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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 1784.PDF
HEADLINES DEFENCE BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE South Korea to open helicopter contest EH101 and Sikorsky S-92 expected to vie for relaunched VIP/utility programme, with training reguirement set to follow South Korea is preparing to open a competition for new VIP/utility helicopters in the next few months and may also seek information on new training helicopters. Manufacturers expect a request for proposals (RFP) to be issued by October for at least three large transport helicopters, including two in utility configuration and one for the VIP role. The RFP, which marks the relaunch of South Korea's long- delayed VH-X programme, is expected to invite AgustaWestland EH101 and Sikorsky S-92 bids. Manufacturers also believe a re quest for information for up to 30 light army training helicopters will be issued by year-end. Bell, Enstrom, Eurocopter, Korea Aerospace Indus tries (KAI), Robinson, Schweizer and PZL Swidnik will evaluate the TH-X requirement once it is formalised. Industry sources are confident the VIP purchase will proceed next year while the RFI for trainers could lead only to a preliminary evalua tion and may not be quickly fol lowed by an RFP. The trainers are competing for funds against several other army helicopter require ments, but the VIP helicopters are separately budgeted and will be air force-operated. South Korea last issued an RFP for three VIP helicopters three years ago. The EH101 and Kazan Mi-17 were shortlisted because the S-92 was not available. Industry officials believe the new RFP may be increased by a few helicopters, with the EH101 and S-92 the only seri ous contenders. For years the South Korean army has studied replacing the Bell UH-ls and MD Helicopters MD500s it uses to train about 100 pilots a year. Bell is offering the TH-67 Creek used by the US Army, while Eurocopter may offer the similarly sized EC 120. Bell is prepared to offer leases if budget constraints prevent a tradi tional purchase. But Seoul may instead opt for lower-cost trainers such as the Enstrom 480B, Robinson R44 or Schweizer 333. KAI could benefit from VH-X and TH-X offset packages, includ ing possible co-assembly of the new trainers. KAI may team up with Bell to offer the SB427 for TH-X or with its other helicopter joint venture partner Swidnik to manufacture the W-3 or SW-4. BUSINESS AVIATION PremiAir in market push Executive helicopter charter operator PremiAir Aviation is to launch an aggressive push into the business aviation market as part of a drive to quadruple traf fic in the UK over five years. The company will offer block hours to large corporations in an attempt to reduce its dependency on the cyclical leisure market, which leaves its 25-aircraft fleet run ning at around 25% utilisation at off-peak times. Denham, UK-based PremiAir was founded last November after the merger of ex-BBA Aviation Services subsidiary Signature Helicopters, Air Han son and McAlpine Helicopter Services (Flight International, 10-16 December 2002). David McRobert, PremiAir group managing director, says the company is to target around 100 multi-site UK companies dur ing the second half of the year to push the business case for heli copter charters "at a time when the UK's public transport infra structure is getting more and more blocked". PremiAir suffers from extreme seasonal differ ences, with December's 100h utilisation of the mixed Agusta, Eurocopter and Sikorsky fleet around one-quarter of the July average of 370h, says McRobert. AIR TRANSPORT Classic 737 gets winglets Spain's Air Plus Comet has introduced the first Boeing 737 Classic equipped with Aviation Partners Boeing winglets. The aircraft, a 16-year-old ex- TransBrasil -300, was one of two 737s used in the winglet test programme. It will be oper ated on European scheduled services from Madrid. AIR TRANSPORT BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE Taiwanese rebuild 737-300 cargo conversion team and drop price Taiwan's Inter-Continental Aircraft Services (ICAS) is leading an effort to again restructure the Boeing 737- 300 Special Freighter (SF) conver sion team ahead of an expected launch later this year. ICAS president Alex Tong says the Taiwanese consortium has recruited B/E Aerospace subsidiary Flight Structures (FSI) to oversee an application for a US Federal Aviation Administration supple mental type certificate. ICAS also plans to soon select conversion centres in China and the USA. FSI and the new US conversion centre will assume some of the role previously held by Goodrich. ICAS and Goodrich were co-primes, both responsible for sales and serving as conversion centres, before Goodrich pulled out earlier this year. "ICAS has decided to take on the programme on its own," says Tong. Boeing's role is not affected in the latest restructuring, with the manu facturer providing technical data and the cargo door. ICAS plans to use the same door as the 737- 700QC. Vought now supplies this door, but Tang says Boeing is in talks with alternative non-US suppliers. Boeing set up the 737-300SF pro gramme in late 2000, with Good rich and ICAS as conversion cen tres. But last year Boeing ceded responsibilities for sales, develop ment and certification to reduce costs to compete with programmes by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Pemco Aviation Group. Tang says ICAS's new price is $2.5 million, $1 million less than the original price but still 10% to 20% higher than IAI or Pemco. ICAS aims to have a prototype certificated in the USA by the end of 2004. A US company will be chosen in the next month to convert the pro totype. Tong says Taikoo Aircraft Engineering will also "probably" be a modification centre and convert aircraft for Chinese operators. ICAS also plans conversions in Taiwan. 6 15-21 JULY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternatlonal.com
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