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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 1476.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT Battle hots up for China link HONG KONG A second company has entered the race for a new passenger and freight service between Hong Kong and China. Hong Kong Macao International Investments has signed a lease for a 737-200 from Guinness Peat Aviation on undisclosed terms. It is negotiating for a second 737 and also wants three more aircraft including a 747. The group, led by leading Hong Kong businessmen, had talks on May 8 with Hong Kong's civil aviation director John Thorpe. Managing director Chao Kuang-pin, head of a textile company which owns about a quarter of the group's equity, expressed confidence that both Hong Kong and China would grant operating rights shortly. He said that flight and cabin crew had already been engaged. The venture has powerful backers including Henry Fok, chairman of the Shun Tuk shipping group, Dr T. K. Ann, chairman of the Windsor Industrial Corporation, a large textile concern, and Fung King-hey, head of the Sun Hung Kai property and financial group. The first entrant in the race, Oriental Pearl Airways, says it has not yet given up the race though some of its main backers are believed to have dropped out. The airline has laid dormant since the 1970s when it operated cargo shuttle routes with a DC-6. It applied for Hong Kong-Honolulu-Los Angeles and Hong Kong- London rights earlier this year. Oriental Pearl has since indicated that it is also inter ested in operating to China. An official says that the airline intends to buy two 707s and lease a 747. An appli cation to the Hong Kong CAA has been made for the routes, but no action will be taken until the aircraft are obtained. ™§P|MpfPIPi^ MA WtaHmmm MKCI i « i t • jjgi WiMV\. I*». Ansett flies its first BAe 146 Ansett Airlines' first BAe 146-200 enters service this month with the carrier's Western Australia subsidiary Ansett WA. The aircraft, in a 75-seat configuration, will be based in Perth, serving cities in the west and north of Australia. Ansett has another BAe 146 on order and options on a further six. Nigeria shake-up in wake of crash LAGOS ~ The Director of Nigeria's Civil Aviation Department has lost his job and the pilot of the Nigeria Airways Fokker F.28 which crashed near Enugue in November 1983, killing 53 people, has been dismissed from the service of the national airline and banned from flying in Nigerian airspace, reports Nick Fadugba. These disciplinary meas ures were announced in Lagos by Minister of Transport and Aviation Rear Admiral Patrick Koshoni, who said that they were in line with recommendations made by the official commission of inquiry into the accident. Rear Admiral Koshoni said that the commission had attributed the accident to crew negligence. Accordingly, the F.28's first officer has been suspended from flying for six months "for failing to monitor his captain", and the head of cabin crew demoted for "non-performance in the evacuation of passengers" after the crash. A major flaw highlighted by the commission was the lack of adequate safety precautions at Nigerian airports. During the inquiry the Nigerian Pilots' Association painted a bleak picture of the hazards posed by inadequate facilities. As a result, priority atten tion is to be given to the effec tive maintenance of naviga tional and communication facilities around the country. Already, airport radars have been overhauled and suffi cient spare parts imported to ensure continued service ability, the Minister said. In addition the Civil Aviation Department is being re-organised with a view to emphasising its regulatory and inspectoral functions. Action is being taken formally to licence Nigerian flight despatchers. Nigeria Airways recently phased out the remaining seven of its original nine F.28 aircraft, but airline spokesman Femi Ogunleye stressed that the decision was taken long before the Enugue accident and was designed to "standardise and limit our equipment to a manageable field". The Minister disclosed that the Government had directed his Ministry to set up a committee to examine the issue of airworthiness of aircraft operated by private airlines in the country. It has been given six weeks to submit a report. Aviation sources in Nigeria say that this is a reaction to public concern over the decrepit state of aircraft used by several private operators. KAL gears up for the Olympics SEOUL ~ Korean Airlines is building up its domestic fleet to meet an expected traffic boom in the run-up to the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. The carrier has signed a $150 million deal with McDonnell Douglas for six MD-82s with an option on a further three. The carrier hopes to have all six in service by 1988 operating to the cities of Seoul, Pusan, Cheju, and Kwanju. Two are sched uled for delivery later this year and two more in 1986. The final aircraft in the batch will be delivered in 1987. KAL is to use the aircraft in 150-162-seat configurations. They will be powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217A engines. # Air New Zealand is to buy six 737-200s powered by Pratt & Whitney JTD8D-15As for delivery in the first quarter of next year. Although no price has been revealed Boeing has accepted some early 737-200s in part exchange. The New Zealand flag car rier already has three 767-200ERs and a 747 on order with Boeing. It will take delivery of the first 767 in September. 6 FLIGHT International, 18 May 1985
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