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Qantas has secured a Vietnam Airlines contract via AJDAB to train 60 student pilots for the airline each year. Qantas has subcontracted the ab initio training to the Australian Aviation College at Parafield. Following one year of training at AAC the students will then train with Qantas for three months for specific type ratings on either the 767, 737, A320 or ATR 42/72. Currently AAC is training 160 students for Qantas, Cathay, Malaysia, Merpati, Garuda, Air Mauritius, CAAC, Korean, Air Niugini and Oman Aviation Services. The college employs 100 staff and has a fleet of 36 aircraft, including Duchesses, Tobagos, Cap 10s and TB-9 Tampicos. Pictured is a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 767-200, leased from AWAS; only recently has the aircraft been painted in the airline's livery, following the USA's lifting of trade sanctions against Vietnam. (Rob Finlayson)
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European Research Co-operation:
The seven major European aeronautical research establishments have agreed to form a neworganisation intended to co-ordinatethe research activities they carry out.Representing the UK, Germany, France, Italy; Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, the new association’s members will still operate separate facilities but will integrate their activities to ensure the most effective use of the European technology base in both military and civil aeronautics.Motives behind the move include making better use of ever decreasing national research budgets and to counter increased research efforts from the USA, which has in tum responded to the competition it now faces from Airbus Industrie.British Midland has taken delivery of the first of four 106 seat Fokker 100s it has on order. The order also included three Fokker 70s, the first of which will be delivered in 1995. British Midland will use both types to replace DC-9s on its domestic and regional European routes. (Fokker)Industry opinion supports the agreement, some suggesting it should have happened long ago as the European aerospace research and development effort has suffered from insufficient coordination in the past and from a lack of interest from its political masters, particularly in these times of reducing budgets.
Engine Facility Closes:
West Australian based jet engine turbine blade manufacturer Turbine Components Australia has closed its doors just six years after its much heralded opening.Owned jointly by Rolls-Royce and Ansett, the company was established with some fanfare in 1988, with then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher performing the opening ceremony. The closure is said to be the result of the depressed worldwide aviation market, but it’s interesting to note that Rolls-Royce has entered into an agreement with the Indian government for the manufacture of the blades in that country.Turbine Components employed 125 people in late 1992 but that had dwindled to 98 by the time the closure was unexpectedly announced in May this year. At presstime the State Government was hoping to save the operation by way of a cash injection aimed at opening new opportunities to exploit the company’s expertise.
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Boeing Thinks Small:
Boeing is studying the feasibility of developing a new commercial jetliner sizedbelow the current 737 series.The studies for an airliner of approximately 100 seats include Japanese industry participation and a team of Chinese observers, indicating Boeing’s interest in furthering co-operative work already performed with these countries. Japanese aerospace companies are significant partners on both the 767 and 777 programmes.According to Boeing’s latest forecasts, more than 2500 jetliners in the 70-120 seat category·will be purchased by the world’s airlines between nowsalesand 2013. Competition is already fierce in this area, with types such as the Fokker 70 and 100, BAe 146/RJ and even Boeing’s own 737-500 (at the upper end of the scale) already established.On the other hand, many operators who still fly older types such as the Fokker F28, DC-9-10/30, BAC 111, 737-200 and 727-100 could provide a market for any new ‘Baby Boeing’, particularly if they already have other Boeings in their fleets. Further, Japanese and/or Chinese industry participation would provide a significant marketing ‘toe in the door’ in these countries, China in particular offering considerable potential.
Controller Recruitmentdrive:
The Civil Aviation Authorityhas begun a drive to recruit people for.training as air traffic controllers.An initial 48 will be chosen to undertake a 15 month course in Melbourne before gaining their ATC licences and starting work. Recent advances in ATC technology and the introduction of The Australian Ad co-operation, aircraft component manufacture and airport development, an area where work on both Tokyo airports (Narita and Haneda) plus Kansai and other airports has a budget of some $US3.6bn.The whole issue of Australian aviation industry opportunities in Asia has recently received a major boost with the formation of a new consortium intended to lead Australian firms into the lucrative market for Asian airport development.The first of many. Airbus made a significant inroad into the freighter market when it sold 25 new build A300-600F freighters to the world’s largest air freight specialist Federal Express. The FedEx machines are the first Airbus aircraft to be built as freighters from the ground up, a small number of A300s have been converted to freighters after manufacture. (Airbus)Headed by the Australian Trade Commission – Austrade – the consortium will be known as Airport Industries Australia (AIA) and will present packaged bids for work in the more than 100 projects mooted for the maintenance, upgrading and construction of airports in Asia over the next six years. The total worth of these projects is estimated at some $200bn.vanced Air Traffic Services (TAAATS) and Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) projects will see Australian ATC officers working with extremely advanced equipment.There are three types of air traffic controller: Enroute (responsible for air traffic management between airports), Tower (responsible for movements in the immediate vicinity of the airport) and Terminal Area (responsible for the flow of aircraft in and out of major city airports).Anyone interested in a career as an air traffic controller should refer to the CAXs advertisement on p36 of this issue of AA for full details.
Us Engine Makers Merge:
US engine manufacturers AlliedSignal and Textron have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will see AlliedSignal acquire Textron’s Lycoming Turbine Engine Division for $US375m plus the assumption of certain liabilities.AlliedSignal owns Garrett, manufacturer of the successful TFE731 corporate jet turbofan and TPE331 commuter/corporate turboprop range of engines. Lycoming’s turbine engines include the LF502/507 family as fitted to the BAe146/RJ and the LTS101/ LTPlOl series of light turboshafts/ turboprops.According to AlliedSignal, the move creates a highly complementary situation which will offer a single source range of engines in the light to medium field with numerous applications from light helicopters through to 70-115 seat regional jet airliners.
Boeing Faces $Us12m Payout:
Boeing faces a $US12m payoutif a class action brought against it bythe Seattle Professional Engineeringand Employees Association is successful.The action comes as a result of Boeing requiring new employees to attend an unpaid orientation day and has10 Australian Aviation July 1994been lodged on behalf of 74,400 current or former employees in 19 US states. The action claims back pay and other costs.
Expo Highlights Japaneseopportunities:
The 1995 JapanInternational Aerospace Expo at Tokyo next February will present opportunities for Australian businesseswhich are looking to exploit Japan’sexpanding market.An Australian pavilion will be at the Expo, and according to organiser Rob Dunsterville, most of Australia’s major players have decided to exhibit as well as many smaller and specialist companies in manufacturing, maintenance and overhaul, training and airport equipment. Japan is considered to be a key area of potential growth for Australian companies.Japan is one of the few countries currently expanding its defence spending, while opportunities in the civil sector include airline pilot training (All Nippon Airways already carries out training at Avalon), space
Tcas In-Trail Climbs Demonstrated:
In what will have significant implications for enroute airtraffic control efficiency, UnitedAirlines and Collins Avionics havesuccessfully demonstrated oceanicterminal collision avoidance system(TCAS) in-trail climb procedures to theUS Federal Aviation Administration.This is the first use of the new ATC/ pilot procedure and the demonstration involved the use of a United DC-10 and Boeing 747. The in-trail procedure allows an aircraft trailing another on a particular route to climb to a higher altitude with a minimum 15nm separation rather than the 60nm currently used. The TCAS display is used to establish an initial distance marker.When implemented, this procedure will not only allow more aircraft into a given space, but will also save fuel as aircraft will be able to reach a higher altitude in less time
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