Newsdesk – Commercial Aviation

Meanwhile, it was announced at the Paris Air Show that Pratt & Whitney had signed an agreement with the Ilyushin design bureau to supply PW2000 series engines for the new II-96M, a derivative of the 11-96-300 currently completing its flight certification program. Under the agreement, Pratt & Whitney will provide PW2337 engines for integration in the I-96M, which will also feature Western avionics including fly-by-wire technology and digital navigation equipment in a two crew cockpit, increased payload (52,665kg) and range (up to 7,000nm), and a fuselage stretched 9. 15m (30ft) to typically carry 311. passengers in a three class configuration. Right testing must commence by March 1993 for the I-96M to be certified on schedule in 1995.

Ilyushin and Pratt & Whitney are also together studying a proposed twin engined II-96MD, which would use P&W engines and could “be more successful than the four engined aircraft” as a short haul high capacity airliner.

Csiro Develops Ash Detection System:

Interest in the CSIRO’s Airborne Volcanic Ash Detection System (AMADS) has been raised to new heights, following the recent volcanic eruptions in the Philippines and Japan.

The ash detection system has been under development for some years and is now being refined for operational testing. With the recent volcanic eruptions in the region, the potential problems associated with volcanic ash – which with present technology employed in aircraft cannot be discerned from ordinary water bearing cloud formations have again been highlighted. AVADS, which can basically be described as an infra-red radiometer, is a successful world first and has been internationally patented as such by CSIRO. The Organisation hopes however to be able to refine AVADS and ultimately develop a system which incorporates the ash detection capability with clear air turbulence and wind shear detection capabilities, devices for which have already been patented by foreign companies.

AVADS works by measuring the radiation in cloud formations on the 11 and 12 micrometre wavelengths: volcanic ash clouds are heavily impregnated with silicon so the radiation reading is quite high, while water bearing cloud formations give a low radiation reading. It is aimed to have AVADS able to analyse and therefore detect clouds at up to 150km away, and it is hoped that a full pro- totype can be tested in about two years. About $2 million is needed for development to be completed, and the CSIRO is hoping that this can be forthcoming from within Australia, rather than having to (yet again!) sell the technology rights overseas. Meanwhile, and highlighting the potential dangers of ash cloud, Qantas rerouted all of its Asian flights in the region as a safety measure to avoid ash clouds from the recent eruptions of Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines. In addition, one Qantas 767 was amongst the commercial aircraft grounded at Manila as a result of the ash cloud, the Qantas aircraft being forced to remain on the ground for four days.

 Hdh Wins New Boeing Contract:

Hawker de Havilland has been awarded another major parts manufacturing contract by Boeing for 747-400 leading edge slats.

The new contract is valued at about $A100 million, and follows on from the initial contract for 300 sets signed in 1985; it brings to nearly $750m the value of contracts awarded to HdH by Boeing. Deliveries of the leading edge slats will commence in 1993 and will run until at least 1995. The fibreglass composite variable camber panels will be produced at HdH’s Sydney composites facil- ties, which are currently being expanded for the planned production of the new 777’s elevators. The metal D-nose sections of the

747-400 slats will be built at the company’s Melbourne facilities.