FIVE Ayrshire MPs are to have urgent talks today with the chief
executive of British Aerospace over fears that some Jetstream aircraft
production may be switched from Prestwick to Indonesia.
Despite denials from the company, there has been continued speculation
that Jetstream may not only merge with IPTN of Indonesia in new
turbo-prop design and manufacture, but production of the Jetstream 31
may be switched to the Far East.
The company has been in talks with turbo-prop manufacturers worldwide,
such as ATR, Saab and Casa, about possible partnerships and in a bid to
reduce the number of participants in a reducing marketplace.
Mr George Foulkes, MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said: ''We
need a categorical assurance that this reputed deal will be dropped.
''First of all, nothing must be done which threatens Jetstream to even
the slightest degree, but also it is intolerable for British Aerospace
to be seeking to sell any military hardware to Indonesia -- which
illegally occupies East Timor and has an appalling record on human
rights.
Mr Phil Gallie, Conservative MP for Ayr, said he wanted to know the
details, although an agreement to transfer the Jetstream 31 line to
Indonesia could be acceptable if Jetstream was offered the chance to
market other models in the region.
Mr Foulkes said he believed talks with the French-Italian company ATP
could be more fruitful.
Jetstream managing director Allan MacDonald wants to see production of
a 50-seat and a 70-seat turbo-prop aircraft before the end of the
century, but concedes that there are too many manufacturers chasing too
few customers.
The company is halfway through a redundancy programme which will
result in 630 people leaving the Prestwick plant by April.
* Air UK last night described as ''unfortunate and counter-
productive'' remarks made by Mr Gallie about the airline's decision to
buy Fokker 50 aircraft in preference to Jetstream products made in
Ayrshire.
He accused the airline of failing to show a commitment to Scotland and
claimed that the Jetstream ATP or 61, as it will eventually be known,
has far higher safety certification than its Dutch rival.
A spokesman for Air UK said: ''I would remind Mr Gallie that 40% of
our services are out of Scotland, the bulk of our crews are locally
recruited and based, and a large part of
our fleet is made up of British Aerospace 146 regional jets.
''All the aircraft in the class were very carefully considered and it
was decided that the Fokker 50 was the best choice for a number of
reasons, including economy.
''It is unhelpful, to say the least, to hear Mr Gallie atttacking a
company which supports Scotland to such a degree just because it made a
sound commercial choice.''
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