Aero International (Regional) or AI(R) was a short-lived multi-national consortium intended to merge the businesses of the French-Italian Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) and British Aerospace Regional Aircraft (BAe) (which comprised Avro International Aerospace and Jetstream Aircraft).[1][2][3]

AI(R) was launched in 1996 to perform marketing, sales, support and aircraft development of the partners' transport aircraft and to oversee future programs.[4]

In its first year of operation, AI(R) earned USD1.3b on sales of 38 turboprops and 21 regional jets.[5]

AI(R)'s product range included the British Aerospace Jetstream 31 and 41, but BAe announced it would cease production in May 1997.[6] The proposed Jetstream 61, an improved British Aerospace ATP, was cancelled because it overlapped with the already established ATR 72.

AI(R)'s AIRJET project studied a new 70-seat regional jet for two years developed from the ATR-42,[7] before deciding not to proceed in December 1997, after BAe decided it would not make a major investment in the project.[8][9]

In 1997 another plan to build a 100-seat jet with Asian partner companies was transferred to Airbus Industrie.[10]

The organization disbanded in July 1998, with ATR and British Aerospace regaining full independence.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Aero International (Regional)
  2. ↑ International Directory of Company Histories, vol. 24, St James Press, p. 88
  3. ↑ Domenico Ferreri (2003), "Characteristics of the Civil Aeronautical Industry", Marketing and management in the high-technology sector, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 139, ISBN 978-1-56700-524-0
  4. ↑ Ross Tieman, Industrial Correspondent (1995-06-07), "BAe joins regional aircraft venture.", Times [London, England]
  5. ↑ Charles Goldsmith (1997-02-06), "AIR Says Revenue Totaled $1.3 Billion in Initial Year", The Wall Street Journal
  6. ↑ "British Aerospace Jetstream 41".
  7. ↑ Richard Payne (2004). Stuck on the ground: Unbuilt British Commercial Aircraft Since 1945. Tempus. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-7524-3172-7.
  8. ↑ Charles Goldsmith (1997-12-11), "European Consortium Decides Not to Build Regional Jetliner", The Wall Street Journal
  9. ↑ Peder A Andersen (1998-11-01). "The Changing Structure of the Global Large Civil Aircraft Industry and Market: Implications for the Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry". p. 3-25. SSRN 1452731.
  10. ↑ "AIR plane still on course", The Independent, March 1998
  11. ↑ Avro RJ85 / BAe 146
  12. ↑ "Split-up of the Aero International (Regional) consortium appears inevitable". Aviation Week. Informa PLC. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  13. ↑ J Paul Hodgson (31 March 2021). Britain's Glorious Aircraft Industry: 100 Years of Success, Setback and Change. Air World. ISBN 978-1-5267-7467-5.
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