Art Field
19th May 2006, 12:32
Quote from Saintsman on A400 thread:"The first two FSTA aircraft are still on course to be converted at the beginning of 2008, with the first one due in service April 2010.
The contractual negotiations are taking their time because its not just about providing a fleet of aircraft. Its a complete package supplying aircraft, aircrew, groundcrew and all the support that goes with it for twenty odd years.
There are also severe penalties if the aircraft are not available. In this case the blame has to be correctly apportioned to the individual companies within the AirTanker consortium. This is one of the reasons the contractual negotiations are taking their time. You have to get these things right.
Leasing the aircraft to civil operators helps subsidise the cost although IMO I think that there will be so much demand from the MOD that they will never be leased out."
Whilst it is great to hear news of some possible progress, all these contractual problems were envisaged in the initial request for the tender so long ago. As far as blame for non availability is concerned, surely not MOD's problem. The contract will be with Air Tanker, not the individual members of the consortium. Certainly, in the light of previous MOD contract outcomes, things should be well right before commitment but lets get on with it. If the rumours of a drop in the total number of aircraft from around 22 to around 12 are true then the chances of spare capacity will be very small.
The contractual negotiations are taking their time because its not just about providing a fleet of aircraft. Its a complete package supplying aircraft, aircrew, groundcrew and all the support that goes with it for twenty odd years.
There are also severe penalties if the aircraft are not available. In this case the blame has to be correctly apportioned to the individual companies within the AirTanker consortium. This is one of the reasons the contractual negotiations are taking their time. You have to get these things right.
Leasing the aircraft to civil operators helps subsidise the cost although IMO I think that there will be so much demand from the MOD that they will never be leased out."
Whilst it is great to hear news of some possible progress, all these contractual problems were envisaged in the initial request for the tender so long ago. As far as blame for non availability is concerned, surely not MOD's problem. The contract will be with Air Tanker, not the individual members of the consortium. Certainly, in the light of previous MOD contract outcomes, things should be well right before commitment but lets get on with it. If the rumours of a drop in the total number of aircraft from around 22 to around 12 are true then the chances of spare capacity will be very small.