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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 0068.PDF
HEADLINES Australia approves new radar network The Australian Government has approved the construc tion of a A$970 million ($750 million) Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR) network in Northern Australia. The system will comprise two radar units, at Laverton in Western Australia and at Long- reach in Central Queensland, with separate transmitter and receiver sites at both locations. A network co-ordination centre will be built at Edinburgh, South Australia. The system will have an operating coverage of between 1,000km (540nm) and 3,000km. The earlier, and largely exper imental, Jindalee system has been developed to operational capability over the past 20 years at Alice Springs, Central Austra lia. Considerable technology ex change has occurred between the system's developers, the Australian Defence Department and other OTHR users — prin cipally in the USA. The OTHR is designed to detect sea and air targets ap proaching Australia's northern coastline, where there are few population centres and minimal infrastructure. As well as its primary defence role, the system will act as a deterrent to illegal immigration and drug smug gling, improve weather informa tion, and supplement search and rescue capability. Australia's Government- owned telecommunications agency, Telecom, has been awarded the prime contract and, if negotiations are successful, it is likely to be signed early this year. Principal subcontractors will be Marconi in the communica tions, radar and research/ development areas, and Lock heed Missiles and Space for software. Defence minister Robert Ray says the contracts will include innovative risk-sharing provi sions as cost and performance incentives. A phased develop ment over five years is expected to see the OTHR operational by 1995. • Canadair still flies high with 119 RJ orders Ansett and Alisarda cut RJ orders Ansett Worldwide Aviation Equipment of Hong Kong has dropped an order for ten Canadair Regional Jets (RJs). The Australian-owned company held a termination right tied to acceptable financing from Cana dian Export Development. It is believed the ten options held by Ansett Worldwide have also been dropped. Italian car rier Alisarda has reduced its commitment to the RJ. The airline has taken options on ten RJs, having previously signed a letter of intent for as many as 20 aircraft. RJ orders and options cover 119 aircraft. n Iberia considers Dominican holding The Dominican Republic has begun talks with the Span ish flag carrier Iberia about sell ing a 4fi% stake in the finan cially trpubled state-owned air line Dominican Aviation (CDA). President Joaquin Balaguer's legal advisor Pedro Romero BAe to boost corporate jet operations BY IAN GOOLD British Aerospace is planning to establish a business- aircraft fixed-base operation at Hatfield, home of its airlines and corporate-aircraft divisions. Plans are in hand for a new company to take over from Hat field Executive Aviation, the current operator, from 1 Au gust, when a three-year site leasing agreement expires, say corporate-aircraft division offi cials. The manufacturer hopes later to set up a joint venture to develop the former BAe Dynam ics site. The BAe corporate-aircraft di vision plan is part of its efforts to raise 125 business-jet sales, the manufacturer has told the UK Business Aircraft Users Association. It must sell more aircraft to maintain its market share and develop alternative business revenue using the Hat field runway. BAe plans a terminal as a 125 showcase, improved taxiways and services giving individual operators their own assets. Hatfield Executive, owned by Cranfield-based Rogers Avia tion, dismisses reports of BAe plans as rumour, claiming that "...our future at Hatfield is as sured". Longer-term plans see a new terminal on the former BAe Dynamics site with hangars and infrastructure set up in partner ship with "a high-profile part ner". Fayair, a Gulfstream oper ator at Luton Airport, Farnbor- ough-based BP and London Heathrow-based Shell are all in terested in basing their aircraft at Hatfield. BP, which set up a $50 mil lion operation at Farnborough with 125s and a Gulfstream, has become disillusioned with travel times into central London and has made increasing use of Hat field as an executive pickup point. Shell's operation suffers from the same pressure on run way slots affecting all Heathrow corporate operators. Planning approval would be required in about two years' time. Space for hangars is likely to be leased to operators over a ten-year period, with ownership reverting to BAe. Coincidentally, Heathrow- based Field Aviation is rethink ing plans to set up corporate services at Stansted Airport, which it originally intended to open in mid-1991. • Confesor, says a draft contract was being discussed by the Spanish airline and the Domini can Corporation of State Busi nesses (Corde). It is believed CDA lost up to $4.9 million in 1990 and needed financial assis tance from local banks to oper ate year-end flights to the USA and Puerto Rico. Under the draft proposal, Iberia would place eight McDonnell Douglas DC-lOs on routes to New York, Miami, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Cu racao. Iberia would also admini ster CDA's technical, financial and promotion programmes for five years. • N EWS IN BRIEF C-17 COMPLETED McDonnell Douglas has com pleted assembly of the first C-17 long-range military transport intended for the US Air Force. First flight of the Pratt & Whitney PW2037- powered heavylifter, designed to carry a 78,110kg payload, is set for June and first deliv ery to the USAF will follow in mid-1992. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 January, 1991
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