Popular Post snoop1130 31125 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 PHOTO: RTAF News The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is in talks with the United States to purchase a new airbus to replace the old one, according to the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Alongkorn Vannarot. He said the new airbus procurement will take place in the 2024 fiscal year to replace the Airbus 340, which has been in service for 18 years. The airbus has previously been used for humanitarian missions in Turkey and will be retired in 2026. “The replacement requires a substantial budget,” the commander-in-chief admitted,” However, it is necessary.” Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/03/15/thai-air-force-eyes-buying-new-airbus/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-03-15 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information 1 1 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yorkshire Tea 2172 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 Why have talks with US? 10 5 3 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zzaa09 9451 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 Couldn't this public expenditure be more productive and practical towards the benefit of the commons? 6 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tomazbodner 9475 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 2 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? Exactly. Why talk to US about a plane made in France (and bits and pieces of it all over Europe)... or is this about technology export controls when selling to a military? If latter, why not just get TG buy one, and have military loan it? 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post soi3eddie 6366 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 (edited) 57 minutes ago, tomazbodner said: Exactly. Why talk to US about a plane made in France (and bits and pieces of it all over Europe)... or is this about technology export controls when selling to a military? If latter, why not just get TG buy one, and have military loan it? Why even do that, just get down to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and select another pristine model before it rots into the ground? Why not a nice big Boeing B747 or an Airbus A380? Very nice planes and plenty of space for generals and cronies! Even better for humanitarian needs too!!! At this time, does the Thai air force really need a "new" plane? An 18 year old airframe still has at least 12 years left of service at least. Edited March 15 by soi3eddie 9 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tomazbodner 9475 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 (edited) That would require some common sense, wouldn't it? Edited March 15 by tomazbodner 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post uktony 75 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 I thought Airbus was European, not American ? Why in talks with America ? 5 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post radjag 87 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 Several A340's were very foolishly bought by Thailand years ago to serve very long haul routes (e.g. BKK-JFK direct), but they are one of the most fuel inefficient planes in the market. Most airlines (including TG) stopped using them for commercial flights years ago. Most of them are sitting in arid desert storage yards waiting to be scrapped. As to why they are now talking to the USA - most likely to do with the aircraft leasing company that the General's favour (ask no questions.......) since they are unlikely to want to deal directly with the manufacturer. 4 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millcx 1076 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 This was probably first thing the new transport minister did before he bought his leather seat for his office 5555 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Searat7 1157 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 THAI originally had 10 A 340’s including the one currently used by the Air Force. I believe there are still 2 or 3 of these which remain unsold and presumably these have low operating hours for their age as they have been stored for years. Why not use one of those if the current plane really needs to be replaced ? 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli 51750 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 12 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? I don't get that either, they should be talking to Airbus in Toulouse France? Unless they're buying a second-hand aircraft from someone? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bday Prang 3106 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 12 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? Probably not that easy , might be a bit more involved , approaching the company direct and asking for a fraudulent receipt for 5 times what they will actually be spending might be awkward. it is probably necessary to employ a few middlemen and spread the paper trail far and wide to hide where the money actually ends up I think there was an incident a few years ago where somebody at Thai Airways nearly got caught doing something similar with Rolls-Royce engines a few years ago.They must have learnt from their mistakes, and have modified their procedures I wouldn't worry too much about their methods, they are experts at this, they do it for a living and have been at it for generations 2 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olav Seglem 327 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Stupid. There are lots of planes for rent. If they should ever need one. But guess top brass dont like traveling buiness class together with "commoners" :-) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mikebell 21126 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 This plane is needed desperately now Thai Air have scrapped free tickets for VIPs and their gardeners. 1 1 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bangkok Barry 17717 Posted March 15 Popular Post Share Posted March 15 13 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? Yes, bizarre isn't it. Either it's very poor reporting (again) and the article doesn't say and no-one asked why they are talking to the US about buying a European aircraft, or the air force have no idea where the airbus is built. If anywhere is outside of Thai borders they don't have a clue. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkok Barry 17717 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 59 minutes ago, Bday Prang said: Probably not that easy , might be a bit more involved , approaching the company direct and asking for a fraudulent receipt for 5 times what they will actually be spending might be awkward. You, like the Thai air force, clearly don't know that the airbus is built in a number of European countries and has nothing at all to do with the US. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
malibukid 3137 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 10 hours ago, soi3eddie said: Why even do that, just get down to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and select another pristine model before it rots into the ground? Why not a nice big Boeing B747 or an Airbus A380? Very nice planes and plenty of space for generals and cronies! Even better for humanitarian needs too!!! At this time, does the Thai air force really need a "new" plane? An 18 year old airframe still has at least 12 years left of service at least. humanitarian, mean con concubines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 30979 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I can only presume they are talking to a US leasing broker who they have dealt with or TG deals with in the past. Why not just slip over to Swampy and pick one off the TG rack that isn't being used. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HuskerDo2 2516 Posted March 16 Popular Post Share Posted March 16 14 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? Because that's who they are buying it from. It's old to the US but NEW to the Royal Thai Airforce thus they refer to it as new. Why they need it is another story. They don't. They said... "The airbus has previously been used for humanitarian missions in Turkey and will be retired in 2026.". How many humanitarian missions do they do each year? A blatant waste of money but someone will get a nice brown envelope for making it happen. 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNROAMIN 1662 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Thai airways have plenty for sale at bargain prices. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom H 474 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I buy at the butcher an orange. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bday Prang 3106 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 40 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said: You, like the Thai air force, clearly don't know that the airbus is built in a number of European countries and has nothing at all to do with the US. Around 20 years ago I was involved in the construction of a large factory at a place called Broughton near Chester in the UK. The factory was built for the manufacture of the airbus wings , I am well aware of how Airbus construct their aircraft If you had bothered to read my post properly you would have better understood my assertion, which was,.. That if somebody wanted to indulge in a little corruption and perhaps line their own pockets by maybe purchasing a multi trillion baht aircraft at a possibly greatly inflated price using government money, It might not be as easy as just contacting airbus direct , having a quiet word , asking them to say nothing, and handing over a brown envelope, It might be necessary to involve several third parties to facilitate the process. and just maybe one of these third parties is based in America. The fact that the aircraft are built in several different countries has absolutely nothing to do with my post, I don't understand why you mentioned it. Were you expecting the Thais to fly around europe speaking to every manufacturer of all the various components asking them to load the prices ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETERTHEEATER 6338 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Perhaps they want a replacement for their Boeing 737 which the reporter regards as an air bus. 😋 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
realfunster 3587 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 25 minutes ago, Bday Prang said: It might be necessary to involve several third parties to facilitate the process. and just maybe one of these third parties is based in America. Barking up the wrong tree there in suggesting that a US party is going to get involved in a corrupt deal or would be a preferred option for such a transaction. US law enforcement has very long arms and many powers under FCPA... Our friends to the north-east would be the first call if any shadiness was needed...why do you think so many government procurement deals go via this route ? Is it the exceptional quality of goods they offer ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bday Prang 3106 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 4 minutes ago, realfunster said: Barking up the wrong tree there in suggesting that a US party is going to get involved in a corrupt deal or would be a preferred option for such a transaction. US law enforcement has very long arms and many powers under FCPA... Our friends to the north-east would be the first call if any shadiness was needed...why do you think so many government procurement deals go via this route ? Is it the exceptional quality of goods they offer ? It was only a theory, I have no idea how they actually do this stuff, But I am certain they will be doing it. They literally cannot help themselves 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowtail 4794 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Airbus has (or at least had) a final assembly plant in the US. As to why they would buy from the US likely has to do with trade deficits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
herfiehandbag 12196 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 1 hour ago, HuskerDo2 said: Because that's who they are buying it from. It's old to the US but NEW to the Royal Thai Airforce thus they refer to it as new. Why they need it is another story. They don't. They said... "The airbus has previously been used for humanitarian missions in Turkey and will be retired in 2026.". How many humanitarian missions do they do each year? A blatant waste of money but someone will get a nice brown envelope for making it happen. The problem with using such aircraft for "humanitarian missions" is that the effort in stripping out and then refitting the VIP interior kit is time consuming and expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Srikcir 16570 Posted March 16 Popular Post Share Posted March 16 3 hours ago, hotchilli said: I don't get that either, they should be talking to Airbus in Toulouse France? Unless they're buying a second-hand aircraft from someone? Maybe Thai military "intelligence" thinks USA is in Europe? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlQaholic 2897 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 (edited) 16 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said: Why have talks with US? Very confusing article indeed. The original article talks about replacing an existing Airbus A340 and upgrading a Saab 340, but the picture shows something entirely different (looks like a Tupulev). They talk about airbus rather as a concept than the Airbus brand?? The Saab aircraft is older, if anything needs replacement it would be that one? Edited March 16 by AlQaholic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf001 4959 Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 15 minutes ago, AlQaholic said: but the picture shows something entirely different (looks like a Tupulev). looks like an A340-500 to me. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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