengers in 2010.  Information regarding Trans States Airlines can be found at www.transstates.net.

GoJet Airlines began passenger service in 2005.  Serving 30 cities as United Express, 2.67 million passengers boarded GoJet's fleet of Bombardier CRJ700 66-seat aircraft in 2010.  Visit www.gojetairlines.com for further information.

Compass Airlines is a member of the Delta Connection program, operating more than 170 flights each day to 35 airports in 20 states, Canada and Mexico.  Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, the airline operates a fleet of 36 Embraer 175 aircraft.  Founded in 2007, Compass has operated as a Northwest Airlink and Delta Connection carrier since then.  For more information, please visit www.compassairline.com.

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.

For more information on the Pratt & Whitney PurePower engine, visit www.purepowerengines.com

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SOURCE Pratt & Whitney