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The Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration became one of the latest operators of the de Havilland Dash 8 when it took delivery of a Dash 8 Series 100 configured for airways calibration work. The Dash 8 is particularly suited for the role because of its ability to operate from Norway's many shorter length fields and the NCAA predicts the introduction of the aircraft will cut operating costs for the calibration missions by 40%, while generating extra income through the sale of flight inspection services. The Norwegian calibration aircraft is one of a small, but growing number of Dash 8s used for non airline roles. Canada also uses Dash 8s for calibration work, while the US and Canada use Dash 8s in various military roles, others are used as corporate shuttles and Australia’s National Jet has ordered search radar and FLIR equipped Dash 8 series 200s to service its Coastwatch contract.
Newsdesk — Commercial Aviation
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Boeing Cuts Production And Jobs
Boeing is set to cut 7000 jobs this year because it is curtailing production of its 737 and 767 airliners to accommodate deferred deliveries to several airlines. The financial health of these airlines and their desire to delay deliveries plus reductions in new orders have prompted the move. Boeing delivered 270 airliners in 1994, compared with 330 in 1993. The company expects to deliver just 230 this year. The 1994 breakdown was (with 1993 deliveries in parenthesis): 121 (152) 73Ts, 40 (56) 747s, 69 (71) 757s and 40 (51) 767s.
Adjustments to the production rate of the 737, 767 and 747 will occur this year, the 737 decreasing from 8.5 to seven per month in November and the 767 will decrease from four to 3.5 per month in December. The 747’s production rate will actually increase from the current two per month to three per month, but not until the second half of 1996. The 747’s production rate was five per month a year ago, while a record 66 737s were delivered in the first three months of 1992, just three years ago. Falling orders meanwhile have affected Boeing’s financial performance with sales in 1994 dropping to $US16.9bn from 1993’s $US20.6bn, an 18% reduction. Similarly, operating profits fell by 38% to just over $US1bn in 1994.
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737 Crash Remains A Mystery
The cause of the crash of a USAir Boeing 737-300 at Pittsburgh last September could remain unknown following a US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation which so far cannot find a definite reason for it. The 737 suddenly inverted and dived to the ground from 6000 feet, killing all 132 passengers and crew on board. Investigations into a similar accident involving a United Airlines 737-200 in 1991 also revealed no probable cause.
Several theories surround the Pittsburgh accident including wake turbulence from a 727 and a rudder malfunction. The latter was also considered in the United accident investigation but no definite conclusion was reached. The NTSB also noted the inadequacies of the 11 channel flight data recorder on the Pittsburgh 737 and other aircraft. The equipment does not record the position of the aircraft’s control surfaces, a crucial item in the investigation of an accident of that kind. A final report is expected later this year, with investigations continuing.
Rockwell And Dasa Join Forces
Germany’s Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) and the USA’s Rockwell Corporation (through subsidiary Collins) have established a joint venture company to pursue the development and marketing of satellite based flight guidance systems and advanced avionics products. The two companies will each hold 50% ownership of the venture which will be based in Ulm, Germany, and will be responsible for the planning and marketing of avionics. Product development and manufacturing will remain with the two parent companies in the USA and Germany. The new venture is already in place and is now awaiting the necessary antitrust approvals by government authorities.
Us Industry Continues To Decline
US aerospace industry sales fell for the third consecutive year in 1994, but as a measure of the success of rationalisation and cost cutting programmes, profits increased. Overall sales for the year fell by $US11bn to $US113bn, the result of fewer orders in all areas of operation — and military aircraft, space and missile equipment for both the home market and export.
The civil sector accounted for $US7.5bn of the drop thanks to lower numbers of aircraft built and the consequent reduction in spare parts and components production. Civil sales were down 22% on the previous year, military was down 2.5% and military exports declined by a substantial 47%. The value of orders placed rose slightly to $US81bn but this was countered by a 10% fall in the value of the backlog to $US165bn, with deliveries exceeding orders. Net profits increased by $US612m to $US5.2bn but the job loss toll was heavy, with 71,000 workers made redundant. This left the US industry employment total at 836,000 people, but the Aerospace Industries Association has predicted another 34,000 jobs will be lost this year.
Gong For Aussie
Our congratulations to the CAA’s General Manager International and ICAO, Brian O’Keeffe, who has been awarded a prestigious Aerospace Laurel by the influential US trade magazine Aviation Week & Space Technology. Mr O’Keeffe was honoured for “his leadership and visionary role in creating the Future Air Navigation System (FANS), a plan to use satellite technology to radically modernise the world’s air traffic control systems. He has dedicated the last decade to developing this proposal for the first truly integrated system of communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system suitable for international use”. Well done, and a just reward for a great achievement.
A330 Wins Etops Approval
The Airbus A330 widebody twinjet airliner has been awarded approval for extended range twin engine operations (ETOPS) from the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The approvals are 180 minutes for A330s powered by GE CF6-80 engines, 120 minutes for those with PW4164s and 90 minutes for aircraft with Rolls-Royce Trent 700s. The GE powered version has the longest approval because it has been in service for over a year while the Pratt & Whitney version followed only last December and Rolls-Royce in February 1995. The latter two engines will undoubtedly be given 180 minutes approval when they have spent more time in service. The A330 is the first new generation big twin to achieve ETOPS approval and the first to be certificated with engines from all three ‘big fan’ manufacturers.
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