Pratt & Whitney opens India training centre in Hyderabad

Pratt & Whitney, a leader in aircraft engine manufacturing, opened its customer training centre here on Thursday to train aircraft engineers and technicians of airlines in India.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju inaugurated the facility at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

This is only the third training centre of the company after the US and China.

The facility will train aircraft engineers and technicians of its customers and Pratt & Whitney's employees in India and in the region on current and new engine models.

Andrew Tanner, vice president, customer service, Pratt & Whitney said the centre would satisfy the training demand in a fast growing aerospace industry in India.

The customers training centre will provide training for GTF engine and V2500 engine customers. It also has a capacity of training 2,000 students per year with growth capability of up to 4,000 students.

Palash Roy Chowdhury, country manager, India of the Pratt & Whitney, said the facility comprised 31,000 sq.ft training area and 5,000 sq.ft engine facility.

"It's continuation of the investments Pratt & Whitney is making in India," he said.

Pratt & Whitney, which has its presence in India for 60 years, has 1500 engineers working with its partners in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It parent firm United Technologies Corp (UTC) has 6,400 employees in India.

Mary Ellen Jones, vice president, commercial engines sales, Asia/Pacific and China, said more than 300 aircraft in India are currently powered by Pratt & Whitney.

She said this number would grow rapidly as IndiGo, GoAir and Air Coasta had placed orders for 600 new PurePower PW1000G family of engines. Talks were also on with some other airlines.

Pratt & Whitney has globally received 7,000 orders for PurePower engine, known as Geared Turbofan engine or GTF engine, which will be coming into service soon.

To a query, she said Pratt & Whitney would also look at the opportunity of setting up Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to service its customers.

Pratt & Whitney has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Asia to offer undergraduate and graduate aviation and engineering degrees.

The agreement will assist in developing aviation education and training, corporate scholarships and research opportunities between the two institutions, which will benefit the aviation workforce of India and other Asian countries.

Graham Hunt, head of Embry-Riddle's Asia Campus said this agreement would enable Embry-Riddle to establish the same collaborative relationship they share in the United States.