Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
McDONNELL DOUGLAS (MDC) is studying proposals to establish a dual back-to-back capability for the production of MD-90 and MD-95 nose sections in China and South Korea.
The plan calls for Korean Air's Aerospace division to share production of the MD-95 nose with Chengdu Aircraft (CAC). Korean Air, as a trade-off, would assemble some MD-90 noses at Pusan.
"There would be value in having both manufacturers do both," says MDC senior vice-president John Wolf, who adds that the idea of dual capability is only a possibility and no final decision has been taken.
The two nose sections share up to 95% commonality - the main difference is the configuration of aircraft electrical bays. Differences will be narrowed by the introduction of the MD-95's advanced common flight deck to the MD-90.
Korean Air is an MD-95 risk-sharing subcontractor, responsible for the non-recurring cost of developing the MD-95's nose. It will deliver the first of 650 planned noses to MDC in April 1997. CAC supplies about 30% of all MD-90 noses directly to MDC, and supplies noses for China's home-built MD-90 Trunk Liner programme.
Hyundai, South Korea's other major participant in the MD-95 programme, has subcontracted its share of aircraft wing work to Fleet of Canada and the Andalucia group of Spanish manufacturers. This is designed to bridge the gap until Hyundai's MD-95 wing plant at Sosan is completed in 1999.
Fleet will supply the first 50 wing boxes, and the Andalucia group 500 ship-sets of smaller components, including control surfaces and under-wing barrels. The ship-sets will be sent to Tracor for wing joining before delivery to MDC for final assembly.
Source: Flight International
