Pratt & Whitney has opened its new F100 engine overhaul facility in Columbus, Ga. The new 105,000-square-foot facility enhances Pratt & Whitney's capacity to service engines that power F-16 and F-15 fighter aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force and international military customers. Pratt & Whitney, the Development Authority of Columbus and Western Devcon Inc. worked together to develop, design and build the new facility. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

In April 2013, Pratt & Whitney announced it would move the majority of the F100 engine overhaul work performed at its San Antonio Engine Center to Columbus. Construction on the new facility began in July, with employees scheduled to begin performing F100 engine overhauls in the first quarter of 2014.

"To remain competitive and realize efficiencies, it made sense to take advantage of the engine services infrastructure we already have here in Columbus," said Tom Bode, Columbus Engine Center general manager. "This expansion is a strategic investment for our company and will be critical to our success in the future by allowing us to centralize much of our commercial and military engine aftermarket, repair and overhaul work."

Pratt & Whitney's Columbus Engine Center – located 90 miles south of Atlanta – is a full-capacity, world-class jet engine maintenance facility serving commercial customers as well as the United Statesgovernment. The facility is an IAE V2500 engine maintenance center of excellence and North America'sleading provider of V2500 engine overhauls. The facility also provides PW2000 engine overhaul as well as F117 engine overhaul services for the U.S. military's C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.

The Columbus Engine Center offers a variety of services including heavy maintenance, hot section refurbishment, module repair, inspection, performance enhancements and engine testing. The facility's extensive in-house repair capability helps improve turn-around times and reduce customers' operating costs.

Officials from the City of Columbus, Development Authority of Columbus, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and site developer Western Devcon were on hand to commemorate the new facility's opening.

"Pratt & Whitney has had a presence in Columbus for the past 17 years, and it is gratifying to see the meaningful work they bring to our community and local economy," Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinsonsaid. "By opening this new facility, Pratt & Whitney has shown they recognize the strength of our local workforce and the value Columbus provides to its growing business."

"Western Devcon is pleased to have jointly worked with Pratt & Whitney, Evans Construction and the Development Authority of Columbus to expand engine overhaul capabilities in Columbus," said Mike Ibe, Western Devcon president.