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AviationRegister E-Xpert Witness Journal
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Obama pledged to use infrastructure projects to spur the economy.
Presidential campaigns squared off on transportation issues
By Tom Haines
A panel of aviation experts met on October 22nd,, 2008 for a discussion about the impact on aviation of the current economy, the environment, and the presidential elections. The A follow-up session will tak eplace on Thursday, November 6, two days after the election.
With only days left before the presidential industry analysts attempted to understand how the presidential candidates might structure transportation policies. At a National Journal policy breakfast on transportation, representatives of the Obama and McCain campaigns expanded on their candidates’ transportation policy plans.
Obama would use transportation infrastructure
projects to spur the economy
Mortimer Downey, transportation advisor to Sen. Obama, noted that infrastructure improvements across all transportation sectors need more investment, including “getting an ATC system that works.” He defined a series of short-, mid-, and long-term goals to address transportation and its impact on energy independence, the environment, and the economy. Downey said that short-term, Obama would use transportation infrastructure projects to spur the economy. Mid-term, he would develop an “infrastructure bank” to harness funds for longer-term improvement projects. And, long-term, he would work to pass funding bills for all transportation modes supported by all parties involved in those sectors. While labeled as a “long-term” item, Downey said the passing of an FAA reauthorization bill needs to be “soon” in an effort to move forward with ATC modernization. FAA reauthorization bills have been stalled in Congress since mid-2007. The current legislation expired in September 2007, but has been extended several times.
McCain’s transportation policy
focused on energy independence
Holtz-Eakin , the spokesman for McCain said John McCain was committed to moving away from imported oil and toward energy independence through alternative energy sources. Transportation, a user of as much as 30 percent of all energy, is an important part of that. McCain is an opponent of earmarking funding bills, which means Congress directing federal funding to particular favorite projects of key legislators. Instead, Holtz-Eakin said, McCain favors using independent third parties to evaluate infrastructure projects and determine a reasonable return on investment before funding is released. McCain does not support the infrastructure investment bank, noting that it looked too much like a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac government solution—referring to the troubled government corporations supporting mortgages. Eakin noted that the federal role in transportation needs to be more defined, and that the burden should be shared with state and local governments and private industry, which benefits from transportation improvements.
Janet Kavinoky, director of transportation infrastructure for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and another panelist at the breakfast, asked the gathering, “What are we going to do to modernize ATC?” She then stated, “Whether it floats, flies, or rolls, it's important.” Safety problems and congestion across all modes of transportation are a drain on the economy. Investments to fix those problems help the economy. Kavinoky reiterated AOPA’s longstanding position that fuel taxes are the most efficient and easiest way to raise transportation revenues. To those who say there is no support for increasing the gasoline tax, Kavinoky said that all funding options have to be on the table.
Former Transportation Secretary James Burnley said that a meaningful increase in the gasoline tax isn’t going to be supported, particularly if it comes in tandem with a “cap and trade” bill that requires those who contribute to greenhouse emissions to cap the amount of emissions and to pay a fee for not meeting future emission standards. The cap and trade fees amount to another tax on top of the gasoline tax, he said.
December 2009
A400M is the first completely new military transport aircraft of its category designed in over 30 years.
A400 is designed to become the new standard in military airlift.
A400 offers twice the capacity and twice the payload of the current aircraft types that it will replace.
A400M turboprop engine: EuroProp International TP400-D6 is the all-new power plant for the Airbus Military A400M.
EuroProp International TP400-D6: When it enters service, it will be the most powerful turboprop in the Western world. (approx.11,000 brake horsepower).
United ordered 25 A350 XWB & 25 B787 aircraft & has options for 50 of each for delivery between 2016 & 2019. www.twitter.com/avreg
A400 military transport aircraft program is dependent on the outcome of the test flight program now underway. www.aviationregister.biz
A400 contracts: In 2002 Belgium, France, Luxembourg Germany, Spain, Turkey, and the UK signed a fixed price contract to buy 180 aircraft for $30B.
A400 schedule: Airbus is four years behind in developing the aircraft, it is several tons overweight and $10.5B over budget.
A400 write-off: EADS/Airbus has written of $3.5B in development cost and spending $145M per month on the aircraft that sells for $165M each.
A400 cancellation: If cancelled EADS will have to return $8.3B so far received from the buyers by way of deposits.
A400 cancellation precedent: The UK cancelled the TRS-2 supersonic bomber program ($160M budget) in 1965 6 months after its first flight and $1.2B in costs.
Pratt & Whitney has delivered the 400th F119 engine, which powers the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, to the U.S. Air Force.
F119 is the only operational fifth generation fighter engine in service today featuring a mature and highly advanced propulsion system.
November 2009
Air tanker bid battle recommences. U.S. Air Force starts the third bidding process for the $35B /179 aircraft purchase of refueling tankers.
Air tanker contract value: $100B for 400 to 500 aircraft over a 40-year period.
Air tanker bidding process failed in 2004 following corruption charges involving Boeing employees.
Air tanker bidders expected to submit final bids in early 2010 followed by award of the contract by summer 2010.
Air tanker bidders: Northrop Grumman/EADS/Airbus is offering the A330 to be assembled in Alabama, Boeing may offer the B767 or B777 built in Washington/Kansas.
Air tanker bid process: Bidding changed to fixed price contract, and bidders have to meet 373 requirements.
Air tanker winning bid: The lowest cost to operate the fleet over 40 years & is 1% less than its rival’s is.
Air tanker bids tied: If the bids are equal in price, 93 additional features will be evaluated to select the winner.
Air tanker & trade dispute: The finding that Airbus received illegal subsidies for aircraft development is not a factor in the bids.
October 2009
U.S. Air Force awarded MTU Maintenance a nine-year, $500M contract to provide engine depot maintenance, engineering, field service support and engine condition monitoring.
MTU will service 204 CF6-50C2 engines fitted to KC-10 Extender refueling tanker aircraft.
KC10 (DC10) U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a nine-year, $3.8B Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) contract for its fleet of KC-10 Extender refueling tanker aircraft.
KC10 contract includes airframe and engine maintenance to be done at Northrop Grumman's Lake Charles, La., base & TIMCO’s facility in Greensboro, N.C.
KC10 tanker/cargo aircraft is part of the Air Force's Air Mobility Command global support operations
September 2009
Air tanker bid battle recommences. U.S. Air Force starts the third bidding process for the $35B /179 aircraft purchase of refueling tankers.
Air tanker contract value: $100B for 400 to 500 aircraft over a 40-year period.
Air tanker delivery: Delivery of the aair tankers to the US Air Force is to begin in 2015 and the first s operational aircraft will being service in 2017.
Air tanker bidding process failed in 2004 following corruption charges involving Boeing employees.
Air tanker bidders expected to submit final bids in early 2010 followed by award of the contract by summer 2010.
Air tanker bidders: Northrop Grumman/EADS/Airbus is offering the A330 to be assembled in Alabama, Boeing may offer the B767 or B777 built in Washington/Kansas.
Air tanker bid process: Bidding changed to fixed price contract, and bidders have to meet 373 requirements.
Air tanker winning bid: The lowest cost to operate the fleet over 40 years & is 1% less than its rival’s is.
Air tanker bids tied: If the bids are equal in price, 93 additional features will be evaluated to select the winner.
Air tanker & trade dispute: The finding that Airbus received illegal subsidies for aircraft development is not a factor in the bids.
May 2009
Pentagon reduces budget for military aircraft engines for the fourth consecutive year.
Pentagon has focused on the funding for GE Aviation’s F136 engine developed for the F-35
Joint Strike Fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
F-35 is being developed by nine participating nations, the total development costs are estimated at more than $40B, and this is underwritten by the United States.
The participating nations plan to buy 3,100 F-35s through 2035.
The F136 engine has been under development more than ten years and has cost GE/Rolls-Royce $2.5B so far.
Pratt & Whitney is the sole-source engine provider for F-35 engines with the F135 and GE is hoping to win a share of that business by offering the F136.
The engine component of the F-35 contract is estimated to be worth $100B over ten years.
GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce had been developing the F136 in Evendale, Indianapolis, and Derby, England.
GE and Rolls-Royce asked for $465M in funding for 2010 but the U.S. government rejected the request because the DOT is satisfied with the with the P&W engine.
The all-new turboprop powerplant for the Airbus Military A400M is the the EuroProp International TP400-D6 i.
When it enters service it will be the most powerful turboprop in the Western world.(approx.11,000 brake horse power)
This video made at Istres, France shows the engine at a test run.
December 11, 2009
The maiden flight of the A400M took place at Seville, Spain. The development of the A400M overshot its budget by $10.5Bs.
Airbus said that the company needs help from NATO states to finish the project.
Some media reports said that a further $7.5B is needed to complete the A400M project.
