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The first of four Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporters was rolled out in Toulouse in July. The aircraft are being built for Airbus by SATIC, and they will replace four Super Guppies in carrying sections of Airbus aircraft among the European factories of the consortium's partners. First flight of the A300-600ST is planned for September, with the first due to enter service with Airbus a year later. Airbus also hopes to sell some A300-600STs to Boeing as Boeing also uses off-site manufacturers to build fuselage sections. For example, Boeing builds 737 cockpit and fuselage assemblies in Wichita which are currently shipped to Seattle by train, and these could easily be transported in an A300-600ST. (Airbus)
Commercial Aircraft Sales
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Northwest To Upgradedc-9s:
Northwest Airlines has founda short term solution to its pressingneed for a ‘new’ 100 seat Stage III compliant airliner by deciding to upgradeits fleet of 93 McDonnell DouglasDC-9-30s, including additional aircraftpurchased from Eastern and MidwayAirlines. The upgrade p!ogramme will cost about $US580m and includes the fitting of hushkits and refurbished interiors. The decision is based on cost. Purchasing new aircraft such as the Boeing 737-500 would represent an investment of $US30-35m per aircraft, while the DC-9 upgrades will cost about $US6m each. Northwest’s DC-9s average 26 years of age and 67,000 cycles, leaving sufficient life to fly them for another 15 years, an incredible testimony to the longevity of this classic airliner.
Airbus Production Stabilises:
Airbus Industrie’s plannedproduction rate will remain stable at136 aircraft over the 1994-95 periodand the production cycle will be reduced to increase efficiency, enablinga quick response to the changing marketplace and to airlines which want todelay the detail specification of their aircraft until some time after ordering. The European consortium will deliver67 A320/32ls, 26 A300/310s and 43A330/340s this year, worth $US9bn. The backlog presently stands at 630aircraft valued at $US55bn. Productioncycle times will be substantially reduced from 15 to nine months forwidebody aircraft and from 12 to ninemonths for narrowbodies. In thelonger term, Airbus is aiming to reducethe period between the customer’sspecification being finalised and aircraft delivery to six months.
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