Southwest Airlines Renews EcoPower(R) Engine Wash Services Contract with Pratt & Whitney

PHOENIX, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MRO AMERICAS -- Southwest Airlines, the world's largest operator of CFM56®-7B engines, renewed its contract with Pratt & Whitney to provide EcoPower engine wash services on Southwest's fleet of CFM56-7B engines.  Southwest has been using the EcoPower engine wash service since 2007.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

In 2009, Pratt & Whitney performed 1,200 washes on Southwest's fleet, which resulted in fuel savings of about $12.5 million and a reduction of more than 160 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2010, the engine wash program could save Southwest Airlines as much as $17.5 million in fuel while eliminating up to 188 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

The engine washes will continue to be performed at Pratt & Whitney's service centers in Orlando, Fla., and Oakland, Calif.

"Southwest Airlines continues to use the EcoPower engine wash service based on the benefits the service provides," said Johnny Holley, Senior Powerplant Engineer.  "By using this service, we can save money and reduce our environmental footprint at the same time."

"In 2007, we partnered with Southwest Airlines to pilot the EcoPower engine wash program. Since then, we have demonstrated how this service reduces operational costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and fuel consumption," said Joanne Hastings, director, Pratt & Whitney Line Maintenance Services. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Southwest Airlines."

Pratt & Whitney launched the EcoPower engine wash service business in late 2004 and to date has completed more than 11,000 washes on 53 engine models for more than 95 customers in 81 locations.  Pratt & Whitney's exclusive EcoPower engine wash system reduces fuel burn by as much as 1.2 percent, eliminating approximately three pounds of carbon dioxide emissions for every pound of fuel saved, while also decreasing engine gas temperature thus increasing the time an engine can stay on-wing.  The EcoPower system, offered through the Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners network, uses a closed-loop system with pure atomized water to wash aircraft engines, thereby avoiding potential contaminant runoff.  This system is more effective and much faster than traditional engine washing processes.  

Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners (GSP) is a total service provider for engines made by Pratt & Whitney, International Aero Engines, General Electric, Rolls-Royce and CFM International.  In addition to engine overhaul and repair services, GSP provides customers with improved engine performance and increased asset value through a portfolio of services including line maintenance, engine monitoring and diagnostics, environmentally friendly on-wing water washes, leased engines, custom engine service programs, and new and repaired parts.

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.

EcoPower is a registered trademark of United Technologies Corporation.

CFM and CFM56 are trademarks of CFM International.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney