Hamilton Sundstrand wins maintenance support contract

Air New Zealand has selected Hamilton Sundstrand's Comprehensive Asset Repair and Exchange (C.A.R.E.) program to provide maintenance support for its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation.

The 10-year agreement for selected component support has an estimated value of US$18 million and is Hamilton Sundstrand's first C.A.R.E program for the Boeing 777.

The C.A.R.E. program offers total repair and inventory support services and is fully supported by key OEM accessory suppliers. Hamilton Sundstrand has similar long-term aftermarket agreements with 22 of the world's 25 largest airlines.

"Hamilton Sundstrand's C.A.R.E. program has a proven track record of providing great value to our airline customers," said Brendan Curran, vice president of Aftermarket Sales & Commercial Spares for Hamilton Sundstrand. "We are delighted to expand C.A.R.E on Air New Zealand's Boeing 777 fleet."

Chris Nassenstein, Air New Zealand's general manager for technical operations, asid Air New Zealand has one of the world's youngest fleets and aims to support it in innovative and efficient ways. "Given the intense competition in our industry, we need to evaluate and adopt the most efficient options to maintain a competitive cost base."

Air New Zealand operates eight 777-200s with options on seven 777-300s. The international and domestic airline group employs 10,000 staff and provides air passenger and cargo transport services to and from Australia, the South West Pacific, Asia, North America and the United Kingdom as well as within New Zealand.

With 2006 revenues of $5 billion, Hamilton Sundstrand employs approximately 17,500 people worldwide and is headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn. Among the world's largest suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products, the company designs, manufactures and services aerospace systems and provides integrated system solutions for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It also is a major supplier for international space programs.

United Technologies Corp., of Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.