Julian Moxon/PARIS
Production start-up of the recently launched 107-seat Airbus Industrie A318 is being threatened by a dispute over workshares in the programme.
The argument centres on Aerospatiale's complaint that it is paying more into A318 development than its 37.9% share in the Airbus Industrie consortium.
An industry source says that the French company's financial stake in the aircraft - a shortened, re-engined derivative of the A320 family - is "closer to 60%".
Aerospatiale says it has an unreasonable financial commitment to the A318 because the aircraft - the smallest in the Airbus range - is unlikely to generate adequate returns to cover its investment in the fuselage modifications. In compensation, Aerospatiale wants a slice of the cabin completion work for the 150-seat A320, carried out by Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa). A Dasa source says the issue is an "internal matter that will be resolved", but declines further comment.
Industry sources suggest the dispute should have been settled before the A318's commercial launch at the Farnborough air show last September. Airbus says, however, that such last minute negotiations are "normal", pointing to the argument over A340-500/600 workshare, which was resolved "without affecting the programme timescale".
The A318 was launched in April with commitments for 109 aircraft. Service entry is planned for late 2002. Flight testing and certification starts a year earlier.
Source: Flight International
