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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0080.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT ENGINES Snecma and NPO set to power RRJ Snecma and partner NPO Saturn are set to win the compe tition to power the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) with the pro posed new SM146 turbofan. An announcement of the engine's selection by Sukhoi in concert with partner Boeing was due last week, but has been delayed. Airframe and engine manu facturer sources say the SM146 was selected over the competing Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 turbofan, being offered in con junction with Aviadvigatel. The Rolls-Royce BR710 and General Electric CF34-8 were eliminated from the running last year. A factor in rejecting the PW800 is believed to have been the perceived technical risk asso ciated with the engine's geared fan. PWC says that the engine will be ready to meet the RRJ's planned entry into service target date of the first quarter of 2007. "We're still waiting for a formal decision and announcement by Sukhoi," adds the company. Snecma refuses to comment on the RRJ programme. The SM146 will build on the Dem 21 core demonstrator which began test runs in he mid dle of last year and followed the collapse of the planned joint Snecma/Pratt & Whitney SPW 14 engine development in 2000. The French engine is intended to cover a thrust range of between 13,5001b and 17,5001b (60kN and 78kN) and will power the planned 55-, 75- and 95-seat versions of the RRJ family. SECURITY KAREN WALKER / WASHINGTON DC Task force looks at SAM protection for airliners Silence surrounds cost issue, while White House says threat to US airlines is remote. A US government task force is look ing at how airliners might be pro tected from potential surface-to-air missile (SAM) attacks, but the issue of costs is drawing a curtain of silence around the subject. Since the November 2002 inci dent in Mombasa, Kenya, in which two SAMs were fired at a Boeing 757 belonging to Israeli carrier Arkia, narrowly missing the aircraft, there has been debate about whether US airlines are under threat from simi lar terrorist attacks. The US govern ment and airline industry have been mostly silent on the subject. Although the White House stresses the need for secrecy and describes the threat as "remote", the larger concern is the massive cost of equip ping airliners with devices such as infrared countermeasure systems - perhaps as much as $1 million for each aircraft. The White House has confirmed that an interagency task force has been created to look into the issue. The task force, which reports to the US National Security Council, is looking at how to improve security at airports and on aircraft, as well as how to find stored portable missiles. "There are many different ways to provide increased protection to the travelling public from the remote possibility of this threat. Those are all being discussed," says the White House. The US Air Transport Association (ATA), which lobbies on behalf of the major carriers, refuses to acknowledge the existence of the task force, but makes clear the responsibility for addressing the threat and paying for it lies with the government. "Protecting against threats of this type is the responsi bility of the federal government," says the ATA, "Therefore, any tech nology decisions will be made by government, not the airlines." EXPANSION Virgin Blue sets sights on international routes Australian low-cost carrier Virgin Blue will use its $3.1 billion order for up to 50 Boeing 737s to help it launch international services. The deal, which was signed on 16 January ending 10 months of cross-dealing with Airbus and Boeing, comprises 10 firm orders for 180-seat 737-800s for delivery by August 2004, and options for 40 Virgin Blue's new 737-800s will be taking off for international destinations more for delivery over the next 10 years. These can be taken as the -700, -800 or the planned extended range -900X, and will be used for expansion and allow for "swap- outs" of older leased 737. Chief executive Brett Godfrey says a major move in the coming year would be the launch of inter national services. The carrier is eye ing flights to Fiji and Samoa as well as possible connecting flights with Virgin Atlantic to Hong Kong and Singapore. The airline has also looked at operating services to New Zealand. Virgin Blue operates an all-737 fleet, that includes two -300/400s, 17 -700s and 10 -800s. FLEET RENEWAL IVAN CASTANO / MADRID Iberia abandons BA 747-400 plan and studies new-build aircraft Iberia hopes to finalise its long- haul fleet-renewal order by next month, having dropped a plan to take secondhand Boeing 747-400s from British Airways as an alterna tive to new-build aircraft from Airbus or Boeing. Iberia needs eight new long- range aircraft to replace its six Boeing 747-200s and has been eval uating offers from Airbus and Boeing for the Airbus A340-600, 747-400 and the Boeing 777-30OER. The new aircraft would be delivered from 2004. Iberia confirms that it had been discussing the option of taking 747s from BA - a minority shareholder and a Oneworld alliance partner - but decided it would be too costly in the long run. "We were looking at aircraft that were about eight years old, but these would have to be replaced in eight to 10 years, so we would be back to where we are with the current fleet," he says. BA has 56 747-400s, and has been seeking ways to reduce its fleet as part of a move to 777s. Iberia says it was close to an order decision late last month, but postponed it until late January to negotiate better terms. The airline says it has also reduced its planned order size from 10 aircraft to eight, and will take up to eight options. 10 21-27 JANUARY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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