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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1372.PDF
HEADLINES DEFENCE PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC Embraer to join US team for airborne sensor bid EMB-145 variant likely to be platform for revised offer in US Army competition Embraer is expected to join the Lockheed Martin-led team bidding for the US Army's Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) programme, offering a variant of its EMB-145 series regional jet as the preferred plat form. This follows the Brazilian manufacturer's decision to open a local US aircraft production facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Lockheed Martin's Denver-based Space division is already teamed with Argon, Harris L-3 Commu nications and Veridian Engin eering, but has not revealed its choice of ACS platform. The US Army has specified per formance requirements but not platforms. Lockheed Martin was believed previously to be looking at the Raytheon Hawker 800XP, while the rival Northrop Grumman team opted for the Gulfstream 450. Embraer is tight-lipped about its plans for the former NAS Cecil Field and the programmes it is chasing. "Embraer has been actively pursuing US defence and homeland security market oppor tunities that have requirements for advanced reliable and affordable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] systems," says Mauricio Botelho, Embraer presi dent and chief executive. Industry sources say Embraer's primary focus is ACS, which could stretch to 45 aircraft. Late last year, the US Army updated its ACS requirement to include four onboard operator stations rather than rely on ground-based analysis. The two teams are now looking at platforms bigger than mid-size business jets, with Northrop Grumman believed to be focusing on the Gulfstream 500/550. The army also raised the ACS operating ceiling specification to 45,000ft (13,725m), but has said it will accept a lower height if neces sary. The EMB-145 has been demonstrated at this altitude, but normally operates at about 39,000ft. An ACS adaptation is likely to use structural and aerody namic modifications incorporated into the airborne early warning and ground remote-sensing versions of the EMB-145 developed for Brazil's S1VAM Amazon surveillance pro gramme and international sales. ACS is intended to replace the army's de Havilland RC-7B Airborne Reconnaissance Low and Beech RC-12 Guardrails. Embraer's SIVAM surveillance platforms will form a basis for the ACS design DEFENCE Singapore defers fighter decision The Singapore government has pushed back a downselection to three candidates in its fighter competition until late July or early August as it reviews late revisions in Dassault's proposal that may result in its Rafale being eliminated from the competition. Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has completed its initial review and is believed to have short listed the Boeing F-15, Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60 and Eurofighter Typhoon. If the ministry of defence and cabinet approve this shortlist, the Boeing F/A-18E/F, Rafale and Sukhoi Su-35 would be eliminated. But the DSTA is still reviewing revisions Dassault submitted after the March deadline, prompting a slip in the decision from June. The revised Rafale proposal calls for Singapore to help fund an upgraded version in exchange for development work by local companies and a share in possible export sales. Dassault's competitors believe Singapore does not want to help fund development, which is needed because France has withdrawn financial support for an export variant of the Rafale. AIR TRANSPORT KAREN WALKER / WASHINGTON DC I ATA head blasts pilot work rules Worldwide safe International Air Transport Association director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani has attacked airline pilots for out- of-touch work rules. Speaking at the IATA annual meeting in Washington DC last week, he said a new approach was needed in airline labour relations. "Pilots should not hide behind old work rules, such as seniority lists, which are out of touch with today's competitive world," he told an audience of chief executives and senior executives from 130 airlines. "This industry needs to reward per formance, not age or seniority." Bisignani's remarks - warmly received by the airlines - herald a drive by IATA to force changes on all fronts as the industry faces its worst-ever financial crisis. He is similarly outspoken on "outdated" government regulations that he says represent "the strongest obsta cles to change"; on industry taxes and security fees; and on landing fees and air traffic service charges. But the warning shot to the pilot community is new. "Labour costs cannot remain immune from the change in cost structure needed by the industry," Bisignani said. "This is an opportunity for our pilot col leagues to work with management to safeguard this industry." US Air Line Pilots Association executive vice-president Michael Geer says pilot seniority has never been raised "by the guys in the trenches" during restructuring. "These remarks are a different colour on what we would call labour-bash ing and the idea of senior workers not putting in their fair share and being a drag on productivity," he says. "That is not appropriate and does not apply to the airline indus try, where the seniority system is good for industry, good for safety and brings value." An International Air Transport Association-led common worldwide airline safety audit programme has been given the green light to launch in July, potentially saving billions of dollars by eliminating duplication of audit efforts and costs. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) programme is intended eventually to replace all regionally and nationally required quality control safety audits by meeting or exceeding the minimum standards required by the most demanding of them, saving costs by eliminating the need for individ- 6 10-16 JUNE 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.c*
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