Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is to end regional aircraft component production work for Bombardier to focus more on work for Boeing.
A spokesman for the Japanese manufacturer says from Tokyo that MHI plans to stop producing components for the Dash 8 Q400 turboprop by December 2009 and for CRJ700/900 regional jets by March 2010.
He says that “we are not stopping all activities for Bombardier”, however, as the company will continue to produce components for the Canadian manufacturer’s business jets.
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© BombardierMHI plans to stop producing components for the Dash 8 Q400 turboprop |
The spokesman also insists that the move is unrelated to MHI’s plan to build its own 70-to 90-seat aircraft, known as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. MHI is currently seeking customers for the proposed new-aircraft programme and hopes to launch it this spring.
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© Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesThe Mitsubishi Regional Jet
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He says the company wants to focus more of its efforts on work for Boeing, and in particular for the US manufacturer’s 787 programme for which MHI makes the wing box. MHI also produces components for Boeing’s 737, 747, 767 and 777 programmes, and has far more limited work for Airbus’ A319/320, A330/340 and A380 programmes.
MHI produces the mid and aft fuselage, vertical fin, horizontal stabiliser, elevator, rudder and doors for the Q400, says the spokesman. He adds that it produces the aft fuselage for the CRJ700/900.
Source: flightglobal.com's premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: FlightGlobal.com
