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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 1029.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION First quarter encourages Gama WASHINGTON D.C. The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (Gama) says it is "encour aged" by the 260 shipments which member companies report for the first three months of 1988. This repre sents a 14-5 per cent increase in unit numbers compared with the equivalent period last year. Billings are up almost exactly 50 per cent (see table). A large increase in the numbers of piston twins particularly (a growth of more than 150 per cent), and business jets (up more than 60 per cent), account for the improved billings figure. There was also a modest increase in deliveries of turboprops, which went up from 46 in the first quarter of 1987 to 52 in this year's first three months. Piston ship ments are the same as last year, at 151 units. Gama president Ed Stimp- son welcomes the results as "an encouraging sign". He says that the figures are a more accurate reflection of the state of the industry than were the weaker statistics of a year ago. "In 1987 shipments of piston singles and twins dropped sharply, due primarily to the decision of some manufacturers to curtail production of those lines," he says. Gama continues to cite "unfair product liability costs" as a leading reason for the depressed market, and this is also given as the reason for the shutdowns. Leading figures in the Gama report include the delivery of 29 Beech Bonanza F33A/Cs, 26 Piper PA-28s, 19 Piper Senecas, and 15 Cessna Caravan Is. Indeed, each of these top three manufacturers finds itself relying on just a few models to provide its bread and butter. Beech has the Bonanza and King Air lines, Cessna the Caravan turboprop single and Citation business jets, and Piper its PA-28 Cherokee derivatives, Malibu cabin-class piston single, and Seneca twin. Alto- BPw i . *, 1.'.'; :'••' > • ' ; > •-'!, jft -'-. illllllflllll fill mm rakf'JB ftrpS Ml i jj,j;sjl "?lil* •JiJf BHB| Beech has delwered almost 30 Bonanza F33A/Cs in the first three months of 1988 US general-aviation shipments First three months of 1988 1988 Business jets 34 Turboprops 52 Piston twins 23 Piston singles 151 Total 260 Value ix million) $377-5 1987 21 46 9 151 227 S252 5 % change +61-9 + 130 + 155 6 00 + 14-5 + 49 5 gether, the companies have 33 types in the Gama listing. The most popular models in each sector in the first three months of the year were: busi ness jets—16 Cessna Cita tions and 12 Gulfstream IVs; turboprops—21 Beech King Airs and 17 Cessna Caravan Is and lis; piston twins—19 Piper Senecas; singles—29 Beech Bonanzas, 14 Piper Warriors, 12 Piper Archers, and ten Piper Malibus. Air Hanson is new UK distributor for Beech WEYBRIDGE Beech has appointed Air Hanson exclusive distributor to the UK and Ireland. Distri bution was previously handled by Eagle. Air Hanson says it intends to market and support all aircraft offered by Beech in the region, including the Star- ship I composite canard and the Beechjet. The Beechjet will shortly be certificated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, according to Air Hanson. The Starship I has yet to be certificated in the USA. The UK company, which operates a range of helicopters for corporate and executive use and sells and services Bell and Sikorsky helicopters, is to relocate from Brooklands aerodrome, Weybridge, to Blackbushe Airport, near Camberley, where it will establish a business aviation centre. Air Hanson has appointed Plymouth Executive Aviation an "approved" Beechcraft ser vice centre, and further centres may be appointed in northern England and Ireland. • Plymouth Executive Avia tion, which has supported Beech products unofficially, expects to provide a UK certi fication service for new Beech models and to provide warranty service. More than 20 new jobs will be created, co- founder Barry Pover tells Flight. Bond wins five-year contract ABERDEEN One of the largest helicopter offshore support contracts to be awarded in the UK sector of the North Sea has been won by Bond Helicopters. The operator has received a five- year contract to provide all of Total Oil Marine's support requirements. The contract, which is reported to be worth some £25 million, initially involves three Aberdeen-based Aero spatiale AS.332L Super Pumas operating to the client's Alwyn North Field, to its MCP01 pipeline pumping station, and to its exploration rigs. It is believed to be the second biggest contract awarded, and is seen by the industry as representing a welcome return to long-term agreements. Total Oil flights are operated from a Bond passenger terminal close to the company's recently expanded Aberdeen Airport corporate headquarters. A leading European oper ator, Bond Helicopters has 500 staff and 38 aircraft generating turnover of more than £30 million a year. Managing director Stephen Bond tells Flight that the Total award fully justified the decision to move to Aberdeen. He says, "It reflects our increasing presence in the provision of helicopter services to UK oil and gas offshore industries. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 23 April 198H 13
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