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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0428.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT A cargo-door-equipped MD-90 is being proposed to replace the US Navy's DC-9s MDC lines up MD-80 freighters GUY NORRIS/LOS ANGELES McDONNELL Douglas (MDC) has had "informal" talks with China Eastern Airlines about the setting up of a cargo- modification line for MD-80s in Asia, and particularly China. Al though freighter versions of the DC-9 were built, MDC has never delivered a main-deck cargo-door- equipped MD-80. The talks are believed to have covered the production of modifi cation kits for the twinjet, as well as the possible establishment of a ded icated conversion line. The modi fications could also apply to the DC-9 and, possibly, even the MD-90. "There have been discus sions of a programme for convert ing MD-80s for freight service in China," says MDC. "However, we are not offering that conversion in die sense of making formal propos als yet," cautions the company. China Eastern, together with China Northern, operates a total of 36 MD-80s. China Eastern is also taking delivery of at least nine of the 20 MD-90s being built in Long Beach, California, as part of the TrunkLiner programme. The re maining 20 aircraft will be built in Shanghai. MDC says that the dis cussions over the potential conver sion of MD-80s began because the airline ".. .may decide it wants to do that so that it can add more MD- 90s". No further details are avail able on the projected timescale. The conversion would entail replacing a section of the fuselage with a strengthened area contain ing a main-deck cargo door, likely to be based on the standard DC-9 cargo door (2.06.x 3.45m), as well as strengthening the cabin floor and various systems changes, including additional fire-detection and sup pression devices. Much of the MD-80 package is based on work already done by MDC for a pro posed military version of the MD- 90, the C-9D, for the US Navy's C-X utility aircraft. This replace ment plan for its C-9 (DC-9-30) Nightingale fleet is expected to be undertaken through National Guard and Reserves funding. Acargo derivative of the original DC-9, the convertible freighter, was first certificated in 1967 and conversions of secondhand DC-9s have been carried out by Pemco World Services. This US-based modification specialist has offered the conversion for the MD-80, but none has yet been undertaken. Q Lithuanian introduces Saab 340 on regional flights NEWS IN BRIEF • TRENT FIXES INTRODUCED The problem discovered in October 1996 with the Rolls- Royce Trent 800's leaking fuel nozzles has been attrib uted to cracking, possibly because of poor welding. As a precautionary measure, air lines have been sent addition al nozzles as replacements. R-R Trent 700 operators are also in the process of modify ing the engine's thrust reverser, after problems with the lock-out mechanism on some early-build examples. • EVA ORDERS MD-11FS EVA Airways has placed a fol low-on order for two more General Electric CF6-80C2- powered McDonnell Doug las MD-11 freighters for delivery during 1997. • NIGERIA PLANS BAN The Nigerian Government is proposing to introduce legis lation which will ban the import of aircraft over 15 years of age. The move is part of the Government's aim to improve the safety record of its domestic airlines. • EURALAIR AIRBUS Euralair's orders for two Pratt & Whitney PW4000- powered Airbus A330-300s and two CFM International CFM56-powered A321s have been cancelled. • EXIT CHANGES WANTED Investigation of the fatal 19 November, 1996, United Ex press Beech 1900 runway collision at Quincy, Illinois, has led the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to recommend exit- door improvements. It is believed that occupants sur vived the collision with a King Air 90, but all 12 died in a fire after rescuers were unable to open the jammed main door. NTSB investiga tors say the lack of "clear, concise and complete instructions" for opening the door delayed rescue. LITHUANIAN AIRLINES (LAL) is leasing two used Saab 340B turboprops to develop re gional routes from Lithuania's cap ital Vilnius. The first of the two used aircraft, formerly operated by now-defunct Spanish regional Prima Air, came into service in mid-January. The second will follow in April. LAL will initially operate the aircraft on routes to Berlin, Kiev and Warsaw, and plans to add new routes after the second aircraft comes into service. According to LAL director-gen eral Stasys Dailydka, the airline wants to develop markets closer to home "...to develop Vilnius as a hub and to give a better service to the increased business activity in our region". The airline carried some 220,000 passengers in 1996, and operates to destinations in Western Europe, as well as to Cyprus, Dubai and Moscow, with a fleet of Boeing 737s, Tupolev Tu-134s,Yakovlev Yak-42s and Antonov An-24s. The Saab 340 is also in service with Air Baltic in Latvia, which flies the aircraft to five destinations from Riga. J SabreTech closes another plant in wake of ValuJet crash SABRETECH, faced with los ing its repair-station licence from the US Federal Aviation Administration, closed its Orlando aircraft repair station on 17 January. The company previously shut down its Miami centre which is alleged to have played a signifi cant role in the crash of the ValuJet McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 on 11 May, 1996, in Florida, killing 110 people. SabreTech is looking for a buyer for that plant. The company, formerly Valu- Jet's maintenance contractor, sur rendered its Orlando repair- station certificate when it was noti fied that the FAA was issuing an emergency order of revocation. Following a two-month probe of the maintenance centre, the FAA alleges that SabreTech falsified records by signing off on work that was not performed, failed to use proper tools, equipment and mate rials, and performed maintenance without proper manuals. Q FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 January - 4 February 1997
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