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Aviation History
1966
1966 - 0939.PDF
T*e prototype 15-seot njer Skyservont, by two 380 h.p. 1GSO-54OS, J barked upon forthcoming Hanover Show- fetypewasfirstannouncn last June at the Paris ShZ °c,- L™?1 des«ibed ,„ Flight" for June 24, I96S Production deliveries are expected within a year <,nd although no orders 'havt ••« yet been announced, the I type has a competitive I specification—fallingintin * and price between the ten- ':i seat Britten-Norman Islander and the 20-seot DHC Twin Otter AIR TRANSPORT. .. shudder violently. The scene revolves. Then nothing." It has also been reported that the investigators now believe that the wing of the 707 failed before the empennage. FLOATING COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM ACCURATE surveillance of all aircraft over the North Atlantic and continuous, reliable, communications in the area have been shown to be "completely practicable" by means of float- ing platforms. A design-study by Seastation Telecommunica- tions Ltd (jointly owned by Cammell Laird and Submarine Cables Ltd) commissioned by the Ministry of Aviation last year has just been published. The Ministry is considering the moored platform system along with other methods, including satellites, for proposals on North Atlantic ATC and communi- cations which will be put to ICAO at some time in the future. The Seastation system is based on three or four floating stations which are permanently moored on the seabed and con- nected by submarine cable. The superstructure, extending 83ft above water level, will have five decks and a diameter of approximately 100ft. The maximum mooring depth will be 15,000ft. Each platform would have a helicopter landing area, crew accommodation and cable equipment. The radio and radar equipment would be made up as follows: four VHF and one Mr Peter Masefield, chairman of the British Airports Authority, conducted a press conference (reported on page 539) on the eve of the authority's start of operations. Seated (left) are Mr Robin McLellan, the deputy chairman, and (right) Mr George Hole, the chief executive UHF communications channels; VOR, DME and secondary surveillance radar; meteorological primary radar; HF radio for ship communications; and radiosonde. Four moored platforms on a Great Circle path across the North Atlantic would provide a reliable communications cor- ridor having a minimum north-south width of 360 n.m. Aircraft flying in this corridor would always be within 240 n.m. of a platform or within 300 n.m. of a shore station. The cost of the project, including four stations and the sub- marine cable, is estimated at £16 million. The annual cost to ATC for maintenance and operation, together with interest and depreciation over a ten-year period, would be about £2.5 mil- lion. If the average number of flights per year in the period 1969-79 is 120,000, the cost would work out at £21 per flight. BETTER CRASH RECORDERS NEEDED ALTHOUGH the earlier generations of US crash recorders have been very useful indeed in accident-cause research, they have been by no means perfect. Last month the flight-recorder specialist in the CAB's bureau of air safety, Mr O. E. Patton, said in a report that in six crashes since 1959 the recorder was so damaged that the data was questionable. He also said that the recorders, which are designed to be fire-resistant, have several times been severely damaged by heat. Nevertheless, the CAB has, since 1959, investigated 125 fatal and non-fatal acci- dents to aircraft equipped with recorders and the FAA now has a requirement for stronger recorders, providing more data, and for these to be installed in the aft section of the fuselage. Mr Patton said that further steps should be taken to equip recorders with detection devices for easier recovery and that such devices were needed particularly for cases of accidents in water—such as that involving the United 727 while approach- ing Chicago O'Hare Airport. The recorder in this 727 has not yet been recovered. The additional flight information should, he said, include rate of change in pitch, yaw and roll; bank angle. outside-air temperature; and the positions of the control column and wheel, rudder pedals, pitch trimmer and flaps. Continental Joins IATA On April 1 Continental Airlines joined IATA as an associate member, bringing the total num of JATA members to 99—85 active and 14 associates. Invicta Appointment Wg Cdr W. Hoy, former CO of RA* Manston, has been appointed station manager of Man based Invicta Airways. Twin Otters for Air Alpes The Geneva-based operator Air Alpes is negotiating for two DHC-6 1 wi ^ airframes for delivery at the end of this year. The plans to fit Astazou 12 or 14 engines to avoid tne import duty on the PT6.
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