In 2009 the annual Product Support Survey produced by NBAA Convention News’ sister publication Aviation International News Williams International keeps the top slot in turbofans and GE stays last, but otherwise almost all the deck gets shuffled. Among turboprop/turboshaft manufacturers, Honeywell remains on top and Turbomeca falls into last place.

Williams International retains the number-one spot among turbofan manufacturers for the quality of product support it provides, and Rolls-Royce remains in the number-two spot.

Pratt & Whitney Canada makes a big stride into third place (from fifth last year). Rolls-Royce Deutschland drops to fourth from third; Honeywell climbs to fifth from sixth; CFE drops to sixth from fourth; and GE remains in seventh.

Among engine models (see chart at right), the Williams FJ44 achieves the top average score this year, moving up from last year’s second place. Last year’s top-scoring Honeywell HTF7000 moves into fifth place this year. All of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s turbofans move up in the model rankings this year, and the company’s PW500 series is the sole engine industry-wide to score more points this year than last, an improvement that elevates the engine to sixth place this year from 11th last year.

The Rolls-Royce Spey takes the largest drop, its overall average score falling more than 9 percent to 12th place from fourth last year. Last place among turbofans this year falls to GE’s CF34, P&WC’s JT15D having moved up two spots from last year’s bottom place.

The Rolls-Royce Tay, successor to the Spey, takes the trophy this year for overall engine reliability and it also topped the charts for both authorized and factory service centers, AOG response and tech reps. These rankings take the Tay to third place overall this year.

Pratt & Whitney Canada’s diminutive PW600, which powers the Cessna Mustang, Embraer Phenom 100 and Eclipse 500 VLJs, ranked highest for warranty fulfillment and technical manuals.

Taking top honors for fairness in the cost of parts and cost-per-hour maintenance programs (a new category this year) is overall winner Williams International.
Among turboprops and turboshafts, Honeywell’s TPE331 topped every single category in its resounding overall victory, the second consecutive year it has achieved this notable distinction.