United Technologies (UTC) is to merge its two auxiliary power unit (APU) manufacturing businesses. Hamilton Sundstrand in San Diego will take over management of APU programmes, but Pratt & Whitney Canada will continue to build the PW901 for the Boeing 747 and will develop and produce the PW980 for the Airbus A380 twin-deck superjumbo.
"The customer interface and support will be run from San Diego, but there are no plans to move manufacturing at the moment," says Aerospace Power Systems division president Davis Hess. "Development of the A380 APU will continue in Canada."
Hamilton Sundstrand, which produces APUs for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, will participate in development of the PW980, Hess says, and may "possibly supply some externals and components" to P&WC. The San Diego operation "has a lot of expertise in design to cost", he says.
The company sees a gap in its range between APUs for narrowbodies and those for large widebodies. "We plan to launch a programme in the future, possibly for the [Boeing] Sonic Cruiser," he says.
Hamilton Sundstrand's new Aerospace Power Systems division, formed in April, has been selected to supply the air generation system for the A380 - its first contract with Airbus, worth an estimated $700 million over the programme lifespan.
Nord-Micro of Germany, also part of Hamilton Sundstrand, has already been picked to supply the A380's cabin pressure control system. Although several airlines have already ordered A380s, it will not enter service until 2006.
Source: Flight International
