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Paul Theofan Named President and Managing Executive of GE Aviation Czech

December 09, 2008

EVENDALE, OHIO -- Paul Theofan has been named president and managing executive of GE Aviation Czech. In this role, Theofan will be responsible for general oversight of Aviation's Czech business, including the design, manufacturing, marketing and support of Walter Aircraft Engines. 

Theofan has spent more than 20 years at Unison Industries, which was acquired by GE in 2002. He began his Unison career as a Quality Engineer and has held additional leaderships roles in Sales and Manufacturing. 

Most recently, Theofan was Unison Industries' vice president of marketing and sales in which he led marketing and sales initiatives for the business' nine manufacturing locations as well as advised the senior management team on strategic opportunities to grow the company's core business units. 

Prior to joining Unison Industries, Theofan served as an engineering officer onboard United States flag vessels in the Merchant Marine. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing crude oil supertanker power plant operations and maintenance and repair functions, primarily in the Alaska Pipe Line/California trade. He has a bachelor's degree in engineering from the State University of New York Maritime College. 

"Paul played a vital role in the growth of Unison Industries," says Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of Business and General Aviation at GE Aviation. "His leadership will be invaluable as we work to accelerate growth in GE Aviation's Czech operation with the acquisition of Walter Aircraft Engines." 

In June 2008, GE Aviation acquired certain assets of Walter Engines a.s., a $28 million company with a long history in aviation. The company has produced more than 37,000 engines, and its Walter M601 turboprop engine family has accumulated a total of more than 16 million hours on 30 applications since its introduction in 1975. The business recently moved into a new facility near Prague and employs about 400 employees. 

This summer, GE Aviation launched a new turboprop derivative engine, the M601H-80, for the utility, agriculture, general aviation and retrofit aircraft segments. The new M601H-80 engine will offer power up to 800 shaft horsepower (shp) and will incorporate GE's 3D-aero design and advanced materials into the engine's hot-section compressor and turbine, new nozzle guide vane material in the gas generator and power turbine, new materials in the combustor liner and GE's blisk design in the axial compressor. These advanced technologies and designs will improve fuel efficiency by 7 percent compared to the existing M601F engine and offer increased temperature margin to improve hot day takeoff and high altitude cruise speeds. The M601H-80 engine will have an extended service life of 3,600 hours and 6,600 cycles between overhauls. 

Certification for the new M601H-80 is targeted for late 2009. 

GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.