Usglobaljetsacc Discussion Threads

[maywillow] 22/7/2004 16:42

Courtesy of wb.

Wild Bill - 22 Jul'04 - 15:14 - 4289 of 4292


maywillow - just for you Marra

[maywillow] 19/7/2004 10:16

LONDON (AFX) - Bombardier, the Canadian aerospace and railway transportation
group, is looking at the UK, possibly Belfast in Northern Ireland, and Canada as
well as some US states as the final assembly plant location for its planned new
range of commercial jets, the Financial Times reported, without citing sources.
The group is expected to announce today that it has already opened contacts
with the UK trade and industry department and with the regional development
agency in Northern Ireland to establish what financial support could be
available to aid the 2 bln usd development programme of a new family of 110 to
135 passenger jets.
Bombardier Aerospace has its main manufacturing centres in Montreal with
13,000 employees; Belfast, where it has 5,600 employees; Toronto in Canada, and
the US state of Kansas.
Pierre Beaudouin, Bombardier Aerospace president, said that the group was
hoping to present the new aircraft programme for approval to the main board by
the end of January, with the aim of seeking launch customers in the first half
of 2005.
The target for a formal industrial launch of the programme would be mid-
2005, with entry into service of the aircraft "no later than 2010".
The move will take it into direct competition with Airbus and Boeing at the
bottom of their ranges with their A318 and 717 aircraft, but Bombardier believes
that it can develop a new family of jets for the 110-135 passenger market with
far better economics.
Gary Scott, the former leader of Boeing's 737 division, who has been
recruited to lead the Bombardier project, said that the aircraft would show "a
15 pct improvement in cash operating costs versus anything in production today"
in this market segment.
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jfr

[maywillow] 18/7/2004 23:32

Bombardier shows off its newest business jet at Farnborough air show

Sun Jul 18,12:46 PM ET

KEVIN WARD

FARNBOROUGH, England (CP) - Bombardier showed off the final touches on its latest business jet on Sunday, a day before it unveils plans for a new commercial jet that it hopes will help bolster flagging sales among airline carriers.



The Global 5000 business jet has been in development for the last three years, but the first completed plane has been brought to the Farnborough air show to promote Bombardier's newest product in a segment of the corporate market where it hasn't competed before.


The Montreal-based transportation company already builds larger and smaller corporate jets than the Global 5000, an eight to 19 passenger plane with a range of almost 9,000 kilometres and a typical cruising speed of 904 km/h.


"From a revenue standpoint, it's one of the most important segments of the business jet market, yet we did not serve it," Peter Edwards, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, said Sunday after the company showed the interior cabin of the airplane for the first time.


"We did not have a product in the middle, so we had a significant gap in that space."


Bombardier, the world's biggest maker of corporate aircraft, estimates that 300 of the so-called super-large business jets like the Global 5000 will be sold from 2005-09 around the world.


Edwards said the company believes it can capture more than a third of the sales in that class with its new plane, which is assembled at its de Havilland plant in Toronto and comes with a price tag of $33.5 million US.


The Farnborough trade show for aerospace and defence manufacturers opens Monday, when Bombardier is expected to reveal its most detailed plans yet for a new 110- to 130-seat commercial aircraft.


Orders have been slow for the company's 70- and 86-seat regional jets, while its rival Embraer is having success with a 90- to 108-seat model that is scheduled to enter service next year.


Bombardier recently announced it was cutting more than 500 jobs at its regional jet manufacturing plants in Montreal.


Although regional jet sales have been lethargic for Bombardier, the business market has improved. The company sold 89 business jets in the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, up from the 74 it sold in the previous year.


Edwards said he expects sales for this year to remain robust as the economy improves in the United States, the largest market for business aircraft.


"It's been a considerable recovery," he added.


"That growth and that energy has continued on through the last half of last year . . . and the momentum has carried into in this year. We were watching it very carefully because we were concerned that the recovery was a bit fragile but actually its held up really well."


The company hasn't released any projections for corporate jet sales this year, but Edwards said: "Year over year there'll be a substantial increase in business aircraft orders and deliveries."

[ariane] 18/7/2004 10:52

BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE

TSX SYMBOL: BBD.A BBD.B

JULY 17, 2004 - 18:37 ET

Styrian Spirit Signs for a New Bombardier CRJ200

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Jul 17, 2004) - Bombardier
Aerospace announced today that Styrian Spirit, an airline based
in Graz, Austria has signed a contract to purchase one 50-seat
Bombardier CRJ200(i) regional jet.

The firm order is valued at approximately $24.3 million U.S.

Founded in 2002, Styrian Spirit has been operating three
previously owned Bombardier CRJ200 jets on routes from Graz to
Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Krakow and Zurich.

"The Bombardier CRJ200 is very popular among crews and
passengers," said Otmar Lenz, Chief Executive Officer, Styrian
Spirit. "It has proven to be very reliable on our route system,
which will now be expanded with our new aircraft. The CRJ200
allows Styrian to serve cities in Europe directly from Graz
allowing our passengers non-stop service to popular European
destinations without having to fly through Vienna.

"The commonality between the CRJ200 and the larger Bombardier CRJ
aircraft in crewing, maintenance, spare parts and customer
support provides Styrian Spirit with an excellent opportunity for
growth," added Mr. Lenz.

"We are delighted that Styrian Spirit has chosen to expand its
Bombardier CRJ200 fleet," said Steven A. Ridolfi, President,
Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "The airline's experience with the
CRJ is further proof of the aircraft's reliability, economy and
strong passenger appeal."

As of May 31, 2004, the Bombardier CRJ Series program, the
largest in regional aircraft history, had received 1,359 firm
orders with 1,095 delivered to customers in over 20 countries
throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, Europe, North America
and South America. Conditional orders and options could boost the
CRJ program total to 2506 aircraft.

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation
solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail
transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation
headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended
Jan. 31, 2004 were $15.5 billion US and its shares are traded on
the Toronto, Brussels and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and
BBDd.F). News and information are available at
www.bombardier.com.

(i) Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Note to Editors:

Images of CRJ200 are available in our web site multimedia library
at: www.aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F14.jsp

For more information on Bombardier Aerospace at Farnborough 2004,
please visit www.Aeroshow.com

-30-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Bombardier Aerospace
Bert Cruickshank
Farnborough: 001-416-827-7930
www.aero.bombardier.com

[maywillow] 16/7/2004 12:11

Embraer risks; why not Bombardier?
The aerospace industry operates within an internationally competitive environment, in which national governments become involved to ensure that the playing field has been made level in order for the competition to be based solely on product quality and pricing differentials. We, therefore, hail Bombardier vice-president William Fox's assertion, in a July 5 letter to the Financial Post, that Bombardier "has been working hard to negotiate international trade agreements with the objective of letting aerospace companies compete on the sole basis of their products' quality and prices." But we must challenge and clarify a few points that have been made

[maywillow] 30/6/2004 20:48

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Finnair to buy 12 new jets from Brazil's Embraer, rival of Bombardier

HELSINKI (AP) - Finnair said Wednesday it will buy 12 aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to replace part of its aging fleet.
The jets, which will cost about $320 million US, will be delivered to Finnair between September 2005 and May 2007, the company said.

The 76-seat Embraer 170 jets will replace Finnair's aging McDonnell Douglas MD-82, MD-83, and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. Embraer is a rival of Canada's Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) in the regional aircraft market.

"Shifting to a single aircraft type will bring significant savings in operating costs," said Finnair chief executive Keijo Suila. "At the same time fuel consumption will be cut by a third and air traffic charges will decrease."

The new type of aircraft will be used in domestic and European traffic on less frequent routes where the current Airbus A320s in Finnair's fleet would be less cost-effective.

Finnair, founded in 1923, is one of the world's oldest airlines. It is a member of the OneWorld alliance which includes American Airlines and British Airways.

It flies to 50 destinations with a fleet of 60 aircraft.



© The Canadian Press, 2004

[pc4900074200] 29/6/2004 16:30

The Independent. 28-06-2004.

Companies Notebook:

By Stephen Foley.

Take-off at Avionic

It has been four years on the runway, but Avionic Services has received a Civil Aviation Authority licence to carry out inspections of airports' crucial landing systems. These are the instruments that can help guide down planes in poor visibility. Only one other company has such a licence, and Avionic has invested £1m in its rival technology. After many delays, the company is expected to say today that it can start carrying out inspections. This means a third revenue stream to the company, alongside consultancy and systems integration for airports and aviation authorities, and should ensure trading improves after the past three years' horrors in this industry.

pc

[ariane] 27/6/2004 12:49

Private supersonic booms
By Alex Singleton Industry & Employment
Concorde was a beautiful plane and a technological marvel. It was a joy to fly, cutting hours off transatlantic trips. Unfortunately it was never a commercial venture. Its development was paid by UK & French taxpayers, and only 13 were sold. Furthermore, the development of subsequent models, through which development costs are often recovered, never took place.

Its successors will be different. Manufacturers are concentrating at the start on the business jet market, developing supersonic craft to whisk CEOs in luxury to their meeting. They are developing innovative ways to solve the problem of sonic booms, and looking to speeds of Mach 1.8.

Analyst Richard Aboulafia estimates a market for 400 business supersonic jets costing $70-80m each. John Rosanvallon of Dassault, whose company is engaged on a supersonic version of its Falcon, thinks that 200 will be the minimum order needed to make a supersonic jet profitable. Several companies are competing, as if in pursuit of a giant X-Prize, but in this case the prize is commercial success. The winner will then have the prospect of a stretched version, a long-range version, an ultra-quiet version, all making use of what they learned on the first model.

The same may be true for private space travel. When the X-Prize is won, the technological advances it took to do so could lead to stretched versions to carry more passengers, and ultimately much more powerful versions to achieve orbit.

The days are gone when governments would spend huge sums to produce prestigious national flag carriers. But the days are upon us when private firms explore innovative ways to tap new and potential markets with privately-financed developments. I welcome this, both as a taxpayer and a future customer.

[waldron] 16/6/2004 14:14

Bombardier seeks cash


By SIMON TUCK
Globe and Mail Update





OTTAWA — Bombardier Inc. is in talks with Ottawa and the Quebec government about landing financial help towards the $2-billion cost to launch a mid-sized family of 100-plus-seat jets under consideration. The move comes weeks before the June 28 election that polls show could result in a victory by the Conservatives, a party that says it will curtail business subsidies, though it won't cancel deals already in place.

Sources described the talks yesterday as preliminary, although they've been under way for at least a couple of weeks. "The problem has clearly been recognized," said one government official, in regard to Bombardier's efforts to compete against Brazilian rival Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica AS (Embraer) in the market for airplanes with between 100 and 150 seats.

The discussions between the Montreal-based company and the two levels of government were given fresh legs this week when Ottawa unveiled a new $1-billion incentive program for manufacturers.

About half of that money in the five-year program is geared for auto makers, with Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd. and General Motors of Canada Ltd. already lined up for a combined $300-million of federal money for major investments in the car makers' southern Ontario operations.

The federal government said the rest of the money has been earmarked for sectors other than auto, although aerospace was the only other industry mentioned Monday by Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe during the official announcement.

The flurry of activity between Ottawa and key players in Canada's corporate sector comes this week as opinion polls show an increasing likelihood that the Conservatives will form the next government. The Tories have made it clear they intend to cut corporate subsidies and incentive programs and use the money to lower corporate taxes.

Bombardier said the talks with both levels of government are in the early stages. "Discussions have taken place, but they're really just initial meetings," said John Paul Macdonald, spokesman for Bombardier Aerospace.

Government sources said Bombardier and the provincial and federal governments haven't negotiated the size of the public contribution to the project, but one official said neither government is expected to contribute more than $100-million.

The company is looking for a lot of help to shoulder the costs of the project. Bombardier chief executive officer Paul Tellier has said the company would expect to assume about one-third of the project's $2-billion development cost, with risk-sharing suppliers and governments participating in the remaining two-thirds.

Even if Ottawa and Quebec each contributed $100-million, that would amount to about 10 per cent of the project's cost -- about half what Ford and GM are expected to get from the federal and Ontario governments for their projects.

The auto and aerospace sectors are unique in that each has been able to establish the receipt of government subsidies as the norm, and each has major players based in Canada. One of the reasons they've held such power over governments is that they employ large numbers of people in high-wage positions. From Ottawa's perspective, funding these facilities may make sense because once they are established they are difficult to move, making the spin-off benefits longer lasting.

The federal election campaign has re-energized the debate about whether corporate incentives are in the public's interest. Mr. Volpe, along with recipient companies and the unions that represent their workers, argues that incentives are necessary to compete with southern U.S. states and other jurisdictions that have successfully dangled big bucks in front of the auto makers' eyes.

Canada has not done well in attracting new plants in recent years. "Regrettably in recent years, more auto jobs have been created elsewhere as investment, private and public, is generated outside our country," Mr. Volpe said. "We must reverse that trend."

Others, including Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, believe lower taxes are a more effective lure.

Mr. Harper argued Monday during the French-language debate that Bombardier doesn't need subsidies to succeed. Liberal Leader Paul Martin and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe responded that Mr. Harper's policies would hurt the economy and eliminate jobs.

Douglas Reid, strategy professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., said subsidies don't create successful companies. "I don't think you build a better company by distorting the economics of the deal."

In unveiling the new pool of money for manufacturers, Mr. Volpe said the cash would be available to manufacturers who:

conduct research in Canada, especially in partnership with colleges and universities;

use new, innovative technologies for immediate commercialization;

employ the highest standards in terms of quality, safety, and the environment;

offer good jobs through retraining;

are involved with provincial governments and the private sector

Although questions remain about whether or not the new money is an official government commitment sanctioned by cabinet, or simply a campaign promise, government sources said Bombardier's project would appear to be a perfect fit. "It's the next obvious candidate," said one official.

The company said earlier this month that it's confident it can launch a new class of commercial airplane that will create an important edge over rival Embraer SA, which has its own family of 100-seat jets coming to market.

Gary Scott, head of Bombardier's new jet program, said the two companies won't even be fighting over the same turf if his company decides to go ahead with the new airliner. While conceding that it will take about five years to commercialize a new aircraft, he said "the timing is not as important as the solution" that Bombardier will propose to customers of an all-new, built-from-scratch jet.

Mr. Scott said the new Bombardier plane will carry between 100 and 150 passengers and have the capacity for transcontinental flights -- New York to Los Angeles, for example -- whereas Embraer's new jet can do only half that.

Bombardier will be creating a new-generation mini airliner that reaches well past its regional jet family of 50-, 70- and 90-seat aircraft, while avoiding bumping up against the smaller airplane product offered by giants Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie of Europe, Mr. Scott explained.

Bombardier's board will decide by early next year whether to proceed with the project, which would be a crucial investment at a time when the devastated airline industry is struggling to recover from two years of economic turmoil and financing for new planes is extremely tight.

Mr. Tellier has also said that he's not worried about the possible election of a Conservative government, even though the party has said it will cut back on subsidies.

[waldron] 10/6/2004 11:09

Bombardier builds case for new aircraft
110-seat jet has airlines `excited,' executive says 700 jobs axed

at firm's troubled railway division


ALLAN SWIFT
CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL—The head of Bombardier Inc.'s new commercial aircraft program can't think of any reason why the company wouldn't go ahead with the proposed 110- to 135-seat aircraft, despite the fragile state of the world's major airlines and Bombardier itself.

Gary Scott said the aircraft program he has assembled is so compelling that several airlines he has talked to "are excited about it."

Bombardier chief executive Paul Tellier has given Scott's team until about the end of next January to bring a proposal to the board saying whether it should go ahead or not.

Scott left little doubt where he stands already, although he cautioned: "My job is to pull it all together and take the case to the (company) leadership and let them decide."

Yesterday Bombardier, which is in the midst of a major restructuring of its struggling rail division, announced that it will close a railway car factory in Ammendorf, Germany, affecting about 700 employees, by the end of the year as part of a plan announced in March to cut 6,600 jobs and shut seven plants across Europe.

Despite ongoing problems in the airline industry, Scott said "there's no question there's a market out there" for the new plane. But Scott, who formerly managed the B737 program, Boeing's most successful aircraft, said the aerospace business has to look at the long term.

"If you're looking at day-to-day problems, you'd drive yourself insane."

It takes about five years to develop an aircraft and it will typically sell for 20 to 30 years.

Tellier has said the aircraft will require $1.5 billion to $2 billion to bring to market, and he has said its cost will be shared between the company, its suppliers, and government.

The proposed aircraft is already technically defined, Scott said.

It would have five seats across (two on one side and three on the other), and be long-range, meaning it would be able to fly from New York to Los Angeles, unlike other aircraft on the market of that size.

It would be a two-plane program: One seating 110 to 115, and the other 130 to 135.

Analysts estimate the market potential for new aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat range at 5,600 units over 20 years, worth about $250 billion (U.S.).

While Scott could not say how many Bombardier would have to sell, he said a successful program typically would get a minimum 25 per cent of that market.

Many analysts have been advising their clients to sell Bombardier stock after the transport giant reported two quarterly losses in a row.

Orders are slowing for its successful 50-seat regional jet, while there is a slight improvement so far this year for its business jets.

[grupo guitarlumber] 07/6/2004 11:18

PARIS (AFX) - Airbus plans to increase single-aisle plane production by 20
pct in 2005, a company spokesman said, following a report in French daily Les
Echos.
Les Echos said Airbus has informed its industrial partners to prepare for an
increase in production of all airplane models in 2005 and 2006, with the most
optimistic scenario calling for a 20 pct increase from mid-2005.
[e-mail]

[grupo guitarlumber] 27/5/2004 07:00

Europe for $249,000 (return)
Last Updated Wed, 26 May 2004 18:42:16
GENEVA - Plane and train maker Bombardier thinks it has found a new market for its luxury business jets.

Starting this summer, it will offer charter service on its Global Express 10-seat planes between eight airports in the New York area and anywhere in Europe within nine hours flying time – which includes many capitals, such as London, Paris and Moscow.

"All you need to do is give us a call" and 48 hours notice, and the plane will whisk up to 10 passengers across the Atlantic at 950 kilometres an hour, said spokesman Leo Knaapen.

The charge, a fixed price, is 150,000 euros (about $249,000) for the plane. The return flight leaves two days later, so it would suit users such as a group of European executives looking to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square, he said.

The plan grew out of the Concorde's last trip, Judith Moreton, managing director of Bombardier's Flexjet Europe, said in a release.


FROM OCT. 24, 2003: Last Concorde flight arrives in London

After Concorde retired last fall, there was an "overwhelming demand" for a fast and flexible service, she said.

Bombardier may also have been looking at its weakening Flexjet program, a kind of business jet time share, where users can buy part of a plane or hours of flying time.

The company said it sold shares equivalent to 9.5 aircraft last year, down from 12 in 2002.

The new service includes luxuries like limousine or executive transport at both ends, VIP check-ins through security and passport control, and a three-course meal with champagne and "fine wines" in flight.



Written by CBC News Online staff

[grupo guitarlumber] 06/5/2004 16:41

ATM exhibition reveals soaring light jet use





Personal jet use is shifting into the mainstream of Middle East travel, according to hotels, tour operators and resort companies at this week' Arabian Travel Market exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre.



Khadar Mattar, sales director at ExecuJet Middle East.

Forty years after the first flight of the revolutionary Learjet, the Middle East is now the world's fastest-expanding market for personal jets. Industry experts forecast that the region will account for eight per cent of the 600-aircraft, USD 9 billion global personal jet market this year.

New scheduled services from Moscow and the huge worldwide publicity for Dubai as a leisure and investment destination are channeling ever more affluent people into the Gulf region, and hotels, tour operators and resort companies are integrating personal jets into their service-package. The seven-star Le Reve development in Dubai, for example, recently signed a deal with ExecuJet Middle East (EJME), one of the region's leading executive aviation groups, to provide guests with personal jet services.

'Flexible options and charter packages have broadened the personal jet market,' said Khadar Mattar, sales director at EJME. 'We're opening up new options for the travel industry.'

The business market is climbing steeply too, according to ExecuJet, thanks partly the Gulf's construction and finance boom. Businesspeople and professionals are finding themselves forced to jet around the region. Many are finding their schedules increasingly constrained by travel commitments.

Time is money, and many Middle East businesses have concluded that executive jets are a cost-effective tool to maximise senior managers' productive time. Small jets like the Bombardier Learjet, and sleek modern turboprops like the Pilatus PC-12, can drop in to small, convenient local airports, allowing businesspeople to get to several locations in different countries in a single working day.

Regional aircraft charter groups have been building up their fleets in response. ExecuJet's Learjet, Challenger and Pilatus aircraft are about to be joined by a Bombardier Global Express – a 16-seat jet that can speed non-stop from Riyadh to Cape Town, Auckland or USA. Just one refuelling stop will take the Global Express between any two points on the globe.

Whether it's pleasure or business, users can forget about tiresome check-in queues and delays. Private flights arrive and depart at VIP terminals. 'The aircraft is right there for the client,' says Mattar. 'The whole process is quick and secure.'

ExecuJet is the Middle East sales and distribution agent for the Bombardier Learjet rangeof business aircraft. The newest model, the high-performance Learjet 45XR, went on sale in the region in October. The 45XR will climb to 51,000 feet and cruise at up to 534 mph – Mach 0.81. With a range of over 2,000 nautical miles, the $10.4 million aircraft can fly from Riyadh to New Delhi, N'Djamena or Warsaw without refuelling. From Dubai, the 45XR will give non-stop service to Colombo, Nairobi or Moscow.

[maywillow] 01/5/2004 15:47

email this print this license this reprint this
Posted on Sat, May. 01, 2004





Aircraft deliveries up 10%

Business jets led the way for general aviation in the first quarter, with a 13.9% increase in shipments.

BY DEB GRUVER

The Wichita Eagle


First-quarter deliveries of general aviation aircraft rose nearly 10 percent in the first quarter led by a 13.9 percent increase in shipments of business jets, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Friday.

Billings were up 21.1 percent in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first three months of 2003, GAMA said.

The industry posted gains in all three segments--piston-engine planes, turboprops and business jets.

Manufacturers delivered 115 business jets in the first quarter of 2004 compared with 101 for the same period a year ago.

"The recovery that began last year in the piston market is not only continuing but spreading to the other model segments," said Ed Bolen, president and chief executive of GAMA.

Bombardier Aerospace, which has introduced two new models in the past year, more than doubled the number of business jets it delivered in the first quarter of 2004.

According to the GAMA shipment report, Bombardier delivered 35 business jets in the first quarter, compared with 14 for the same period last year.

Bombardier temporarily halted production of new aircraft in late 2002 and early 2003 because of market conditions.

"These numbers obviously reflect some improvement in the marketplace," Bombardier spokesman Dave Franson said.

In the first quarter, Bombardier delivered 13 of its newest planes -- six Learjet 40s and seven Challenger 300s -- models that weren't ready for delivery a year ago.

"That improves our market opportunities right away," Franson said.

Cessna Aircraft's deliveries were lower in the first quarter than for the same period a year ago.

But Cessna spokeswoman Jessica Myers said the market seems to be improving.

"We're very encouraged by what we're seeing in the business jet market," she said.

Cessna has increased its jet production plans for this year, from a range of 165 to 170 Citations to a new range of 170 to 175.

Cessna delivered 142 aircraft in the first quarter of 2004, including 33 business jets. In the same period a year ago, Cessna shipped 178 airplanes, including 49 business jets.

"Was it as strong as it was last year? No," Myers said. "But we knew that it would not be."

Raytheon Aircraft's deliveries were also down from last year, primarily among its piston-engine models.

Raytheon delivered 26 commercial aircraft in the first quarter compared with 32 for the same period last year. Business jet deliveries were essentially flat -- 13 in the first three months of 2004 compared with 14 for the same period of 2003.

In addition, Raytheon delivered 14 airplanes to the military in the first quarter of 2004, including 13 T-6A trainers.

All general aviation manufacturers, including the three Wichita planemakers, delivered a total of 541 planes in the first quarter worth $2.38 billion.

[grupo guitarlumber] 30/4/2004 09:36

30 April 2004

ROLLS-ROYCE TO INVEST £100M IN UK FACILITIES

Rolls-Royce, the world-leading power systems group, today confirmed the latest
phase in its transformation programme to modernise factories and drive down
costs.

The company will invest more than £100 million in aggregate in the UK over the
next two and a half years in manufacturing facilities specialising in
compression systems, combustion systems, component services and turbine
systems. This investment will ensure that Rolls-Royce operates at world-best
levels of competitiveness.

Employees in these facilities, located at Derby, Bristol, Barnoldswick in
Lancashire and Hucknall near Nottingham, have agreed to the implementation of
modern working practices to support these investments.

The company continues to pursue operational excellence, based on strategic
decisions of what to make and what to buy. Rolls-Royce currently manufactures
30 per cent by value of its engines and focuses on high value-added components.
The remaining 70 per cent is purchased from global suppliers. Last year the
company made significant progress with its initiative to restructure its supply
chain, with fewer suppliers providing a higher proportion of engine value.

Commenting on today's announcement, John Cheffins, Chief Operating Officer,
said: "This is an excellent opportunity to take our manufacturing operations to
a world-class level through investment in leading-edge facilities. This
investment, combined with a talented workforce and the implementation of modern
working practices, demonstrates our confidence in the UK as a centre for high
value-added manufacturing operations."

Last year, improved efficiency in manufacturing operations contributed to a 5
per cent reduction in product costs, despite a 10 per cent drop in workload. A
further 5 per cent reduction in product costs is expected this year. Sales per
employee have improved by 40 per cent over the past five years.

Investment in new facilities is already a key element of Rolls-Royce's
strategy, including a new turbine blade facility built in Derby in 1999 and a
compressor blade facility opened in Scotland last year. These together
represent an investment of £130 million. The cost of manufacturing compressor
blades in 2005 is expected to be half that of 1995.

The company hopes to obtain the necessary planning permission to commence
construction of the new facilities in the summer. The investment costs will be
contained within the company's current guidance for capital expenditure, of
approximately £200 million a year.

For further information, please contact;

Peter Barnes-Wallis or Maria Darby-Walker

Director, Financial Communications Head of Corporate Media Relations

020 7222 9020 020 7222 9020

Notes to Editors

The cases reviewed were:

* Compression Systems, Derby - a new facility to replace the current one at
Main Works, which was the original Rolls-Royce factory built in 1906.

* Compression Systems, Barnoldswick- to replace the oldest part of the site,
which was the original site for the development of the gas turbine.

* Combustion Systems, Hucknall - a new factory

* Component Services and Turbine Systems, Bristol - a new building to be
shared by these two businesses

Recent investments include:

* £85m invested in a new state- of- the- art factory for Compression Systems
in Inchinnan, Glasgow, Scotland

* £45m on a new turbine blade facility in Derby

Rolls-Royce operates in four global markets - civil aerospace, defence
aerospace, marine and energy. It is investing in technology and capability that
can be exploited in each of these sectors to create a competitive range of
products.

The success of these products is demonstrated by the company's rapid and
substantial gains in market share over recent years. The company now has a
total of 54,000 gas turbines in service worldwide. The investments in product,
capability and infrastructure to gain this market position create high barriers
to entry.

Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000
corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces and
more than 2,000 marine customers, including 50 navies. The company has energy
customers in nearly 120 countries. Rolls-Royce employs around 35,000 people, of
which 21,000 are in the UK. Forty per cent of its employees are based outside
the UK - including 5,000 in the rest of Europe and 8,000 in North America.

The large number of engines in service will generate an assured aftermarket
demand for the provision of spare parts and services. The company's strategy is
to maximise aftermarket revenues, which have increased by 60 per cent over the
past five years due to the development of a comprehensive services capability.

Annual sales total nearly £6 billion, of which 50 per cent currently comes from
aftermarket services. The order book stands at more than £18 billion, which,
together with aftermarket demand, provides visibility as to future activity
levels.



END

[grupo guitarlumber] 15/4/2004 15:46

Air Partner eyes clearer skies with £1.2m profit


CHARTER specialist Air Partner has reported signs of improvement in its market after interim profits more than doubled.

The Gatwick-based firm, which hires out aircraft to customers ranging from governments to celebrities, said its business had shown resilience despite challenging industry conditions.

Pre-tax profits rose to £1.2 million in the six months to January 31, compared with £500,000 last year, while sales lifted eight per cent to £43.6m. Air Partner said the rise in profitability was largely due to growth in margins and tighter cost controls, with overheads cut by five per cent during the year.

Last year the group overcame a difficult first half - hit by uncertainty over the invasion of Iraq and the Sars virus - to report its 20th successive year of sales growth.

Chairman Tony Mack said Air Partner was seeing signs of improvement in areas of its market.

"Although our industry is still trading in difficult times, we are pleased with the financial results for the period under review and are cautiously optimistic for the future," he said.

The UK is Air Partner’s most established market and accounts for 55 per cent of group sales. Contracts with car companies and firms in the pharmaceutical sector were among the main areas of growth in the UK.

Air Partner also said it had turned its United States division back into profit following additional investment last year, and reduced losses at its German company.

[grupo guitarlumber] 15/4/2004 08:31

Adds details throughout)
LONDON (AFX) - Air Partner PLC, a corporate air charter broker, said its
pretax profits jumped 140 pct in the six months to January 2004 helped by
positive margin growth and tighter cost controls and that its current
like-for-like trading is at similar levels to the year earlier.
"We are cautiously optimistic for the second half with current trading in
line with market expectations," said chief executive David Savile.
"We are seeing signs of improvements in areas of our market and look forward
to reporting future improvements in our performance," he added.
Pretax profit surged to 1.2 mln stg, or 8.3 pence a share, from 0.5 mln, or
3.0 pence a share, in the year-earlier period helped by a 5 pct reduction in
overheads. The US operation swung back into profit, following additional
investment last year, and the company also reduced losses at its German company.
Sales climbed 8 pct to 43.6 mln stg with turnover in the UK, which accounts
for 55 pct of global sales, climbing to 24.0 mln stg from 20.6 mln.
"These results are particularly pleasing with good growth achieved in
challenging conditions," said Saville. "Our geographic spread across 10 economic
regions, together with our diverse service offering, provides us with a strong
platform for organic growth."
The company plans to pay an interim dividend of 5.0 pence, up from 4.5
pence.
Air Partner said its recently opened offices in Dubai, Hamburg and
Washington are performing in line with expectations.
"Air Partner continues to operate in its core market of aircraft charter
broking, focusing on organic and geographic expansion," Saville said.
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