Paul Lewis/SEOUL
SOUTH KOREAN conglomerate Samsung has re-opened detailed negotiations with Dutch Government receivers to take over bankrupt aerospace manufacturer Fokker Aircraft. The aim of the talks is to have a deal in place within two months, as time runs out for the Dutch manufacturer.
Samsung Aerospace and its accountants, Coopers and Lybrand, have dispatched a team of negotiators to the Netherlands, in a last-ditch effort to rescue Fokker. The move follows Dutch Government overtures to Samsung.
The talks are understood to focus on keeping the Fokker 70 and 100 twinjet production lines open and resurrecting plans to develop a new stretched derivative.
Samsung's more immediate plans would involve maintaining production of the Fokker 100 and smaller 70 in the Netherlands. Its long-term goal is to complete development of the proposed Fokker 130 and manufacture the new version in South Korea.
"Without any follow-on project, taking over the Fokker 70/100 line has no meaning," says one local source. The new programme would involve other South Korean aerospace manufacturers, in addition to a "nominal" Dutch Government participation.
Samsung is looking to incorporate new technology into the stretched aircraft, with a new wing possible and a new engine likely to re- place the Rolls-Royce Tay. Fokker is estimated to have completed 10-15% of the 130's initial development, while a new Rockwell- Collins avionics suite is complete.
It is unclear, however, whether an agreement can be reached in time to save Fokker. The last batch of aircraft is nearing completion and the company's skeleton workforce, is set to be reduced, further after September. Major suppliers, such as wing manufacturer Shorts are also preparing to halt any further shipments.
Fokker's remaining design engineering team is understood to number as few as 60, raising questions over whether there would be sufficient expertise available to complete the 130's development.
Samsung's renewed interest in Fokker follows the collapse in talks with Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) on taking a stake in the development of the 90- to 140-seat AE-100. Talks broke down after AVIC refused to meet South Korean demands for a 20% minimum stake and share of final assembly.
While a compromise agreement with AVIC brokered by partner Singapore Technologies has still not being ruled out by some members of the Korean Commercial-Aircraft Development consortium (KCDC), others believe that the deal is dead.
KCDC recently also held separate talks with Aero International (Regional) (AI(R) and Saab Aircraft on possible collaboration to develop a new 70-seat regional jet.
In late July AI(R) briefed South Korean aerospace manufacturers on its proposed 70-seat programme. The European consortium is prepared to offer South Korea a stake of up to 40% in the project, "-but they made it clear that the aircraft would be built in Toulouse", says a KCDC executive. The South Korean Government has provided state financial assistance for KCDC in the past, conditional on an aircraft being produced in South Korea.
Source: Flight International
