TECHNOLOGY - Aug. 13, 1996

Mitsubishi, Bombardier to Develop Passenger Aircraft: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said it has started negotiations with Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. to build a commercial passenger aircraft. “We are hoping to make regional jet aircraft” that will use the wing technology of the Global Express aircraft, said Masami Yoshida, a spokesman for Tokyo-based Mitsubishi. “But we haven’t started discussing details yet.” The Global Express is a corporate jet jointly developed by Mitsubishi and Bombardier. The first of the $34-million aircraft, which can carry eight passengers and four crew members, will be unveiled Aug. 26. Its maiden flight is scheduled for September. Yoshida said the two companies are hoping to make a 100-seat aircraft in their latest cooperative effort.