What a thought-provoking article.
Now many of the financial details are out in the open. Although I might someday put in a bid to train on the A-320/319, some issues which are very briefly described, are very significant, and have permanently changed the civilian aviation landscape. Many people want to believe that the enormous differences in government policies seem to have little influence, regarding the ability to compete. The purported (former) European govt 'jobs program' might still exist.
US companies are not allowed, legally, to pay bribes to foreign govts, airlines, nor anyone else, whether to win contracts or whatever. The lack of this restriction in Europe, not to mention huge subsidies for civilian aircraft R&D etc, has helped Airbus win key sales or leases. One alleged case was with the first US (or even the first North American...) airline to order a fly-by-wire aircraft, the A-320. According to "The Wall Street Journal", the former CEO (allegedly) lost his 'golden parachute' because of certain discoveries: 'cruising' through seven months of winter must be a 'drag'...
The Airbus CEO, Philippe Camus, after pointing out the US' status as a superpower and its advantages, stated that Airbus sells airplanes "with no single European govt to support us...". That is very misleading, some might say almost a lie. Yep, that's what I said, assuming that he was accurately quoted in the newspaper article. They have more than a single govt's support-Airbus has a group of govts to support them, to the tune of many, many billions (isn't the word Milliard in French or German?) of dollars. Using some US subcontractors and engines (are they not built by a consortium?) changes none of the enormous advantages given by several govts, compared to Boeing's circumstances.
None of this is meant to compare politics, cultures or technologies, but rather to highlight the advantages which certain financial and legal philosophies can offer in order help so-called "private industries" compete in the world markets.
If any of these comments are not valid or accurate, then let's see the objective facts and data.
Last edited by Ignition Override; 3rd November 2002 at 05:48.