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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2698.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT MANUFACTURING ANDREW DOYLE / BUSAN KAL mulls 747 conversion work Arm of South Korean flag carrier feeling effects of decline in aircraft production in the wake of global downturn Korean Air (KAL) Aerospace is con sidering launching a Boeing 747-400 passenger-to-freighter con version programme and is in talks with Airbus for A380 work as part of efforts to offset a decline in airliner production rates. The South Korean flag carrier's manufacturing division builds a range of commercial aircraft com ponents and subassemblies includ ing Boeing 717 nose sections, 737 and 747 composite flap-track fair ings, and fuselage panels for the Airbus A330/A340 and Embraer 170/190 families. The company also produces mil itary aircraft parts and performs The US Federal Aviation Administration appears to have won an airline undertaking to fit reinforced cockpit doors on all air craft by April despite claims the deadline was unrealistic. The FAA says it has received commitments from manufacturers, airlines and repair stations ensur ing that all transport-category air craft operating into the USA will be equipped with reinforced doors, designed to prevent intrusion by hijackers or terrorists, by the con- gressionally mandated deadline. Much of the certification for the new doors has still to be com pleted, and the FAA admits that September and October "will be critical". The US agency says find ing a design that fulfils the new security requirements while still meeting decompression safety standards has been much more dif ficult than originally thought. Certification has been slower than envisioned, prompting fears by for eign carriers that the deadline was untenable. To date, the FAA has approved door designs for four types - Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737s, Boeing maintenance and modification work for the South Korean and US armed forces. It needs more work, however, as its Busan factory is operating at only about 50% capacity, says Aerospace division vice-president international marketing and con tracts June Chul Choi. The company has been hit by the decline in aircraft production rates caused by the global eco nomic downturn. Choi says 717 production is running at just one aircraft a month, while the 747 is down to 1.5. A team of 12 engineers assigned to the 747-400XQLR project 757s, and McDonnell Douglas DC-9s/Boeing MD-80s. In addition, Boeing 747-400s operated by United Airlines have a certificated door, but no other 747s are yet approved. The FAA says the approvals cover door designs for about 60% of the worldwide aircraft fleet. Certifications will continue through September and October - including for regional jets - so that kits can be shipped to all airlines by year-end. But installation itself is proving an expensive and lengthy process in some cases. On some types, the FAA says, a new cockpit bulkhead is required because of the heavier door and in some cases the forward lavatory door has to be replaced because of the decompression air flow. That has put a question mark over the economic viability of installations on some types, the FAA says. The FAA and US Transportation Security Administration are still examining what to do about smaller regional aircraft, some of which currently have no cockpit bulkheads or doors. recently returned to South Korea after Boeing failed to sign Singa pore Airlines as launch customer and delayed a go-ahead decision. KAL Aerospace has been selected to supply the aircraft's raked wingtip extensions. Although the division is still in talks with Airbus about participat ing in the A380 programme, it has ruled out a risk-sharing stake. "We are still discussing it with Airbus," says Choi. He adds the company is interested in taking on subcontracts to produce composite components such as aerodynamic fairings. South Korea's principal aero space manufacturer, Korea Aeros pace Industries (KAI), is, mean while, negotiating to take a 1.5% stake in the A380 and will manufacture lower outer wing skin panels. Revenues at KAL Aerospace have declined steadily from 270 billion won ($225 million) in 1999 to 213 billion won last year, although profit has increased from 12 to 44 billion won during the same period. The South Korean government is trying encourage KAL to fold its manufacturing business into KAI but the two companies say no agreement has been reached. SECURITY KAREN WALKER / WASHINGTON DC US FAA wins pledge to fit secure cockpit doors Order will add to the nine CRJ200s already operated by Shandong PROCUREMENT NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE Shandong orders CRJ700s Shandong Airlines is to become the first operator in China of the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 after re-working an earlier deal with the manufacturer for Challenger 604 executive jets. The airline said in a financial notice published in state-run media last week that it had signed for two CRJ700s and deliveries are due by the end of next year. Shandong operates nine 50-seat CRJ200s, having been the first Chinese scheduled airline to order the Canadian-built regional jets for commercial services in 1999. China United Airlines was already an operator of CRJ200s but it uses its aircraft only for VIP operations. Shandong, which is listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange, said recently that it had dropped plans to acquire two more Challenger 604 executive jets from Bombardier, although it said it would go ahead with a proposal to buy five Cessna 208 Caravans (Flight International, 3-10 September). The carrier had earlier committed to acquiring four Challenger 604s. It is thought the CRJ700s have been ordered in return for the scaled-back Challenger 604 commitment. Bombardier has been trying to sell CRJ700s in China for some time. It said at the Farnborough air show in July 2000 that Shandong would acquire 10, but no deal was ever firmed up. 10 10-16 SEPTEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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