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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2502.PDF
HEADLINES AIR TRANSPORT NICHOLAS IONIDES / TOKYO JAL times RFP to aid 7E7 launch Japanese carrier believed to favour new Boeing airliner, but outsider Airbus promises to offer "something new" Japan Airlines (JAL) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to Airbus and Boeing for 200- to 250-seater aircraft to replace older Boeing 767s as well as Airbus A300s inherited when it took over Japan Air System (JAS). Industry observers say the move is timed to assist Boeing with its plan to launch formally its 7E7, in which Japanese manufacturers expect to play a major role. JAL says it is in "no hurry" to replace 767s or A300-600Rs, and is in talks with airframe manufactur ers on new aircraft "all the time". on runway Eurofighter was to return the Typhoon fighter to full flight oper ations this week after a three- week furlough due to problems with a landing gear component. One of the three instrumented production aircraft is back in the air Clearance of the six develop ment aircraft was going ahead in parallel. Further flight tests will be needed before the 13 series-pro duction aircraft are cleared to fly. Eurofighter hopes this would be "sooner rather than later", but is unable to be more specific. It esti mates 15 days "will be lost" from the flight-test programme. The braking problem centred on a faulty microchip in the land ing gear computer. But an RFP was issued around 21 October, say industry sources in Japan, and this is earlier than expected. The RFP calls for 15 firm orders with deliveries starting in 2008, plus options. The move comes as Japanese manufacturing firms are seeking subsidies and loans from their gov ernment from next April to enable them to play a major role in the 7E7. The first lot of funding is exp ected to be approved in December, when Congress finalises the fiscal 2004 budget. Approval will give the International workshare concerns have prompted Lockheed Martin to sign up additional sources for exist ing contracts to compete for surplus production work on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme. A key goal of this "second-sourc- ing" strategy is to improve work- share prospects for national part ners still seeking to recoup a combined $4.5 billion investment during the F-35's 10-year develop ment phase. The concept is based on predic tions that future orders for F-35s will exceed the production capacity of the existing contractor base, says Lockheed Martin F-35 programme manager Tom Burbage. Manufacturing capacity is now being optimised for the US/UK 7E7 "national project" status and help five local manufacturers secure a combined workshare of 30-35%. The manufacturers are preparing engineering studies for their designated portions of the 7E7 and expect supplier contracts will be awarded in December or January, or at about the same time Boeing formally launches the pro gramme. By issuing an RFP in October, JAL will have time to complete the competition and order aircraft after the programme's anticipated launch. order for almost 2,600 aircraft, but double that figure is expected in worldwide sales. Several partner nations - including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey - are expected to place orders, and more could follow. Michael Consentino, Lockheed Martin international programmes director, says the company is favouring non-US suppliers in some areas, and is compiling a list of qualified suppliers through its national liaison offices. It then plans to ask suppliers to sign up alternate vendors for surplus pro duction work. Most partner nations, excluding perhaps Canada and the UK, have struggled to reach workshare ANA is expected to follow JAL's lead by issuing a similar RFP for 200- to 250-seat aircraft, despite the fact that if launched as proposed, the 7E7 would not be ready for entry into service until 2008. JAL's RFP was issued to Airbus as well as Boeing, say sources, who add that although Airbus knows its off ering will be considered a long shot, the manufacturer has promised to propose "something new". ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY BRENDAN SOBIE SEE AIR TRANSPORT PIO goals used to justify their original investments. Two years after the system development and demonstration phase began, the majority of the work has already been awarded. For Lockheed Martin, says Consentino, the second-sourcing strategy offers a last-minute oppor tunity to boost potential financial returns to partner nations. It fol lows the "strategic best value" con cept, unveiled by Lockheed Martin in May, as a deliberate attempt to earmark deals for companies in dis satisfied partner nations. Strategic best value is used to award basic work contracts to qualified suppli ers without a competitive bidding process, but the concept has been slow to catch on. DEFENCE Canada grounds navy Sea Kings The Canadian navy grounded its 28 Sikorsky CH-124A Sea King heli copters on 29 October after two machines lost power while hovering. Both helicopters were able to regain power and land safely. The unprece dented grounding of the 40-year-old Sea Kings comes as the Canadian government finalises a call for tenders for a $3 billion contract to replace the problem-plagued helicopters. Boeing and Bell back the EH Industries EH101, Bombardier and General Dynamics Canada are teamed with Sikorsky on the S-92 and NH Industries is to decide between Augusta and Saab. The replacement Maritime Heli copter Program has been mired in controversy since the 1993 cancellation of a C$5.8 billion ($4.4 billion) order for 50 EH101 s. The original order was deemed too expensive, sparking years of delay and political wrangling. j — F«PK~ _ jfa jail • •SHS f •tsit~-—rr. •H- ' -^ EBB —> =====— v 403^MeM 3JPS- .-© ^^^jjJiM •TESMHHT. ' x *'•** '~—~'-——1_. •^^^^^ tr — iAaim DEFENCE Typhoons still DEFENCE STEPHEN TRIMBLE / FORT WORTH Lockheed Martin adds F-35 sources 6 4-10 NOVEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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