Boeing step up the war of words on Airbus ....

Boeing are quite naturally miffed that the Europeans had the only supersonic passenger plane and now sell the worlds largest passenger plane (pic of A 380 Flight deck). So their PR offensive has slipped into top gear ....

Emirates A340-600 delayed deliveries

Emirates of Dubai has reportedly told Airbus it was postponing indefinitely the date on which it was due to take delivery of the 20 x A340-600 jets on order due to tart 2007 due it is said to concern over fuel costs. (AFP reports confirmed by Reuters )

Emirates reportedly wants an improved version more fuel efficient version of the aircraft. International airlines collective fuel bill increased by 50 % last year to US 92 Bn. according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Geneva.

Boeing claims the new 777-200LR twin-jet is the world’s longest-range aircraft and can transport more than 300 passengers for 24 per cent less fuel per passenger than the rival A340.

Airbus claims the 4 engined A340 frees operators to fly any route in the world, including the shortest and most effective paths across oceans and deserts. Twin-engined planes such as the Boeing 777 have to operate within a certain range of an emergency airport in case one of the engines fails. Insisting that engines are now thoroughly reliable, Boeing has argued for flight restrictions to be lifted, eroding the A340’s advantage.

Launched 15 yrs ago the A340 family , rivals to the 30 year old Boeing 747 has become a problem. 15 A340s were ordered last year, out of a record 1,055 firm orders for all types of passenger jet. Airlines ordered 154 Boeing 777s last year.

"One year does not make a trend," said Airbus president Gustav Humbert. The company’s commercial director, John Leahy, said a 4 engined plane burns only 6/7 % more fuel than a twinjet of equivalent size. Airbus are considering an enhanced A340 with lower fuel consumption, but the market is very much determined by purchase / leasing costs.

"With the 777, Boeing has a better product that uses less fuel," the head of India’s low-coast Kingfisher airline, Vijay Mallya, told AFP in February. "Nevertheless, we are contemplating buying the A340 all the same, if we can come to an agreement on the price."

Akbar al Baker President of Qatar Airways had announced an intention to buy 20 Boeing 777's but at the Singapore air show in February said he might change to Airbus 340-500/600s instead.

Boeing "Strategists" tell Airbus how to run their business

Boeing "strategists" claim Airbus cannot renew the A340 range at the same time as bringing its A380 superjumbo to market and developing a new twin-jet A350 to compete with the Boeing 777-200ER and the 787 Dreamliner.

Randy Baseler, said at Singapore that Airbus risked being overtaken in the next decade in the battle to develop and sell a new generation of medium-range aircraft to replace the current Boeing B737s and Airbus 320s.

No delays on A380 deliveries

Meanwhile Le Figaro report delays on the A380 firmly denied by Airbus. So far only the A380 with Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines has flown however the precise date for tests of the A380 powered by the Engine Alliance GP 7200 engines developed jointly by GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney are still not available. Emirates confirm that deliveries were expected 2Q / 2007.

BAe sale of Airbus stake ?

Bloomberg report Charlotte Lambkin, head of communications at London-based BAE System saying " ``We have no immediate plans to sell our Airbus stakeholding,'' in a telephone interview. ``It's exactly as we always say: assets and shareholdings are under constant review to deliver value to shareholders.'' This was after a Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday that BAE may sell the holding Airbus, the world's biggest maker of commercial aircraft, for more than £3 Bn. (US$5.2 billion).... which would make BAe a delightful soulmate for Boeing in making planes that kill people rather than carry them on holiday.

BAe has a put option to sell the Airbus holding to European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., owner of the other 80 percent. EADS assigned a value to BAe's stake of 3.5 billion euros ($4.2 billion)

EADS Chief Financial Officer Hans Peter Ring said at the time that the 3.5 billion-euro figure wasn't necessarily the price EADS would pay, as the 2 parties would need to agree on the final terms.

US Leasing firms criticise A330 v Dreamliner

Last week US-based aircraft leasing firm ILFC Chief Executive Steven Udvar-Hazy, andr lessor, GE Commercial Aviation Services publicly warned last week that Airbus ran the risk of getting badly beaten by US rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. (Reuters)

Colin Stuart of Airbus said there were no plans to change the A350, based on the design of the older A330, but incorporating a composite wing and using the more fuel efficient engines being developed for the 787.

Boeing has so far won 343 firm orders for the 787, Airbus has 91 for the A350, launched a year later.

If anybody out there at Boeing (or anyone else) wants to learn how to put the worlds largest airlinere the A380 together in 7 minutes take a look at this video here Awesome !!

EADS / Airbus problems as shareholders cash in their chips?

French German Airbus manufacturer European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) has had 6 significant items to ponder this week.

1. They have been edged out of the Thales / Alcatel alliance in consolidating French space technology industries.Alcatel website.

2. At the same time, two of the main shareholders in EADS, DaimlerChrysler autos and Lagardere publishing, said that they would reduce their holdings.Both selling 7.5% shareholdings.

3. Today BAe who have been partners since 1978 announced they want to sell their 20% stake as discussed here recently.BBC Online.

4. The A350, its rival to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is meeting criticism recent industry reports suggest the A350's intended fuel efficiency is so poor it needs a complete redesign. Meanwhile, provisional orders are being put on hold and estimates of sales drastically scaled back.

Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng said in an interview today (7/4//2006) in Zurich, "Having gone to the trouble of designing a new tail, and introducing a lot of new composites, and everything else, they might as well go the whole way and design a whole new fuselage as well instead of using something old." Chew said his airline will decide on whether to buy as many as 80 new aircraft at a board meeting next month.

"We still have an open mind," Chew said today.

Steven Udvar-Hazy, CEO of International Lease Finance Corp., the world's largest aircraft lessor said in March should spend $8 billion to $10 billion more to redesign its A350 airliner to compete with Boeing's 787.he says they need to decide on needs to decide on a redesign before the Farnborough, England, air show in July.

5. Only last week, Emirates delayed a $4.2bn order for 20 Airbus large jets, the A340-600, to give Airbus time to develop a better version.

6. Testing the wings of the A380 to destruction has shown that the wing fails within 95% of the US FAA 1.5 wing loading limit - although the results are still not clear they could dig their heels in and refuse landings in the US. Airbus executive vice president of engineering Alain Garcia deemed the test a success, and was quoted as saying, "This is within 3 percent of the 1.5 target, which shows the accuracy of the finite element model." The wing was deflected more than 24 ft/7.4m when the break occurred. (remeber the banning of Concorde supersonic overflights in the US ?). ( Emergency evacuation trials passed with flying colours however)

BAE chief executive Mike Turner , who acquired United Defense Industries, the US maker of Bradley armored personnel carriers, for $3.97 billion dollars, in March last year said: "We believe that now is the right time for us to divest our Airbus shareholding to allow us to concentrate on our core transatlantic defense and aerospace strategy." BAE won orders worth US$ 1.13 Bn. from the US Army to re-manufacture and upgrade more than 500 Bradley combat vehicles in June 2005.

Airbus booked record firm orders exceeding 1,000 passenger planes in 2005, taking 51.0 percent of the world market and beating arch-rival Boeing for the fifth year running.

All this is excellent news for Boeing , for two reasons...

1. It puts BAe into play for a take over by Boeing or other US defence companies.(Remember BAe are not part of the Euro consortium developing the Combat Unmanned Aerial vehicle CUAV nEUROne)

2. It makes life more difficult for Airbus who have been causing them lots of problems in the last few years.

Boeing will however maintain their PR assault ...



On June 13th 2005 Ambassador Linnet Deily, U.S. Representative to the WTO complained ...

"Over its 35-year history, Airbus has benefited from massive amounts of EU member State and EC subsidies that have enabled the company to create a full product line of aircraft and gain more than a 50 percent share of large civil aircraft sales. Every major Airbus aircraft model was financed, in whole or in part, with government subsidies taking the form of "launch aid" – that is, financing with no or low rates of interest, and repayment tied to, and entirely dependent on, sales of the financed aircraft. Moreover, if a particular model does not sell well, Airbus does not have to repay the financing. The Airbus A380 “super jumbo” alone received approximately $3.7 billion in launch aid subsidies from France, Germany, Spain, and the UK."

Also BBC report about N Wales subsidies for training.

The UK share of the A380 launch was £780m, of which £530m went direct to BAE. So if BAe sell up that is UK taxpayers investment thrown away. EADS’ shares have enjoyed a more than fivefold increase from the low of €6.50 in March 2003 to a peak two weeks ago of €35.13. As one BBC radio commentator said on the World News last night, "BAe are taking the money and running".

Wouldn't it be a surprise that a la Kuwait buying BP when it went public , Dubai financiers leapt in to take up BAe's share ?

Pic Iran Air use Airbus - not for nuclear bombing however. The Shah of course bought Boeing...and so have El Al...so far!

Toray can expect world market share of PAN carbon fibre to grow.

Japan's Toray Industries Inc. have announced orders from Boeing for PAN carbon Fibre worth US$3 Bn.billion for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jet. Toray now hold about 32% of global supply which they want to boost to 39% by 2010 to 13,900 tons per annum and to 24,000 tons by 2010.

The high-margin carbon fiber business is a key growth area division is forecast to generate 50 Bn. yen sales with profits of 11 Bn. yen.

Toray has forecast sales of 1.43 Trillion yen and an operating profit of 92 Bn yen on for the last business year.The news sent shares of Toray up 5.4 percent to 1,002 yen outperforming the benchmark Nikkei average, which was up about 0.2 percent.

Toray not only benefits from this deal but is looking at a major increase in a share of Airbus work - which may get an even bigger boost if plans by Airbus to move some manufacture to China are realised.

Toray is evaluating opening a European prepreg carbonfibre production facility to support the Airbus A350 and other European aircraft programmes, they hope to sign an important pre preg Airbus deal soon. Toray manufactures non prepreg carbonfibre for other Airbus aircraft, including the A380, through deals with first- and second-tier suppliers, but has never provided prepared carbonfibres directly to Airbus. Qualifying anew plant can take two years.

Toray only produces prepreg carbonfibres at its Tacoma, Washington facility. Last year plans to expand its Japanese Ehime plant to meet soaring demand driven by its exclusive supplier deal with Boeing for the 787 were announced. This was motivated by the large number of Japanese suppliers (43 at last count) to the 787 program - as well as supplying composite plants in Chengdu , China.

Airbus has tentatively selected Hexcel and Toray to supply prepreg carbonfibre for the A350 program going head to head against the Dreamliner 787, but has not yet awarded raw material contracts for the new aircraft programme.

Toray joint venture Soficar already manufactures in France,producing non- prepreg carbonfibre. The recently upgraded 114,000m2 (1.23 million ft2) Toray Composites America factory in Tacoma is now the only supplier of prepreg carbonfibre for the 777 and 787.

So whichever way the 777/787/A350/A380 fight goes, Toray will be a winner. So far this year Boeing are in the lead with orders. 176/70 after 4 years dominance by Airbus.

El Al to buy Airbus 330's in snub to Boeing

For first time, El Al to buy Airbus instead of Boeing
By Zohar Blumenkrantz Haaretz today

The Borovich-Mozes group, (see footnote)which bought the controlling interest in El Al from the state, in a massive snub to Boeing, are to buy eight A-330 Airbus aircraft, which will replace Boeing 767 passenger jets. The deal, including spare parts, is estimated at US$500 million.

A series of meetings, held under a veil of secrecy, ended Tuesday night at the Ramat Hahayal offices of the Borovich-Mozes group.

European Union Banks will provide credit to finance the deal, in the same way to the credit El Al has received in the past with Boeingto be repaid over a 14-year period. Airbus is committed to a three-year delivery schedule from the date the deal is signed.

Elsewhere, Emirates, the biggest customer for the new Airbus A380, said it may buy more of the aircraft in place of a $4.2 billion order for 20 Airbus 340-600's which have been put on hold.

Pic the Airbus transporter, shipping A380 wings from North Wales UK to Toulouse France.(c) Airbus Industrie

FOOTNOTE

The sale of El Al was completed in January 2005 with transfer of control of the company to Knafaim – Arkia Holdings Ltd. controlled by the Borovich family, and the company began a new era – an era of full independent management.

There is a close connection between El Al, as the national carrier, and the State of Israel, via aviation policies and agreements determined by the government. The State owns a “golden share” in ensuring its vital interests via the company, including the ability to maintain national air transportation in times of emergency. Additionally, El Al continues in a range of national activities such as airlifting immigrants, flying March of the Living participants, humanitarian aid and medical missions for the needy after the tsunami, contributions to Jewish communities around the world, etc.

In addition to cutting staff from a high of 5,000 (at the start of the intifadah) to 3,500 today. State employees are no longer made to fly El Al and can fly with other carriers, self check-in is to be introduced, and the airline is now said to be profitable.

In a recent article in Forbes Israel the Borovich family were named as one of the 12 families owning 60% of the listed companies in Israel. They were named as Sami Ofer, Nochi Dankner, Shari Arison, the Cerberus-Gabriel consortium, Charles Bronfman, Yitzchak Tshuva, the Saban group, Lev Leviev, Matthew Bronfman, Tzadik Bino, the Borovich family, and Eliezer Fishman and are said to be well connected with Kadima.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner - In Flight Entertainment mustn't include hi-jacking the Systems and Data Networks says FAA in Special Conditions Notice

Cryptome have published (3/1/07)

[Docket No. NM364 Special Conditions No. 25-356-SC]

Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Systems and Data Networks Security--Isolation or Protection From Unauthorized Passenger Domain Systems Access

On March 28, 2003, Boeing applied for an FAA type certificate for its new Boeing Model 787-8 passenger airplane. The Boeing Model 787-8 airplane will be an all-new, two-engine jet transport airplane with a two-aisle cabin. The maximum takeoff weight will be 476,000 pounds, with a maximum passenger count of 381 passengers.

The report goes on to detail the fact that the 787 exhibits ... unusual and unique features...

Novel or Unusual Design Features

The digital systems architecture for the 787 consists of several networks connected by electronics and embedded software. This proposed network architecture is used for a diverse set of functions, including the following:

1. Flight-safety-related control and navigation and required systems (Aircraft Control Domain).
2. Airline business and administrative support (Airline Information Domain).
3. Passenger entertainment, information, and Internet services (Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain).

The proposed architecture of the 787 is different from that of existing production (and retrofitted) airplanes. It allows new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of
the airplane.

Because of this new passenger connectivity, the proposed data network design and integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane. The existing regulations and guidance material did not anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to aircraft systems that provide flight critical functions.

Furthermore, 14 CFR regulations and current system safety assessment policy and techniques do not address potential security vulnerabilities that could be caused by unauthorized access to aircraft data buses and servers.

Therefore, special conditions are imposed to ensure that security, integrity, and availability of the aircraft systems and data networks are not compromised by certain wired or wireless electronic connections between airplane data buses and networks.

(Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter is reported saying that the wording of the FAA document is misleading, and that the plane's networks don't completely connect.)

After considerable and detailed discussion involving Airbus (in relation to the 380 design) involving the wording of the guidelines ...

Airbus stated that in the sentence ;
``The design shall prevent all inadvertent or malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts * * *'', the wording ``shall prevent ALL'' can be interpreted as a zero allowance. According to the commenter, demonstration of compliance with such a requirement during the entire life cycle of the aircraft is quite impossible because security threats evolve very rapidly. The only possible solution to such a requirement would be to physically segregate the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain from the other domains. This would mean, for example, no shared resources like SATCOM (satellite communications), and no network connections.

Finally the FAA agreed this wording

The applicant shall ensure that security threats from all points within the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain, are identified and risk mitigation strategies are implemented to protect the Aircraft Control Domain and Airline Information Services Domain
from adverse impacts reducing the aircraft safety.

In relation to the document as prepared they finalise the various arguments..

Applicability

As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 787. Should Boeing apply at a later date for a change to the type certificate to include another model on the same type certificate incorporating the same novel or unusual design features, these special conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features of the 787. It is not a rule of general applicability.

and that ..

The Special Conditions

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of the type certification basis for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane.

The design shall prevent all inadvertent or malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts upon, all systems, networks, hardware, software, and data in the Aircraft Control Domain and in the Airline Information Domain from all points within the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on December 21, 2007.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25467 Filed 12-31-07; 8:45 am]


Naturally this has raised a great deal of interest and concern and resulted in many articles in computer echnical press which highlight this technical requirement in a rather high profile and alarming manner ...

• Network World on Security - Boeing Dreamliner could be vulnerable to hackers
• TechNudge - Hacking the Dream at 37,000 Feet
• Schneier on Security - Hacking the Boeing 787
• BeSpacific - FAA Issues Special New Security Regs for Boeing Model 787-8
• Switched.com - Is Boeing's New Dreamliner Hackable?
  
• Cut and Paste Aviation - FAA Issues Special New Security Regs for Boeing Model 787
• Free Republic - Boeing's new Dreamliner has serious security vulnerability
• Computer Weekly - Concerns over Boeing 'Dreamliner' IT flight systems

Which has been taken up in Press articles with even more sensational and irresponsible headlines .. and evidently an unclear understanding of what the FAA have said and how it operates.

From The Times January 9, 2008 How a backseat driver could bring terror to new Dreamliner

Wired By Kim Zetter Email 01.04.08 |FAA : Boeing's New 787 May Be Vulnerable to Hacker Attack

p2p Net News Want to hack a Boeing Dreamliner?

Boeing's response is clear and encouraging

Boeings's Gunter said they have been working on the issue with the FAA for a number of years already and was aware that the agency was planning to publish a "special conditions" document regarding the Dreamliner.

Gunter said the FAA and Boeing have already agreed on the tests that the plane manufacturer will have to do to demonstrate that it has addressed the FAA's security concerns.

"It will all be done before the first airplane is delivered," she said.

The FAA have issued FAA has issued eight special conditions on the Boeing 787,. The FAA publishes them whenever it encounters unusual issues regarding a plane's design or performance in order to communicate on record that it expects the manufacturer to address the issue. It is then the manufacturer responsibility to demonstrate to the FAA that it has solved the problem.

Whilst it is late in the day for such concerns to be raised - it must be remembered that since first applying for Type certification with the FAA in March 28, 2003, Customer In Flight Entertainment (IFE) has made massive strides to accomadate need / want to use mobile phones (miraculously used on 9/11- God was watching that day) , internet connectivity, video on demand, PC usage between users in flight, multiple gaming etc.,

The Airbus family, has a modular architecture, with 5 physically separate computer boxes in the flight control system (7 with 2 flight augmentation computers, or FAC's) and the flight management and guidance system (FMGS) computer boxes are physically separate from all of these.

The Airbus was of course the first wide bodied jet family to use "fly by wire" (FBW) on the A320, which entered service in 1988 - reducing weight and providing safer flying - and clutter free cockpit without the familiar " yoke ", just a little side positioned joystick ( see layout /pic here) . The same system is also used on the Airbus A330 and A340 and now 380 widebody jets. The only Boeing plane with fly-by-wire technology is the 777 which, as a result has a computer architecture different to the 747 series - about which there have been no concerns. In the 777 the main Common Computer Resource (CCR) box has an internal architecture which is supposed to provide cast-iron separation between partitions so that a partition providing a flight-critical service cannot be interfered with by a less critical process.

Boeing and Airbus differ in their FBW philosophies. In Airbus aircraft, the computer always retains ultimate control and will not permit the pilot to fly outside the normal flight envelope. In a Boeing 777, the pilot can override the system, allowing the plane to be flown outside this envelope in emergencies.

It was precisely trying to meet the demands for IFE services which led to such major delays in launching the Airbus 380, although it was more to do with physically cabling the systems than the systems software architecture .. evidently Airbus have a substantial lead in this area... which they will not sacrifice soon or easily.

Mrs Shanahan is going to see even less of her husband.

Pic is of 1st delivered Airbus 380 at Singapore Airport before first flight by SA staff.

Airbus - Buy in now, Fill ya boots

Airbus has unveiled a novel “super first class” concept on its revamped A380 cabin mock-up in Toulouse which could debut on the aircraft with some of the early operators Emirates / Qatar Paul Gut tells me.(See pic more here)

The forward upper deck features three completely enclosed suites down each side, with a large aisle that is occupied by two sofas and tables . Each suite contains a reclining chair and sofa – the latter doubling up as a bed.

Meanwhile the mindless lemmings in the stock market were unloading EADS stock today like it was diseased, which was down further production delays (6 months) to its super-jumbo A380 flagship and a profit warning.

The stock in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company was down 35% at 16.75 Euros (peak 35.42 in March) all this because of the news of delivery delays (long anticipoated) on nine A380's which will impact on profits.

Now is the time to buy in , Airbus are superbly positioned.

1. The 380 is one of a class, just as Boeing never could go supersonic (and spoilt the major US market by banning overflying) they will never compete in the big movers class - which they are shut out of for at least a decade.

2. The re-designed A350 (to be renamed) will be a hard act to match.

3. The Dreamline is still that - a dream , it hasn't floewn yet and is made all over the opwlrd in bits an asembled in Evewrett - the production problems haven't started yet - but they will.See Boeing stock tank when the production problems arise - and they will.... never mind the sleaze etc.,

4. The best news is coming from China - Airbus have a long history and are establishing manufacturing facilties - China will be the growth market for the next decade.The National Development and Reform Commission's Tianjin office announced long awaited news of EADS 3rd final assembly plant (the others are Toulouse and Hamburg) will be built in at a cost of Euros 7Bn the coastal city for its A320 planes.The first planes will roll out in 2008.

The Airbus A320 series of single-aisle jets are widely used in China, a market dominated by regional routes. In December, China ordered 150 of the airliners.

5. EADS will have British Aerospace off their back - it is effectively a US company now anyway... and their management is lousy and depends entirely on Government handouts in the form of Ministry of Defence work.

Get some in your 41K today. Be patriotic buy stock in a European company that is building planes in and for China and isa thrashing Boeing in the market place.

Late Breaking news today

Air China, the country's flag carrier, said today it had agreed to buy 24 Airbus A320 aircraft for $1.74 billion for delivery between 2007 and 2010. 

Airbus 350 re-design - big fat 8 .... the A380 set for huge impact

If you are in Shanghai and need a hotel you can call the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Shanghai - 6252 8888, 6280 8888 the Ocean Hotel, Shanghai - 6545 8888 or even the swanky Sheraton Taiping Hotel, Shanghai - 6275 8888.A superstitious race the number 8 (pronounced "ba") sounds close to "fa" which means "prosper". If you want a number plate for your car with an 8 you pay extra.

Which is why Jean-Paul Gut (pic)(Chief Operating Officer for Marketing, International and Strategy at Airbus ) is explaining to me the problems about naming the replacement / upgrade for the Airbus 350 - what to call it. Because of the big Asian market Jean Paul wants an 8 in the number somewhere - to mirror the huge A 380.... the A280 / A 480 / A 888 ??

Which is all very hush hush , because the re-design won't be announced until the Farnborough Airshow, he tells me.

The Airbus 350 ( a bit of a mongrel really) was announced in 2004 to take on Boeings Dreamliner 787 and the 777.Singapore head honcho Chew Soon Seng who wants a brace or two of the planes has been a constant critic. Well finally says Jean -Paul, as he accepts another pastis at the zinc in a tiny Toulouse bar , Chairman Noel Forgeard has approved - which of course means deliveries won't start until at least 2012 , 2 years late and 4 years afterthe Dreamliner hits the skies.

With twin aisles and 9 abreast (uprated from 8) bigger fuselage, bigger and stronger wings, improved comfort levels and greater range they hope this will impact on sales to date of 182 order from 14 airlines against Dreamliners 403 planes from 29 customers.

A major problem is that planes neeed engines , although the uprated plane only needs 2.(each)

GE and Rolls Royce were committed intitially but GE is under pressure from Boeing, so maybe United Technology's Pratt and Whitney may fill the breach. Whichever it is (and the UK money is on RR - they need something to replace the JSF alternate engine- badly) they expect to have a range og 9,000 miles - smart money is that they can transport you through more time zones than any other plane - The Time Traveller ?

It was late and Jean Paul had to pick up a pizza on the way home. I can't wait for Farnborough.

When I get back have an e-mail from Mike Hauger the A 380 is re-scheduled for deliveries (6 - 8 months delays) 1 aircraft is to be delivered in 2006 9 in 2007,there will be shortfalls of five to nine aircraft deliveries in 2008 and of around five aircraft in 2009.

The new delays are caused by industrial issues only (it says here) . They are mainly traceable to bottlenecks formed in the definition, manufacturing and installation of electrical systems and resulting harnesses.

"We have a serious issue with the industrial ramp-up of the A380. We expect Airbus management to fully deliver according to the revised schedule and, if possible, even to improve." says both CEO's Tom Enders and Noël Forgeard.

Not good news for the bottom line ... no doubt one or two wry smiles and hi-fives around the Boeing offices. So far, Airbus has 159 firm orders for the plane from 16 carriers, including Emirates, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic.

But the good news is, more than 1,400 flight hours in over 430 flights and 950 take-offs have produced expected results.. . All the tests performed, including at airports, indicate that the A380 will meet or exceed the expectations. Since the first flight of the first A380 in Toulouse on 27th April 2005, 4 more aircraft have flown. The first 2 are heavily involved in the flight test campaign, 2 more are used for cabin testing and the fifth one is currently undergoing customisation and cabin furnishing in Hamburg to be ready for first aircraft delivery at the end of 2006.

The really good news however is ... EADS Astrium and Paradigm Services have, at the request of the Royal Navy, increased the capacity of their TOMS (Television Over Military Satellite) service to ensure that those on board Royal Navy vessels within the coverage area of Skynet 4, can enjoy live high-quality coverage of the World Cup matches. Sounds like a good time to invade.

JFK Airport - Flight 587 crashes in Queens -256 dead

In the turbulence falsely created by another supposed terrist plot, this time the bombing of subterranean jetfuel pipelines to JFK airport by bombers without bombs, it is worth remembering another terrist incident at JFK Airport just 2 months after 9/11.

The 2nd worst US air accident was on November 12th 2001, was when American Airlines Flt 587 Airbus A300-600 No N14053 mysteriously crashed in Queens, New York, shortly after takeoff from JFK airport, killing 265 people. See the site here on Google Maps.and CNN slide show of crash site pictures and more on Airliners net site of plane and crash site.

The official NTSB version in their report claims the A300, which took off on the same runway as a Japan Airlines Boeing 747, flew into the larger jet's wake, an area of very turbulent air. The co-pilot, Sten Molin, attempted to keep the plane upright with the rudder, but pushed the rudder too far to one side and then overcorrected too far to the other. The strength of the air flowing against the moving rudder stressed the aircraft's vertical stabilizer and eventually snapped it off entirely, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash. According to the NTSB, the crash would not have occurred but for the co-pilot's use of the rudder. NTSB Transcript of the Voice recorder (without a serial number) can be read here.

The aerodynamic loads placed on the vertical stabilizer due to the sideslip that resulted from the rudder movements were beyond the ultimate design strength of the vertical stabilizer.

"No law enforcement agencies provided any evidence that the accident may have stemmed from criminal conduct. The Board said that witnesses who reported observing the airplane on fire were most likely observing misting fuel released from broken fuel lines, a fire from the initial release of fuel or the effects of engine compressor surges" .... which is why no doubt the Chairman of the NTSB could say with certainty hours after the accident that no terrorist action was involved...even though the Hudson tunnels were closed, UN locked down and the Empire State Building evacuated.

There is no memorial to the victims at the site of the crash, (filled in in 7 days) which has now had houses rebuilt on it.A US$8.5 memorial site should be finished by fall this year at the junction of Beach Road and the ocean, including 2 comfort stations.

Todd Wissing is an Airbus A300-600 First Officer and in evidence to the much stalled enquiry said..."Finally, a fellow pilot of mine, points this out regarding wake turbulence, and he says 'if you consider all the places in the world where aircraft take off that are behind other aircraft and you consider that these airplanes have been taking off one behind the other for 50 years…large commercial airplanes…and you consider that Kennedy Airport is probably one of the best airports in the world with the most highly trained air traffic controllers…and you consider what's being speculated here about over-control in reaction to a wake turbulence event that is likely felt a lot by pilots, and I certainly have felt it many times, and you consider what we're being asked to believe that these pilots mis-controlled this airplane and caused structural damage…and go back 50 years [and see that this] has never happened before…it seems to us that they [NTSB] still need to do some work."

No Airbuses were re-called, none grounded and no statements have been made about the accident by Airbus. Senator Schumer called for a re-opening of the enquiry in April 2005 "“The safety and reliability of the [Airbus] rudders have come into question,” he said. “The NTSB owes it to the many families of the victims of the crash [of AA 587] and to the traveling public to find out whether traveling on those planes is dangerous.” Nothing happened.

Huge chunks of the plane were recovered (NTSB photos, engines etc) as were all 256 bodies.

Prison Planet has more information ... start here and watch the video of an eyewitness fireman who saw an on board explosion and subsequent fire before the plane split up and crashed. In August 2004 a supposed Al-Qaeda operative told Canadian intelligence that a Montreal man who trained in Afghanistan alongside the 9/11 hijackers was responsible for the crash. Rense had another theory about sabotage.

BBC "Horizon"showed a fillum on Thursday 8th May 2003, in which blame was fairly put on Airbus construction and over use of rudder pedals by American Airlines pilots.

Even today some American Airlines pilots have their doubts about the lightweight Airbus construction method. They believe that traditional metal structures are easier to check for early signs of wear, pointing to another A300 thought to have flown with tailfin damage for four years after a visual inspection had failed to spot anything. (American Airlines checked its entire A300 fleet for tailfin damage after the November 2001 disaster. It was given the all clear.)

Which is why everyone is looking to see how the all composite Boeing 787 Dreamliner performs in service.

Airbus in tail spin... Tony Blair pumps money in .. french to strike

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin spilled les haricots last week when he said Airbus planned to cut 10,000 jobs -- and he did it in Germany where most jobs were under threat.

Airbus parent company EADS confirmed 10,000 jobs are disappearing over 4 years as they sort out the mega jumbo A380 ( a year late) the direct effects of a weak dollar and possible resultant dip in travel. The A380 delays alone will hit profuts by Euros 4.8Bn this year alone.

3 sites are shutting .Saint-Nazaire-Ville in France and Varel and Laupheim in Germany, 3 other sites -- Meaulte in France, Nordenham in Germany and Filton in Britain -- are open to third parties (GKN) to participate.

A total of 4,300 jobs will be cut in France, (French already on strike - see pic) 3,700 in Germany, 1,600 in Britain and 400 in Spain.

In July 2006, Airbus announced (after many false starts) the development of a completely newtwin jet , the A350 XWB to compete head to head with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.Due for delivery commencing 2012, EADS is urgently reviewing whether the company has enough resources available for the development.

The military transport plane , the DDP /A400M , due to take over from the now antique Hercules has been designed to mee4t the needs of NATO. Airbus manager Christian Streiff has admitted that the plane is behind testing and wont meet delivery schedules planned to commence in 2009. - defence project behid schedule - there is a surprise.

Shares in parent firm EADS closed up on a heavy news day 1.8 % - investors wooed by claimed cuts of Euros 2.1 BN. in annual operating costs from 2010 and a further 5 billion cash.

In Parliament Tony Blair said "I understand Filton is set to secure manufacture of key wing components on the A350 and that will represent a valuable new capability in the UK," ... at what cost we will no doubt learn a long time in the futu

Airbus 320 - superb plane, superbly handled - watch this and then go and change your pants

A Lufthansa Airbus 320 with 137 passengers aboard arriving at Hamburg RWY23 from Munich struggled with 90 kilometer-per-hour (56 miles per hour) crosswinds on Saturday.

The plane momentarily landed and then took off again as 39 year old pilot "Oliver A.", executed a perfect emergency ascent and re-landing with skill and heroic calm.

The low pressure system that caused the violent winds, dubbed "Emma," caused millions of euros in damage across Europe over the weekend and caused the deaths of at least 13 people. See Photogallery of damage 20 pics

Some technically skilled and competent aerospotter (Stefan 171) managed to capture the incident in the pissing rain and wind. Uploaded for one day on Live Leak this has been seen so far by 2.7 Mn viewers. For free.

The Airbus 320 main wing spar is the longest, strongest piece of metal in any equipment anywhere. Because of this strength the Airbus 320 can land with a full fuel load.

All posts on Airbus v Boeing 787 here

UPDATE Tuesday 4th March It now appears that the first approach was made by the 24 year old female co-pilot , named only as Maxi J., according to a spokesman for the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation.

Boeings "Lego Liner: - the 787 Dreamliner posts record sales for year end

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the fastest selling commercial airplane of all time has had a bumpy birth. Corporate sources are still holding to their (revised) Q4 '08 delivery date. Production of the first three prototypes on the Everett "Lego Line" assembling 30,000 bits and pieces from 1,200 suppliers from 400 subcontractors in 17 countries is well underway, the first (closest) for their "first flight" demonstration and the second two for static and fatigue testing.

Vietnam Airlines has just announced an order for 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and will lease another 8 from Vietnam Aircraft Leasing bringing the total to 802.

British Airways announced finalising their order announced earlier in the year for 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a deal valued at some US$4.4 billion (£2.2bn) at list prices.
BA has options for 18 more 787 aircraft and purchase rights for an additional 10.

This has sealed a record sales year for Boeing who have reported an industry record of 1,413 firm commercial plane orders for 2007,Airbus have yet to issue final figures.

For each of the last three years Boeing and Airbus have posted more than 1,800 net orders combined.

Boeing said earlier yesterday it had delivered 441 commercial aircraft in 2007, its best performance in six years and up 11 percent from 2006 although Airbus had delivered 401 by end November.

See video of suites on board the Singapore Airlines Airbus 380 which has been in service for 2 months after a 2 year delivery delay. Maybe the Airbus 308 should be called the "legover Liner" with their double sleeping cabins ?

Boeing 737 is world leader ... what follows ?

The Financial Times reports today that the EU is threatening to reimpose trade sanctions on the US unless Congress eliminates the vestiges of a tax break for US exporters that was ruled illegal on Monday by the World Trade Organisation. The 8 year trade saga relates to the US / EU dispute over subsidies to Airbus and Boeing, the aircraft manufacturers, rather than planning a full-scale transatlantic trade war.

Meanwhile Alan Mullaly Boeing CEO excitedly tells me ( I haven't seen him since the Dubai show) they have just rolled out the 5,000th 737 for the largest 737 operator SouthWest Airlines.(see pic)

The 5,000th 737, a 737-700 painted in Southwest Airlines colors, is the 447th 737 to join the carrier's fleet. Southwest has helped launch three Boeing 737 models -- the 737-300, -500 and the -700.

Alan says with more than 4,100 airplanes in service, the 737 represents more than a quarter of the total worldwide fleet of large commercial jets flying today. More than 541 operators fly 737s into more than 1,200 cities in 190 countries. It is estimated that approximately 1,250 737s are in the air at any given moment, that says Alan means one is taking off or landing every 4.6 seconds.

The Boeing 737 is the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time, with total orders now exceeding 6,000 airplanes. The 737 family -100 and -200 models, entered service in 1968; the Classic -300, -400 and -500 models, entered service in 1984; and the newest members -- the Next-Generation 737-600, -700, -800 and -900ER models, which entered service in 1998.

...this leaves the industry wondering what follows ... the 737 and the Airbus 320 are hard acts to follow.

Randy Baseler VP for marketing recently told me "It is a very high hurdle," ridiculing the notion a 737 replacement program could begin soon after the wide-body 787 enters service in 2008.

The decision is eagerly awaited and will have enormous ramifications in Seattle region. Will it be assembled in Seattle? If so, in Renton or in Everett? (Unclear.)

Initial studies of the issue have produced disappointing results. At an industry conference in January in Dublin, Ireland, Randy showed a slide listing the hurdles that have to be cleared and concluded: "Someday the 737 and [rival Airbus] A320s will be replaced, but so far we have not found a compelling replacement."

Baseler said the speculation about an early launch is fueled by the sales success of the 787 and the expectation that Boeing could simply transfer that jet's technology breakthroughs — its light composite airframe and fuel-efficient engines — to a smaller jet.

Not so fast, said Baseler. He said the main advantage of the lighter 787 airframe is an extra 2,000-mile range, a huge advantage for an intercontinental jet. But 737s are used for shorter routes and simply don't need more range than they have now.

That leaves fuel consumption, operating cost, production cost — and therefore price — as the key areas for gains.

Flight International, citing information from suppliers, said both Airbus and Boeing have found that applying the new technology improvements in the small-jet category would reduce fuel consumption around 4 percent and operating costs 3 percent.... not a good reason to invest possibly $5 billion.

The hurdle is higher because the 737, as well as the A320, are such efficient airplanes. For an airline like Southwest to switch from 737s would require a big infrastructure and training investment. There has to be compelling economic gain.

The 777 succeeded because of the big efficiency advance in moving from four engines to two on a large airplane. The 787 ignited market interest with a promise of 20 percent fuel savings and that extra 2,000-mile range.

What innovation might deliver a similar kick-start for a 737 replacement? Boeing is still looking.

Randy told me that Mulally's recent off-the-cuff remarks about a 737 replacement in Paris last June. He floated idea that because of a shift to production of very large composite fuselage sections, Boeing might offer more than one fuselage size when it next launches a jet.

"We could do three different fuselages. Five abreast; six abreast; we could even do a twin-aisle,"
Flight International calls this the "smoke and mirrors" that both Boeing and Airbus use to obscure their future intentions. Each company discourages speculation that its cash-cow single-aisle medium highly economic jet might soon be terminated.

Recent blogs on same topic here

Boeing will cut outsourcing on 787 and on future projects - More Airbus 380's delivered

Boeing vice president for engineering Mike Denton has confirmed the company will scale back outsourced engineering on the next 787 variant (787 - 9) and reduce participation by outside partners on all future commercial aircraft programmes.

His remarks were aimed at the Boeing members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), a union now entering the final month of negotiations on a new labour contract.

They also indicate how big a mistake the 787's once-heralded production system relying on six major partners in three countries to make vast financial, engineering and production contributions to the Dreamliner.

Boeing mistakenly judged that its partners were capable of participating beyond build-to-print work, and then compounded that error by failing to track their progress he says. "Our engineers and production workers are basically correcting the problems that should have never come to us in the first place -- problems that are the result of the partners really not being done."

In a major volte face he went on in a company podcast today ... "We will probably do more of the design and even some of the major production for the next new airplanes ourselves as opposed to having it all out with the partners."

"We see that as building on lessons of the 787, taking advantage of the parts that were really good, but doing some course corrections so that we can not relive some of the harder lessons that we have experienced recently."

SPEEA, however, appears still far part with Boeing management on the issues. A mid-afternoon electroic message by Goforth on 30 October read: "SPEEA ends today's meeting early citing Boeing intransigence."

When will Dreamliner fly ? ScuttleBut says late '09 and if it works, enter service late 2010.

Airbus deliveries continue

Quantas have started using their first Airbus 380 on the Melbourne-Los Angeles services and from 24th October will operate the aircraft on some of its Sydney-Los Angeles services and from January will use it for some of its services to London via Singapore - wher it will compete with Singapore Airlines.

Emirates have taken delivery of their 2nd Airbus 380 for use on its Dubai-New York route which started operating on Wednesday 27 th October providing a daily service .

Two more 380's are scheduled for delivery to Emirates by the end of 2008.

Airbus A380 cockpit 3D 360 degrees panoramic dynamic view

Click here and pretend you are at the Singapore Airshow and having a 360 degree panoramic view of an Airbus 380 cockpit. Also interior shots, first class cabins, steerage etc here Courtesy and Copright Gilles Vidal for Airbus. Even if not interested in airplanes this is a fascinating bit of 3D visual imagery - very slick and fast.

CNN report (to the delight of Boeing staff here) that Singapore Airlines A380 London flight was withdrawn due to a fuel pump problem - the first operational glitch - a 747-400 replaced the service.

Airbus SAS announced that it has received orders for 310 of its long-range A350 jets which will compete directly with the 787 Dreamliner but will not share their composite monocoque fuselage construction.

New French Airbus CEO - Cut Hamburg and 10,000 jobs

EADS co-Chief Executive Louis Gallois took over as head of Airbus late on Monday when Christian Streiff resigned after just 100 days in the job.

Gallois told Europe 1 radio in Paris when on his way to meet managers at Toulouse: "It will be painful, yes, because there will be job cuts." (Trans : 20% of it's 55,000 staff)

"We have to ask questions about the sites, the assembly lines, in order to rationalise it," Gallois added. "We cannot live with two sites that each share all the assembly lines." ( Trans : Hamburg is definitely going)

Rating agency Fitch on Tuesday said the latest management changes highlighted corporate governance issues that were "inherent weaknesses" within EADS. It cut EADS's debt ratings.

EADS shares rose 3.6 percent to close at 20.89 euros (14 pounds), after dropping over 36 percent so far this year.

Meanwhile ...

Bole International Airport at Addis Abeba has been chosen as the next Airbus 380 test site for the local altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level with trials to srat in the next 7 days. Take the attention off Darfur anyway.

Reuters report more exciting news from Addis...there is a leopard on the loose in the UK Embassy compound.

Air Wars hots up as Emirates launches Airbus 380 NY / JFK - Dubai route

Emirates start their Dubai - New York JFK round trip 3 times weekly flights in 2 weeks, of their spanking brand new Airbus 380's and join Singapore Airlines, now perating twice daily London/Singapore in operating these massive air cruisers. (Singapore are offering flights from Singapore to the Olympics from 2-8th August)

In a media blitz they will be operating a series of 2 hour round trip “familiarisation” flights out of San Francisco and Los Angeles for invited guests - the hot ticket in town - Lord Patel has had to demur as he will be busy watching TV that day.

The San Francisco familiarisation flight is scheduled for August 4, with the Los Angeles event set for the following day. The guests will be encouraged to tour the aircraft and take a close look at its three-class configuration - 14 first-class suites, 76 business seats and 399 economy – and a likely array of amenities that has the industry on tenterhooks.

Details released so far include showers in first-class and an all-premium upper deck but the the wraps are firmly on the aircraft being prepared in Hamburg.

Emirates will receive a total of five A380s in its current financial year, all in three-class, 489-seat ultra-long-haul configuration. After New York, these aircraft will operate on Emirates’ routes from Dubai to London Heathrow and Sydney-Auckland. The airline also plans to take delivery of numbers of A380s with three-class/517-seat and two-class/604-seat layouts.

Meanwhile gossip continues that George Bush (President United States) will bow out having ordered at least one Airbus 380 for Air Force One to repace the ageing White House 747 fleet.

Boeings Dreamliner is going to be very much on the back foot as the space and extra facilities cannot be offered - and the fuel cost savings have no or litle impact on ticket prices - especially to a market led by people who don't even look at the ticket price.

Singapore Air Show - 787 compensation claims, booming S'pore aerospace industry and Temasek's well connected CEO

Steven Udvar-Hazy, chief executive International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC), the world's top plane leasing firm, is not a happy man.

ILFC have orders for 74 Boeing 787's and 15-20 of ILFC's 787 orders are expected to be affected by the the double production delays ... which are not necessarily the end of its problems.

The booming and busy (80,000 visitors, 827 exhibiting companies from more than 42 countries) Singapore Air Show is a hot bed of gossip about the costs to Boeing as ILFC is wanting compensation, as are Japan's All Nippon Airways , Australia's Qantas and Air India have already made their position clear about compensation. Steven wants compensation, he tells us "on a large scale" and puts the monthly income of Boeing 787 lease at US$1 million.

Airlines have so far ordered 857 of the planes, worth $140 billion at list prices.

Goodrich Corporation opened its new US$32 Mn. 530,000-square-foot aircraft component and systems maintenance and repair campus today which will employ 700 staff. It will be a stratgeic base to provide services for commercial and military aerospace customers from across Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim. Services will cover a broad range of aircraft including new and future models such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Nearby Pratt & Whitney and their partner Eagle Services Asia (as Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners ) have installed their patented EcoPower(R) closed-loop atomised water process to wash Singapore Airlines' fleet entire fleet of passenger and cargo aircraft engines. They claim this will result in savings of US $15 million in fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions by 128 million pounds. This is because the improved EcoPower system can reduce fuel burn by as much as 1.2% percent and increase the exhaust gas temperature margin by as much as 15 degrees Celsius.

When opening the show yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 56 (eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew - democratic dynasties rule OK ? **) said that the the new 300-hectare Aerospace Park in Seletar will help to boost the Singaporean aerospace industry which hit a record high in 2007 with an output of nearly US$7 billion.

"Last year, Boeing and Airbus announced record orders for new aircraft. In the next two decades, the global commercial aircraft fleet is expected to more than double in size," said the prime minister.

Airbus, announced a record year in 2007 having sold 1,341 aircraft and ending the year with a backlog of 3,600 orders. Boeing posted more orders in the year (1,413)

*** Lee leads the People's Action Party with 82 of the 84 seats in Parliment and enjoys an annual salary of US$2 Mn. Lee's wife , US educated technocrat, Ho Ching (#3 in Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women) is the director of state investment agency Temasek Holdings which handles US$160 Bn (ish) of state funds and is owned 100% by the Ministry of Finance. (Morgan Stanley source of valuation) - a substantial investor in Barclays Bank (US$4.34 billion June '07).

Web of cash, power and cronies by Eric Ellis Sept 29, 2007 explains how Singapore state investments provide Burma's pariah junta with the crucial equipment mostly denied by Western sanctions, and that Singapore has helped keep the junta and its cronies afloat for 20 years. 74-year-old junta leader Than Shwe has been getting his intestinal cancer treated in a Singapore government hospital, protected by Singapore security.

Boeing sells Dreamliner 787 to Aeroflot ending a year of murkey boondoggling

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] have announced that Aeroflot (who have just announced profits of US$258.1 Mn. up 36% ) will be buying a fleet of 22 off 787 Dreamliners. No further details are yet available. Aeroflot are also expected to sign a deal with Airbus for 22 A-350s soon, for delivery 2014-17 - possibly at the Paris Airshow.

Presumably these are planned to integrate with the new planes that Aeroflot announced on May 22nd 2007 t increase the prospective size of their Sukhoi SSJ (100/95 seater) "feeder/ regional " jet fleet , these are scheduled for delivery in May 2o11, which takes the whole prospective fleet of these jets to 55 in various configurations. Aeroflot also have plans for expansion by acquisition and have bid for Serbian flag carrier JAT Airways and is also in a bidding contest for Italy's Alitalia together with bank Unicredit .

Vladislav Filyov, General Director of S7 ( formerly Sibir airlines ) Aeroflot's top competitor in Russia, S7, last week signed a deal for 15 Boeing Dreamliners with the first deliveries expected by 2014 although no decision has been made on the power plants they will use. S7 offer a unique opportunityt to advertisers as they can decorate the exterior surface of the aircraft which carried 5 MN passengers in 2006.

Also today at XI Saint Petersburg international economic forum Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding on increase of Boeing’s involvement in the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Programme.

The Protocol provides for increased Boeing’s involvement in setting up the after-sale support system, including assistance in creating the required infrastructure and providing access to such Boeing’s modern support infrastructure as crew and maintenance staff training, as well as access to spare parts distribution infrastructure.

The possibility to create a joint training centre and access to Boeing’s infrastructure and modern spare parts distribution technology will allow for setting up an internationally acknowledged after sales system, thus increasing Sukhoi Superjet 100 export potential and boosting its sales.

The Protocol stipulates for Boeing’s participation as a consultant in Sukhoi Superjet 100 family further modifications.

Boeing do not have a financial interest in the SSJ series but have previously acted as "management advisors" and they have "agreed" a maximum size limit to the series of 1100 seats. Finnmeccanica are also involved in the production of the power plants.

Simultaneously The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development(EBRD) has signed a 10-year €100 million loan agreement with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) to fund the construction of theSSJ series. The first new passenger airliner to have been designed in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

These various deals are the result of a year's rough diplomacy as Russia took a 5 % stake in Airbus parent EADS, through VTB the state-controlled bank . France and Germany , now the principal shareholders politeley declined their interest in Russia extending their stake.

Simultaneously Boeing's interests were threatened last year , when Washington tried to impose sanctions on Russian arms firms, including Rosoboronexport, because of sales to Iran and Syria.

Rosoboronexport, is headed by Sergey V. CHEMEZOV , 55 a former colleague of President Vladimir Putin's, and controls VSMPO-Avisma, the world's largest supplier of titanium products to the aerospace industry, including Boeing and Airbus.

Aeroflot is the largest domestic airline (and oldest , founded in 1923) in Russia and has international certification, with subsidiaries it carries 7Mn passengers (23% of all Russian passenger flights)Currently they have a fleet 90 air craft which fly to 93 destinations in 47 countries (302 flights a day). The company controls 51% of the Russian market of regular international flights and about 12% of domestic flights. With the Sky team alliance they reach 728 destinations in 149 countries .

Pic by Lord Patel is of the airframe of the first SSJ delivered from Komsolmosk to Central Aerodynamic Institute (TsAGI) by AN-124 “Rouslan” for static testing by an Antonov 124 freight carrier from "Polet Flight" on January 28th 2007.

So whilst Dubya is huffing and puffing ,Boeing and the EBRD are quietly helping the Russian aircraft industry build their new jet fleet.

Superb British (from ooop North) aircraft design and engineering helped save everybody in Hudson River crash

The US Airways A 320 Airbus Flight 1549 that took off from La Guardia for Charlotte .NC., had a bird strike (Canada geese ?) and was attempting to land back at LG. The pilot and crew did a great job in a forced water landing - the plane did not break up and the passengers could be evacuated from the wings..

The Airbuses are the only passenger planes that can re-land immediately with a full fuel load - other planes need to dump fuel becuase the wing / undercarriage structures are not strong enough for them to land with a ful fuel load.

The Rib that supports the wing in the Airbus' is the longest, strongest and most precisely machined piece of metal in the world.

It was made about 5 miles away in Middleton - but production has recently moved because the Government pulled out of the Airbus consortium.

PS : The composite Boeing 787 Dreamliner has still not flown ... many are beginning to believe it never will.

Airbus and Boeing face cancellation yet Boeing rise nearly 10% on week.

Boeing and Azerbaijan Airlines have jointly announced an order for two single-aisle 737s and two twin-aisle, Boeing 767-300ER extended range planes. The order is worth US$450 Mn but one of the 767's replaces one of the three 787 Dreamliners Azerbaijan ordered in February 2007.

This is the first order cancellation for a 787 Dreamliner which is now set for its first test flight in the fourth quarter and first delivery in the third quarter of 2009, 15 months behind the original schedule.

The 767 could be used as the basic airframe Boeing will use in its bid to win a $35 billion aerial refuelling contract from the US Air Force already awarded once over to Northrop Grumman / EADS MRTT but now subject to review as government auditors found errors in the award of the contract (but not the planes). See Hansard for Lord Jones interesting question in House of Lords to Government about this contract 1st July 2008

Airlines worldwide, are due scale back operations in the face of high fuel prices and lower economic growth expectations.

UAL Corp , parent of United Airlines, are set to cancel an$2.2 billion for the purchase of 42 A319 and A320 single-aisle aircraft and so forfeiting a $91 million dollar deposit.

Reuters reports that analysts have said Airbus, and Boeing could lose a quarter or more of the plane orders on their books as carriers cut back growth plans made in happier times.

According to the Airbus website they have had 43 order cancellations so far this year, some represent shifts to a new version of its A350 model. It said earlier this year that U.S. budget JetBlue Airways Corp will defer some deliveries.

Boeing has had no cancellations this year, but has said Southwest Airlines Co and AirTran Holdings Inc have deferred some orders.

Despite this Boeing shares are forging ahead . Is this due to our comments on their lowest ever price on the 5th August Boeing share prices jumps - again - closes tdoay US$ 65.50 up 70 cents = 1.08% today ? US$5.97 up since opening on the 5th = rise of 9.6% on the week.

Does somebody know something about that tanker order ?

Now here's a funny thing - Shares in Cobham plc, (Interim results - profits up 24% out today) the Dorset based firm of whom 5 of the 8 Directors have been awarded CBE's - who make bits of kit for aerial refuelling (who are doing quite nicely thank you), have done well (very well this week) just compare them with Boeing. .....

Word to the wise - United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) mentioned here - up nearly 5% today. Readers will remember (Friday, July 11, 2008 Airline tickets prices to be cut dramatically as result of new Boeing Nextgen Tailored Arrivals : due to fuel saving efficiencies and yesterday John McCain - not delivering the goods for DHL - but UPS benefits .