Pratt & Whitney's Tedd Biddle Awarded ASTM International Award of Excellence; New Global Standard Brings Aviation Closer to Certifying First Biofuel

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney Fuels Technology Manager Tedd Biddle was awarded the ASTM International Committee D02 Petroleum Products and Lubricants Award of Excellence for leading an industry group that developed a new global standard practice for the qualification and approval of new fuels for use in commercial and military aviation gas turbine engines.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

The award was presented by ASTM's (American Society for Testing and Materials) Petroleum Products and Lubricants Committee for Biddle's leadership and significant effort and contribution in serving as the primary author of the new 60-page standard practice guideline that replaced ASTM D4054, Qualification and Approval of New Aviation Fuels and Fuel Additives.

The new qualification and approval protocol will permit a timely, cost-effective approach to evaluating and transitioning alternative aviation fuels into the field and brings the industry closer to certifying the first biofuel for commercial and military gas turbine engines.

"This is a very well-deserved award.  Pratt & Whitney in particular, and aviation in general, have benefited from Tedd's technical expertise and leadership in developing standards for the certification of new fuels," said Paul Adams, Pratt & Whitney senior vice president, Engineering. "This award is further recognition of the high caliber and professionalism of our organization."

The new ASTM standard practice, which was developed with the support and involvement of engine and airframe manufacturers, can significantly reduce approval time and cost to certify a new fuel or new fuel additive from about ten years and $10 million to just three years and $3 million.  The protocol includes a meticulous process for assessing impact on engine safety, performance and durability.  The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy have worked to coordinate their aviation biofuel certification standards with the ASTM D4054 process.

"There was a critical need to develop a standard practice for approval of new fuels and new fuel additives for use in commercial and military engines. There was no official protocol in place that was accepted by P&W, GE and Rolls Royce that provided guidance, procedures and requirements to our commercial and military customers," said Biddle.

Pratt & Whitney has been committed to exploring the use of synthetic jet fuels for nearly two decades and works with industry groups, customers and aircraft manufacturers to explore alternative fuel options that improve fuel supplies and reduce environmental emissions.  

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 commercial building industries.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney