Commercial Aircraft Sales

Joint Soviet/Spanish Airliner:

Soviet design bureau Ilyushin and Spanish manufacturer CASA are planning to develop a 70 passenger turboprop regional airliner combining the fuselage of the Ilyushin 8-114 with the wing of the forthcoming Saab 2000 50 seater and two 4,800shp Allison GMA 2100 engines. Called the CASA 3000, the aircraft would offer a cruising speed of 360 knots (667km/h) CASA is contracted to build the wing for the Saab 2000, and it is obvious that a clash of interests is possible if the new design goes ahead. CASA needs Saab’s cooperation to use the wing (the Swedish manufacturer owns it, Casa only builds it) and the two aircraft could possibly be competing for a similar market, particularly as Saab says the 2000 could be further stretched. If the project goes ahead, the first aircraft could be flying in 1995.

The Saab 2000 is meanwhile getting closer to its scheduled first flight in the early part of next year with the recent delivery of the first wing set from CASA and the first two Allison GMA 2100 engines. Following completion of most of the wind tunnel tests, Saab has announced slightly improved performance over the original estimates including a maximum cruising speed of 365 knots (676km/h), reduced takeoff distance, increased single engined ceiling and faster time to height. First deliveries are scheduled for the second half of 1993. Swiss operator Crossair is the launch customer.

Canberra Gets Its MLS:

Australia’s most fogbound airport, Canberra, will eventually see its number of fog related delays and diversions markedly reduced following the installation of a modern Microwave Landing System (MLS).

Canberra is the first airport in Australia to have MLS installed, although at this stage the system is being used for trials only, with full operations by suitably equipped commercial aircraft following in the years ahead.

Designed and built in Australia by Interscan, the $2m system has enormous export potential and has already been sold to Spain and China. By the turn of the century, MLS will steadily replace ILS at major airports all over the world due to its acceptance by the authorities as the standard ‘blind landing system from 1998.

One of the reasons ILS is becoming redundant is that the FM band on which it operates is rapidly becoming overcrowded. MLS’s advantages are numerous lower operating. Minima, greater reliability, less susceptibility to interference and greater operational flexibility, particularly in the approach to the airport.

it is planned to have Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin airports fitted with MLS by 1998.

Isasi Seminar Next Month:

The International Society of Air Safety Investigators is holding its 1991 seminar in Canberra next month (4-7 Nov) and more than 300 delegates from numerous countries will discuss a wide range of topics. The theme of the seminar is “Selling the Product – The Lessons of Investigation”.

Principal speakers include Frank Yeend, Australia’s most experienced accident investigator plus BASI’s David Adams, the CAA’s Ron Cooper, Bill Hendrick’s (US FAA Accidents Investigation Branch chief), Walter Peters (Transport Canada) and Richard McKinlay, the Deputy Chief Inspector of Accidents at Farnborough.

The four day seminar includes a full day devoted to developments in the flight data recorder field. For more details contact (06) 274 6452.

Melbourne Is Second Ats Site:

Melbourne has been selected as the site for one of the two Air Traffic Services centres in Australia, along with Brisbane, already chosen as the site for the north-east centre.

Melbourne was vying with Adelaide for selection as the south-west centre but the former was chosen as being in the CAA’s best strategic and commercial interests. The Victorian Government also offered financial assistance in support of Melbourne.

The current ATS system, based on five centres, will be replaced by the two centre system by the end of 1995. An in-depth project update on this exciting ATC concept will be featured in our November edition.

Volcano Warning:

Australia’s CSIRO has achieved a world’s first by developing a device which warns pilots of volcanic ash in clouds. Potentially catastrophic volcanic ash is undetachable by conventional radar, and the new device measures heat from clouds, discriminating between ash and harmless water particles.

The device could earn many export dollars for Australia. It is about the size of a telephone book and can be fitted to an aircraft’s nose or wing.