Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 - (Page 28)

TRANSPORTS FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 Hamburg A380 Delivery Center Opens That’s the Spirit, Enders Bemoans No-Pact with Spirit AeroSystems Spirit AeroSystems was long in the running to become preferred bidder for Airbus production sites the European aircraft maker was looking to unload. But in the end, it couldn’t make the business case work and GKN became preferred bidder for parts of the Filton, UK facility, Latecoere for two French sites, and OHB Technology for three facilities in Germany. But the falling dollar and crisis in global credit markets complicated the negotiations, forcing Airbus to abandon negotiations with Latecoere and OHB Technology. Airbus is still carving the entities out into two units for later sale. So what does Airbus CEO Tom Enders think about the prospective Tom Enders. buyers in retrospect? “I would have much preferred to sell the sites to Spirit,” he argues, noting they are “a top notch company.” Alas, he adds, Spirit did not make the best offer. Well, the private equity-owned site may get another chance. Odds are considered scant that OHB Technology will make another bid, even if economic conditions improve. And Latecoere now also says it’s no longer looking to be a risk-sharing partner of new programs—such as the A350—instead preferring to stick to less risky subcontract work. Airbus (Hall 4, Stand 14a) officially opened a new A380 delivery center at its Hamburg, Germany, site on July 4. During the ceremony, Airbus president and CEO T Enders named the building after om Jürgen Thomas, former head of the Airbus large aircraft division, who had charge of the A3XX (now the A380) from 1996-2001. “In a world where flying is taken for granted, there are very few real aviation pioneers, but Jürgen Thomas is definitely one of them,” Enders said. “The Wright brothers launched the aeronautics industry and almost a century later Jürgen recaptured that sense of adventure, launching an entirely new concept of flight and industrial cooperation.” Airbus’ European and Middle Eastern customers will receive their airplanes from the new Hamburg center, with Emirates to receive its first A380 there on July 28. EADS Still Sees Russian Role in A350 XWB EADS CEO Louis Gallois says the company has not yet given up hope that Russia’s UAC will take a risk share in Airbus’s A350 XWB widebody jet. “All options are still on the table,” he says. UAC executives said recently that the Russians had decided against investing in the project, citing the need to keep money available for the country’s own commercial aircraft programs such as the MS21 narrowbody, although they didn’t rule out participating in the A350 on a subcontract basis. EADS is at Hall 4, Stand G15. GKN Hit by 787 Delays GKN Aerospace has been affected by Boeing 787 redesigns, says CEO Marcus Bryson, whose company is responsible for manufacturing 13 complex advanced grade titanium fittings for structural wing-to-body and wing-to-nacelle fittings. “It has slowed us down on all our components on the 787, we just hope that the final schedule stands up, that they make first flight in the fourth quarter, and that they are successful.” US Airways Taps Collins for Airbus Jets US Airways has selected Rockwell Collins to provide its WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard Detection System for the airline’s Airbus A320s and A330s. The system is said to be the first and only radar that analyzes and determines actual weather hazards, not simply atmospheric moisture content. MultiScan is a fully automatic, hands-free airborne radar system that reduces pilot workload and enhances comfort by minimizing unexpected turbulence encounters, and provides optimal clutterfree weather detection out to 320 nmi. Other Collins equipment chosen by US Airways includes DME-900, HFS-900D HF system, and VOR-900. and Xiamen for 737NGs Xiamen Airlines has selected a suite of Collins avionics, including the MultiScan WXR-2100, for 12 Boeing 737NGs, with an option for an additional 25 aircraft. Delivery will take place between 2009 and 2013. CMC, Thales Link on A320 Avionics CMC Electronics and Thales have signed a multi-year exclusive contract for the development and manufacture of a Front End Assembly, incorporating an LCD, for the multifunction control and display unit on the Airbus A320 family. The MCDU serves as the principal communication interface between the pilot and any connected subsystem, such as the flight management system or the aircraft communications, addressing and reporting system. CMC has been manufacturing the MCDU keyboard for Thales for more than five years and has produced more than 3,000 units. Production of the MDCU is expected to begin in late 2009, peaking at 100 units per month. 28 July 14, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 Contents Thirty More Years CFM Reveals New Engine Boeing Reduces Forecast UAVs’ Quiet Revolution Finmeccanica: U.S. Success A Plethora of AESAs BAE North America Plus L-3 Becomes a Prime Better Late Than Never A Peek Behind the Curtain China’s J-10 Revealed Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Breaking LM’s Hegemony

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

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