NEVER ONE to miss an opportunity for an air-show criticism, Airbus Industrie president Jean Pierson took the opportunity of MosAero '95 to take a swipe at high Russian taxes on buying and leasing imported aircraft.
Russia imposes 50% taxes on imported aircraft, and 50% on any leases after one year - a protectionist policy which Pierson hints could backfire on the country.
The taxes are a "mistake", says Pierson. Russia's future progress depends heavily on exports: if it penalises other countries' products with high import taxes, then it could find itself similarly penalised, he argues.
Pierson forecasts a demand for some 400 new jet-powered airliners in Russia up to the year 2000. Considering that the entire CIS industry produced a total of 36 aircraft in 1994, Pierson argues that the demand should permit foreign aircraft to be imported into Russia without impeding local industrial growth.
Airbus, moving to improve co-operation with Russian industry, is expecting the delivery of a test batch of Russian-manufactured titanium engine-pylon ribs by the end of the year.
The components are being manufactured by materials-supplier VSMPO and aircraft producer Tupolev. The current contract, issued by Airbus partner Aerospatiale, is for 400 ribs for use in 200 aircraft in the Airbus A319/320/321 single-aisle family, and may be followed by further orders.
British Aerospace is also investigating the possibility of VSMPO manufacturing forged-titanium main landing-gear fittings for the Airbus range, while a programme with Tupolev to build a specimen A321 forward cargo-door frame is also in progress.
Airbus opened its first permanent Russian office in Moscow during the show.
Source: Flight International
