Pratt & Whitney Opens full-time research office at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore

NEW DELHI: Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company, opened an office at the Indian Institute of Science to increase its long-term commitment to conduct advanced research in gas turbine jet engine technology in India. The office will support a full-time endowed professorship in gas turbine engineering at the institute and visiting Pratt & Whitney employees and executives who conduct research at the institute. The company recently increased its funding commitment to the professorship to make the chair self-sustaining and will announce a full-time professor in the near future. The company works with the IISc on advanced research initiatives that support the design and development of more efficient and environmentally friendly gas turbine engines. The work is focused on advanced research in propulsion system technology.

"IISc has outstanding technical capabilities that complement our research needs. This is an excellent opportunity for Pratt & Whitney to partner with the institute to develop advanced technologies for future generations of our environmentally friendly propulsion systems," said Al Brockett, VP, Pratt & Whitney Engineering-Module Centers. "Our research at the institute further strengthens the relationships between Pratt & Whitney, United Technologies, the Indian educational system and the Indian government." He added.

The research will help Pratt & Whitney develop advanced technologies for future generations of its new PurePower geared Turbofan engine, which sets a new standard of performance for aircraft engines with double-digit reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, engine noise, and operating costs for airline customers. Pratt & Whitney recently signed agreements with two airlines in India - IndiGoand GoAir - to provide PurePower engines for their Airbus A320neo family aircraft. It is is supplying F117 engines to the IAF to power Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters purchased by India.

"By opening a full-time office at the institute and increasing its long-term commitment to the Indian Institute of Science, Pratt & Whitney will have a visible presence here to attract talent to the gas turbine engine field. We expect to be in a position to train and recommend future engineers to key Indian R&D organizations, national laboratories and business partners, including Infotech," said Prof BN Raghunandan, former Chairman of the department of aerospace engineering, IISc.