GE eyes motors plant for drones, light aircraft

Plans by one of the units of worldwide manufacturing colossus General Electric to site a new factory in the Czech Republic are taking shape, according to the business daily E15.

Photo: archive of GE Aviation

The paper says that General Electric Aviation has now selected some locations outside Prague which could serve as the sites for a plant manufacturing motors for drones as well as small and mid-sized aircraft. As well as producing the motors, the Czech plant could also take a hand in development and design of new engines as well as their testing. One of the country’s top scientific establishments, Prague’s ČVUT, has already been sounded out about its possible cooperation in the venture. The plant could be up and running by 2020.

The two sites that have been short listed so far are at Kbely, just outside Prague, or at Klecany, in Central Bohemia. The first site is owned by the Ministry of Defence and the second by the powerful Czech investment group Penta, which owns the nearby plane maker Aero Vodochody. Given that the Czech state is expected to be involved in some way in the manufacturing venture, the Kbely site appears to be the frontrunner, according to the paper.

GE Aviation’s plans were discussed by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka on a trip to the US in March. During the visit a memorandum of understanding was signed with the company. The plan for the plant envisage production of around 500 motors a year with jobs possibly on offer to around 900 skilled engineers and technicians.

Investments by GE could total around 10 billion crowns with Czech and European aid being pumped in the process, according to the paper. While GE is primarily known in the region for its former bank GE Money Bank, the US group has been concentrating its focus back in recent years on manufacturing. Peter Stračár, the General Director for Central and Eastern Europe said at a conference in Prague this week that he still saw enormous possibilities and potential for manufacturing within the region.