Pratt sees clarity on 'root cause' of F-35 engine issue by end Sept
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/09/us-aero-summit-pratt-idUSKBN0H419F20140909
Pratt sees clarity on 'root cause' of F-35 engine issue by end Sept
By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON Tue Sep 9, 2014 4:55pm EDT
(Reuters) - United Technologies Corp's (UTX.N) Pratt & Whitney unit said the "root cause" of the June 23 engine failure on a Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet should be clear by the end of September,
which would pave the way for over $1 billion in contracts for another 84 engines.
Engine maker Pratt & Whitney said it has delivered six of its F135 engines to the U.S. government since Aug. 29, when it resumed deliveries that had been halted after the June incident which grounded the F-35 fleet for weeks and prevented its international debut.
Bennett Croswell, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, said he still hoped to keep the government's flight test plan on track through a series of measures aimed at addressing the issue and lifting restrictions on test aircraft.
"I believe that through the combination of things we will keep the flight test program on track," Croswell told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit.