Newsdesk – General Aviation

The new company has exclusive world rights to market and support the Robin R2160, though Europe will remain under the control of Robin and Aerospatiale. Additionally, the USA east coast agency for the four-place Socata Trinidad retractable has been secured by the new Australian combine which is quite an achievement. Trinidad will be shipped to the USA where their avionics will then be installed, while the relationship between the US dollar and the French franc should see the Trinidad priced extremely competitively on the US market.

General Aviation May Be Looking Up:

Latest figures on movements at Bankstown Airport show that there may be signs of the long-awaited recovery in the general aviation industry. Compared to 1983, the number of movements in June 1984 was up 12. 4% and equalled the average June figure for the last ten years. The number of movements was still well below the June peaks of 1981 and 1982 but many operators appear to be more optimistic about the short-term future.

Dazzling Range of Comm/Nav Products:

Dasyl Avionics, the Bankstown-based avionics company is currently dazzling’ the industry with a wide range of high-tech communications and navigation equipment. Dasyl are agents for Traycor, AAR Aeronautics, Barrett Air, Wulfsberg, Codan, King, Narco and Bendix products.

Many aircraft operators find the need to communicate with services on radio frequencies outside the VHF air bands, as part of their airwork duty. The Wulfsberg C-1000 controller can be used with the Flexcomm RT-138, covering 138-174 Mhz (FM), the RT-450, covering 450-470 Mhz (FM) on UHF, and the airband comms RT-118, covering 118-138 Mhz on AM. These three lightweight transceivers are controlled by a single control unit, the C-1000. Total bands coverage is 16,000 FM channels, and 800 AM channels. The RT-138 alone has 14,400 channel coverage with either 25 Khz or 30 Khz channel spacing, and can be operated in simplex or semi-duplex modes. Thirty-two private line (CTCSS) tones are built in, enabling access to closed emergency service radio systems.

Frequency readout is digital, and certification is to 51,000 feet. Dasyl also act as agent/supplier for Traycor TA 7880 VLF OMEGA. which is available for less than $20,000! This ultra-sophisticated navigation system carries a two-year warranty, and is space-saving, light- weight, and can be mounted in the smallest of GA aircraft.

Learfan 2100 Comes a Step Closer to Certification:

The Lear Fan Model 2100 business aircraft has been issued a Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA) signifying the FAA’s approval of the technical data submitted by the company. The new generation Model 2100 aircraft is the first business aircraft that uses advanced composite material for all major structural components to receive TIA from the FAA.

With TIA issued, the FAA can now undertake its confirmation flight test programme. The issuance of a Type Certificate by the FAA for the Lear Fan Model 2100 will follow the completion of the flight test programme. The company anticipates issuance of a Type Certificate for the Model 2100 production in early 1985.

Production of the Model 2100 is anticipated to coincide with the issuance of the Type Certificate. The company expects to announce the date for initial customer deliveries in early 1985 with customer deliveries to begin in 1986.

 Turbocharged Trinidad:

Socata have released details on their new TB21 turbo-charged Trinidad four-place retractable single. Intended primarily for the US market, the TB21 features improved climb and cruise speeds compared with the normally aspirated TB20 Trinidad. Socata, which is a division of Aerospatiale, has to date delivered more than 470 aircraft and is represented locally by Flight Safety Products of Bankstown.

Financial Assistance to Sport Aviation Associations in Federal Budget:

The 1984/85 Federal budget has set aside aid worth $222,000 to assist various General Aviation and sport aviation bodies. The Royal Federation of AeroClubs of Australia will receive $30,000, the General Aviation Association will receive $15,000, the Gliding Federation of Australia $70,000, the Australian Parachuting Federation $31,000, Australian Ballooning Federation $15,000, Hang Gliding Federation of Australia $15,000, Australian Ultralight Federation $15,000, Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association $15,000 and the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia $15,000. This year’s increase reflects a hefty increase from the 1983/84 allowance of only $110,000.

Avtek 400 Flies:

The latest offering in the composite corporate aircraft market, the Avtek 400, made its first flight on September 17 at Camarillo, California. The 400 is a 6/9 seat aircraft powered by twin PT6 turboprops in the pusher mode. Being made primarily of light-weight Kevlar and Nomex the Avtek 400 boasts a power-to-weight ratio double that of the P-51 Mustang fighter of WWII. The aircraft has been designed to cruise at 350 kts at 37,000 ft over ranges out to 2000 nm and is expected to sell for around $A2 million at 1984 prices. To date, Avtek’s 18 distributors have placed orders for 112 aircraft including several destined for Australia via local distributor, Stan Lindgren of Cairns. Avtek hope to have FAA Certification before 1987.

Remanufactured Pumps a Money Saver:

Operators of piston-engined GA aircraft, from Cessna 150s through to Chieftains, will have in their time no doubt paid out a lot of money on replacing their dry vacuum pumps. The dry vacuum pumps provide a drive source for much of the avionics including gyros etc. , and like batteries, their life can vary from a few hours to several hundred. Traditional replacement with new units can cost between $300 and $900 depending upon the type of aircraft involved, which in a high utilisation charter or commuter aircraft can be quite an overhead.

Aero Support International of Essendon airport have now gained Australian rights to an FAA and DotA-approved procedure for remanufacturing these all important drive pumps. Basic cost savings run to as much as 33% cheaper, the pumps carry a warranty and general availability is better than new units which have to be imported direct from the USA. Aero Support International are at Hangar 104, Essendon Airport, 3041, phone 374 1344.

Aviation Credit Card Coup for Diners Club:

Diners Club has announced the introduction of the Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card designed specially for Australian pilots and aircraft owners for the supply of aviation fuels and lubricants in Australia and certain surrounding islands. The Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card is the result of successful negotiations between Diners Club and major suppliers of fuels and lubricants, BP and Mobil, for Diners Club to gradually take over the credit facilities currently operated by these companies.

The only other country in the world where a similar service exists is South Africa, where a Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card has been on issue since January 1982. The Card, which was developed in association with the General Aviation Association of Australia, was expected to be in use by November this year and is intended to replace CARNET credit cards currently issued by oil companies. Unlike some CARNET cards there is no minimum limit on the amount of fuel purchased on the Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card.

For the present, the Card will be accepted by fuel outlets in Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Norfolk Island. However, Diners Club are currently looking at the possible extension of the Card’s use to include other areas outside Australia. As BP and Mobil have distribution agents in New Zealand and a number of South Pacific Islands, these areas would appear to be the next logical extension for acceptance of the Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card. The Diners Club Aviation Fuel Card will be issued in the name of individual pilots. Cards may also carry the name of corporations, firms or partnerships and, if required, the aircraft registration number.

Longer Life Airtourers:

The Air- tourer Association advises that after consideration by the Department of Aviation, Flight Standards Division, an agreement has been reached whereby the retirement life of the wing main spar of all Victa Airtourer Aircraft has been extended from 12,500 hours to 17,200 hours. Further information can be obtained from the Secretary of the Airtourer Association, 30 Creswell Street, West Wyalong 2671.

Odd Man Out:

Mooney Aircraft have actually announced an increase in production output for their Model 201 and 231 aircraft. While Learjet freeze commercial production and Cessna, Beech, Fairchild, Piper and even Gulf- stream pull their belts in even further, Mooney are planning on producing 20 aircraft a month by early 1985. Mooney has recently changed hands, being previously owned by Republic Steel; it is now owned by a group of investors headed by Leroy Lopresti who will remain as President of Mooney Holdings Corporation.

Federal Budget Support for Rural Air Services:

The 1984/85 Federal budget has endorsed its support for remote rural air service subsidies. Aviation Minister, Kim Beazley, stated that the government had provided more than $455,000 in the 84/85 budget for subsidies to existing services compared with $469,000 last year. The drop reflects enhanced earnings by some operators due to the easing of the recession and the ending of the drought. Mr Beazley said provision of air service subsidies in the budget showed the govern- ment’s continuing concern to maintain air services to remote areas of Australia which were dependent on aviation for many services taken for granted elsewhere. Operators due to receive subsidies in 84/85 are Helitrans, Air Mt Isa, Cape York Air Services, Ord Air Charter, Augusta Airways, Central Australian Airways and Tillair.

Australian Jet Charter Expand:

Sydney-based Australian Jet Charter are expanding their corporate charter operations with the recent addition of a Falcon 20E aircraft to their fleet The 20E will augment AJC’s existing Falcon 10. Purchased second-hand in West Germany, the 20E has flown only 2500 hours in its ten years and is in excellent condition. Local Dassault agents, Hawker Pacific, demonstrated a Falcon 200 during October following strong interest in the type from several companies in recent months. Future Falcon 200 sales would be assisted by the presence of five French Navy Dassault Gardians based at Noumea and Tahiti in the maritime surveillance role. The Gardians are virtually identical to the 200 and use the same Garrett ATF3-6 turbofan engine. In addition to the French Navy, the US Coast Guard operates a total of 41 Gardians in the EEZ patrol role.

 Skywest’s Jetstream 31’s Nine Months of Successful Operations Prompts Re-Order:

High utilisation. reliability and a healthy degree of passenger acceptance are the major hallmarks of Sky-West’s Jetstream 31 operation, nine months after the aircraft was introduced into Australian revenue service.

Analysis of the Skywest operation shows that the three Jetstreams are being used on a highly intensive schedule and that at least 130 flights a week are being flown. This is equivalent to an annual basis of over 3400 block hours per aircraft per year probably the highest Jetstream 31 utilisation by any operator to date. Skywest reports that despite this high utilisation and the typically quick turn-round times of around 20 minutes at each destination, the Jetstream 31s are operating very reliably. Skywest announced in September that they are buying an additional two Jetstreams, for delivery during the first half of 1985, to bring their fleet to five of the type.

 PT6-Powered Sikorsky S-76 Per- Forming Well in Test Programme:

Flight trials of the Sikorsky S-76 with twin Pratt & Whitney PT6B-36 engines is proceeding well. The PT6 provides an increase in power of 48% and a boost of 51% to useful load PT6 operation worldwide in both fixed and rotary winged aircraft now exceeds 85 million hours in 20,000 different engines, about 3300 of which are in helicopters. Sikorsky are hoping for FAA Certification early in 1985 and already have a worthwhile order book for the uprated helo, there are presently 250 S-768 in operation and total fleet time exceeds 390,000 hours. An interesting sidelight to the project is that this is one of the very few instances in modern aviation where both the engine and airframe manufacturer are owned by the same company -United Technologies

Canadair Revives With Prestigious Luftwaffe Order:

Canadair are back on the rails after two very tight years in which the company realised accrued debts exceeding $1. 5 billion and had to be totally restructured. As from March 30th, 1984 all the debts of ‘old’ Canadair were transferred to the Canadian government while ‘new’ Canadair emerged as a leaner, and somewhat re-organised company. Canadair have so far delivered over 100 of its wide bodied Challenger corporate jets while sales to date are for 81 model 600s and 28 6018. Canadair ran into problems with AvcoLycoming. supplier of the model 600’s engines, which also disrupted production through 1983 and slowed potential sales. Most latter-day sales have been for the more powerful and longer-ranging General Electric CF34-powered 601. Most recent sale, and a shot in the arm for Canadair, is the Luftwaffe order for seven 601s for internal European liaison services. Canadair have a full order book through to the end of 1985 and are presently building 1 5 aircraft a month.

Turboprop Bonanza:

Soloy Conversions now are offering a turboprop conversion of the A-36 Bonanza. The conversion uses a single Allison250-817Cturbopropof420shpin place of the standard 285 bhp Continental. In addition to saving 200 lb in weight, the conversion increases cruise speed to above 200 kts while maximum rate of climb is 2000 ft per minute. Soloy Conversions are also available for Bell 47 helicopters and Cessna 206, 207, 210 and 185 aircraft, and are represented locally by Hawker Pacific.

Rex Aviation Sold:

Just missing our September issue news deadline was the confirmed sale of Bankstown-based Rex Aviation. Australian Aviation Holdings Pty Ltd have purchased outright the stock in Rex and have appointed Mr Derek Vaughan, formerly of Cessna, Wichita, as general manager. Rex will continue to sell and support the wide range of Aerospatiale helicopters and Cessna aircraft throughout Australia and New Guinea.

New Name for Cheyenne IV:

Piper have decided to rename their Cheyenne IV the Cheyenne 400LS The 400denotes the 400mph cruising speed while LS stands for parent company Lear Siegler, Inc. In addition to renaming aircraft Piper have been active selling aircraft and have sold three Cheyenne IIIAs to McAlpine Aviation of the UK in addition to a batch of 15 Archers and three Warriors to Avian, a Florida-based charter service

Avgas Exports Increase:

In marked contrast to the 1970s when Australia relied heavily on imports of avgas, the latest statistics from the Australian Institute of Petroleum show that nearly one third of avgas produced in Australia is exported, principally to New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea Australian production of avgas has increased from 68 megalitres in 1979 to 163 megalitres in 1983, although local consumption has fallen by nearly 15% since 1979.

Australia is also exporting considerable quantities of after, particularly to New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea