Friday, March 12, 2010

United Tech ready to fly solo with new engine











Defense News ~ NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) is prepared to sell its forthcoming geared turbofan aircraft engine without the support of its joint-venture partner Rolls-Royce Plc (RR.L), executives said on Friday.
United Tech's Pratt & Whitney unit is open to working with Rolls-Royce on the engine but is ready to go it alone, said David Hess, the unit's president.

"We're not waiting. We're offering out engines to Airbus and Boeing (Co (BA.N))," Hess told investors in New York. "We're not afraid of going it alone."

The geared turbofan engine is substantially more fuel efficient than current jet engines, Pratt officials said.

Airbus is a unit of EADS (EAD.PA).

Earlier on Friday, the diversified U.S. manufacturer confirmed its 2010 profit forecast. [ID:N12123412] (Reporting by Scott Malone, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)