News Desk

The Carbon Fibre Fuselage Will Now Be Fitted With “me-tallic Strips Around the Frame” So as to Dissipate Lightning Strikes and Provide a Return Path for the Electrical Systems.

After the Switch to a Lighter Composite Frame and Following a Series of Wind Tunnel Tests Which Revealed Better Than Expected Aerodynamic Results, the Thrust Requirements for the A350’s Engines Will Be Lower Than Earlier Estimates. The Manufacturer Says Thrust Requirements for the A350-800 Will Now Be 74,000lb (329kn), 87,000lb (387kn) for the -9000, and 95,000lb (423kn) for the A350-1000, Differences of 1000lb (4. 4kn), 4000lb (17. 8kn) and 3000lb (13. 3kn) Respectively. Rolls-royce Remains the Only Engine Supplier for the A350, With Ge Reportedly Reluctant to Propose an Engine That May Compete Against Boeing’s Exclusively Ge90 Powered 777-300er and -200lr.

The A350’s Flightdeck Has Also Come in for Revision, Moving Away From the Previous A380 Based Design.

The Layout Now Features Six Large 38cm Flat Panel Displays, Two on Each Side and Two Stacked in the Centre Console, Instead of the A380’s Eight Panel Design. Airbus Says the New Layout Will Allow Both Pilots to Share Airport and Navigation Information on the Centre Screens, Plus Will Better “future Proof ” the Layout by Offering the More Advanced Displays.

An Image Released for a Vietnam Airlines Order Announcement (See Above) Shows the A350’s New Flightdeck Window Arrangement With Its Revised Sixpanel Cockpit Design, Rather Than the Sharper Profiled Four-window Design Seen in Previous Concepts. Other Changes to the A350 Will See a More Conventional Nose and Six-panel Cockpit Window Design Based on That of the A380, Instead of the Sharper Profiled Four-window Design Seen in Previous Concepts, and a Forward Retracting Nosewheel.

Finally, Airbus Has Released a New Full-scale Cabin Mockup at Its Toulouse Headquarters Which Shows Eight and Nineabreast Economy Concepts.

The A350’s Double-lobe Cross Section Will Be 5. 97m Wide, Compared to 5. 64m for the A330/a340, and Will Be 5. 61m Wide at Armrest Height Compared With the 5. 49m Quoted by Boeing for the 787.

In the Nine Abreast 3+3+3 Configuration, Each Seat is More Than a Centimetre Wider Than Nine Abreast in the 787 Layout (the 787 Was Optimised for Eight Abreast Seating, but Many of Its Customers, Like Jetstar, Are Specifying Nine Abreast).

Sukhoi Superjet Rolled Out

Sukhoi and Partners Alenia, Boeing, Snecma and Thales Have Rolled Out the First Superjet 100 Regional Airliner at Sukhoi’s Komsomolsk-on- Amur Facility on September 26.

The 95 to 110-seat Airliner, Which Competes With Embraer’s Hot-selling E-190 and Bombardier’s as Yet Unlaunched C-series, Has 73 Commitments to Date, the Largest Being 30 Plus 15 Options From Aeroflot and Its Regional Subsidiaries, and 10 From Italian Regional Itali.

Sukhoi Says It Will Need to Sell About 300 of the Five-abreast, Franco-russian Sam146 Powered Superjets in Order to Recoup the Partnership’s Investment in the Program. The Russian Manufacturer is Confident of Selling More Than 700 Out of a Forecast Market for More Than 5500 in the 90-to-110 Seat Airliner Market Over the Next Two Decades.

Superjet Flight Testing is Expected to Start Before the End of the Year With Service Entry in November 2008.

A Decision on Developing a Stretched 110-to-130 Seat Development Could Be Made Later This Year.

787 Delay “INEVITABLE” – Emirates

Emirates President Tim Clark Has Described the Three Month Delay of the First Flight of Boeing’s High Tech 787 as “inevitable”, but Has Added That It Will Be Insignificant When Compared to the Scale of the Twinjet Program Going Forward.

Speaking to Australian Aviation Contributor Geoffrey Thomas, Clark Said “it Would Have Been a Miracle for Boeing to Have Flown the 787 on Time. “if You Think About It, There is Just So Much New Technology in the 787, It is No Surprise at All There is a Short Delay and the Supply Chain Has Let (Boeing) Down. ” Clark Said the 787 Will Be “one of the Finest Aircraft Ever Built,” and Added That He Believes Boeing Will Deliver the Aircraft to Schedule From May Next Year When Launch Customer Ana is Due to Take Its First Aircraft.

Boeing Announced the on September 5 That the 787 Would Not Fly Until Mid November to Mid December.

Airbus Management Shake-up Finalised

New Airbus President and Ceo Tom Enders Has Finalised the Makeup of the Airbus Management Team.

Apart From Enders, the New Executive Committee Will Comprise Nine Members: Chief Operating Officer (Coo) Fabrice Brégier, Chief Financial Officer Hans Peter Ring, Coo Customers John Leahy, Executive Vice President (Evp) Programs Tom Williams; Evp Engineering Patrick Gavin, Evp Operations Gerald Weber, Evp Human Resources Thierry Baril, Evp Procurement Klaus Richter, and Evp Strategy and Future Programs Christian Scherer.

Enders Says Fabrice Brégier Will Retain Operational Responsibility for the Power8 Restructuring Program Currently Underway, and Will Also Assume Leading Roles in Functions Operations, Engineering and Procurement, as Well as the A350 Program.

Commercial Briefs

• the First of Up to 55 A380s Destined for Emirates Made Its First Flight From Toulouse on September 3.

• Airbus Has Launched a Comprehensive Avionics Enhancement Package for Inservice A320 Family Airliners.

Dubbed Isep, the Package Comprises a Compilation of Major Airbus Service Bulletins and is Designed to Enhance the Resale of Older A320 Family Aircraft by Addressing Maintenance, Operational Reliability, Spares Costs, Weight Reduction, Navigation, Crew Workload, Atc, and Other Areas Which Have Been Improved in Newer Aircraft.

Military

Raaf Looks at More Super Hornets?

The Raaf is Considering an Option to Acquire an Additional Batch of F/a-18e/f Super Hornets in Case of Further Delays to the F-35 Jsf Program and as a Fall-back to Reported Technical Challenges With the ‘classic’ Hornet Fleet’s Centre Barrel Replacement (Cbr) Program, According to a Magazine Report.

Despite Denials by Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson, the Article in Aviation Week & Space Technology Comes on the Back of Recent Rumours From Within Defence and Industry That the Raaf Had Made Enquiries as to the Price and Availability for an Additional Batch of Up to 24 Super Hornets, Including as Many as Eight Ea-18g Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft, Which Could Be Delivered in the 2012-2014 Timeframe.

The Risk in the Air 5376 Phase 3. 2b/c Cbr Program Has Increased Due to the Number of Parts Required to Perform a Cbr Being Vastly Underestimated, the Lack of a Suitably Skilled in-country Workforce, and Reluctance by the Williamtown Centred Hornet Industry Coalition Partners to Perform the Work.

On Top of This, a Number of Significant Risks Surrounding the F-35 Program Continue to Arise Including Ongoing Flight Test Schedule Slippage, Budget Overruns, and Funding Uncertainties Going Forward.

While This Year’s Air 5319 Bridging Air Combat Capability (Bacc) Super Hornet Buy Has Alleviated a Looming Five to Eight Year Gap in the Raaf’s Strike Capability Following the Retirement of the F-111c Force From 2010, It is Anticipated That an Additional Super Hornet Acquisition May Be Required to Cover the Retirement of as Many as Half of the 71 ‘classic’ Hornets Which Are Expected to Start Running Out of Hours From 2012. A Second Super Hornet Buy May Result in Australia’s Future Air Combat Force Over the Longer Term Being Split Between the Super Hornet and the F-35, Rather Than the Current Plan to Replace the Supers With a Final Buy of F-35s Around 2020.

Another Option Thought to Be Under Consideration is Re-certification of the Airframe Lives on Some or All of the ‘classic’ Fleet From the Current 5000 Hours to as Many as 9000 Hours, With the Expected Fatigue and Corrosion Issues Being Pro-actively Addressed as an Extension of the Air 5376 Phase 3. 1 Program. After Completing Just 13 Cbrs, Canada Has Changed Tack and Instead Gone Down This Re-certification Path With Its 80 Cf-18s While It Performs Systems Upgrades Similar to Those of the Raaf’s F/a-18a/bs.

Meanwhile, the Us Government Has Formally Contracted Boeing to the Tune of Us$1. 32bn (a$1. 49bn) for the Raaf’s First 24 F/a-18f Super Hornets.

New Zealand Jets to Fly Again?

The Fast Jet Element of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Which Was Retired in 2001 May Be Revived in the Form of a Squadron or Flight of Aermacchi Mb-339 Trainers.

New Zealand Media Reports Say Some of the 17 Mb-339s Which Were Acquired in 1991 May Be Brought Back Into Service to Provide a Stepping Stone for Pilots Between Primary and Advanced Training Before They Move on to Other Types in the Rnzaf, in Lieu of Renewing a Lease on King Air Twin Turboprop Trainers.

The Rnzaf Has Been Trying to Sell the Macchis Along With 17 a-4k Skyhawks Since They Were Retired Without Success.

The Macchis Have Each Been Serviced by Safe Air and Are Being Flown About Once a Month in Order to Keep Them in a Viable Condition.

The Macchis and Skyhawks Had Been Offered for Sale as an All-or-nothing Package, but the Nz Government is Reportedly Considering an Option to Split the Two Types.

More Jsf Work for Australian Companies

Australian Companies Have Won More Work on the F-35 Jsf Program, Taking the Total Workshare Placed in Australia on the Program to Date to More Than $160 Million Spread Between 23 Companies.

Melbourne Based Gkn Aerospace Has Obtained Additional Design Work on the Program, While Marand Precision Engineering, Also From Melbourne, Has Gained Additional Ground Support Equipment Work.

Other Workshare Gains Include Partech Systems From Nowra Which Has Secured Test Equipment Work From Northrop Grumman; Adelaide’s Levett Engineering Will Provide Specialist Machining Work to Lockheed Martin; Aerotech International Will Supply Specialised Tooling; and Melbourne’s Production Parts Has Gained Additional Airframe and Engine Components Work.

National Air Support Goes All Dash 8

Adelaide Based National Air Support (Nas), a Subsidiary of Cobham’s National Jet Systems, Has Retired Its Britten Norman Islanders and Reims F406 Patrol Aircraft in Favour of an Expanded All-bombardier Dash 8 Fleet.

Nas, as Part of Winning the Custom’s Coastwatch Cms04 (Renamed Sentinel) Contract Last Year Has Expanded Its Fleet of Dash 8s From Six to 10 Aircraft (Including Four New Q300s) While Upgrading That Aircraft’s Radar and Optical Sensors and Communications Suites. Consequently, as These Vastly More Capable Aircraft Have Come on Line the Older and Smaller Types Have Been Retired.

The F406s Entered Service in Australia’s North in 1995 While the Torres Strait Based Islanders Entered Service in 1996.

Iran’s Blue Angel?

Iran Has Publicly Revealed an Indigenously Designed and Built Fighter Heavily Modelled on the Us F-5, and Curiously Painted in a Us Navy Blue Angels Colour Scheme.

Dubbed Saeqeh (Thunderbolt), the New Fighter’s Twin Canted Vertical Stabilisers Are the Only Visual Differences to the F-5, Dozens of Which Were Supplied to Iran in the 1970s When That Country Was Ruled by the Usfriendly Shah. Whilst Iran Says the New Aircraft is Comparable to the F/a-18 in Capability, Western Analysts Predict It Will Offer Little if Any Advantage Over the Standard F-5.

Military Briefs

• the Raaf’s 37sqn Rotated Its Three C-130js Out of the Middle East in August in Favour of Three C-130hs Following an Almost 18 Month Long Stint for the Grey Hercs in the Theatre. The Adf Reports That Since Being Deployed in Early 2003, Raaf C-130s Have Airlifted More Than 13,000 Tonnes of Cargo, 73,000 Passengers and 2200 Medivac Patients. One of the C-130js Suffered Minor Damage to Its Rear Fuselage During a Landing Accident in July and is Undergoing Repairs Back in Australia.

• Former Labor Leader and Hawke Government Defence Minister, Kym Beazley, Has Admitted During His Final Speech to Parliament That Australia “spied” on the Us in Order to Gain Critical Radarwarning Receiver and Electronic Warfare Threat Library Information on Aircraft in Our Region for the Raaf’s New F/a‑18 Hornet Fleet in the 1980s, After the Us Refused to Supply It. The Hornets Were Delivered With Threat Information on Warsaw Pact Air and Ground Based Threats, but Not With Those of Potential Threats in Australia’s Immediate Region – Likely to Have Been Indonesian F-5s, a-4s and Possibly F-16s.

• the Saudi Arabian and Uk Governments Have Signed a Gbp4. 4bn (a$10. 2bn) Deal for 72 Eurofighter Typhoons and Associated Support, Maintenance and Training.

• Indonesia and Russia Have Signed a Deal for a Us$1. 2bn (a$1. 5bn) in Military Hardware Including 10 Transport and Five Assault Helicopters, as Well as Two Kilo Class Submarines.

The Deal is in Addition to an Order for Six Sukhoi Su- 27 and Su-30 Fighters Placed by Indonesia at the Moscow Airshow in August.

• the Prototype Kawasaki Xp-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Made Its First Flight on September 28. The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Plans to Acquire 80 P-1s to Replace P-3 Orions.

• the First C-130h to Be Painted in the New Two-toned Grey Colour Scheme is Expected to Return to the Richmond Flightline in October.

• Bae Systems Has Delivered the First Electronic Warfare Suite to Lockheed Martin for the F-35 Jsf. The Suite Will Be Installed in the First Full Avionics Aircraft, Bf4, Which is Scheduled to Fly in Early 2009.

Airlines Ba Goes for A380 & 787

British Airways Has Announced It Will Order Airbus’s A380 and Boeing’s 787 but Has Shunned the 747-8i, as Part of Its Massive Fleet Replacement Program.

Ba Made the Announcement on September 27, Saying It Will Order 12 A380s and Take Options on a Further Seven, and Will Also Take 24 787s Plus 18 Options to Replace Up to 20 of Its 57 747- 400s and All of Its 14 767s.

The Aircraft Will Be Powered by Rolls-royce Engines, the Trent 900 in the Case of the A380s and the Trent 1000 on the 787s.

The A380 Order is a Breakthrough for Airbus, Which Has Not Had a New Order for the Aircraft for More Than 12 Months. It is Also the First Time Ba, Previously a Loyal Boeing Customer With 57 747s, 43 777s and the 14 767s Currently in Service, Has Ordered an Airbus Long Haul Airliner, With the A321 Being the Largest Airbus Aircraft Currently in Its Fleet. Many Observers Had Expected Ba to Split Its Order Between the A380 and Boeing’s 747-8i.

“this is an Exciting Day for British Airways With Our Largest Fleet Order Since 1998,” Ba’s Ceo Willie Walsh Said.

“at This Stage We See the A380 Operating to Hong Kong, Singapore, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Possibly Some Indian Destinations. ” the 787 Order Will Be Split Between the 787-8 and the Longer -9, Although the Numbers Are Yet to Be Revealed.

The First A380 is Due to Be Delivered in 2012, While the 787s Will Start Arriving From 2010.

Walsh Said Ba Had Also Looked at Airbus’s A350 and the Yet-to-be-launched Boeing 787-10, Adding That “at This Stage, There is Not Enough Clarification on Both Aircraft Types,” Although They Remain Under Consideration for an Expected Follow-up Order in 2010 Which Will See the Remainder of Ba’s Current Long Haul Fleet Replaced.

Pacific Blue Pitches for Solomons Run

Pacific Blue Has Made a Pitch for the Troubled Solomon Islands Run Following the Withdrawal From the Route of Skyairworld’s Leased Embraer 170 Operated for Solomon Airlines.

Pacific Blue Has Lodged an Application With the International Air Services Commission (Iasc) to Operate 540 Seats a Week on the Honiara to Brisbane Route for Five Years, Saying It Would Be Fully Operational by Next Year.

It Says It Will Initially Operate the Services Using a Leased 737-300 but Will Upgrade to a 737-800 From Late 2008.

Solomons Began E-170 Services Back in April, but, Along With Skyairworld, Underestimated the Effect of the Lack of a Suitable Alternate Airport on the Brisbane to Honiara Sector, Meaning the E-170 Could Only Fill About 55 of Its 76 Seat Capacity Outbound in Order to Carry Sufficient Fuel to Make It to Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu if Honiara Was Affected by Weather. There Were No Such Capacity Issues on the Return Run Due to the Large Number of Alternates for Brisbane Along the Queensland Coast.

Solomons Subsequently Failed to Make a Number of Lease Payments to Skyairworld in June and July Which Forced the Brisbane Based Charter Operator to Withdraw the Aircraft.

Solomons is Now Leasing an Ozjet 737-200.

In the Meantime Skyairworld Has Been Busy Operating Adf Charters and Performing Route Proving Flights to Regional Areas in Queensland, but Has Also Been in Talks With the Solomon Islands Government to Operate the Service Itself Instead of With Solomon Airlines.

“i Believe the Route is a Viable One and We’d Like to Have a Go at It Ourselves,” Skyairworld Ceo Davidcharlton Told Australian Aviation. “i Believe We Can Make It Work Seven Days a Week With Our Knowledge and Experience on the Route, and We’ll Soon Have Our First E-190 (in January) Which Will Be the Ideal Aircraft. ” Meanwhile, the E-170 Has Had Its Solomons Titles Removed.

Australia-us Open Skies Coming?

Transport and Regional Services Minister Mark Vaile and His Us Counterpart, Mary Peters, Have Jointly Announced That the Two Countries Will Commence Talks Before the End of the Year on an Open Skies Agreement.

Such an Agreement Would Remove Restrictions on Carriers From Either Carrier Operating Between From Any City in One Country to Any Destination in the Other, Potentially Opening the Market to Much Greater Competition, Including Clearing the Way for Virgin Blue’s New V Australia Offshoot’s to Operate a Daily 777-300er Service to the Us West Coast From Late Next Year.

“a Commitment Now to Hold Talks With the Goal of Bringing the Benefits of Open Skies to the Passenger Market Would Permit Air Carriers to Determine the Frequency of Their Air Services, the Routes They Wish to Serve and the Prices They Wish to Charge, Without Governmental Interference,” Vaile and Peters Said in a Joint Statement. “further Liberalised Arrangements With the United States Will Enable Airlines of Each Country to Develop New Services to Meet Market Demand, Removing Government Economic Restrictions and Giving Consumers More Travel Alternatives and Better Fares Due to Increased Competition. ” Both United and Qantas, Currently the Only Operators to Fly Non-stop Services Between Australia and the Us Mainland, Consistently Report Load Factors of More Than 90 Per Cent. Airfares Are Comparatively High as the Demand for Seats Often Outstrips Supply, So Tourist Groups in Particular Are Expected to Welcome Any Increase in Capacity on the Pacific. Reports Suggest the Agreement May Allow Airlines to Fly Between Australia and the Us via Any Port in Asia, Although Singapore Airlines, as a Third Party Airline Not Based in Australia or the Us, Will Still Remain Locked Out of Australia-us Access.

100 A380s for Emirates?

Emirates President Tim Clark Has Flagged the Possibility of His Airline Eventually Acquiring More Than 100 Airbus A380s as It Seeks to Become the World’s Largest Airline.

Speaking at a Media Event to Coincide With the Acceptance of the Airline’s Latest 777-300er, Clark Said He May Eventually “double” the Current 55 A380s the Airline Has on Order as Emirates Moves Some of Its Operations to the New Dubai World Central Airport From 2009.

“we’d Take 100 if the (Current) Airport Could Handle It,” Clark Said. “of Course, This is a Decision for the Government, Our Shareholder, but It Will Also Depend on the Pace of Completion of the New Dubai World Central Airport at Jebel Ali. ” Clark Also Gave Some Insight Into Possible Emirates A380 Services to Australia Once the First Aircraft is Delivered Next August. “we Are Just Finalising the Detail,” He Said, Adding That Sydney and Melbourne Were Obvious Candidates, but That Brisbane and Perth May Also See the Aircraft in the Future.

Etihad Ramps Up

Just Six Months After Commencing Services to Australia Through a Daily Non-stop Flight From Abu Dhabi, Etihad is Ramping Up to Double Its Presence in the Country.

The Airline Announced on September 18 That, From March Next Year, It Will Increase Its Sydney Services to 11 Times Per Week on the Back of Strong Ticket Sales and Load Factors. “sydney Has Been Etihad’s Most Successful Launch Since the Airline Began in 2003, Which Has Resulted in Us Expanding Our Australian Operation With the Launch of Brisbane at the End of September and the Increase of Our Sydney Services Next Year,” Etihad Airways Ceo James Hogan Said.

The New Services Will Continue to Be Operated by Long Range Airbus A340-500s.

Etihad Reports Overall Load Factors of Around 75 Per Cent to Date, With a Higher Proportion of Passengers Booking Premium Business and First Class Seats.

Etihad Also Commenced Its Services From Brisbane to Abu Dhabi on September 29 Using an A330-200. The A330s Are Configured With 262 Seats in a Two-class Layout, but Will Gradually Be Replaced With New Boeing 777-300ers From Next Year.

No Parkes Withdrawal – Rexrex

Has Committed to Continuing Serving Parkes in Central Nsw From Sydney.

Rex Threatened to Withdrawal From the Parkes Route, Which Attracts About 32,000 Passengers a Year, After a Parkes Shire Council Decision to Further Increase Its Airport Head Tax. But Rex Subsequently Received a Submission From the Council Promising Not Raise Its Airport Taxes, Freeze Airport Charges, and Proposing a New Partnership Arrangement With the Airline.

“rex is Now Fully Committed to the Parkes Service and It is Our Aim to Continue to Grow Passenger Numbers and Further Improve the Service Over Time by Maintaining Fares at Very Affordable Levels and by Providing an Effective Schedule,” Rex Deputy Chairman (and Former Federal Transport Minister) John Sharp Said.

Airline Briefs

• Industry Rumours Have Suggested Virgin Blue’s Seven 777-300ers It is Acquiring for Its Trans-pacific V Australia Venture in 2008 Will Be Configured With 361-seats Comprising 288 Economy Seats in a 3+3+3 Layout, 40 Premium Economy and 33 Business Class Seats.

• Rex Says It Will Increase Services Between Melbourne and Burnie in Northern Tasmania Following the Renewal of an Agreement With the Burnie City Council. The Four New Weekly Services Will Add 14,000 Seats Per Year to the Route.

• Air New Zealand Subsidiary Air Nelson Says It Has Ordered Two Additional Bombardier Dash 8-q300s to Boost Capacity on Its Regional Services.

The New Order Will Increase Its Q300 Fleet to 23 • Philippine Airlines Says It Will Increase Its Services Between Australia and the Philippines From Three to Five Services Per Week From November 26.

• Jetstar Operated Its First Service From Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on September 9.

• Cathay Pacific Will Add an Additional Four Flights Per Week Between Hong Kong and Sydney From February Next Year to Take Its Weekly Total to 50 Services Between the Two Cities Per Week.

• Korean Air Will Operate Scheduled Services to Melbourne Airport From October 22, the First Direct Services to That City From Seoul.

• Airasia X Has Announced It Will Operate Four Return Services a Week Between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast From November 2, With Discount Fares Starting From $99. The A330-300 Services Will Operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Environment

Air Nz Bio Fuel Trial

Air New Zealand Has Joined Boeing and Rolls- Royce to Conduct a Trial Using New Bio Fuels on One of Its 747-400s.

The Three Companies Signed an Mou in Auckland on September 29 to Commence the Trial in 2008. “boeing is in Discussions With Fuel Source Providers Around the Globe to Identify Potential Biofuels That Are Available in Suitable Quantities for Laboratory and Jet Engine Performance Testing and in Compliance With Stringent Aviation Requirements,” a Company Statement Reads.

“our Near Term Goal in This Pioneering Effort is to Identify Sustainable Alternative Bio Jet Fuel Sources for the Planes That Are Flying Today. ” the Airline Will Operate an Rb211-524 Powered 747 From Auckland, Initially Without Passengers, Using a Blend of Kerosene and Biofuels in One of Its Four Engines. The Source and Type of Biofuel is Yet to Be Announced.

“this Test Flight is Another Step in Our Plan to Lead the Globe in Development of the Most Environmentally Responsible Airline,” Said Air Nz Ceo Rob Fyfe.

Airports

Canberra’s Big Growth Plans

Canberra Airport Has Long Term Plans to Operate as a Night Freight Hub With as Many as 38 Heavy Aircraft Movements Per Night by 2025, According to Documents Released Recently.

The Projections Surfaced During a Long Running Legal Battle Over Plans to Build a New Housing Estate at Tralee in Nsw, Just Over the Border From the Act Industrial Suburb of Hume, Which Lies Directly Under the Airport’s Southern Approaches.

Nsw Planning Minister Frank Sartor, Who Supports the Development Plans, Says the Airport’s Projections Are “outrageous and Unconscionable”, but Some Analysts Feel That, While Perhaps a Little Ambitious, It is Not Unreasonable to Expect a Regular Overflow Influx From Sydney’s Movement Restricted Airport by That Time.

Canberra Has Long Been Viewed as a Possible Satellite Airport for Sydney, an Option Made More Possible by Recent and Planned Improvements to Road and Rail Links Between the Two Cities.

Auckland Airport Sale Rejected

Auckland Airport’s Largest Shareholder, the Auckland City Council, Has Voted Against Selling Its Stake in the Airport to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (Dae) or Canada’s Cpp Investment Board.

The Sale Had Been Thought to Be in Jeopardy Following the Commencement of Legal Proceeding by Air New Zealand Over the Airport’s Pricing Policy Which Hadcaused Dae to Invoke a Get-out Clause in Its Merger Implementation Agreement (Mia). The Dae Bid Had Been Vocally Opposed by Nz Politicians and Other Shareholders Including the Manukau City Council.

“dae Regrets That the Opportunity to Do Business With Aial Did Not Eventuate on This Occasion and Wishes (Airport Ceo) John Maasland and His Team at Aial Well,” a Brief Statement by Dae Ceo Kjeld Binger Read.

Gold Coast Redevelopment is Go

the Gold Coast Airport Has Welcomed a Decision by the Federal Government to Fund the $100 Million Redevelopment of the Airport’s Terminal Building.

The Work Will See the Building Doubled in Size to Almost 27,000m2, Allowing the Airport to Better Accommodate Its Rapidly Growing Passenger Numbers Which Reached 3. 75 Million Last Financial Year, and Allow for Further Growth Out to 2030.

“when Completed, the Terminal Will Be an Impressive, User Friendly Gateway for Passengers and a Cost Effective Facility for Airlines,” Gold Coast Ceo Paul Donovan Said. “most Importantly, It Will Provide the Capacity to Sustain Our Forecast Passenger Growth for the Next 20 Years. ” the Redevelopment Will Be Undertaken in Two Stages, Firstly With the Current Building Being Refurbished and Extended to the South and to the Airside. Stage Two Will Follow Later as Demand Requires, and Will Comprise Additional Extensions to the North and South.

Brisbane Parallel Runway Approved

the Federal Government Has Approved Brisbane Airport’s Parallel Runway Project.

The New 3600m Runway Will Run Parallel to the Current 01/19 Runway and Be Located Approximately Two Kilometres to the West, Meaning the Terminal Precinct Will Lie Between the Two Runways. The Shorter 14/32 Cross Runway Will Close for a Couple of Years So It Can Be Strengthened for Future Use as a Taxiway for Heavy Aircraft, and While It is Envisaged That Runway Will Re-open During the New Runway’s Construction Phase, It Will Be Permanently Closed Once the New Runway is Complete.

The Runway Will Cater for an Expected Growth of Eight Million Passengers to 25 Million by 2015, and Up to 50million by 2035. Construction is Expected to Commence in 2009 and Will Drawn Out to 2015 to Allow for the Once Swampy Land to Be Fully Drained, Compacted and Tested During Each Stage of the Construction Process, and Huge Volumes of Sand From Moreton Bay Are Expected to Be Dredged Up and Used in the Construction.

For More on the Parallel Runway Project, See Debrief From Page Xx of This Issue.

Airport Briefs

• Newcastle Airport Has Released Its Latest Master Plan, One That Provides a Blueprint for the Airport’s Development for the Next 20 Years.

The Plan Was Prepared in Consultation With the Airport’s Landlord, the Department of Defence Which Operates the Adjoining Williamtown Raaf Base. Meanwhile, Work Commenced on an Extension to the Ramp at Newcastle Airport on September 28.

The Extension Will Provide Sufficient Parking for Up to Six Medium Sized (737/a320) Airliners Simultaneously and Allow Larger Aircraft Such as the 767/787 and A330 to Be Handled in the Future.

The Work is Expected to Be Completed Next February.

General Aviation

Whitney Boomerang Enters Production

the Australian Designed Whitney Boomerang Has Formally Entered Production After Aircraft Number 1 Rolled Off the Kingaroy Production Line in Country Queensland on September 14.

The Two-seat Training Aircraft Debuted in Front of Guests, Employees of and Media at Kingaroy. Dean-wilson Aviation Chairman Steve Wilson Acknowledged the Contributions of His Company’s Employees, and Thanked the Federal Government’s Ausindustry Grant Scheme Which Helped Underwrite the Aircraft’s Development and Kick-start Its Production.

Wilson Was Also Presented With an Ausindustry Award by Local Federal Member Bruce Scott in Recognition of the Company’s Commitment to Business Excellence and in Particular, Innovation in Developing the Boomerang.

Cessna to Buy Columbia

Cessna Has Signed a Letter of Intent (Loi) to Acquire Ailing High Performance Single Piston Single Manufacturer Columbia Aircraft.

The Deal to Buy Columbia is Contingent on Approval by the Us Bankruptcy Court as the Company is Currently in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. “we Have Explored Many Options Over the Past Months,” Said Columbia’s Chief Restructuring Officer, Carl Young. “this Path Enables the Company to Manage Its Present Cash Flow and Liabilities While Pursuing a Plan That Enables Us to Continue Operating Until a Final Sale Can Be Completed. ” Cessna Will Reportedly Acquire Some of Columbia’s Assets and Assume Some of Its Debt, and Will Assure Columbia’s High Performance 300, 350 and 400 Product Lines for Current Operators and Future Customers Are Maintained and Supported.

“under the Agreement Reached With Cessna All Product Warranty and Service Issues Will Continue to Be Honoured Post Acquisition and Customers Should Expect an Enhanced Customer Experience Once the Deal Closes,” Young Added.

The Cessna Ceo Jack Pelton Thinks Production Can Be Boosted to 250 Aircraft Per Year at Columbia’s Bend, Oregon, Facility Where “the Intent Right Now is to Keep the Workforce Busy, Keep Them Engaged So We Can Hit Theground Running. ” the Next Generation Piston Under Development by Cessna Will Not Be Scuppered if the Purchase of Columbia Aircraft is Completed.

Pelton Said Cessna Will Make Columbia’s Aircraft “part of Our Product Line. Really, as a Nice, Natural Addition Above Our Current Line of Single Engine Piston Planes and Above the Ngp. ” the Ngp Proof-of-concept Made Its First Appearance in July 2006 and Development Has Since Been Kept Under Wraps. “we Continue to Invest About Six Per Cent of Our Revenue in R&d, So I Can Assure You That There Will Be a Whole Portfolio of New Aircraft We Will Introduce in the Coming Years When It’s Appropriate,” Hinted Pelton.

Piper Enters the Matrix

an Unpressurised Airframe and New Avionics Distinguish Piper Aircraft’s Newest Single From Its Predecessor.

“the Piper Matrix Does Everything the Malibu Mirage Does, but With the Economy of an Unpressurised Aircraft,” Announced President and Ceo James Bass at the Aopa Expo in Connecticut in Early October, Reports Jeffrey Decker.

Air Conditioning and Oxygen Are Standard in the Us$757,000 Airframe.

Owners of the Beechcraft Bonanza Can Expect to Be Solicited to Buy, Said Piper Vice President of Sales Bob Kromer. “we Are Really Going to Be Targeting the Cirrus and Columbia Owners,” He States.

More Than 100 Orders of the Matrix Are Already Placed and the First Will Be Delivered in November.

The Matrix Will Be Fitted With the Avidyne Entegra Integrated Flightdeck. It’s the First Aircraft to Offer Avidyne’s New Mlb700 Datalink Receiver for Inflight Weather Updates and Satellite Radio as Standard Equipment.

Maximum Cruise Speed is 215kt and Full Fuel Range is More Than 1345nm (2490km).

Diesel Cessna

Cessna Vp of Sales and Marketing Roger Whyte Revealed the Thielert Centurion Powered Skyhawk Turbo Diesel at the Aopa Expo in Connecticut on October 4.

“we Have Had Other Test Beds Flying With the Diesel for Some Time,” Said Whyte.

The Skyhawk Td Costs Us$15,000 (a$16,820) More Than the Standard Lycoming Io-360 Aircraft. The Double Overhead Camshaft Two Litre Diesel Engine Burns Jet Fuel to Produce 155hp (116kw) With Fadec Control.

“fuel Consumption is About 30 Per Cent Less Than the Normal Gasoline Engine, and the Aircraft Has Improved Performance at Higher Altitudes,” Whyte Said.

Range and Endurance Are Also Increased in the New Model. Thielert Holds the New Supplemental Type Certificate to Install the Engines.

Cessna Also Announced at the Aopa Expo That All 2008 Skyhawks Will Include Garmin Gfc700 Avionics.

“we Now Offer the Same Fullyintegrated, All-garmin System From the Skyhawk Through the Citation Mustang,” Stated John Doman, Vp of Worldwide Aircraft Sales.

Hoxton Park Redevlopment Starting Early?

Despite Having a Lease Until November 2008, Tenants of Hoxton Park Airport in Sydney’s Southwest Are Concerned That Owner James Fielding Developments, Part of the Mirvac Group, Has Already Commenced Redevelopment Work at the Site to the Detriment of Operations There.

From the Week of the Apec Conference in Early September, the Main Taxiway Which Runs Parallel to the Southern End of the Single 16/34 Runway at Hoxton Park Was Closed While Drainage Improvement Work Was Carried Out, Meaning Aircraft Are Forced to Backtrack on the Runway for Landing and Takeoff. Airport Users Have Expressed Concern That, Although a Notam to This Effect Was Issued, Due to the Lack of Any on-site Ground or Air Control at the Airport, the Potential of an Accident Has Been Increased. “they’ve Basically Cut Up All the Taxiways – We Feel That This Action is an Unsafe One With No Atc on the Field,” Tenant Phillip Reiss Told Australian Aviation. “plus, Earth Moving Equipment Has Been Left in Such a Way That It Encroaches on Any Safety Runoff Margins for Multi-engined Aircraft. ” “hoxton Park is Supposed to Remain an Airport Until November Next Year, Yet We Feel That the Airport Has Jumped the Gun and is Doing a Lot of the Ground Work for the Redevelopment of the Site,” He Added. “there’s a General Feeling That the Owners Don’t Give a Damn, and Bugger What Anyone Else Thinks. ”

General Aviation Briefs

• Queensland Regional Centre Kingaroy Hosted the Inaugural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) Challenge – Outback Rescue Competition on September 25 and 26. The Competition is Aimed at Finding Future Civilian Uses for Uavs With the Main Focus Being on Search and Rescue in Remote Areas. It Was Supported by the Queensland Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, the Joint Queensland University of Technology- Csiro Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation, Boeing Australia, and the Us’s Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (Auvsi).

Business Aviation 100 Sales for Airbus Acj Range

the Airbus Corporate Jet (Acj) Range of Corporate Configured Airliners Notched Up Its 100th Sale Recently, 10 Years After Launch.

The Acj Range Was Initially Based on the A319, Fitted With Removable Additional Fuel Tanks, and Has Since Evolved to Include Versions of the A320 and A318, Respectively Dubbed the Prestige and the Elite. Airbus Has Even Taken Four Orders for Corporate Versions of Its Widebodied A340-500 and -600, as Well as a Single Order for a Private A380.

Orders Momentum is on the Up, With Airbus Taking Orders for 30 Acjs This Year Alone.

Business Aviation Briefs

• Cessna is Ramping Up Production of Its Business Aircraft Range Following Unprecedented Demand in the Past Two Years. The Company Delivered 307 Business Jets in 2006, is Tracking to Deliver 380 This Year, and is Planning on Delivering 470 in 2008, a 65 Per Cent Increase in Two Years. As of August 31, the Company Has Taken Orders for 525 Business Jets This Year Alone, Compared to 496 Orders in 2006.

• Embraer’s Second Phenom 100 Light Jet Made Its First Flight From São José Dos Campos in Brazil on September 26.

• Gulfstream Has Announced a New Maintenance Datalink System That Transmits Aircraft Maintenance Information in Flight to Ground Stations.

Dubbed Planeconnect, the System is Available on All New Aircraft and as a Retrofit on All Planeview Avionics Equipped Aircraft.

Cargo • Qantas Has Denied Rumours It is in Discussions to Purchase the Linfox Group.

Ceo Geoff Dixon Said in a Statement in September That the Two Companies Had Had Discussions Over a Year Ago, but “no Discussions Have Been Held Since Then and None Are Planned. ”

Maintenance, Support & Training

Boeing Aust Head Calls for Skills Consolidation

Boeing Australia President David Withers Has Called Upon Australia’s Aerospace Industry Sector to “cluster” Its Facilities Together Where Possible in an Effort to Address a Growing Skills Shortage in the Industry.

Addressing the Defence Skilling Summit in Brisbane, Withers Said the Industry Needs to Collaborate in Sharing Scarce People Resources.

“we Need to Stop Poaching From Each Other, Thus Continuously Driving Up the Cost of Skills and Look Instead at Moving Our People Around the Industry to Where They Are Most Needed at Any Given Time,” He Said.

“we All Compete Strenuously for a Highly Specialised Skills Base, Which We Are Not Replenishing Fast Enough to Meet Our Growing Needs,” He Added. “at the Same Time, the Recruiters From Other Developed Countries Wait on the Doorsteps of Our Universities – What They Offer Our Best and Brightest Can Be Irresistible. ” Withers Called on State and Federal Educational Institutions to Address the Skills Shortage by Re-introducing Appropriate Curricula, but Has Been Encouraged by the Queensland State Government’s Moves to Establish Aviation as a Subject in High Schools in Recent Years. “we Know That 45 Per Cent of Year 12 Students Are Not Studying Science or Advanced Mathematics,” He Said. “we See So Many Examples Where Curriculum Decisions Made Years Ago Are Now Affecting the Ability of Young People to Move Into Industries Such as Ours. By Next Year, There Will Be 800 Students in Queensland Studying Aerospace Subjects in Year 11 or 12 and the First Wave From the Original Program is Already Moving Into Trades Programs and Engineering Degree Programs Focused on Aviation and Aerospace. ” “at Boeing, We Are Proud to Be Associated With the Aerospace Project and With Aviation High, Launched in Brisbane This Year and Entirely Focused on Preparation of Young People to Enter Our Industry,” He Added.

“but Great as These Programs Are, They Are Not Enough. ”

Maintenance, Support & Training Briefs

• Qantas Group Flight Training Will Undertake 747-400 Pilot Training for Nippon Cargo Airlines Under a Five Year Contract. The First Intake Will Commence Its Nine Week Course in October at Qantas Facilities in Sydney and Avalon.

• Emirates Has Reached an Agreement to Acquire 49 Per Cent of Alpha Flight Services Australia. As Part of the Agreement, Alpha Will Provide Inflight Catering for Emirates Flights From Australia From January.

• Adelaide’s Tenix Aviation Has Established a Pt6 Overhaul and Test Facility at Its Adelaide Airport Base.

• Qantaslink’s Fleet of Seven Bombardier Q400s Were Grounded for Up to 24 Hours on September 13 for Safety Checks Following Two Undercarriage Collapses in a Week on High-hour Q400s Operated by Sas in Northern Europe.

• Air New Zealand Regional Eagle Air Was Forced to Ground Its Fleet of 17 Beech 1900d Airliners on September 26 Following the Discovery of Cracks in the Undercarriages of Some of the Aircraft. The Grounding Came Three Months After an Eagle Air 1900d Made a Wheels-up Landing at Blenheim.

Air Safety

• Casa Has Proposed an Amendment to the Current Legislation Governing Airworthiness Directives (Ads).

Under the Change, a Registered Operator Must Monitor State of Design Ads to Ensure Compliance, While Casa Will Be Required to Provide a List of the States of Design National Airworthiness Authority (Naa) for All Type Certificated Aircraft, Aircraft Engines and Propellers Operating on the Australian Register.

Atc & Airspace

• the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Rfds) Has Received and Installed Ads-b Equipment Donated by Airservices Australia in Six of Its Aircraft.

Transport Minister Mark Vaile Says the Gps Based System Will Be “particularly Beneficial in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia Where the Rfds Operates and Where Aircraft Surveillance Coverage is Poor, or Non-existent. ” People * Casa Has Finally Appointed a Deputy Ceo Operations, Mick Quinn, a Former Qantas Air Safety Investigation Manager. To Be Based at Casa’s New Brisbane Office, Quinn Was Executive Director, Rail Safety Regulation, for the Nsw Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulation Body, and Before That Was Vice President Safety for Emirates.

• Execujet Australia Marketing Manager Michelle Avis Has Been Appointed to the Position of Group Marketing Manager for All of the Execujet Aviation Group Globally. Avis Will Relocate to Zurich Later This Year.

Events • the Act Branch of the Aviation Club of Australia Invites All Those With an Interest in Any Aspect of Aviation to Join. The Club Meets at the National Press Club in Barton on the Last Thursday of Each Month for a Meal and an Interesting Address on Various Aviation Subjects. Contact Graham Dyke on (02) 6241 0262 or via Email at Gdyke8@ Bigpond. Com. Au for Information.

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