Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

United Technologies plans to invest more than $15 billion in research and development and capital expenditures in the U.S. over the next five years, including a significant investment in Pratt &amp; Whitney commercial engine programs, the company announced Wednesday. Through 2022 the company also expects to hire 35,000 people.

 


UTC said about $9 billion of the investment will go toward R&amp;D initiatives to accelerate the firm’s so-called digital strategy centering on service capacity, “intelligent” products, “smart” factory adoption, and developing “connected” products that allow for real-time health monitoring. Other programs include continued work on next-generation additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and autonomy, hybrid-electric, cybersecurity, and high-temperature materials.

 


UTC expects the remaining $6 billion to go toward capital expenditures aimed at increasing capacity and improving quality and efficiency at U.S. factories.

 


Recent capital investments include a new 80,000-square-foot manufacturing and nacelle assembly facility on the UTC Aerospace Systems campus in Foley, Alabama. The company expects to add 260 jobs at the campus, ultimately increasing the Foley workforce to more than 1,000 employees.

 


UTC also spent $97 million on Pratt &amp; Whitney’s AutoAir fan-blade factory in Lansing, Michigan. The investment, which includes a new 93,000-square-foot facility and advanced manufacturing technologies, will allow the site to triple production capacity. So far the company has increased its workforce at AutoAir from 200 to more than 800.

 


More capital expenditures came in the form of a $450 million investment in automation and equipment upgrades at Pratt &amp; Whitney’s facility in Columbus, Georgia, including a new engine test cell and two new buildings. The Georgia facility plans to hire 500 new employees over the next five years.

 


Other investments have included a new 224,000-square-foot, $115 million UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the launch of the United Technologies Digital Accelerator for software development in New York, and an expanded United Technologies Research Center “innovation hub” in East Hartford, Connecticut.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Pratt & Whitney To See Major Part of $15 Billion UTC Investment

Expenditures to come over five years and include 35,000 more hires in U.S.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

Charles Alcock

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The first hybrid-electric flights above 30,000 feet, as well as the first across the North Atlantic, GE says.

GE Aerospace and Beta Technologies Cross Atlantic in Hybrid-electric Saab 340B Commuter Aircraft

Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Engines

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for PW220A Idle Cruise

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

Rolls-Royce Completes $1 Billion Engine Site Upgrade

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

GE Aerospace and Beta Technologies Cross Atlantic in Hybrid-electric Saab 340B Commuter Aircraft

The first hybrid-electric flights above 30,000 feet, as well as the first across the North Atlantic, GE says.

Lack of Funding Shuts Hydrogen Propulsion Pioneer Stralis

Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

EASA Issues Type Certificate for AW09 Arriel 2K Engine

Turboshaft has flown more than 600 hours after first flight in March 2023

FAA’s Rocheleau Admits Unleaded Avgas Timeline May Slip

Deadline of Dec. 31, 2030 may have to be moved if a suitable fuel isn't available

Sikorsky and Safran Pledge Increased Collaboration

Proposal promises accelerated engine innovation

Canada Could Keep Gripen Engine Work at Home

GE and Magellan sign F414 support agreement

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN