Airbus Tankers Deal Still Flying

[unhappycamper]

Airbus Tankers Deal Still Flying
February 07, 2009
Daily Post

Potential obstacle to Airbus winning a lucrative contract for the U.S. Air Force has been cleared after President Barack Obama backed away from protectionist measures that could have triggered a trade war.

Fears had risen last month that Airbus could be shunted out of the race for a massive pounds 27bn contract for a fleet of 179 new air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft for the USAF if President Obama insisted on a "Buy American" clause being inserted into his wider pounds 570bn economic stimulus package.

Airbus is battling to win the deal against American rival aircraft manufacturer Boeing - a company headquartered in the former Illinois senator's home base of Chicago.

The rivals are keen to win the military work to help keep their aircraft factories busy at a time when demand for airliners is falling sharply because of the slump in global aviation.

A deal for the tanker aircraft would bring around pounds 5bn worth of work to Airbus' Broughton wingmaking factory complex in north east Wales, helping secure the jobs of thousands of workers there.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/airbus-tankers-deal-still-flying.html?col=1186032310810