Newsdesk — General Aviation

The rapid fuel increases following Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait hit the GA sector hard, and it is evident that the recession “that we had to have has done nothing to ease the plight of GA aircraft operators, which account for about 80% of aircraft movements in Australia. In the past the GA sector has reacted very quickly to changes in economic conditions, both good and bad. During the 1983 recession, movements fell by 10% but rose again in the following year when the economy commenced recovery. In the last three months of 1990, movements at the five largest GA secondary airports (Bankstown, Moorabbin, Archerfield, Para- field and Jandakot) reveal an unseasonal drop in activity. The decline has not been uniform across the country, however, as several locations such as Western Australia appear to have begun declining earlier.

The CAA’s Business Report, however, notes: “GA has grown strongly over the past couple of years, and much more strongly than the long term rate (less than 2% per annum) for that sector. It is to be expected, given the cyclical nature of the industry, that such growth would not be sustained and that there would eventually be a downturn”.

Pacific Crossed by Hot Air Balloon:

The Pacific Ocean was crossed by hot air balloon during January by the same pair who in 1987 conquered the Atlantic, Thunder & Colt’s Per Lindstrad and Virgin’s irrepressible Richard Branson.

The Thunder & Colt Pacific Flyer, the world’s largest hot air balloon (2. 6m cubic ft), departed Japan on 15 January 1991 and landed in Canada 46 hours and 5,800nm (10,777km) later. During the flight, the Pacific Flyer captured both the endurance and distance records for hot air balloons. It travelled at an average speed of 127kt (top speed 208kt) at altitudes of between 30,000- 35,000ft, in the core of the jet stream.

The balloon used solar technology during the day to produce hot air, while its heat retaining properties were so great that pro- pane consumption 4. 5 tonnes of propane was carried in four jettisonable tanks ran at a minimum during nighttime. The balloon. featured a pressurised capsule maintained by a piston powered APU, which also. provided onboard heating and electricity.

 Caa Reorganises to Reduce Costs, Improve Efficiency:

The Civil Aviation Authority is being reorganised to improve efficiency and to focus more clearly on its core business activities.

The new CAA structure involves reallocating responsibilities within the various divisions, as well as producing a new top management structure and reviewing the Authority’s resources. According to CAA Chief Executive Mr Frank Baldwin, “While the changes are part of the normal process of transition to Government Business Enterprise, they are the first step in [the CAA’s] refocus on the core business of the Authority to provide an excellent, cost effective and efficient service to the aviation industry. ” In order to cut costs in line with the expectations of the aviation industry, the CAA will have a “flatter” top management structure, while various tasks will be reallocated to new divisions if it is thought they will be best tackled there. The planning of a more efficient and cost effective management of resources is expected to be completed by June.

Kalgoorlie Gets Major Upgrade:

A major redevelopment project for Kalgoorlie airport is presently underway to expand its capabilities.

A Loan Poll conducted last November gave approval to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Council to borrow $9m of the projected $16. 5m cost of the airport upgrade, it being recognised that the existing airport facilities are inadequate for the needs of the community and industry. Commercial aircraft serving Kalgoorlie have long been subjected to operating limits and the airport redevelopment in effect will produce a new Kalgoorlie airport situated to the southeast of the existing facility. The project provides for a 45 x 2,000m 11/29 sealed runway for commercial aviation and an 18 x 1,200m 18/36 unsealed cross runway for GA use, as well as a new ter- minal building and movement area.

Provision has been allowed for a future 500m extension of the 11/29 runway so that it will allow the introduction of interstate services flown by aircraft such as the 737-300 or BAe 146-200. Construction of the airport is expected to be completed by mid 1992.

Us GA Market Shows Recovery:

A slight rise in income at the top end of the GA market during 1990 brought the US general aviation manufacturing sector its highest income in real terms in nine years, according to the US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

The rise in real income comes despite the fact that actual deliveries slumped by about 25% to 1,144 aircraft, just 59 more than 1987’s lowest annual total ever recorded. The value of sales rose by 11% over 1989’s figures to just over $US2bn, allowing for the major share in the slight monetary recovery. Sales of piston engine singles plummeted by 40% during the year, from just over 1,000 during 1989 to just 608 aircraft. This is partly the result of Piper’s financial difficulties, which prevented many scheduled deliveries from taking place (in 1989 Piper delivered over 500 piston singles).

Multi engine deliveries were steady at 87,1 though shipments during the final quarter were down 67% on the same quarter 1989. Deliveries of turboprops increased 5% to 281, while jet deliveries rose 7% to 168 aircraft. The continued slump in sales of small aircraft has been attributed to the continuing product liability crisis which GAMA says “has been a major industry depressant for many years”.

In the export market, overall deliveries dropped 22% to just 442 aircraft, though the higher value of those aircraft which were sold overseas increased export earnings by 44% to $US844m. Overseas sales of GA aircraft accounted for over 38% of deliveries during 1990, an all time percentage high.

Brasilia Fleet Reaches One Million Flight Hours:

The worldwide Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia regional airliner fleet, currently comprising some 225 aircraft flying for 19 regional airlines in 11 countries, has reached the one million flight hours milestone.

In the process, the Brasilias have completed about one million landings and carried an estimated twenty million passengers. The fleet is currently averaging a monthly utilisation of 37,000 hours and 41,500 cycles, while attaining dispatch rates of 99. 3%, according to reports supplied to Embraer by Brasilia operators.

According to the US FAA, the Brasilia is also the aircraft with the highest average daily utilisation rate-7. 2hrs per day-of any aircraft used by US regional airlines. The Brasilia remains the sales leader in its market segment, having recently achieved its 500th sale, yet another milestone for the aircraft which now more than ever is the backbone of Embraer’s production effort.

 Caa Cuts Exam Costs:

The CAA has cut PPL and CPL exam costs by up to 40%.

The cost reductions apply to all candidates who sit a multiple choice exam for either a PPL (fee now $35) or CPL (fee $55). Besides sitting the exam, candidates now. receive free a critique (previously $25) and at record of their history to check on the expiry dates of their credits (previously $30). Infor mation regarding the next attempt is also provided for failed candidates. Besides the reduction of costs, which are expected to be further reduced in dollar terms this year, the CAA’s new computerised marking system provides a guaranteed turn around time for marking, though all papers must now be forwarded to Canberra for marking.

More Us Pilots, but Fewer Accidents:

The US Federal Aviation Administration issued more than 40,000 private pilot certificates during 1990, a healthy 14% increase on 1989.

The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association has attributed at least part of the boost in pilot numbers to the General Aviation Market Expansion Plan, a program implemented by fixed base operators and flying schools to encourage student pilot starts. The Association also stated that in 1990 flying light aircraft was safer than in 1989, there being 2,144 accidents in the United States during 1990 compared to 2,201 during 1989.

Industry Welcomes New Aip:

The new Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) will become effective on 2 May 1991. The manual, which details all rules and procedures for flying, will replace the previous complicated, confusing edition, often described as having been designed more for the rulemaker than the user, the pilot. The new AIP is described as clear and concise. providing mainly information for conducting a flight without extra, and mostly unnecessary, educational and training material. It is half the size of the old AIP, is printed on A5 paper for uniformity with other documents carried in the cockpit and the print is much larger for easier reading. Often used sections such as RAC and OPS are printed on stronger paper, each of these two sections being divided into two clear sections so as not to mix rules and procedures together in a thoroughly confusing manner. OPS for instance is presented in a logical sequence of events which pilots would normally do starting with flight planning and progressing. through procedures for controlled airspace. General Aviation Airports Procedures (GAAPs), non controlled airspace, radar, etc The new AIP, of which 25,000 have been printed, will be issued free to pilots who have purchased AIPs and Visual Flight Guide (VFG) since May 1990. The VFG will be withdrawn on issue of the new AIP.

Canadair Cutbacks:

Canadair has begun laying off employees as a result of the worldwide economic slowdown and the marked reduction in Challenger sales.

Some 140 employees have been laid off recently, with another 60 expected to go within the next three months. However Cana dair hopes to keep layoffs to a minimum, with almost 100 of the 7,100 strong workforce transferred to work on the new Regional Jet.