Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH
GERMAN COMPOSITE-aircraft manufacturer Burkhart Grob is awaiting a Government decision on a revised contract with the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR) to decide the fate of the Strato 2C.
The record-breaking high-altitude research aircraft has been grounded since August, with the manufacturer and the Bonn research and technology ministry embroiled in a struggle for additional funding.
The delays have already forced Grob to dismiss 131 employees, leaving it with a staff of 102. Work at the Mindelheim plant now focuses on the G 115 light aircraft.
Grob needs DM47 million ($30 million) to bring the current Strato 2C proof-of-concept aircraft up to mission standards with preliminary type certification. The company failed to meet development cost and performance estimates specified in the original contract, leading research and technology minister Jurgen Ruttgers to recommend that the programme be axed.
Nevertheless, the DLR, which is to be the end user, says that it still needs the Strato 2C. The parliamentary budget committee voted early this year to continue Government funding, provided that a new contract is agreed with the DLR.
The revised contract includes new price guarantees, monitoring of technical and administrative procedures, firm timescales and milestones, and staggering funding according to proven performance.
If the Government refuses to fund the programme further, Grob says that it will look for a partner which will allow it to complete development and market the aircraft privately.
Source: Flight International
