Paul Lewis/OBERPFAFFENHOFEN
Fairchild Aerospace has reached a risk-sharing agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada to fit the PW308B engine to the stretch 428JET and expects to decide shortly on its remaining systems, structural suppliers and proposed final assembly by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
Fairchild struck an agreement with P&WC in July to be the exclusive powerplant supplier on the 428JET after initially looking at the competing AlliedSignal AS977, General Electric CF34 and Rolls-Royce AE3007. "It was the result of market input when we took a second look at maintenance and ownership costs. In the end PW&C proved they could offer that," says Stanley Deal, Fairchild vice-president 228/328/428 series.
The 308B will be a wing-mounted adaptation of the 308A engine being developed for the Hawker Horizon business jet. Both are scaled-up versions of the 6,050lb-thrust (33kN) 306B turbofan used on the smaller 328JET.
It will have a larger 843mm (33in) diameter fan and will be rated at 7,400lb-thrust. Unlike the 306B, it will have a thrust reverser, supplied by Norden along with the nacelle.
A number of other important 428JET system decisions are pending, including the aircraft's pneumatic and environmental control systems, hydraulics and brakes. An agreement has already been signed to give Messier Dowty total responsibility for its landing gear. Auxilec will supply the 428JET's electrical systems, while the 328JET's Allied Signal 36-150 auxiliary power unit will be retained.
Major structural decisions still to be made include selecting an empennage and fuselage supplier. Development partner IAI is considered the most likely choice for the latter, and is also in talks to take responsibility for final assembly. "Provided the economics are there and the milestones are met, the plan being negotiated is to have IAI deliver green aircraft for outfitting at Oberpfaffenhofen," says Reinhold Birrenbach, Fairchild senior vice president engineering.
The German plant has already reached its maximum production capacity of five aircraft a month with the 328, and is also planning to build four to five larger 728JETs a month from 2002. The 428JET preliminary design review is set for September.
Source: Flight International
