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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 3740.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT MODIFICATIONS PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC & MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / COPENHAGEN 0400 upgrades to widen appeal Changes under study include the addition of GPS as well as modifications to cabin layout and new derivatives Bombardier is looking to broaden the market application for the Dash 8 Q400 turboprop with avi onics and cabin configuration enhancements, along with possible development of civil-freighter and special-missions derivatives for the military. A reduced-capacity ver sion is also being produced in lieu of grafting Q400 technology onto smaller versions of the Dash 8. The Q400 as a regional aircraft is not compliant with communica tions, navigation and surveillance/ air traffic management. However, "several airlines have expressed interest in expanded mainline-like capabilities," says Bob Fear, Bombardier manager Q400 product planning. Options include the addi tion of GPS satellite navigation and upgrades to the flight management system to meet more precise navi gation performance requirements. Satellite communications is also being considered as an option by one airline, while Horizon is equip ping its planned fleet of 15 Q400s with the Flight Dynamics head-up display guidance system for CAT3A approaches in restricted visibility. There is also European airline inter est in the system, says Bombardier. Bombardier currently configures the 70-seat turboprop with a single- class four abreast cabin, but is studying a two or three-abreast business-class layout. "We've not yet scratched the surface at getting the airlines that are out there to recognise the real benefits the aircraft has to offer," adds Fear. The company is looking at a dedicated freighter version of the Q400 equipped with a large side cargo door, and has talked to a number of potential customers like FedEx Express and UPS. The aircraft would be capable of carrying a pay- load of up to 8,630kg (19,0001b). Other possibilities being studied are a special missions configured Q400 such as maritime patrol, search-and-rescue or electronic intelligence gathering. Major Q400 operator SAS Com muter is poised to take delivery of its last batch of five aircraft, which will be configured with a spacious 58-seat interior rather than the standard 72-seat layout. The air line, which has taken delivery of 23 aircraft, had planned to acquire the proposed Q300X - a version of the 50-seat Dash 8-300 incorporating the new flightdeck and other improvements from the Q400 - but the studies were dropped. SAS' 58-seat Q400 is dimension- ally identical to the standard aircraft but features lower weights and a reduced purchase price. If the airline wants to reconfigure the aircraft to the standard 72-seat lay out it has to pay Bombardier for a "paperwork" weight upgrade. AIRPORTS • Sofreavia has been awarded two European Investment Bank- funded contracts by the Tanzanian Government to upgrade air navigation, commu nication and safety equipment at Dar-es-Salaam International Airport and Kilimanjaro International Airport. The con tract at Dar-es-Salaam calls for new radio navigation, communi cation and meteorological equipment, including Sofreavia's ATALIS 2 aeronautical informa tion system, with flight data processing and billing subsys tems. The control tower at Kilimanjaro will be refurbished, while another ATALIS 2 system will be installed, connected to the Dar-es-Salaam system. The work is due for completion by the end of next year. • Croatia's Osijek-Klisa Airport is to be re opened for commercial traffic, according to local press reports. General manager Darko Markovic says that €2.7 million ($2.4 million) has been invested in infrastructure at the airport, which was formerly Yugoslavia's main cargo hub. Scheduled ser vices to Belgrade, Pula and Zagreb are being considered, as well as cargo services. START-UPS PAUL DUFFY / MOSCOW Connection with Aerof lot casts Irish SkyNet into East Europe SkyNet, a new Irish company with Irish and US shareholders, expects to begin operations in April for Russian national carrier Aeroflot from Shannon, Ireland. The airline will start with two Boeing 737-400s on routes linking Dublin and Shannon to Moscow via European cities. These will operate under its own codes, but in a commercial franchise with Aero flot. Arrangements are being finalised, and some sectors may share codes. Two more 737-400s are likely to be operated in Aeroflot colours to European and Mediterranean desti nations on inclusive tour pro grammes if plans are finalised in time for the Summer 2002 season. At first, Aeroflot was looking for a part ownership of the airline, but decided that the franchise arrange ment, now possible under Russian law, would have more advantages. The airline plans a full service operation with a lower cost base than national carriers. An applica tion for an air operators' certificate (AOC) is currently being processed by the Irish Aviation Authority. Although the airline has been planned for some time, manage ment says that the current difficul ties on the world market have given it the opportunity to benefit from lower prices and some mar keting discounts. The downturn has already had the effect of making well- qualified staff available for the new operator. DELIVERIES JMC gets long-haul boost with first Airbus A330 UK charter carrier JMC Airlines has received the first of two Airbus A330-200s on lease from Tyco Capital Aerospace, which will replace ageing McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s and be used to develop its long-haul services. The Thomas Cook-owned airline initially plans to operate its Rolls-Royce Trent powered A330s to the Caribbean and the US East coast. 12 27 NOVEMBER - 3 DECEMBER 2001 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL WWW flinhtin+ornat-i/
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