Newsdesk – Commercial

Here is How It Works: during the lower altitude parts of a flight, a pump and washer system built into the wings and empennage will eject a mixture of ethylene glycol and water on the surfaces. This continuous flow acts as a protective coating or film.

“Now, Instead of colliding with the wing’s surface and accumulating, bugs will slide off. ” The anti-freeze type mixture that will be used will have the added benefit of preventing the leading edges from Icing. ” “It’s an important step”, said Breslow, who acts as the technical monitor In the Lockheed/NASA effort. The bug alleviation work is part of a Laminar Flow Control program that eventually will lead to flight testing of the LFC leading edge of a Lockheed-manufactured JetStar aeroplane.

The flight test is scheduled for 1981. Later, a test Involving the entire wing will be conducted. Future aircraft that will Incorporate systems like the laminar flow will have a potential fuel efficiency 200 to 250 per cent greater than that of today’s aircraft.

FOURTH SUPERJET FOR CATHAY: Cathay Pacific Airways will buy a fourth Boeing 747, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company confirmed today.

The new Rolls-Royce powered aircraft, will be delivered in December 1980. Cathay Pacific currently has two 747s on order with April and July 1980 deliveries scheduled. The airline also holds options on an additional two 747s.

Cathay took delivery of its first 747 In July and is using the superjet on routes to Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul.

FUEL THE BIG WORRY: I have fond memories of flying my car for under $5 In those energy-filled pre-OPEC days of the late ’60s. Nowadays $5 of fuel, even In a small car will barely stretch to 200 kilometres. As motorists, if you think airlines who have to even bulk purchase tanker loads of avatar to ensure supply at remote ports. This year alone Qantas has estimated that fuel costs have Increased its overall daily operating costs by more than $220,000 a day. Qantas now spends over $500,000 a day on fuel. In percentage terms, the airline has had to cope with a 206 per cent increase in fuel expenditure over the last two years. Even more disarming Is that quite often a jet will land at a port only to find that it has to literally bid on the open market for sufficient fuel to complete the next sec­ tor. Qantas, unofficially of course, feel ex­tremely confident in their purchase of RB-211 powered 747s as this aircraft will be able to fly the Kangaroo Route with one stop at full payload while burning less fuel than alternative engines. A 5 per cent saving In overall fuel consumption can nowadays mean the difference between breaking even and losing revenue on a flight.

TWO MORE AIRLINES TO RE-ENGINE DC-81 WITH CFMS8 ENGINES: Cargolux and Spantax became the fourth and fifth airlines to sign contracts with CFM International to re-engine their current DC-8 Serles 60 fleets with CFM International CFM56 engines.

The orders from Cargolux and Spantax, when combined with the previous orders from United, Flying Tigers and Delta, the first airlines to place orders to re-engine their DC-8 Series 60 aircraft with the CFM56 engine, amount to over $500 million plus spares.

The CFM56 is a modern high bypass engine in the 24,000lb thrust class with low fuel consumption and low noise and emissions. Re-engining of both military and commercial aircraft like the DC-8 and 707 is expected to add years of productive life to these aeroplanes while meeting the most stringent noise and emission regulations and providing significant fuel economics.

MORE TRISTARS: British Airways has announced the order of six more Lockheed L-1011 Tristar jets. The Dash 200 aircraft will be primarily used by BA subsidiary British Airtours on European and Middle East routes. The new Trlstars will replace VC-10 aircraft on these routes and will bring to 21 the number of Trisler jets operated and on order from British Airways.

AEROMEXICO GOES McD: In what must ordered two DC-1O trajects and six DC-9 twin Jets including three of the Super 80 variant. These aircraft will also be the first DC-9 Super 80s to be powered by the 20,000lb thrust P&W JT8D-217 which will be ideally suited to Mexico’s hot and high conditions. The not-so-good news for McD was the decision by Alitalla to order nine Boeing 747s In place of six DC-10 airliners. The order was almost in the McD bag when the Chicago accident occurred, delaying the final signing of the contract till the point where Italian government intervention swayed Alitalia over to the Boeing camp.

AIRLINES GET INTO THE OIL ACT: Who would have thought 10 years ago that as we enter a new decade commercial airlines would be forced Into acquiring shareholdings In oil refining companies Just to ensure a continued flow of fuel? Well, fact Is stranger than fiction and Just that Is happening in the US where Federal Express, the large-scale user of freight-configured Falcon Jets and United Airlines are buying Into refining companies. Federal Express has purchased 10 per cent of a refinery In the Memphis region while United are looking at a bigger stake to fuel its large fleet. United currently operate 18 747s, 70 DC-8s, 37 DC-10s, 164 727s and 60 737, on order are 30 767s, 20 727s and five DC-10 Jets.

PRE-OWNED CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT PRICES SOAR IN THE US: As the demand for air transportation Increases beyond the ability of established manufacturers to supply aircraft so too does the second-hand value of good condition commercial and corporate aircraft. This Is occurring in the United States today as firms across the Country specialising In refurbishing old aircraft are unable to satisfy the demand placed on them for updated executive Jets and airliners. Over the past 10 years, the international demand for aircraft has soared, there was a time not so long ago when more than 50 per cent of aircraft were produced for US domestic consumption. Nowadays Europe, Asia and even Africa are purchasing large numbers of US-made aircraft opening up new markets which simply did not exist In any quantity 20 years ago. For instance, In 1971/72 Australia imported 141 GA category aircraft, largely from the USA, in 77/78 that number rose to 668 which is indicative of trends on a worldwide basis. IATA have also released a study which conservatively estimates commercial scheduled free world air traffic rising at almost 10 per cent per annum through till 1984. Executive jets, corporate and commuter turboprop twins and the new generation of airliners will be the primary boom area of this region of traffic growth.

BIG SPENDERS: The US Air Transportation Association has estimated that US scheduled airlines will invest $80 billion In equipment during the 1980s, this Is $20 billion upon an estimate made by the Association In 1976. At that time it was estimated that traffic growth would average 6 per cent per annum, in fact, It has since doubled that figure and a revised estimate for the decade ahead lists growth at 10 per cent PA. The $80 billion will largely be shared between Boeing, McD and Lockheed.

EXPORT BOOM: The benefits of having a strong export-oriented aerospace market for a nation go beyond matters of security. Figures released recently by the US Commerce Dept Indicate that the net value of aerospace exports from the US in 1979 will top $12. 5 billion. And in a nation running an ever-growing foreign exchange deficit that is good news with a capital G.

AIR RHODESIA MODIFIES VISCOUNTS TO COUNTER SAMS: Following the loss of two Viscount prop-Jets Air Rhodesia has introduced a number of modifications to their fleet of Viscounts to counter terrorist fired SA-7 missiles. The primary modification consists of exhaust extension baffles to shift the heat source further aft of the wing. The second alteration Is a matt grey paint scheme which eliminates reflections from the sun an Immediate Infra­ red heat source which is ideal for homing In the SA-7. Air Rhodesia officials also stated that at rural airports the Viscounts always make their take-off climbing into the sun.

SHORTS EXPANDING PRODUCTION: Shorts 330 commuter aircraft continues to sell well, particularly In the North American market. The current production backlog is one and a half years with two aircraft being produced each month at the end of 1979. Shorts hopes to increase this to three and eventually to lour units a month In the next year providing sufficient skilled labour can be found. The lack of highly trained personnel presents the entire aerospace industry with a formidable problem at present. Many UK-based engineers have fled to the better-paid and more livable climate of North America leaving the UK and some European aerospace firms short on recruits. In the meantime, Shorts continues conceptual studies on their proposed 30/50 seat commuter aircraft.

COMMUTER OPPORTUNITIES IN BRITAIN: British Airways has identified 26 domestic routes which it has classified as chronically unprofitable. These routes currently account for 17 per cent of BA’s UK network yet generate less than 12 per cent of revenue. Furthermore, by withdrawing from these services, BA can retire 15 of its 20 Viscounts which If replaced with new aircraft would require an investment of nearly $A180m which BA considers is good money after bad. If BA does withdraw from the routes a number of small US-style commuter operators could fill the vacuum with Metro and Bandeirante-type aircraft. This mode of operation has proven highly successful in the United States and could also offer new sales avenues for the Shorts 330 and BAe’s new Jetstream.

CONCRETE, STEEL or EARTH?: One of Japan’s biggest problems is a chronic lack of flat land. Therefore when an International airport is planned for the huge metropolis of Osaka a number of alternatives must be considered. One such alternative that has won considerable support from the local government Is that of a floating airport in Osaka Bay. The structure would rest on a floating box of either steel or concrete and would provide a considerable amount of work for local concrete plants and steel mills if the project should get the go-ahead. While it may sound bizarre it must be added that the Japanese are specialists In overcoming unique problems with innovative solutions.

737TH BOEING 737: The 737th Boeing 737 was ordered on September 27 when Bavaria Fluggesellschaft MBH of Munich, Germany announced the purchase of two of the twinjets.

The $US25 million order makes Bavaria the 87th customer for the Boeing 737, a short-to-medium range jetliner that has enjoyed a sales resurgence over the past two years.

With a gross weight maximum of 125,000lb, they will be powered by Pratt and Whitney JT8D-17 engines. The combination of high engine power and increased gross weight will give Bavaria the capability of flying non-stop with a full load of 130 passengers between Munich and Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands.

The privately-owned carrier will begin charter services from Bavaria and other West German areas to Mediterranean destinations upon delivery of the two Boeing 737s.

CONCORDSKI BACK IN SERVICE: The troubled TU-144 supersonic airliner is reported to be back in scheduled airline service in the USSR. The main improvement to the aircraft is the installation of a much-improved engine which allows the TU-144 to maintain supersonic cruise without having to resort to 50 per cent constant reheat as in the old NK-144 engines. This has effectively extended the range of the TU-144 by as much as 1000 nautical miles.

JAPANESE BUY BOEING 787a: All Nippon Airways have announced plans to purchase 25 of the aircraft.

The Japanese carrier said the order for 25 firms and 15 options has a total value of about $US1. 5 billion exclusive of engine costs. No engine selection has been made. The first deliveries will be in early 1983.

The order Is the largest placed this year for the fuel-efficient 767. The program got underway in July 1978 with a 30-plane order by United Airlines. American Airlines purchased 30 in November 1978, and Delta Air Lines 20 in the same month. Pacific Western Airlines of Canada ordered four In December 1978, and Air Canada 12 in July 1979.

The airline will operate the new 767-200 in a 229-passenger one-class configuration.

AEROFLOT ACCEPTS FIRST IL-88: September 24 saw the first wide-bodied IL-86 being officially handed over to Aeroflot. The type is being rushed into service to cater for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games though according to a Soviet trade publication, the type could be excluded from many major Russian airports due to the lack of suitable ground support equipment. The IL-86 resembles the Boeing 707 from a distance and seats up to 350 passengers is powered by lour 28,6001b turbofans and has a maximum lull-load range of 2500 miles.

AIR TRANSPORT STATISTICS: Provisional air transport statistics for the quarter and the 12-month period ended September 30, 1979, showed increases In the carriage of both passengers and freight, compared with the same periods last year. Australia’s domestic airlines carried 2. 879 million passengers In the quarter that ended September 30, 1979 – an increase of 120,500 or 4. 4 per cent on the same period last year.

Domestic passengers carried during the 12 months to the end of September 1979 reached a new high of 10. 846 million – an increase of 422,000 or 4.0 per cent over the 12 months to September 30, 1978.

Ansett and TAA carried 5 per cent more passengers in the September quarter compared with the June quarter, while the number of standby passengers Increased by 16 per cent to about 2. 8 per cent of the total passenger traffic of these two airlines during the same period.

Mr Nixon said freight carried was 34,056 tonnes for the September quarter (up 3. 8 per cent, and for the 12 months was 129,183 (up 5. 3 per cent). Figures for mail were 3383 tonnes for the quarter (up 2. 9 per cent) and 13,257 (up 10. 5 per cent) for the 12-month period.

Despite the increases in the carriage of passengers and freight, hours flown for the September quarter were down slightly (3. 0 per cent) to 71,180. Hours flown during the 12-month period also fell by around 1. 9 per cent to 276,216.

Comparative passenger and freight figures over recent quarters were:

Percentage Increases Over Previous Year

Quarter Ended        Passenger    Freight
September 1978      +5.2              +5.9
December 1978       +2.5              +2.0
March 1979              -0.1                +6.7
June 1979                 +9.5              +8.8
September 1979      +4.4              +3.8

NINES FOR CHINA: McDonnell Douglas have reached an agreement In principle with the government of the People’s Republic of China for the purchase of up to 50 DC-9 Super 80 Jet transports. The agreement provides for a small amount of local Chinese participation In the assembly of the aircraft and would provide the basis for developing a modern Jet passenger fleet for CAAC, the national airline.

WILCOX AND INTERSCAN AUSTRALIA SIGN MLS DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION PACT: Wilcox Electric Inc, a subsidiary of the Northrop Corporation, and Interscan Australia Pty Ltd (IAPL), an Australian Government enterprise, have concluded an agreement outlining the development, production and marketing of the Australian-designed interscan microwave landing system (MLS). The venture is aimed at capturing a major share of the estimated $2 billion world market for these advanced all-weather landing systems. The organisations will pool their resources. In Canberra on October 12, 1979, the president of Northrop, Dr Thomas A. Paine, and the managing director of IAPL, Mr Henry Pearce, announced the agreement and told a press conference that It opened up a major opportunity for Australian industry which will supply parts for MLS systems on a partnership basis. They said it provides a tremendous opportunity for Australia to enter a new technology “at the frontiers of knowledge” First inquiries have already been received from Canada, Alaska and Brazil and the first Installations are likely to be at airports where the conventional high­ frequency Instrument landing system will not operate.

MORE CANADIAN BOEINGS: CP Air has selected the Boeing 767 as its choice for the wide-bodied jetliner to satisfy Its fleet expansion and growth requirements of the· 1980s.

The Vancouver, Canada-based carrier said the firm order for four new-generation 767-200 Jetliners, plus options for an additional four aircraft, represents an expenditure of about $US340 million.

CP Air becomes the seventh customer for the 767. The order brings total firm sales of the 767 to 125 aircraft and options to 118.

In CP Air’s layout, the twin-engined airliner will seat 208 passengers, 18 In first class and 190 In economy.

DEPARTMENT OF WHAT?: Elsewhere In this Issue we review the fate of the fabulous little Vlcta Alrtourer. How this Australian success story was killed outright by total denial of government support at a time when a little help would have produced a big dividend was supposed to be something from the past. Nowadays, with the heavily staffed Department of Productivity churning away In the nation’s interest we can sleep soundly at night With the assumption that an export-oriented firm would not be denied fair support if a big overseas sale was In the offing. Apparently not so. It Is no secret that throughout October there were considerable efforts being made by a French middleman to purchase 100 Nomad aircraft for South Africa. An agreement on a sale of this size would allow GAF to more than double Nomad’s monthly production rates thereby increasing overall plant efficiency, workforce size and most Importantly the Inflow of foreign capital Into Australia.

Under UN Resolution 488 of 1977, Australia cannot export any Item that could be used in a military role to South Africa. Therefore, Australia (that means you and me) will lose this $120m order. Another na­tion, probably Europe, will win the con­ tract and South Africa will eventually get Its aircraft anyway. It is difficult to rationally support this veto on apartheid grounds alone when we as a nation are bending over backwards to sell this aircraft to the People’s Republic of China and Indonesia which have track records for human abuse which are beyond compare with the relatively conser­ vative regime In South Africa. You don’t have to be a military strategist to look at a map of the world, then have a good look at exactly where South Africa lists In relation to future secure sea trade routes to fathom that If South Africa ever fell to the Soviets then for the West It would be back to the horse and cart.

ROLLS BANK ON PROPS: Rolls-Royce is examining the feasibility of developing Its Tyne engine for possible use on turboprop-powered airliners In the 80-100 seat category. Rolls consider that jet-powered aircraft In this class will be uneconomical to operate by the end of this decade and that the advanced-design propeller and modern turboprop will offer a far quieter and more fuel-efficient alternative without necessarily being handicapped by lower speeds. One wonders what the British Aerospace chaps at Hatfield are busily working on the Avco Lycoming powered BAe146 think of the report!

EASTERN PURCHASES 10 MORE 727- 200S: Eastern Airlines, which operates 128 Boeing 727s, have announced the purchase of 10 more of the trljets.

The carrier described the move as another step in a continuing program of fleet modernisation. Eastern plans to sell 23 of the early 727-100s, Including seven In 1980, as it replaces them with the higher-capacity 727-200 airliners.

Eastern also is a kickoff customer for the new-technology Boeing 757, having ordered 21 of the 178-passenger twinjets for delivery starting In early 1983.

The announcement brings total of 727 orders as of early November to 1715 aircraft.

NEW NAME, NEW PLANES: Transamerica Airlines of Oakland, California, has ordered three Boeing 747- 200C (Convertibles) valued at about $US200 million.

The airline, formerly Trans International Airlines, said it had three more 747s on option and the total cost of the eight­ aeroplane package would be $US550 million. These will be the first Boeing airplanes In the airline’s fleet, which currently consists of 36 jet and propeller planes.

The new 747s will have a gross takeoff weight of 820,000lb and will have the optional side cargo door as well as the hinged nose cargo door.

The order brings to 510 the total number of 747s sold, of which 12 are full convertible models.