FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2174.PDF
HEADLINES AIR TRANSPORT Boeing looks to military for 737-900 cargo variant Boeing is studying a freighter version of its largest 737 model, the -900, which would borrow systems already developed for the -700 quick- change model in service with the US military, writes Max Kingsley-Jones. The -900F study was revealed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group president Alan Mulally at last week's Cargo Facts ninth Annual Aircraft Symposium in Seattle, Washington. "There's lots of interest in a freighter version of the 737-900," Mulally said. US package carrier FedEx Express is evaluating freighter versions of the 737 and 757 as potential replacements for its ageing 727 fleet, and FedEx Aviation Services gen eral manager fleet development and acquisitions Phil Blum says that the -900F is "something Boeing has shown to us, but its one of a number of options we've looked at". The US manufacturer has developed a maindeck cargo door-equipped 737-700 for the US military, which has also been sold to a civil operator, Aramco of Saudi Arabia. Boeing says that the 737-900F is purely a develop ment study, and declines to reveal any further details on the aircraft. Flight International estimates that an all-cargo version of the 180-seater would be able to accommodate around 11 standard 88 x 125in (2.24 x 3.18m) pallets. This compares with eight on the 737-700QC and -300 converted freighter, nine on the -400 converted freighter and 14 on the much heavier, longer range 757-200 package freighter. The -900 has a lower- deck bulk cargo volume of 51.7m3 (1,822ft3). DEFENCE PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA AgustaWestland courts Australia with new A149 Planned multirole helicopter to be offered for trooplift and could replace Black Hawks AgustaWestland has unveiled pre liminary planning for a new 6.8t multirole helicopter, with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) targeted as launch customer. The new helicopter, designated the A149, would draw on technol ogy developed for the A139 series, but would feature a new fuselage and drive train. Civil and military versions are proposed. AgustaWestland says the new helicopter would target Bell UH-1Y, Huey II and 412 and Eurocopter EC765 operators. The company says there is a market for 2,000 helicopters in this class outside the USA, in which the A149 could potentially secure 400 sales. The A149 has been offered to the Australian Department of Defence as part of the AgustaWestland/BAE Systems Australia bid for the Air 9000 requirement for additional trooplift helicopters and the possi ble replacement of 36 Army Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawks. The bid is baselined on the EH101, with options also provided on A109s and A119s to meet requirements for replacement training and utility helicopters in later phases of the project. AgustaWestland business group director Ron Jones says that plan ning for the A149 has been under way for several years, and the deci sion to link its launch to the Australian Air 9000 programme has been "a logical coming together". However, development will pro ceed if the company is unsuccessful in the Air 9000 competition. "We now have agreement to launch the product and we are looking for partners," Jones says. Australian participation in the A149 development programme would focus on structural design and development of the cabin and tailboom sections, and integration of the aircraft mission systems. The A149 is understood to have been offered as part of options for a mixed fleet replacement for the S-70A-9s and as a long-term replace ment for the Royal Australian Navy's S-70B-2s. The Air 9000 programme seeks to rationalise the entire ADF heli copter fleet down from nine differ ent aircraft types to a maximum of five, and set up a long-term strate gic partnership with a single prime contractor for their support and upgrade. Tenders closed in mid- August with the Australian govern ment seeking to announce a source selection before year-end. The project is also being sepa rately competed for by Eurocopter and Sikorsky. BUSINESS AVIATION GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES & GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC Pro Line 21 cockpit bolsters Raytheon King Airs Raytheon and Rockwell Collins have teamed to upgrade the King Air 200 and 350 with a Pro Line 21 cockpit to boost the twin-turbo prop model range and provide a smoother transition to Raytheon's Premier I and Hawker 800XP busi ness jets. All King Air 200/350s will be delivered with the new cockpit as standard at no extra cost. The upgrade is being unveiled at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) show. Collins has completed certification on the King Air 350, with the 200 expected to follow within a few weeks of NBAA. Reduced vertical separation minima testing has been completed by Raytheon. The original Pro Line II panel is replaced by three 255 x 205mm (10 x 8in) liquid-crystal displays: pri mary and multifunction displays (PFD/MFD) on the pilot's side and a second PFD on the co-pilot's side. This is similar to the Premier I layout. "We looked at going to a two- tube layout as standard, but after consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, and to ensure commonality on the produc tion line, we went to a three-tube layout," says Raytheon marketing director Ron Gunnarson. The first production King Air 350 with Pro Line 21 is in final assembly, with the first 200 following within a month. Raytheon plans to deliver 11 Pro Line 21-equipped King Airs in 2003, seven 200s and four 350s. The cock pit will not be available as a retrofit. The suite includes Pro Line 21 integrated radios; flight manage ment and GPS; dual digital air-data computers, solid-state attitude/ heading reference systems and Mode S transponders; and turbu lence-detection weather radar. The Pro Line 21 cockpit will be delivered on new King Airs at no extra cost 4 7-13 OCTOBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
