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Aviation History
1993
1993 - 1277.PDF
HEADLINES Talks under way on new airline for Malaysia Discussions are under way in Malaysia for the estab lishment of a new international airline. The proposals are un derstood to have received the support of the Malaysian trans port ministry. The new airline would be owned by a mixture of private and public companies, includ ing Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Malaysian Helicopter Services, Pelangi Air and HICOM, a state-owned concern which controls the national car- manufacturing industry. Other smaller aviation inter ests, such as Mofazx Air and Berjaya Air, could also have a stake in the airline. Detailed plans have yet to be released, but the new carrier proposes to operate long-haul routes not currently operated by MAS, in addition to regional routes. Some 50 potential routes have been identified. Although the private compa nies are pushing for an early decision on the new carrier, MAS is said to be less keen on the idea. Negotiations for the start-up may last for months, or even years, as a result. • Boeing blueprints for Super Jumbo revealed BY JOHN BAILEY IN SINGAPORE AND GUY NORR1S IN LOS ANGELES Boeing plans to narrow its configuration studies for the proposed 747-X/New Large Airplane (NLA) to two versions by the end of July. A final baseline design is due to be established by the end of 1993. The company enters this week's Paris air show preparing for intense discussions with potential launch customers, to whittle down the five concepts now remaining. One official involved in the studies says: "They want to get a definitive target by the end of 1993, a definitive design, although no body's really in a hurry to launch it." Boeing is working with nine airlines to define key features of the 747-X/NLA, which is intended to meet the need for a high-capacity, long-range air craft entering service around the end of the decade. The group includes five Asian carri ers — All Nip pon Airways, japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Sin gapore Airlines and Qantas — with Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa from Europe and United Airlines as the sole US representative. The five con cepts being cir culated are the result of more than a year's work collating their requirements, tempt to meet as possible with a single airframe, and include four all-new con figurations, plus the re-winged, stretched "747-X", which, at Largest span: 83.5m (with fold) 79.25m (without fold) Overall length: 86m Boeing - New Large Airplane and 747X design studies They many at-as JAL/SIA defer decision on Xiamen Tapan Airlines (JAL) and Sin- I gapore Airlines (SIA) have aeferred their decisions on joining a new Chinese mainte nance venture with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering (HAECO) and Cathay Pacific Airways. The pair were due to reach a decision by 3 June, when the shareholders' agreement was signed, but both have re quested more time. Mean while, HAECO has increased its initial stake in Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Mainte nance (TAMCO) to 70%, with 10% taken by Cathay, and the rest by the Xiamen Corpora tion for International Techno- Economic Co-operation, a local government body. JAL, which has lost money for two years, says that "...this is not a good time for making new investments". HAECO officials say that the company agreed to increase its initial stake to 70%, to launch the project and pave the way for the joint-venture agree ment. The $22 million invest ment, however, will be "sold down" towards the original 41%, as other partners join. The company will not con firm the identity of potential partners, but says that "several major Asian carriers" are nego tiating to join. TAMCO will open in 1996 and initially will perform heavy maintenance for Cathay and surplus third-party work for HAECO. P HAECO and Cathay to switch work to Xiaman 550 seats, has the lowest pas senger capacity, despite a 15m fuselage stretch from that of the 747-400. Boeing stresses that the de signs result from "...our own independent studies", and are not related to the joint VLCT very large commercial-transport (VLCT) work with Aerospa tiale, British Aerospace, CASA and Deutsche Airbus (DASA). Boeing's vice-president for large-aircraft development, John Hayhurst, is scheduled to give a joint VLCT press brief ing with DASA's Jurgen Tho mas at the Paris air show on 10 June, but Boeing says that it is "...still very much in the ge neric payload/range study area with the VLCT". Common features among the four NLA concepts include ini tial seating capacity for around 630 passengers in three classes, with up to 750 in future "stretch" versions, range in ex cess of 14,500km (7,800nm), and take-off field length below 3,350m (11,000ft). Other refer ence points include statutory cabin-evacuation standards 6 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 June, 1993
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