EAST HARTFORD, Conn., April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. company (NYSE: UTX), has named Christchurch Engine Center as one of the first facilities in its Geared Turbofan™ engine MRO network to provide maintenance and overhaul services for the PW1100G-JM engine.  The Christchurch Engine Center, located in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and Air New Zealand Ltd.

"Naming Christchurch Engine Center as a part of the Geared Turbofan engine MRO network ensures that our partnership with Pratt & Whitney will remain prosperous for many years to come," said Bruce Parton, chief operations officer, Air New Zealand.

"We are putting in place a world class maintenance network to support the Geared Turbofan engine," said Matthew Bromberg, president, Pratt & Whitney Aftermarket.  "With the Christchurch Engine Center's stellar customer service track record, we know our Geared Turbofan engine customers will be well served."

Pratt & Whitney and its program partners, MTU and JAEC, have been initially selected to maintain the PW1000G engine fleet.  Additionally selected facilities will be strategically located in Asia, Europe and North America and will be tooled, trained and ready to support the fleet on Day 1 of entry into service.  Pratt & Whitney's experienced, high volume shops will streamline operations, continuously improve customized work scopes, and incorporate best practices to offer the highest quality work at competitive costs.

Founded nearly 15 years ago, the Christchurch Engine Center combines Pratt & Whitney's 90-year history of original equipment manufacturer expertise and Air New Zealand's 75 years of airline operational and maintenance excellence.  The facility employs more than 300 highly skilled staff and has overhauled more than 7,000 engines.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high-technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; 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 Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Robin Salisbury
Pratt & Whitney
+1 (860) 565-8220 - Office
+1 (860) 970-5712 - Mobile
robin.salisbury@pw.utc.com

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SOURCE Pratt & Whitney