Dassault seems almost certain to win government planes contract

Out of three companies bidding in a tender to deliver six VIP aeroplanes to the government, French Dassault Aviation offering 900 EX Falcons, is now ti pped to be the winner. Its rivals in a bid worth $240 million, include Amer ican Gulfstream and Canada's Bombardier. The numerous restrictions which we re stated by the bidding commission, such as an obligation of having three engines or the number of passengers limited to 19, were only fulfilled by t he French company. The head of the bidding commission, Marek Żwirski, said that other companies, such as Boeing, Dorniere or Embraer were not invited to the bid because their product did not fulfill technical or safety requir ements. The final result will probably be announced in early July. (Rzeczpo spolita, April 12-13, p. B1) A.K.