FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1993
1993 - 2371.PDF
HEADLINES No viable alternative viewed for V-22 cruet Dick Cheney said was too expensive. "The MLR was in tended as a roadblock, a delay ing tactic. There was never any clear intent to seriously pursue MLR," says the programme manager. Garner says that beyond what you have today. The V-22 fits into the modern battlefield...if you are going to meet all the operational re quirements of the US military services, you have to build the V-22 or something very close Uncertain future for the V-22 as USN research continues BY RAMON LOPEZ IN WASHINGTON DC The Medium Lift Replace ment (MLR) aircraft, pro posed as an alternative to the Bell-Boeing V-22 tilt-rotor, will not fulfil multi-service opera tional requirements, according to the V-22 programme man ager, US Marine Corps Col Bob Garner. He also believes that a potential US Navy move to find foreign partners for the Osprey research-and-development pro gramme is a bad idea. The V-22 programme faces a crucial test in mid-November, when the Defence Acquisition Board (DAB) convenes to de cide the fate of the MLR air craft and Osprey production for the USMC and US Air Force. At the meeting, the DAB will examine a cost and opera tional-effectiveness analysis, which addresses the MLR air craft alternative to the V-22 and the Advanced Multi- Mission Vertical Lift Aircraft (MV-X), the USAF's require ment for about 50 special- operations aircraft. The USMC wants about 550 V-22s to re place ageing Boeing CH-46s. John Deutch, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, also directed, in an 5 August memorandum, that alternative V-22 procure ment plans be developed for the DAB. They would be funded at $6 billion, $5 billion and $4 billion over the five- year defence plan (FYDP 1995- 9). The $6 billion spending plan favoured by Bell Heli copter Textron and Boeing He licopter would lead to first flight of an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) aircraft in late 1996 and the V-22 entering service in 1999. "The DAB review is intended to support Secretary Les Aspin's decisions on the con tent of the budget/FYDP, and put the V-22/MLR/MV-X pro gramme on a firm foundation," says Deutch. The MLR programme was developed by the Bush Admini stration as an alternative to the V-22, which former defence there is no viable alternative to the military tilt-rotor. "You must balance cost against what you want to do with the aircraft. If you want to put wings on a pick-up truck, you can do that...but if you want a weapon system that fits into the battlefield of today and tomorrow, then you must go Canadair has recently made further progress in selling its Regional Jet, after a period which saw few commitments. The manufacturer confirms that Austrian carrier Lauda Air is to buy six of the type and has options on a further six. France's Air Littoral has also converted options for two air craft into firm orders. Lauda, with minority share holder Lufthansa, will operate the RJ from a new Vienna hub in April 1994. Initial destina tions will include Turin, Bolo gna, Berlin and Paris. Air Littoral will operate one aircraft in Air France livery, and one in the colours of Air Inter; the latter flying on the Paris-Bezier route. Lufthansa Cityline mean while has confirmed that the 12 options it holds on the aircraft will not be converted to firm orders. It had already to it," says Garner. The V-22 project leader says it is his job to convince Deutch "...that the programme is under control, back in the box. What I would expect in return is guidance pn production rates and proposed funding levels." Garner says it is crucial that the fate of the V-22 be decided taken delivery of 11 of 13 aircraft on order. In August the Bombardier subsidiary an nounced firm orders and op tions for up to 68 aircraft with Air Canada and Delta Connec- soon. "I think the longer we wait to make decisions on this programme, the more volatile the subcontractor base be comes. Today, roughly 42% of the cost of the aircraft is in vested in subcontractors; they do hold considerable sway." The USN's International Pro gramme Office continues to consider the V-22 programme as a candidate for foreign collaboration during the con tinuing EMD phase of research. Although Garner agrees that sharing development costs with a foreign partner would reduce the USN's investment, he be lieves such a move would only slow down the programme. "I don't consider it a viable op tion," Garner says. The USA holds the dominant position in aeronautical re search and development, says Garner, and should not share that technology with those trailing in research. "Ishida has folded and Eurofar is well be yond the turn of the century. I am not interested in helping them." says Garner. D ending a long order-drought for the aircraft. The total value of the orders is about $170 million. The Regional Jet firm orderbook stands at 54, of which 19 have tion carrier Skywest Airlines, been delivered so far. Shell restricts Super Puma seating Shell UK Exploration and Production (Shell Expro) is reducing further the num ber of passengers it will allow on Eurocopter AS.332L Super Pumas which it charters in the North Sea. The company has told operators that it will not allow more than 17 passen gers on flights operated on its behalf, even though the air craft is certificated with 19 seats. The move follows com pletion of a year-long safety study by Shell. Shell banned the use of the aircraft's centre rear seat in 1992, after the interim find ings of the study. It has now instructed that a second rear seat not be used. Shell Expro says: "The air craft has certification to carry 19 passengers, but Shell be lieves, in the context of North Sea operations, the restriction will enhance passenger com fort and facilitate escape in the event of an emergency." Eurocopter has not com mented on the move. • Lauda order boost for Regional Jet 6 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6 - 12 October, 1993
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
