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And the reason is not hard to see. The show is well run and professionally executed without, for instance, the bureaucratic triv- ialities that seem to plague Paris year after year for no good reason or the wall to wall traffic jams that Farnborough is renowned for. The Asia/Pacific region is also fast becoming the motor of the world with air transport growth double that of the rest of the world. Airlines and air forces in the region are set to buy more than $130bn worth of hardware in the coming decade alone. Asian Aerospace also allows Australia its best gateway to the world’s aeronautical markets as evidenced by this year’s excellent Aus- trade backed display which was by far our best yet at any air show, anywhere. So, from Singapore, AÁ gladly brings your a potpourri of the most important of the news stories-

Raaf Cas Flies Sukhoi Flanker:

Chief of the Air Staff Ray Funnell became the first western pilot to fly the Soviet Union’s latest and most advanced fighter, the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, on Saturday February 17.

In a more than appreciated gesture of goodwill, the Soviets allowed Air Marshal Funnell to fly the dual seat Su-27UB Flanker for more than an hour with Sukhoi test pilot Victor Pugachev in the back seat. Pugachev is of course famous for creating the spectacular Pugachev’s Cobra manoeuvre where the Flanker literally flicks from horizontal flight to more than 120 degrees angle of attack prior to resuming normal flight with minimal height and control loss. No western fighter can get anywhere near this without departing the envelope.

Following his flight, Air Marshal Funnell commented, “It is a very powerful and nice handling aircraft. But more importantly I was delighted with the openness shown by the Soviets. It shows they are truly practising glasnost. ” A full colour photo spread will appear in the May edition of AA.

The CAS had flown to Asian Aerospace in his special Pilatus PC-9 whilst the RAAF was also represented by a single and a dual seat F-18 from 75 Sqn based at Tindal. Under the command of Wng Cmdr Ross Fox and FO John Cornett, the Hornets were also able to fly formation with the two Soviet Flankers for a Saturday photo session (pics next issue).

Us Order for Czech Commuter Opens Potential New Market to Eastern European Aerospace Products:

A sign of the times as Aeroflot orders Airbus A310s and now a major US regional has signed for 10 Czechoslovakian LET 610 35 seat commuters.

The LET 61O is presently undergoing the final stages of gaining its Soviet CofA and

should enter service with Aeroflot later this year. Aeroflot, the world’s largest airline, has 50 on firm order. LET is aiming to achieve US FAA certification by late 1992 using GE CT7-9B turboprops of 1,870shp as used on the Saab 340B. Expected flyaway price is $US7m, a little cheaper than competing western aircraft in its class. The ‘Westernised’ LET 610 will also feature US avionics and is due to enter service with Air Midwest of Wichita in 1993.

 Indonesian Airliner Programme Receives a Major Boost:

The 50 seat IPTN N-250 regional airliner programme received a major boost with the announcement of a 24 aircraft order from Sweden’s FFV Aerospace.

The N-250 was launched at last year’s ParisAir Show and is a four-abreast high-wing pressurised regional set to compete head on with the Fokker 50, ATR42 and Dash 8-300. Aerodynamic testing is proceeding at Bandung and the design is to be frozen by this October. First flight will occur in early 1995 with FAA certification being gained during 1996. Two Indonesian operators, Merpati and Bouraq signed letters of intent at Paris for a total of 44 and 62 N-250s which currently brings total commitments against the type to 130.

At Asian Aerospace, Indonesia’s Minister for Technology and IPTN Chairman, Dr B J Habibie stated that the N-250 represented the third phase of Indonesia’s technological advancement programme launched in the early 1970s. The first was the assembly and then production under licence of the Casa 212 Aviocar utility aircraft and the MBB Bo 105 helicopter. The second phase was the co-design and development of the CN-235 in conjunction with Casa of Spain whilst the indigenously designed, developed and manufactured N-250 represents the ultimate goal of self sufficiency in the development of Indonesia’s aircraft industry. Is there a lesson for Australia here?

 Singapore Airlines to Establish Australian Flying Academy:

In yet another move to better utilise Australia’s excellent weather and uncongested airspace for aircrew training, Singapore-Airlines is to establish a flying training base at Perth’s Jandakot airport.

The academy is an extension of the school SIA set up early in 1988 at Selator in Singapore and is set to begin flying operations this June. Primary reason for the move to Jandakot is that recently introduced airspace restrictions regarding territory have made flying training

extremely difficult in the small island stats. Training 60 cadets at a time, the course will see half the students conduct their ground theory and simulator training in Singapore and the flying component at Jandakot on rotation in groups of 30. Aircraft used will be the school’s existing fleet of Cessna 152s, Beech Barons and Bonanzas though King Air and Beechjet aircraft may also be used at a later date.

Meanwhile, the airline is looking towards recruiting a minimum of 80 pilots annually for at least the next five years to cover growth and retirements. It is believed that several dozen exAFAP members will have joined the airline by the end of this financial year. SIA enjoyed traffic growth of 12% in 1988/89 for load factor of 74. 3% while during the show was awarded the prestigious Airline of The Year award from Air Transport World magazine. SIA presently flies 28 747s with 22 -400s on order or option plus 9 A310s (5 on option) and also has on order up to 20 MD-11 trijets.

 Indonesia/Australia Relations Warm Towards Joint Exercises:

Senior Australian Defence Force members will visit Indonesia during March to discuss the possibility of holding joint low level military exercises. Also under suggestion is the joint surveillance and protection of the present and future oil facilities in the Timor Sea area. This signals a considerable warming in relations between-Australia and Indonesia and follows high level diplomatic talks in Jakarta during February between members of the departments of foreign affairs for both nations, the first since 1978. In another example of Asian diplomacy, it was revealed during early February that Singapore had kept its 8 new F-16 fighters in the US for fear of creating any misunderstandings if it were to have been the first Asean nation to deploy the fighter. Indonesia (12) and Thailand (16) already operate the F-16 whilst Malaysia is due to accept the first of 8 Panavia Tornado IDS strike fighters during 1992. The F-16s will replace Hawker Hunters in RSAF service.

 Airbus Proposing A330 Developments:

Three years before it is due to enter revenue service, Airbus lndustrie is already contemplating growth versions of its big twin aimed at heading off a possible 1990 launch of Boeing’s 767-X. Primary A330 development would involve stretching the basic airframe to accommodate up to 370 pax in a typical two class arrangement. Another proposal is to offer below main deck seating that could theoretically take the stretchedA330s capacity up to 460 pax. Range would also be improved by the utilisation of new engines such as the Rolls-Royce Trent, later versions of the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series plus GE’s proposed GE90 series. The later engin_e however, with its 10-1 bypass ratio (as against 5-1 for most current high bypass turbofans) and 120in diameter fan (vs 90in), would require a Substantially modified undercarriage.

Development of the latest big fan from GE is proceeding ahead with its primary launch application being the as yet unlaunched Boeing 767-X, which has also been referred to as the 777. This aircraft is being positioned in the marketplace to fit between the present 767 and the 747 and will feature a 747 fuselage width, twin engines, a high speed Mach . 94 wing and 5,000nm range. The GE90 is set to be certificated during late 1994 though will be initially derated to between 70 and 75,000lbs thrust with full growth potential out to 90,000lbs. Initial FAA certification in 1994 will actually see the engine delivering 80,000lbs thrust.

Performance goals include a 10% decrease in overall fuel consumption compared with the existing CF6-80C2 on the 747-400, A300-600 and Boeing 767-300. The new generation engine, which features a composite wide chord fan and an all composite integrated nacelle, will also produce a third less emissions than present generation engines. Other long-term applications for the GE90 will be the 747-500 and developed late nineties versions of both the A330 and MD-11 trijet plus Airbus lndustrie’s eventual late nineties competitor to the 7 47.

 Kendell and Hazelton Sign for Saab:

Kendell Airlines has moved to relieve its present capacity shortage with the announcement at Asian Aerospace of the purchase for $US6. 5m of a second-hand Saab 340A.

Kendell Airlines presently operates four 340As which are no longer in production, having been supplanted by the more powerful 340B from 1989 onwards. The latest addition to the Wagga based Kendell fleet is expected to arrive in Australia during the course of this issue. Construction number 84, the 1987 built commuter was previously operated by Air Limousin in France before being transferred to TAT prior to that carrier’s purchase by Air France. As AF has its own commuter fleet, the Saab became surplus and was snapped up by Don Kendell with a resultant saving of around $US2m on the cost of a new 340B.

Also positioning himself to become a major commuter force in Australia is Max Hazelton who followed up the Kendell announcement with an order for two new 340Bs with a further two optioned. Hazelton is also to acquire two of the new high speed Saab 2000s which with their 50 seats and 360kts cruise speed at 31,000ft will give the jets real competition on many of the lower density routes below 500nm. Hazelton Airlines was founded in 1953 with just one single engined Auster. It now flies around 200,000 passengers annually to more than 30 destinations and currently utilises a fleet of 20 aircraft including Piper Chieftains, Beech 1900s and Shorts 360-300s.

Swords to Ploughshares Dept:

That other amazing word in the Russian dialect, conversiya, was firmly in evidence at Asian Aerospace with both the Mikoyan Gurevich and Sukhoi bureaus displaying, for the first time ever, civil transport designs.

The MiG design is designated Type 101M and can accommodate 14 passengers, has twin tail booms and can be employed in a wide variety of roles. It could potentially be an An-2 replacement, falling as it does capacity wise between a Nomad and a Twin Otter. The Sukhoi offering is designated S-80 and is a multi-purpose STOL aircraft capable of accommodating 21 people. Like the Type 101M, it too has twin tail booms though uses a high wing configuration whereas Mikoyan has opted for a low wing. Takeoff distance is stated as 1,700ft for an operating range of 2,100nm and a maximum speed of 360kts. As the takeoff figure does not logically equate with either the claimed speed or range data, then it is assumed that the Soviets are relying heavily upon the high lift characteristics of the new twin wing design which is similar to that presently being studied in the US by the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency for a similar size tactical airlifter.

 Hdh Evaluating Concept of Specialist Training School and Support Facility:

Hawker de Havilland is evaluating the concept of establishing a major aerospace training school for engineers, airframe and electronics specialists.

HdH is already the largest employer of apprentices within the Australian aerospace environment with some 300 currently under instruction. The latest concept has been driven by the worldwide shortage of skilled aviation maintenance and support personnel which has not gone unnoticed by the major manufacturers. Both Boeing and McDonnell Douglas recognise that their ability to sell future aircraft to airlines may well be impeded by the inability of airlines to find sufficient technical personnel to support their rapidly growing fleets. Consequently, both companies are discussing with HdH management the possibility of a joint venture that would see a major facility being built in Australia.

ASTA may also become involved whilst McDonnell Douglas themselves are looking to augment the facility, if it should become a partner with HdH, with its own MD-80 series training school and flight simulator facility to serve the Australasian and South East Asian region. Whilst Avalon is a candidate base, also available would be HdH’s large hangar complex at Tullamarine, which would also be used for third party heavy jet maintenance as a part of the training facility, plus their existing support centres at Townsville and Perth. Discussions are continuing and a decision as to which course of action to pursue is expected before year end.

HdH also announced at Asian Aerospace that it had won a contract from the US Navy to repair and modify GE F404 turbofans for that force’s F-18 fleet. HdH Victoria already produces spares for the RAAF and USN and this latest contract hopefully will improve the company’s chances of selling spares and support to other Hornet operators. Meanwhile, on the civil side, HdH Victoria won another $10m contract from Snecma to produce spool assemblies for the CFM56 turbofan. Production of spool assemblies involves a great deal of high technology work including numerically controlled machining techniques featuring very close tolerances. Technology, expertise and the equipment to perform such work is as a direct result of the F-18 programme.

ASTA Buys New Zealand Aircraft Manufacturer:

Melbourne based Aerospace Technologies of Australia has purchased 75. 1% of the stock of Pacific Aerospace Corporation of Hamilton, New Zealand.

PAC manufactures the Fletcher and Cresco agricultural aircraft in addition to the Airtrainer used by the RNZAF, RAAF and RTAF. A civil version of the Airtrainer is now available and eight (plus four options) have been recently ordered for the joint BAe/ Ansett flying training academy to be built at Tamworth in NSW (also ordered are 30 Piper Warriors and nine Seneca Ills).

The remainder of the PAC shareholding is owned by Lockheed. PAC recently delivered the first of eight Fletcher FU24 ag aircraft to the Thai Agriculture Ministry while three Cresco 600s were destined for Bangladesh’s Plant Protection Department.

Meanwhile, ASTA has just shipped the first of 300 shipsets of Boeing 757 composite rudders, while in late January ASTA also received Boeing certification to enable it to undertake complex Section 41 maintenance on 747 aircraft. The first of 11 747s for Aer Lingus, Virgin Atlantic and Continental to be rebuilt are currently at Avalon. Employment is up from 1,200 two years ago to 1,800 and the company has gone from losing $40m a year three years ago to a modest but highly encouraging $2. 2m profit in 1988/89 on a 56% increase in turnover.

 Gulfstream Buys Learjet:

Allan Paulson, fresh from regaining control of Gulfstream Aerospace from Chrysler, has announced that he has signed a letter of intent to purchase Learjet.

The acquisition by Gulfstream would not only ensure Learjet’s future but would see the development of a new mid size business aircraft in the BAe 1000/Falcon 2000 range. Gulfstream last year severed its ties with Rolls-Royce and Swearingen in the development of the four passenger Gulfjet (as it was then known) and is also actively pursuing the development, with Sukhoi of the USSR, of an eight to ten passenger supersonic business jet. Its only present aircraft programme is the heavy metal Gulfstream G. IV corporate jet.

 Ansett Signs for A321s:

Ansett Airlines has signed for 10 Airbus lndustrie A321 twinjets.

Powered by CFM56 turbofans, the first of the A321s will be delivered atthe end of 1995. Ansett already operates eight smaller A320s and has four more due fordelivery over the coming year. Australian Airlines is also expected to firm its previous moribund order for A320s in the coming eighteen months and convert them to A321s. Ironically for Boeing, the,domestic operation of Boeing 757s in recent months left both Ansett and Australian impressed with what can be done with a narrow bodied fuel frugal aircraft of this size. In local domestic service it is expected that the A321s will seat between 160 and 170 passengers and will be capable of flying Sydney/Perth against the worst winter headwinds at max payload. Airbus n<?w has 183 commitments for the A321 comprising 109 firm orders with a further 74 on option.

 Boeing Canada Reactivate the Dash 8-400 Project:

Boeing Canada has decided to reactivate its Dash 8-400 project for a very fast propjet in the 66/70 passenger class.

Engineering studies recommenced in January with full wind tunnel development commencing in March for hopefully a programme firm launch at this year’s Farnborough Air Show in September. In the meantime, an appropriate powerplant has to be decided with the choice being between the GE/ Lycoming GLC38 and the Allison GMA 2100 which was selected by Saab last year for their Saab 2000 project.

First flight of the -400 is expected in late 1993 with certification being achieved one year later for an entry to service by early 1995.

Boeing research has indicated strong support for a 350kts cruise speed low vibration propjet seating around 70 passengers that would compete with larger jets on many small volume point to point services. Though smaller, the new project’s primary competitors would be the Canadair RJ regional jet and the Saab 2000 turboprop.

Regular Stop Press • Bae Strike Solution?:

At the time of writing, the nearly four month long strike over a shorter working week at several of British Aerospace’s key facilities (refer Newsdesk, Jan 90) appears closer to a solution following talks between the unions and BAe management.

The strike has had a crippling effect on production of the 125-800 corporate jet, delayed completion of the prototype ‘1000’ variant of the same aircraft, brought Airbus production almost to a standstill and caused large layoffs at Aerospatiale (BAe makes the wings for all Airbuses), threatened production of the 146 airliner and caused delays in other BAe projects. During February, A320 production was down from seven to just one aircraft a month.

The strike involves 6,000 manual workers and negotiations have resulted in some agreement for shorter hours in return for new work practices involving greater productivity. Previously, management had said it would not negotiate while the strike continued and the union refused any productivity deal. Threats to expand the strike to include the 146 production line were withdrawn following negotiation.

Ilfc’s Big Deal:

The International Lease Finance Corporation has announced orders for 66 new jetliners and taken options on a further 67. Worth $US6. 7bn if the options are taken up, the orders cover 39 Boeings (plus 48 options), 15 from McDonnell Douglas (plus 15) and 12 Airbuses (plus four). Boeing has grabbed the lion’s share of the orders, the total value to them being $US4. 5bn including options. From Boeing, ILFC has placed firm orders for 27 737s (the model mix to be established), two 747-400s, five 757s and five 767-300ERs. On option are a further 24 737s, three 747-400s, 12 757s and nine 767-300s. McDonnell Douglas and Airbus will contribute MD90-30s and A321s, respectively (both IAE V2500 powered) to the acquisition.

Ruslan for Australia:

Melbourne based freight charter operator Airlift Pty Ltd has announced a joint venture agreement with the D’Jamirze Family Enterprise (a Soviet-Australian company) to operate an Antonov An-124 Ruslan outsize cargo aircraft to and from Australian airports.

The second largest aircraft in the world, the An-124 can carry a payload of 150 tonnes over a distance of 4,500km or a reduced payload up to 16,500km. Its cargo hold volume of 1,040 cubic metres is 30% greater than a Boeing 747’s and its maximum payload almost 50% greater. It is also capable of operating from unpaved airfields.

Airlift has secured use of the aircraft following a series of proving flights in January this year. Over three days the aircraft flew Melbourne/Auckland/Christchurch/Sydney/ Melbourne with loads ranging from stoned fruit to 61 water buffalo. Weekly services to and from Australian ports are due to start this month.

 Pilots to Pay:

The Supreme Court of Victoria has awarded Australia’s domestic airlines damages of $6. 48m following their claim against the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP).

The claim arose from the six days in August last year when AFAP members worked only between 9am and 5pm, thus “conspiring to injure the airlines”. Shortly afterwards the pilots resigned en masse following legal action being taken against them individually by the airlines. Of the total awarded – and if the airlines pursue the claim against the advice of the federal government – Ansett will receive $3. 35m, Australian $2. 65m, East-West $397,800 and lpec $88,400. The AFAP had up till March 10 to appeal.

The airlines have said they will not extract damages from individual AFAP officials but from the Federation itself. The Federation has said that it is not going to pay and even if all its assets were sold, they would not cover the amount awarded, thus bringing its officers’ own assets into play. The AFAP has also been ordered to pay the airlines’ legal costs – estimated to be at least $2m – while its own costs have been a similar amount.

Meanwhile, the pilots have embarked on an extensive doorknocking campaign in key marginal ALP capital city seats in the lead up to the March 24 poll, fielding their own AFAP candidates under the banner of the Reform Party. The aim being to pressure the Prime Minister into directing Australian Airlines to ensure that its AFAP ex-pilots are found jobs with the airline. The pilots believe that if Australian was pressured into this course of action, then Ansett would be compelled to follow suit.

 A321 Production for West Germany:

After an ongoing battle to break the French monopoly on Airbus assembly, West Germany appears to have achieved a victory following a decision in principle to establish a final assembly line for the new A321 in Hamburg.

Airbus’ West German partner MBB (with support from its government) has long fought for some of the Airbus final assembly action, a move which has been strongly resisted by Aerospatiale which is now responsible for all final assembly work at Toulouse. The first A321 is due to fly in early 1993 with deliveries beginning a year later.

B-2 Under Threat Again:

Renewed efforts are being made in the US Congress to cancel production of the Northrop 8-2 ‘stealth’ bomber beyond the 15 now in the course of manufacture.

The new move against the aircraft is a strong one, fuelled not only by financial considerations but also the rapidly changing political climate in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Cancellation of the project is now a greater chance than it was last year thanks to key US politicians modifying their views. Even if the project survives it’s unlikely the 132 required by the USAF will be built. An in-depth cost analysis study on the 8-2 project features on page 87 of this issue.

BA/Anz Link:

The list of recent airline cooperation deals goes on and on. . . The latest involves British Airways and Air New Zealand who between them plan to greatly boost air travel between New Zealand and the UK.

The two airlines will link their respective service at gateways in South-East Asia and the USA from April 1, the effect being to allow each airline to offer daily flights between London and Auckland. It also creates a new, daily around the world service. The two carriers’ networks will be linked at Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Los Angeles, the object being to provide straight forward transfers at the four linking points.

Dick Smith Becomes Caa Chairman:

Mr Dick Smith has been appointed Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority replacing Mr Alan Woods who died recently. Mr Ted Butcher, president of the Interstate Commission, has also been appointed to the board of the CAA.

Also expected for release soon is the long awaited Yates Report into the certification of aircraft in Australia. Prompted by our report on Airworthiness problems within the CAA in the January 1989 edition of AA, the report tackles the complexities of our often unique Australian standards and how the system can be improved, streamlined and made more practical whilst ensuring that real term safety standards are not diminished. It is expected to be released publicly during the course of this issue and a full analysis of its recommendations will appear in this magazine as soon as it is available.