THE MILITARY AIRCRAFT business again helped McDonnell Douglas (MDC) continue its run of record profits into the third quarter, although the shrinking airliner-division has reported a small loss.
The military-aircraft unit has turned in operating profits of $652 million over the first nine months of the year, nearly one-third higher than in 1994. Margins in the business are now averaging 11%, says the group.
The commercial-aircraft business turned in a $7 million loss for the quarter, after taking provisions on the sale of MD-90 twinjets scheduled for delivery in 1996. Sales also declined by nearly one-third, to $663 million, with the delivery of only two MD-11s, but eight MD-80/90s.
Airliner deliveries are still ahead over the first nine months of the year, largely because of the delivery of the first ten MD-90s.o
MD-11 shipments stood at 13 over the first three quarters, as they did in 1994, while the group has delivered 15 MD-80s.
Source: Flight International
