In the lead up to the launch of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and, in four years’ time, Airbus’ A350 XWB, IAN JARRETT looks at the aviation giants and their fortunes as they strive to rule long-haul skies

AIR SHOWDOWN

THE WORLD’S MAJOR AVIATION SHOWS are good places to gauge the health of the industry. Plane manufacturers like to put on airs and graces at the big shows, where they can hand feed their sales successes to an eager media pack and industry bigwigs.

At Asian Aerospace in Hong Kong this year, the rivalry between leading manufacturers Boeing and Airbus was less jingoistic than usual, perhaps because both planemakers have been adjusting their order books in response to measures taken by airlines to mitigate the impact of the global economic downturn on passenger demand.

Another reason for the Big Two’s reticence may have been the presence in Hong Kong of a possible new challenger to Boeing and Airbus. State owned Aviation Industry Corp of China revealed a miniature of its C919, a mid size passenger jet due for its maiden flight in 2014.

Toulouse based Airbus said it won 125 net orders up to end August. It delivered 320 aircraft in that timeframe, 142 of which were the single aisle A320, which has been outpacing its hugely popular Boeing rival, the 737.

Boeing had taken orders for 161 planes, including 124 737s through to September 1; 91 cancellations include 73 787 Dreamliners currently under development.

Boeing’s biggest challenge is its much delayed Dreamliner programme, whose first flight has been beset by problems fixing composite material in the area where wing connects to fuselage.

Airbus was challenged in composite material technology during the development of its mega jumbo A380, whose delivery dates also blew out way beyond schedule. But the European manufacturer is now using its advanced knowledge of composites in the construction of the much hyped A350 XWB, due to fly commercially by earliest mid 2013.

Delivery delays are playing havoc with airline schedules and capacity planning, but many carriers are reluctant to cancel their orders outright, preferring to delay deliveries. Continental Airlines, for example, calls the Dreamliner “a game breaker”.

Qantas, the Dreamliner’s biggest customer, has reduced its order by 15 planes to 50, and has had to reschedule expansion of its subsidiary Jetstar on proposed routes to Europe.

Spokesman Miles Kotay says Boeing has spent more than a decade learning what makes passengers feel good. “Innovations on board the 787 include not only LED lighting and a dramatically lit entryway, but also larger windows with electrochromic shades [light smart windows], wider seats and aisles, and larger lavatories,” he said.

Now all Boeing has to do is get the Dreamliner in the air.

New border rules to Fortress America

Changes to US immigration regulations need to be understood and complied with to avoid delays and the possibility of entry being refused by border protection authorities.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows the citizens of certain countries to travel to the US without having to obtain a visa.

All those travellers eligible under VWP and having the correct e passport to travel using the waiver system must obtain travel authorisation from the US government.

Travellers can receive the authorisation online for no charge by completing a form found at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

The process takes about 20 minutes, and while authorisation may take up to 72 hours, it is normally granted immediately.

Additional coverage on ESTA requirements, provided by CWT, can be found in the Jan March & April June ’09 editions of CONNECT, which can be found archived at www.connectcwt.com