installed on military aircraft . I estimate that about 30 % of our business is working on military engines .”
Once an engine reaches a certain number of hours of flight , it must be removed from the aircraft and shipped to a facility — like the one in Bridgeport — where the engine is completely disassembled and each part carefully examined , repaired or replaced as required .
Photo by Pratt & Whitney Canada .
“ We then reassemble the engine and run it in our test cell to ensure that it performs up to our high standards when it is reinstalled on the aircraft ,” says Tucker . “ We made the engine — so no one can maintain it better than we can .”
This service is important to Pratt & Whitney ’ s defense customers because the availability of each aircraft is dependent on the reliability of the engine . By main -
taining the engines to the highest original equipment manufacturer standards , the Bridgeport facility plays a role in enabling the military to conduct missions as planned and in emergency situations .
“ We view our operations as an integral part of the military ’ s mission supply chain . That is a responsibility that we take very seriously ,” Tucker says .
The MRO shop in Bridgeport is supported by a global team of engineering and maintenance professionals , with field support managers around the world to help customers troubleshoot engine issues and mobile repair team technicians that can be at a customer ’ s location in a matter of hours and work quickly to restore an aircraft to flight .
Pratt & Whitney continues to grow specifically in West Virginia , where its workforce has grown 20 % over the past few years . The company is currently investing $ 30 million into the Bridgeport facility to create MRO capability for the PW800 engine , which powers G500 and G600 business jets from Gulfstream and has been selected to power the G400 as well . •
Candace Nelson ,
on being a West Virginia Executive Class of 2023 Young Gun .
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