THE U.S. MANUFACTURERS' NEW TECHNOLOGY AIRCRAFT: A STUDY AND EVALUATION

Advanced transport designs are in the final stages of refinement by all three major U.S. commercial airframe manufacturers as they attempt to define a new generation of fuel-efficient aircraft that will meet the projected equipment requirements of the world's airline fleet in the 1980s, with primary attention being focused on a 200-passenger class medium-range aircraft. This study conducted in January, 1978, examines the present situaton at the three U.S. commercial airplane manufacturers and the dilema these companies are facing in trying to launch the next new commercial airplane program. The other side of the situation will also be discussed, by looking at how some of the major airlines feel about the proposed aircraft. The models proposed by each of the manufacturers, the capital investments required by the airlines, and their abilities or inabilities to raise the needed sums, are then discussed. The study concludes by answering the following question; Are the proposed aircraft really new and do they offer substantial savings to the airlines. /Author/