Bomac...or Combardier?That other article in Aviation Week, April 4, 2011 edition is entitled Bedfellows.
If you recall I believe I mentioned in an earlier post that there were two articles in that edition dealing with Bombardier in China. I posted the first one entitled "What's Bombardier Up To In China?" a few days ago.
This one can't be copied so you'll have to get hold of a copy of AW at your local library or newsstand to read it (arrives later in Canada).
Here's a few excerpts:
"When the Airbus-Boeing duopoly is finally broken, as eventually it must be, th third competitor just might be called Combardier..."
"The comtemplated areas of cooperation can be divided into four parts: shared marketing and support for the two company's aircraft; sharing of facilities and resources; changing the designs of the C919 and Bombadrdier-CSeries to make them more common; and more distantly extending that commonality to new versions of the Bombardier CRJ and Comac ARJ21. If all tht happens, the result will be a family of four aircraft with common systems, sales teams and support networks. Importantly the two manufacturers are looking at cooperation for the long term --- stretching into the decades ahead, apparently --- although Bombardier says a merged business is not comtemplated. Bombadrdier Aerospace President Guy Hachey also emphasizes that the elements within the proposed agreement will have to be negotiated one by one."
"The depth of proposed cooperation has intrigued the industy. 'We absolutely took notice of it,' says Shep Hill, president of Boeing International. 'It's a very interesting move by Bombardier, and it has the potential to be competitively useful.'
"The greatest potential for commonality is in the cockpit...because it is a large mix of different systems...but Comac and BBD have chosen different suppliers...Rockwell Collins for CSeries, and GE for the C919..."
"But the displays could be changed to reduce training time for pilots converting from one of the two types to the other...both aircraft will be fitted with side-stick controllers..."
"Bombadrdier's taking a major role in the C919 program is historic because no Western commercial aircraft manufacturer has yet taught China how to become a competitor."
What kind of help and how much appears to be something Bombardier is considering. In my view, the Chinese are going to get this technology anyway, whether they get it from BBD in a cooperative agreement, or buy it by hiring away experience and talent from Western aerospace companies isn't important. And if Bombardier were to refrain from such a deal competitors would jump in to do the same.
At least this way Bombardier develops a positive relationship with the Chinese.
On the other hand, you have to wonder how the arrangement would work. I mean, if Bombardier is marketing Comac aircraft along with its own does a salesman tell a prospective customer,
"Hey, if you want something with a few more seats take a look at this C919..."
"Bombardier says the two companies can save costs by sharing facilities. Comac is being lavishly funded by the Chinese government through state companies that act as shareholders, so it is not likely to lack gleaming new equipment. Still, the ability to use Canadian facilities and airspace for testing would be an advantage."