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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2838.PDF
BUSINESS & GENERAL AVIATION SECURITY MURDO MORRISON / LONDON Call to ease 'unfair' restrictions But US security watchdog rejects accusations of discrimination against private operators from business aviation US business aviation operators are increasingly frustrated by what they see as unfair and unnecessary security restrictions on the sector a year after 11 September. They join a growing chorus of dissent over Washington's tough approach to preventing a repeat of last year's terror attacks, which has seen hour-long queues at airport security checkpoints, and bans on flights from the capital's city-centre Reagan National airport. In a security seminar at this month's National Business Avia tion Association (NBAA) conven tion in Orlando, Florida, one flight department executive warned that operators would continue to be given insufficient notice of deci sions to shut or restrict flights into airspace around cities during major sporting and other events. But one executive questioned the prospect of barring general aviation (GA) flights carrying US business people into New York, for example, while still allowing scheduled services from countries of which 11 September terrorists were citizens. Ed Bolen, president and chief executive of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, said at the convention that making business aviation pay for imple menting tougher security measures was "like charging Pearl Harbor res idents for Pacific Fleet upgrades at the start of World War II". But a representative of the Transportation Security Adminis tration (TSA) was at pains to stress that the new aviation security watchdog did not discriminate against private operators, and was keen to involve the sector. "We invite general aviation to the TSA table," Tom Blank told del egates. "The TSA cannot succeed without the support of key stake holders like NBAA." However, Blank said security in the sector was crucial, and warned Beriev has launched its US certifica tion programme for the Be-103 six- seat twin-engined amphibian after signing a two-year agreement with Aerocorp International as its major distributor in North America. The Be-103, equipped with a low-set water-displacing wing and two 155kW (210hp) Teledyne Continental IO-360-ES4 engines driving MT-Propeller MTV-12 pro pellers, achieved Russian AP-23 cer tification in December 2001. The manufacturer is now seek ing certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration to FAR Part 23 airworthiness rules. US certification would be in the form of FAA acknowledgement of the Russian type certificate. FAA per sonnel will visit Beriev next month to conduct an audit of the Be-103 programme. One of the three fly ing prototypes has been prepared for inspection and is equipped with Bendix/King avionics, weather radar and autopilot. Beriev general director/general designer Gennady Panatov hopes to acquire US certification in the first quarter of next year. Beriev is also implementing a capability- against complacency. "There are credible threats against general avi ation every day," he added. Meanwhile, the prospect of Washington National airport reopening to business aviation has had a boost. Airport manager Chris Browne said he was confident the ban on all but essential government flights would be relaxed soon. But fixed-base operator Signa ture Flight Support is less sure. Washington DC was the BBA subsidiary's flagship site - it handled almost all the 200 daily business aviation movements before 11 September, and has since axed 51 of its 55 employees. extension programme which includes more powerful IO-550 turbocharged engines, operations from soft coastal areas and unpaved airfields and instrument flight rules certification. After signing up Aerocorp International as its US dealer, the manufacturer is now "negotiating with a number of US vendors, sup pliers, maintenance specialists and equipment manufacturers to estab lish a broad customer support base in the USA", says Leonid Vorobiev, director of civil programmes at Sukhoi's Komsomolsk-upon-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), which manufactures the Be-103. Proposals under con sideration are the assembly of air craft from kits in the USA, shipping green airframes to the USA in Antonov An-124-100 freighters, or ferrying aircraft via Alaska. • US company Liberty Group International has been awarded exclusive marketing rights for the Beriev Be-200 multi-purpose amphibian aircraft in the USA and the Caribbean. The aircraft is being targeted particularly at the US mar ket in a fire-fighting role. The SA-20P is the first aircraft Sukhoi's KnAAPO plant has designed AMPHIBIANS SA-20P prototype rolls out Sukhoi's KnAAPO (Komsomolsk-upon-Amur Aircraft Production Association) plant has produced a prototype of the SA-20P amphibian - the first aircraft the production plant has designed. The SA-20P is a single-engined version of the twin-engined Beriev Be-103 amphibian manufactured at KnAAPO. The production plant acquired the rights to use Be-103 documentation from Beriev. The SA-20P has a single engine on the central pylon above the centre fuselage, replacing the Be-103's two Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360s. The prototype has the 270kW (360hp) Vedeneyev M-14P radial piston engine, but also under consideration is a 315kW Rolls-Royce turboprop and other engines in the 300-370kW class, says Pavel Polishuk, head of KnAAPO's engineering department and SA-20P chief designer. The SA-20P has a traditional horizontal tail with an elevator replacing the smaller all-moving control surface on the Be-103. The prototype has per formed high-speed water runs, and its first flight is scheduled for next month. Certification to Russian AP-23 airworthiness requirements, harmonised with US FAR Part 23, is due next year, with deliveries in 2004. KnAAPO believes it can offer the M-14P-powered SA-20P at $100,000 less than the $600,000 price of the standard Be-103. The SA-20P's empty weight is 150kg (330lb) less than the Be-103's 1,760kg. AMPHIBIANS VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW Be-103 certification to follow Beriev's US deal 26 24-30 SEPTEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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