Guy Norris/CORDOBA
Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMAAS) is in discussions with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) Airbus over the opening of an A300 cargo conversion line at its Cordoba site in Argentina.
The move comes as LMAAS prepares to support its parent company's L-1011 TriStar freighter programme at Greenville, South Carolina, as well as eventually transfer the line to Cordoba. LMAAS believes the volume of demand for the A300B4/A310 conversion, particularly with Dasa's recent decision to launch an A300-600 freighter conversion, could prompt the need for new capacity.
LMAAS president James Taylor says the offer to Dasa will take advantage of the new capabilities being developed at Cordoba to support the L-1011 effort.
LMAAS has begun initial work on setting up a line to produce the doors for the L-1011 programme using Marshall Aerospace's supplemental type certificate (STC), which provides the basis for the Lockheed Martin L-1011-40 modification. The programme could cover the conversion of 40 ex-Delta Air Lines TriStars.
The first freight door shipset will be sent to Greenville for installation around the third quarter of this year. No date has been announced for the conversion programme's move to Argentina, but LMAAS officials say the first two conversions could be in work in Cordoba by the end of 2001.
LMAAS estimates Dasa's maximum Airbus conversion capacity at around eight aircraft a year and believes the European concern has orders and commitments for at least 72 aircraft. Dasa is already linked with Aerospatiale Matra subsidiary Sogerma on its conversion programme.
LMAAS says it is also considering an approach to Dasa's Airbus partner, BAE Systems Aviation Services, about a similar deal on BAE's rival A300B4 and forthcoming A300-600 programmes, even if its talks in Germany produce positive results.
In a separate move, LMAAS is in talks with Dasa over risk-sharing subcontract work on the Airbus A3XX programme. LMAAS was initially interested in bidding for work on the main passenger doors, but says it may have to pitch for other work as Dasa is considering an alternative production method for the doors.
Source: Flight International
