Newsdesk – General Aviation

Bankstown Apprentice Wins Fac Award:

Paul Jensen, an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer employed by Kingsford Smith Aviation at Bankstown, has won the inaugural FAC Apprentice of the Year Award.

The Federal Airports Corporation sponsored award is designed to encourage young people to become Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs), of which there is a current shortage. The award carries a $5,000 cash prize and trophy for the winning apprentice and a certificate for the employer. The Award is an annual nationwide award and the FAC is considering establishing state and territory awards also.

Fliers vs Council Over Airport Costs:

Airport users at Coffs Harbour have won their battle against a steep hike in landing fees imposed by the Coffs Harbour City Council.

The Council imposed the charges in April which saw users having to pay fees higher than those proposed for Sydney Airport. The Council has now decided to phase in a new annual fee for local aircraft over a two year period, but have stood by a weight charge for all other general aviation aircraft. Concessions will be given for training aircraft and aircraft requiring maintenance.

The Council came under strong fire for imposing the $12. 00 per 1,000kg charge on GA aircraft. The figures, the Council says, were based on the revenue collected per head from RPT Fokker F288 which use the facility in northern New South Wales.

Meanwhile, Lismore City Council, based on the far northern New South Wales coast, is to upgrade its airport to accommodate Eastern Airlines Dash 88. The New South Wales Air Transport Council, which has been reviewing licences throughout the state on a rotating basis, has given the nod to a direct Sydney/Lismore service, providing the present 15-33 runway is brought up to standard. Lismore Council has now allocated $1m for strengthening the strip, improving taxiways and building a new terminal.

Eastern Airlines, which presently runs a Bandeirante through Lismore on a coastal hop route between Brisbane and Newcastle, is planning 19 direct Sydney flights a week. Meanwhile, Lismore Council’s decision, which also includes allocating funds to improve the NDB system and installing a VOR, has neighbouring Casino Council up in arms.

Casino, which has lost two-thirds of its Ansett New South Wales services to Ballina on the coast, says an extra airline service to an airport midway between Ballina and Casino will kill the quality of services to the north-east New South Wales region. It says an extra airline will mean Ansettwill withdraw its F288 because seats will be taken by East- ern’s service, and it also claims more smaller turboprop aircraft will lead to more delays into the already crowded Kingsford Smith Airport. (Halden Boyd)

Piper Announces Layoffs:

Following the termination of the proposed TranSisco investment deal, Piper Aircraft Corp has announced layoffs and a major restructuring of its management organisation.

Piper is still experiencing a difficult cash flow problem for which there seems little hope of relief in the near future. Piper, therefore, has been forced to make cutbacks, though with a production backlog of some $US175m, production line workers have for once found their jobs secure. The 108 employees laid off are mainly those performing sales and marketing functions, Piper feeling that with the backlog in orders and the current high demand for Piper aircraft 92 orders, including 20 Malibu Mirages, were received in June alone – these functions are not necessary at the moment.

Meanwhile, Romeo Charlie Inc, parent company of Piper Aircraft Corporation, has postponed plans to set up an aircraft manufacturing firm at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to be operated by Piper North Corporation. Though additional production capacity would prove useful the facilities were to be used to build the LoPresti Piper SwiftFury sports plane and to resurrect the twin engined Navajo-Romeo Charlie has instead opted to focus on the long term financial stability of Piper Aircraft Corp.

1990 “SPLASH-IN”: The Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) invites all members and enthusiasts to attend the 1990 “Rath- mines Splash-In” on 10th and 11th November.

To be held at the old wartime Catalina base at Rathmines, on the western shore of Lake Macquarie, NSW, the annual splash-in is the largest such gathering of seaplanes in Australia. The event will include flying demonstrations, joy flights, displays of aircraft and equipment, model seaplane flying, seminars and workshops, the SPA AGM and a dinner with Gaby Kennard as guest speaker. Those interested should contact the SPA Splash-In Office on (02) 7253466.

 Hdh’s Australian Aviation College Opened:

On 10 July Hawker de Havilland officially opened its Australian Aviation College (AAC) at Parafield, SA.

The AAC is HDH’s new international airline pilot training college, and already is training some 94 students sponsored by airlines such as Qantas, Singapore, Malaysian, Air Mauritius and Solomon Airlines. HDH pur- chased the AAC 18 months ago and has since invested $14m in classrooms, accommodation, administration facilities, amenities, aircraft and simulators. This investment will be increased by a further $6m by the time the college is fully operational. Over 50 people are currently employed at the college and a fleet of 27 aircraft are being operated, these comprising 10 Tobagos, 7 Trinidads, 5 Duchess’, 2 Mudrys and 5 Grobs; 2 Citations are on order.

By 1993, when the college will be fully operational, the AAC will have the capacity to train up to 200 students, each of whom will graduate with the appropriate statutory licensing requirements from courses which, although basically similar, will be tailored to meet individual airlines’ needs. It is projected that over 100 people will be employed at the college and a fleet of over 40 aircraft will be operated.

Trislander to Be Built in Australia:

An Australian company has purchased the rights to the Britten-Norman BN-3 Trislander, with a view to manufacture in Australia.

An initial twelve Trislander kits have been purchased by Mr Lance Watson along with all manufacturing rights, jigs and drawings. The aircraft will be assembled by Fixed & Rotary Wing at Camden, NSW, where facili- ties are planned to be built to undertake full construction of new aircraft, this being started during the assembling of the initial twelve aircraft so as to “slowly integrate” the new aircraft into the assembly line. Mr Billy Spence, of Fixed & Rotary Wing, said that each Australian assembled/constructed Tri- slander should sell for about $1. 25m, there already being “tentative takers” for the aircraft in the United States.

At last report the Trislander kits and jigs were being shipped to Australia from the United States. No firm date for start of manufacture had been set.

 CAA Amends Licence Suspension Regulations:

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has amended CAR 268 (1) (b) to restrict the grounds on which the Authority may temporarily suspend a licence.

The amendment was instigated by an Air Safety Regulation Review Committee (ASRRC) recommendation which concluded that it was too easy for the CAA to tem- porarily suspend a licence, the Authority needing only what it considered a sufficient reason to believe “there may be facts” to justify either the suspension or the limiting of a licence. With this in mind, CAA officers were able to suspend temporarily (effective immediately) a licence for up to 28 days, pending investigation into the matter. It was found that too often the circumstances did not warrant such action. The new amendment effectively limits the power of the CAA to impose a temporary and immediate licence suspension to situations where it is felt that if such action is not taken, there may be a serious threat to air safety.

Another regulation, which allowed any suspension or cancellation to remain on the licence for three years after restoration of the licence, has been repealed in line with the ASRRC recommendation.

Lovaux Buys Optica:

Lovaux, part of the Danish based FLS industrial multinational, has purchased the assets of Brooklands Aerospace, producer of the Optica light surveillance aircraft.

Lovaux is now the fourth owner of the Optica and intends to continue development and certification of the aircraft. The Optica already possesses UK CAA and Australian CAA type certification, and Lovaux intends to pursue US FAA certification. Steady interest in the aircraft has been received from the United States as well as Thailand, and the new owner will, like its predecessors, market the aircraft primarily as a surveillance machine. It plans to expand design and production staff to cope with the hoped for stronger sales.

Brooklands Aerospace is responsible also for the production of BAe 146 fuselage frames, BAe Bulldog engine cowlings and components for Westland Aerostructures. Lovaux intends to continue this work, though with British Aerospace considering bringing much of its subcontract work back in-house, the company may not be able to do so.

Flying Lessons for Canberra School Students:

Canberra secondary students may soon be able to study for a pilot’s license in school hours.

Lake Tuggeranong College in Canberra plans to offer a two year flight training course to Year 11 students to commence in 1991. The course will be designed to allow students to earn their unrestricted private pilot’s license and pass the exams for a commercial pilot’s license. Twenty students paying about $8,000 each are needed for the course to commence. The students will need to pass a CAA medical exam to CPL standard, and enrol in physics, maths, geography and English courses. Three hours per week will be spent on theory with a fourth in flight training at Canberra airport.

A College spokesman said the school had decided to offer the course because studies had shown a number of Canberra students were receiving fight training in their own time, but allowing school work to suffer as a result. The new course is therefore designed to integrate the two.

 Soaring Citation Sales:

Cessna is experiencing a very healthy period of sales for its Citation business jets.

The company delivered no less than 48 Citations during the first half of 1990 (up 16 on the same period in 1989) and sales of the type are continuing to meet and exceed expectations. Orders forthe Citation II and Ill remain strong, while the Citation V – aided by rapid market acceptance for the variant- are such that with over 70 aircraft delivered, the order backlog now extends to the second quarter of 1992. First orders for the recently announced Citation VI and VII have been received. Cessna appears to be one of the few US aerospace companies not experiencing dramatic financial problems at the moment. Though owned by General Dynamics, it is relatively unaffected by defence budget cuts and has not found itself in the position of Piper with funds shortages. First half sales of $US332. 7m were recorded (up from $US249. 5m during the first half of 1989) and operating earnings of $US39. 1m were almost triple that of the previous year’s first half.

Meanwhile, 32 Caravan Is and one Caravan II were ordered during the first six months of this year, orders of the former variant being down from 37 last year.

 Air Show Ad Wins Award:

Some two years after the event, a commercial used to promote the 1988 Bicentennial Air Show received an industry award.

The “kitchen sink’ commercial – created by the Sydney branch of the multinational advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather – was screened on Sydney television for the two weeks leading up to the air show. It featured a kitchen sink detaching itself from a wall and becoming airbome, with the declaration being made that Richmond would have “just about everything that flies. . . including the kitchen sink. ” Being of a somewhat creative and humorous nature, the commercial has received an Australian Writers and Art Directors Award and has also been included in ‘Laugh’, Australia’s first exhibition of humour in advertising. Yet another cap for the airshow recognised as the world’s best in 1988; it has already received a number of aviation and tourism awards while several key players have received individual awards and honours for their contribution.

Meanwhile, The Aerospace Foundation of Australia, the successor to the Australian Bicentennial Air Show Organisation, is currently developing plans for a series of inter-national and national air shows around Australia. This will include a proposed Expo at Richmond in October 1991 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the RAAF. More information as it comes to hand.

 World Speed Record for Australian Amateur-Builder:

Mr Magna Liset, the owner/builder of Rutan Long Ez VH-MJL, has set two world speed records on his flights from Brisbane to Perth and return in March this year.

The FAI has certified Mr Liset’s Australian National records as World records. The records, set in the 500-1,000kg weight class for piston engined aircraft, are. 3 March-Brisbane to Perth 263. 33kmh; 8 March-Perth to Brisbane 259. 17kmh.

The building of the Long Ez took Magna five years and was completed about three years ago. Since then he has flown it for about 800 hours. He said, “It is a fun machine that is good for long range flying at low cost. Since I began flying it, Australia seems to have become a much smaller place”.

People

Captain Robert Nicholson has been elected the new president of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots. Mr Barry Grisdale has been appointed General Manager of Qantek. Qantas’ information technology subsidiary. Mr Ford Sprenkele has been appointed Fokker Director of Marketing for the Eastern European countries, his previous position as Director of the South Pacific sales office being taken by Mr Phil Clay. Australian Airlines have announced the appointment of four new General Managers: Mr Geoff Dixon has been appointed General Manager Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Mr John Anderson General Man- ager Sales and Customer Service, Mr. Emmet Hobbs General Manager Cargo and Mr Doug Gillies General Manager Flight Operations. Air New Zealand’s Public Affairs Manager Australia, Ms Heather Jeffery, has been transferred to the airline’s Melbourne office. The airline has also appointed Mr David Jackett Marketing Manager Australia, Mr David Adams Marketing Services Manager Australia, Ms Linda Quigley Route Marketing Manager – Long Haul Pacific, Mr Alan Roman Route Marketing Manager – transtasman and Mr Garry Court Regional General Manager Australia. In the US, former Delta Airlines President, Mr Hollis Harris, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Continental Airlines following previous CEO Mr Frank Lorenzo’s sale of his 6. 9% stake in the airline to SAS.

Bottom Line

Australian Airlines have announced a group operating loss of $13. 737m after tax for the year ended 30 June, 1990. This compared to the previous year’s profit of $70. 384m. The pilots’ dispute, which effectively disrupted domestic airline services for eight months, is blamed as the principal cause for the drop in profit. An income tax credit of $48. 279m has been recognised to make allowance for the losses incurred by the dispute. Group revenue from operations was $1,021m compared with $1,242m in the previous financial year. Sale of aircraft netted $39. 1m, though this was largely offset by a debit of $21. 3m resulting from a change in workers’ compensation accounting methods. • British Airways has announced a £156m ($371m) first quarter 1990 pretax profit, up 62. 5% on last year’s figure of £96m ($228m). The improved result was partly due to BA’s sale of one 747 and the sale and lease back of 10 7378. The recent unofficial engineers” strike at Heathrow cost the airline £4m ($9. 5m). Continental Airlines has announced its second quarter 1990 net profit of $US96. 8, up from $US32. 1m last year. Boeing has recorded sales of $US13. 4bn and a net profit of $US689m for the first half of 1990. This is marginally better than 1989 when first half year net profit was $US654m.  Cessna has reported second quarter 1990 sales of $US175. 2m (up from $US133. 9m last year) and operating earn- ings of $US22. 6m (up from $US9. 3m last year). First half year sales totaled $US332. 7m. • Lockheed has recorded earnings of $US150m on sales of $US4. 67bn for the first half of 1990, a marginal improvement on 1989’s figures of $US142m in earnings on sales of $US4. 65bn. 76% of sales were to US defence related projects, 13% to the US gov- emment for non defence work, 9% to commercial customers and 3% to non US governments. Northrop has reported a net income of $U329. 3m for the second quarter of 1990, as against a $US79. 1m loss for the same period in 1989. Sales of $US1. 4bnwere recorded during the quarter, bringing the company’s business backlog $US6. 54bn.  United Technologies has reported a second quarter net income of $US207. 5m (up from $US197. 3 for the same period last year) on revenues of $US5. 7bn (up $US4m on 1989).