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."

FMI: www.boeing.com