Aerospace suppliers at Farnborough '98 are nervously awaiting word from Airbus Industrie on whether the European consortium will launch its proposed A319M5 100-seat twinjet at the show. The aircraft would be a derivative of the 319, minus five fuselage frames, hence the M5 designation. The decision is of particular interest to engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney and CFM International-Pratt has pledged a "do-or-die" effort to get its PW6000 on the aircraft, while CFM has accorded the program "must win" status for a version of its CFM56. Boeing is turning up the heat on Airbus for the 100-seat market, last week logging the first flight of its 100-seat 717, formerly the MD-95.

By Paul Proctor