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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 2935.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT ROUTES AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT PAUL DUFFY / MOSCOW Aeroflot studies 11-96-400 Ilyushin is developing a Russian-powered model for passenger and freighter requirements The Ilyushin 11-96-400, a Russian engined version of the defunct Pratt & Whitney PW2337-powered I1-96M/T, is under development with Aeroflot considering the acquisition of both passenger and freighter versions. The 11-96-400 is equipped with Russian avionics rather than the Rockwell Collins system on the M/T, and is powered by Avia- dvigatel PS-90 engines. Russian cargo airline Atlant Soyuz has com mitments for 10 -400T freighter versions, and confirmed the first four aircraft at the recent MAKS 2001 air show in Moscow. It is eval uating the I1-96-400T as a replace ment for its 17 Ilyushin 11-76 freighters. The first of four confirmed orders will be delivered to Atlant early next year after the conversion of the only completed I1-96T air frame to -400T standard. A second aircraft will be delivered within 24 months. The prototype I1-96M was displayed at MAKS in "-400" speci fication as its PW2337s had been replaced with PS-90A engines as P&W required its engines returned. Aeroflot has placed a letter of intent for four -400Ts for delivery from 2006 to replace its McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30Fs, and is consid ering the acquisition of the passen ger models, with a decision due by the end of the year. Leasing company Ilyushin Fin ance is funding the programme and is providing aircraft to cus tomers on lease. Along with the design bureau it has offered Aeroflot the 11-96-400 with a pas senger deck in the underfloor cargo hold for use as a bar and recre ational area on long flights. It could be fitted out with a gym, showers and other facilities, and the proposals also cover full inter net and in-flight entertainment equipment. Aeroflot has expressed interest in the proposal and both sides are working to establish the airline's requirements. It is expected that these will be finalised before the ••—M*—isaMH end of the year and, if go-ahead is given, certification of the first aircraft would take two years. An order for four aircraft is envis aged, deliveries beginning in 2003/04. The 11-96-400 offer comes as Ilyushin informs Aeroflot that it has formally terminated the I1-96M/T programme and released the airline from its five-year- old contract for three I1-96T freighters and 17 I1-96M passenger models. This 10-year-old US/Russian pro gramme ultimately failed due to funding difficulties. Aeroflot's order for six Il-96-300s remains in place, according to Ilyushin Finance gen eral director, Alexander Roubtsov. Additional reporting by Vladamir Karnozov /m ?! •i ii ! M Pn II II ii i J H II 111 The ll-96M's PW2337S have been exchanged for PS-90s on the -400 AIRCRAFT FINANCE Mesa to get costs help Mesa Air Group has signed a letter of intent with Raytheon Aircraft to resolve outstand ing issues related to its Beech 1900D fleet, financed with Raytheon. The aircraft manufacturer has agreed to assist Mesa in reducing the regional air car rier's 1900D operating expenses. The deal also clears Mesa's loan default. Mesa operates 55 Beech 1900Ds at its wholly-owned subsidiary Air Midwest, of which 47 are financed by Raytheon Aircraft Credit. AIRCRAFT ORDER China Eastern is A340-600 buyer Airbus has revealed China Eastern Airlines as the customer for five A340-600s ordered last year. The aircraft had been listed for more than a year as ordered by an unidentified customer. Airbus has not sold any A340s this year and the China Eastern deal will not affect 2001 order numbers, as the purchase agree ment was signed last year. China Eastern originally planned to acquire Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340-500s and -600s from Airbus and Inter national Lease Finance (ILFC). It scrapped a tentative deal with ILFC for four aircraft late in 1999, however, after the Chinese Govern ment introduced a new withhold ing tax on operating lease payments. The carrier later expanded a ten tative deal with Airbus to cover five aircraft but airline sources said it still hoped to secure an agreement with ILFC because it had 2002 delivery positions. • Delta Air Lines has launched a new non-stop weekly service from its second largest hub at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Cancun, Mexico, using a Boeing 737-800. • Air France is to cease its own operations in the French territory of New Caledonia and will instead codeshare with local car rier Air Caledonie International (Aircalin) between Noumea and Japan after disappointing traffic figures between Paris and the New Caledonian capital of Noumea. • Air Europa and Continental Airlines plan to begin codesharing on 1 November on the Spanish car rier's flights between Madrid and Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca; and the US airline's Madrid-New York Newark and domestic US flights. • Alaska Airlines is to run three weekly services between Portland, Oregon and Reno, Nevada, from September, operated by 138- seat Boeing 737-400 aircraft. • Royal Jordanian has upped its Amman-Baghdad service from two to three per week and plans to operate on the route four times a week from September. • US Airways is planning daily services between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Freeport, Grand Bahamas, on 2 February. • Jet Airways is adding daily services between Mumbai and Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh; Jodhpur in Rajasthan; Kolhapur, in Maharashtra; and between Delhi and Ludhiana in Punjab. • Northwest Airlines will begin daily Airbus A320 ser vices to Montego Bay, Jamaica, from Memphis, Tennessee, on 28 October, replacing its service from Tampa, Florida. • Americ an Eagle has launched a regional non-stop service from Raleigh/Durham to Philadelphia four times a week and to Boston three times weekly using new Embraer ERJ-135 jets. • Air Canada is planning three weekly Toronto-Honolulu- Melbourne Boeing 767-300 services on 1 December. • United Express operator Atlantic Coast Airlines is to offer four daily flights from Washington Dulles to Charlotte and a daily service between Chicago and New Orleans, both using Bombardier CRJ200s. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 28 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEM BER 2001 IS
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