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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0058.PDF
HEADLINES AIR TRANSPORT NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE Chinese shift on foreign aircrews Recent WTO membership prompts a change in attitudes, as Beijing seeks to open aviation up to international investment China has opened its civil aviation industry to foreign pilots in an unofficial change in policy that comes, in part, as a result of the country's recent entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Hainan Airlines has hired two foreign pilots to operate on the car rier's first international route, between Sanya and Seoul, which was launched in October. The fast-growing carrier is attem pting to recruit more foreigners as it makes efforts to expand its international network, according to industry sources. One of two newly hired Boeing 737-800 pilots is Australian and the other Irish. The sources say they began flying with Hainan at the end of December, and that the car rier is paying "industry norms". The prospect of foreign pilots working for Chinese airlines has been under discussion by civil avia tion authorities for years. While the practice has been allowed for some time, the sources say, govern ment officials did not "favour" attempts by carriers to hire cockpit crew from outside of the country. A senior Civil Aviation Admini- China Southern Airlines also sought to hire foreign pilots in the late 1990s. While the CAAC insists there has been no change in policy now, and calls the practice of hiring for eign pilots entirely an "airline issue", the sources say there has been a shift in "attitude" towards the hiring of foreigners since the stration of China (CAAC) official says the administration changed its rules in 1993 or 1994 to allow for eign pilots to be hired. He says that change originally came about as a result of a request by Hainan. The sources say repeated attempts by the carrier to hire foreigners were met with opposi tion, however. Apart from Hainan, AIR TRANSPORT Asiana and FSB agree on pilot training deal FlightSafety Boeing (FSB) has agreed a wide-ranging pilot training deal with Asiana Airlines and is in talks to establish a major centre in South Korea to train pilots from other Asian countries. Asiana confirms the FSB agreement, which covers simulator training for new and existing pilots, took effect from the start of this month. But the carrier will not provide additional details, pending a formal announcement. The agreement is FSB's second in South Korea, the first being with national carrier Korean Air (KAL). That deal, signed in 1999 to cover every thing from simulator training for new line pilots to recurrent training of veteran aircrew, has recently been extended. The agreement was key to KAL's strategy to improve safety following several fatal accidents. FSB is planning a major centre in South Korea next year to train pilots from Korea and other Asian nations, says South Korea's construction and transportation ministry, adding that FSB may invest $87 million in the country. middle of last year. Partly prompted by its entry into the WTO, China has recently been working to open up its aviation industry to additional investment from abroad. While membership is expected to bring about an increase in trade which should provide a boost for the airline industry, observers say Chinese carriers expect competi tion from foreign airlines to increase dramatically - and as a result some are seeking to add more international expertise and influence. The shift also comes as China's industry continues to experience strong traffic growth and airlines expand their fleets. Although there is no real short age of pilots within China, some observers estimate that the coun try's airlines will, within the next 10 years, need to employ between 1,000 and 2,000 new cockpit crew annually. Since the early 1990s the coun try has been greatly enhancing its pilot training capabilities, and Chinese officials claim they are now able to train as many as 800 new pilots each year. DEFENCE PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Brazilian air force eyes Swiss Tigers to supplement fleet upgrade The Brazilian air force is looking to purchase some of Switzerland's 34 surplus Northrop F-5E Tiger fight ers. Brazil is negotiating to acquire additional F-5s to bolster its fleet, which is being upgraded by Embraer and Elbit to F-5BRs. The Swiss air force says it has nine single-seat F-5Es set for deliv ery, with another 25 to be phased out shortly. Brazil needs up to 12 additional aircraft to add to the 48 already contracted for upgrade - but it wants two-seat F-5Fs. To make up the shortfall, Brazil is understood to be looking at the TF-5 conversion being proposed by Tiger Century Aircraft, supported by Northrop Grumman, after re jecting a Boeing offer of Saudi Arabian F-5s. The programme re builds single-seat F-5s to the two- seat configuration. The F-5F was produced in limited numbers, and Saudi Arabia is demanding that customers buy at least two F-5Es for every two-seater acquired. Tiger Century has a deal to remarket over 100 Taiwanese F-5Es for possible conversion (Flight Inter national, 13-19 February 2001). Brazil, however, is believed to have a political and technical preference for the newer Swiss fighters, which have clocked up l,800-2,400h, and are in very good condition. Switzerland wants an inter governmental sale-or-lease deal, rather than go via a third party. The aircraft are also interesting others including the Philippines, which still needs to replace F-5A/Bs, and the US Navy's require ment for up to 26 aircraft for its Switzerland's low-hours F-5Es could head to Brazil for two-seat conversion adversary squadrons. Switzerland wants to phase out its 100-plus F-5E/FS by 2010, as it acquires additional Boeing F/A-18s or a sec ond new fighter type. Thailand is also believed to be looking for additional Tigers, including RF-5E reconnaissance aircraft, with interest currently focused on Saudi Arabia aircraft. 4 8-14 JANUARY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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