If you thought the much publicised spats between the heavyweights of Airbus and Boeing were the best entertainment at air shows in recent years then, as they say, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Now entering the ring are Embraer and Bombardier - because what began as a middleweight support bout is now shaping up to be a gloves-off, bare-fist scrap of world championship proportions.

In the red corner is the flamboyant fast-footed contender from Brazil; in the blue corner the ultra-conservative solid puncher from Canada.

After a few preliminary rounds at recent shows in the business aviation world, they are preparing to get at each other's throats as the bell rings to start Le Bourget.

Both Embraer and Bombardier have been making moves into each other's territories. Embraer has announced its light jet (LJ) and very light jet (VLJ) that will compete with Bombardier's Learjet offering. Meanwhile Bombardier has announced a clearly defined offer of corporate shuttle jets that will go head to head with Embraer's corporate division that offers shuttle versions of the Brazilian's regional jets.

Communication staff from the companies have been muttering off the record about the other's weaknesses and positively snapping at each other in public as the war of words has fallen back on the old, well-tested punchbag of unfair subsidies.

Reports have been appearing in various newspapers quoting Canadian sources who claim that the Brazilian company would use military contracts as a means to obtain government funding.

Embraer is not taking this lying down. "We vehemently refute this," a spokesman says. "The facts show the accusations are unfounded."

He says defence sales to the Brazilian air force make up just 4% of total revenues.

Firmly warmed up, the Embraer spokesman goes on the attack. "Another ludicrous statement refers to Embraer's 'fear of competition'. Contrary to statements attributed to a Bombardier spokesperson, there is no fear of competition on the part of Embraer. There is fear when this competition is supported by unfair trade practices.

"Why doesn't Bombardier abide by the rules like Embraer? The total development cost of the successful Embraer 170/190 family was about $1 billion without any government support.

"Apart from being devoid of any base, these statements in question constitute a vain attempt to mislead public opinion."

Jabbing furiously and pushing towards the ropes the spokesman goes for the knock out punch. "As Bombardier resorts to this sort of action, the Canadian company tries to justify the unjustifiable - the utilisation of government subsidies to compete against its technically superior rivals, distorting, in a condemnable fashion, international trade rules and principles established on a fair and mutually acceptable basis and, acting in such a way, hampering the economic and social development of the nations affected."

In the blue corner, the Canadian brawler is spitting in the bucket, tightening the gloves, hitching up the shorts and punching the air.

Ding, ding! Seconds out, Round 2

Source: Flight Daily News