People, Bottom Line, Book & Video Reviews

Pamela Catty is Ansett Australia’s new Public Relations Manager, replacing Peter Young who has been promoted to Corporate Affairs Manager. Tony Gauci is Ansett’s new Sales and Marketing Manager — Tasmania.

Graeme Cunningham is Canadian Airlines’ new Queensland and PNG Sales Manager. George Stuart has resigned as ASTA’s Managing Director. Deputy Chairman of the CAA board Russell Ingersoll and board member John Mant have both resigned.

Ken Glover has been named Continental Micronesia’s General Manager Australia. Gail Rodgers is Hazelton Airlines Regional Manager Geelong. Brian Andrews has been appointed WA Manager of AAUP.

Bottom Line

Ansett Australia Holdings’ contribution to 50% owner TNT’s equity profit before tax for the six months to Dec 31 was $33.91m, down from $38.47m for the same period in 1993. That figure rises to $42.3m after tax and abnormals (including foreign exchange gains). TNT itself posted a net profit after tax for the six months of $63.9m on operating revenues of $3.05bn.

British Airways has posted third quarter pretax profits of $A215m for the three months to December 31, up 56.9% on the $137m result for the same period in 1993. The nine months result to Dec 31 was a record $932m, up 47.7% on the $631m result a year ago. The results were on revenue for the quarter of $3.5bn and for the nine months $11.9bn (up 9.3%). Operating profit for the quarter was $309m (up 51.5%) and for the nine months $1.24bn (up 33.1%). British Airways World Cargo contributed significantly to BA’s result, with revenues of $280m for the third quarter, up 7%.

Air New Zealand recorded a consolidated net profit after tax for the six months to Dec 31 of $NZ140.5m ($A121m) on operating revenues of $NZ1472.4m ($A1269m). The unaudited result was a 59.4% improvement over the $NZ88.1m earned in the corresponding first half of the 1993/94 financial year. There were no abnormals in the period.

Hazelton Airlines has announced a pretax, before abnormals profit for the six months to Dec 31 of $2.59m on revenue of $27.5m. The result does not include a $763,000 abnormal loss from the sale of a Shorts 360, nor the $678,000 tax provision. ASTA has posted a $60.9m loss for the 1993/94 financial year.

Books

Black Cats (Compiled by A E Minty): Black Cats is the story of the RAAF’s primary long range strike and mine laying force in the Pacific during WW2, four squadrons equipped with the Consolidated PBY Catalina. The Catalinas, named Black Cats from their matt black finish, regularly flew 20 hour missions through often poor weather and intense enemy opposition. Black Cats tells the story of these often extremely courageous missions by RAAF Catalina aircrew. The book is a collection of these crews’ recounts of their missions and as such is an invaluable insight into their contributions to the war effort. Available from the RAAF Museum, Point Cook.

Bf 109 Aces North Africa and the Mediterranean and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force (Jerry Scutts): The first offerings in Osprey’s new Aircraft Of The Aces series, these two books offer a great deal to enthusiasts of World War II fighter operations. Each is of softback format with 96 pages containing an informative and interesting text. The words are backed up by extensive illustrations including 16 pages of new colour profiles of the aircraft concerned. The series promises to build into an interesting one, with future books to deal with Sabre aces of the Korean War and later model Spitfires.

Videos

Su-27 Flanker (Display Aircraft Series Vol 1): This video is based largely around the flying sequences of the Su-27 display aircraft, flown by Anatoly Kvochur, at the 1994 Farnborough airshow. Cameras onboard the aircraft augment those on the ground to give an accurate depiction of the Flanker’s display routine and manoeuvres such as the legendary Cobra and the famous tailslide. In addition to the flying sequences, former BAe Harrier test pilot John Farley provides interesting insights into the background of the Flanker’s design and its flying capabilities. Anatoly Kvochur also describes the aircraft and his display routine, plus his close shave with death when his MiG-29 crashed at the 1989 Paris airshow.

Engine Milestones

The Rolls-Royce Trent turbofan passed two significant milestones recently with the awarding of JAA and FAA certification for the Trent 800 for the Boeing 777, and 90 minutes ETOPS clearance from the JAA for the A330’s Trent 700.

90 minute ETOPS approval for the 72,000lb (323kN) Trent 700 follows the demonstration of required levels of engine reliability based on ground testing and over 500 hours of flight testing. Full 180 minute ETOPS clearance will be granted after the 700 has flown greater hours and proven its reliability in service. The Trent 800 meanwhile has been certificated at up to 90,000lb (403kN). The 800 will be flight tested on a Boeing 747 testbed before the first Trent powered 777 flight in May.