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January 19, 2005
Airbus A 380.
Grauniad extolls the Airbus A 380 as an embodiment of the European Dream.
The most tangible example
of the European project was unveiled with the razzmatazz worthy of an
Olympic opening ceremony yesterday. Europe's leaders gathered in an
enormous hanger outside Toulouse to greet the Airbus 380, the world's
largest airliner. Weighing 560 tonnes when loaded and capable of
carrying 555 passengers on flights of up to 15,000 kilometres, the new
Airbus is a muscular symbol. The French media was not alone yesterday
in drawing unflattering comparisons between "proactive" European
business and EU politics.
That’s it? That’s what it’s all about? 450 million people forced into an economic, political and social straight jacket so that we can build a friggin’ airliner?
January 19, 2005 in European Union | Permalink
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» Trade for Aid from L'Ombre de l'Olivier
So here's the deal. You're in trouble now so we promise to lend you some moolah, but we've got these white elephants to flog so you got to agree to stump up the cash to buy them ASAP. OK? How much? Well how much did you want for aid? And.. get this. ... [Read More]
Tracked on Jan 20, 2005 2:43:29 PM
Comments
Eurocrats have been quick to take credit for what is nothing more than the cooperation between four Countries' aerospace industries.
Like you say even if it were an EU success, would it be worth it? I think not.
Tim adds: What’s worse is that I’m a supplier to that programme and I still don’t think it’s worth it.
Posted by: EU Serf | Jan 19, 2005 9:44:12 AM
We didn't need the EU to get the Concorde project off the ground (first test flight 1969) - and that was a much greater technical achievement.
Posted by: Mike D | Jan 19, 2005 12:58:30 PM
Four governments get together to build an airliner. Sounds to me like a recipe for a BIG white elephant.
Posted by: Bishop Hill | Jan 19, 2005 7:16:43 PM
I'm still waiting to see if it'll FLY.
(yeah, yeah, I know all about what computers say.. but amazingly, it seems somebody forgets to tell the computer something important)
Posted by: Addison | Jan 19, 2005 8:03:30 PM
Ah yes, the usual arguments that the European Union can't be credited with anything, ever! Why shouldn't we consider this to be a spin off of the steps to promote greater integration across the EU? This is quite clearly a political project that serves clear purposes and offers real advantages. Given that no European state could afford to sustain an aircraft manufacturing industry on its own, the alternative would be to leave all major manufacturing up to one company - Boeing. So much for competition and the working of the market. The simple fact is that the idealised vision of a self-sufficient Britain taking on the world belongs to an age that has passed.
Posted by: James | Jan 20, 2005 1:59:38 PM
James,
You seem to have a slightly odd view of economics there.
Why should any state (whether European or not) try to support an aircraft manufacturing industry? Surely that’s a matter for aircraft manufacturers, their customers and their shareholders? You’re not suggesting, are you, that governments are supposed to direct the activities of industry? It has been tried and doesn’t work very well.
As to why this is an EU success I know not. It’s national Govts that provided the launch aid, not the EU.
As above, I’m a supplier (in a very small way) to the project and my raw materials come from Kazakhstan, but K is not part of the EU. My materials are refined in Russia, but Russia is not part of the Eu.
It’s entirely possible for private companies to co-operate with each other without there being a European State to direct their activities...as the above project actually shows.
My comments in hte post were directed at the way the Guardian reported the matter, as if the A380 was a justification for the EU.
As for a self-sufficient Britain, of course that is fantasy. As is a self-suficient EU. That’s why we have this thing called trade you see. So we can swap what we have lots of for what we have little of. The WTO handles that quite well, leaving the EU rather redundant.
Posted by: Tim Worstall | Jan 20, 2005 2:27:24 PM
That’s it? That’s what it’s all about? 450 million people forced into an economic, political and social straight jacket so that we can build a friggin’ airliner?
Well not quite - is seems that we can't squeeze into the straight jacket - we're getting obese and we're going to have get our diets under control as well says Commisioner Markos Kyprianou. (see EU legal threat to Junk Food Advertising http://news.ft.com/cms/s/6733027a-6a53-11d9-858c-00000e2511c8.html ) But wait (weight?) - isn't that slightly overweight, portly gent with the souvlaki in his mit our friend? His message would be slightly more convincing if he got into shape himself. A bit like the EU, in fact.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/kyprianou/index_en.htm
Posted by: patricio | Jan 20, 2005 3:26:30 PM
Tim:
Perhaps you've been paying attention, I haven't... But at one point, almost all the "sales" for the 380 were to state-controlled airlines in Europe, and the other sales were on paper, and dependant on getting sweetheart financing deals from the governments backing airbus.... Has that changed, anybody actually given outside cash for one yet?
Tim adds: Sorry, don’t know. The Scotsman is reporting that buying A 380’s is a condition of Thailand getting reduced prawn tariffs....wouldn’t surprise me but no direct information.
Posted by: Addison | Jan 20, 2005 7:16:46 PM
