Rolls-Royce Commands Nearly One-Third Market Share

Acquisitions and partnerships involving Allison, BMW and Williams have proved fruitful for Rolls-Royce, which now commands nearly a one-third share of the $2.5 billion business aircraft engine market.

Rolls first entered the business aircraft market in 1958 aboard the Grumman Gulfstream I, which was powered by two Dart turboprops. In very few years, the GI's speed, reliability, and operating efficiency revolutionized the business aircraft market and almost single-handedly ended the piston-engine powered business aircraft era in the upper market sector. Since then subsequent Gulfstreams, all powered by Roll-Royce engines, have been clear leaders in their respective market segments.

One key to the firm's success has been investment in engines with plenty of growth potential. Rolls inked a joint venture with Williams International to produce the FJ44-1 and -2 engines and acquired from General Motors Indianapolis - based Allison, which builds AE3007 turbofans among other engines.

The FJ44 is currently offered in 1,900- and 2,400-pounds-thrust models. It can be grown to almost 3,000-pounds-thrust. AE3007 A and C models are 7,000- to 8,000-pounds-thrust class engines with growth potential to 9,000-pounds-thrust or more.

The BR710, originally developed with BMW Aero Engines, powers the Gulfstream V and V-SP, as well as the Bombardier Global Express and upcoming Global 5000. It produces about 15,000-pounds-thrust and can be grown to 20,000-pounds-thrust or more. Rolls is also one of the five partners in International Aero Engines, maker of the V2500. IAE 2500 engines, such as the 27,000-pounds-thrust variant fitted to the A319CJ, have a power range of 22,000- to 33,000-pounds-thrust.

Rolls-Royce engines now power 12 business aircraft, including Airbus Corporate Jet, Bombardier Global Express, Embraer Legacy, Raytheon Premier 1 and Sino-Swearingen SJ30-2.

In recent years, Rolls has entered the long-term business aircraft maintenance arena with its CorporateCare, power-by-the-hour, pay-as-you-fly program. CorporateCare covers all engine maintenance, repair and overhaul activity, and includes an engine trend monitoring service. It has been well accepted by the Citation X community, and Gulfstream and Global Express operators have expressed interest in it.

In recognition of its burgeoning business aircraft engine market growth, last year Rolls-Royce created a new Corporate Aircraft unit, headed by Ian Aitken, and based in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington-Dulles Airport. Rolls-Royce executives believe there will be a $52 billion market for business aircraft engines over the next 20 years.

By Fred George