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The Fokker 70 regional jet test aircraft made formation fly pasts with its sister Fokker 100, while the Dornier 328 also made its Paris debut.

LET of Czechoslovakia demonstrated its GE CT7 powered L-610G in the hope of attracting orders from western airlines, while the Bombardier group’s Regional Jet visited Paris for the first time in ComAir (Delta) colours.

MDC’s MD-90 flew at Paris, demonstrating the new airliners agility and quietness by virtue of its IAE V2500 turbofans.

The undisputed highlight of the airliner presence at Paris though was the Airbus formation flypast of the A321, A330 and A340, each giving an awesome demonstration of high angle climbouts, fly-by-wire manoeuvrability and a repertoire more akin to the Red Arrows. Unfortunately AA can’t be presented in video.

A special Paris Air Show colour feature will appear in the August issue of AA.

Usair Hushkits 737s:

USAir has placed a $US48m order for Nordam hush-kits for its JT8D powered 737-200s.

USAir operates 81 737-200s, with the order expected to ultimately cover the conversion of up to 64 aircraft, making them ICAO Stage III compliant. Nordam says the hushkits protect the aircrafts’ residual value and does not force them into premature retirement by extending their economic life.

Developed jointly by Pratt & Whitney and Nordam, the kit incorporates an ejector/suppressor, internal exhaust mixer and respaced inlet guide vanes. Previous orders have been placed by both Lufthansa and Air New Zealand, the latter due to place its third modified aircraft into service at the time of writing.

The kit, which has a current list sales price of $US3m, involves an increase in fuel burn in the region of three per cent. The US FAA requires all airliners to meet Stage III requirements by the end of 1999.

High Speed Stretched Dash 8:

De Havilland Canada, Bombardier’s regional aircraft division, announced its intention at the Paris Airshow to develop a 70 seat high speed Dash 8 variant, known as the Series 400.

Not as yet officially launched, Bombardier is currently in discussion with potential risk sharing partners and vendors in the programme, and has not yet made a firm choice on powerplant. As well as increased capacity over the Series 300 which can seat 50 passengers, the 400 will feature a 350kt (650kmh) cruise speed comparable to the Saab 2000 and considerably faster than either the Jetstream 61 (ATP) or Fokker 50.

France Privatises:

France’s new conservative government has announced the privatisation of 21 state owned companies, including Snecma, Thomson, Air France and Aerospatiale.

A marked departure from France’s previous nationalisation policies, the new government will still retain a ‘golden share’ in the privatised companies, but it will now allow more than the usual 20% foreign investment limit. The move is also expected to free up the companies to more easily participate in international alliances.

The process of privatisation is expected to last two years, although it is thought that the four aerospace companies concerned will not be sold in the short term. All four have posted losses recently.

Pratt &  Pratt’s New Partners:

Whitney has announced two new joint projects, with European and Russian engine manufacturers.

Pratt & Whitney, SNECMA, MTU and General Electric will join forces to produce a new turbofan engine family in the 12,000 to 20,000lb thrust range for the EUROFLAG, regional airliners and large corporate jets. While the EUROFLAG European replacement for the Hercules and Transall trans-ports remains a paper aircraft, the new family will for the first time challenge both the established RR Tay, which currently powers everything from Gulfstreams to Fokker 100s, and the upcoming joint Rolls Royce BMW BR family.

In a separate move Pratt & Whitney has teamed up with manufacturer Perm Motors and designer Aviadvigatel of Russia to create a new joint company to develop commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The new partnership, Pratt & Whitney/Perm Motors Ltd, will initially develop the Perm PS-90A of 35,000lb, which is fitted to the D-96, to the PS-90P, which will be made available for installation on passenger and cargo aircraft. The new PS-00P will be certified by 1996, with Pratt & Whitney announcing its wish to expand the partnership into other engine families. MTU also intends to participate in the venture.

The new joint arrangement will offer the Russians experience in western commercial business methods and the design and construction of more efficient and longer lasting engines, while giving Pratt & Whitney another foothold into new Russian and CIS markets and Russia’s vast industrial and technology base.

Pratt & Whitney’s PW2000 series already powers the stretched 11-96-300M, which made its debut at Paris.

Interscan Wins MLS Contract:

AWA subsidiary Interscan has been awarded a contract from Raytheon to design and develop MLS antennas.

Raytheon was recently awarded a major contract to develop a Microwave Landing System (MLS) for the Federal Aviation Administration in the US, in turn subcontracting Interscan to design the precision phased array and auxiliary antennas. Currently Raytheon has been contracted to deliver six MLS test units, prior to the commencement of full scale production. AWA believes the arrangement will see them well placed to exploit a broad range of opportunities in the US market.

This latest contract follows a string of Interscan successes, which includes the recent certification of their MLS unit at Canberra airport, the first in Australia, and the agreement to supply MLS to Taiwan. Its fantastic to see a ‘clever’ Australian company doing so well.

Fokker 70 Launched at Paris:

The Dutch manufacturer, now 51% owned by Deutsche Aerospace, formally launched the Fokker 70 regional jet at the Paris Air Show with orders from Sempati and Pelita Air Service.

Agreements were signed with the two Indonesian carriers on June 15 for 10+5 from Sempati and five from Pelita, with deliveries to commence in March 1995.

The Fokker 70 launch orders underline the position of Indonesia as one of the company’s key markets, with no less than 130 aircraft sold to Indonesian customers since the early fifties.

Sempati will be able to consolidate its market share with the introduction of the Fokker 70, and will add new routes to the Pacific rim area. It will also permit the introduction of jet services to operationally restricted airports.

Pelita, owned by the state owned oil company Pertamina, will replace the current fleet of F288.

The engineering phase of the Fokker 70 programme started in 1992, culminating in the maiden flight of the type on April 2 1993. .

New Jetstream Aircraft:

Jetstream Aircraft Limited, a subsidiary of BAe, announced at the Paris Air Show that it intends to enter the 50 and 70 seat regional airliner markets with the J51 and J71 models.

The two aircraft, which will feature four abreast seating and cruise speeds in excess of 350 knots, are the result of detailed briefings with over 30 airlines in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region.

Being designed to replace older generation turboprops and jets, it is anticipated that the J51 and J71 will enter service in 1998 BAe predicts a total market requirement for up to 2400 turboprop aircraft in the 40-80 seat category until the year 2011. These new products will stand alongside their sister products to provide a family of turboprops ranging from 19 to 72 seats, and according to Allan MacDonald, MD of Jetstream, “Jetstream is committed to being the leading supplier of turboprop airliners covering all market segments world wide”.

The company hopes to formally launch the two programmes by the end of 1993.

Boeing Predicting Strong Future for Vlct:

Boeing has stated that its preliminary studies with Aerospatiale, BAe, Deutsche Aerospace and CASA have confirmed a market for between 400 and 500 Very Large Commercial Trans- ports in the first decade of the next century.

If developed, the VLCT would carry approximately 600 passengers over ranges of 7000nm. Follow on versions would either have more range or be able to carry more pax and cargo. All parties have agreed that the new megajumbo would need to be built by a consortium rather than one manufacturer due to the enormous cost of development.

Ilyushin I-96M Debut:

The world aviation industry took its first look at the new long range I-96M at the Paris Air Show.

Powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2337s and equipped with Rockwell Collins Avionics, the I-96M took time out from its two year test flight programme to take part in flying and static displays.

Ilyushin is hopeful that its airliner, a 9. 3m stretched version of the I-96-300, will be an attractive alternative to the A340 and 777 when it is certified by the FAA in 1995.

 Paris Launch for A319:

Airbus officially announced its decision to launch the A319 at the Paris Air Show reflecting Airbus’ (and other manufacturers) confidence of an upturn in the market from 1995.

Scheduled to enter service in 1996, the A319 will offer commonality with the A320/321 from which it is derived. Derated versions of the CFM56 and V2500 will be offered on the 124 seat aircraft.

A new wing will be designed for the A319, with a deeper cross section and less sweep, while the aircraft will have a reduction in fuselage length by a total 3. 7 metres fore and aft of the wing.

The 1900nm range of the A319 is designed for the regional airline market, and when added to the Airbus family will form part of a range of aircraft offering 124 to 440 seating capacity.

There is expected to be little direct com-petition between the A319 and the proposed Fokker 130, both of which will now be products of Deutsche Aerospace (DASA) since the German company’s recent 51% purchase of Fokker.

ILFC has ordered six A319s and Air Inter is reportedly close to a decision on the type. The total of firm orders for the A319/ A320/A321 family stand at 817 aircraft from 39 customers.

(Be sure not to miss our full editorial report and colour coverage of the 1993 Paris Salon in the August edition)

Eastern Goes West:

Eastern has been awarded the Sydney/Dubbo route following the collapse of Southern Pacific.

The entry of Eastern, with Dash 8s will provide competition against Hazelton’s with their Shorts 360 and Saab 340Bs, which also operate on the route. Dubbo is the State’s third biggest air transport market while Eastern will be offering 13 return services a week.

Eastern has also had a boost with the repainting contract for the Qantas fleet of commuters going to the airline’s Tamworth maintenance base.

 Going, Going, Almost Gone?

Where has Eastwest Airlines gone? Might well you ask. The EWA livery of the entire fleet has rapidly disappeared while at the end of July it is expected that the only aircraft remaining in EWA colours will be a lone 727, which we believe will also soon be painted in ‘big brother’ Ansett blue and white.

EWA, oops Ansett, tell us that this will better position the former EWA aircraft for better profitability while the old EWA logo and name will still be visible for passengers to see alongside the door when boarding. Far out! Also surviving (at presstime) will be the Eastwest image in the travel centres, which a million pax a year choose as a product over either Ansett itself or Qantas/Australian. EWA will also retain its inflight mag and catering standards while flight attendants are already wearing a hybrid uniform. Gone are those awful green interiors which has to be the best news in aviation this decade.

So what of the future for the long lived and once fiercely independent airline? Well, don’t ask us, ask Ansett.

 Oxley Out of Lord Howe:

Oxley Airlines, which has been serving Lord Howe Island since the Ansett flying boat services ceased in 1974, has withdrawn from the island run.

Oxley operate Beech King Airs from Sydney, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane to both Lord Howe and Norfolk Island and are also the only RPT operator to link the two islands. Reason for the withdrawal is principally that the 13 seat King Air 200s are simply no longer economically viable on the route, in fact the breakeven load factor is something like 80% due to the long sectors involved and the need to always depart with maximum fuel due to a lack of alternates, etc.

However, Oxley is flight testing their new Beech 1900s for the run and if able to gain CAA approval to operate out of Lord Howe’s restricted 886m runway will introduce that type to the service later this year. The Beech 1900, with 18 seats, higher cruise speed, toilet and better catering capability will provide not only a boost for Oxley’s passengers but also greatly enhance the economics of operation for the NSW regional. In the meantime, Oxley has entered a seat share agreement with Eastern with the former buying blocks of seats on Eastern’s Dash 8s. This is a situation that Eastern is most enthusiastic about and will allow it to greatly boost its services to Lord Howe from Sydney to as many as 10 a week during the summer peak.

Swiss Hornets-Voters Decide:

The planned purchase of 34 F/A-18 Hornet fighters for the Swiss Air Force will now proceed as a result of a national referendum.

Plans to delay the Swiss purchase until at least the turn of the century were thwarted by the electorate, which had the final say after a lengthy evaluation and various stages of approval by the government. The order comprises 26 single seat F/A-18Cs and eight two seat F/A-18Bs. Of those, 32 will be assembled in Switzerland by FFA from kits. The order also represents a boost for Australian industry with ASTA being responsible for building the wing flaps for all Hornets.

Skyfox the Certificated:

locally built Skyfox two seat light personal aircraft’ (a development of the US Denney Kitfox homebuilt) has been certified by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Skyfox is designed to meet European Joint Airworthiness Requirements for very light aircraft (JAR-VLA). The certification opens the possibility of exports of the aircraft and should boost its market potential significantly.

Jets: Bae Sells Corporate

After first offering its Corporate Jets division for sale in 1992 and then withdrawing it last September, British Aerospace has announced the sale of the business to Raytheon, owners of Beechcraft.

The $250m (about $A560m) deal involves the supply to Raytheon of BAe 125 corporate jet airframe kits for a period of three years and manufacture of the aircraft after that. Included in the sale is Arkansas Aerospace, BAe’s US maintenance and completion centre, the former ‘Ark Mod’ organisation.

Beechcraft has had a previous association with the successful 125, marketing the aircraft in the USA between 1969 and 1975 on behalf of the then manufacturer, Hawker Siddeley. The 125/1000 will complement nicely Beechcraft’s existing range of Beechjet and King Air series corporate aircraft.

Aviation Export Growth:

A Bureau of Industry Economics report has revealed that foreign earnings from the Australian aircraft industry over the past decade has grown by 600% At the start of the early eighties the value of exports was just $34m, which has grown to $238m in 1992. The increase reflects in part the large number of airliner sub assemblies manufactured in Australia for Boeing, Airbus and MDC, which to a large degree was gained from expertise with military programmes, such as the F/A-18 Hornet and Black Hawk and Seahawks.