MK Airlines to Upgrade JT9D Fleet With Pratt & Whitney Durability Kits
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. company, and MK Airlines have signed an agreement to upgrade the airline’s fleet of JT9D engines with Pratt & Whitney durability kits. The kits, covering 36 upgrades, are valued at more than $84 million over five years with deliveries beginning in May 2007. MK Airlines also has the option to purchase additional durability kits for their fleet.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement for the purchase of JT9D technology upgrades and that our long-term relationship with Pratt & Whitney continues to flourish,” said Mike Kruger, chief executive of MK Airlines. “This extensive upgrade agreement will ensure the reliability of services provided by MK Airlines for years as we look forward to expanding our market penetration as a result of rising efficiencies.”
The JT9D-7Q technology upgrade provides increased durability and extended on-wing time for Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines. The durability kit includes new first and second stage turbine blades and vanes and a new second stage turbine lenticular seal. The technology upgrade reduces the occurrence of unplanned engine maintenance and improves engine fuel burn.
“We are pleased that MK Airlines has chosen to upgrade their JT9D fleet with Pratt & Whitney durability kits as a cost effective way to extend the life of their engines,” said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “These durability kits are another example of how we continue to invest in our current products, working with our customers to ensure we provide the best value technology and service offerings for their business.”
Based in the United Kingdom, MK Airlines is a privately held, all cargo carrier that provides both scheduled and non-scheduled services, especially to points in Africa, the Far East and South America. The freight carrier’s fleet is comprised of Boeing 747 and DC-8 aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines has nearly 15,000 aircraft engines in service with hundreds of airlines around the world. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney is a leading partner in two joint venture companies to manufacture commercial aircraft engines; the International Aero Engines V2500, which operates on the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and the Engine Alliance GP7200, FAR33 certified for the new Airbus A380.
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.
Contacts: Matthew Perra Jennifer Arsenault Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines Pratt & Whitney +1.860.565.8938 +1.860.565.9600 matthew.perra@pw.utc.com jennifer.arsenault@pw.utc.com
Pratt & Whitney
CONTACT: Matthew Perra of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines,+1-860-565-8938, or matthew.perra@pw.utc.com, or Jennifer Arsenault of Pratt &Whitney, +1-860-565-9600, or jennifer.arsenault@pw.utc.com
Web site: http://www.pratt-whitney.com/