Posted on 01/13/2011 10:49:20 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Boeing, EADS tanker debate playing out in magazine ads?
Wichita Business Journal - by Steve Wilhelm , Puget Sound Business Journal.
While the U.S. Air Force hasn’t yet had the opportunity to evaluate tanker bids from Boeing and EADS, the fight continues to be played out publicly in the pages of industry publications such as Aviation Week and Space Technology.
The Air Force is expected to make a decision in February.
Consider the Jan. 10 Aviation Week issue, which includes a two-page ad from Boeing, complete with American flags and closeups of two crew members, contending that the 767-based tanker offering is “For tanker crews, the most capable tanker.”
The EADS North America single-page ad goes to the heart of the matter: Which aircraft will cost less?
“Do the math” says that ad, contending that the EADS KC-45, based on Airbus’ A330 twin jet, will deliver a gallon of jet fuel for 24 percent less on a 1,500 mile mission.
As aerospace analyst Scott Hamilton points out in a blog post Wednesday, these are complex computations.
While Boeing’s smaller 767-based tanker might seem inherently cheaper, Boeing still has to absorb the cost of developing the “NewGen” version it’s promising the Air Force, while Airbus’ version is already ready.
Boeing boosters continue to be frustrated that the Air Force isn’t paying attention to a World Trade Organization ruling that the A330 was built with European subsidies illegal under WTO rules. Sen. Patty Murray, for instance, has contended that the subsidies will help Airbus ratchet down its price, compared to Boeing’s.
The larger Airbus plane will be inherently more expensive to operate, and will require some adjustment of facilities used to supporting the current Boeing 707 tankers.
But Hamilton suggests the EADs aircraft’s larger fuel capacity may be seen as a benefit by Air Force planners worried that geopolitical changes will curtail U.S. use of bases closer areas of conflict. If tankers have to fly further they need more fuel to keep themselves in the air, in order to deliver the fuel where it’s needed, he said.
In addition, Hamilton suggests that the fact that the EADS plane is based on a newer A330 airframe, which continues to sell well, may make it easier to keep operational as the tanker fleet ages than Boeing’s older 767.
Currently Boeing has only 50 model 767s on order, versus Airbus’ 372 orders for various A330 versions.
The current KC 135 tankers are based on the Boeing 707, which was built by Boeing until 1991.
Boeing says its tanker program would mean 7,500 new jobs in Kansas, including many at its defense facility in Wichita.
Read more: Boeing, EADS tanker debate playing out in magazine ads? | Wichita Business Journal
Complex decisions...but I vote for Wichita...
yeah, just waiting for someone to tell us the way to fight Boeing unions, is to buy a machine subsidized by the EU, and built by non unionized europeans,,,
At best it will be favoring one union over another,,, so might as well buy American.
What about the non-union workers in Mobile, Alabama, who will assemble the KC-45?
What about the non-Americans that build a majority of the parts for the 767 in Euope and Asia?
There are no simple “Buy American” decisions these days.
Why wait? You've already build your own strawman. Just knock it over and declare victory.
This is embarrassing...just split the order already.
“There are no simple “Buy American” decisions these days.”
It’s much more patriotic to get mugged by boeing while waving the flag.
P.s. How did that Boeing virtual fence work out for the taxpayer ?!?
“There are no simple “Buy American” decisions these days.”
I guess the Boeing tanker is about 2 years behind the EADS aircraft. These are two more years Boeing can earn money maintaining the KC-135.
According to the second tanker contest the Airbus tanker could replace about 20 KC-135 more than the KC-767.
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