What It's All About

“General Electric Co. plans to turn a tiny airplane-engine company in the Czech Republic into a competitor against archrival Pratt & Whitney, the leading maker of turboprop engines for commuter airlines, corporate aviation and private aircraft owners.

“GE's aviation unit this week completed the acquisition of Walter Engines, which has earned a reputation during its 85-year history for building rugged propeller engines used heavily in Eastern Europe and niche markets such as agricultural and cargo planes.

“Although the small-engine business will fill an important hole at the low end of GE's jet-engine product line, GE officials are also relishing the prospect of forcing Pratt & Whitney to cut prices on one of its most lucrative products. Pratt made a similar move two years ago when it began making spare parts for one of GE's best-selling jet engines, ratcheting up the companies' longstanding rivalry…

“‘We think the world deserves a choice,’ said Chet Fuller, general manager of marketing for GE Aviation…

“A spokeswoman for Pratt, which delivered almost 3,000 small airplane engines last year, said the company will ‘obviously take any competition seriously,’ but she noted that Pratt ‘has a 45-year head start,’ having produced more than 35,000 PT6 engines.”

(“GE Takes On Jet-Engine Rival; Goal Is to Build Up Small Czech Firm To Challenge Pratt.” J. Lynn Lunsford. Wall Street Journal: July 3, 2008. pg. B.2)

ALTRUISM -- That is so kind of General Electric to care about us!

And Pratt seems not to have a real worry in the world.

How nice; all is well...