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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2042.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT REGULATION DGAC stops UK MoD Basra flight An Airbus A330-200 flight to Basra, in Iraq, chartered from Corsair by the UK Ministry of Defence to transport 144 sol diers, was cancelled at the last minute on 12 September by the French civil aviation authority (DGAC). The DGAC denies press reports that it acted on behalf of the French foreign ministry, and says that the safety of the aircraft was the only consideration. The authority says Basra air port is closed to civil aircraft unless they have special permis sion and that it based its decision on International Civil Aviation Organisation guidance dated 18 August about proce dures for flight operations in Iraqi airspace, which warns that non- military operations into Iraq are undertaken entirely at the opera tors' own risk. "We consider this makes it inappropriate for a civilian com pany to fly into Basra," says the DGAC. The British soldiers eventually reached Basra on a Portuguese Euroatlantic Airways charter flight. EXPANSION CR Airways plans fleet additions Hong Kong's first regional jet operator CR Airways, is planning a fleet expansion while preparing for an ownership revamp. The carrier, which launched charter flights in July, has also applied to Hong Kong's Air Transport Licensing Authority for rights to operate scheduled pas senger services to Laoag in the Philippines, as well as to the Chinese cities of Jinan, Naning, Meixian and Wenzhou. Meanwhile, Hong Kong con glomerate China Rich Holdings will acquire a 40% stake from CR Airways owner Robert Yip for HK$180 million ($23 million). DEVELOPMENT MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / DUBLIN Boeing sure of 717-300X regardless of Star choice Manufacturer says other customers, including US majors, are interested in stretch model The 717-300X has been pitched to several Star Alliance airlines Boeing is confident that it can still build a stretched 717 even if the twinjet is rejected by the Star Alliance partners to meet their needs for a new 100-130 seater. The manufacturer says there is interest in the larger model from other cus tomers including two US majors. The proposed 128-seat 717-300X has been pitched to the Star airlines Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Scandinavian Airlines as part of an offer which includes the existing 106-seat 717- 200 to meet the group's combined requirement for 100 regional air craft in the 70- to 130-seat cate gory. The airlines are seeking deals for aircraft built to a common spec ification, but with flexibility in the cabin configuration. Boeing is up against Airbus, Bombardier and Embraer in the competition. Speaking at last week's European Regions Airline Association general assembly in Dublin, 717 pro gramme general manager Jim Phillips said the Star requirement should be enough to launch the stretched aircraft, but the airlines look likely to split the deal between two suppliers to cover all their needs across the entire size range. "It depends on how they split the order, with their 70-seat requirement - we may have to revisit our calculations," he says. A decision by some or all the Star car riers is expected by late this year or early next, he adds: "We may see one or two of the partners go with the configuration first, but that will set the choice for the others." Austrian Airlines chief executive Vagn Sorensen says Star has told the four manufacturers to submit best and final offers by the end of the year and again hinted that any order might be divided between two suppliers. "We are approaching the end phase of the process," says Sorensen, who heads the Star work ing group co-ordinating the initia tive. "It's not 100% given that we will choose one manufacturer. It might be that it is split." Of the four airlines involved, Air Canada is likely to be the first to place an order, possibly this year, he adds. Although the Star requirement is the main focus for the 717-300X at the moment, Phillips says several other airlines are showing interest. "Northwest has 160 DC-9s and is looking at replacements. It needs an aircraft in the 717-200 and -300X size category." Phillips adds that the 717-300X has also been examined by Delta Air Lines as part of the airline's long-term study into a Boeing 737- 200 replacement. It would need around 50 aircraft. Meanwhile, Spanish flag carrier Iberia is looking at the 717 family as a possible replacement for its 24 Boeing MD-87s. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MURDO MORRISON IN VIENNA EVALUATION BRENDAN SOBIE / BEIJING Alliance studies 728/928 jets Fairchild Dornier Aerolndustries, formerly known as D'Long Aerospace, says the Star Alliance is considering the 728 and 928 regional jets in its evaluation of new 70- to 100-seat aircraft. However, the company is yet to hold detailed discussions with its key suppliers on resurrecting the programme. Fairchild Dornier says it is offering Star 728s with deliveries from 2006 and 928s from 2008. "I don't think they'd talk to us if we didn't fit their schedule," says CEO Werner von Anhalt. "If they know there is a product out there that fits their need and that's the 728 and 928 family, we think we have a good chance to enter [the competition]." The new Fairchild Dornier, which purchased assets to the 728 programme earlier this year, plans to make a decision on whether to relaunch the 728 by year-end. A simultaneous relaunch of both the 728 and 928 is being consid ered because some potential customers, including the Star carriers, will only acquire the 728 if they know there will be a family of aircraft with commonality. Von Anhalt is discussing orders from carriers outside Star but launch orders are not necessary for either of the programmes to be relaunched. "Star Alliance would be a nice kickstart to the programme, but we have other opportunities for launch customers," he says. Lufthansa, which had 728s on order when Fairchild Dornier became insol vent, appears to be the most interested of the Star carriers in potentially supporting a relaunch. 8 23-29 SEPTEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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