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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 3147.PDF
HEADLINES SOUPED-UP DAUPHIN BREAKS RECORDS Aerospatiale's "High Speed Dauphin" has broken two world speed records using technology the French aerospace company hopes to incorporate in new variants of the Dauphin family (See General Aviation P 14). MD-90 variant proposed McDonnell Douglas is pre paring to launch the sec ond variant of its MD-90 model, the MD-90-50, possibly within the next four months. Douglas Aircraft MD-90 gen eral manager, Preston Henne, says: "A -50 launch decision is close. It could be launched as early as the first quarter of 1992." Launch orders for the -50, a heavier version of the -30, are expected to come from "a US major and charter companies", he says. If the -50 is launched within the expected timeframe, it is likely to be the first Douglas programme to be born under the auspices of the new interna- has asked for an extension to 6 February. If granted, Continental would have until 7 April to get a plan accepted. US BUDGET SIGNED US President George Bush has signed the $269.7 million 1992 defence budget which provides $4.15 billion for the Strategic Defense Initiative and $4.36 billion to fund development, but not production, of the Northrop B-2 bomber. AMR SLOT TALKS American Airlines has halted negotiations with Air Wiscon sin to buy some of the ailing regional carrier's Chicago O'Hare slots but is continuing with court action to block the take-over of the United Express feeder by United Airlines. tional civil aircraft consortium, being established by the US company, Taiwan Aerospace and others. The new airliner is a variant of the -30, which has been under development since its launch in November 1989 and which will make its maiden flight in the first quarter of 1993. Externally identical to the -30, the -50 will differ in having a larger fuel capacity, greater range and heavier operating weights. "In our original family plan we wanted the -40 [a stretched -30 variant later dropped from the plan] to have a 172,5001b [78,240kg] gross weight. Now, for the -50, we are up to the same weight but with out the stretch," says Henne. The -50's maximum take-off weight will be almost 7,500kg heavier than the -30's while maximum landing and ramp weights will be 3,630kg and 7,480kg greater respectively. Two additional belly-mounted auxiliary fuel tanks will give the -50 a fuel capacity of more than 28,8451itres, 6,740litres more than the -30. The extra fuel capacity buys the -50 an additional 1,100km to 1,300km (595 - 700nm), in range. With reserves, the -50 range will be around 5,570km, compared to 4,200km for the -30. Passenger capacity, like the -30, will be between 158 (mix ed-class configuration) and 172. International Aero Engines (IAE) is providing the higher thrust, 125kN (28,0001b). ' • See News Analysis P 19. Iran negotiates deal for lease of BAe 146s BY ALAN GEORGE British Aerospace is consider ing wet-leasing BAe 146 pas senger aircraft to Iran as a possible means of side-stepping US sanctions banning the supply of aviation equipment to Tehran. Earlier this year, Washington angered the British Government by vetoing a proposed sale to Iran of at least six aircraft. BAe has been negotiating a package to include the supply of aircraft plus a range of support services to a new Iranian domes tic and regional carrier, Bon Air. The deal could involve BAe's Jersey-based leasing operation, Trident Aviation, although a small London-based leasing con cern may also be involved. Bon Air is being established by the Bonyad Mostazafan (foun dation of the oppressed), which was formed in 1979 to manage the late Shah's as sets within Iran. In September, the foundation's chairman, Moh- sen Rafiqdost (who, until re cently, was the Government min ister responsible for the Revolu tionary Guards), visited the'UK to finalise an assem bly contract with BAe's Rover car subsidiary. At the I same time, he visited BAe's Commercial Aircraft division to discuss the deal. BAe's abortive sales deal was with Asseman Airlines. Wash ington intervened because its embargo rules stipulate that air craft manufactured outside the USA can be sold to Iran only if their US-origin content is below 20% — a condition which the BAe 146 does not meet. BAe declines to discuss its current plans in detail, but says: "We are continuing our efforts in Iran in the hope of eventual sales of a number of our aircraft types, including BAe 146s". The company confirms that it has had a "number of visits from Iranian officials". The US regulations make no distinction between aircraft sales and leases, and any leasing' agreement could therefore at tract a veto from Washington. • BAe tries new way of landing Iraqi 146 deal Z3L Midway files for final liquidation Midway Airlines has filed for liquidation following the collapse of the planned sale of its assets to Northwest. The carrier switched from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, protec tion to Chapter T liquidation when Northwest's withdrawal left it unable to operate, The affair has ended'in acri mony with each airline sueing the other. Midway is attempt ing to force Northwest to consummate the purchase, while Northwest accuses Mid way of filing inaccurate traffic data to the Department of Transportation (DoT) and over stating its operating results. The DoT reportedly is satis fied with Midway's filings and the airline says that in any case it allowed Northwest to exam ine the original traffic data as well as the DoT data, which is based on samples. O FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 4 - 10 December, 1991
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