Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., has been selected by China Southern Airlines to provide the APS 3200 auxiliary power unit (APU) for the airline's fleet of 50 new Airbus A320 aircraft. Deliveries will begin later this year.

In addition, Hamilton Sundstrand will work with China Southern to establish a component repair facility located in Shenyang (north of Beijing). The total value of the contract over 20 years is in excess of US$60 million.

China Southern is one of the world's largest operators of Hamilton Sundstrand APUs. In addition to the A320 fleet, Hamilton Sundstrand APUs are installed on the airline's Boeing 737, Boeing 747-400 and ERJ145 aircraft. With future deliveries of Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft, China Southern will operate six different models of Hamilton Sundstrand APUs.

"It is a real honor to be selected by China Southern to provide the APUs for their new A320s," said Tim Morris, president of Hamilton Sundstrand's Aerospace Power Systems business. "China Southern is one of the world's great airlines and we look forward to continuing our historically close relationship with them for many years to come."

Auxiliary Power Units provide power to aircraft while they are on the ground and back-up power while in flight. The APS 3200 APU is rated at 124 shaft horsepower. Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems, based in San Diego, Calif., currently has more than 13,000 APUs in commercial and military service.