PARIS. (RIA Novosti military commentator Viktor Litovkin) - The world air transportation industry is now in decline.
According to the International Air Transport Association, its losses will reach $6 billion this year, 25% higher than last year's and 9% above the association's estimate made last year.
And with about $9 billion in the red, U.S. airlines lost more than others last season. The airlines will not be able to overcome these difficulties unless they receive more economical, powerful and safer planes.
Boeing is showing off precisely this kind of liner at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, which opened for industry insiders and the press on June 13. Its Dreamliner, depending on the model, can carry up to 300 passengers in the greatest comfort on a 15,500 kilometers direct flight.
Rivalry between the giants of the American and European aircraft industries, Boeing and Airbus, is fiercer than ever. Both of them have applied to the World Trade Organization with demands that its rival be called to account for enjoying financial privileges and economic preferences provided by their respective governments. Both are running broad advertising campaigns, which are most conspicuous at the French show.
In stark contrast with 2003, when Russian fighters were not on display because of legal problems with a Swiss company, Noga, this year Russia is demonstrating the unsurpassed maneuverability of its Su-27 SKM. Sergei Bogdan, a Sukhoi test pilot, has been feted with applause worthy of a film star after each flight.
The European public is accustomed to the stunts Russian pilots perform and people arrive at the show to look at them. However, Marshal of the Air Force Yevgeny Shaposhnikov told RIA Novosti that the most important thing for Russia today was to become part of the system of international division of labor and to emerge on new markets where it could sell high-tech products and highly professional services.
It may seem strange but Russian aircraft manufacturers cooperate with both Boeing and Airbus. Russian engineers contributed to the design work on the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380. In one case, this meant titanium alloys, which make a plane much lighter, more durable and reliable. In another case, this meant the development of wing segments, which also increase the reliability and safety of a liner. Sukhoi corporation is Russia's indisputable leader in this sphere.
Apart from a series of its famous fighters in Le Bourget, Sukhoi is demonstrating a new civilian project: the medium-range passenger jetliner from the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) family. Its chief merit is that it has been built on the basis of international division of labor. The project includes such famous names as Boeing, France's Thales (avionics and logistics) and Snecma (engine and the engine nacelle), and Russia's Saturn Research and Production Association. In addition, the distance control systems are made by Europe's Liebherr and Russia's Voskhod, whereas the chassis comes from Messier Dowty in America, the fuel system is provided by Intertechnique, electrical equipment by Hamilton Sundstrend, the interior by B/E Aerospace, auxiliary power plants by Honeywell and Russian Salyut, and the chairs for the crew by Ipeco.
This RIA Novosti commentator attended the presentation of a joint contract signed by Sukhoi and Thales in Le Bourget. The French company is putting $120 million into developing the avionics for the RRJ-95 (designed for 95 passengers, but there are also designs for 75 and 65 passengers). Sukhoi is investing half this sum. Viktor Subbotin, the director of the RRJ program, said work on the project was in full swing and was proceeding without any delays. As a priority federal program, it is supported by the Russian government, and the liner, built in Novosibirsk, is to make its maiden flight in March 2007.
Russia's space industry is also facing busy times ahead. The head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov, said a joint action plan for the next 15 years would not be subject to any cutbacks and that all the projects, including those to explore the Moon and Mars, would be carried out.
The Europeans were especially interested in the Kliper reusable spacecraft, a model of which is on display at Le Bourget. According to Perminov, the Europeans are prepared to play a proactive role in building the spaceship and no limitations would be placed on their participation. He said the only condition would be that this work would be supervised, coordinated and controlled by Russian's Energia space corporation, which is the project author and leader.
