Raytheon Aircraft has yet to receive a licence to export the 24 T-6A turboprop trainers ordered for the Bombardier-run NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) programme. The US company still hopes to begin deliveries before year-end.
The US Government is concerned about ownership of the aircraft and what will happen when NFTC is finished with them. "A private finance company will be the owner," says Raytheon Aircraft chairman Art Wegner, "and the government is concerned about control of the assets."
Negotiations continue between the USA and Canada on the sovereignty issue, Wegner says, and could result in an agreement that the aircraft will be returned to the USA after use.
Bombardier originally selected Embraer's EMB-314 Super Tucano for the innovative NFTC programme, but switched to the T-6, claiming that the Brazilian manufacturer was unable to meet delivery commitments. The Canadian company has denied that it cancelled the agreement because of a long-running dispute with Embraer over regional-aircraft export subsidies.
Under NFTC, Bombardier will own and operate a fast-jet pilot training system.
Canada is the anchor customer, while Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK have also signed for the programme.
Source: Flight International
