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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0485.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT DEVELOPMENT GUY NORRIS / SEATTLE Redesign boosts 737-900X seats Modifying bulkhead to flat structure increases capacity and competitiveness with rival Airbus A321, says Boeing Boeing is studying a radical flat tened aft pressure bulkhead design for the 737-900X which could inc rease seating capacity and help launch the project by mid-2003. The flat bulkhead would replace the bowl-shaped structure as part of a comprehensive redesign of the aft section 48. Switching to a flat or "square" bulkhead would add an extra fuselage frame of interior space in which to rearrange galley and lavatory fixtures to provide room for more seats in the cabin. The baseline 737-900 is limited to 189 seats due to exit limit regula tions as it has the same door layout as the -800, but the -900X is avail able with extra Type 1 doors aft of the wing to increase capacity. With the redesigned bulkhead, the air craft can house up to six more seats than previously projected depend ing on pitch and lavatory location, says product marketing regional director Kenneth Hiebert. Although maximum capacity would be 220 passengers, Boeing sees the real value of the redesign in the extra space for three more seats at a more comfortable 29-30in (740- 760mm) pitch. "Seating goes up from 201 to 204 pitched at 30in. This really gets us into the Airbus A321 area. Before, the -900X had the range but not the seat mile costs and with this increase we'll be there [on costs]," says Hiebert. The redesign study has "heated the -900X up again", says Hiebert, adding: "The expectation level is very high with this." Talks with potential -900X launch customers are ongoing. "We are in conversa tion with them not just for this, but for a variety of aircraft," Hiebert says. Assuming a launch in mid- 2003, the -900X could begin flight testing in late 2004 and enter service in the third quarter of 2005. "It won't take a big order to make this happen," adds Hiebert. Other features of the proposed derivative include a two-position tailskid for reduced take-off and landing speeds, and sealed leading- edge slats. Range with optional winglets increases to about 5,735km (3,100nm) due to a 1,970 litre (520USgal) auxiliary fuel tank and increased maximum take-off weight of 83,700kg. The aircraft also has reinforced landing-gear legs, wing- box and keel beam structure. START-UP Carrier joins Palau fight A second airline is being estab lished in the Pacific Island of Palau to follow Palau Trans Pacific's effort to break Contin ental Micronesia's market hold. Palau Trans Pacific started flying between Palau and Taipei in November using a Boeing 737-800 leased from Taiwan's Mandarin Airlines. Palau Air plans to begin operations in July offering scheduled flights to seven overseas destinations. "Palau is poised to grow and we want to exercise the sover eignty rights of Palau by flying to places such as Japan and the Philippines," says the airline's owner, Alan Seid. Seid says talks are being held with Ansett Worldwide and Bou- llioun Aviation Services to lease two 737-200s. He has brought in investors from Japan and Guam and persuaded the governments of Kosrae, Palau, Pohnpei and Yap to be equity partners. "Palau is a desirable [tourist] destination and we want to change the hubbing from Guam and rely less on Continental Micronesia," he says. Regulatory approval from the Palau trade and commerce ministry was received last September. FLEET REPLACEMENT BRENDAN SOBIE / WASHINGTON DC Aeromexico rejects bank finance and forges lease deals for new jets Aeromexico has rejected US Export- Import Bank funding for 15 new Boeing 737-700s and has sealed a mix of operating lease deals with International Lease Finance (ILFC) and Lombard Aviation Capital. After selecting the 737-700 to rep lace its McDonnell Douglas DC-9s last year, Aeromexico tentatively ordered 15 US Exim Bank-financed 737-700s, with deliveries from Aug ust 2003 until December 2004. But the deal was dropped in favour of a direct order with Boeing for 11 737- 700s placed last December, with 33 options. Lombard will purchase and lease back six of the aircraft, for delivery from October. ILFC is pur chasing and leasing back the other five, with deliveries from November. Aeromexico has also signed a lease deal with ILFC for four 737-700s. "Our board didn't authorise Aero mexico to finance the aircraft via the Exim bank," says fleet director Francisco Vosch, adding the board did not want the liability of owned aircraft given the expected sale of the carrier. Vosch will begin evaluat ing options next year for repla cement of its 42 Boeing MD-80s. The carrier is returning two of its 11 MD-82s this year, but is adding three MD-87s. Aeromexico plans to continue operating MD-80s until at least 2008. LAUNCH Bali takes road to recovery with Air Paradise New Bali carrier Air Paradise International has launched services from the island's Denpasar Airport to Jakarta, Melbourne and Perth with an ex-Singapore Airlines Airbus A310-300. Set up by Bali entrepreneur Kadek Wiranatha, the airline will add a second A310 in April. Launch was postponed from last year following October's nightclub bombing on the ' island. Before the attack, I an average of 250,000 S Australians visited Bali K every year. 10 4-10 MARCH 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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