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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2550.PDF
©NBAA SHOW REPORT Bombardier ponders super mid-size launch BOMBARDIER WILL decide within a year whether to launch development ofa "super mid-size" business jet to fill the gap between the mid-sized Learjet 60 and large Canadair Challenger 604, says business-aircraft division president Michael Graff. Market research and engineering analysis are "well advanced", he adds. If Bombardier decides to launch the aircraft, it will use proven tech- NEWS IN BRIEF • HIGH-ALTITUDE CHOICE Burt Rutan's Scaled Comp osites has selected the Williams-Rolls FJ44-2 to power its twin-turbofan Model 281 High Altitude Platform, a piloted long- endurance aircraft designed to carry 900kg-class payloads to altitudes above 60,000ft (18,000m). A first flight is planned for mid-1998. • ENGINE DEAL Rolls-Royce Canada has signed maintenance con tracts worth more than $17 million, the biggest of which is a Si0-million, seven-year deal with Gulfstream Aero space covering repair and overhaul on Spey, Tay and BMW-Rolls Royce BR710 engines on Gulfstream lis, ITIs, IVs and Vs. The deal includes the offering of used- engine warranties on second hand aircraft. • SOUND MOVE Nordam's manufacturing division is leading a multi- company group which has been set up to investigate and improve passive noise-sup pression systems for busi ness-aircraft interiors. The group, which includes E-A-R Specialty Composites, Johns Manville, Buckley Industries and consultant Bill Connor, will initially conduct noise- measurement trials on a busi ness jet loaned by a so-far unnamed manufacturer. 30 nology and the company will work with risk-sharing partners, as it does on the Global Express long- range business jet, says Graff. He is more reluctant to talk about possible replacement of the Learjet 31 Alight business-jet: "We are still examining the market for a Learjet 31 replacement, and will make a decision over the next 12 months. This is not a short-term decision. The 31 is selling well." Bombardier will deliver 25 Learjet 31 As in its current fiscal year, which ends in January 1998 - up from 12 in 1996. "That has caused us to look again at plans to replace the air craft," says Graff. The Canadian company will deliver more than 90 business air craft this financial year, up from 70 lastyear. Bombardier is pushingup production of the Challenger 604 from its traditional two a month to about three a month by 1998, and expects to deliver a record 32-33 aircraft by the end of its 1997 finan cial year. Bombardier announced at the show that firm orders for the Global Express have reached 68 aircraft. The company also unveiled a redesigned cabin for the Learjet 60, providing an additional payloadof90kg. • Pilatus recently delivered its 81 st aircraft. PC-12 operators include Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service, with five aircraft, and the US Plane Sense fractional-owner ship programme, which has three of the $2.3 million aircraft, and plans to order a fourth. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has one aircraft and plans to replace ten de Havilland Twin Otters with a less- ernumberofPC-12s. • Seepage 34. Busy K-C Aviation fails to complete Global Express deal K-C AVIATION says that its )usiness-aircraft completion bookings are "at an all time high" and the Dallas-based firm is being forced to turn some refurbishment work away. It is, however, making little progress in its bid to under take completion work on the Bombardier Global Express. K-C president John Rahilly says that he still expects his company to be named as a Global Express com pletion house, even though the Canadian company has so far turned down numerous requests for the technical data package needed to prepare for the work. The company has already been named as a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) completion centre. Ren ovations of the hangar to be used for the new BBJ at Dallas Love Field have been completed. The first aircraft is to arrive at K-C in November 1998 and four comple tion slots have been reserved. • "ERNATIONAL 1 - 7 October 1997 Pilatus boosts PC-12 output afte PILATUS IS STEPPING up production of its single-turbo prop PC-12 in anticipation of increased sales following recent US approval of commercial single- engined operations in instrument- flight-rules (IFR) conditions. Production was increased from three to four a month in August and will reach five aircraft a month by early 1998. The Swiss company expects half of its PC-12 sales to be to commer cial operators now that single- engine IFR operations are allowed in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA. Other countries are expected to follow the rule change. The first PC-12 in commercial service is operated by Labrador- based Kelher Airways, which flies the aircraft in scheduled passenger services during the day and freight services at night. Load factors with the nine-passenger aircraft are averaging 90%, says Kelner. • "•'•••• — .• jt fW» MWMWPj • 1 K&*.'- Century aimed to nose out 20 orders by the end of the show Century books orders for jet single CENTURY AEROSPACE began taking orders for its Century Jet single-turbofan busi ness aircraft at the show, and was confident of meeting its target of an initial 20 sales by the end of the week. The first 20 buyers were offered $100,000 off the $1.95 million list price, and a place on the customer advisory committee, in return for placing a $10,000 refundable deposit, according to president Bill Northrup. Albuquerque, New Mexico- based Century plans a first flight by the end of 1998. US certification is scheduled for the end of 1999, leading to first deliveries of the air craft in early 2000. Initial aircraft will be powered by the 8.5kN (l,9001b)-thrust Williams-Rolls FJ44-1, but the company plans to upgrade to the 10.2kN FJ44-2 when sufficient twin-engine time has been accu mulated on the more-powerful turbofan, early next century. Century will assemble the air craft at Albuquerque, using com posite fuselages and metal wings supplied by subcontractors. The company plans to gear up for pro duction of four aircraft a month, and is projecting sales of 400 Centuryjets over ten years. • FLIGHT INT after IFR approval
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