Newsdesk- Commercial Aviation

The need to redesign the elevator system means Saab will have to repeat almost all of the 2000’s certification programme.

New Aircraft X-Ray Inspection System:

NASA is adopting an existing x-ray system to improve inspections of ageing aircraft and to save money.

The system, which combines TV-like scanning by x-ray beams with digital data acquisition, was originally intended for medical and industrial purposes. Researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Centre have now devised several aerospace applications for the system.

It will be used for measuring composite materials, for assessing damage growth in materials and for supporting tests to assess how structures behave under stress. Be- cause the system yields depth information, the technique may also be used to view how fibres mesh in three dimensional composites and to monitor them for internal damage.

Before the techniques can be fully employed in aerospace, the system’s sensors have to be miniaturised so they can be inserted into internal structures for inspection. NASA is also working on methods to ensure the accuracy of the data and to enhance interpretation of the x-ray image.

Australia Advises China on Aviation:

Booming growth rates in its civil aviation sector in combination with the recent decentralisation of air services has left China with a critical shortage of pilots, maintenance engineers and air traffic controllers plus an out of date aviation infrastructure.

The result has been crashes, hijackings and general disorganisation, and to help sort the mess out, China has sought Australia’s advice on the organisation of airspace, COMMERCIAL navigation regulations, administration, the handling of foreign aircraft and other aspects of civil aviation. In response, a high ranking Australian Civil Aviation Authority team has visited China to offer advice.

Among the delegation was the CAA’s chief executive, Doug Roser, and senior executives from the CAA’s air traffic services, safety regulations and standards and technical services divisions. In addition, a specialist in air navigation system planning joined the group.

The visit could eventually result in some useful contracts for Australian companies involved in the training of air traffic controllers and pilots and the marketing of airspace management, flight scheduling and airport design computer software.

Taaats Decision Nears:

The decision on who has won the CAA’s renewed TAAATS (The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System) air traffic control system will be announced in mid December following the submission of best and final offers by the two contenders, Hughes and Thomson.

The first production Boeing 777 rudder, manufactured by ASTA, has now been installed in a fight control test rig in Seattle. Transported halfway around the world, the rudder has been faultlessly attached to US made hinge ribs and trailing edge pieces. Standing more than 10 metres high, the composite rudder is the largest single piece rudder used in a Boeing commercial aircraft and yet weighs just 220kg. After stiffness, vibration and flutter testing in the “ron bird” test rig the rudder will be installed in a static test aircraft in the new year. (Boeing) The best and final offers include prices, delivery schedules and comprehensive specifications which will form the basis of the contract with the successful tenderer. The CAA is now performing an evaluation of the offers using a team of air traffic controllers, engineers and commercial specialists drawn from its resources across Australia. The contract was originally awarded to Thomson, but alleged irregularities with the tendering process resulted in the competition being reopened in March this year.

Fokker Expands Bizjet Presence:

Fokker is expanding its presence in the corporate jet market by offering a dedicated corporate and government ver- sion of its new Fokker 70regional jet and by joining Gulfstream as a partner in the new Gulfstream V long range business jet.

The Fokker Executive Jet 70 will be available for delivery in late 1994 and joins the Executive Jet 100, based on the larger Fokker 100 airliner. The corporate Fokker 70 is offered in 30-52 seat layouts for or corporate shuttle duties. More than 30 Fokker F28 jets were sold for corporate or government use, and the Fokker 100 is in service as a government transport in the Ivory Coast and as a corporate transport with Indonesia’s Pelita Air Services.

Fokker joins the Gulfstream V programme as a partner and is designing and manufacturing the aircraft’s empennage. The first set will be delivered to Gulfstream by the middle of next year.

Boeing in Moscow:

Boeing has opened a technical research centre in Moscow, following a year of planning and talks with leaders of the Russian commercial aerospace industry.

Initial projects include developing mathematical models for computational fluid dynamics, conducting metallurgical lightweight alloys of aluminium and titanium, and studying the impact of sub-zero weather on aircraft fuel systems. The facility is equipped with computer workstations for use by some 20 Russian engineers and scientists who will work under contract to Boeing.

Further agreements between Boeingandthe Commonwealth of Independent States have been established with the CIS’s Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) granting certification of the Boeing 757 and 767 airliners. The move allows the aircraft to be operated by airlines under the IAC’s jurisdiction and therefore opens up new marketing possibilities for Boeing. The 737 was certificated earlier this year.