Alliance Aircraft expects to gather proposals from potential fuselage and wing contractors to develop and build the StarLiner 100, 200 and 300 regional aircraft by the end of July.
"Most of the decisions will be made in August," says Earl Robinson, president and chief executive of the fledgling manufacturer. Proposals are already in for the avionics and propulsion systems.
The Dover, New Hampshire-based company says it has raised $260 million in funding, although Robinson declines to name the investors. The company continues to seek the considerable financial support needed to launch the programme.
According to Robinson, 26 airframe manufacturers attended a recent bidders' conference on the programme. Among those present were OGMA of Portugal, Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development and Lockheed Martin Argentina.
Alliance surprised observers at the show by signing a memorandum of agreement with a New York-based company called Global Airlines covering up to 450 StarLiner 100, 200 and 300 series aircraft, worth up to $8.2 billion. The deal covers 250 firm orders, 200 options and 100 "rolling options". Deliveries of the 70-seat 200 and 90-seat 300 series are to begin in 2003, while deliveries of the smaller, 35-50 seat 100 series aircraft should start a year later.
Alliance says it has also signed a letter of intent with another potential customer covering 15 firm orders and 15 options.
The Global agreement has aroused scepticism. The company has no current operations, but has offered $381 million for financially troubled Trans World Airlines. It is also to buy 20 BAE Systems Avro RJXs and take 20 options for use on routes from "Amsterdam and London City".
Source: Flight International
