Stop Press

In announcing the sale, Boeing chairman and chief executive officer, Mr Frank Shrontz, said: “The importance of today’s commitment for Boeing cannot be overstated. With a ratification by Boeing’s board on October 29. this order will launch an all new 777 aircraft family which will set a new standard for very large twin engine operations around the world. ” First delivery to United is scheduled for May 1995.

The United 777 order was just part of a $US22bn sale ($A28bn), which includes also firm orders for an additional 30747-400s and options on 30 more. The deal is believed to be the largest single order in commercial aviation history and is an integral part of United’s fleet update and expansion program aimed at showing that the financially troubled United is “back in business”.

With the 777 project-which only recently came close to being scrapped – now formally underway, Boeing is stepping up negotiations to sell the aircraft to ANA, JAL, BA and Qantas.

Canberra Aviation Convention to Provide Forum for Changing Industry:

The 1990 Australasian Aviation Trade Fair and Convention, to be held in Canberra on the 13-15 November, is set to provide a much needed boost to the Australian aerospace industry.

The Trade Fair and Conference will provide an excellent opportunity for general aviation manufacturing and service companies to gain an added boost to their marketing efforts in what is proving to be a difficult trading environment. The importance of the event is shown by the fact that it will be for- mally opened the Kim Beasley, Federal Minister for Transport and Communications.

The various associations that represent the many different aviation activities that make up general aviation are providing speakers and items for a convention pro- gram which will examine in detail the problems, the new opportunities and the major challenges which the industry will have to come to terms with as it heads into the 1990s.

The major general aviation players are represented at the convention by the Regional Airlines Association, the Business Aircraft Association (ABAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). They will be looking at their evolving needs in what is becoming a very different regulated environment from that of the past. Changes in the classification of operations, the deregulated major airline scene and the prospect of operational control being relinquished by the CAA will have a tremendous impact on how regional airline companies, charter operators, corporate aircraft flight departments, and aircraft owners and pilots fly or operate beyond 1990.

The trade fair is open to the public throughout the 3 days of the convention, and the convention activities are available to registered delegates. Further information can be obtained on telephone (06) 249 8015, fax (06) 257 3256.

Learjet Launches Model 60:

Learjet had launched a campaign to reclaim its leadership in the light and mid size business jet markets, its principle weapon being the launch of the Model 60. The move marks the first marketing initiative under its new Canadian owners, Bombardier. Model 60 is the largest Learjet in the family of bizjets and has been under development for several years, but has been delayed by a lack of investment by earlier owners. It involves a stretch of the Learjet 55C’s cabin by 43 inches (109. 2cm), though it retains the same wing. Power is provided by two P&W PW305 4,400Ib thrust engines. Performance figures include a maximum operating speed of Mach 0. 81 at up to 51,000ft over a VFR range of 2,740nm. Price is about $US8m. First flight of the Model 60 was expected by early November.

Meanwhile, development of the Model 31A continues on schedule and the first customer delivery should be made next year.

Citation X Unveiled:

Cessna has unveiled the Citation X, described as the “world’s fastest business jet”.

Based on a stretch of the highly successful, current top of the range Citation III, the X is designed to bridge the gap between the SUSB-10m, mid sized business aircraft and the heavy corporate jets. Its flyaway price is expected to be $US13m. Cessna is confident of delivering 32 aircraft in the first year of production, at least a dozen of these having already been ordered.

The new model will be powered by two 6,000lb thrust GMA 3007A engines (as used on the EMB-145 commuter jet) and will be supported by a new 35-37 degree swept wing. The aircraft is expected to fly at Mach 0. 9 at up to 51,000ft. A typical New York/ London flight could be completed in about 61⁄2 hours while New York/Los Angeles could comfortably be flown in 4 hours. The highest priority for the design team is to design a new wing, which at this stage will not utilise wing- lets. First fight of the Citation X is scheduled for March 1993 with entry into service being in 1995.

Domestic Airlines Continue Growth:

Domestic airline performance increased again during the September quarter this year, according to figures released by the DoTC.

A departmental spokesman stated that the airlines increased passenger uplift by 11. 4% over the June quarter while revenue passenger kilometres achieved by the airlines was up 14. 5% on the July quarter. Not surprisingly, passenger numbers and revenue kilometres were vastly superior to those of the September quarter of 1989, when the airline industry was in the grips of the domestic pilots’ dispute. Passenger numbers were up 56. 7% on the 1989 September quarter, while revenue passenger kilometres flown by the domestic airlines was up 56. 8%.

The effects of a softening economy, miscellaneous non aviation industrial disputes and the commencement of deregulation (with its associated discount air fares) on performance for the present quarter remain to be seen.

Australian Buys Sunstate:

Australian Airlines has acquired a 100% stake in Victorian regional carrier Sunstate Airlines. Australian’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr John Schaap, said that Sunstate would retain its own identity, staff and current routes, though it will adopt Australian’s familiar kangaroo emblem. It will continue to be based in Mildura, north west Victoria. He said that the airline will also remain fully committed to the air ambulance operations which it currently operates for the Victorian ambulance service. The directors of Suns- tate will also remain as advisors to the airline.

Sunstate presently flies out of Mildura to Melbourne, Broken Hill, Renmark and Adelaide. A Shorts 360 and a Cessna 404 are operated on scheduled services while a further six 404s are operated as air ambulances. Its chief competitor in the region is the Ansett backed Kendell Airlines.

Ansett Introduces ‘Rock Bottom’ Fares:

Ansett Australia has introduced a new series of heavily discounted ‘Rock Bottom’ fares for travel from the first day of deregulation.

The new fares are available on nominated, normally scheduled flights on a seven day advance purchase basis with no minimum stay away requirement. The special fares are available at more attractive travel times than

previously announced discount options and include normal inflight service. The new discounts do, however, have some restrictions.

Seats for ‘Rock Bottom passengers have only been allocated on four Sydney/Cairns flights per week, nine Sydney/Gold Coast, six Sydney/Canberra and 18 Sydney/Adelaide. This has led many travel agents to complain that the two major airlines’ much publicised brochure fares are merely publicity gimmicks and are already sold out whenever an enquiry is made.

Despite some restrictions on traveling times, the new fares do offer excellent value. They provide the cheapest fares available for fight between Canberra and Sydney ($80 one way and $100 return) and Sydney/Adelaide ($196 one way, $272 return), while Syd- ney/Cairns is a very attractive $240 one way. $355 return and Sydney/Gold Coast is just $130 one way, $185 return.

Be There to See the First:

If you live in Brisbane and wish to see the arrival of the very first Compass Airlines A300, then be at Eagle Farm around 9. 15am on November 16. Compass will commence revenue services with flight YM300 on December 1, departing Melbourne for Sydney at 6. 10am. Could be an interesting inaugural!

 Shuttle Plans Turboprop Trunk Route Operations:

Moorabbin based Shuttle Airlines is planning to import two BAe 748-28 turboprops to operate a service link- ing Moorabbin with Canberra and Sydney’s KŠA.

Sector time for Moorabbin/Canberra will be around 80 minutes while Canberra/Syd- ney will be 45. With a minimal support infrastructure requirement and an overall capital investment of around $6m for the two aircraft, Shuttle plans to offer viable discounts to what are currently the most expensive per kilometre sectors in Australia. Services are planned to commence during the first half of next year.

Shuttle presently operates a Bandeirante on behalf of Australian’s air freight division. If successful, the airline will also evaluate the possibility of using their 748s on a non stop Moorabbin/Bankstown service, effectively tapping into the vast population base that exists within each region.

 Eastwest Flying Into Deregulation in a Position of Strength:

Australia’s third airline, Eastwest, is flying into deregulation in a position of strength with its September bookings at higher levels than for the same month in 1988 when air travel was at its peak due to Expo and the Bicentennial. The airline will need to be attracting record patronage though as it effectively doubles its capacity in the months ahead as eight 96 seat BAe 146s replace its 68 seat Fokker F288. The much larger 146 has almost identical fuel burn characteristics as the F28-4000s which will now fly with Ansett NSW. Eastwest already has around a third of the total market into Coolangatta, 70% of the Hobart/Sydney market and a quarter of the total Tasmanian market, and commenced services into Yulara on November 1.

Ironically, after a decade of trying to legally fly the Sydney/Melbourne sector the airline will now also operate twice daily on this route. Not so much to challenge the majors but to primarily feed its own onwards flights on its revamped leisure based network.

 A Great Day for Aviation Sanity:

October 18 was a great day for aviation sanity as it marked the date of the CAA’s introduction of accepting type certificates issued by competent overseas authorities.

Readers will no doubt remember our articles over the years bemoaning the many pitfalls than beset an importer of aircraft in meeting what were frequently outdated, illogical and technically unjustified requirements often unique to Australia. That all changed with the issuing of the Yates Report earlier this year with the result that Australian airworthiness authorities now finally acknowledges that the USA, Britain and Europe do indeed know something about building aircraft.

Meanwhile the CAA estimates that it will save around $360,000 a year on not constantly reinventing the airworthiness wheel, a move that will also allow it to place more of its experienced inspectors in the field where they belong rather than behind desks in cen- tral office creating ever more paper work.

Fac Reports Strong Prort Despite Bad Year:

Amidst the worst. year in modern Australian aviation history. the FAC has reported an operating profit of $43. 6m on revenue of $266m.

Of extra significance is the fact that profit before interest was some $90. 8m whilst interest paid direct to the Government was a hefty $47. 2m in addition to a dividend of a further $8m. During the 1989/90 year the FAC invested just on $100m in capital expenditure on its 19 airports, double that of the previous year.

At June 30 the FAC employed 1,370 people, significantly lower than when airport operations were the responsibility of the then Dept of Aviation. Full individual airport performance data will appear in our next issue.

Secret Advanced Aircraft Flying Over Nevada:

Aviation Week and Space Technology has reported that multiple sightings by well qualified observers add credibility to claims that top secret advanced aircraft are being flight tested over the Nevada desert.

Sightings of what appear to be three different types of triangular flying wing type aircraft have been made over the last couple of years, though positive sightings were recorded as early as the mid 1980s. Based on some 45 reports by ground based and airborne observers, and by people who have had access to the advanced aircraft, the existence of at least two distinct types has been confirmed, though AWST believe there are more.

The three aircraft believed sighted include: a triangular shaped, quiet aircraft seen with a flight of F-117As several times during 1989. At least two daylight sightings were made and sketches of the aircraft suggest that it may be a proof of concept demonstrator or prototype of the GD/MDC A-12 Avenger. US Navy officials recently noted that full size A-12 models will soon be publicly tested, suggesting that at least one A-12 prototype is already flying.

The second is a high speed aircraft with a very loud, deep, rumbling roar reminiscent of heavy lift rockets which has been observed by moonlight and heard by many local residents. Already nicknamed ‘pulser because of a pulsing engine sound often heard by observers when it is in flight, the aircraft leaves a thick, segmented smoke trail or contrail. It is estimated to be about 100ft long, though no reliable description of a planform has been reported.

The third is a high altitude aircraft that crosses the night sky at very high speeds, typically being observed as a single, bright light (sometimes pulsating) flying at speeds that may be supersonic. No engine noise or sonic boom has been heard. One AWST editor estimated that an aircraft he sighted took just 20 seconds to transit 70 degrees of sky. Sightings are usually made on a routing that would suggest the aircraft is en route to or from “work areas” off the US west coast, where airline pilots have also reported high speed vehicles manoeuvring at altitudes above 50,000ft. This aircraft may be the previously mentioned ‘puller flying at high speed.

The US Military will neither confirm nor deny the existence of the secret aircraft, however requests for $US2. 3bn in funding for an aircraft called ‘Aurora’ were made. A Mach 7-8 “transatmospheric vehicle” was proposed in the mid 1980s, though both Lockheed and government officials deny any knowledge of the Aurora project.