Newsdesk – General Aviation

In the context of the industry as a whole. general aviation represented about 75 per cent of total hours flown in 69/70 and this rose to about 82 per cent in 78/79, quite an achievement for general aviation Growth at present is dampened a little by high cost of avgas yet the higher-performance singles and the light two-seat trainers are still maintaining good sales. Commuter aircraft are selling very well as are all forms of turbine-powered aircraft and helicopters.

Piper, Cessna Trim Excess Production:

Soaring interest rates and the avgas situation have badly hit the piston engine segment of the US aircraft industry. During April, both Cessna and Piper suspended production of almost all their models for two to five weeks in addition to cutting their work forces by several thousand Piper retrenchments will affect 5200 people at three centres, Santa Maria, Lock Haven and Vero Beach. The only aircraft not affected by the situation will be the Cheyenne II. Navajo C/R and the Navajo Chieftain. Cessna have had to retrench 1500 employees with a further 1500 laid idle through to May owing to parts supply difficulties on some of the better-selling models Cessna’s employment in December 1979 was 21,187 as against 17,500 in mid-April with the deficit comprising 1770 indefinite layoffs, 1500 temporary layoffs and normal attrition GA piston engined sales are expected to rise again when interest rates fall, credit eases and avgas becomes more plentiful.

 Twin Safety

Crashes following engine failure are four times more likely to be fatal in twin-engined aircraft than in singles. according to a US National Transportation Safety Board enquiry. The NTSB cites a higher aircraft speed, higher aircraft weight, often unusual aircraft handling tendencies with an engine out and a greater degree of pilot panic and lack of confidence as contributing to the end result of a fatality From 1972 to 1976 there were 477 engine failures involving light twins, of which 123 were fatal, claiming 289 lives Collisions with water, the ground, high ob jects or stalls accounted for 92 per cent of the accidents NTSB cites lack of proper training as the single most important cause for an accident following loss of an engine on a light twin.

What’s All the Noise About?

Aircraft often get blamed for creating a lot more Norse than they actually do. While we sympathise with those living under the flight paths near major airports (though in fairness the people knew the planes were there before they bought their homes). It’s timely to publish the actual decibel readings of some common noise makers in modern society The following figures are supplied with thanks from the US General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association. Home lawn mower (two-stroke) 98db, Cham saw (two-stroke) 97db, Air-driven grinder 95db, Heavy diesel-powered vehicles about eight metres distant 92db, Heavy city road traffic 92db, Loudly reproduced orchestral music m large room 82db, ranging alarm clock at one metre 80db, New technology business et (Falcon, Lear, Citation etc) at 1000ft 77db, Vacuum cleaner at three metres 69db, GA piston aircraft 68db, Busy restaurant 65db, Conversational speech 60db, Window air conditioner 55db. The report from GAMA does have some holes For instance the GA aircraft is not defined as which type and under which flight conditions it is operated. The window air conditioner can vary considering as can the average busy restaurant Still it provides an interesting comparison on which to base a community action protest against lawnmowers and chainsaws!

Citation Deliveries Set Record in 1979:

Cessna reports deliveries of 140 Citation business Jets in calendar 1979, an increase of 60 per cent over the previous year, Deliveries were almost equally divided between Citation I (61) and Citation II (79). In 1978 the company delivered 87 Citations.

Through December, Cessna had delivered 645 Citation fanjets, including 349 of the original model introduced in 1972, 179 of the improved Citation I which followed in 1977, and 117 of the larger, faster Citation II introduced in 1978.

When the Citation was introduced in 1972, Cessna announced a sales objective of 1000 aeroplanes in the first 10 years. “We will surpass that objective,” said Derek Vaughan, general manager of the Citation marketing division, “and we plan to deliver 2000 Citations m the second decade. ”

The present general aviation international business jet fleet of 2600 aircraft is already larger than the domestic airline jet fleet of 2300 aircraft. By the end of the decade, based on current trends, the general aviation jet fleet should exceed 6000 aircraft, about double the airline Jet fleet of 3100.

“Cessna’s projected Citation sales should allow us to achieve 50 per cent of the business Jet market by the end of this calendar year,” Vaughan said “Orders for the Citation I currently extend through m,d- 1981, for the Citation II into 1982, and for the Citation Ill through 1983. ”

The advanced, intercontinental citation is currently in flight test and is scheduled for FAA certification late in 1981. A second prototype of this swept-wing, 540mph fanjet is scheduled to make its first flight in February. The citation can carry 13 passengers and will operate at 51,000 feet with a maximum range of 3450 miles.

GA Sales Trends:

The US-based General Aviation Manufacturers Association recently released sales data on GA aircraft m the USA Overall sales results for 1979 reflected a strong growth in the turboprop and Jet markets as against a mild decrease in the sales of light piston-engined singles. Though the figures specifically relate to the USA they do tend to reflect the local situation where the basic market parameters are the same.

On the good news side, 1979 was the seventh consecutive year to post record sales billings in addition to being the first ever two billion dollar year. In 1979 a shift continued to occur from the light single engine aircraft to the higher performance aircraft that are used for business purposes.

For 1979 there were 12,693 single-engine aircraft delivered worth approximately $490m. This was 7 per cent down on the 13,651 delivered during 1978. High interest rates, tight money supply, and rising avgas prices coupled with doubtful supply hit the light single heavily. On the other hand, the high-performance single market actually grew which again reflected the business use that these higher-performance aircraft are being used for. A s credit increases and avgas becomes more plentiful the light single situation will again return to its former growth rate,

The 1979 forecast for multi engine piston aircraft was substantially exceeded This segment accounted for net billings of $557m (up 13 per cent) on the delivery of 2843 aircraft, 343 above forecast projections. Again, the increased sales are attributed to expanded sales to businesses, as well as a heavy demand by air taxi and commuter operators for both passenger and cargo capacity. For 1980, the projection is for the shipment of 2700 aircraft in this category reflecting a softening in the light twin piston-engined category.

The star performer for 1979, and indeed the future, was of course the after-burning turboprop and pure Jet. 1979 turboprop sales accounted for approximately $550m (up 40 per cent) in factory net billings on the delivery of 637 aircraft. 1980 forecasts call for the delivery of 725 aircraft amounting to $797 million dollars in value. The only problem in the industry ability to maintain supply for such a rapidly growing market.

The pure jet market also greatly exceeded previous market projections with 282 Jets being delivered in 1979 for a net worth of more than $540 million dollars 1980 projections call for 310 jets valued at $775 million.