Commercial Aircraft Sales

Ups Goes Headup

The world’s largest package delivery company, United Parcel Service (UPS), is installing Head Up Guidance Systems (HGS) in its 59 Boeing 727 freighters, enabling them to fly in poor weather which otherwise would keep the aircraft on the ground. The system will allow the 727s to land in a ceiling as low as 700ft and take off when it is only 300ft. Without it, the ceiling limits are 1,800ft and 600ft, respectively. Installation of the system increases both safety and efficiency. The company’s 727s will all be fitted with HGS equipment by early next year. UPS’s other aircraft — 757s, 767s and DC-8s — are already capable of making low visibility approaches without HGS due to other equipment installed.

Boeing/Ge Bizjet Venture

Boeing and General Electric have announced a joint venture — Boeing Business Jets — in response to market demand for a larger business jet capable of flying more than 6,000nm (11,100km). The aircraft will be based on the next generation Boeing 737-700 and according to the manufacturer will offer “new dimensions in corporate travel, including an interior with more flexibility than any other corporate jet. Customers will be able to configure their aircraft for each trip — as a meeting centre, communications post, travelling hotel or employee transport — in order to accommodate all of their trip requirements”. The Corporate 737 will cruise at speeds of up to Mach 0.82 or about 470kt (870km/h) and will be able to fly nonstop on routes such as New York/Tokyo and London/Johannesburg. Power will be provided by CFM56 turbofans, a joint product of GE and France’s SNECMA. The aircraft will be available for delivery from late 1998.

The Peoples’ Plane

Indonesia’s President Suharto has called on every adult Indonesian to donate the equivalent of about $A2.80 towards the cost of developing the IPTN N2130 regional jet. Mr Suharto says nationwide fundraising is needed to raise the estimated $US2bn necessary to fund development of the aircraft, which is planned to go into production in 2004. Mr Suharto is chairman of PT Dua Satu Tiga Puluh (PT DSTP), the company formed to fund the project. Contributions collected by local agents would be used to purchase shares in PT DSTP, one share in which sells for $US1,000. The company has an initial paid up share capital of$US100m partly funded by a variety of Indonesia’s business conglomerates. The company’s authorised capital was recently increased to $A2.55bn and 21 state owned companies have pledged to acquire a substantial number of shares, as have various government ministries. Mr Suharto says that a national fundraising effort is necessary due to the state not having the capacity to provide the money, although much has so far been allocated from the national purse. IPTN is itself state owned. Mr Suharto hopes that district heads realise the national strategic importance in making the N2130 a reality although he admits that shareholder returns on their investments would depend “very much on when the project finishes”. Others are saying “if the project finishes” with MPs warning the government not to coerce the people into buying PT DSTP shares.

Mdc Opens Australian Office

McDonnell Douglas has begun a new push to market its commercial aircraft in the South Pacific region by opening a dedicated aircraft marketing office in Sydney. The new office will be headed by Thomas Epperson, Vice President of Commercial Marketing, South Pacific Operations. Mr Epperson has been with MDC for 30 years and worked in marketing, government contracts, finance and as program manager for the A-4 Skyhawk project. After many years of great influence, the company has suffered in the Australia-New Zealand marketplace in recent times with the airlines buying mainly Boeing and Airbus equipment. The last new Douglas airliners purchased in Australia were the TAA and Ansett DC-9s, nearly 30 years ago. MDC will now compete more aggressively head to head with other manufacturers as the airlines in the region expand or replace their fleets. According to Mr Epperson: “Our presence in the area will demonstrate to all commercial aircraft owners and operators that McDonnell Douglas is serious about selling airliners and that it has a long term commitment to the growing airline industry”.

quest, CASA 212 and Twin Otter. Due to funding limitations it is considered that second hand aircraft will be obtained although in the case of the Conquest and Twin Otter there is little choice as they have been out of production for 10 and eight years, respectively. The STOL aircraft must carry up to two pilots and 10 passengers, be cleared for freefall parachuting operations and be able to carry a removable roller system for the movement of pallets up to 400kg. It must also have a cabin long enough to accommodate Bell Kiowa rotor blades. The pressurised aircraft must be able to operate to at least 30,000ft and be able to carry two crew, two passengers and 600kg (1,320lb) of equipment over a range of 1,000nm (1,850km). It must also be capable of seating up to nine passengers when the equipment is not aboard, have a cargo door of 127x140cm (50x55in) and two of them will have a pair of RC-10 cameras installed. Tenderers are required to provide a list of nations already operating the aircraft being submitted together with a description of their roles and any special mission fits. Of interest is the fact that there has never been a cargo door offered as a factory option on the Conquest and that the King Air’s optional door measures 132x138cm (52x52in), smaller than specified in one dimension.

Raaf Looks At Python

The RAAF is to test fire the Rafael Python 4 short range air-to-air missile as part of an evaluation of new weapons for its F/A-18 Hornets. The Israeli missile has also attracted the interest of other Hornet operators and representatives from Finland, Spain, Canada and Switzerland have asked to be present when the live firing from an RAAF Hornet takes place. Israel has until recently placed strict export restrictions on the missile but is now developing a successor.

Israeli Fighter Contest

Israel is to launch a competition to find a replacement for its air force’s F-4E Phantom and F-16A/B fighters. The new aircraft will enter service early next decade and will replace the approximately 40 Phantoms and 120 early model F-16s still in service. Lockheed Martin will propose a derivative of the F-16 while McDonnell Douglas will offer the F-15 Eagle or possibly the F/A-18C/D Hornet, or if Israel’s procurement occurs after 2005, the F/A-18E/F.