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Seaview Ice Theory Supported

Those who support the theory that Seaview Air Turbo Commander VH-SVQ crashed en route to Lord Howe Island last October due to airframe icing have received a boost following a re-enactment of the flight. An identical aircraft was hired by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) in June to retrace the Seaview flight and discover why its transponder signal disappeared off radar. On the return flight to Sydney the aircraft began picking up large amounts of airframe ice after entering stratus cloud at 14,000 feet. This initially caused a mild vibration and then a “massive shudder”. No evidence of aileron flutter (one theory behind the accident) was found. The pilot of VH-SVQ reported vibrations before his aircraft crashed, suggesting they were caused by propeller icing. The highly experienced pilot of the re-enactment flight said he’d never experienced anything like the vibration in 30 years’ flying.

Boeing Cuts Production Further

Boeing has announced its 1996 airliner production schedule which contains further rate reductions for some models. Production of the 737 will be reduced from seven to five per month and the 757 will be lowered from four to three per month. On the positive side, the previously announced increase in 747 production from two to three per month will go ahead as planned and the company will deliver about 30 777s in 1996 as opposed to 19 this year. The revised production schedule will see Boeing deliver about 200 aircraft in 1996 compared with 235 this year and 441 in 1992. The overall 1996 production rate of about 17.5 per month is less than half that achieved in the peak year, 1991. No more job losses will result from the 1996 production schedule. The company received orders for 147 aircraft in the first half of this year, compared with 120 for all of 1994. These orders are mainly for 1997 and later delivery, at which stage production rates are expected to pick up again.

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