MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota -- Engine makers General Electric and Pratt & Whitney have been signaling for months that ATR and Bombardier aren't the only airframers pondering the market potential of a 90-seat turboprop, but it was never clear to whom they referred.
Our first thought was Embraer. The Brazilian manufacturer once dominated the 35-seat turboprop sector, so they have the technical know-how. But Embraer chief executive Frederico Curado blew up that theory on 12 April, telling us in no uncertain terms that his company has no intention whatsoever of jumping back into the turboprop sector.
So who else could it be?
Today at the Regional Airline Association's annual convention, GE finally let slip the identity of the mystery airframer. In a briefing about GE's next-generation CPX38 turboprop, general manager Allen Paxson reminded the press that Saab was once in the turboprop game, and "Saab is going to want to play in that [90-seat market sector] as well".
Oh, really? In the question-and-answer, we quickly asked Paxson what he meant by invoking Saab. "Certainly Saab has been at the top of the market for decades," said Paxson, obviously alluding to the Saab 340 and Saab 2000 that ceased production in 1997. "It's fair to say they have been studying that as well."
Michael Magnussen, chief executive of Saab Aircraft Leasing, is also here, and he confirmed Saab's advanced design team is studying possible civil aircraft concepts. They have invited suppliers, such as GE, to brief them on current technologies, so that they can understand what's available. Magnussen also noted that Saab at the moment is a cash-rich company, and is looking for new business opportunities.
LH452 From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 41 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2613 times:
Even though I believe in a 90 pax turboprop market, I have major doubts about Saabs financial ability. Swedish government to some extent financed the development of the 340 & 2000 with negative return and the current conservative government will not be easy to convince a third time.
Web From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 424 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2181 times:
I would think that even if Saab developed a 90-seat turboprop, it would bear little resemblance to the 340 or the 2000 from any standpoint. Systems, avionics, aerodynamic design, etc have all changed so much since the last frames rolled off the line that this would almost definitely be a clean-sheet design, meaning that basically Saab would be starting over as an airframe manufacturer. Whereas ATR has a consistent product line and could stretch the -72 for a 90-seater, Saab could not, making for an uphill battle should they make the attempt.
cmf From United States of America, joined Jun 2011, 2485 posts, RR: 35 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2046 times:
Quoting mffoda (Thread starter): There a piece in FG that speculates that Saab maybe interested in entering the 90 seat turboprop market.
I'm sure they are looking for another project as the military side with JAS is slowing down and they want to keep the knowledge. That said it would surprise me a lot if SAAB will do this in their own name. Not because they can't find the financing, I'm sure they can, but because they do not like to take those kind of risks.
From my knowledge of SAAB they will happily take a part, possibly large part, in a new plane but I doubt they will take full responsibility.
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Wisdom From Netherlands, joined Apr 2011, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1901 times:
Quoting cmf (Reply 4): I'm sure they are looking for another project as the military side with JAS is slowing down and they want to keep the knowledge. That said it would surprise me a lot if SAAB will do this in their own name. Not because they can't find the financing, I'm sure they can, but because they do not like to take those kind of risks.
From my knowledge of SAAB they will happily take a part, possibly large part, in a new plane but I doubt they will take full responsibility.
Then they should ask EADS to sell their stake in ATR to them.
EADS has a disagreement with Alenia on the development of the ATR-92. Perhaps they're afraid that the ATR-92 becomes an ATR-142 someday?
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