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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0773.PDF
HEADLINES Assembly-line issues hold up AI(R) 70 PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE JULIAN MOXON/PARIS SOUTH KOREA is holding off signing a memorandum of understanding (iMoU) with Aero International (Regional) (AI(R)) on joining its planned regional-jet programme, until differences over final assembly can be settled. The Korean Commercial- Aircraft Development Consor tium (KCADC) had planned to sign an MoU with AI(R) on 14 March, following submission of its tender on workshare. The Samsung-led team has since returned to South Korea and is not due to visit Toulouse again for several weeks. Industry sources in Europe con firm that negotiations have been extended to allow time for a com promise to be found. Disagree ment now centres on the KCADC's insistence on a "mean ingful stake" in the programme, including a second AI(R) 70 assembly line in Korea. AI(R) argues that twin assembly lines are not economically feasible and insists instead on the aircraft being built in Europe. One pro posed compromise being discussed is making a possible second assem bly line conditional on a demon strable requirement for a larger number of aircraft, particularly from Asian carriers. One threshold figure being suggested is 50 or more airframes a year. South Korea's demand for up to a 40% risk-and-revenue share of the AI(R) 70 is further complicated by Taiwan's competing bid for a similarly sized stake. Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Develop ment (AIDC), like the KCADC, wants to produce the aircraft's empennage and centre and aft fuse lage sections (Flight International, 19-26 March, P8). Rather than simply choosing between the two offers, AI(R) is working to accommodate both AIDC and the KCADC, and is un derstood to be signalling its flexi bility on increasing foreign participation to 50%, or more. At the same time, Saab Aircraft is also now believed to be indicating its interest in taking a stake. AI(R) has said that work will be awarded on the basis of cost, but as each of its three partners has already invested heavily in improv ing production efficiency, outside companies are facing tough targets for their bids to succeed. It is being suggested that Italy's Alenia maybe willing to concede to an Asian company its traditional hold over fuselage manufacturing, in return for assembly of the air craft in Naples. At the same time, Aerospatiale would be responsible for the flight- deck, while British Aerospace's Jetstream factory at Prestwick would get wing work. AI(R) is hoping to be able to con clude detailed workshare negotia tions in time to launch the regional jet at the Paris air show in June. J More Boeing Ills could soon be on their way to China, in the wake of US Vice-President AI Gore s visit Chinese close in on Boeing 777 contract THERE ARE GROWING indications that China might finally sign a $1 billion deal with Boeing for ten 777-200/300s dur ing US Vice-President Al Gore's trip to the country in the last week of March. Airbus Industrie is also pushing to conclude a deal for up to 75 A320 family aircraft during French President Chirac's visit to China in May. Gore is scheduled to visit China during a three-nation tour of Asia, and is reportedly willing to witness the deal being signed. Beijing is keen to capitalise upon Air China's planned 777 purchase to cement improving ties with Washington. Boeing's deal with Air China has been repeatedly delayed by a suc cession of political and trade dis putes between the US and China. The overall deal is understood to cover firm orders for up to ten air craft for delivery from 1998 onwards, with options on a further five twinjets (Flight International, 5- 11 February). The final number is sti 11 subject to approval and, as with Air China's earlier purchase of five 747-400s, could be divided into two separate orders. The US manufacturer is also keen to supply up to 20 new Boeing 737-800s to Air China, but it is unclear whether this and another pending deal to sell Hainan Airlines three 737-800s, four-400s and three 767s, will be included in the 777 announcement. It faces strong competition from Airbus, which is pushing for China to order a second batch of A3 20s to supplement 30 ordered in 1996. According to industry sources in Beijing, the European consortium is proposing to China Aviation Supplies a broad package of up 75 A319/A320/A321s. This number is likely to be scaled back to around 30 aircraft for a mix of Chinese carriers. China Northwest is seeking another eight A3 20s, in addition to ten ordered in 1996 and China Southern is look ing for larger A321s to comple ment its 17 A3 20s. • An-24 crashes en route to Turkey AROUND 50 PEOPLE DIED when a Stavropolskaya Akt- sionernaya Avia Antonov An-24RV crashed on 18 March, 42min into a flight from Stavropol, near Chechnya in southern Russia, to Trabzon, northern Turkey. Air-traffic controllers reported a prolonged buzz on the local com munications frequency, a signal which pilots can send if they fear a hijack attempt. Seconds after this signal, contact was lost, says the official news agency. The captain was an experienced transport pilot with some 9,000h flying time. The turbobrop aircraft, mani fested as carrying 41 passengers and nine crew, is reported have been flying at 17,700ft (5,400m) in the cruise when contact was lost. Wreckage of the aircraft (RA46516), which was built in 1967, has been found widely spread, with the tail 3km (1.6nm) from the main wreckage. The air craft had recendy been on extend ed charter in the Congo, and then undergone tail-section repairs. Flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders have been recovered. The flight was a regular charter service, carrying "shuttle-traders" obtaining cheap consumer goods in Turkey. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 26 March - 1 April 1997 5
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