Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce call off venture

[September 20, 2013]  (AP) -- Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce are ending a joint venture to develop engines for mid-size aircraft, citing in part the current regulatory environment.

Pratt & Whitney says it will continue to invest in and develop applications of its engine for powering the next generation of midsize aircraft. That's aircraft designed for about 120 to 230 passengers.

It said in a statement Thursday it called off the decision with Rolls-Royce after further talks. It did not say what regulatory issues arose.

The company had originally announced the venture with U.K.-based Rolls-Royce in October 2011.

Pratt & Whitney is a unit of United Technologies Corp., the Hartford, Conn.-based industrial conglomerate.

[Associated Press]

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