Sir - One aspect not specifically covered in your forecast for 1996 (Flight International, 3-9 January, P26) is a review of problems and progress towards solving them.
Two examples stand out, the General Electric GE90 certification programme for the Boeing 777 and the introduction of fly-by-wire control. In the latter case, the problems seem to have been overcome by Airbus, although Saab and Eurofighter have suffered programme delays. The GE90 saga continues, however, now with oil-consumption problems (Flight International, 17-23 January).
These examples are not unique, and the technical competence of the teams involved is not in question, but the structure of the development programmes needs further examination and review. In the GE90 programme, in particular, the aim will almost certainly have been to meet the customer's in-service date, within budget, coupled with a zero in-service modification programme. Risk aspects would have been taken into account and cost when the programme was constructed, so why the delays and costs? There is the need to reduce time-scales (particularly with the increasing introduction of electronic aids) and to reduce costs.
While electronic aids have had a massive impact on time-scales and provided the ability to introduce step changes in technology, the actual results would suggest that there is a case for programme managers to carry out an objective review of what has been, and can be, achieved.
D F NEWLAND
Watford, Hertfordshire, UK
Source: Flight International
