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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 3314.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT More troubles for CT7 LYNN The US and Swedish aviation authorities grounded the Saab SF.340 last week following a series of in-flight engine flame-outs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took action on December 10 after five flame-outs had occurred on the General Electric CT7-powered commuter aircraft in the previous five months. Cincinnati-based Comair, the US launch customer of the type, suffered four incidents and Crossair, the Swiss regional, one. In each case the engine was re started in flight and returned to normal functioning. The FAA and Swedish directive says the aircraft should not be used in revenue service until "corrective action" has been taken. GE and Saab-Scania say they will install a continuous engine ignition system to overcome the problem. Saab-Scania says all the incidents have taken place in a limited temperature/alti tude range: -5°C to + 1°C and between 4,000 and 5,000m. GE's CT7 turboprop is a derivative of its well-proven helicopter engine, the T700. During certification some faults in the engine emerged, including insufficient clear ance between the blade and casing. The engines were modi fied and an uprated engine with larger propellers has been standard on SF.340s since June. All the recent incidents occurred to the modified engines. Saab says the flame- outs are not connected with the earlier problems. On December 12 the Swed ish authorities lifted the restrictions after accepting that continuous ignition cured the fault. The FAA grounding, however, remained in force at the beginning of the week because "further document ation" on the modification was required. Saab says that the new ignition system has now been installed in all SF.340s. The engine trouble is the second blow to the SF.340 within a month. The UK Civil Aviation Authority down graded the Certificate of Airworthiness of the only UK registered SF.340 from Public Transport to Special Category last month after rudder limiter problems. According to the CAA the Birmingham Executive Airways SF.340 experienced its rudder limiter control freezing during flight, which could have affected handling at low speed asym metric conditions. Late last week Saab said the aircraft was undergoing tests in Link- oping and that it was hopeful that the fault would be cleared up. Presidential faces United DULLES Fledgling carrier Presidential Airways is putting a brave face on United Airlines' (UAL) plan to establish an East Coast hub at Washington-Dulles Inter national Airport. Presidential, which began operations from Dulles only two months ago, says it is prepared to compete head-on with America's largest carrier, recently dubbed "a 9001b gorilla that sits anywhere it wants". UAL will establish the hub next May with at least 50 daily departures to 24 desti nations. Daily flights are expected to increase to more than 100 within three years. UAL is also talking to Pan American, whose inter national flights serve Dulles, about a feeder tie-up. But Presidential senior vice-president, marketing, Geoffrey Crowley tells Flight that he is not afraid of being squeezed out by the giants. "Of course it is going to make life more difficult, but there are plenty of markets and plenty of room for two carriers". Initially UAL and Presidential will be direct rivals only to four desti nations (Boston, Hartford, Orlando, and Cleveland), although these include Presi- Cadillacs fly the Atlantic Lufthansa and Alitalia have won a contract to transport car body shells from Turin to Detroit. Lufthansa's operation, which involves two weekly roundtrips on behalf of the US manu facturer Cadillac, will assure full utilisation of its recently delivered third 747F. Alitalia will operate a third weekly flight. Cadillac chose to use an airbridge for the 4,300-mile link because the Pinifarina factory in Turin (where the shell and interiors are built) and the Detroit final assembly line are both some distance from seaports. Special pallets are being designed to accommodate the cars in the 747s. Allante car body transport Total of 56 bodies in 747 freighter Lower compartments — 11 car bodies dential's most lucrative ser vices in its eight-city network. Crowley, former general manager of People Express, says that low-cost Presiden tial is confident that its fares will undercut UAL. "United have never been agressive price setters themselves". He says that UAL's arrival could be a mixed blessing, bringing a higher profile to a tradi tionally unfashionable air port. He expects Presiden- tial's share of overall Dulles traffic to decline, but the market as a whole to increase rapidly. "UAL has verified our opin ion of Dulles as an excellent hub", says Crowley. The under-utilised airport is in a large catchment area and has capacity for considerable growth at minimal capital outlay. It is not subject to the operating restrictions of Washington National Airport. Presidential is also hoping that, by May, it will have strengthened its position by adding a further seven 737-200s to its fleet, bringing the total to 12. This will enable the carrier to offer 60 daily departures (more than UAL's launch figure) to 15 cities. UAL will also fly 737s. United, strongest in the midwest and south, says that its Dulles hub "will fill a void in its network". Services, operating from a new ten- or 11-gate terminal to be built by the airline, will link New England and the North East with Florida. Icahn amends TWA tactics NEW YORK Carl Icahn is interested in amending his purchase offer for TWA so that he can conserve cash. Icahn had bought about 52 per cent of TWA stock, and had offered to buy the rest for $24 per share. This would be comprised of $19 • 50 cents in cash and $4 • 50 cents in secu rities, under a deal announced in August. It was to have been completed by December 1. According to Wall Street sources Icahn now wants to change the ratio to about $14 in cash and $10 in securities because of problems in assem bling enough investors to help finance the takeover. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 21/28 December 1985
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