Newsdesk- Commercial Aviation

Boeing has been working on the 737-X concept with 30 airlines from around the world, including Qantas. The company said that the airlines wanted the new 737 to be kept simple, reliable and maintainable, asking Boeing to change little unless it involved specific improvements to range, speed, noise or seating capacity.

The 737-X family will comprise three members. The smallest will be comparable to the current -500, with 108 business and economy seats, while the largest member will seat 157 in two classes, 15 more than the current 737-400. The third 737-X member will be equivalent in size to the best selling- 300. The current 737 family will continue to be manufactured as long as market demand dictates.

Boeing has forecast a demand for 4100 airliners in the 737 size class between now and 2010.

 CFM56 Powered 11-86 Frozen:

Dyushin has ceased work on a programme to re-engineer Aeroflot I1-86s with CFM engines.

From a technical standpoint, the programme was experiencing little difficulty, but the failure of Aeroflot to sign contracts has thrown the programme into jeopardy. The projected cost for the re-engining programme is believed to be $US700m, which has not been made available despite the dramatic improvement in fuel burn promised. Delivery of up to 100 CFM56s for 20 D-86s in 1994 is now in serious doubt. Many officials have conceded that with the passage of time the chances of success are receding, with the need for the re-engining overtaken, particularly with the P&W2037 powered 11-96M on the horizon.

Avro Hunts for Rjx Funding:

Avro International Aerospace has held discussions with the UK Government over funding for its new 120 seat RJX regional jetliner. Talks between the UK Department of Trade and Avro have been aimed at securing $US1. 5 billion in funding for the development programme. Further backing for the RJX is expected to come from the government of Taiwan. At the moment Avro is still a fully owned subsidiary of BAe, until the agreement with Taiwan over the 50/50 venture is officially signed.

Originally the RJX was based on the twin engined BAe 146 NRA, although the small improvements in operating costs offered by jet, this design were not considered enough. Avro is in the middle of a 12 month feasibility study into possible designs for the new examining a design which is very different the 146 NRA in an endeavour to achieve greatly improved operating costs. The company is currently in discussion withpotential suppliers, including engine manufacturers, with the BMW/RR BR715 reportedly strongly placed.

No launch decision has yet been made for the aircraft, although Avro hopes to have it enter service before 1998, in time for it to gain a share of the vast Stage 2 replacement market. Avro has forecast a market for 2500 80-120 seat regional jets through to the year 2010, of which it hopes to win a third share.

Innovative Aussie Bag Tag:

An Australian company is destined for success with its new automated baggage handling system.

Intag International has revealed worldwide manufacturing and distribution plans for its new baggage handling system, announcing a joint management consortium with Samsung Electronics of South Korea, and Deutsche Aerospace.

Named Autotag, the system uses radio frequency identification technology, whereby bags can be automatically identified, read in multiples simultaneously and updated remotely. Current systems use bar codes which opens a mainframe computer file to access information. Autotags will actually carry all relevant information with the bag.

Existing baggage handling systems are a major source of ground delays. With delaying a 747 for one minute costing around $1000, estimates suggest that the combined cost to industry through baggage system delays is $3-5 billion annually. The adoption of Autotag is expected to provide major savings to airline operators, with efficiencies in the areas of interlining baggage, reductions in manpower, tracing and recovering misplaced baggage and remote programming of destination details.

Fairchild to Invest in Let:

Fairchild has announced a $US100m plan to buy a controlling stake in Czech regional airliner manufacturer Let.

Fairchild aims to bring Let’s Kunovice factory, which is a fairly new facility, up to the standards of its San Antonio plant, improving efficiency and productivity. The deal will mean that Fairchild will be able to offer a family of inexpensive to purchase and operate turboprops.