This work will be accomplished by Stage 3 Nacelle, another special-purpose company created by BAC specifically for hushkitting these older McDonnell Douglas aircraft. According to Roger Seager, GE's CF6 Project GM, the more powerful CF6-80C2G2 is now scheduled for flight tests at the end of 2001, with entry into service planned for late 2002. The FAA's data bases used to track safety problems with airlines are filled with mistakes, reports the Wall Street Journal. FAA inspectors recently told Congress that they report only about half the problems they find because it requires too much paperwork. By going with a single annular combustor instead of the double annular design used for the GE90, engineers are simplifying the design for lower maintenance costs.
Exact details are still open.
This follows a recent decision by the European Court which said that the airline would have to repay the funds. According to Kinnock, the reason why the aid was not judged to have contravened EU law was because it was used as part of a major restructuring program. According to Marta Newhart, a spokesperson for Boeing, China has scrapped plans to build 20 MD-90 jetliners under license due to lack of demand. The Chinese have instructed Boeing to halt shipments of material beyond the first three shipsets already delivered. At that time, the Seattle airframer said that it would honor its commitment to the Chinese.