EADS Socata is set to shift much of its TB trainer family subassembly work to countries with lower labour costs as it embarks on a plan to reduce manufacturing costs by one-third, writes Justin Wastnage.
The future of the light aircraft range of EADS's general aviation subsidiary has been in doubt since the company suspended serial production last year. The company expects to sign outsourcing deals with eastern European companies by the end of the year as it battles to sell aircraft in the USA. EADS Socata's final-assembly line in Tarbes, near Bordeaux, has worked on a build-to-order basis since depleting its inventory following the slump in orders after the terrorist attacks in September 2001.
The company says it expects to produce no more than 30 aircraft this year, a level far below capacity. "The problem is how we can get back to 100 aircraft a year production, which would allow us to sustain the range," the company says. US customers have shied away from the aircraft in recent years, chiefly due to its expensive dollar price, and have demanded a lower price, an EADS Socata source says.
The company produces no components in-house and is in talks "with a series of partners around the world" to possibly replace French suppliers. New deals are likely to be announced by the end of the year, EADS Socata adds. "The goal is definitely to reduce costs by at least 30%," the company says.
EADS Socata is undertaking a study into the future of the metal-airframe TB9 Tampico, TB10 Tobago, TB200 Tobago XL and TB20/21 Trinidad, including a possible all-composite design. Production of the TBM700 single-engined business turboprop is unaffected.
Source: Flight International
