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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2121.PDF
HEADLINES AIB TRANSPORT ROB COPPINGER & AIMEE TURNER / TOULOUSE Airbus plans twin attack on 7E7 European manufacturer studies short-range 'A30X' project alongside long-haul A350 in battle with Boeing Airbus is studying a two-pronged attack on the markets that Boeing is targeting with the 7E7, with a new short-haul A300 successor likely to be developed alongside the proposed A3 50 long-haul wide- body airliner. Although Airbus is focused on developing the A330-derived A350 to rival the long-range 7E7 models, it has emerged that it is talking with suppliers about its new-gener ation short-haul widebody project, BUSINESS Cathay to take stake in Air China Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways is to acquire a 9.9% stake in Air China, in line with its long-standing efforts to expand its limited presence in the fast- growing Chinese market. The two airlines announced last week that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which Cathay would acquire the stake at the time of Air China's initial public offering, which is planned for late this year or early next year. The tentative deal with Air China surprised analysts because there were no signs the two were even considering it. "The MoU also deals with future co-operation between the two companies," say the airlines. "Both companies consider that the proposed strategic investment will serve as a plat form from which to explore further opportunities for develop ing a closer partnership." Air China is expected to list its shares in Hong Kong and another international stock exchange, possibly London. It will be the last of the "big three" Chinese carriers to be traded outside China but the first to have another airline as a strate gic equity investor. SEE FEATURE P40 the "A30X", which is expected to enter service within 10 years. Airbus has long felt it unfeasible to attack the short- and long-haul markets with variants of the same aircraft, as Boeing intends to with the 7E7. The European manufac turer revealed last year that it was studying a specialised widebody "regional people-mover" optimised for 1,850km (l,000nm) stages to replace the A300 - the A30X (Flight International, 9-15 December 2003). A new enthusiasm for aircraft sur vivability equipment in the USA, sparked by the Iraq conflict, is expanding further to cover most of two of the US Air Force's most unprotected fleet types - airlifters and tankers. The air force's limited strategy had called for the upgrade of 137 aircraft, including 71 Boeing C-17s, 32 Lockheed Martin C-130s, 22 Boeing KC-135s and 12 McDonnell Douglas KC-lOs. Approved in November 2002, this work would support a requirement for airlift and tanker resources for two small- scale contingencies simultaneously. French avionics supplier Sagem says it has been discussing tech nologies for the A30X with Airbus over the past two months. According to Sagem's head of flight controls, Philippe Gouze, the aircraft would be "derived from the A300, with a lighter, improved fuse lage", while using a version of the A380's flight-control system with added functionality. The aim is to develop a simpler wing that is cheaper to build, but retains the per- The USAF also plans to equip its 50 Lockheed Martin C-5B Galaxy transports with Northrop Grum- man's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) sys tem, and to expand integration of the system with its previously selected platform types (Flight International, 12-18 October). LAIRCM squadron commander Col Steve Gray says the 137-aircraft requirement remains in place, but the C-5B's addition will render that strategy irrelevant. Industry sources say the USAF is proposing to equip all 180 C-17s delivered or on order, plus about 150 C-130s. gem formance of more complex designs, ech- Sagem foresees A30X develop- rbus ment getting under way after most of the development work on the f Airbus A400M military airlifter is , the completed by 2006. l e Airbus chief commercial officer fuse- John Leahy says the A30X is not a f the priority before the middle of the with next decade. "We do not believe i o there is a market for such an air- i s craft at the moment. Our focus is iper ontheA350." TECHNOLOGY New date for GlobalFlyer Steve Fossett expects to make his solo round-the-world record attempt in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer some time after 4 January - three months later than the date originally announced. The 40,000km (21,600nm) unrefu- g elled flight is expected to take | 80h. The 34.8m (114ft) span, I Williams FJ44 turbofan-pow- | ered GlobalFlyer will take off - and land in the USA. i its Gray says the air force is study- llaxy ing ways to accelerate LAIRCM rum- installation for the C-17. Boeing rared installed 12 systems on the fleet in sys- fiscal year 2004 at Long Beach, )n of California, but could increase this jusly rate if a second modification line is •light opened at its San Antonio plant in Texas, says Gray, nder The air force is now studying the :craft best configuration for its C-5B , but installation. It hopes to limit the that number of infrared jammers to its urces C-17 configuration of three turrets, quip because the larger, less-agile aircraft irder, is unlikely to expose the top of its fuselage to ground fire. DEFENCE STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC USAF expands aircraft survivability upgrades to airlifters and tankers 4 26 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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