McDonnell Douglas commercial aircraft division comes to Farnborough with news in triplicate - a new boss, a fresh direction and $170 million worth of aircraft orders.
Mike Sears, who is attending his first Farnborough as president of MDC's Douglas Aircraft Company, has announced orders for six new airliners with five options.
In addition, Trans World Airlines (TWA) has taken up an option for ten new aircraft as well as arranging a deal to buy three used units.
Options
KTHY of Turkey is buying three MD-90s, with options on three additional aircraft; Heliopolis of Egypt has ordered one MD-90, with two options; while VASP Brazilian Airlines has ordered a single MD-11 - its fifth purchase of this aircraft type in 12 months. Another MD-11 has been ordered by an unnamed customer.
Those orders, says MDC, total $365 million.
The TWA deal, to take up options on ten new MD-83s as well as purchase three used MD-82s, is worth a further $345 million.
It adds up to welcome news for Harry Stonecipher, MDC's president and chief executive officer, who admits that questions are being asked about the future of MDC's commercial airline business.
Capability
"The number one question is ‘Are you going to stay in the business?' and the number two question is whether we have the capability and the gumption to perform," he says.
"It is certainly our intention to be around for the long haul and I am more confident than ever that we can get back on track in this area of the business as we have with other areas."
The appointment of Sears, who is credited with making the company's F/A-18 Hornet new-business development a success, is part of that turn-around strategy.
The company also plans to create a family of wide and narrow-body aircraft.
Source: Flight Daily News
