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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3318.PDF
Directory: world airliners THENTH WERE TWO Part 2 of our annual World Airliners directory focuses on regional aircraft, a market now dominated by two manufacturers, although the Chinese and Russians are pressing on with programmes MICHAEL PHELAN / LONDON he number of players competing for business in the regional sector has long been out of kilter with the size, in dollar terms, of the market. The inevitable re-adjustment has occurred over the past 12 months. Gone are BAE Systems and, in all likelihood, Fairchild Dornier in the fall-out from 11 September, while Raytheon has had to declare defeat in the 19-seat sector and move to a build-to-order status on the 1900D. Just two major competitors - Bombardier and Embraer - now remain in the 30- to 100-seat market and they are scrambling to fill the void left by the outgoing product lines and make the best of a tough market. China and Russia seem undeterred by the industry's recent woes and continue to push forward with their own ambi tious regional jet plans. There were reasons to cheer in the past year. Embraer launched flight testing of its all-new 70- seat 170 regional jet. Although the schedule has been hampered by slippages that have delayed deliveries by up to six months, the aircraft promises to be the first of an important line-up of new airliners from the Brazilian manufacturer. Meanwhile, Bombardier completed flight testing of its latest CRJ variant, the 90-seat CRJ900, ahead of first deliveries to Mesa early next year. Sadly the industry's two other new jet types did not make it that far. BAE had three RJX air frames in flight test when it pulled the plug on the programme 12 months ago, citing the eco nomic downturn and the large-scale availability of cheap secondhand aircraft. Although the test aircraft are set for a premature end to their lives either as museum pieces or scrap metal, BAE's portfolio of over 450 secondhand regional air craft will ensure it remains an important player in the market for some years to come. The Fairchild Dornier 728 prototype did not even get as far as flight test, with the company's collapse occurring shortly after the 70-seater's roll-out ceremony in Oberpfaffenhofen, Ger many, eight months ago. Despite overtures by potential suitors such as Boeing and Bom bardier, a credible rescue effort is yet to be mounted and the programme's future is grim. China and Russia are convinced that their regional jet programmes can succeed where oth ers have failed. Both the Chinese ARJ21 and Sukhoi-led Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) pro grammes have been given a huge boost in cred ibility by having Boeing on board in a consul tancy role, but how deep the US manufacturer's involvement will become is unclear. General Electric has been chosen to power the ARJ21 programme and Western engine manufacturers are involved in the bids for the RRJ family. ATR is the sole Western manufacturer remain ing in the 40- to 80-seat sector that offers an entire turboprop product line. Major develop ments in the propeller-driven sector have been largely devoted to establishing freighter conver sions for the large in-service fleet of ATR 42/72s, BAe ATPs, Fokker 50s and Saab 340s. Bombardier is also studying a cargo version of the Q400. • AEROCOURIER AeroCourier Group, 10504 SW Indianola Rd, Augusta, Kansas 67010, USA Tel:+1(316) 733 5238 Web: www.aerocouriergroup.com Aerocourier Unveiled in December 2001. the Aerocourier is a single-turboprop utility aircraft designed to compete with the Cessna Caravan, but capable of taking containerised freight. Design and manufacturing is outsourced to Indonesian Aerospace, while assem bly and certification will be performed in the USA. The first of two prototypes is set to fly at the end of the year, and certification is planned for 2004. The all-metal unpressurised Aerocourier has a high wing and fixed gear and, with a cargo capacity of 1,860kg can carry six company-designed LDX containers, each equivalent to about 1/18th capac ity of a standard LD3 cargo container. The cabin is designed for quick conversion between cargo and passenger configuration. AeroCourier is evaluating P&WC PT6 and Walter turboprop engines. Fractional ownership group Airshares Elite of Atlanta has ordered 20 of the type to be delivered in 2005, primarily in an executive transport configura tion. The price is to be under $1 million. Production Final assembly and flight tests will be performed in Wichita, Kansas. Airbus, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, Blagnac Cedex F-31707, France Tel: +33 (61) 93 33 33 Fax: +33 (61) 93 37 92 Telex: 530526 FAIRBU Web: www.airbus.com Based in Toulouse, France, Airbus Industrie was formed to manage the development and marketing of the 250-seat A300B widebodied twinjet. Airbus was created as a Groupement d'lnteret Economique in December 1970 (a 50:50 joint ven ture between Aerospatiale and Deutsche Airbus (then part of MBB). Spain's CASA joined the con sortium in 1971, followed by BAe (now BAE Systems) in 1979. The French and German part ners each held 37.9%, in the consortium, BAe 20% and CASA 4.2%. Following the creation of EADS in 2000, a restructuring of the consortium into the Airbus Integrated Company was undertaken which took effect in mid-2001. EADS holds 80% and BAE the remainder. Airbus is now described as "an EADS joint company with BAE Systems". The original four partners' Airbus companies are now wholly owned by Airbus, and designated Airbus Deutschland, Airbus Espafia, Airbus France and Airbus UK. A318 The 107-seat A318 is the latest derivative of Airbus's A320 single-aisle family. Launched in April 1999, the A318 is derived from the larger 124-seat 42 12-18 NOVEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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