'Bombardier Is Asia-Pacific Leader': Lawson

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Canada's Bombardier Aerospace "has assumed a leadership role in Asia-Pacific regional and business aircraft" asserted a confident, soon-to-retire John Lawson yesterday. Attending his final show as vice-president of business aircraft sales, Lawson noted that while other aerospace companies had cut back in Asia Pacific during the past couple of years, Bombardier had maintained its commitment.

Overall, the company has enjoyed a "most successful year on business jets", having delivered 183 in the 12 months to 31 January, compared with 113 in the previous period. These comprise 34 Global Expresses, 40 Challenger 604s, 29 Learjet 60s, 55 Learjet 45s and 25 Learjet 31As.

Significant developments in the region have included delivery of four Learjet 45s to Singapore Airlines for airline pilot training -- one of them in the static display at Asian Aerospace -- and selection by the Korean National Maritime Police of the Challenger 604 for over-water surveillance.

The forthcoming Continental executive jet program is running on time, with first metal cut last October and maiden flight due next January. Deposits have been taken for 54 Continentals, not including those reserved for the company's own FlexJets fractional ownership scheme.

Referring to "the amazing growth in fractionals," Lawson was less sanguine about short-term prospects in this region, conceding that the time is not yet ripe for the growth currently being seen in the US and Europe. Current needs are "best met by charterbut we are watching the market," he observed.

Bombardier regional airliner deliveries totaled 104 for FY1999, up by two. They were 81 CRJs and 23 Dash 8s, including the first one of the new, ultra-stretched Q400 subvariant. There are currently 726 CRJ and 619 Dash 8 firm orders, of which 435 (323 this time last year) are on backlog. Taking into account five deliveries and 11 outstanding orders for the CL-215 SuperScooper water-bomber, Bombardier Aerospace's total backlog is now $18.9 billion, compared with $16.2 billion a year ago.

Said company President Michael Graff, "Bombardier views Asia Pacific as an important region for business partnerships and commercial sales. We were the first Western manufacturer to source aircraft components from China's aerospace industry and we value our relationships with our Asian partners."

By Paul Jackson