CASA at Asian Aerospace 2000

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Making its Asian Aerospace debut this year is CASA's C-295 advanced tactical military transport, which is involved in several important acquisition competitions around the world. CASA's vice-president of sales & marketing, Juan De Uriarte, hosted a briefing to highlight the progress made in the C-295 certification and sales program, and its prospects for the future. In December 1999 the C-295 was certified by Spanish and US authorities to full FAR 25 standards. On 21 January 2000 Spain signed the purchase contract for nine C-295s, with deliveries to begin before the end of the year. CASA is keen to point out that aircraft on show at AA2000 is the first production example (S1), which made its maiden flight on 22 December 1998.

CASA is involved in three priority C-295 sales campaigns in Australia, Greece and Switzerland. The Australian tactical airlifter competition, Project Air 5190 (to find a DHC-4 Caribou replacement) has been ongoing since 1995, and the C-295 is shortlisted alongside the C-27J. A decision in Project 5190 was expected in 1999, but was delayed for budgetary reasons. CASA believes a formal recommendation has been made by the RAAF and is now awaiting imminent ministerial approval. Fresh urgency has been injected into the Australian competition after the remaining Caribous were badly affected by a fuel contamination problem that has swept across all of Australia.

The Greek requirement calls for 15 aircraft, for service entry in 2001. A decision is expected within the next two weeks and again the C-295 is in competition with the C-27J. The evaluators have dropped one other previous competitor, the Antonov An-70. Switzerland is now seeking to acquire its first-ever tactical transport following a positive experience with 'borrowed' CN-235Ms used for UN missions. The Swiss Air Force is looking for two to three aircraft and will issue an RFT within the next six months. Brazil also has a pending requirement for 18 aircraft to replace its DHC-5 Buffalo fleet and has also been eyeing the CN-235MP as a potential maritime patrol aircraft.

In the Asia Pacific region, next year Taiwan will launch its competition for a tactical airlifter to complement its C-130 fleet. The ROCAF is expected to acquire up to 18 aircraft, to take the place of its now retired C-119s. After AA2000 CASA will take the C-295 on demonstration tours to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, in response to interest from Malaysia and Thailand. In all CASA sees a market for 1,200 aircraft in the class of the C-295 and hopes to capture 30%.

By Robert Hewson