Aircraft

GE closes on purchase of Walter Engines

By Lori Ranson

GE today said it completed its acquisition of certain assets of small turboprop engine developer Walter Engines as part of its strategy to gain a foothold in the small twin-engine turboprop aircraft market.

GE detailed its plans to buy Walter, which has 400 employees in Prague, in August 2007. The Czech Republic-based manufacturer builds the 750shp M601 turboprop engine, a competitor to the Pratt & Whitney PT6. More than 1,500 M601 engines are deployed on over 30 aircraft types including the Let L-410 19-seat commuter aircraft.

Through the acquisition GE says it plans to assist Walter with investment funding and technical knowledge of materials, turbine design and 3-D aero modeling. The company will trade under Walter Aircraft Engines, a division of GE Aviation.

Roughly 85% of engines built by Walter are operated outside the US and Europe. Previously GE has said Walter powerplants are prevalent in emerging markets – India, China, Russia, and Brazil.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news