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Boeing's first 777 twinjet successfully completed its first flight on June 12, 1994 (correction: not June 14) from Everett, launching what the company says will be the most comprehensive flight test programme in history. The flight lasted three hours and 48 minutes, the Pratt & Whitney PW4074 powered airliner (uprated to PW4084 for production) being put through a number of manoeuvres, although bad weather kept the 777 to a maximum altitude of 19,000ft. During the flight, the fly-by-wire flight controls behaved as advertised, and only two minor malfunctions were detected. The first 777 (registration N7771, line number WA001) has been christened 'Working Together', reflecting the new approach Boeing, its suppliers, and customers took in developing the 777. The aircraft was due to make a further five test flights from Everett before being based at Boeing Field in Seattle for the majority of its certification programme. (Boeing)
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Us Cancels Mls:
The US Federal Aviation Administration has cancelled further work on the Microwave Landing System (MLS) in favour of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The move comes a year before the scheduled decision as to which system was to be pursued as a replacement for the long established ILS. The decision was due to be made next year at an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) meeting but the American MLS programme has beensales terminated early to save money. Contracts with the companies involved have been cancelled as have the FAA’s plans to purchase 1250 Category II and III MLSs. These were expected to be worth up to $US2.6bn. The FAA says that GPS has “greater potential to do a better job” and the move has pleased the US airlines which have always opposed the replacement of ILS by MLS. The USA’s unilateral decision on MLS affects only airports in that part of the world and could therefore create some confusion, especially as ICAO is yet to make a ruling. Europe is at the moment committed to introducing MLS from 1998 as the only system which will be available on time to meet its requirements. There is no guarantee that GPS will work, as conclusive trials with Category III equipment have yet to be carried out. If it is not successful, the FAA says MLS can be acquired “on the open market”, although analysts have questioned what incentives manufacturers now have to continue development of MLS. The FAA’s decision also seems to make the MLS trials which have been conducted at Canberra Airport over the last couple of years now somewhat irrelevant.
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Some A330s Could Be Delayed:
Some airlines could sufferlate delivery of their new Airbus A330 widebody twins because of production problems with their engines. The affected operators are Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines, which have ordered A330s powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000s. Although the engines are certificated, deliveries could be delayed by three months due to problems with some composite components manufactured by Martin Marietta. Thai Airways has sufficient capacity to cover for any delay, but Malaysia Airlines will suffer some cost inconvenience as leases on DC-lOs and A300s will have to be extended.
Singapore Buys Aussie:
Singapore Airlines has contracted Australian company The Preston Group to install its Air Crew Scheduler (ACS) system to help prepare more economical cabin crewing schedules. ACS provides a set of computer software tools which are used on desktop computer workstations to provide automation of what are now manual tasks. Crewing costs are one of the airline’s major operational expenses. ACS will help provide more efficient use of crews and thus minimise the costs associated with stopovers and allowances. ACS was developed for Qantas and is also used by British Airways. Another Preston Group product, the Manpower Planning Scheduling System (which automatically allocates staffing resources), is used by Cathay Pacific. Good one Oz!
Boeing Sues Airbus Overslats:
The rivalry between Boeingand Airbus lndustrie has taken a newturn with the American manufacturersuing the European consortium and itsmember companies over alleged patent infringement over a wing slat andflap extension mechanism. A writ has been issued in the UK High Court which requests an injunction restraining Boeing’s European rival from infringing the patent. Boeing also wants Airbus, BAe, DASA and Aerospatiale to hand over or destroy “all infringing articles or material” they may have in their possession and is also after damages or the payment with interest of profits related to the device. The device in question is described as “an extendable aerofoil track assembly” for slats or flaps including the track member and rack gear. It has not been specified which particular Airbus products are affected by the writ, one normally authoritative source stating that “aircraft dating to the A320 could be implicated”. Airbus had described the Boeing claim as being “completely misconceived” and had instructed its lawyers to fight the action.
Saab Looks At 70 Seater:
Saab is conducting a feasibility studydesigned to investigate the prospectsfor a new 70 seat regional turboprop. The company says if the project proceeds it will almost certainly be in the form of a joint venture with another manufacturer. The study will be completed this year but no decision on a go ahead is expected until 1995 at the earliest. Saab is looking at potential partners in China, Japan and Taiwan and has already been linked by some with Spain’s CASA, which has its own prospective 70 seat regional turboprop project and builds wings for the Saab 2000.
Global Atc On The Way:
The development of a global air traffic control system is only a matter oftime and it may even be privatelyowned and operated, according to theCivil Aviation Authority’s chief executive, Doug Roser. The US Federal Aviation Administration has increased the separation distance between Boeing 757s and other IFR traffic to 4nm (7.4km) in an effort to reduce wake turbulence incidents. Previous rules required a 3nm (5.6km) separation, as the 757 is not classified as a heavy jet transport. However the 757 is the biggest of the non heavy jet transports, and a number of accidents have been recorded where smaller aircraft operating under VFR are flying in trail behind a landing 757. The UK CAA had previously introduced a 4nm separation rule for the 757 as well, and has noted a significant reduction in reported incidents. Pictured is a 757 belonging to the Mexican Air Force, departing Sydney in 1990. (Julian Green) Speaking at the Air Traffic Control Association international technical conference on communication navigation surveillance-air traffic management (CNS-ATM) in Hong Kong, Mr Roser said “I firmly believe the world is moving faster and faster towards regional and global air traffic control consortia which in future may well be publicly or privately owned and operated by corporations accountable to many different shareholders across many different boundaries”. He said aviation authorities faced the challenge of linking the superhighway of our domestic, regional and global airspace through high technology aeronautical communications. Although there will be problems ironing out differences between various nations and their aviation and ATC systems and politics, Mr Roser believes they can be overcome.
Caa Launches Industry Plan:
The Civil Aviation Authority has launched an Industry Development Plan designed to strengthen its involvement with the Australian aerospace industry and to share information on technologies and market opportunities. A recent example has been the awarding of the $176m TAAATS air traffic control contract to Thomson Radar Australia, with one of the reasons behind the company’s selection being its commitment to work with Australian industry on the project and future ATC system opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. Thomson is also aiming to achieve $550m in exports by the end of the decade and to undertake substantial research and development in Australia. Key features of the industry plan include ensuring Australian companies are aware of significant future CAA procurements; giving CAA assistance to Australian industry in developing air traffic management systems and encouraging their export; and liaising with Austrade and the Department of Industry, Technology and Regional Development to implement the Industry Development Plan.
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