December 14, 2010 - Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) announced that it will invest more than $1 billion in research and development over the next five years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the Government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative (SADI) program.  

"This major investment will enable us to sustain our engineering centers of excellence in Ontario and Quebec and reinforce our position as a leader in the global aerospace industry," said John Saabas, President, P&WC. "We are currently recruiting more than 200 engineers to support our development programs, which will bring our engineering workforce to more than 1,500 in Canada. This investment, and the support of the Government of Canada, allows us to maintain and create high-quality jobs while positioning Pratt & Whitney Canada for long-term growth."

P&WC has a long-standing commitment to investing in research and development to spur innovation and power sustainable growth. With approximately $400 million in annual R&D investment, P&WC ranks #1 in Canadian R&D spending for aerospace sector. Continued R&D investments have allowed P&WC to certify more than 70 engines over the past 15 years. 

P&WC has a strong presence across the country with major facilities in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia employing more than 6,200 people, including highly skilled engineers at its R&D facilities in Ontario and Quebec. P&WC is continuing to expand its footprint in Canada.

In October 2010, the company inaugurated one of the largest flight test operations centres for civil aircraft engines in North America as part of the new P&WC Mirabel Aerospace Centre at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. The centre will support flight testing for the complete range of Pratt & Whitney engines, including turboprops and turbofans up to 90,000 pounds of thrust.