iscover
Thai Airways has been grounding its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11s on a rotational basis while it sorts out problems with what it has found to be much higher than anticipated operating costs. Four 287-seat MD-11s have been in Thai service since last year, and the airline has found that on particular routes to Australia the aircraft's operating expenses are 25% more than the manufacturer predicted. Thai is seeking compensation of 25% of its fuel costs on the route; McDonnell Douglas, for its part, has agreed to pay 1% compensation. (Brian Wilkes)
Newsdesk – Commercial Aviation
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Singapore Orders Bothairbus And Boeing:
Singapore Airlines has placed orders with both Airbus and Boeing for up to 52 new airliners potentially worth $US10bn including spares. The Airbus contract covers 10 firm orders and 20 options for the A340-300 in its higher maximum takeoff weight version. Deliveries begin in 1996 and the airline has the choice of converting all or some of the options to the twin engined A330. The heavier gross weight A340-300 essentially enjoys the longer range of its smaller -200 brother while carrying up to three dozen more passengers. The Boeing order is for 11 firm 747-400s and options on a further 11 aircraft which could be either 747s or 777s. Singapore’s long term fleet plan calls for 111 aircraft to be operational by 2003. It already flies 43 Boeing 747s (including 25 -400s) and has previously placed an order for seven Airbus A340s.
Hushkit Market Shrinking:
At one time thought to represent a large and lucrative market as Stage 3 noise regulations came into effect, the airliner hushkitting and re-engining business has suffered due to continuing airline cutbacks. One of the biggest players in the field – Valsan – has ceased operations after re-engining only 22 Boeing 727-200s with quieter P&W JT8D engines. Nordam is not now proceeding with its Fokker F28 hushkit (although development of kits for early model Boeing 737s is continuing). Comtram’s plans for a Stage 3 Boeing 707 hushkit programme in conjunction with Quiet Nacelle, Aviation Leasing Group and Buffalo Airways have ended. It is now linked with Shannon Engineering and Rohr in a similar programme. Other companies are also developing Boeing 707 hushkits, initially in an attempt to win a USAF contract for three conversions of Boeing EC-135 aircraft. It is generally believed that whoever wins this contract will then go on to dominate whatever commercial 707 market there is.
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