Newsdesk – Commercial

Fokker 70er Ordered

Fokker has launched an extended range version of its Fokker 70 regional jet (the 70ER) and at the same time has announced the first sale of this model (in VIP configuration) to an undisclosed customer. Extra fuel capacity in the 70ER increases its maximum range from 2400nm (4445km) in the standard aircraft to 3250nm (6010km) and the first delivery will be made in early 1996. Fokker now has four firm orders for the Executive Jet 70 version of the aircraft including one for the Netherlands Government Royal Flight. The first Fokker 70 was delivered to the Ford Motor Co in October. Configured in a spacious 48 seat arrangement, this aircraft will be used for corporate shuttle operations from Detroit.

Stronger 747 Struts

Boeing has completed the reinforcement of engine struts on five Boeing 747s as the first part of a worldwide modification programme following the El Al 747-200F crash in Amsterdam in 1992. The five initial modifications represent the different 747 engine/airframe combinations currently in service and are a prelude to the world fleet being modified as individual aircraft undergo their D check maintenance. Boeing will pay for parts, material and tooling with airlines paying for labour on a sliding scale basis depending on the age of the aircraft. Operators of the 747-400 will not pay anything as their aircraft are still under warranty. The programme is expected to cost Boeing between $US150m and $US200m.

Asta For Sale

The Federal Government has requested registrations of interest from those companies considering acquiring Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) under the terms of its planned privatisation. The Government’s preference is to sell ASTA as a complete unit although offers to purchase individual components of it will be considered. Interesting points include the government’s preference (not insistence) that ASTA retains majority Australian ownership and that a purchaser commit itself to the ongoing development of a strong export oriented domestic aerospace industry. The company selected as preferred tenderer for the RAAF P-3C Orion upgrade project – E-Systems – has already been named as a potential buyer of ASTA. ASTA Defence is teamed with the American company on the Orion programme.

Icao Safety Initiative

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is to establish a safety oversight programme designed to assist member states in monitoring air transport safety and ensure compliance with ICAO safety standards. The programme comes as a result of concerns about the ability of some countries to oversee air carrier safety and its primary function will be to conduct safety audits of member states. The audits will be carried out by an ICAO team of safety experts and will identify deficiencies and offer advice and assistance where required. The audits will be followed up to confirm progress.

737 Stabiliser Warning

Boeing has issued an alert service bulletin (ASB) to operators of the 737-300, 400 and 500 series covering an electric trim actuator system failure which effects the horizontal stabiliser. A possible link between the fault and the violent pitching up and down of a Royal Thai Air Force 737-300 in 1993 is being investigated. The RTAF aircraft suffered the problem on the landing approach and crashed as a result. Other less disastrous incidents have also been reported. The ASB recommends replacing the electric stabiliser trim actuator following incidents in which the trim wheel continued to move after the trim switch had been released. As many as 40 uncommanded turns of the trim wheel have been noted with flaps down. The source of the problem is the locking of a clutch disc in the electric actuator, caused by a disc sticking in the clutch mechanism. A replacement actuator has been designed with a new clutch disc design which it is claimed cannot jam. The problem effects nearly 1600 737s worldwide including some 60 Australian registered aircraft.

Bae Brings It Back Home

British Aerospace subsidiary Avro is to transfer most of the wing manufacturing work for its RJ series of regional jets from Textron Aerostructures in the USA to factories in the United Kingdom. Textron (formerly Avco) has been responsible for building the wings for the BAe 146 and RJ since the programme’s inception and will now only undertake some specific complex processes. The work will now be performed at BAe’s Woodford and Prestwick facilities. The move is the latest in BAe’s reorganisation of Avro, which has shed 6000 jobs over the last three years with only 2000 now employed. The company is expected to lose around $A110m this year on sales of about $A1bn, but profits are forecast for 1997.

Cathay Wants Longer Range A330

Cathay Pacific Airways, which is due to take delivery of its first Airbus A330 large capacity twinjet in February is asking Airbus Industrie to develop a higher gross weight version of the aircraft which will offer greater range and payload. Airbus is looking at a proposal to increase the maximum weight of the A330-300 from 212 tonnes (467,300lb) to around 230 tonnes (507,000lb) and if approved it would be available from late 1996. Modifications include use of the four engine A340-300 high gross weight version’s thicker skinned wing. The existing A330 undercarriage is capable of carrying the extra weight and the Rolls-Royce Trent engine used by Cathay’s A330s can easily develop the necessary power. Cathay currently has nine A330s on firm order (plus eight options), of which the last four will have an increased maximum weight of 217 tonnes (478,400lb). A further increase to 230 tonnes will enable a full fuel load, 320 passengers and extra cargo to be carried.

Conferences For The Industry

Anyone with a professional interest in various aspects of the aerospace industry might consider attending three 1995 international conferences organised by AE Conventions Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Institution of Engineers Australia. The first conference is being held in association with the Australian International AirShow ’95 at Avalon this March, the Pacific International Conference on Aerospace Science and Technology and the Australian Aeronautical Conference. Leaders of international aerospace industries will speak on research and development, advanced manufacturing, operations, aerodynamics, propulsion and education in both fixed wing and rotary wing flight. The theme of the conference is “The Advancement and Future of Aerospace in the Pacific Region” and will be held between March 20 and 23 at Melbourne’s World Congress Centre. The two other events being managed by AE Conventions next year are the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue, a conference and exhibition at Melbourne’s Regent Hotel on May 1 to 5; and the Airports 95 conference and exhibition in Sydney on October 9 to 11. For information contact Lyndall Higgins on (06) 270 7300 or fax (06) 273 2918.

Atr/Jetstream To Combine?

Recent reports suggest that the Franco-Italian ATR airliner consortium and British Aerospace’s Jetstream Aircraft are close to forming a business alliance on regional turboprop aircraft in the 30-80 seat range. Negotiations are based on the joint risk sharing development of the 84 seat ATR 82 which is due to be launched in early 1995, but the possible agreement also covers both manufacturers’ existing range of aircraft including the Jetstream 41 and 61 (ex ATP) and the ATR 42 and 72. A third member is being sought to join the consortium. As the slow selling Jetstream 61/ATP is a direct competitor to the much more successful ATR 72, it is thought the British aircraft would be dropped if the proposed deal goes ahead. It has also been reported that BAe is talking to Fokker over a possible link with its Avro regional jet (ex BAe 146) line, although this could have interesting implications as both company’s products are fighting over the same market. British Aerospace believes that Europe’s regional airliner manufacturers will eventually merge into a single, Airbus-like consortium.

Big Regional Turboprop Orders

The BAe Jetstream 41 and Beech 1900D regional turboprop programmes have received a boost with the receipt between them of orders and options for 100 aircraft from US operators. Missouri based Trans State Airlines has ordered 25 Jetstream 41s and placed options on a further 35. Deliveries will begin in January 1995 and Trans States’ aircraft will be the first in the USA configured with 30 seats instead of the normal 29. Trans State has codesharing agreements with TWA, USAir, Northwest and Alaska Airlines and has 33 smaller Jetstream Super 31s in its current fleet. Beech’s orderbook has grown with Mesa Airlines ordering 40 examples of the 1900D 19 seat turboprop. Mesa already has a large fleet of 1900Ds and this new order will bring the total in service with the operator to no fewer than 118.

Airbus Operations Alert

Investigations into an incident involving a Tarom Airbus A310 over Paris in September has revealed potentially dangerous avionics mode changes if flap limiting speeds are exceeded. The incident occurred when the A310 suddenly pitched up and then dived and rolled while on approach to Orly Airport at a height of only 1400ft above ground level. The aircraft had its undercarriage down and the flaps were in the process of being extended to 20 degrees. The crew allowed the limiting speed of 195 knots (360kmh) for that flap setting to be exceeded, resulting in an automatic avionics mode change from ‘vertical speed’ to ‘level change’. The autothrottle moved from near idle to the climb power setting and the A310 pitched up. The pilot responded by pushing the yoke forward and overriding the autothrottle by bringing it back to the idle setting. What hasn’t been explained yet is why the elevator trim setting moved to a full nose up position during the incident. A broken switch or electrical failure are being considered, as is the possibility that the pilot accidentally knocked the trim switch on the control yoke as he pushed it forward. This incident and others involving high technology airliners where the aircraft has behaved unexpectedly has renewed concerns about the pilot/aircraft interface and emphasises the importance of human factors in aircraft design and crew training. The US FAA has instigated a study into the matter concentrating on sophisticated autopilot, flight control and flight management systems which effect flight mode awareness on large capacity airliners with glass cockpit displays and fly-by-wire control systems. The FAA will consult with Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas during the course of the study.