Newsdesk – Commercial Aviation

The outcome will be awaited with interest as it will have a long term effect on the CAA, and not least the aviation industry.

 A320 Noise Cut:

Since it first entered service, the Airbus A320 airliner has been subject to some potentially annoying noises in the forward cabin during takeoff and climb.

Related to fan whine and more evident in A320s powered by CFM56 engines rather than IAE V2500s, the problem is being met by some airlines and by Airbus Industrie itself. Lufthansa has made changes to the air conditioning system while Airbus has introduced an improved acoustic liner to the front of the engine nacelles. The modification is now incorporated in new production A320s and can be retrofitted to earlier aircraft.

Us Airports Go Private:

President George Bush recently issued an executive order which will undoubtedly have long term effects on the administration of airports in the USA.

The order opens the way for the privatisation of airports, allowing fully private or government owned airports or as is likely in most cases airports to be operated jointly by government and private enterprise. Industry observers see the most probable scenario as being for title and supervisory control to remain in the hands of government, with long term management contracts being awarded to the private sector. It is considered that small and medium sized airports have

Commercial

greater potential for privatisation than the larger, more complex ones.

Mr Bush’s order removes what had been a major barrier to privatisation by consigning the majority of proceeds from the sale of facilities to local and state governments rather than the federal government, despite the latter’s substantial investment in airports over the years.

More Space Near Exits:

U.S. airlines must widen the distance between seat rows or remove seats near overwing emergency exits by December this year to comply with newregulations affecting aircraft capable of carrying 60 or more passengers.

The regulations stem from the February 1991 crash of a USAir Boeing 737 when it hit a commuter aircraft on the ground. Although 37 passengers escaped through a window exit, more could have got out if the seat rows had been further apart. The new rules say that rows with three seats adjacent to an overwing exit must be 20 inches (5km) apart (from backrest to the front of the seat behind) and that double seats must be 10 inches apart. Alternatively, complete seat rows may be removed. Nearly 2,600 airliners are affected by the regulations.

747 Autopilot Problems:

Several incidents involving uncommanded roll inputs from the autopilots on Boeing 747-100 and -200 aircraft whilst cruising have prompted the US FAA to examine a series of safety recommendations.

The incidents seem to stem from defective roll computers in the aircrafts’ Honeywell autopilots, although it should be noted that investigations are in an early stage and no firm conclusions have been reached.

In December last year an Evergreen International Airlines 747-100 freighter slowly rolled through 95 degrees and reached a speed of Mach 0. 98 before the crew manually regained control after a height loss of 10,000 feet, pulling 3g in the process and causing a section of wing skin to break off and strike the tailplane. In 1990 an Air Canada 747-200 rolled through 71 degrees and in 1989 a BA 747-100 rolled to 52 degrees before it was stopped.

In all three cases the aircraft were on autopilot and the roll was uncontrolled and uncommanded and the aircraft landed. safely.