Titanium question halts shipments

United Technologies Corp's Pratt and Whitney briefly suspended delivery of the engine for the F-35 in May because of questions about titanium provided to a parts supplier. Pratt said on Friday it discovered conflicting documentation in late May that raised questions about the origin of the titanium, which was also used in parts for engines made by its Pratt and Whitney Canada division. Pratt determined quickly that the material did not pose a flight safety risk. The part will be replaced by attrition. A federal investigation is being conducted. Pratt and Whitney said it was no longer accepting parts made from material provided by the supplier, A&P Alloys. (Source: Reuters, 08/29/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.