A SENIOR SOUTH Korean industry source has confirmed that a joint European aerospace delegation, including British Aerospace, is due to visit Beijing soon to discuss development with China and South Korea of a new 100- to 120-seat passenger aircraft.
China and South Korea are expected to select a Western partner in October to join their programme. European and US manufacturers have been offered a 20% stake in return for key technological and marketing support of the proposed KCX aircraft.
Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and the Korean Commercial Aircraft Development Consortium (KCDC) have been holding separate, but simultaneous, discussions since July with Aerospatiale and Daimler-Benz, while at the same time courting Boeing and, more recently, McDonnell Douglas (MDC).
Daimler-Benz, together with Fokker, has been conducting a joint study with AVIC and KCDC's lead company Samsung of a 120-seat and 140-seat regional jet (FAX), while Aerospatiale has been promoting its AS100 and slightly larger AS125 concepts. The European manufacturers have now agreed to make a joint proposal.
Boeing has been holding separate talks with both China and Japan about its 100-seat New Small Aeroplane (NSA), in the hope that the two Asian neighbours would agree to co-operate on a single joint venture. With a decision on the Japanese YS-X delayed until at least late 1996, Boeing is now starting to "...get more serious about the KCX", says a KCDC source.
MDC has also entered the fray, holding discussions with AVIC, while chairman John McDonnell recently met senior Samsung officials (Flight International, 21-27 June, P16). MDC's position, is complicated by its own proposed 100 seat, MD-95 programme.
AVIC and KCDC have scheduled a series of meetings for late August/early September in Seoul to review the proposals being made by European and US manufacturers.
Selection of a Western partner will be followed by a decision on the choice of engine. Recent talks with engine suppliers have focused on the BMW Rolls Royce BR715, CFM International CMF56C Lite and the Pratt & Whitney/MTU Mid-Thrust Family Engine.
Source: Flight International
