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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 1776.PDF
PW4000 offered on Airbus A330 Pratt & Whitney has signed an agreement with Airbus, to offer a growth version of its PW4000 turbofan to power the Airbus A330. Pratt & Whitney will certificate a 68,0001b-thrust variant of the PW4000 by the summer of 1992, to match the requirements of the A330. The 68,0001b-thrust variant will feature a larger fan as well as an additional stage in the low-pressure compressor. High- pressure turbine capability will be increased by changes in the cooling configuration of the blades. Pratt & Whitney also claims that noise levels from the engine will be reduced by the use of both a longer duct and a mixed-flow exhaust. The PW4000 is the third engine to be offered to potential customers for the A330. Rolls- Royce recently launched its 65,0001b-thrust RB.211-524L, which should enter service in 1994 on the A330. General Electric is offering a growth version of the CF6-80C2 to power the twin-engined A330. Pratt & Whitney's PW4000 entered service in June 1987, rated at 56,0001b thrust. A 58,0001b-thrust version was recently certificated for the A300-600 and A300-600R, and 60,0001b- and 62,0001b-thrust versions are scheduled to be certificated later this year for future applications. Currently, more than 500 PW4000 powerplants have been ordered by 17 airlines for all types of widebody aircraft, says Pratt & Whitney. Senate moves for independent FAA Although the House of Repre sentatives is not expected to take any action on the measure this year, the Senate is moving ahead with legislation that would take the Federal Aviation Administration out of the Department of Transportation and make it an independent agency. This was the FAA's original form, and many both in Congress and the airlines are actively pushing to free the agency—the largest single organisation in the DoT—from what they call heavy-handed DoT micro-management. The Bill to make the FAA independent was required by the Senate commerce commit tee by a vote of 14-4, clearing the way for passage by the full Senate later this summer. House leaders, including the chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, are not enthusi astic about the bill. DoT secre tary James Burnley says that he will recommend that President Reagan veto the bill. INF inspection team selected Hughes Aircraft has been selected by the US Department of Defence to provide part of the US team which will monitor Soviet compliance with the intermediate-range nuclear force (INF) treaty. The initial $1-6 million contract could rise to more than $24-1 million if all options are exercised. Hughes' team will comprise 25 people, with a further five supplied by the US military. The team will be responsible for on-site inspection at an SS-20 missile factory east of Moscow. Under the INF treaty the USA and Soviet Union will have verification teams in each other's country; the Soviet team will be based in Magna, Utah, where intermediate-range Per shing missiles were produced. Hughes' team will live in Soviet-provided housing close to the Votkinsk plant. Members will work 12hr shifts, seven days a week for nine-week periods, followed by three weeks' leave in western Europe. CT7-9 certificated General Flectric's C! 7-9 turboprop JMS received ('AA certification. The 1,870 s.h.p. turboprop will power the Casa/IPTN CN-235-100 transport, ihe Saab 340B regional airliner, and ihe Bromon Aircraft WfMfOQ,' GE delivered the first two CT7-9 production engines to "IPTM- fetx^HKiiab, .aitd'-.d^Jiv*-': eries to Casa and Saab will begin later this year The CT7-9 is a development of the CT7s with improved compressor and turbines. Bombardier supports CF-18 Bombardier is to invest C$30 million ($25 million) in support facilities for the Canadian Forces CF-18s. It will concen trate its military aircraft division at Mirabel near Montreal. This division handles the system engineering support for the Canadian version of the F-18, and handles a range of technical support services for other military aircraft. The new complex will be capable of handling nine F-18s at once and will employ 550 people by 1993. USA repeats GPS order The US Armed Forces have placed a further order for military Navstar global posi tioning system (GPS) user equipment. The $68-8 million contract with Rockwell-Collins takes orders to date to $310 million. Collins is currently the sole supplier of GPS equipment to the US Government, making three types of GPS equipment. This contract involves 413 single-channel manportable receivers, 169 two-channel receivers for ships and helicop ters, and 698 high-performance five-channel receivers for aircraft, submarines, and missiles. SAS keeps propfan option When SAS announced its intention to buy 61 McDonnell Douglas MDSOs f Flight, June 25J the Scandinavian airline agreed the right to convert the 37 options to orders for propfan-powered MD-90s ^abovey. The first of the 24 conventionally powered MDSOs on firm order is now flying b&lovtj. 14 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 9 July 1988
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