Aerospace Industry News

The Association of Australian Aerospace Industries itself, is to be part of the “Aerospace Australia” exhibition being organised on behalf of the Commonwealth and State Governments by Austrade. Those manning this, will be aiming to greet visitors to Australia, introduce them to Australia’s aerospace capabilities and potential, provide them with information on Government policies, procedures, assistance measures and requirements as these affect their prospects or ability to do aerospace business in Australia and finally to introduce them to any of the hundred plus Australian companies they may wish to visit. Austrade’s Trade Commissioners around the world have advised the Exhibit Director of those commercially important visitors coming to the Air Show from their regions and arrangements are being made for them to be met and hosted during their visit. In addition, opportunities will be provided for certain visitors to tour aerospace engineering facilities in this country.

The majority of members of AAAI will be exhibiting at their own stands at the Show. Ansett, as one of the major corporate sponsors for the show, will be represented at the forefront of the exhibition area by Ansett Airfreight, Ansett Airlines, Ansett Engineering and Ansett Technologies.

Ansett Engineering will be offering the full range of services required to carry out maintenance, overhaul, repair and modification programmes for Boeing 727, 737, 767; Fokker F27, F50, F28; A320; Electra L188 and Sikorsky S61 aircraft. Ansett Technologies will offer capabilities in a wide range of areas critical to the aviation industry. A highlight of their display will be the latest Chadwick Helmuth products – the Model 8500, a computerised vibration analyser/balancer/tracker and the Model 192A spectrum analyser.

Systems integration will be the focus of Aerospace Technologies of Australia’s display. ASTA has aggressively pursued this market commencing with the sale of 7 Searchmasters to the US Customs Service. Also being exhibited is material on the Jindivik Target Aircraft, the lkara anti-submarine guided weapon system, Optica Scoutmaster and its most recently formed company ASTA Aircraft Services.

Australia’s largest and oldest aerospace manufacturing and maintenance company, Hawker de Havil/and, will be featuring the breadth of its capabilities which are provided to both civil and military customers throughout the world. HDH is currently building Pilatus PC-9 aircraft under licence and carrying out assembly, test and systems integration of Blackhawk and Sea Hawk helicopters. Other major activities include GE T700 engine assembly, inspection test and depot level maintenance, manufacturing and assembly of GE F404 engines for the F-18 and manufacture of components for Boeing 737, 747, 757; McDonnell Douglas MD80 and Airbus A300, A31O and A320 airliners.

Ashley Computer Services will be pushing its computer-aided maintenance system which! provides a global network which allows access to a unique system that managers all aspects of aircraft documentation and permits aircraft engineers and technicians to be free of arduous paperwork.

Australian Airlines will be pointing to its engineering capabilities, pilot training capabilities and the successful Aircrew Team Management Course. Australian Airlines’ modern facilities at Melbourne provide full maintenance support for its fleet of A300, 737-300, 727 and DC-9 aircraft plus a comprehensive capability for repair and overhaul of aircraft components. These capabilities can be available to other users of these aircraft.

AWA will be strongly represented with displays featuring ground and air radios, their avionics capability for sales installation and repair, air traffic control systems, fibre optics, DME and VOR equipments and their research and development capability. They will be offering capabilities from product design to servicing.

BH Pacific has traditionally been associated with the Bell Helicopter product range. At the Air Show it will however be pointing out that it has broadened its base and now has dealership rights for a number of aviation and military oriented companies, a growing research and development capability and an aero-plastics company, initially focussing on the demand for customised windows for the AS350/355 range of Aerospatiale helicopters, but now broadening into other markets.

Qualified to the highest international standards, British Aerospace Australia has cooperated successfully with many of the world’s leading aerospace and high-technology companies. The company’s engineering, programme management, production, quality assurance and integrated logistics are capabilities from which substantial export markets are being developed. BAeA will be aiming to increase the number of its international customers for cockpit displays, flight control computers and electronics, fatigue recorders, fault analysis computers, automatic test equipment, command and control equipment and space qualified electronics.

Dunlop Aerospace, will be pointing out that they are precision engineers who manufacture, assemble, test and overhaul hydraulic and pneumatic actuators, valves, precision O-rings and seals, pumps, as well as aircraft wheels and brakes. Approvals are held from McDonnell Douglas, Northrop, Bendix, GE, Boeing, British Aerospace, Westland and Turbomeca. Supporting their manufacturing are in-house aircraft-approved electro-plating, shot peening and painting facilities.

The Fairey Australasia display will cover thermal imaging systems, infra-red optics, airborne multi-spectral scanners, image intensifiers, sighting equipment, applied laser system and radar systems, including muzzle velocity indicators. The company has been operating in Australia since 1948 and its Australian ownership dates from 1969. It will point to its strong in-house engineering capability.

Ferranti Computer Systems (Australia) will be stressing its close working relationship with other Ferranti International companies which allows it to maintain a leading edge in real-time computer technology.

Norma/air-Garrett will stress that it provides comprehensive engineering and repair and overhaul services for aircraft cabin atmosphere control, auxiliary power turbines, engine start turbines, turbochargers, fuel and hydraulic systems. These local support capabilities are extended to a wide range of military, commercial, general aviation and commuter aircraft operating in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

Rockwell Electronics (Australasia) will be displaying a wide variety of avionics including advanced EFIS cockpit instrumentation, avionics test equipment, the latest fibre optics, HF-9000 airborne radio, Tacan and IFF equipment. It will also be highlighting its systems engineering, digital switching and command and control capabilities. Incidentally, all air traffic movement around Richmond Air Base will be controlled by a Rockwell Electronics ATC system recently installed in the control tower.

Tripal Systems objective is to use the Air Show to increase Australian high technology capabilities and to become a net exporter of this level of technology and products. It will point out that it has both software and hardware development staff together with computer based design, development and modelling facilities available to undertake projects for both overseas and Australian customers.