FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2432.PDF
PZL APPOINTMENT PZL-Swidnik has selected HeliWing 2000 as UK and Benelux sales representative for the SW-4 light six-seat utility helicopter. HeliWing will also provide support for the Czech manufacturer's general aviation aircraft line, including the W-3, Mi-2, Kania and lightweight IS-2 under development. First deliveries of the SW-4 are scheduled to begin next year, when PZL also plans to launch an international marketing campaign focusing on the UK and USA. RULE IMMINENT The FAA expects to publish the final rule on FAR Part 91 Subpart K by the end of the year, with implementation to follow in late 2003. The subpart will regu late fractional ownership operations and make some modifications to Part 135. SKYLANE ORDER Cessna has clinched an order from the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry for 18 182 Skylanes. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery next year and will be used throughout the state for forest fire surveillance. BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION ENGINE RETROFIT GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Orenda delays V8 piston King Air C90 certification Canadian company wants time to redesign powerplant to improve maintainability Orenda Recip has postponed to next year certification of the Ray theon King Air C90 twin-turboprop, re-engined with its OE-600 375kW (500hp) V8 piston powerplants to allow redesign of the installation to improve maintainability. Mean while, two programmes to re- engine the King Air with different turboprops are gaining ground. The Canadian company is to start flight testing the revised installation by early next year. After 1 lOh flight testing of the original OE-600 instal lation, the oil coolers have been re positioned to the rear of the engine nacelle and accessories repackaged to make the engine more mainte nance-friendly, Orenda says. The re-engining kit is expected to become available in 2003. The original agreement with Stevens Aviation to market the re-engined King Air has expired, but Orenda still expects the US fixed-base oper ator to sell the aircraft. Competing to re-engine the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-pow- ered King Air is Kilo Alpha 290, offering the Honeywell TPE331, and Performance Conversions, with the Czech Walter M601E turboprop. Both are targeting the re-engining of 1,700 King Air C90/E90s worldwide. Kilo Alpha 290 is a joint venture by National Flight Services and modification specialist Murray Aviation. The $1.06 million conver sion involves replacing the 410kW PT6s with the 74SkW TPE331-10, derated to 535kW for take-off and driving McCauley five-blade pro pellers. The company says re-engin ing increases gross weight, climb rate, cruise speed and altitude, and reduces field length, fuel consump tion, noise and maintenance. US supplemental type certifica tion (STC) of the TPE331 re-engin ing was obtained in September last year and two aircraft have been converted. Performance Conver sions obtained an STC for its Walter re-engining in May in the USA and July in Brazil. Approval is close in Australia and New Zealand, says the Nevada-based company. Two air craft have been converted so far. Re-engining with the 560kW M601E-11, derated to 410kW for take-off and driving a Czech Avia V.510 five-blade propeller, reduces engine overhaul costs, mainte nance downtime, field length and noise, and increases take-off weight, climb rate, cruise speed and altitude, the company says. National Flight Services is modi fying aircraft at its Lakeland, Florida, and Toledo, Ohio, centres, and Performance Conversions is setting up modification centres. The first is Seagull Aviation in Clintonville, Wisconsin. Talks are under way with two companies in Brazil, while Air New Zealand will re-engine aircraft in the Australasian market. TRAINING Learjet 45s head for Australia Singapore Flying College's Advanced Pilot Training Facility in Queensland, Australia, has received its first two Bombardier Learjet 45s. The super-light business jets will be used by Singapore Airlines pilots undergoing advanced route and flight simulator training at a new facility at Maroochydore, provided under contract by Aeromil Aviation Services. The company will also provide maintenance. The new A$1.5 million ($806,000) facility adjoins the Singapore Flying College training and simulator facility under construction. The site is expected to be operational by year-end when two of the four remain ing Learjet 45s already in service in Singapore will move to Australia. TAXATION Russia ponders cut in business jet import duty The Russian government is consid ering softening its import tax, set at 20%, for business jets and certain types of onboard equipment not produced domestically. If the go- ahead is given, business aviation supporters believe Russian opera tors could effectively double the 15-strong fleet of Western-built air craft, which translates into around $250-300 million of sales. The move could also persuade Russian owners to remove their business aircraft from foreign registers. Russian business aviation compa nies operate about 50 business jets, mostly converted Antonov An-74s, Tupoiev Tu-134s, Yakovlev Yak-40s and Yak-42s. The number of V1P- configured jets, including those with Russian carriers, totals between 70 and 80 aircraft. On top of the 20% import tax, non-domestically produced busi ness aircraft are subject to a 20% VAT levy, effectively pricing them out of the market. Antonov, Tupoiev and Yakovlev are working on their respective An-74T, Tu-324VIP and Yak-48 business jet designs, but these are not expected to enter service for several years. 28 13-19 AUGUST 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
