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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3605.PDF
HEADLINES SIMULATION KAREN WALKER / ORLANDO L-3 wins US Navy's first network training deal DMT suite delivery for Hornet is planned for June 2004 The US Navy has selected L-3 Communications to provide a dis tributed mission training (DMT) system for the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet fighter - the first DMT suite for the navy. L-3's EER and Link Simulation & Training divisions competed against Boeing for the multi-mil lion dollar contract. The first suite, comprising four linked F/A-18C trainers each within a nine-facet, 360° field-of-view SimuSphere visual display system, two debrief ing rooms, a mission operations centre and a missions trainer, is scheduled to be delivered to NAS Oceana, Virginia - home to the USN's Atlantic Fleet strike wing - in June 2004. Any one of the flight trainers will be able to operate indi vidually or in any combination involving the other three. Included in the contract is an option to build a second four-set suite to be delivered to NAS Lemoore, California. This contract is expected to be finalised in the next 18 months. The two suites would be linked for long-haul net work training. L-3 programme manager Robert Thomas says that the ultimate goal would be to integrate the DMT system trainers with other Navy aircraft simulators and possibly with US Air Force aircraft systems as well. The DMT concept is viewed as a key medium for mis sion rehearsal by joint and coali tion forces as well as a core element of the work-up of US expeditionary forces. While the USAF has DMTs pro vided by Boeing for F-15C net worked training and by Lockheed Martin for F-16 training, this contract marks the navy's first step into DMT. "This is the first one out of the shoe," says Thomas. "The navy is doing everything for the big plan." L3 has built and provided all F/A-18 trainers to date, not just for the USN, but also for operators in Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia and Switzerland. "We have a 20-year legacy in this area," says Thomas. "Anybody else would have had to start from scratch." ' SEE l/ITSEC SHOW REPORT P22 AIR TRANSPORT TAM rethinks 100-seat plan TAM is relaunching a competition to select a 100-seat replacement for its Fokker 100s after earlier having allowed two letters of intent (Lol) for Airbus A318s and Embraer 195s to lapse. The move opens the door for Boeing to again attempt to sell the 717 to the carrier. The Sao Paulo-based airline says it is seeking fresh proposals for 25 firm orders, plus a similar number of options, with the intent of having the first air craft in service by 2005. The aircraft will replace 49 leased Fokker 100s, 21 of which are parked and are being returned early to lessors GE Capital Aviation Services and Debis AirFinance. TAM says it is looking at the A318,195 and 717. The evaluation is essentially a rerun of an earlier competition that ended with the signing of Lois at the 2001 Paris air show for the 107-seat Airbus aircraft and an equal number of 110-seat 195s. No A318 engine selection was made. Neither Lol was subsequently transformed into orders and both were allowed lapse as a result of Brazil's economic difficulties. TAM was instead able to negotiate lower Fokker 100 lease rates. Observers suggest that TAM's renewed interest in a more modern domestic fleet is a possible move to financially exploit troubled Varig's turmoil, following the rejection of a recapitalisation plan, resignation of its chief executive and suppliers pressing for payment. SEE BUSINESS P20 Briefing Air India approves long-haul fleet study EVALUATION Air India has secured board approval to evaluate formally the Airbus A340-300 and the Boeing 777-200ER in a contest that the carrier says should lead to the acquisition of 17 aircraft. The airline has been consid ering a long-haul fleet modernisation for years but has repeatedly deferred any decisions. Air India said in September that it was reviving these plans, while also considering short-haul aircraft seating at least 160 people. Air India says now that "the board referred the issue to the technical committee to carry out a more comprehensive analysis of the performance capabilities, including payload restrictions, if any, of the 150-plus-seater aircraft and its bearing on overall economics of operations". The committee will also identify routes "and work out the economics of the ultra-long-range aircraft," says Air India. Peru throws air force funding lifeline BUDGET The Peruvian air force, which is suffering severe budgetary constraints, has been handed an $87.7 million lifeline by its government for modernisation and overhaul of the fleet. Within the next 90 days, Russian state arms exporter Rosboronexport is expected to sign a deal to return to the air Antonov An-32 Cline transports, Mil Mi-17 Hip and Mi-25 Hind helicopters - the Mi-25s have been grounded since last year. The agreement will also provide technical assistance for the air force's RSK MiG-29 Fulcrums and Sukhoi Su-25/UB Frogfoot fighters. It is possible that the deal will also cover either the supply of two Mi-172s or the conversion of two existing airframes for VIP duties. GAO wary of trusted travellers REPORT Congressional investigators warn a host of "unresolved policy and programmatic issues" need to be resolved before the USA could allow a system giving "trusted" or "known" passengers expedited access through airport security. The airlines are pushing hard for a registered traveller programme, believing it would lure frequent business flyers back into the air. In its report the General Accounting Office (GAO) agrees that a registered traveller programme could be an effective way of reducing hassle for passengers and enabling transport security administration screeners to concentrate on unknown travellers, but warns that considerable planning is needed to avoid "new aviation security vulnerabilities". These include: developing criteria for programme eligibility and determining how thorough background checks should be for those applying to register, says the GAO. Concorde rudder problems recur SAFETY The rudder from a British Airways Aerospatiale/BAe Concorde that suffered a structural failure last month has been sent to Quinetiq for analysis. A part of the lower rudder section separated - the fifth such failure during the aircraft's operational life. According to BA's Concorde chief pilot Mike Bannister, during acceleration through Mach 1.8 on the 27 November departure from London, the crew heard a "slight pop", but since there were no indications of malfunction they continued to New York. As the aircraft (G-BOAE) was decelerating through Mach 1.4, it suffered vibration but no control problems. Rudders across the entire BA Concorde fleet were immediately checked. Air France says it "has had no problems of this type". EU will force passenger delays compensation RULING European Union airlines will be required to pay statutory compensation to passengers denied boarding because of overbooking, or because of long delays or flight cancellation, following a decision by the EU Transport Council last week. In the event of turning passengers away, airlines will be required to adopt the US system of asking for volunteers to relinquish seats in return for compensation. Compensation, set at a "dissuasive" level, would vary between €250 and €600 ($250 and $600) depending on flight length, and passengers would retain their right to care until an alternative flight or a full refund of the ticket price becomes available. UK no-frills airlines have warned that this marks the end of their "bargain basement" fares. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 10-16 DECEMBER 2002 5
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