Collins Aerospace is an American
technology corporation that is one of the world's largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products. Headquartered in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most popu ...
,
it is a subsidiary of
Raytheon Technologies.
History
On November 26, 2018,
United Technologies announced the completion of its
Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins was a multinational corporation headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, providing avionics and information technology systems and services to government agencies and aircraft manufacturers. It was formed when the Collins Radio Co ...
acquisition, after which it merged its newly acquired business with
UTC Aerospace Systems
UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) was one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The company was formed in August 2012 when parent United Technologies Corporatio ...
to form Collins Aerospace. This acquisition controversially lead to multiple class action lawsuits being filed against the company alleging that the executives deliberately mislead its shareholders on the nature of the acquisition.
The new company reported $26 billion of combined sales in 2019 and is composed of 68,000 employees.
In 2020
United Technologies merged with
Raytheon Company to form
Raytheon Technologies.
Products
Collins Aerospace is engaged in designing, manufacturing and servicing systems and components for commercial aviation, business aviation, military and defense, helicopters, space, airports, and other industries.
Collins Aerospace has six strategic business units: Aerostructures, Avionics, Interiors, Mechanical Systems, Missions Systems, and Power & Controls.
[
]
Aerostructures
Based in Chula Vista, California, Aerostructures includes nacelle systems, flight control surfaces, naval composites and other material and structural components.
Avionics
Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids () is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County, Iowa, Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River, north of Iowa City, Iowa, Iowa City and north ...
, Avionics includes commercial and government avionics systems, cabin management and content systems, information management systems and services, fire protection services, and aircraft sensors.
Interiors
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the Li ...
, Interiors includes aircraft seating, interior systems, evacuation systems, galleys and galley inserts, lavatories, life rafts, lighting; veneers, potable water systems, and de- icing products.
Mechanical Systems
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most popu ...
, Mechanical Systems includes landing systems, actuation, propellers, flight controls, pilot controls, hoist and winch systems, and cargo systems.
Missions Systems
Based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids () is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County, Iowa, Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River, north of Iowa City, Iowa, Iowa City and north ...
, Mission Systems includes secure military communication, navigation and guidance; missile actuation; simulation, training and range instrumentation; strategic command and control; unmanned aircraft systems; electronic warfare; ejection seats and propulsion; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and spacecraft systems.
Power & Controls
Based in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,613. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region and occupies approxi ...
, Power & Controls includes electric systems, engine controls, air management, and airframe controls.
Ithaco Space Systems, Inc.
Collins Aerospace is the owner of Ithaco Space Systems, Inc., formerly owned by Goodrich Company
The Goodrich Corporation, formerly the B.F. Goodrich Company, was an American manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 1870 as Goodrich, Tew & Co. by Benjamin Goodrich, the company name was cha ...
and its successor UTC Aerospace Systems
UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) was one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The company was formed in August 2012 when parent United Technologies Corporatio ...
. Ithaco has produced items for the field of satellite control since 1962, such as Earth sensors, reaction/momentum wheels, magnetometers, and magnetic torquers.
In addition to over 100 U.S. satellites, equipment made by Ithaco has flown on Japanese, Canadian, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, and Argentinean spacecraft. Ithaco became notable for having manufactured the reaction wheels of the Kepler spacecraft, the Hayabusa spacecraft, the Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite, and the Dawn spacecraft, which developed problems or even failed.
FlightAware
On August 20, 2021, Collins Aerospace announced the acquisition of FlightAware
FlightAware is an American multi-national technology company that provides real-time, historical, and predictive flight tracking data and products. , it is the world's largest flight tracking platform, with a network of over 32,000 ADS-B gro ...
for an undisclosed amount. FlightAware is a technology company that provides real-time, historical, and predictive flight data and flight-tracking products.
Employment controversies
In August 2018, Nicole Kemp sued Collins Aerospace alleging that the company had discriminated, harassed, and retaliated against her on the basis of her disability. Nicole Kemp painfully ruptured her hamstring in 2017 and was subsequently diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome. Kemp was initially allowed to work from home on the recommendation of her doctors, but was told in May 2018 that she would be fired from the company if she didn't return to the office- despite the fact that she had exemplary job performance reviews, and her physicians were still recommending that she work remotely as her injuries were still too great.
In November 2019, a former Collins Aerospace employee sued the company after being sexually assaulted by a different Collins Aerospace employee while they were at a conference.
In March 2020, a Collins Aerospace employee sued the company for discrimination and harassment based on her race and national origin.
In May 2020, a Collins Aerospace engineer sued the company alleging that she was demoted on the basis on discrimination of her sex and disabilities.
In July 2020, it was found that female Collins Aerospace (then Rockwell Collins) employees were being paid substantially less money than their male peers who held similar roles. As a result, the company was forced to pay $250,000 in back wages to 76 female employees at its Cedar Rapids location.
In January 2022, Collins Aerospace was included in a legal challenge alleging that the company engaged in a "no hire agreement" to sabotage the career and pay advancements of its engineers. This occurred shortly after a different Raytheon Technologies subsidiary, Pratt-Whitney, was sued for engaging in similar practices of not hiring from within the industry in order to keep employee's salaries low.
See also
* List of aircraft propeller manufacturers
* LucasVarity
* Pratt & Whitney
References
External links
Collins Aerospace website
UTC Aerospace Systems website
{{Authority control
Aerospace companies of the United States
United Technologies
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Aircraft propeller manufacturers
Manufacturing companies based in North Carolina
Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina
West Palm Beach, Florida
Manufacturing companies established in 2012
American companies established in 2012
Raytheon Technologies
Aircraft undercarriage manufacturers