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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1256.PDF
MtR TRANSPORT Super 'Plus' 27 tackles Stage 4 GUY NORRIS/LOS ANGELES BFGOODRICH and Raisbeck are studying a plan to tackle Stage 4 noise requirements for the Boeing 727 by combining die for mer company's "Super 27" conver sion with Raisbcck's aerodynamic modification package. The Super "Plus" 27 would meet the stringent noise require ments by combining the improved take-off characteristics of the Raisbeck LEAPS (leading edge advanced performance system) package with flat rated, lower noise settings on the Super 27's Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 engines. "We are not in a joint venture. We are investigating the potential of how to meet Stage 4 on the 727, and this seems to be one way" says Raisbeck Commercial Air Group president, and chief executive James Raisbeck. The package would include a combination of reduced leading edge slat deflection on take-off and landing, reduced flap deflection for approach and landing, and flat rat ing the engines on take off to red uce sideline noise. Raisbeck says the aircraft has a typical maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 86,500kg (190,5001b), and a maxi mum landing weight (MLW) of 170,150kg. "By flat rating the -217 engines about 3%, limiting the leading edge slat deflection by 11 °, limiting landing flap deflection to 28°, and adding the Raisbeck exter nal mixer to die centre engine, Stage 4 is met with no trade-offs", says Raisbeck. The MTOW is expected to be reduced to 83,000kg, but MLW would stay at 70,150kg. Raisbeck adds that these are "not bad opera tional weights for an aircraft that started outin 1963 asaStage 1 727- 100, and whose wing design has never been changed". By fine tun ing the LF.APS modifications, which increase lift over dragon the 727 by around 11%, Raisbeck believes die MTOW reduction could be less than envisaged. If studies prove positive, and the furore over the adoption of new noise levels in Europe is resolved, Raisbeck says die Super 27 could be re-certificated to Stage 4 as die Super "Plus" 27. • See feature, P28. NEWS IN BRIEF • AEROPERLAS A319 PLAN Aeroperlas, the Panamanian domestic carrier, is to take two Airbus A319s dirough its strategic link with Grupo TACA. Flight InternationaVs sister on-line service Air Transport Intelligence (ATI) reports diat the airline, which is 20%-owned by American Eagle, will introduce services to the USA. The A319s are likely to come from TACA's A3 20 family block order, says ATI, for use on services to Miami, the Andean nations and Central America. Lufthansa introduces wet-leased ERJ-145 TEAM LUFTHANSA franchisee Cirrus Airlines has wet-leased its recently-delivered Embraer RJ-145 50-seat regional jet to the German flag carrier for operation between Dusseldorf and Birmingham, UK. The agreement with Saarbriicken-based Cirrus initially covers the summer season but may be extended, says Lufthansa. Cirrus also operates Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops on German domestic and international scheduled services. EAE prepares for growth in wake of takeover LAURA HAILSTONE/DUSSELDORF EUROPEAN AIR Express (EAE) is gearing up for expan sion, following its recent takeover of Filder Air Services. The German regional's growth plans partly depend, however, on the expansion of the runway at its Dusseldorf Express (DEX) airport base in Monchengladbach. EAE's fleet consists of two British Aerospace J3Is and two ATR42s, inherited in die take-over of Filder. These aircraft have replaced EAE's wet-leased Fokker 50s. Tthe airline is looking for additional ATRs, including ATR 42s and the larger ATR 72. Services 12 to Munich, Luton and Hamburg arc the mainstay of the operation. Managing director Peter Hauptvogel believes expansion plans will move more easily once DEX's 1,200m (3,935ft) runway is extended. "We have jet operations in mind, but until the runway is developed we cannot contemplate buying these," he says. He says an extension is planned by late next year, which would increase the length to 1,680m, enabling the ATR 72 and small regional jets to operate more comfortably. Hauptvogel had been a director of the now defunct Debonair and formed EAE when the UK regional began scaling down its DEX mini-hub in 1999. "We have only taken on the Debonair routes that are profitable, says Hauptvogel. "They tried to be a low-cost airline providing mini mum service. We are offering a fuller more frequent service." Eight routes are planned over the next four years, at a rate of one for each summer and winter sched uled season. Flights to Nice com mence at the end of April, and a summer seasonal service to the German island of Sylt will be reintroduced in May. A double daily non-stop service between Luton and Munich will start in July, and flights to Hamburg begin in September. • Israeli airline seeks sector flights to eastern Europe ISRAEL'S LARGEST private airline, Arkia, is to appeal to the country's Supreme Court in a final effort to gain approval to fly sched uled services to destinations not served by El Al. According to Arkia's president Israel Borovitch, the Israeli min istry of transport has so far turned down all die airline's requests to fly to destinations in eastern Europe. The rights to these destinations, which include cities such as Sofia, Tashkent and St Petersburg, are held by state-owned El Al, but are not used. Arkia's efforts to take over the rights have so far failed. "This is our last hope...the Supreme Court will have to rule whether our demand is justified," says Borovitch. A committee head ed by Avner Yarkoni, director gen eral of the Israeli civil aviation authority (CAA) has recommend ed that private airlines can operate scheduled flights on routes not served by El Al, but this has not been implemented. "The problem begins with the fact that the Israeli Government is the regulator and also the owner of El Al," says Borovitch. Arkia's fleet. has recently expanded with the introduction of two new Boeing 757-300s, and the airline plans to purchase another 757-200. Q FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 18 - 24 April 2000
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