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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 1768.PDF
Dornier teams with Aeritalia on amphibian by Alan Postlethwaite in Cannes Aeritalia and Dornier are study ing a multirole amphibian to replace land-based aircraft, ships, and helicopters in missions ranging from fire- fighting and maritime surveil lance to search-and-rescue and pollution control. If discussions with potential operators go well, the project will be given the go-ahead, Aeritalia and Dornier revealed at a conference on aerial fire- fighting. Funding would come from the two firms and Eureka, the European Commission's research funding scheme. Operators currently use a wide range of aircraft types and would reap economic benefits from standardising on the new aircraft type, called the Advanced Amphibious Aircraft (AAA), say Aeritalia and Dornier. The two firms admit that advances need to be made in hull design and structure, powered lift, and hydroski or hydrofoil devices, and that the basic configuration of the aircraft will only be settled when the current round of talks is complete. One version under consid eration would have a pair of wing-mounted 2,700 s.h.p. turboprop engines. Another, slightly larger, version features three 1,400 s.h.p. turboprops, two of which would be wing-mounted and the third carried on the fin. Both versions would offer a disposable load of Aeritafla/Psmter Advanced Amphibious Aircraft • 111 c < r t/fc eoftfisuratiOFi The AAA's final configuration has yet to be set and many planned features need research 17,6401b. A shock-absorbing hull would be highly resistant to impact, so that the aircraft could operate from rough seas. Some structure would be of composite materials. If the aircraft could tolerate 5ft waves, it would be grounded for only seven days a year in the Baltic, say Aeritalia and Dornier. It would be unable to operate from the Mediterranean Sea for 73 days per year, however, if restricted to the same wave height, they admit. The AAA would carry infrared devices for detecting fires and sensors for measuring the sea state. On a single fire-fighting mission, the AAA could drop 160 tonnes if water could be scooped within 25 miles of the fire and if the fire was around 50 miles from the aircraft's base. For anti-pollution work, the AAA could drop 15,4001b of chemical dispersant some 300 miles from base. Surveillance missions could last 9hr up to 125 miles from base. In a trans port role the AAA would carry freight or 33 passengers over 1,400 miles. Few large amphibians are available worldwide. If built, the AAA would face competition from the Canadair CL-215T, a turbine-powered derivative of the CL-215, and any Shin Meiwa amphibian that may become available. Canadair argues that the AAA could not match the CL-215T's selling price since it is an all-new programme incurring much greater development costs. The world market for this type is limited to around 200 aircraft over 20 years, Canadair maintains. Congress calls for action over Pentagon scandal •'Revelations concerning the Pentagon arms pre. scandal continue to shake the Washington defence commu nity. Defence Secretary Frank Carlucci has been urged to take "driciati: ,'^cuxi" >-,- Jt.r.gre*^, Me- have now been issued to contractors and individuals, while Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have carried out searches both within Washington, and throughout - 1 ast week saw battle lines being drawn between the I'S P'tnmvr? » 0*^>>K«* fi'i Cuagres- 3.1 «ae .o.ure w; the procurement system. As the House of Representatives opened ils first hearing into the investigation, the Pentagon claimed that the very existence of the inquiry indicates that the system for controlling bribery and abuse works. "I couid claim this has been a successful oper ation," said Carlucci. Details of the affidavits served on defence contractors and their consultants following the two-year Navy and FBI probe remain shrouded, because the US Justice Department is still pursuing a number of leads. When made public later this summer, they will reveal the incriminating evidence that led to the fraud investigation in the first place, further raising the temperature of what is undoubtedly the most serious procurement corruption case ever to hit the Pentagon. : MOST interest, ccntsss oa- the-. effect on weapons currently '.feairsg. developed, :* the: tfioatpcts .tarn ojJtj.cnta¥e#«efi': won fraudulently. Investigators have told Congress that as many as 85 contracts, worth "tens of billions of dollars", may have been awarded on the basis of compromised source selection The Pentagon's general counsel, Kathleen Buck, said last week "we will revisit every single contract involved" in the fraud investigation. While earlier statements indicated that the probe will be completed soon, it is now clear that it is going to take many months and will reach into every corner of the procurement system. In the words of the House Armed Services Committee chairman, I.es Aspin, that "could lead to serious gridlock" in the contracting process. But he agreed that contracts must al! be re-examined, "otherwise you will be rewaiding somebody for '.•.'..•iV::. .;:•„•••; : DarLsgt t3«s -"/tftk, CaiU'cci told reporters that the investigation would have to run its course, but that at the end he would take "appropriate action". Referring to a question about the Navy's A-12 Advanced Tactical Aircraft, one of the more important weapons programmes to have come under a cloud, he said that, for now "it is important that all our business goes forward". 6 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 9 July 1988
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