UTX United Technologies Corporation

By Doug Cameron 

United Technologies Corp. said Tuesday it was appointing new leaders at its big aircraft engine businesses, including the commercial unit where production problems have hampered the introduction of a new model aimed at reinvigorating the company's jetliner franchise.

The company also said the president of the military arm of its Pratt & Whitney engine subsidiary was retiring, just weeks after the head of its unit building engines for the F-35 combat jet was unexpectedly replaced.

United Technologies said Chris Calio would take over as head of Pratt's commercial business from Feb. 1, leading the production of its new geared turbofan engines for jetliners being introduced by Airbus SE and some other aircraft manufacturers.

Mr. Calio was formerly chief of staff to United Technologies Chief Executive Greg Hayes, who has been left to clear up the fallout from Pratt's inability to deliver enough engines to Airbus last year, holding up some jet deliveries. He takes over from Greg Gernhardt, who had run the commercial jet unit since Oct. 2014 and will remain at the company.

Mr. Hayes has said the engine program is back on track, with plans to deliver 350 to 400 this year after falling short of its target in 2016 because of the production problems.

United Technologies said Matthew Bromberg would succeed Bennett Croswell as head of Pratt's military arm after the latter retires in May but join the division Feb. 1. Mr. Bromberg previously ran Pratt's commercial aftermarket operations, and the move comes as the Pentagon focuses more on cutting sustainment expenses for the F-35 that is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. as well as the production cost that has come under attack by President Donald Trump.

The Pentagon buys the F-35's engines separately from the aircraft, and though Pratt came under fire from the program leadership for a number of years because of cost and performance, its contribution has stabilized. It's already signed a deal for a 10th batch of engines for the F-35, while Lockheed has yet to finalize a contract for the 10th group of aircraft.

The company's so-called War On Cost program has trimmed the price of the engines, and it's also addressed problems that included an engine fire on an F-35 in 2015. Pratt is also supplying the engines for the new B-21 Raider long-range bomber being developed by Northrop Grumman Corp.

Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 01, 2017 00:15 ET (05:15 GMT)

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