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Indeed, Merkel and Sarkozy were last seen agreeing that EADS had to be a 'normal company'.
Merkel, Sarkozy to Tackle Airbus Issues at Toulouse Summit | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 16.07.2007

"EADS has to become a normal company," President Sarkozy said at the Paris Air Show last month, underlining complications caused by the group's unusual management and shareholder structure.

"We agree with the view that a company like EADS can only exist if it has efficient structures," said Merkel at the end of May after a meeting with the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
Which is all fine but doesn't explain why we should be subsidising jobs in China and Russia, plus the bootstrapping of the Chinese and Russian airspace industry, at a time when even Boeing has gotten the memo that global sourcing has gone too far.

Or: we've seen that close coordination between Germany and France on a major industrial project (building a new airplane) was difficult. So now we're going to draw in many more partners!

It's a short term strategy that will come to bite Airbus in the back.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sat Jan 17th, 2009 at 04:11:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Isn't the pretence that Airbus subsidy will be reduced?
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jan 17th, 2009 at 04:22:13 AM EST
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The only support they have gotten is 'launch aid', which I believe they will ask again. The latest on that:

The Associated Press: Airbus A350 development on track

Bregier gave few details on how Airbus plans to finance the euro10 billion ($13.26 billion) A350 program. He said the development costs have so far been funded by Airbus and some of its suppliers in a risk-sharing program.

"We are not in a hurry to find other ways despite the difficulties we know our customers will face in 2009," he said.

Airbus may also seek government aid to create a "level playing field" with Boeing's 787, which he said "got a lot of subsidies."

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sat Jan 17th, 2009 at 04:36:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Is that what you meant by this:

nanne:

Which is all fine but doesn't explain why we should be subsidising jobs in China and Russia, plus the bootstrapping of the Chinese and Russian airspace industry, at a time when even Boeing has gotten the memo that global sourcing has gone too far.
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sat Jan 17th, 2009 at 05:41:31 AM EST
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If we are to give aid for this, it shouldn't go to outsourcing outside of the EU. Launch aid is otherwise a good idea. It consists of the state taking over risk, e.g. the state provides financing which is only repayable if the project is successful. So far Airbus projects have delivered, so they're paying back the aid.

Otherwise the entire pretense that EADS is a 'normal' company is no longer relevant in a time when governments are bailing out much more normal companies throughout the economy. Sure, there needs to be some restriction on government interventions. But in this case it is clear that Airbus' strategy has some elements that are not in its own long-term interest.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sat Jan 17th, 2009 at 06:16:38 AM EST
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great points, linca.

i'm also concerned about chinese quality control, bolts shearing etc.

they're not ready yet...

~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 at 12:47:35 PM EST
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so sorry, i said 'linca' but meant 'nanne'.

must. slow. down.

~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 at 12:50:04 PM EST
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LOL

Thanks, melo. I take no offense for being exchanged for linca.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 at 01:30:41 PM EST
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Me neither !

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 at 05:51:58 PM EST
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humph, sounds like i should do it more often!

~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Thu Jan 22nd, 2009 at 01:34:03 AM EST
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