FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1995
1995 - 2107.PDF
FAA and airlines launch next- generation communications RAMON LOPEZ/WASHINGTON DC THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration has joined with industry to develop the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) offering rapid and reliable information exchange, including air-traffic- control instructions and engine- performance data, among pilots, controllers and airline operations worldwide. The deal was struck between the FAA and ATN Systems, a pri vate company started by 11 US carriers, including United, Delta and Federal Express. Foreign air line and aviation authority partici pation is being sought. The Pentagon is also participating in the project. Business and general- aviation aircraft owners would also be ATN users. Todays aeronautical telecom munication system is a combina tion of very-high frequency (VHF) and high-frequency (HF) voice and data transmission sys tems that the FAA says will not be capable of handling projected demands of the future. The ATN can be thought of as the "internet" of two-way ATC communications between aircraft and the ground. The software development would allow users to exchange messages without regard to which communication system is being used. The operating envi ronment, technology and urgency would dictate which link is chosen. Project officials say that it should finish validating ATN standards by mid-1996, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council is expected to endorse ATN before the end of the year. The system will require an air borne and ground communications processor, or ATN "router," to connect the user end-systems with the different air-to-ground links and ensure reliable message deliv ery. The FAA and ATN Systems have earmarked $16 million and $6 million, respectively, to fund router development and certification. Project officials envisage a five- year research and development programme with ATN require ments defined in the first year. They estimate that it will then take four years to develop and test die router software. Avionics test ing would run in parallel followed by an ATN operational evaluation in the last two years. A conference is scheduled for 7 August at United Airlines in Chicago to open a dialogue with interested vendors. Repre sentatives from between 50 and 75 foreign and domestic firms are expected to attend. • United celebrates successful union GE90 777 prepared for flying restart lirline - m communication di rate first back-to-back profitable quar ters in five years" since the buy-out, improved on-time performance, reduced passenger complaints, and successfully launched its low-cost Shuttle operation on die US West Coast. Unit costs have been reduced by 2.5% — to die lowest among the "Big Three" US air lines, the carrier claims — and operating margin has increased, from 2.6% to 7.1%. Analysts were concerned that the employee-owned airline would embark on an aircraft- buying spree. Instead, United says, the carrier has adopted a policy of only acquiring aircraft to replace those reaching 20 years old, to avoid incurring heavy overhaul expenses. The share price has climbed by 67%, to $147, in the year since the buy-out, the airline notes. J (pare flying t HEADLINES Continental in leasing rethink CONTINENTAL Airlines has renegotiated the leases on most of the 35 aircraft (mainly Airbus A3 00s) grounded in January in a move to cut capacity. The aircraft: have been returned to lessors, but Continental will save $152 million in 1995 and 1996, eliminate substantial operating- lease payments after 1996, and defer certain principal and operat ing-lease payments. The airline will issue the lessors debentures worth $139 million which are convertible after August 1996 into Continental stock at $26 a share. The carrier says that it may issue a further $50-60 mil lion of debentures to cover settle ments under negotiation on the remaining grounded aircraft. The carrier is not seeking shareholder approval to issue the debentures which, if all converted, would dilute currently outstand ing stock by 23%. Any delay gain ing approval would "...seriously jeopardise the financial viability of Continental," it maintains. Continental is "...considering refi nancing options" to allow it to redeem the debentures before they become convertible. • NEWS IN BRIEF I • OH-X PROGRESSES Kawasaki Heavy Industries has begun final assembly of the first OH-X light scout helicopter, for a planned roll out in March 1996. The twin- engined OH-X is expected to have its first flight in July 1996, and will be delivered for testing the following May. • ROYAL NAVY TOMAHAWK The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to procure an undis closed number of Hughes Tomahawk Block 3 subma rine launched cruise missiles for the Royal Navy's for the Swiftsure- and Trafalgar-class nuclear submarines. The MoD is to spend £180 million on over 100 of the conven tionally armed missiles. UNITED AIRLINES has hailed as a success its first year of operations as an employee- owned company. The carrier attributes its return to profitabili ty and improved operating perfor mance to the deal struck in July 1994, when United employees traded $4.9 billion in wage and work-rule concessions for a 55% stake in the airline. United says diat it has posted "its THE FIRST General Electric GE90-powered Boeing 777 was expected to begin flying again around 17 July following the installation of new platform spac ers in the engines. Both GE-powered aircraft were grounded for more than seven weeks by the discovery of a fan imbalance during ground-based birdstrike tests on the 92,0001b (410kN) thrust version. New spacers were validated in tests at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, and at Villaroche, France, on 7 July. Hardware was being shipped to Seattle, Washington, as Flight International went to press. The new spacers take 4h per engine to install. Despite the test delay, Boeing and GE still hope to deliver the first GE90-powered 777 to British Airways in September. The GE90 has now completed over 13,500 endurance cycles and operated for more than 65h at thrust levels exceeding 445kN. • Pratt & Whitney held a "last bolt" ceremony on 14 July to mark the completion of the first 400kN PW4090 engine for heavier versions of the 777-200. P&W will begin tests aimed at obtaining PW4090 certification in early 1997. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19 - 25 July 1995
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
