iscover
Australia looks set to lose control of the Petth based Eagle light aircraft programme following an offer of $5.25m from the project's Malaysian pattners who now wish to make the venture entirely Malaysian owned. Details of the offer will go before an AGM of Eagle Aircraft Australia Ltd shareholders in early March though at presstime was expected to be accepted as the company has incurred significantdebts that make eventual profit targets difficult to achieve. Development and initial production of the aircraft will for the time being remain in Perth though will ultimately transfer to Malaysia as soon as sufficient production expettise has been gained.
Newsdesk- General Aviation
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The Eagle Has Crashed?:
Perth’s Eagle Aircraft Australia, developer of the EagleXT-S composite light aircraft, appears to have its dream to put the aircraft into production shattered with news that the company is critically short of funds and is now fully dependent on its Malaysian co owners for working capital. The Malaysian connection was established in 1990 to rescue the company then, and current investors face the prospect of realising less than six cents per $1. 00 share without having had any dividends in the meantime. The company has managed to survive a series of cash crises over the years. It has built a single XT-S prototype which was first flown in 1988. Original plans called for production to start in 1989 but this has not yet happened and now probably won’t.
The Champ Is Back:
After more than a decade out of regular production, some of the former Champion/Bellanca range of high wing two seat taildragger light aircraft are on offer once again.
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The American Champion Aircraft Corporation is producing the utility Scout and fully aerobatic Super Decathlon at its Rochester, Wisconson, plant as well as supporting existing Bellanca Citabrias, Scouts and Decathlon aircraft. The ACAC Scout and Decathlon are powered by 180hp Lycoming engines, the latter fuel injected and fitted with inverted fuel and lubrication systems. Both are available with either fixed pitch or constant-speed propellers. The Scout is also being offered with a new metal spar wing in place of the spruce normally used.
Bellanca took over the rights to the Champion range in 1970 and between then and. 1980 built 5186 Citabrias, 562 Decathlons and 329 Scouts.
Training to Work:
A problem facing all newly qualified commercial pilots is finding that first job, the one which will hopefully lead to a lifetime’s gainful employment. (Refer p67) The Bruce Hartwig Flying School at Ad- elaide’s Parafield Airport is trying to tackle that problem, employing only full time salaried Grade 1 instructors who bring with them vast experience and therefore a network of contacts in the industry, any one of which could lead the new pilot to his or her first job. The school says it teaches its students not just how to fly but how to deal with the aviation industry itself, knowledge that only experienced instructors can impart.
Teacher Wins Bhp Science Award:
Perth teacher Malcolm Yeo of Kent Street Senior High has won a $15,000 BHPScience Teacher Award for his work in introducing aeronautical science to West Australian schools.
Mr Yeo organised fundraising to purchase two aircraft for the school so the pupils could have flying lessons, helped students build their own aircraft and arranged sponsorship for his courses. With the help of other corporate sponsors, the school now takes aviation students from all around WA.
Caa Unveils Safety Plan:
The Civil Aviation Authority has announced the strategy plan for its Safety Regulation and Standards Division and incorporates a proposal to have the division audited by an independent safety consultant on an annual basis.
According to the CAA the new structure ensures the division is equipped to manage aviation safety issues well into the future and the appointment of an independent consultant will contribute to objectivity. Other key components of the plan are a major increase in the responsibility of the CAA’s regional and district offices, the creation of better industry networks through the recent establishment of an Industry Support Group, implementation of a Total Quality Management scheme and provision for better training schemes for both industry and the CAA’s staff.
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