AVnews -- 2008
Eclipse to go single 9 June
Eclipse Aviation in the USA is to produce the 400 single-engine jet, a production version of the Eclipse Concept Jet first displayed at EAA AirVenture 2007.
Ten months of quantitative and qualitative Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ) research has convinced us that this is absolutely the right airplane for the emerging single-engine jet market," said Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and CEO. "The ECJ has elicited a tremendous emotional response from current and potential customers alike – people just love this airplane. We are excited to formally add this new aircraft to the Eclipse Aviation product family as the Eclipse 400."
The company recently celebrated its tenth anniversary and has gained Australian certification for its 500 twin-engine jet.
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Air-traffic controllers looking for big rise
Australia’s air traffic controllers have presented Air Services Australia with an extensive log of claims, which includes substantial pay rises.
The controllers association says staffing levels are too low, while pay rates are not internationally competitive. Staff shortages have led to several instances of non-coverage around the country.
Civil Air Australia site
B2 brought down by water in sensors
From AVweb: The crash on takeoff of a 509th Air Wing, Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber,
February 23 operating at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, was caused by
water in the aircraft's sensors, according to an Air Combat report
issued Thursday. Specifically, moisture in three port transducer units
"distorted data introduced by a B-2 Spirit's air data system" which
led to flawed information entering the bomber's flight control
computers. The aircraft was reacting to inaccurate airspeed and a
"perceived" negative angle of attack. This resulted in an "uncommanded
30 degree nose-high pitch-up on takeoff," according to the Air Force.
Major Ryan Link and Captain Justin Grieve, the aircraft's two pilots
and the only two aboard were unable to regain control and safely
ejected just as the aircraft stalled and mushed into the ground and
its left wing impacted the ground. The $1.4 billion aircraft crashed
just off the left side of the runway and exploded. It was the
first-ever B-2 crash and followed 75,000 hours of loss-free service.
Link and Grieve both suffered injuries during ejection, with Grieve
suffering compression fractures to his spine.
Full report & video
Qantas heads for PR crash
Qantas has been having a disastrous run the media lately, with the majority of wounds seeming to be self-inflicted. On the back of strong profit announcements, it also says it will be further cutting staff and services – albeit in anticipation of rocketing fuel costs.
By far the most damaging for its long-term reputation is the now long string of complaints about unreliable service (often due to suspect maintenance) and jackboot tactics when dealing with unhappy customers.
Here’s the latest instalment, from the mail section of Crikey.com.au: Ben Sandilands writes in Frequent Fury: customers and Qantas on war-footing that "An Australian airline has started using security and police to protect itself from outraged punters who don't get what they paid for." My experience while checking in at Canberra airport a couple of weeks ago shows that Qantas also try to use the Australian Federal Police (rather than calling a manager) to resolve customer service issues, even when the customer is not swearing or being abusive or aggressive. In my case, a check-in officer summoned four Australian Federal Police officers to remove me and my eleven-month-old baby from the check in counter when I asked (and insisted) that I be allowed to speak with the manager in order to resolve a dispute regarding checking in a baby stroller. Having quickly ascertained that my baby and I did not pose any security threat, the police suggested that as this was a customer service issue, rather than a security matter, it would perhaps be more appropriate to call a manager rather than the police, in the first instance. At the request of the Australian Federal Police, the manager was finally called and the situation was resolved.
Berlin airshow a big success
Fuel prices may be worrying the industry, but that didn’t stop the Berlin airshow going off with a bang.
The organisers say: This year’s International Aerospace Exhibition provided an impressive display of this high-tech sector and was also a major attraction for the public. The attendance of 241,000 nearly reached the record level set at the ILA2006 (250,000). Approximately 120,000 trade visitors (2006:115,000) came to find out about the products and services on offer on the 250,000 square metre site, Germany’s largest temporary exhibition grounds, and to learn about the latest trends at more than 100 accompanying conferences. Contracts and business with a value of more than five billion euros were finalised during the event, including the largest known order ever for civil aircraft at the ILA, which was placed with Airbus by Gulf Air (Bahrain) for 35 aircraft worth 3.2 billion euros. The partner country India made the most of its largest ever appearance at any aerospace trade show outside its own borders by presenting its wide-ranging capabilities and sounding out business opportunities.
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Boeing & Aermacchi to chase trainer market
Boeing Company Alenia Aermacchi, a company of Finmeccanica, have announced an agreement to jointly pursue the international jet trainer aircraft market.
Both companies will cooperate on marketing, sales, training and product support activities in international markets for the M-346 next-generation Advanced and Lead-in-Fighter Trainer and the M-311 basic-advanced trainer designed and manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi.
Finmecchanica
Cat III system for Melbourne
Aviation Record: Melbourne Airport expects to get Australia's first 'category III' instrument landing system installed and certified before the end of the year.
The move is expected to significantly reduce the number of aircraft diversions to other airports when Melbourne is affected by fog.
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Industry losses to deepen
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its industry financial forecast for 2008 significantly downwards to a loss of US$2.3 billion. The forecast uses a consensus oil price of US$106.5 per barrel crude (Brent). This is a swing of US$6.8 billion from the previously forecasted industry profit of US$4.5 billion that was announced in March and based on an average oil price of US$86 per barrel (Brent).
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Lycoming to approve automotive fuels
Recognising global concerns about the immediate and long-term availability of aviation grade 100LL fuel, Lycoming Engines has begun announced an unleaded automotive gasoline approval program for its standard compression ratio O-360 and IO-360 product lines.
Unleaded 93 AKI automotive gasoline conforming to either Euro Norm EN228 or ASTM D4814 will be the basis of this Lycoming specified fuel. Supplemental requirements within the scope of the existing standards will be stated as necessary for safe operation in aviation applications.
Approval is expected by the northern Autumn. However the company warns that this program will be an engine approval only. Aircraft certification approval must be obtained separately to permit operation with this fuel.
Lycoming
NZ buys 5 hi-tech choppers
New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for five AgustaWestland AW109 LUH multi-role light twin turbine engine helicopters plus a dedicated flight simulator. The contract value is worth approximately 57 million Euro. These helicopters, scheduled to enter service in 2011, will be operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
AgustaWestland
Cat III system for Melbourne
Aviation record: Melbourne Airport expects to get Australia's first 'category III' instrument landing system installed and certified before the end of the year.
The move is expected to significantly reduce the number of aircraft diversions to other airports when Melbourne is affected by fog.
More
Lycoming to approve automotive fuels
Recognising global concerns about the immediate and long-term availability of aviation grade 100LL fuel, Lycoming Engines has begun announced an unleaded automotive gasoline approval program for its standard compression ratio O-360 and IO-360 product lines.
Unleaded 93 AKI automotive gasoline conforming to either Euro Norm EN228 or ASTM D4814 will be the basis of this Lycoming specified fuel. Supplemental requirements within the scope of the existing standards will be stated as necessary for safe operation in aviation applications.
Approval is expected by the northern Autumn. However the company warns that this program will be an engine approval only. Aircraft certification approval must be obtained separately to permit operation with this fuel.
Lycoming
DARPA heliplane stalls
The Register: Efforts by Pentagon tech chiefs to revive a long-neglected rotary wing aircraft type appear to have stalled, as the main contractor announced financial problems and sweeping layoffs.
Groen Brothers Aviation (GBA), the company undertaking the "Heliplane" programme, revealed the extent of its difficulties in a statement at the weekend.
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Dark days for Dreamliner
Boeing’s Dreamliner program is turning into a nightmare for the company, with serious delays now having a new dimension added – an expected downturn in the airline industry, which will see orders slow down further.
Here’s a recent round-up of the news coverage of the 787.
Xinhua, China: US aircraft maker Boeing said it would start delivering 787 Dreamliners to its Chinese customers in the fourth quarter of 2009, after pushing back the target delivery date three times by more than a year behind the original schedule.
Middle East Business Intelligence: Royal Jordanian has confirmed it will seek financial compensation and replacement planes from Boeing because of delays in the delivery of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft it has ordered.
Jordan's recently privatised national airline has 14 of the long-haul aircraft on order, either directly from Boeing or through a lease agreement.
The Earth Times: Russian carrier Aeroflot said Friday it may have to wait two years past the due date for its first orders of US plane manufacturer Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the company's CEO Valery Okulov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying on Friday. "We received formal notice about one month back that (Boeing) is about 28 months off its programme," Okulov said.
Red faces in Toulouse
What happens when an Airbus A340-600 breaks loose during engine tests before being returned to service? It’s not pretty…
The pics are six months old, but still worth a look at this link.
No-one was killed, but 5 crew were injured.
Chambliss beats Bonhomme in Detroit
Kirby Chambliss (USA) beat Paul Bonhomme (GBR) in a spectacular Red Bull Air Race World Series battle in Detroit in front of a crowd of 750,000 U.S. and Canadian spectators lined up along the banks of the Detroit River. Chambliss was clocked in a winning time of 1:12.08, just 0.15 seconds faster than Bonhomme (1:12.23) in the third race of the 10-stop 2008 World Series. The Brit still leads the championship. But Chambliss has proven he can be beaten.
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Renegade design for sale
From Murphy Aircraft: The Murphy Renegade, the agile and predictable biplane designed by Darryl Murphy and built by over 800 customers of Murphy Aircraft, is up for sale.
“It’s the first [commercial] airplane I did”, said Darryl Murphy, “and I still consider it one of the best-flying, and it is still the most fun to fly.”
The Renegade can be built as a single-place or two-place, tandem machine with engines from the two-stroke Rotax 447, 503, and 582 through four-strokes like the 80hp Rotax 912, the 100hp 912S, and the 110hp Rotech 2800 radial. Structure is aluminum tubing and fabric, for a light, strong design. “I like it because it’s easy to make a light, strong truss, and that’s basically what a biplane is,” said Murphy.
Murphy is selling the design, the rights, calculations, manuals, and customer lists. All the parts business for the existing fleet of some 800 aircraft will also be included. Hardware includes “enough extrusions for maybe 50 airplanes,” plus the extrusion die drawings, all fixtures, molds, tooling, and a considerable spare parts inventory. The parts business continues to be strong, and the kits have been selling at the rate of “8-12 a year, pretty steadily – and I haven’t been promoting the Renegade for years,” said Murphy.
“I don’t want any customers to lose out, so we will continue supplying to our customers until the Renegade is sold,” Murphy added, pointing out that all six of his other current designs are sheetmetal, and the Renegade, being tube, extrusions, and fabric, does not fit well in the current manufacturing scenario, which is expanding farther into parts supply for certified airplanes and helicopters.
Murphy Aircraft will continue to support the Renegade builders and parts business until the proper buyer is contracted, and Darryl Murphy is willing to continue for a limited time as a consultant, to help the new owners have a smooth takeover.
The Murphy Renegade is a 51%, Experimental, Owner-Built aircraft under FAA regulations; in Canada, it can be an Advanced Ultralight or an Experimental; and in Europe, it is classed as a microlight. Similar classifications exist worldwide.
Contact mursales@murphyaircraft.com
Deadline nears
The deadline for submission to a National Aviation Policy Statement from the Federal Government is getting near – June 27.
See this link
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