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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2357.PDF
HEADLINES DEFENCE PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Rockwell wins US Army display deal Sikorsky ditches Northrop Grumman after cockpit rebid Rockwell Collins is expected to secure a lucrative deal with Sikorsky to supply digital cockpit displays for the US Army's planned UH-60M upgrade of 1,217 Black Hawk utility helicopters. The decision represents a major setback for Northrop Grumman, which had been the supplier until Sikorsky opened up the contract to new tenders (Flight International, 21-27 May). Sikorsky has notified the losing bidders but has yet to finalise a con tract - estimated to be worth $200 million - with Rockwell Collins, say industry sources. The requirement could run to nearly 5,000 colour multifunction displays (MFDs) if the army modernises the planned num ber of helicopters. Rockwell Collins was unavailable for comment. Northrop Grumman, formerly Litton, had been set to supply MFDs for the UH-60M, having provided displays for the UH-60Q and HH-60L, as well as the US Navy's MH-60R/S. Earlier this year, with the army's support, Sikorsky decided to rebid the cockpit displays due to cost and performance issues. The third competitor was EFW, with Honeywell deciding not to bid. The winning display suite is based on Rockwell's Common Avionics Architecture System, already selected by the US Army Special Operations Command for its planned modernised fleet of MH-60Ms, Boeing CH-47Gs and McDonnell Douglas MH-6s. A similar configuration of four 150 x 200mm (6 x 8in) landscape dis plays has been chosen by Turkey for its new S-70A/B helicopters. The US Army was looking for an off-the-shelf solution, incorporat ing independent processors and image generators for each display. For improved out-of-the-cockpit pilot visibility, the army wanted smaller displays than the USN's 200 x 250mm MFDs on the MH-60R/S. The first two UH-60M test helicopters will probably retain the Northrop Grumman displays to maintain the first flight schedule of July and August 2003. The Rock well displays will be fitted on the final two test machines, due to fly in early 2004. • EFW parent Elbit Systems has been selected to provide the glass cockpit for Turkish armed forces upgraded S-70A Black Hawks. Elbit will act as avionics systems integra tion "prime subcontractor" to Turkish Aerospace Industries. The contract is valued at $14 million. BUSINESS WTO calls for airline trade rules The director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has call ed for airlines to be brought under WTO trade rules. Mike Moore, in a letter to UK newspaper Tlie Times on 2 August, says the status quo is "an internationally inefficient, environ mentally harmful system" and that present bilateral and multilateral deals have "ensured that competi tion has been stunted, customer service eroded and the poorest countries...given short shrift". Airlines "benefit most from the international trading system [but] continue to work hard to stay outside the system", says Moore, who leaves the WTO this month. International trade in goods has risen sharply over the last decade, but WTO rules only reached the service sector in 1994, with the General Agreement on Trade in Services - which excluded airlines. This, he argues, has preserved an unfair and inefficient market. "It really is odd that perhaps the most global of industries should remain so protected domestically and even internationally." In theory, liberalising the airline market could mean ending restric tions on international services and free cabotage for foreign carriers. Briefing South Korea reforms regulatory system RESTRUCTURE The South Korean cabinet has passed into law a bill to strip the country's transport ministry of responsibility for regulating air transport operations, safety oversight and air accident investigation. The move is part of efforts to bring the country into line with International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations following a string of accidents. Last year, the USA restored South Korea to a Category 1 safety rating after the country drew up reforms aimed at improving oversight standards. Two new independent organisations will become operational during the next few weeks. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will regulate South Korea's airlines, air traffic control, airport operations, aeronautical information services, search and rescue and provision of navigation aids. South Korea's ministry of construction and transportation will retain the authority to negotiate commercial air service agreements and plan airport developments. Canada's airlines lift North American results P R O FIT Air Canada president and chief executive Robert Milton says the Canadian major was the only international carrier in North America to report a net profit in the second quarter. The airline reported a net income of C$30 million ($19 million) on revenue of C$2.55 billion for the three months ended 30 June. That compares to a profit of C$44 million on revenue of C$2.56 billion a year earlier. Milton also expects Air Canada to report a profit in the third quarter. Fellow Canadian operator WestJet reported a profit of C$12.3 million for the same period - 44.7% up on the previous year. Operating revenue also improved to $163.7 million from $112.8 million during the latest period and to $300.7 million from $205.1 million for the first half of the year. Meanwhile, Air Canada plans to launch Zip - its long- anticipated western Canada-based discount carrier to take on WestJet - on 22 September. American Falcon buys troubled Dinar ACQUISITION Argentinian airline American Falcon purchased 100% of struggling Argentinian carrier Dinar's shares for an undisclosed sum as Flight International closed for press. American Falcon has taken immediate operational control of the Salta-based carrier, as well as absorbing its $30 million debt and McDonnell Douglas DC-9s. SEE BUSINESS P18 Volga ll-76s re-engining venture launched MODIFICATION Volga-Dnepr Airlines has signed an agreement with engine manufacturer Perm to launch a re-engining programme for the llyushin II-76. The programme, which has completed its initial definition stage, will involve the replacement of the four-engined freighter's MKB D- 30KP engines with quieter, more efficient Aviadvigatel PS-90As. Ulyanovsk- based production plant Aviastar has been selected to carry out all work in the programme. Volga-Dnepr says there are currently 400 ll-76s in service, and re-engining should enable the aircraft to remain in commercial operations for another 15 years. BA profits rise, but revenue falls R E S U LT S British Airways has reported a rise in pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended 30 June to £65 million ($102 million), up from £40 million in 2001, but says full-year revenues are now expected to be lower than those of last year. Operating profit increased to £158 million from £50 million, passenger yields were up 5% while revenue fell by nearly 11 % to £2.05 billion. Passenger capacity in terms of available seat kilometres was reduced by 14.5%, while revenue passenger kilometres fell 13.8%. Passenger load factor was up 0.6 percentage points to 70.5%. BA adds that net costs were down 14.6% for the quarter while unit costs fell 2.6%. BA reduced its net costs by 14.6% compared to last year by cutting 6,900 jobs, and chairman Lord Marshall says further cost cuts will be needed to improve the operating results. www.flightinternatlonal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 6-12 AUGUST 2002 5
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