Newsdesk — General Aviation

Wrong Price!

In the August edition of AA, Skyshop advertised the Terra TPX720 transceiver at a retail price of $550. 00. Unfortunately this did not include sales tax which is applicable to this product. The correct retail price is $660. 00. Skyshop apologises for any inconvenience this error may have caused.

 Cba-123 Makes Maiden Flight:

The first prototype of the CBA-123 has performed its maiden flight. Developed by Embraer and FMA (Argentina), the new 19 seat twin pusher prop aircraft has now commenced ts flight test program. Two other prototypes will Join the 1,700 hours light program — 900 hours dedicated to development and 800 hours to certification — which will lead to full certification during 1991. The aircraft will be displayed at Farnborough in September at which time the first prototype will have flown just 50 hours of its test program. First delivery is expected in late 1991.

Aero Boero Looking to Australian Market:

The Argentine GA manufacturer, Aero Boero, is looking to establish a manufacturing facility within Australia to market its aircraft within the region.

The offer of establishing a $30m manufacturing facility in Queensland is currently being jointly evaluated by the Brisbane Council Office of Economic Development and Aero Boero. Aero Boero is a family owned company based in the province of Cordoba in Argentina and currently produces the two seat AB 115 trainer and the four seat AB 180 RVR touring aircraft. Both are powered by Lycoming Textron piston engines and have established markets within South America but to date have not ventured beyond that continent.

It is expected that the results of the study will be known by year end though with the emergence of several notable competing designs from local manufacturers, the major competition for AB would appear to come from within rather than from imported GA aircraft.

Racnsw Plans New Facilities and Aviation Museum:

The Royal Aero Club of New South Wales (RACNSW) has released plans for a new clubhouse and lounge facilities for club members, a 60 room motel and an aviation museum for its Bankstown site.

The new facilities have the potential to attract significant revenue for the club which is using its present financial stability to initi ate the project. The museum – for which no firm name has been chosen, though either Australian Aviation Museum or Museum of Australian Aviation seem likely will act not only as a major tourist attraction, but also as a repository for aviation artefacts and documents currently scattered around the coun- try. Support for the idea has already been forthcoming from several sources and the FAC has been requested to act with the RAC as joint custodians and trustees of the project. To house the first exhibits, it is planned to relocate the historic Kingsford Smith Hangar from Mascot.

Work is continuing to locate artefacts- such as aircraft, equipment and documents. – for display in the proposed museum. For further information contact the club historian on (02) 546 2071,

Threat of Mamba Project Going Offshore:

An apparent lack of interest by Australian investors may force the promising Mamba light aircraft project to go offshore.

The International Aircraft Corporation (AC) believes it has potentially a very successful aircraft in the form of the Mamba, yet despite this, the company has been having particular difficulties attracting local investment in the project. The Mamba project has already achieved its first sale of type to Government-three aircraft to the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management- and private concerns, and has reportedly received strong interest from overseas. This interest is apparently so strong that the company believes it could ultimately be shipping 12 aircraft a month to overseas distributors-yet still no investors. Company spokesman, Mr Jess Smith, said that the company has had discussion with several groups, but as yet they have come to nothing. At this stage the most likely source of investment is from overseas, though this could lead to the whole Mamba project being taken offshore, possibly to South America from where much interest in the aircraft has been forthcoming. Should this happen, Australian investors and the Australian Government will have added yet another chapter to the sorry story of successful Australian projects going overseas because of a lack of interest and a lack of foresight.

Us Light Aircraft Deliveries Down:

Deliveries of US built light GA aircraft fell to just 266 in the first quarter of 1990, though sales of turboprop powered aircraft and strong export numbers helped raise overall light aircraft delivery value.

According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, US companies just 266 GA aircraft during first quarter 1990 (157 piston singles; 15 piston twins; 59 turboprops: 35 corporate jets). By comparison, and to show the decline of the US industry, some 3,512 GA aircraft were delivered during first quarter 1979 while last year’s figure in the corresponding period was just 304. Value of deliveries was $US385. 2m (up 27. 1% on first quarter 1989) with foreign buyers accepting 85 aircraft valued at $US176m.

Deliveries of single piston engined aircraft in first quarter 1990 fell from last year’s 212 to 157, partly because of Piper Aircraft’s financial troubles, the company having purposely reduced deliveries of the Cadet primary trainer (120 will be delivered this year compared with initial plans for 300). Deliveries of twin piston engined aircraft fell to just 15 (from 18 in 1989), 11 being Piper Seneca 3s and Seminoles and four being Beech Baron 585.

There were also 59 turboprop aircraft deliveries (up eight over last year) with over 50% of these being Beech built models. The US corporate jet sector experienced a strong percentage growth of 52%, though at just 35 aircraft this represents only 12 more than first quarter 1989.

Bombardier Inspires Learjet Growth:

Following its acquisition by Bombardier, Learjet plans to accelerate production improvements and increase the production rate.

While Learjet will not be taking on any new production workers, it will be employing more engineers to enhance new product development. Learjet is currently studying the feasibility of not only improving the existing 55C and 31 models, but also giving each a fuselage stretch for product appeal to a wider number of potential customers.

The company expects to produce 30 aircraft in both 1990 and 1991, though this figure may be increased provided vendor lead times for engines and avionics can be met. The company aims to re-establish “the leadership [it] enjoyed in the 1960s and ’70s” and hopes new products and marketing strategies will accomplish this. Perhaps as a sign of changing times, Learjet’s Finnish distributor will now also be marketing the aircraft in the Soviet Union.

Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia Clarification:

Some confusion apparently crept into our July AA News- desk. Contrary to what was published on p. 14 of that issue, Pacific Aviation is not a parent company of Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia, and indeed has no connection with the company

Fac’s “Other” Airport Developments:

KSA in Sydney is by no means the only Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) administered airport undergoing a major upgrading program. At Sydney’s Bankstown Airport work is currently underway on a major upgrade of facilities and services, mainly thanks to an injection of private development capital. Projects now underway or planned for the next 12-18 months total nearly $120m, of which just $7m is FAC funded. Work has already commenced on the construction of a $20m technical support complex for Aerospatiale Helicopters Australia which will be responsible for the servicing of some 110 aircraft — mainly helicopters — from within the Australasian-South Pacific region. Major projects now planned include a Caltex Oil proposal for a service station/restaurant/ general goods store complex, and possibly a large carport style undercover refueling facility which would be the first of its type in Australia. The Corporation has also approved plans for additional hangar space, offices, flight catering services and an industrial park.

In Tasmania work will commence this year on the Llanherne Park commercial centre at Hobart Airport. Covering a 250ha site, the centre will include freight and transport centres as well as a golf course, other sporting facilities, hotels and restaurants. It is designed to benefit not only transport, freight and aerospace companies, but also the tourism, sporting and recreation industries. Potential commercial customers at Lianherne Park are being offered a 40 year site lease on what is definitely prime real estate. Meanwhile, Coolangatta Airport has released details of a study, prepared by the Gold Coast College of Advanced Education’s Business Development Centre, which highlights some of the economic benefits that development of airports brings to the local community. For instance, the study reveals that Coolangatta Airport (Australia’s sixth busiest airport) employs more than 250 people on site, a figure expected to grow to more than 320 by 1994, as well as many others whose employment benefits from off site airport related business. The local tourism industry, for instance, directly benefits from the airport’s location to the tune of at least $110m per year.

Videos

 Great Planes-Gd F-16 Fighting Falcon:

Hoyts Polygram/AVI Another of the Great Planes series, this 52 minute tape tracks the birth of the jet fighter from the end of WW2, through Korea, the supersonic fifties and into Vietnam where the US realised painfully that it had to relearn the old art of dog fighting. That old phrase was of course given the new high-tech tag of Air Combat Manoeuvering (ACM) and led to the development of a new generation of nimble, high agility fighters epitomised by the YF-16 and YF-17. Designed as an F-4 rep- lacement, the YF-16 won the USAF fly off while the Northrop YF-17 went on to evolve into the Hornet we know today.

The tape has the usual content of air to air work including some interesting MIG killing gun camera footage from Vietnam. Also of interest is the section on the use of the F-16 in the IDF and, in particular, the extremely accurate Israeli raid against Iraq’s nuclear test facility.

RAP is $29. 95 and available direct from Myers and leading video outlets or by phone from Hawker Pacific Skyshops on (008) 02 3446.

People

Mr Ron Brown has been appointed to the board of Australian Airlines. Three foundation members of the FAC, Mr JE Catterall, Ms LF Cutts and Mr BI Follows AM have been reappointed to the FAC Board. Mr Tony Harrington has been appointed Public Reltions Manager for Australian Airlines. Tony was formally the aviation correspondent for the Financial Review. Mr G A ‘Peter’ Lloyd AO OBE has been awarded the prestigious Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Gold Air Medal for 1990. Mr Frank Riley has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Law Society of NSW. Qantas Chief Executive, Mr John Ward, has announced the creation of two Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) positions. Mr Julian Hercus, previously General Manager Passenger Sales & Marketing, has been appointed DCE Commercial while former RAAF Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Ted Rad- ford, has been appointed DCE Technical

Bottom Line

Air Pacific has announced a record 1989/90 financial year pre-tax profit of $F17. 5m ($14. 9m) with a return on revenue of 12%, more than twice the world airline aver age. KLM has reported a net income for the year ending 31 March 1990 of $236m, down from the 1988/89 figure of $260m. Operating revenues increased by 8% on traffic growth of 5%. Rolls-Royce, enlarged by its merger with NEI, has reported pre-tax profits for 1989 of £233m ($539. 9m), up 39% on the previous year. Turnover was £2,962m ($6,863m) and operating profit was £383m ($887. 4m). Fokker has reported a 1989 rise in turnover of 36% to NLG2,799m ($1,945. 3m). Total operating income was NLG3,240m ($2,251. 8m) though net profit was just NLG15. 9m ($11. 1m), up from NLG8. 6m ($6m) in 1989.