Tue, May 14, 2002
Consulting Position for US's Biggest Exporter
Sukhoi and Ilyushin are working with Boeing, on a
new-design, 3750-mile, 55-passenger (or 75, or 95) jetliner. At
least, that's what Sukhoi has said to news outlets; and the
announcement has caused quite a stir.
If all goes according to the grand plan, passengers would start
riding in the internationally-certified jets before the end of
2006.
According to early releases, the three companies will also sponsor
a competition for engines to power the new machine; that
announcement is scheduled for June.
As President Bush surprised the assembled press corps yesterday
morning, as he prepared to board Marine One [Mr. Bush announced a
nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia, a total surprise to
those who were expecting to cover nothing but the Presidential
Boarding --ed.], this announcement, likely to be discussed at the
Presidents' meeting coming up in Russia in two weeks, shocked the
airline-watching world.
Until now, both Airbus and Boeing have pretty well
left the sub-100-PAX market to Bombardier, Embraer, and, to a
lesser extent, Fairchild-Dornier, which is now in bankruptcy. [The
only other nearly-viable player in the RJ market, BAe Systems, got
out of the market six months ago --ed.] A year and a half ago,
Boeing decided against production of a smaller 717, saying the
market just wasn't big enough. Half a year ago, Boeing toyed with
discontinuing its smallest airliner, that 717, altogether, despite
the jet's growing reputation for excelling in efficiency and low
turnaround time.
Cheryl Addams, a Boeing spokeswoman who handles European and
Russian-sphere items, clarified things for us a bit: "As far as
Boeing is concerned, this a feasibility study; there has been no
decision regarding our involvement. If and when it does happen, we
would be acting in a consulting role." Anything can happen, of
course; but Addams wanted to be sure we understood that this isn't
a project that Boeing will be spearheading. She told us, as she had
a look at all the points made by the Sukhoi spokesman, "The dates,
etc., are coming from Sukhoi. As for the summit, that's something
you'd better check with the State Department. As for the engine
tender competition, we don't see ourselves getting involved in
that."
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