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Airbus, HAL in talks for A-380 project

Ashwini Phadnis

NEW DELHI, July 29

THE Toulouse-based aircraft major Airbus Industrie has carried out a survey of the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for its participation in the making of the double-decker Airbus A-380 aircraft.

``Airbus expects to see a good participation from HAL in the project,'' the company's Vice-President, (Sales), India and Africa, Dr Kiran Rao, told Business Line.

However, the exact details of HAL participation in the A-380 project will be known only later as the design of the aircraft has still to be frozen, Airbus officials said. They indicated that the ``freezing of the aircraft design'' is likely to be approve d by the Airbus board shortly after which sub-contracting details will be finalised.

Sources said that HAL officials met Airbus officials at the recently concluded Paris air show, where the aircraft manufacturer is said to have indicated that it would like to see the company participate in the Airbus A-380 project.

Officials indicated that there were some tooling issues which had to be sorted out, although the Airbus engineering survey of the HAL facility had responded ``favourably'' to the Indian company's participating in the A-380 project.

Airbus Industrie received formal production go-ahead for building the A-380 aircraft, which will be capable of carrying 555 passengers over long distances, in December 2000.

The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight in 2004 followed by entry into commercial service in 2006. Till the end of June this year, Airbus Industrie has orders for 38 A-380 aircraft from four customers, including Singapore Airlines and the Duba i-based Emirates.

Doors for A-320: Meanwhile, Airbus has asked HAL to double the production of passenger doors for the Airbus A-320 aircraft from the present six-to-12. Confirming the development, Airbus officials said that HAL has been asked to double the passenger door production for the Airbus A-320 aircraft from 2002.

The aircraft manufacturer took a decision in 1988 to involve HAL in the building of passenger doors for the Airbus A-320 aircraft.