LETTERS
38 | Flight International | 10-16 March 2020 flightglobal.com
[email protected]TECHNOLOGYA model design for the future
BAE Systems’
PHASA-35
high-altitude
pseudo-
satellite,
which made
its first flight
last month
(Flight
International,
25 February-
2 March), is
pure model
aircraft stuff,
but fuelled by the sun. It is wonderful, useful and such good
value for money.
I have been an enthusiastic model aircraft flyer for many
years, and I like to think these designs were pioneering.
If the “greens” do not cut off research and investment
prematurely, I’m sure the airliners of the future will be just as
environmentally friendly as the PHASA.
David Stevens
via emailPenalty does
not fit the crime
The “endemic” bribery at Airbus,
described in your News Focus
(Flight International, 11-17 Febru-
ary) confirms suspicions of shady
business practices over many
years in some EU countries.
What is especially depressing
is the decision of EU countries in-
volved in Airbus manufacturing
to settle out of court for $4 billion.
Much is made of figures for the
supposed revenue risk to Airbus if
banned from tendering for con-
tracts – worth $220 billion over 15
years. That is hardly realistic, in
that it is the unlikely “risk” to Air-
bus of not securing 100% of those
contracts. In the current Airbus/
Boeing duopoly, half that figure
would appear more realistic.
The Deloitte study commis-
sioned by Airbus, mentioned in
the article, forecast a potential
loss of $110 billion to the GDP
of the Airbus manufacturing
countries. To put this in its per-
spective, the total GDP of the
European countries involved –
France, Germany, Spain and the
UK – is over $10,000 billion.
Why are such considerations
relevant to the penalty imposed?
Malcolm Bowden
McDonald, Tennessee, USAPseudo-satellite has shown great potentialBAE SystemsWe welcome your letters on any
aspect of the aerospace industry.
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