MIM Technology in Action: The
A350
In April of this year Boeing Company Commercial Airplanes division gave
the final approval for the new 7E7 plane. Analysts and industry followers
have expected Boeing's top competitor, French-based Airbus, to counter
with an announcement of a new aircraft.
Rumors had been circulating and last month, Airbus Chief Executive, Noel
Forgeard, confirmed that the company was discussing a new plane called
the A350. Forgeard stated that the A350 would be based on its 555-seater
A380 super jumbo-jet but would have more seats, different wings and be
fueled by a new generation of engines.
Despite its location as a foreign manufacturer, Airbus has North American
subsidiaries and utilizes many U.S. companies in the production of their
planes. In a statement released by Airbus earlier this year the company
indicated that it may purchase more than $5 billion per year of goods and
services from hundreds of US suppliers in more than 40 states. This
could generate more than 100,000 US jobs.
According to Airbus, more than 900 Airbus aircraft are currently flown
by North American airlines. While the A350 program is not yet officially
launched it could begin as early as the end of the year, according to top
financial papers across the globe. |
