Windsor Locks-based Hamilton Sundstrand is among aerospace companies around the world that face a major loss of business if Europe’s Airbus Industrie decides to scrap its A400M military cargo plane project.
Dropping the four-engine turboprop cargo plane project is among actions that Airbus is considering, Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said in an Associated Press report. The company has prepared lists of engineers working on the A400M who could be transferred to civilian programs should the military plane program “continue to contribute to a loss,” Schaffrath told the AP.
Hamilton makes propellers for the planes through its Ratier-Figeac subsidiary in France. It was unclear what the fallout would be for Hamilton if the program ends. Company spokesman Dan Coulom said Hamilton has no comment.
Hamilton in 2003 won an $830 million to develop and produce the propeller system for the plane. The A400M had its maiden flight in December in Spain, missing by months its originally scheduled March 2009 first flight. When the program started in 2004, seven governments — Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, and Turkey placed advanced orders for a combined 180 planes. But with delays and cost overruns, some of the governments have balked at going forward.
