By Mike Boyer
Enquirer staff writer
GE Transportation and Honda Motor Co. will open their new joint venture to build engines for the light-business-jet market by year-end in Springdale.
GE Honda Aero Engines LLC will employ 10 to 15 managers initially in space in the Executive Plaza complex, south of Tri-County Mall.
The world's largest jet-engine maker and Honda, which has long dreamed of expanding its engine business beyond automobiles, announced in February they planned a partnership to develop engines for the eight-passenger-and-smaller market for corporate jets and air taxis serving cities without jet service.
The 50-50 partnership plans to bring the HF 118 turbofan engine developed by Honda to the market in 2007.
GE and Honda, which announced the new company at a business aviation conference in Las Vegas, see an initial market for about 200 aircraft by 2010. But Dave Calhoun, GE Transportation president, said it could be a billion-dollar business for the partners in 20 years.
No decision has been made where the new engines will be assembled, but existing GE plants will be considered, a spokesman said. GE and Honda are expected to split production.
E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com
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