Paris Air Show
Aerospace |
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Airbus Introduces
The New A319CJ "Corporate Jet"
Paris (June 17, 1997) -- It's big. It's sleek. It's been termed by Airbus Industrie senior vice president John Leahy as a "flying office". At a press conference at the 1997 Paris Air Show Tuesday morning, Leahy added detail about the newest member of the A320 family, the Airbus A319 Corporate Jet.
This "newest, most advanced, most flexible," corporate jet will compete against the Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream's GV corporate jets. But, Leahy believes this advanced "flying office" is in a class of its own. "Although, we can't speak on behalf of Boeing," he quipped. Boeing's own 737-derived business jet has already racked up 20 orders since launching last year, including two announced earlier at Paris. Leahy pointed out several obvious benefits: the A319 is in an existing A320 family, which means that any pilot who flies a A320 or A21 is pre-qualified to fly the A319. The A319CJ is also structurally the same as the A319 airliner and is therefore certified to airline standards. Meaning the aircraft could theoretically be converted to airline use later, preserving the investment. Before custom design and added features, the "green" aircraft is estimated at $35 million, a few million over Boeing's 737 business jet. Compared to most corporate jets (likely meaning Global Express and the GV), it provides business jet performance for intercontinental range -- with a comfortable, spacious cabin. As for the aesthetic features of the aircraft -- it is designed, from fax to satellite, with the most advanced technology, in order to meet all passengers' business needs. It allows passengers to conduct business as usual, exercise if need be, take a nap, take a refreshing shower and be ready to go the moment the jet lands. Leahy said he felt as if he were advertising the aircraft and joked, "Sorry, no golf pro endorsements included," referring to the Greg Norman purchase of a Boeing Business Jet last week. Leahy went on to say the A319 offers the widest cabin and the most headroom of any single-aisle jetliner. The A319 has three times the floor space compared to traditional jets and nine percent more headroom than the 737 Business Jet, "one foot higher than the other guys." In one possible configuration geared for up to 12 passengers the jet included a private office suite, executive cabin with tables and sleeper seats, a private conference suite for four and communications for a secretarial post. Also added was a baggage space located in lower compartments of the aircraft, offering flexibility without removing any doors. Airbus will fully support the new aircraft with Airbus training, flight operations, spares, technical services. When asked where the aircraft was being produced, Leahy replied with
a smile, "It will be coming off the same assembly line." No word
on where completion work will be staged. |
When asked if Airbus
had received any definite orders for the barely announced new A319 version,
Leahy replied, "We don't have any orders yet. We have some Memoranda
of Understanding," going on to add the typical Airbus line of not announcing
anything that's not firm. Of course, he forgot to talk with the rest of
the Airbus team, who offered up a DHL order later that is simply a lease
of a converted A300 to a third-party lease company.