Newsdesk – General Aviation

Few individual aircraft categories show

any great movement in fleet numbers over the 1984-89 period though there are some of note, particularly a 1,500 (4. 3%) reduction in piston twins, a 25% growth in three engined jets (from 272 to 341), and a 41% increase (from 1,588 to 2. 238) in twin engined turbine helicopters. Of interest is the fact that in 1984 274,804 piston engined singles were in ser- vice and in 1989 that number had reduced by one to 274,803.

Sorry Axis!:

Our apologies to Banks-town’s Axis Aviation for leaving them out of our 1991 Flying Training Directory in last month’s AA

Axis (which has just opened its impressive FBO facility) conducts flying training at all levels and can even train you for a jet endorsement in its own Citation. The flying training is backed up by a professional ground school which uses modern computer based audio visual methods and the company also offers a large selection of aircraft for hire and charter, up to and including the Citation. Contact Steve Crocker on (02) 791 0022.

Cessna for Sale:

Cessna is to be sold off by its parent company, General Dynamics, so the latter can concentrate on its extensive defence business.

The general aviation manufacturer, which these days concentrates on production of the Citation range of business jets and the Caravan utility turboprop, is a profitable operation, earning $US106m on sales of SUS716m in 1990 and SUS45m on sales of $US390m in the first six months of 1991. Cessna sold 101 Citations in 1990 and a further 74 in the first nine months of this year. More than 1,800 Citations of all models have been delivered since 1971 and the 500th Caravan is due off the line this month.

GD bought Cessna in 1985 for $US660m and its sale will help reduce the parent company’s overall debt and improve its debt to equity ratio. GD lost $US578min 1990 after writing off $US700m on the cancelled USN A-12 Avenger program. It is anticipating a profit in 1991.

 Caa Pilot’s Guide to Amats:

The CAA has recently excelled itself in producing a very readable booklet entitled “Australian Airspace ’91-A Pilot’s guide to AMATS”. The booklet is being issued to all licenced pilots.

The CAA is to be commended on its determination to “sell” AMATS, it having taken. extraordinary measures to ensure that the aviation community is thoroughly briefed on the new procedures which will begin to be introduced as from the 12th of December this year.

The message is that it is time that we came into line with the rest of the world and did away with our antiquated system of Flight Service and Air Traffic Control. In the booklet we are told that we have been spoon fed and mothered to the point of suffocation and that in the modern era of “user pays”, it is in our own interest to accept, and make the new system work. This view is endorsed.

“Australian Airspace ’91” explains in very readable and friendly form, the background to why the changes are being introduced, how they will work in practise, and attempts to answer anticipated questions. Lets hope that all who receive it, read it.

Beech’s New King Air:

Beech has introduced the latest variant of its hugely successful King Air 90 turboprop, the original short fuselage King Air which entered production in 1964.

Called the King Air C90B, the new model differs from its immediate predecessor, the C90A, in having a completely redesigned interior based on that of the Super King Air 350, four bladed McCauley propellers of increased efficiency and smaller diameter and a reduction in airframe vibration by the fitting of tuned dynamic vibration absorbers throughout the cabin structure. The C90B also features a lower single engined minimum control speed and improved takeoff performance. The 550shp PT6A-21 power- plants remain unchanged. A Collins EFIS system will be standard equipment on the C90B from late next year.

Beech has also announced the production figures of its piston engined line for the 1991 model year, which encompasses the period between October 1990 and September 1991.

Centrespread

A 36 Sqn Hercules well and truly in the thick of it!

The RAAF was the first international operator of this the most revered of modern day airlifters. Commencing service with 36 Sqn in 1958, the first dozen C-130As wore RAAF livery right up till 1978 when they were progressively replaced by the squadron’s current work- horse, and the subject of our exciting centrespraad, the C-130HL Between these events 37 Squadron also took delivery of the first of twelve E models in 1966. Traditionally the latter squadron performs longer ranging strategic tasks whilst H equipped 36 Squadron flies the tactical mission as suggested by their appropriate camouflage.

Internationally the venerable Hercules, which first flew way back in 1954, is operated by more than four dozen air arms and a number of civil operators in its L100 variant. Still in series production with future versions on the drawing boards, the 2,000th Hercules should be rolled

from its Lockheed Georgia assembly plant sometime in 1992.

The company produced a total of 241 piston engined aircraft during that period, comprising 205 Bonanzas (A36, B36TC and F33A models) and 36 Baron 58s. Bonanzas and Barons were delivered to several airline training operations in 1991 including those serving JAL, KLM, Lufthansa and Air France.

 Argument Before Crash:

The Westmead Coroner’s Court in NSW has been told that a pilot who crashed during an aerobatics display at Schofields aerodrome in May this year had a serious altercation with a CAA flying inspector over a medical certificate needed to validate his licence shortly before the accident.

The pilot, Howard Powers, died in the crash which was found to be as a result of flying too low. Mr Powers’ son told the court of the argument with the CAA’s Bill Scott. The argument left the pilot very upset.

Calendar of Aviation Events:

Courtesy RFACA Dec 12 AMATS Procedures commence, (06) 280 6696.

Dec 27-29: The Great Eastern Fly-In, Evans Head Airport, (086) 82 8188.

Feb 8-9 1992. Sport Aircraft Fly-in, Latrobe Valley Sport Aero Club, (051) 34 1475.

Feb 22: Aviation Open Day, Canberra Aero Club, (06) 247 4841.

Feb 22-23: National Biennial Airshow, Bal- larat, (053) 31 4222.

Mar 4-8: Women in Aviation Rally, Christ-church NZ.

Mar 7: Round 1, NSW Interclub Flying Comp. Condobolin (045) 72 5724.

Mar 26-Apr 1: ALAC and Swan Hill Safari. Starts Maitland (049) 30 1577.

Mar 27-28. Australian Light Aircraft Championships, Swan Hill (050) 32 2444.

Mar 27-29: Nelson NZ 150th Birthday Airshow. Joe Stratton, Nelson NZ (64) 54 88822. Apr 15-20: Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow and Spectacular (refer AA/Tori Tours advert this issue) Wanaka NZ (02) 233 8500.

Apr 17-20 Battle of Australa Commemorative Air Safari, Alice/Darwin. (089) 81 5402. May 2-3: Bairnsdale Airshow. (051) 74 2591. May 2-4: RFACA Annual Conference. Wangaratta, Vic. (06) 280 6696.

June 7: Queen’s Birthday Weekend Airshow, Albany, WA.

July 11: Round 2, NSW Interclub Fly-in Comps, Scone (045) 72 5724.

July 21: Safari to Asia and possibly China. (049) 30 1577.

Jul 30-Aug 6: Oshkosh ’92 USA, (refer AA/ Torii Tours advert this issue) (02) 233 8500. Oct 21-25: Australia International Air Show & Aerospace Expo, Avalon Vic (02) 630 2000. Nov 7: Round 3, NSW Interclub Fly-In Comps. Warnervale (045) 72 5724.

Pel-Air Wins New Route:

Sydney based freight and charter operator, Pel-Air has won another sector as a result of new allocations of the Australia Post contract.

The route is Brisbane/Melbourne/Hobart four nights a week. Ironically, Pel-Air, which has had traditionally close links with TNT, were awarded the route by Australian Airlines. (Peter Gamble)”

Canadair’s Radical Business Jet:

Canadair has announced what it describes as a “new business jet concept” designed to meet the needs of the increasingly global corporate market of the 21st century.

Under the working name Project Global Express, the aircraft is a widebody business jet which is intended to offer range and speeds greater than any other aircraft of its type. Its design aims are a maximum operating speed of Mach 0. 9 and a range with eight passengers of 5,650nm (10,465km). It will be a big aircraft, with a 92ft (28m) span new technology wing and a maximum weight in the region of 72,000lb (32,660kg). The 48ft (14. 6m) long cabin is similar to the Canadair Regional Jet airliner and will allow division into three compartments plus a crew rest area. Engine type is not yet decided but will comprise two turbofans in the 14,000- 16,000lb thrust class. The design still has some way to go before it is frozen, but Canadair expects to deliver the first aircraft around 1997.

Canadair has meanwhile recorded its first order for a corporate version of the Regional Jet. Xerox Corp has ordered a single example for delivery in late 1992. It will feature a 30 seat interior.

 Monarch Air Airborne:

Further to our item on p. 17 of the November issue on the withdrawal of certain NSW services by Hazleton Airlines we would like to add that Monarch Air is now filling the void on several of these routes.

Monarch Air is presently flying a Chieftain and a turboprop Conquest on the Sydney! Cootamundra/Young/Cowra return route twice daily, avoiding the FAC’s peak period surcharge at KSA in addition to still allowing country business people the opportunity of a full day in Sydney. The airline is also planning to serve Forbes and may well spread into other rural markets as regional eco- nomic conditions improve.

The new

Bae 1000 Certificated:

long range British Aerospace 1000 corporate jet received its Type Certification from the British CAA in late October, allowing deliveries to begin. US certification should have followed by the time these words are read.

The prototype 1000 first flew in June 1990 and following an 800 hour flight development program involving three aircraft. Some 16 1,000s will be in the hands of customers or at completion centres by the end of the year.

Combined production of the 1000 and the earlier 125-800 will be about four aircraft per month.

The -800 is set to become the most produced of all the 125 variants, with the 216th scheduled to fly about now. The previous best seller was the 125-700, of which 215 were built.

Wanaka Update

Those lucky travellers joining us next Easter on our six day Wanaka air spectacular visit can now also look forward to a number of special flightseeing deals arranged specially for our group.

Air tours include overflights of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world including Lake Wanaka, Milford Sound, Mt Cook and the Matukituki River Valley. Our six day Wanaka tour is filling fast so don’t miss out on probably the best Easter you are ever likely to have.

Refer our full page advert elsewhere in this issue for full details and itinerary.

 Star Ship Moves:

MARKETING Obviously sensing the need to boost the poor sales record of its eight passenger all composite corporate twin turboprop Starship 2000, Beech has decided to replace the original model with a six passenger version, the Starship 2000A Compared to the original, the Starship 2000A will have an increased maximum takeoff weight, strengthened wing centre section and landing gear, a slightly longer cabin, a quieter exhaust system for the PT6A engines and a range of 1,500nm (2,770km). The 2000A will be available from the third quarter of 1992 (from airframe number 21) and any Starships built between now and then can in most part be upgraded to the new specification.

 GA Activity Static:

Figures released by the International Civil Aviation Organisation have shown that worldwide general aviation flying activity totalled an estimated 46 million flying hours in 1990, almost the same figure achieved in 1989.

Of that flight time, some 9. 5 million hours (21%) were instructional flying, 10 million hours (22%) were aerial work and other flying and 26. 5 million (57%) were business and pleasure flying. These proportions also remained virtually unchanged from the previous year. Fleet numbers have remained remarkably constant over the six year period from 1984 to 1989, the total fixed wing fleet declining slightly from 322,017 aircraft to 321,675 during that period. The international rotary wing fleet increased from 13,524 to 14,324, whilst overall the number of aircraft increased from 335,541 to 336,089. Of those, 75% are based in the USA.

 Piper Looks East:

The troubled Piper Aircraft as we knew it has finally been laid to rest, another victim of the US’s inane and greed-driven product liability laws.

The production rights of all eight ‘current’ Piper types and other major assets including type certificates, tooling and inventory have been purchased by the Ohio based Cyrus Eaton Group and a ‘new’ Piper, called Piper International will be established, probably based in Canada The Eaton Group has completed numerous major industrial, hotel and agricultural projects in the Soviet Union, China and Eastern Europe and is looking to establish Piper aircraft production lines in one of these areas. If bankruptcy court approval is given to the Eaton Group, the sale could be completed as early as next month.