Candidate for aftermarket role sought as manufacturer switches focus of planned ProJet to more traditional users
Avocet Aircraft and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) are seeking a strategic US partner to enable launch of the ProJet very light jet. The US partner would be responsible for product support, which Avocet chief executive Cary Wolchok describes as "the biggest piece of the puzzle".
Although it has worked with Avocet on preliminary design of the ProJet, IAI has yet to commit to the programme (Flight International, 31 August-6 September). "We will not go into the programme without IAI and another strategic risk-sharing partner," says Wolchok. IAI would be responsible for certification and production, but an aftermarket partner is needed because the IAI's reputation for product support is not strong. Sources close to IAI suggest Raytheon is one of three companies in discussion with Avocet and IAI, although the US manufacturer will not confirm its involvement.
The ProJet was first aimed at the air-taxi market, but Avocet is now focusing on a more traditional customer base made up of existing operators of heavy piston singles and twins and older light jets. "Our expectations of total market size have come down, but we are still optimistic. We don't need a 3,000 aircraft-a-year air-taxi market," says Wolchok. Air-taxi companies have placed large orders with other very-light-jet manufacturers, "but more than half are held by companies with no money", he adds.
Talks to find a strategic partner will take time, and are not expected to be completed by next month's National Business Aviation Association convention. "We do not believe we are in any race to be the first aircraft to market. That is a trap we are not concerned with," says Wolchok. Avocet and IAI are "leaning heavily" toward Honda's HF118 small turbofan to power the ProJet, but the Japanese company's tie-up with General Electric on the engine "is not completely done", he says, adding: "If we go with the GE engine, we will scale up the aircraft a bit and put up the weight." Certification is expected to take 36 months from go-ahead.
GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
