Pratt & Whitney Canada to Invest C$ 485M in Engine Technologies

PT6 engine

United Technologies subsidiary Pratt & Whitney is well known around the world as a manufacturer of turbine engines for aircraft, helicopters, and even industrial uses. Within that firm, its Canadian subsidiary has a well established reputation of its own, as a global leader for turboprop and turboshaft engines used in helicopters, military trainer aircraft, and commercial/industrial planes. That status has made them a top-tier R&D player within Canada’s large aerospace industry, working on over 300 research projects with a wide array of universities, research centres and other organizations.

On Oct 20/08, Quebec’s Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade announced that Investissement Québec will invest C$ 125 million over the next 3 years to support the firm research and development activities in Longueuil, Quebec. The investment is repayable from royalties on sales. Pratt & Whitney Canada then announced an investment program of its own: over C$ 360 million in research and development in the Montreal area over the next 3 years. Their R&D investment will be aimed at “further improving engine technology required to surpass the world’s most stringent environmental standards, while delivering outstanding performance, durability and operating economics.”

P&WC’s primary R&D are located and Mississauga, Ontario, and the Montreal suburb of Longueuil which will receive the C$ 485 million (about $395 million) injection. Together, they employ about 1,500 engineers. Pratt & Whitney Canada release.