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RIGHT DIRECTION FOR GERMANYS AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS?

1. Research activities concerning the development of a European Megaliner are to be financially supported according to the German share of the Airbus program. These research activities focus on aerodynamics, improvement of materials, light-weight structural parts as well as cabin and other systems.

2. The efforts of the German aerospace industry to place the final assembly of the A3XX in Germany are to be explicitly supported by the German Parliament. The Parliament is to confirm its intention to support the development of a new large airliner equalling the German portion of construction and finance of the program. This is a definite condition for a final assembly plant in Germany.

3. Furthermore, the German production locations are to be strengthened by establishing new components as well as by development of noise- and emission-reduced propulsion systems for planes and helicopters.

4. Research and development of new propulsion systems (hydrogen) and next-generation, alternative environmental-friendly aircraft (airships?) are to be increasingly supported according to the government parties.

5. Finally, research efforts are to be extended on new navigation systems which improve the possibilities of helicopters in rescue operations and difficult weather conditions.

These intentions are to be accomplished as planned. For 1999 there were 137 million German Marks available, as it was announced in Parliament.

The intention to finance the A3XX and the attempt to base the assembly line in Germany is very honourable, except for the almost touching inconsiderateness concerning the complex hydrogen problems as well as the kind of pre-puberty dream of a commercially sound revival of passenger airships. Therefore the German government once again exposes itself with these initiatives as a rather badly informed administration.

As it should be known in parliamentary circles, the budget for 1999 is to be announced no sooner than in June of this year. New spending decrees can only be issued after this announcement. Because of the payment conditions for government grants, the funds can only be paid for one quarter of the year. Consequently, there can possibly be only 92 instead of the 137 million German Marks at the government's disposal for the aviation research program.

Of these 92 million Marks, 77 million originate from old budgets of the first research support program as well as other previous budgets. Thus, only 15 million really come from Bonn. Since likewise the share of the federal states can only be calculated for one quarter of the year, merely 15 million might flow from this source, if at all. Compared to the original budget plan, 60 million Marks from Bonn, 60 million Marks from the federal states, 90 million Marks were saved. Well done indeed!

But this very well suits the overall picture. Our minister of research, Edelgard Buhlmahn, is saving money too, in this respect. But in other words she actually spends more money, yet of course not for aerospace matters. Compared to the plans of her predecessor Rüttgers, she simply reduced the budget for international co-operation in spaceflight to 970 million Marks, a decrease of 30 million Marks, and she also cut down the national space program by 16 million Marks to a total value of only 310 million. This is barely enough to cover existing obligations.

Future programs like the evaluation of re-usable space vehicles (Future Launchers Technology Program, FLTP) to support and eventually replace the launch system Ariane are likely to take place without German participation. Even the German usage of the International Space Station could be in jeopardy. We helped to finance these programs, at least up to now, but only the others are commiting themselves to further research and development.

Regarding funding cuts, the German armed forces, which one apparently does not need as well, is forced to repair damaged windows of Transall transport planes in a very crude way: they are simply welded shut. But after all, we still have the airships.

From page 4 of FLUG REVUE 5/99