Pratt &Whitney Canada (P&WC) is studying the market for a small turbofan to compete with the Williams-Rolls FJ44. "We continue to look at small turbofans," says president Gilles Ouimet. "Williams obviously has a market niche. We will see how the market develops."
The Canadian company is concerned by Williams International's penetration of the small-turbofan market, which has included winning the competition to power Raytheon's Premier I light business-jet with the 10.2kN (2,300lb)-thrust FJ44-2. P&WC had offered a smaller version of its PW500 turbofan, which powers the Cessna Citation Bravo and Excel.
The company's PW300 and PW500 turbofans cover a thrust range up to 35.6kN, with a 40kN-class growth derivative of the PW308 on offer to power the proposed Fairchild Dornier 528Jet, and the 53-71kN Snecma/P&WC SPW14 having been selected to power the Aero International (Regional) Air Jet - if the programme is launched.
Source: Flight International
