MOERMAN WANTS A400M

[BIZ: Brussels, December 6]
Belgium should be a candidate for the maintenance and training contracts for the A400M military cargo aircraft, the successor to the C-130, according to the Flemish Minister of Economy Fientje Moerman (VLD). This would redress the balance between Flanders and the Walloon country and the distribution of other contracts. The A400M from Airbus Military will be coming on the market in a few years time.

Belgium ordered seven of these aircraft at a cost of EUR 1.3bn. In exchange for the contract Belgian companies can supply parts for the construction of the aircraft. The division of the contracts between Flanders and the Walloon country was not optimal, according to Ms. Moerman. The Flemish companies have only received 32% of the contracts. There are still a limited number of contracts to be awarded, but this is inadequate to redress the situation.

In February 2006, the participating countries should indicate whether they are interested in the ILS process for the distribution of contracts for maintenance and training. Ms. Moerman, who had a meeting in Toulouse with the company recently, advocated a Belgian approach to this, and she sees opportunities in it for Sabena Flight Academy and Sabena Technics.
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