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By IAG | February 13th, 2008 | Posted in a380, airbus, Aviation News, Delta Air Lines, france, korean, northwest | No CommentsPodcast – French elections & EADS/Airbus
By IAG | April 19th, 2007 | Posted in airbus, eads, france | No CommentsThe train that cooks
By IAG | April 6th, 2007 | Posted in france, tgv | No CommentsThe TGV train in France has succeeded in breaking the record for the world's fastest train, reaching a speed of 574.8 km/h. The record attempt took place on a newly built high-speed track between Paris and Strasbourg in eastern France which is due to open in June. The previous French speed record, set in 1990, was 515.3 kilometers per hour. The video is in French.
EADS, Airbus and the coming of the Apocalypse
By IAG | February 18th, 2007 | Posted in airbus, bae, daimler benz, eads, france, germany, uk | No CommentsThis week is going to be rough on EADS and Airbus. But rougher still for Europe's highly skilled aerospace workers. Airbus wants to cut $3.5bn in costs over the next four years and this could mean a 20% reduction in labor. This sounds like the first day at University, "Look to the left of you and look to the right of you, only one of you will be here next year". It is a highly unsettling experience for those who remember it.
The UK is likely to see a big hit with a probable closing of the Filton plant (2,000 jobs). The British government announced it would finance research into new computer-modelling techniques at several British universities. This could help Airbus speed up product development by as much as 90%; but its too late because Airbus needed this help years ago. Even so, the British are muttering about how they will express displeasure. We don't think it means much. The British are deeply committed to their A330 tankers and other Euro-projects like the Typhoon. Any British Airways orders will have no state influence. The British government is essentially playing an immensely weak hand. By not investing in its national aerospace infrastructure, Britain eviscerated its aerospace industry. So much the nation that brought us the Spitfire, Meteor, Comet, Concorde, etc. Its great aviation legacy has gone the way of its Empire.
In Germany the hit is likely to be much worse. Rumors of up to 10,000 job losses are swirling. Some of the UK jobs moving there could ease the pain, but not by enough for the German government. But here again the government has forced its banks and other state (lander) to get involved because it does not want to invest itself as Daimler Benz exits the industry. (following BAE's example) Whereas the UK has no real "bite" with Airbus, the Germans have "parity" with the French. This week we will see what that really means. The French state has no hesitation in doing whatever it needs to ensure its aviation industry stays in business. As we said, its going to be a rough week, with more rough weeks to follow.
EADS, Airbus and the coming of the Apocalypse
By IAG | February 18th, 2007 | Posted in airbus, bae, daimler benz, eads, france, germany, uk | No CommentsThis week is going to be rough on EADS and Airbus. But rougher still for Europe's highly skilled aerospace workers. Airbus wants to cut $3.5bn in costs over the next four years and this could mean a 20% reduction in labor. This sounds like the first day at University, "Look to the left of you and look to the right of you, only one of you will be here next year". It is a highly unsettling experience for those who remember it.
The UK is likely to see a big hit with a probable closing of the Filton plant (2,000 jobs). The British government announced it would finance research into new computer-modelling techniques at several British universities. This could help Airbus speed up product development by as much as 90%; but its too late because Airbus needed this help years ago. Even so, the British are muttering about how they will express displeasure. We don't think it means much. The British are deeply committed to their A330 tankers and other Euro-projects like the Typhoon. Any British Airways orders will have no state influence. The British government is essentially playing an immensely weak hand. By not investing in its national aerospace infrastructure, Britain eviscerated its aerospace industry. So much the nation that brought us the Spitfire, Meteor, Comet, Concorde, etc. Its great aviation legacy has gone the way of its Empire.
In Germany the hit is likely to be much worse. Rumors of up to 10,000 job losses are swirling. Some of the UK jobs moving there could ease the pain, but not by enough for the German government. But here again the government has forced its banks and other state (lander) to get involved because it does not want to invest itself as Daimler Benz exits the industry. (following BAE's example) Whereas the UK has no real "bite" with Airbus, the Germans have "parity" with the French. This week we will see what that really means. The French state has no hesitation in doing whatever it needs to ensure its aviation industry stays in business. As we said, its going to be a rough week, with more rough weeks to follow.
The French Saudi tanker fracas
By IAG | February 13th, 2007 | Posted in A330, france, kc-30, mrtt, saudi arabia, tanker | No CommentsFrench officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
The French Saudi tanker fracas
By IAG | February 13th, 2007 | Posted in A330, france, kc-30, mrtt, saudi arabia, tanker | No CommentsFrench officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
