4A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16.2007
TRANSPORTATION
Airbus releases jumbo jet
Production of A380 plane faces challenges of redesign, electrical layouts
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The first production Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, bearing the colors of Singapore Airlines, was delivered in a ceremony in southern France on Monday. The plane's cabin has wider seats and aisles and other amenities designed to make business travel more comfortable.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TOULOUSE, France - Nearly two years late, Airbus finally delivered its first A380 superjumbo on Monday, a revolutionary behemoth that includes luxury suites equipped with comfy double beds.
Customer Singapore Airlines says the passenger jet, the world's largest, was worth the wait, and the delivery marks a badly needed morale-boosting milestone for Airbus.
Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Chew Choon Seng said his airline was inconvenienced by the late delivery, but added, "We are glad that Airbus took the time to make sure that the plane is fully tested and developed before it enters commercial service."
For Airbus, big challenges with the problem-ridden plane still lie ahead — not least producing enough of them.
"Increasing A380 production to meet demand remains our greatest challenge for the next years," Chief Executive Thomas Enders said at a handover ceremony at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse, southwestern France.
After delivering the first four
superjumbos to Singapore Airlines, Airbus will have to redesign cabins and electrical layouts for Emirates Airlines and Qantas. It is committed to handing over 13 planes in 2008, 25 in 2009, and 45 in 2010.
Asked 'if he was confident that Airbus is up to the challenge, Enders said: "We have every confidence we can deliver, but what is guaranteed in life?"
Lack of a sure-thing might not go down well with Airbus' 16 customers for the A380, whose patience has already been stretched, nor with potential converts. With 189 orders or firm commitments, Airbus is hoping to see 200 on its books by year-end.
Meanwhile, it looks like Airbus is having problems with its next big project — the A400M military cargo plane.
Tom Williams, Airbus executive vice-president for programs, said difficulties with the engine could push the first flight of the turbo-prop back six months. If the European planemaker is late delivering, "clearly it's not going to be cheap," he told journalists.
U. S. rival Boeing Co. is late too, announcing a six-month delay last week to its hot-selling 787 Dreamliner. But the Chicago-based planemaker still has a five-year lead over Airbus for its competing mid-sized jet, the A350 XWB, which has been set back by multiple redesigns.
The A380's inaugural commercial flight is set for Oct. 25 from Singapore to Sydney. Singapore Airlines has auctioned all seats on the first flight on eBay, raising about $1.25 million for charity.
LAWRENCE
Bella Sera at The Preserve contributes to growing condo trend in KC metro
BY RUSTIN DODD
rdodd@kansan.com
A touch of European flair is coming to Lawrence in the form of a condominium project.
The Bella Sera at The Preserve condominium project, which began construction in May 2006 in western Lawrence, will open its doors to occupants in early November, according to one of the project's leading developers.
Jes Santaularia, founder of Diversified Concepts LLC and one of the two head developers on the project, said the Barcelona building at the Bella Sera at The Preserve condominiums should be finished by the end of 2007. The original plans called for three buildings to be built at the McGrew Nature Preserve, 4700 Bob Billings Parkway. Santaularia said no construction was planned for the Monaco and Genoa buildings until the Barcelona building sold out. As of late September, the Barcelona building, which features 37 condominiums, was 25 percent sold, Santaularia said.
The Bella Sera at The Preserve is the second project of its kind to open in Lawrence in the past two years, and it is part of a growing trend of new loft and condo projects throughout the Kansas City metro area.
"I would expect that we'll have our first owners move into that building maybe the week or two before Thanksgiving," Santaularia said.
The Hobbs Taylor Lofts, at Eighth and New Hampshire streets, opened in January 2006. Eric Danielson is vice president of business for Harris Construction Co., the company that runs the Hobbs Taylor Lofts. Although there are similarities in the timing, style and price of the projects, Danielson sees
many differences as well.
"It's a completely different product." Danielson said. "Theirs is outside the downtown area, and we appeal to the crowd that's more interested in an urban location."
There are 32 units at the Hobbs Taylor Lofts, and Danielson said that all were sold.
"Almost all the people here have some sort of connection with the University," Danielson said. "Either they are a professor, in administration or just working in some department."
Hobbs Taylor sold its units unifurnished at $250,000, while Bella Sera's condos range from $300,000 to $1 million.
Santaularia said that in terms of style of living the comparison between the two projects was fair, but that he couldn't find many similarities after that.
Pat Brady, a senior mortgage consultant for Capital Federal Savings in Overland Park, has witnessed the growing trend of new condo projects in the Kansas City metro area. Brady was the principle loan agent for the loft project inside the Western Auto building at 2107 Grand Blvd. in Kansas City, Mo. That project, completed in 2004, includes 93 units ranging in price from $109,000 to $311,000.
"With condos and lofts, you are basically targeting either young professionals or empty nesters", Brady said. "There is an element with condos where you don't have to worry about yard care or upkeep."
Danielson said he thought baby boomers were ideal candidates for condos because most of their children would have left home.
"They don't have a reason to have a three or four-bedroom house," Danielson said.
Although baby boomers are a large chunk of the buying demographic, Santaularia said that there were other elements unique to
Lawrence that would make Bella Sera successful.
"Lawrence has a very broad base of interest from around the country because of the University," Santalaria said. "You have a lot of people who have ties to Lawrence that don't live here anymore."
Santaularia said about half of the Bella Sera owners were utilizing their condos as second or third homes. Many of the buyers either used to live in Lawrence and want to come back, or they live in Lawrence now but want to spend time traveling.
One problem that Bella Sera is facing is the decline in real estate markets. Santaularia said he was sure the decline in the real estate markets had affected some of the sales numbers at Bella Sera, but he didn't expect the trend to last forever.
"I'm sure that our sales are softer based on what the economy is today," Santaularia said. "But Lawrence is certainly not as soft as the rest of the country, because we don't go through the ups and downs here."
At least one local business is excited about the prospect of 37 new neighbors. Megan McQuin works as a barista at Limerance coffeehouse, 1520 Wakarusa Drive, one block from the Bella Sera site. McQuin said that she thought the new condos were good for the neighborhood.
"Downtown is overdeveloped," McQuin said. "It's good that more and more things are moving out west."
But there may be a ceiling on the number of new real estate projects that Lawrence can support. Santaularia said that he was sure a limit existed, but that it might take some time to learn where the ceiling was.
Edited by Tara Smith
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