UTC rose to 23rd on Barron’s annual listing of World’s Most Respected Companies. The listing is based on a survey of professional money managers regarding the world’s 100 largest companies by market capitalization. (Barron’s, 2/13)

Boeing will decide this year whether to develop new engines for the 737 airliner, Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney said. Pratt & Whitney and other engine makers have been in discussions with Boeing and Airbus for new engines on the 737 and A330. “We’d like to go to market at Airbus through IAE,” UTC Chief Financial Officer Greg Hayes said. “I think Airbus will do something, hopefully by the middle of this year. And Boeing’s probably a little bit behind that in terms of schedule.” (Bloomberg, 2/11; Dow Jones, 2/11; BusinessWeek, 2/11; Air Transport Intelligence News, 2/11)

UTC's board of directors approved a 10.4 percent dividend increase, raising the first-quarter payout by 4 cents a share to 42.5 cents. “Despite weakness in the global economy, our focus on structural cost reduction, effective cash redeployment, and portfolio transformation has made UTC a stronger company than we were a year ago,” said Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Louis Chênevert. “This dividend increase demonstrates our confidence in UTC’s financial strength and in our ability to continue to deliver outstanding performance in 2010 and beyond." (Dow Jones, 2/8; Bloomberg, 2/8; MarketWatch, 2/8; Reuters, 2/8; Wall St. Journal, 2/10; UTC Press Release, 2/8)

Sikorsky S-92 helicopters are expected to be deployed in the U.K. as the government announced selection of the Soteria Consortium as the preferred bidder to provide search and rescue helicopter service. Sikorsky Aircraft, which manufactures the S-92, is a member of the Soteria team, along with CHC, Thales and the Royal Bank of Scotland. UK authorities anticipate replacing the nation’s currently fleet, mostly Sea Kings, with at least 24 S-92 helicopters. (Financial Times, 2/10; Daily Telegraph [UK], 2/10; Hartford Courant, 2/10; Vancouver Sun, 2/9; Jane’s Defense 2/10; FlightGlobal.com, 2/10; Reuters, 2/9; Defense News.com, 2/9; The Engineer, 2/9; Daily Mail [UK], 2/9; Sikorsky Press Release, 2/9)

Toshiba Carrier will sell energy-efficient Japanese-made air conditioning systems in the U.S. from the end of 2010 to help it break the $1 billion sales mark worldwide. "At the moment, in the U.S. they use big central systems but we expect our energy-efficient more decentralized systems to find a good reception there," said Akira Inoue, managing officer of the joint venture between Toshiba and Carrier. (Reuters, 2/9)

Pratt & Whitney transferred its first production-line F-35 fighter engine to the government, which expects to buy nearly 2,500 aircraft over the next 25 years. (Hartford Courant, 2/6)

Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G engine can be installed on the Boeing 737 and will achieve a double-digit fuel burn improvement, according to Pratt & Whitney Senior Vice President of Sales Bob Keady. (ATW Online, 2/5)

Pratt & Whitney announced that Hong Kong Airlines selected the PW4170 Advantage 70 to power the six A330-200s it ordered last week at the Singapore Airshow. (ATW Online, 2/5)

Sikorsky plans to develop an unmanned version of the BLACK HAWK, the piloted-version of which entered service in 1978 and now comes in several variations. (Hartford Courant, 2/3; The Telegraph [UK], 2/2)

Whole Foods Market will power a new store in San Jose, Calif. with a UTC Power fuel cell. The store will be the first in California – and the third Whole Foods Market – to generate most of its power with a fuel cell. (Renewable Energy Focus, 2/1; Today’s Energy Solutions, 2/1; FoodBizDaily, 2/1)

Sikorsky unveiled its new, $20 million CH-53K Precision Components Technology Center Jan. 22, ushering in a new era for the company and the U.S. Marine Corps heavy-lift helicopter it is building. (AviationWeek.com, 1/29)

A UTC Power fuel cell system on an Oakland, Calif., transit bus surpassed 5,000 hours with no change of stacks and endured “a very tough bus day-to-day-duty cycle,” said UTC Power Vice President Ken Stewart. (Fleets & Fuels, 1/25)

Price Chopper’s concept store in upstate New York will supply its own power on-site using the same UTC Power fuel cell technology that will be installed at the World Trade Center towers site. (Progressive Grocer, 1/21)

Sikorsky’s BLACK HAWK helicopter is enjoying renewed popularity among the U.S. Army and Navy as well as growing interest from foreign customers. (Aviation Week, 9/3)

Fenwal, a UTC Fire & Security company, introduced a breakthrough suppression system that can respond to the initial shock wave from an industrial explosion within 0.06 seconds. (NYSE Magazine)