M'bishi Heavy picks Pratt & Whitney for jet engines

TOKYO, Oct 9 (Reuters) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, Japan's largest machinery maker, said on Tuesday it has picked U.S. firm Pratt&Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp, to supply engines for its new regional passenger jet.

It said it plans to start operating the jets in 2012.

The Mitsubishi Regional Jet, which will become the first Japanese-made passenger jet, will mark Mitsubishi Heavy's entry into a market dominated by Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier Inc and Brazil's aircraft maker Embraer Bombardier and Embraer between them held 100 percent of the market in terms of global orders for regional planes last year, according to Japan Aircraft Development Corporation.

The new jet will come in the 70-90 seat class and is part of a larger effort by Japan to develop aircraft that are more fuel efficient and make less noise.

REUTERS SR PM1506