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Aviation History
1995
1995 - 1643.PDF
The Paris show is the first major event for over a decade to feature Boeing and Airbus Industrie aircraft together KlERAN DALY/LONDON The significance of symbolic moments should not be exaggerated, but Paris '95 serves as well as any event to mark the start of the resurgence of the airliner market place. Historically, the logic of that may be questionable, but the physical presence of the two leading manufacturers' flagship aircraft gives this show a resonance beyond any other of recent times. For the vast majority of attendees, it will be the first time they set eyes on one of the aircraft and, for virtually all, it will certainly be the first time they see the rivals together. The presence of the Boeing 777 will make this show the first major event for more than a decade to feature Boeing and Airbus Industrie aircraft together. The type will actually enter service — with United Airlines — just three days before the show begins. The aircraft at the show will be the fourth off the line — a Pratt & Whitney-powered version in United Airlines' colours. Boeing has chosen not to fly it in the display, but it will be in the static park, together with an Airbus A3 30, and probably an A340. For the entrine manufacturers, the event is also a first — alongside the P&W-powered 777 will be an A330, in Airbus' in-house colours, pow ered by Rolls-Royce's Trent 700s. Bodi aircraft can be powered by either of tliose two manufac turers, or by General Electric, which may well be represented on the A340 through its CFM International joint venture with Snecma. However magnificent the aircraft, business realities will rapidly intrude, and there seems every prospect of a re-run of the acidic verbal exchanges which characterised the 1994 Farnborough air show. Boeing has secured the expected commitments of those airlines which were intimately involved in the 777's develop ment and, as the market hardens, all future busi ness will be won from a standing start. Not surprisingly, the strains are starting to show. ACCUSATIONS Airbus' exuberant, not to say aggressive, propa gandising of the past year shows no signs of eas ing up. At Farnborough, it was Boeing Commercial Aircraft (BCAG) president Ron Woodard who accused Airbus of false claims. Some Airbus officials believe, however, that recent Boeinsr statements have overstenned the acceptable mark, and they are ready to tackle the issue head-on. The sterile arguments over historic market share are still prone to erupt, but, more importantly, aircraft performance claims are also in dispute. Woodard will again head the BCAG delega tion, although Boeing is at pains to say that it does not seek the same kind of confrontation. It says: "We are going to go to the air show and focus on our products, and how they deliver more value than any other products. Things happen at air shows, but that is background noise compared with the message of the value of the products." Despite the undoubted tension, there remains the contrasting issue of what would be the historic first collaboration between Boeing and the Airbus member companies — the Very Large Commercial Transport. The feasibility study into such co-operation does not end until July, but all the participants will be under enor mous pressure at Paris to indicate the likely findings. The higher echelons of Airbus still consider collaboration to be inconceivable. That, however, leaves Boeing with the possibly viable alternative of building a 747 derivative, while Airbus faces the awe-inspiring challenge of creating the A3 XX from scratch. Boeing says that it will be happy to talk about the current state of the talks, but does not plan any major announcement. The fiercest battle between the two concerns Boeing's new 737 family and the smallest Airbus narrowbodies. None of those aircraft 60 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 7 - 13 June 1995
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