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Aviation History
1995
1995 - 0010.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT ATR hopes tests will see restrictions on flights in icy conditions lifted ATR says ice tests show no danger with ATR 72 RAMON LOPEZ/WASHINGTON DC GILBERT SEDBON/PARIS ATR IS TO PRESS the US Federal Aviation Admin istration to lift icing restrictions on the ATR 72 following a flight- test programme which, it says, shows that there is no problem with the aircraft. The flight evaluation, sponsored by the manufacturer, took place at Edwards AFB, California, between 16 and 21 December, 1994. It was designed to address issues raised by the FAA, which has pro hibited ATR 72 flights in actual or forecast icing following the American Eagle fatal crash near Chicago on 31 October, 1994. Ten tests were planned, each lasting 2-3h. An ATR 72 supplied by the aircraft maker was flown behind a US Air Force Boeing KC-135 water-spraying tanker with a Learjet chase-plane. The tanker sprayed droplets measuring 40-70microns in diam eter, which tend to lead to rapid icing and which exceed the certifi cation requirements. The purpose of the flight test was to revalidate the ATR 72's original certification concerning aircraft icing; and to gather new data about ATR 72 performance in freezing rain and drizzle. ATR felt that the Edwards AFB tests were necessary to counter the conclusions of the FAA's special certification review. The company says that the tests could not induce severe loss of roll control because of wing icing, suspected as the cause of the American Eagle crash. A joint report by all test partici pants was to be finalised before the end of the year. "We feel that the test results will more than prove our point that the FAA ban should be dropped," says ATR. • SIA signs deal for new A340 fleet SINGAPORE AIRLINES (SIA) has signed a contract confirming its previously an nounced order for ten Airbus Industrie A340-300E long-haul passenger aircraft and 20 options. SIA announced in June 1994 its intention to buy up to 30 A340s, worth a total of $5.4 billion (Flight International, 29 June-5 July, 1994). At the same time, the air line announced plans to purchase 11 Boeing 747-400s, with options for an additional 11. The airline will be the launch customer for the -300E version of the A340, which will have an increased, 271,220kg, maximum take-off weight. The CFM56- 5C4-powered aircraft will have an extended range of 13,230km (7,150nm). SIA's 20 A340 options can be converted to A3 30s, to meet its requirement for a future "Y" regional aircraft. The Singapore contract increases the A340/330 order book to 263 aircraft. • Airbus Industrie's Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered A3 30 was cer tificated on 22 December, 1994, by the European Joint Aviation Authorities QAA) board: it is the first Airbus ever to be offered with Rolls-Royce engines. The JAA also cleared the air craft for Category III landings, thereby assuring launch customer Cathay Pacific Airways of delivery in February, says Airbus. The aircraft/engine combina tion is due to be cleared in mid- 1995 for extended-range, twin- engine operations 120min from the nearest airport. • Delta orders 727 hushkits D ELTA AIR LINES has ordered 46 FedEx Stage 3 hushkits for its Boeing 727-200s and placed options on a further 52 shipsets. Deliveries will begin in late 1996. The US carrier has yet to announce its plans to hushkit Boeing 737-200s to meet Stage 3 noise limits. AvAero, meanwhile, has announced orders from four air lines for its 737-100/200 Stage 3 hushkit. The launch customer is France's Aeropostale, with an order for three hushkits and options for 23. Three unnamed US airlines have placed a total of seven firm orders and options. The first hushkitted 737 entered service with Aeropostale in late November, 1994, and, including options, deliveries will continue until 1997. In a related move, Kiwi International Air Lines is fitting FedEx hushkits to its 727-200s. • Simera secures freighter deal SIMERA OF SOUTH AFRICA has won its first contract to con vert Airbus A300B4s into freight ers since signing a co-operation agreement with Deutsche Aero space Airbus. The deal calls for it to convert four A300B4s for BankAmerica Leasing and Capital ready for ser vice in 1996. The work will be car ried out at state-owned Simera's engineering base at Johannesburg's Jan Smuts Airport. • NEWS IN BRIEF • IBERIA DEAL Iberia pilots have agreed an 8.5% pay cut in last-minute negotiations over restructur ing. As a result, the Spanish airline will reduce planned staff redundancies, from 5,200 to 3,500. Iberia now plans to ask the European Union for clearance of a $1 billion state-subsidy package. The sale of Latin American and other assets will proceed. 8 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 4 - 10 January 1995
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