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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 2362.PDF
BUSINESS AND GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON Diamond in talks on diesel engine Austrian manufacturer also plans to ramp up DA40 production at new dedicated line in Canada from 2002 Austria's Diamond Aircraft plans to offer diesel-powered variants of its light general aviation aircraft fam ily. It is holding talks with aero space newcomer Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) on adapting its range of diesel-powered piston power- plants now under development (Flight International, 19-25 June). Diamond admits manufacturers are facing increasing demand from customers to drive down aircraft operating costs. Marketing and sales manager Sylvia Mandl says: "As the price of Avgas soars so will the cost of flying, so we plan to find a solution for our customers with diesel fuel." The Weiner Neustadt-based manufacturer offers a range of all-composite, light general avia tion aircraft and motor gliders - the two-seat DA20 series, Super Dimona (also known as the Katana Xtreme) motor glider and the new four-seat DA40-180 Diamond Star, which is the initial focus of Diamond and TAE's efforts. The DA40 is currently powered by the Textron Lycoming 135kW (180hp) IO-360. Liechtenstein-based TAE is devel oping a 95kW engine, dubbed the TAE 125, and eventually a 240kW variant, the TAE 300, both of which can be powered by diesel or jet fuel. Mandl adds: "The 95kW engine is not powerful enough for the DA40-180, but a derated version of the 240kW could be suitable." Certification of the TAE 300 is set for 2003. Meanwhile, Diamond is plan ning to ramp up DA40-180 produc tion significantly from the second quarter of 2002 following comple tion of a new dedicated assembly line in Canada. "We will manufacture and deliver 100 aircraft this year from our Austrian base, but once the assembly base [in London, Ontario] is up and running, we hope to produce up to 300 aircraft a year," says Mandl. Around 75% of DA40-180 aircraft production is sold to the North American market, while Europe has the second largest cus tomer base with over 12% of sales, says Diamond. The manufacturer is also plan ning to unveil a pressurised cabin version of the DA40-180 in 2002, also in response to customer demand. Currently named the DA44, the four-seat aircraft is scheduled for certification and first deliveries in 2003. Diamond has begun pitching the Canadian-built DA20 CI Evolution trainer and CI Eclipse sports aircraft to the European market. Both models will continue to be produced in Canada. IN BRIE STRIP ACT PLANS The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association is calling on the US Congress to pass Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act legislation to protect general aviation access to airstrips on federal land and the airspace over it. According to the industry trade association, "the bill ensures that state aviation departments and the US Federal Aviation Administration have an opportunity to determine the necessity of an airstrip before other government agencies are allowed to take action to restrict access or permanently close it". Backcountry airstrips are used as emergency landing areas and points of access for search as well as rescue efforts and fire fighting activities. PRIVATAIR EXPANDS Swiss business aviation service provider PrivatAir has completed the first stage of a $1.1 m refur bishment programme for its recently acquired Transair ground handling service at Paris' Le Bourget airport. The upgrade so far includes rebranding and a temporary facelift of the pas senger terminal. DELIVERY Embraer hands over ERJ-135 to Belgian air force The Belgian air force took delivery of a VIP-configured Embraer ERJ-135 regional jet on 4 June. Based at Melsbroek, the 39-seat aircraft is the first of three Embraer regional jets ordered by the air force to modernise and rationalise its mid-range VIP fleet. The Embraer order, which includes another ERJ-135 and two 49-seat ERJ-145s, will replace eight of No 21 Squadron's Hawker Siddeley 748s and Swearingen Merlin Ills. AVIONICS Garrett flight tests RVSM for Falcon Garrett Aviation Services is flight testing reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) avionics suites for a 'classic' Dassault Falcon upgrade which is due to be certifi cated by the end of the year. RVSM capability reduces the ver tical separation needed above 29,000ft (9,000m) from the 2,000ft minimum to a 1,000ft minimum. Arizona-based Garrett says the RVSM supplemental type certifica tion (STC) will cover two compli ance packages, the final application being dependent on autopilot con figuration. Falcon 10s and 100s with an APS-80 autopilot will be equipped with a Rockwell Collins RVSM-compliant system compris ing the present air data computer, plus a new ADC-87A air data com puter for the co-pilot. Also added will be a digital altimeter and a 50mm (2in) standby altimeter. Garrett says provisioning and installation work has already been completed for the Collins suite. The second compliance package is applicable only to Falcon 10s fit ted with an AP-105 autopilot. These aircraft will be offered with a suite developed by Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Innovative Solutions and Systems (IS&S) con sisting of two air data display/ altimeters, an air data sensor and a 50mm standby altimeter. The flight tests are being per formed using a mix of five Falcon 10s and 100s, and could result in an STC as early as the end of September. Garrett believes as many as 200 aircraft could be can didates for the retrofit. Garrett has also obtained a simi lar STC covering the provision of Collins equipment for a Gulfstream II RVSM retrofit. 46 26 JUNE - 2 JULY FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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