Newsdesk- General Aviation

 Beech Wins Japanese Sale

Beechcraft has won an order for 31 Bonanza A368 from the Japan Civil Aviation College (JCAC)

The order is the latest in a long line of recent orders for Bonanzas from training organisations. In JCAC service, the aircraft will replace the current fleet of 22 Bonanza F33s and 12 Fuji 200s, and will be used as ab initio trainers for prospective commercial airline pilots, after which trainees will transition into Beech C90A King Airs delivered in 1986/87. The first of the new A368 will be delivered late this year, with the first aircraft to be replaced being the F33s, which were acquired during the late 1960s and have since accumulated over 268,700 flight hours.

Anger Over Essendon Future:

The Essendon Airport Chamber of Com-merce has been highly critical of Essendon Council for delaying its decision on the air- port’s future.

The Chamber claims that by failing to for- ward the city’s submission to the Port Phillip study before the 5 April deadline, the Council also failed to represent the airport community’s interests in the study. Essendon Council has denied that the delay was delib-erate, and indeed strongly supports the con-tinued operation of Essendon. A council delegation has already approached the Federal Government with a view to having some flight operations diverted to Essendon from Laverton, once the RAAF leaves the latter base. This would bolster the number of flights into Essendon, which at 65,000 per year is currently under utilised, in the Coun-cil’s opinion.

However this approach to the Federal Government has done little to calm the Airport Chamber of Commerce, which believes its interests would have been best served by also making the submission to the study. With some 50 businesses and over 2,000

employees at the airport, the Chamber needs positive action aimed at having the airport’s future decided. Without a firm future, long term prospects for the airport businesses remain uncertain, with the result that long term plans cannot be made and decisions on upgrades or purchases of new equipment must wait.

 Vector & Emb-145 Updates:

The Embraer/FMA CBA-123 Vector program is proceeding at a steady pace with some 400 flight hours logged to date by the two flying prototypes.

The flight test program will ultimately involve 1,100 hours of development and certification flying, with certification now targeted for March 1992. The aircraft have completed stalling tests, which have revealed that stall speeds are 5% lower than originally forecast. And, despite the fact that the CBA-123’s maximum takeoff weight has been increased by 500kg to 9,500kg to extend range with a full pax payload by about 400mm (740km), field performance has remained unaltered. The second pro- totype has been completely outfitted with an executive interior, the manufacturers aiming to break into the business and VIP markets in a big way.

Meanwhile, development of Embraer’s EMB-145 regional jet is also back on track, with certification now aimed for 1993. Transonic windtunnel tests have resulted in more favourable results than expected for the aircraft’s new wing, which creates less drag than expected and indicates that the aircraft may even better its 432kt cruise speed target. The new wing features a supercritical profile with a 22. 3 degree sweepback and repositioned pod-mounted, underwing.

engines. Along with other design changes (refer p. 13 June 91 AA), Embraer aims to have the EMB-145 competing with the Canadair RJ, which at this stage has a considerable time advantage.

 Citation Achieves Record Sale:

Despite worldwide recession, Cessna is continuing to record strong sales of its Citation series business jets, including what has been described as the “largest single business jet order in history. ”

The record order, valued at over $US150m, is for a fleet of Citation 7 bizjets to an as yet unnamed US operator. Demand for this Citation series is so strong that Cessna will be increasing production of the version by 40% next year while demand for the Citation 2 is such that production will be increased 25% in the same period. As well, Cessna has recorded strong orders for its high speed, long range Citation 10, which is still under development, and over 100 orders for the lightweight CitationJet, with only 5% of Initial customers declining to pay a $US100,000 second deposit on the aircraft.

Cash Support for Tamworth School Criticised:

Goverment support for the establishment of the British Aerospace-Ansett Flying College at Tam- worth has drawn some flak from within the industry.

The managing director of Bankstown based Navair has been one of the more vocal objectors to the indirect government support. He expressed outrage that public money was being spent on getting the Tamworth school off the ground, when other schools such as Navair have had to fight “tooth and nail” to establish themselves and their reputation, without any govemment support.

The NSW and Federal Governments have both indirectly supported the BAe-Ansett Flying College with financial assistance. Recognising the importance of the school. for employment in the hard hit Tamworth. economy, the NSW Goverment has pledged $6m to the project (via the Tamworth Development Corporation) and the Federal Government a reported $11m towards infrastructure development. The $84m College is expected to generate $36m a year in fees (70% from overseas) and benefit the Tamworth economy by $14m.

New Australian Airway Manual Service:

Jeppesen Sanderson, appropri ately described as the leading publisher of worldwide flight information for over 50 years, has announced a new Airway Manual Service for Australian based pilots.

The new Australia Airway Manual Service is an expansion of Jeppesen’s current charting of Australia. The instrument chart service includes En route and Area charts, Approach charts, SIDS/STARS and Australian DME arrival procedures. Revisions to the Manual Service will be issued to subscribers every 14 days. The chart service also contains vital reference information covering such. areas as air traffic control procedures, pilot weather services, radio navigation aids and emergency procedures. Other important reference data includes airport information and detailed airport diagrams for both VFR and IFR pilots.

The Australia Airway Manual Service is priced at $50. 70 for Initial Charts which includes chart pockets, divider tabs and instrument plotter, and a further $78. 00 for the 12 month Revision Service. As a reminder of the success of active participation at trade fairs and airshows, Jeppesen Sanderson advise that response to their stand at the Australasian Aviation Trade Fair, held in Canberra 13-15 November 1990, was outstanding. They will no doubt display at other upcoming aviation events.

For further enquiries regarding the Australia Airway Manual Service, please refer to Jeppesen Sanderson’s advertisement elsewhere in this issue for a list of their Australian dealers.

Pel-Air International Freight Operation Involvement:

It must be the season for DC-8s!

Pel-Air has confirmed that 12 months of planning has come to fruition with the start of its joint venture with US freight operator Flagship Express, utilising DC-8s. Pel-Air was adamant that it wanted to utilise the stretched 73F model with GE CFM56 turbofans.

The service is available selling wholesale space to air freight forwarders departing New York’s JFK on a Saturday night, then Chicago, Los Angeles and arriving in Sydney on Monday afternoon. Then it departs Syd- ney on Wednesday moming for Hong Kong: from there, it returns to JFK-not unlike the old Flying Tigers circuit. Airband enthusiasts will recognise the aircraft at the stated times as they carry November registrations.

Meanwhile, although losing the Brisbane/ Caims route recently to the Ansett Air Freight BAe 1468, Pel-Air is still launching six aircraft into the air on domestic routes most nights of the week. Its current routes are as follows: Darwin/Melbourne return; Darwin Sydney return; Melbourne/Sydney return, Sydney! Brisbane return; Brisbane/Sydney return. All aircraft are Westwind Is; Pel-Air also owns a Westwind II which operates Perth/Telfer 11 times a week.

Recently the company purchased three Falcon 208, subsequently selling two, and refurbishing the third for charter. The company also operates a Shorts 330 for charter. (Peter Gamble)

Airport Tafe Campus Planned for Melbourne:

Plans for a College of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) campus at Melboume Airport are now being studied.

Broadmeadows TAFE College aims to set up a campus at the airport for transport and tourism studies, which would also make the college the foremost training centre for aviation studies in Victoria. The Federal Government has already earmarked funds for the Broadmeadows TAFE to establish an aerospace industry training centre, and the college itself is currently negotiating with the Federal Airports Corporation for the campus to be built on the airport perimeter. The Victorian Government has also provided $2 million for the planning and development of the new training centre, while the Royal Melboume Institute of Technology has agreed to transfer its avionics and possibly also its general sheet metal and aircraft technology departments to the proposed airport TAFE campus.

Meanwhile, the feasibility of acquiring new land to build a third east-west runway at Melbourne Airport is also being considered by a joint industry/govemment committee. At present the land adjoining the airport is zoned semi-rural, however if this were changed it could provide for new runway space and also the building of other airport facilities.

 Mu-2 Experience Requirements Cut:

The Civil Aviation Authority has introduced an amendment to the MU-2’s flight manual which has considerably reduced the minimum experience requirements for MU-2 pilots in command.

The amendment was produced after consultation with the US Federal Aviation Administration (which has also been investigating the MU-2 following its own spate of MU-2 accidents) and industry. It supercedes the January 1990 Airworthiness Directive which placed certain limitations on MU-2 operations and pilot experience levels; this AD was imposed until sufficient information on the MU-2 crashes was available for the CAA to define safe operation of the type.

The amendments to the MU-2 Flight Man- ual include: the pilot in command must now already have either 50 hours in command of MU-2s, or 50 hours in command of other twin turbine powered aircraft and 30 on MU-2s, or these same hours under supervision to gain new command approval; within the preceding six months (prior to an MU-2 flight) the pilot in command must have satisfactorily completed a CAA approved proficiency check on the MU-2: within the preceding 90 days, the command pilot must have completed one hour of flight time on MU-2s, including three landings; the aircraft shall not be operated in known or forecast icing conditions, unless a CAA certificate of exemption is held; and the pilot in command shall not conduct type conversion training unless approved has been granted to do so by the CAA.

 Enhanced Range Brasilia Flies:

Embraer recently completed flight testing of a new improved Brasilia version, designated the EMB-120ER (Enhanced Range), which is set to enter the market late this year.

The EMB-120ER has a full pax payload range of about 900nm (1,666km) as compared to the standard Brasilia’s 500nm (926km); it will be able to fly four 100nm sectors without refuelling as against three 100nm sectors with the standard Brasilia. The improved range capability was obtained by increasing the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight from 11,500kg (25,3521b) to 12,000kg (25,455lb), this being achieved without any major structural or aerodynamic modifications to the aircraft’s basic air frame. Most of the weight increases come from the carriage of extra fuel, however it will also now carry new equipment such as a flight data recorder (FDR) and a traffic/collision avoidance system (TCAS), and will also be able to carry an additional 6. 5kg of passenger baggage (up from 91kg).

As well as the EMB-120ER being available direct from the production line, Embraer is also offering a retrofit program which will bring existing Brasilia’s up to the ER standard.

 Isasi Seminar Promises Avid Crash Investigation Discussion:

The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) is to hold its 1991 Seminar in Canberra between 4-7 November.

The theme of the 1991 seminar will be “Selling the Product: the lessons of investigation”, it being designed to “sound a warning that perfection of the investigation techniques becomes an academic exercise if its lesson cannot be effectively sold to the aviation safety regulators, to the educators and finally the practitioners. ” In other words, if the lessons learnt from crash investigations are not effectively passed on to operators, then they have little real value and similar accidents will ultimately reoccur.

The early response to the seminar has been very encouraging. All of the principal actors in the world’s aviation safety scene will be represented at the seminar: the ISASI president, Olof Fritsch, recently retired ICAO air safety investigation specialist; Jerry Lederer, “the father of aviation safety”: speakers from the FAA and NTSB in the US; as well as strong delegations from the UK, Canada, and naturally the Australian authorities, both the CAA and BASI.

Already 300 delegates are expected and a very interesting program is shaping up. Participation is open to anyone with an interest in air safety. For further information contact Paul Mayes on (06) 274 6452, or refer to the advertisement elsewhere this issue.

Kununurra Comes Under Shire Control:

The Wyndham-East Kimberly (WA) Shire Council has assumed full control of the Kununurra Airport, the third busiest in WA, in return for an $878,000 Common-wealth grant.

The change in ownership comes under the Federal Government’s Aerodrome Local Ownership Plan (ALOP). The grant was made to enable the local council to pay for the airport’s new taxiway, which is already under construction, and to provide for terminal extensions, drainage and improved baggage handling facilities. The council hopes that with the current and planned upgrades the airport will be able to handle Boeing 737s within five years. Already the airport’s annual revenue surplus after operating costs is $400,000, and if the area can more effectively tap into the growing tourist trade this revenue could increase substantially.

 Aerospares Shannon Enters Region:

Ireland based Aerospares Shan- non has opened a Singapore sales office to handle its growing spares business in the Asia/Pacific region.

Aerospares Shannon is a member of the Dublin based Aerospace Industries Group (AIG) which is fast establishing itself in the field of component manufacturing and overhaul work. The Singapore office was opened because strong sales were recorded in the region by Aerospares Shannon during 1990, and this situation is expected to continue over the coming years.

The company specialises in the sale of a complete range of Boeing and Fokker parts, and also offers purchasing services, loan/ exchange of parts, provisioning advice, disposal of surplus parts, and inventory leasing. Australia is being targeted as a prime revenue generating market.

 Profit or Loss on Qld Jet?:

Controversy has erupted over the Queensland Government’s claim to have made a $2. 1m profit on the sale of its BAe 125 bizjet, inherited from the Bjelke-Petersen government. Although the exact sale price of the 125 has not been disclosed, it is believed to be in the region of $6. 4 milion. This would give a theoretical profit of $2. 1m, as the Queensland Minister for Police has indicated, when. the purchase price of $3. 78m for the replacement Westwind bizjet and the $500,000 of additional equipment installed in the aircraft are taken into consideration.

A Queensland Government opposition member, however, has claimed that the deal in fact entailed a $2m loss, because the BAe 125 had in fact cost the Queensland goverment $8m when originally purchased several years ago. (But whether the said opposition politician took depreciation into his calculations is not known. )

 Cairns Radar Tested:

Caims Air port’s new radar equipment was operationally tested for the first time in late June.

The radar and associated equipment, built and being installed by French company Thomson CSF at a cost of $26 million, was “ghosted” (tested in an actual ATC situation) in preparation for its final approval for operations. The Cairns project is currently more than 16 months behind schedule, having been plagued by a series of technical and operational problems, however it is expected to be officially commissioned in September.

 Bhp Aerospace & Electronics to Market Gps:

BHP Aerospace & Electronics (BHP A&E) Australia has signed an agreement to market Collins Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment.

The agreement, signed with the Collins Government Avionics Division of Rockwell

International, is stated as being a long term technology transfer/licence manufacture agreement focusing on the Collins 3M minia- ture airborne GPS unit. BHP A&E will receive functional Collins 3M GPS receivers to market to various programs in Australia, and will pursue, as part of a Collins/BHP A&E team, the upcoming Joint Services Program to provide GPS for the Australian Defence Force, for which initial contracts should be awarded in 1991.

Should the Collins GPS be chosen for the ADF, BHP A&E will establish in-country support facilities to service both existing GPS equipment and those in the forthcoming acquisitions.