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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2415.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT CARGO GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES Precision works up new 757 freighter conversion Joint venture signals first challenge to Boeing-developed modification programme A new cargo conversion pro gramme for the Boeing 757-200 is set to get under way later this year with modification of the first aircraft in Arizona. The project has been developed by Precision Conversions, a joint venture formed last September by Wagner Aeronautical and the Erick- son Group. Aviation Management Systems of Goodyear, Arizona, has been recruited to help modify and certificate the first conversion. The venture plans to design, eng ineer, manufacture, certificate and install 757 cargo conversions under a multiple use supplemental type certificate. Precision is refining and validating a finite element model to provide a design basis for the con version. Work on the first aircraft is due to start around October, with flight tests at "about the end of the second quarter of 2003", says Precision vice-president marketing and sales Brian McCarthy. The programme represents the first competition for the Boeing- developed 757-200 Special Freight er conversion launched for DHL International in 1999, and builds on the growing availability of used aircraft with residual values suffi ciently low to make the conversion viable. The recent addition of 33 US Airways 757s for sale or lease has doubled the fleet of conversion candidates, says McCarthy. Although Precision has yet to secure a launch order, McCarthy says: "We have several proposals in place." By the time the first con verted aircraft flies in mid-2003, he adds: "We would expect to have air craft in work and maybe even one or two follow-on aircraft accom plished by the end of next year." The conversion will feature a large side cargo-door and 15 main deck cargo positions. Preliminary payload/range specifications incl ude a maximum zero fuel weight of 83,540kg (184,0001b), and a maxi mum take-off weight of 108,960kg. Range with a payload of up to 30,400kg would be around 4,625km (2,500nm). LanChile will transfer two 767-300ERs (above) and an A320 to its new Ecuadorian subsidiary AIRLINE LAUNCHES JACKSON FLORES / RIO DE JANEIRO Start-up LanEcuador gets all-clear LanChile has unveiled plans to set up an Ecuadorian affiliate, LanEcu ador, which is set to become the nation's main international carrier. The move is aimed at tapping the country's large adventure and ecology tourist market. LanChile reportedly plans to invest around $350 million in the subsidiary. Ecuador's civil aviation authority, the CNAC, has given permission for LanEcuador to fly from Guayaquil and Quito, serving Buenos Aires, Madrid, Miami, New York and Santiago. The carrier is expected to launch services with two LanChile Boeing 767-300ERs and an Airbus A320, possibly by December, and no later than the first quarter of next year, says LanChile. Ecuador's civil aviation depart ment head Emilio Oneto has said the future of incumbent national carrier Ecuatoriana de Aviation is in limbo, as LanEcuador would -fly most of the international routes. The new carrier will generate 500 local jobs. Ecuatoriana's air operator's cer tificate was suspended this year when the government decided to hand over the debt-laden airline's operations to LanChile, while it worked out a long-term strategy for the flag carrier. The LanEcuador initiative is the latest round in the battle between the main Andean carriers, Lan Chile and Peru's AeroContinente, to achieve control along the west coast of South America. Last May, the latter submitted a proposal to acquire Ecuatoriana, just before the expiry of an earlier 12-month deal for LanChile to fly Ecuatoriana's services. LanChile's move into Ecuador could again bring it into direct competition with Latin American airline group TACA, which has been given approval to set up an airline to operate some of the routes of bankrupt Ecuadorian carrier Saeta using leased A319s. REGULATION EC moves on Single Sky The European Commission (EC) is to start drawing up implemen tation rules for its Single European Sky initiative ahead of movement on the contentious issue of Gibraltar airport. European transport ministers last week approved dossiers clearing the way for the long- awaited Single Sky regulations, which will see a major reorgani sation of the continent's upper airspace by the end of 2004. Regulations, including har monised incident reporting and aviation statistics, will now be passed to the European Parliament after approval from European Union (EU) transport ministers, including those from Spain and the UK who had pre viously stalled talks over Gibraltar sovereignty issues. The UK proposes placing Gibraltar's military facilities under NATO. Spanish civil flight rest rictions into the territory are likely to be eased in return for Anglo- Spanish control of the airport, expected to include UK approval for Spain to build a passenger terminal in La Linea, on its side of the border - the nations share the airport's runway (Flight Inter national, 14-20 August 2001). The deal has allowed EU transport ministers to agree pro posals to bring Single Sky legislation into force. The EC's Single Sky committee has issued tenders defining Single Sky func tions and procedures. This work is to be completed by year-end to allow a year for member states to approve the rules before they take force in 2004. The committee will start work on issues including harmonisa- tion of air navigation services provision. The EC says that it is looking to extend the project to lower airspace, "in light of prog ress achieved" in recent months. Ministers also approved the EC joining Eurocontrol - a long- awaited move meant to improve implementation of air traffic management and navigation ini tiatives in the EU. The EC will thereafter join the International Civil Aviation Organisation. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 13-19 AUGUST 2002 11
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