LYNNWOOD — The U.S. aerospace market benefits not only from business with the Boeing Co. but also from sales to its rival, Airbus officials said on Tuesday.
“We want to expand our business activity here in the U.S.,” said Serge “Dan” Taba, senior procurement director for Airbus Americas, during an aerospace conference in Lynnwood.
The European company has done $75 billion worth of business with U.S. aerospace suppliers spread across 40 states. And as Airbus’ jet deliveries grow, so will its spending in the United States, said Simon Pickup, director of business operations for Airbus Americas.
The jet maker Airbus seeks risk-sharing partners that will take on design responsibilities — similar to Boeing’s approach with its 787 Dreamliner. That’s part of Airbus’ cost reduction strategy, or Power 8 program, Taba said.
Airbus’ Pickup declined to say whether the aerospace company would look to open a jet production line in the Puget Sound region. However, he noted the company’s A350 XWB jet engineering facility in Mobile, Ala. That’s where Airbus’ parent company, EADS, would assemble its KC-30 tanker for the U.S. Air Force should EADS and partner Northrop Grumman win that contract. EADS had suggested last year during the tanker bidding that the company would move final assembly of Airbus’ A330 freighter to Alabama if the duo wins the multi-billion deal.
Airbus officials’ comments come a day after analyst Richard Aboulafia, with the Teal Group, warned that economic downturn, which threatens the aviation industry, would get worse if countries cease trading with one another. He discouraged Congress from imposing “Buy America” contracts. During the tanker competition last year, lawmakers debated whether the government should buy a tanker based off European Airbus’ jet.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates halted the tanker competition last fall, but he plans to revive it this year. Boeing is likely to bid a tanker based on its Everett-built 767.
As for Airbus’ new jet program, its A350 XWB, Pickup said the company intends to deliver the mostly composite jet on time in 2013 despite skepticism from analyst Aboulafia, who pegs the A350’s debut to 2015. Airbus has allowed about three years for manufacturing and assembly of the new jet, which will compete mostly against Boeing’s 777. And Airbus scheduled about 15 months for the flight test program for the A350, Pickup said.
“We took a bit more conservative approached compared to some other airplane programs,” Pickup said, hinting at Boeing’s much-delayed 787 Dreamliner.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454, mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
