FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1973
1973 - 1866.PDF
22 FLIGHT International, 5 July 1973 Left, the world-wide route network of Sterling in 1972, almost entirely flown with Caravelles. Bottom, the DC-6B was Sterling's first aircraft. The last of the type was retired in 1972. In 1968 and 1969 they made 218 relief flights into the Uli airstrip, in what was then Biafra, on behalf of Scandinavian Church Aid STERLING AIRWAYS the first of seven Caravelle 12s was delivered, and an agreement was signed with United Air Lines to buy 11 of its Caravelle 6Rs, as the American carrier replaced them with Boeing 737-200s. Future re-equipment plans are currently centred on the Boeing Advanced 727-200. Sterling has ordered three, to be powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 engines, and hushed to FAR Part 36 requirements. The first aircraft will be delivered on October 1, to be followed by the second and third on December 1 and 10. The -17 engine will, however, not be available for another six months, so for the first half year of operations the aircraft will be fitted with the lower-thrust -15 engine and operated at reduced weights. On the 727s a progressive maintenance system will be operated, many of the components on the aircraft being "on condition." Meals for both inbound and outbound passengers will be loaded at the originating airport, which, says Sterling, will at first be Copenhagen only, as it is from there that the greatest amount of traffic is generated. The airline is impressed by the ability of the 727 to operate into and out of airports with a minimum of ground equipment— being fitted with an APU and integral airstairs. The airline has signed up with Airbus Industrie for three A300B4s. The first two are to be delivered in time for the 1975 summer season, and the third in time for the 1976 season. It will be difficult, however, to convince many Scandinavian tour operators that a 345-seat aircraft is viable. There are at present only three large-volume departure points—Stockholm, Copenhagen and Billund in Jutland. Rather than face the prospect of operating flights STERLING TRAFFIC 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 Flight hours 1,000 1-3 76 140 180 230 29 0 380 48 0 540 640 — No of passengers million 004 0-1 0-2 0-3 0-5 0 6 09 1-3 1-6 2-1 2.4 Revenue passenger-km thousand million 0 02 0-2 0-4 0-6 0-9 1-2 16 2-3 2-9 3-6 4-2 with relatively low load factors, it appears that a significant proportion of operators are prepared to accept the higher seat-mile costs of a smaller aircraft. This is particularly true in the inclusive-tour field, which accounts for some 30 per cent of Sterling's business. At present Aerospatiale is not offering trade-in terms for Caravelles, and the price of the A300B is relatively high, according to the airline. Much depends, however, on the Scandinavian Govern ments' charter rules. The present system, "the strictest in the world," to quote Sterling, is being re-examined and a new policy is being formulated. At present Sterling is unable to operate inclusive tours beyond the bounds of Europe, except in the special cases of Gambia and Ceylon. All areas beyond Europe are the exclusive preserve of SAS, the tri-national Scandinavian flag-carrier, unless they are specifically designated as being open to a particular airline. Sterling is still listed as an option-holder for the VFW- Fokker 614. Five aircraft were optioned, with the feeder routes into Copenhagen in mind, as F.27 replacements. Traffic growth has been such, however, that most of the points previously served by the F.27s are now able to support Caravelle 6R services, and the options will almost certainly be allowed to lapse. One F.27 has been on lease '
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
