FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1999
1999 - 1727.PDF
WJJIilli'.i RVSM 8.33kHz GPWS MYTWVI'^^HMMM 24 January, 2002 7 October, 1999 1 January, 2000 ACAS •take-off weight above 15,000kg and 30 seats aircraft above 5,700kg 1 January, 2000 1 January, 2005 and 19 seats Mode S transponder all IFR aircraft all VFR aircraft CVR-2 Flight data recorder •implementation: transition to 31 March, 2001 1 January, 2003 1 January, 2005 1 April, 2000 1 October, 1999 RVSM kits for older aircraft like the Bombardier Learjet 3 5 can cost up to $700,000, depending on the avionics requirements. Such expense can account for up to 25% of the air craft's average resale value. Furthermore, RVSM certification represents only a portion of the hefty technical requirements being enforced over the next few years, including 8.33kHz channel spacing, airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS/TCASII version 7); cockpit voice recorders (CVR2); Mode S transponders; and flight data recorders, and, eventually, the enhanced ground proximity warning systems (GPWS), which, combined, can drive up the final bill to more than $1 million. David Antrobus is managing director of die north of England's largest fixed-based operator (FBO), Northern Executive Aviation, which owns and manages five Bombardier Learjet 35s, each valued at $2-4.5 million, which are being upgraded to meet the new ECAC require ments. "We estimate that each aircraft will cost $675,000 to upgrade. But, while the work is being done, die aircraft can be out of service for up to six weeks, and is therefore losing you a substantial sum of money," he says. EXPENSIVE REQUIREMENTS Antrobus believes that many of the require ments are unnecessary and expensive, and may force some operators to shut down or refinance dieir aircraft to fund die upgrades. "We cannot underplay the importance of airborne safety items [GPWS, ACAS] but is diere really a need for a digital flight data recorder in an old ana logue aircraft?" he asks. Antrobus, echoing EBAA concerns, ques tions whether operators will benefit direcdy in the long term from any cost savings associated with diese ECAC initiatives. "Business aviation is almost at the bottom of the pecking order. If LEARJET 35 - ESTIMATED COST OF EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION BRNAV RVSM 8.33kHz ACAS GPWS Mode S transponder CVR Flight data recorder Total $28,000 $270,000 $50,000 (a) $180,000 $83,000 $69,000 $74,000(b) $130,000 $884,000 (a)The price has been doubled because two units are needed (b) The price includes flight to the manufacturer where installation work is done (source: EBAA. All figures are approximate) we are being forced to spend all thus money to upgrade our aircraft, we should be allowed equal access to die airspace and to die airports - we just want to be treated fairly," he says. The CFMU's Ian Jones claims that equal rights to the airspace exist and no changes are planned for the foreseeable future. "The buzz phrase is 'One Sky for Europe', and die needs of die little guy will always be met," he says. Eurocontrol admits, however, that even if congestion is reduced in the upper airspace, bottlenecks may still remain in the lower levels and at airport runways and terminals. "Only 20% of delays are caused en route; 80% are air- Air traffic controllers are coping with increasingly congested skies 140 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 9 - 15 June 1999
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
