Newsdesk – Commercial

The new airliners will bring speed and comfort to both short-haul routes and long-distance flights such as from Sydney to Alice Springs (1130 nm) and Norfolk Island (905 nm). Major factors in EWA’s selection of the Fokker F28 were the aircraft’s superior fuel economy and proven reliability. Another reason was the airline’s wish to replace the Fokker F27 propjet service on the long overwater route to Norfolk Island. The Fokker F28 will halve the four-hour 20-minute flight time of the F27 over this sector. Moreover, the fan jet will do so with 72 passengers as compared with the 38 to which the F27 1s hm1ted because of the fuel reserves required for such a long range.

The Fokker F28s entering service with East-West differ from standard Mk 4000s in three respects, all relating to special prov1s1ons incorporated for the airline’s long-haul flights. The installation of centre-wing t>ag tanks has added 870 US gallons to the standard outer wing fuel capacity, increasing 1t to a total of 3445 US gallons and yielding a range of 2100 nm.

A second special feature is a Global VLF/ Omega long-range navigation system which permits crews to pinpoint the aircraft’s position anywhere over land or sea. All required navigation information is presented to the pilots on a cathode ray tube built into the flight deck Because the system enables the F28 to be flown with high accuracy from point to point independent of radio beacons, It saves fuel as well.

Finally, passengers on long flights will appreciate the generous legroom that results from EWA’s decision to install just 72 seats (instead of the normal capacity for 85) at a seat pitch of 33 inches. Passenger comfort for longer trips is improved by a second toilet and additional galley equipment.

East-West Airlines’ long-standing relationship with Fokker began in 1959 when the earner introduced its first F27 Friendship. With EWA, F27s are regularly operated over longer ranges than are flown by any other Friendships in the world. Over the years the Australian airline has acquired additional F27s and now owns a total of ten. To replace this fleet, East-West Airlines recently decided to order six advanced Fokker F27 Mk 500s which offer larger capacity, improved performance and economy and increased passenger comfort. Deliveries are planned to start later this year.

Six Long-Range DC-9-83s for Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Airlines has announced 11 will be the launching customer for the new McDonnell Douglas super 83 twinjet. The Seattle-based carrier has ordered six Super 83s and has options to purchase three more. The first two aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 1984, with additional aircraft to be delivered in the second quarters of 1985, 1986 and 1987. The cost of the new equipment will be in excess of 170 million dollars.

The Super 83 is a longer-range (2650 statute miles), high payload version of the Super 80, which has flown nearly 30 million passengers more than 117 million miles since 11 began airline service in 1980 The Super 83s will burn about 32 per cent less fuel than Alaska’s 727-200s and will provide other important cost savings

Boeing to Build Stretched 767:

If ever there was an aircraft just waiting to be stretched it would be the Boeing 767. That enormous wing and relatively short fuselage offered plenty of opportunity to present an entire family of stretched variants to satisfy customer needs in the coming decades. Boeing have done just this with the announcement that they will have their first 767-300 ready for airline delivery early in 1986. This aircraft will be roughly comparable to the Airbus A300 (the 767-200 being comparable to the smaller A310) and will feature a 110-inch fuselage stretch forward and aft of the wing and provide seating for up to 290 passengers Boeing claim a per seat mile fuel cut of eight per cent while a long-range version will be capable of sectors out to 4250 statute miles

150-Seater Moves a Step Closer to Reality:

While Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce are in headlong competition with their RB211-535 and PW2037 powerplants for the Boeing 757 the transatlantic rivals have buried the corporate hatchet to team up with MTU of West Germany, Fiat Av1az1one of Italy and the Japanese Aero Engine Corporation to develop and build a dedicated engine for the eventual 150-seater airliners from the late 1980s onwards. Current contenders for this market, all in the early project stage, are the Airbus A320, Boeing 737-400 and 7-7 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-9X and D3300. This new engine will be tailored to suit them and will be a direct competitor for the established General Electric/Snecma CFM56 which 1scurrentlyin production for the DC-8 Series 70 retrofit programme, the USAF KC-135A and Boeing’s 737-300 twinjet.

The consortium will launch the programme officially on July 1 and will aim at having flight certification programmes completed by late 1987. The new engine will encompass much RJ500, PW2037 and RB211-535E4 technology and will be 14 per cent more fuel efficient than the CFM5S A family of engines ranging from 20,000 lb to 30,000 lb thrust will be developed while Rolls Royce and JAEC will be responsible for the compression section of the engine and Pratt & Whitney, MTU and Fiat will be responsible for the expansion section including the turbines and the gearbox.

Boeing Reports Higher First Quarter Earnings:

Boeing has reported an increase in net earnings for the first quarter of 1983 over the corresponding period of the previous year.

The increase was attributable primarily to higher sales volume and a lower level of research, developmental and engineering expenses related to new jet transport programs.

Sales for the first quarter of 1983 were US$2989 million and net earnings were US$90 million. Sales and net earnings for the comparable period of 1982 were US$2089 million and US$61 million.

During the first quarter, airlines announced orders for six Boeing jet transports valued at approximately US$280 million. In the comparable period last year, orders for 23 aeroplanes valued at US$725 million were announced.

The low level of order activity for all manufacturers dramatically illustrates the continuing softness in the commercial jet transport market.

Airbus Optimistic on Prospects for Airlines, Manufacturers:

While the current economic recession has severely affected airlines and manufacturers alike, Airbus Industrie planners are confident that the market for civil airliners to the end of the century will continue to be strong.

‘Generally speaking, the world’s need for civil aircraft with more than 100 seats will be equivalent to an output of one aircraft a day,” said Airbus Vice-President of Marketing, Mr Pierre Pailleret.

‘Current market forecast studies indicate the world’s airlines will take delivery of between 6000 and 7000 new aircraft over the next 15 to 20 years. This is expected to break down as 2500 to 3000 narrow-body aircraft, a similar number of wide-body short to medium-range aircraft and about 1300 long-range.

‘The total value of this investment, in current terms, is about $300 billion Airbus Industrie is poised to secure a reasonable share.’ Mr Pailleret said this forecast had been based on the view widely held by airlines and manufacturers that over the next 20 years, passenger traffic would grow at between five and six per cent a year.

He also pointed to the fact that air transport would remain unopposed as a primary form of transport. There had been no significant threat to the position air transport achieved in recent decades and there was no sign of any technological development in the Immediate future that might pose such a threat.

Airlines were buying, to an increasing degree, small aircraft, he said, mostly to replace similar-sized machines. But the future of wide bodies was ensured by a number of factors – current predictions were for aircraft movements to increase by only 1.7 to 1.9 per cent a year, well below passenger growth.

Mr Pailleret cited as reasons the increasing strain on airports and air traffic control factors, constraints on expanding runway capacities by either building new airports or enlarging existing facilities, increasingly congested airspace and finally, rising operating costs which could only be overcome by increasing productivity through flying more efficient aircraft. Other factors of course affected any forecast of this nature, Mr Pailleret said. On the price of fuel, he said the current price stability would probably be followed shortly by a decrease by the end of the year, to be followed again by an increase in demand for energy in general with the onset of economic recovery. He saw oil prices ultimately rising at the annual rate of inflation plus one per cent.

Boeing 767 Sets New Distance Record:

A Boeing 767 returning from a month-long around-the-world sales demonstration tour has flown nonstop 5500 statute miles (8850 km) from Lisbon, Portugal, to Seattle, Washington, establishing a new distance record for twinJet airliners The previous record fight distance for twInjet airliners was 4990 statute miles (8029 km) from Oslo, Norway, to Seattle on July 21, 1982, also set by a Boeing 767 The takeoff weight for the Lisbon-Seattle flight on March 16 was 312,000 pounds (141,520 kg) and fuel aboard totalled 111,500 pounds. The aeroplane flew all altitudes ranging from 31,000 feet (9450 m) to 41,000 feet (12,496 m) and bucked headwinds of 30 to 35 miles an hour (48 to 56 km/hr).

Fellowship Rejoins Ansett Nsw Operations:

Remember back more than a decade ago when Airlines of New South Wales was operating a ‘borrowed’ Fokker F.28-1000 on the major NSW routes? Well, Air New South Wales is back in the jet age again with ex-AWA aircraft VH-FKD operating an innovative service line in Newcastle with Coolangatta and Brisbane. This service runs Sydney Williamtown Brisbane / Coolangatta and returns on Friday. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The single economy $100 fare from Newcastle to Coolangatta is proving popular and should do much to open new weekend holiday traffic from the two centres. At the time of writing Air New South Wales had no plans to operate the Fellowship on its other major interstate routes, though Jet services to Broken Hill Wagga and Coffs Harbour would be likely once the economy can support such capacity.

Simultaneous Aircraft Operations Now Sanctioned by Department

Building on the experience gained In using simultaneous aircraft movements at Kingsford Smith Airport since last year, the OOIA has now listed a number of airports that will be able to employ the new procedures from July 7. From that date, ATC will be able to intersect runways at. Melbourne, Tamworth, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mt Isa, Adelaide, Perth, Port Hadland, Darwin and Alice Springs. This will speed up traffic flow and will reduce delays experienced by the smaller GA and third-level carriers we don’t need two kilometres of Macadam 10 to get airborne.

Rolls to Launch More Powerful RB211 Powerplant:

Rolls Royce . Will meet Pratt & Whitney’s proposed PW4000 head-on with a new advanced technology variant of its existing RB211-524D4. The new engine would be designated RB211-600 and produce 59,000 lb thrust at takeoff Rolls are discussing the project with Airbus for future application to their stretched A300s, McDonnell Douglas with the MD-100 trijet and Boeing for the 747-300 and growth versions of the 767 twinjet. The new engine will feature supercriucal blade airfoils in the compressor while Rolls Royce’s single-crystal blade technology will be employed to gain the best mix al performance and reliability. Rolls Royce expects a reduction in SFC by at least six per cent over the present generation RB211-52404 which are currently aboard Qantas RR-powered 747s.

Thai Airways International Re-Confirms Airbus Order:

The order for two Airbus Industrie A300-600 aircraft has been reconfirmed by Thai International.

Thai’s A300-600s will be powered by General Electric CF6-80C2 engines and the new agreement includes two further options. Delivery of the first two aircraft will be made m September 1985.

The new generation A300-600s will replace OC-8-63 aircraft in Thai’s fleet and will be configured to seat 262 passengers

Dash 8 Rolls Out, Orders Roll In:

De Havilland Canada’s Dash 8 36-seat airliner recorded eight firm orders on the eve of Its rollout during late April. Rocky Mountain Airways which is also an established Dash 7 operator, converted six Dash 8 options to firm orders while South African operator Magnum Airways has gone firm on two options. Dash 8 sales to date total 53 With options on a further 66 aircraft.

Friendship Set for Rebirth:

There was a time recently when one could be forgiven for believing that there would be few Fokker F 27 Friendships still operating in Australia by 1990. The wave of new highly fuel-efficient airliners in the 30/46-seat range lPOKed set to attack the venerable F27 at the lower end while smaller jets and even BAe’s ATP 748 were offering viable replacements where higher capabilities were required. This has gone full circle, however, with the announcement that Fokker will definitely re-engineer their best-selling twin in an effort to keep it in production right through the nineteen nineties.

Fokker has chosen the Pratt & Whitney PW124-2 of 2150 shp to power the new Friendship in addition to an entirely new digital cockpit and updated avionics fit. The aircraft will also employ the technology composite four-blade Dowty Rotol propellers which will greatly reduce the often excessive noise footprint of current generation F.27s. Fokker are looking at their rejuvenated Friendship having a full 1300 nm range at maximum payload while achieving fuel economies in the region of 30 per cent better than present Dart-powered aircraft. Opportunity for a stretched version of the new F.27 also exists as the PW100 series engine will be ultimately capable of a full 2500 shp allowing growth versions capable of taking up to 70 passengers. With their plans to stretch the F.28 and incorporate Rolls Royce Tay engines and the announcement of the re-engined F.27, Fokker looks set to remain a force to be reckoned with in the second-level airliner market.

Soviet Supersonic Airliner Withdrawn From Service:

The Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic airliner has been officially withdrawn from service. The Soviet Ministry of Civil Aviation has stated that the aircraft is too inefficient and has consistently been plagued by mechanical problems. The Tu-144 first flew on the last day of 1968 following a programme launch in 1963 in direct competition with the Anglo/French Concorde and the then-American SST programmes.

US Domestic Scene Turning Around:

US domestic traffic showed heartening increases in bookings during the March/April period. Some carriers boosted their revenue load factors by ten percentage points while all carriers experienced strong demand for tickets that went beyond the usual rush for the no-frills peak route specials. Despite the number of surplus aircraft currently available, It would only take an upswing In the order of 10 per cent for virtually all surplus aircraft to be back In service. What this means Is that a continued upsurge in traffic, as the economy picks up, would result in a shortfall of capacity that would see a surge of new orders as confidence returned to the international airline community. McDonnell Douglas President, Jim Worst I am, addressing the annual convention of American Aviation Writers, recently predicted e doubling of revenue passenger miles by the year 2000 and a demand for up to 5000 new airliners by 1995. Worsham stated that the largest segment of this market, about 2100 aircraft, would be in the medium range 140/160-seat category. About 1000 aircraft would be needed in the short-range category simply to replace ageing early-generation DC9, Boeing 737 727-100 and BAC 111 aircraft. By 1985, all of the 707 and unmodified DC-8 fleets will be grounded due to stricter environmental requirements opening up an entirely new market for aircraft such as the Boeing 757 and 767, the Airbus A31o and the proposed MDC 100 trijet.

Boeing Ready for A320 Challenge:

Boeing has revealed that they would rely largely upon the 737-300 as a direct short-term challenger to the Airbus A320 once that aircraft was officially launched. Boeing would offer a new wing for the 737-300 whilst retaining the standard CFM56-3 engines. This would provide a highly economical yet relatively inexpensive competitor to an all-new aircraft programme such as the A320. Boeing would also consider a stretched 737-300 which would be designated -500 and would seat close to 150 passengers. The first flight of the 737-300 is scheduled for mid-1984 and it is expected that this will be 737 number 1000.

Nurtanio to Proceed With BK117 Production:

Indonesia’s government Nurtanio aircraft company will build the MBB/Kawasaki BK117 medium helicopter at its Bandung facility. The first example of the type will roll out from Bandung this September assembled from German parts while full-scale local production, which will also include locally made components., will commence in 1985. Nurtanio already are building the Aerospatiale Super Puma, and the NB 105 and will shortly commence production of more than one hundred Bell 412s. The company is also building in conjunction with Casa the C212 Aviocar and again with that company is designing, developing and soon to commence manufacturing the 35-seat CN- 235 commuter airliner. Take note, Australia.

The 727 Bows Out:

Production of the world’s most commercially successful Jet-liner, the 727 trijet, will end in 1984 when No. 1832 is delivered to Federal Express as a pure freighter. To date, more than 2100 million passengers have travelled on the 727 in a fleet of more than eighteen hundred aircraft that have flown more than 19,000 million miles. The 727 revolutionised air transport in Australia when it entered. into operation In 1964 and no doubt will still be used locally right into the nineteen nineties.

Dart Reaches Its First 30 Years in Service:

On April 18 the Rolls-Royce Dart Turboprop celebrated its first 30 years in airline service. It was the first turboprop engine to enter scheduled service when British European Airways introduced the Vickers Viscount on its London-Paris route on April 18, 1953.

Since then more than 7100 Darts have been sold, while more than 1400 Dartpowered aircraft of ten types are in service with 456 operators-173 airlines, 42 military services and 241 executive operators. Darts have accumulated over 100 million hours of operating experience.

Designed originally as a 1000 hp engine, Dart versions with take-off powers up to 3245 ehp have been produced and are in service today. Specific fuel consumption of current types is 22 per cent better than for early Darts, the new Dart Mk 551 which enters service next year will give 10 per cent better fuel consumption. The Dart RDA7 engines which are in widespread use can be upgraded to the Dart 551 standard at overhaul.

Darts are in production today for new British Aerospace 748s and Fokker F 27s. Over 350 BAe 748s have been produced so far and the Fokker F.27 is Europe’s bestselling airliner ever, with more than 750 sold to date.

Eight other types of aircraft are in service with Dart engines. They are the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, Breguet Aliza, British Aerospace Andover, Convair 600, Gulfstream I, Handley Page Herald, Name YS-11 and Vickers Viscount. In addition to Darts manufactured in the United Kingdom, a substantial number of these engines have been built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for Indian-produced BAe748 aircraft.

Airbus and Boeing seek to change Overwater Operations Ruling:

Air-bus and Boeing are meeting with the Federal Aviation Administration in regard to the relaxation of the present 60-minute twin-engine overwater regulations. Boeing in particular are keen to amend the legislation to 120 minutes in an effort to expand markets for their new twins Both manufacturers are capable of producing twin-engined airliners of transoceanic range. Opposition though is coming from the International Federation of Airline Pilots which are more concerned that significant research should be carried out on not so much the primary powerplants but their systems to ensure fail-safe operation in the overwater passenger role. The present FAA rule restricts twin-engined aircraft to a distance no greater than the aircraft could fly at typical single-engine cruise speed in one hour. The British CAA operate the same rule with a 90-minute limit which is similar to the special dispensation East-West enjoyed for their F.27 Norfolk Islands services.

Dakota Tours:

It’s not too late to get aboard Rebel Air’s popular DC-3 for a unique eight-day tour of the outback. The final two of a three-tour programme are set to depart Sydney on June 19 and July 16. This interesting tour takes in a large number of outback attractions Including visits to Birdsville, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Lightning Ridge. If you need a break and want something totally different then call Rebel Air on (02) 349 8384.

Norfolk Jetport Operational:

Construction of the $7.5 million Norfolk runway and taxiway was completed ahead of schedule in late March ready for the official commencement of East West F-28 jet services on April 30. The introduction of the F-28-4000 jet on this service will provide many benefits for Norfolk Island including a halving of the block time, greater comfort and the opportunity for Norfolk to attract increased tourism.

First Order for Long-Range Airbus:

The first order has been placed for the long-range Airbus, the A310-300.

Swissair, which has ordered 10 of the short-to-medium range A310-200s, has converted four of these to the long-range version which is capable of carrying 220 passengers more than 4000 nm (7410 km). The long-range A310-300 version will enter service with Sw1ssalr 1n 1985.

Key to the additional range capability of the A310-300 is an additional fuel tank within the horizontal tail. Maximum take-off weight will be increased from 132 to 150 tonnes.

As well as carrying fuel, the rear tank will be used to trim the aircraft in flight. By constantly controlling the centre of gravity of the aircraft in this way, the absolute maximum efficiency can be extracted from every litre of fuel burned.

This technique is not new, having been employed in varying degrees on Trident and Concorde aircraft But the basis of the underlying technology is the European aircraft industry and its sustained application to technological advance. The ‘wet’ tail is the product of decades of research, development and millions of miles of scheduled airline service.

Ansett Air Freight Introduces Boeing Cargo Jet:

Ansett Air Freight is now connecting the East and West Coasts of Australia with a Boeing 727-200 cargo jet from April 5. The freighter operates to and from Perth to Melbourne with a small jet connection to Sydney.

The jet (VH-RMX) will be seen in the old Ansett livery until November when it will be repainted with the new colour scheme. It is planned to send the 727 to America for a full freighter conversion, which includes an extra wide door in the rear fuselage for easier unloading and loading of containers, later this year.

The freighter will depart Perth from Monday to Thursday at 2000 hours (8.00 p.m.) and arrive in Melbourne at 0115 (1.15 am.). A small jet connection will depart Melbourne for Sydney at 0200 hours (2.00 a.m.) arriving in Sydney at 0315 hours (3.15 a.m.).

The freighter will depart for Perth ex Melbourne at 0300 hours (3.00 a.m.) arriving in Perth at 0450 hours (4.50 a.m.) allowing connection to Western Australia ports by F28 jet passenger aircraft.

Boeing 747 Sales Exceed 600:

At the time of going to press Boeing had notched up sales of 605 Boeing 747s. The 747 has now been in operation for fourteen years and one aircraft has logged more than 55,000 hours. The 747 is operated by 66 airlines and military services while of the 605 ordered to date, 441 have been for export, earning the USA more than seventeen billion dollars in export income.