FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1045.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT ANDREW DOYLE / PARIS JetBlue to fit HUDs on 190 fleet US carrier selects Rockwell Collins' new-generation display to equip Embraer twinjets for reduced visibility operations JetBlue Airways has selected a new- generation Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics head-up display (HUD) system to equip its Embraer 190s for reduced-visibility operations in a deal that is worth around $60 million to the avionics supplier, based on list prices. "We have just finalised a con tract with JetBlue and Flight Dynamics to provide a dual HUD," said Embraer senior vice-president engineering and new product development Luis Carlos Affonso, speaking at Embraer's European headquarters in Paris. The US low- cost carrier is the launch customer for the 100-seat 190 with an order for 100 aircraft. The HUD system, which will be the first by Flight Dynamics to incorporate liquid crystal display (LCD) image sources rather than traditional cathode-ray tubes, is tar geted for certification in time for JetBlue's first 190 delivery in August 2005. "We are still analysing the sched ule to see if it's possible, otherwise there will have to be a retrofit," says Affonso. "With LCDs you have much bet ter image quality and you can add all sorts of images on top of the symbology of the display," he adds. The HUD could be combined with an enhanced vision system and offer features such as roll-out guid ance, although these will not be part of the initial certification. "I'm sure in time all these features will be developed," says Affonso. A longer-term goal is to certificate the HUD as a primary flight display, freeing one of the existing five panel-mounted displays to host an electronic flight bag or cabin surveil lance video camera feed. Two 190s are in the flight-test programme, the third is due to fly in August and the fourth in September. Affonso says development of the 195 - a stretched version of the 190 - is continuing despite launch cus tomer Swiss International Air Lines' decision to defer first delivery to August 2006. First flight of the 195 is expected by the end of this year, but certification is not due until the second quarter of 2006. Swiss has held discussions on converting its 195 commitments to the smaller 190. "They have that option but as of now they are stick ing with the 195," says Affonso. SERVICE ENTRY Airline trio encouraged by 170 performance Embraer says early airline feedback shows the 70- to 78- seat 170 is performing well in revenue service with its first three operators. LOT Polish Airlines introduced the 170 on 17 March, followed by US Airways on 4 April and Alitalia on 26 April. By 8 June, 16 Embraer 170s had been delivered and had flown a combined 3,969 cycles and 5,045h. Three of the four family members are now flying LOT's first four aircraft had achieved a 99% technical dispatch reliability rate by 6 June after operating nearly 1,200 flights, and the airline has since received its fifth air craft. Alitalia was by 8 June reporting a 99.4% scheduled flight completion rate after just over 720 flights with its three-strong fleet. The three operators have recorded a combined average passenger load factor of "about 70%", says Embraer senior vice-president engineering and new product development, Luis Carlos Affonso. Production of the 170 is ramping up to reach seven air craft a month by the third quarter of 2004, from four during the first quarter and five during the second. Around 60 170s should have been delivered by the end of 2004. Embraer is yet to secure a customer for the 175 - a stretched version of the 170 - even though two pre-series aircraft are flying and have completed 250h of the test campaign. Certification is targeted for the fourth quarter. Turkish carrier Atlasjet has signed a letter of intent to take two 78-seat 170s and four 86-seat 175s and the air line would receive its first 175 in May next year if the deal is firmed up. MANUFACTURING NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE China tops Airbus deals with A380 subcontract China has secured its first compo nent manufacturing subcontract for the Airbus A380 in addition to winning more A330/A340 work. Airbus says the upper and lateral panels of the A380 nose landing- gear bay will be subcontracted to AVIC I via Latecoere of France, but it does not say which AVIC I sub sidiary will perform the work. Airbus will also allocate A330/A340 "forward cargo door projects" via Eurocopter. The work will be carried out by AVIC I sub sidiary Shenyang Aircraft. "This has been the first time for Airbus to involve China in produc ing A380 components," says Airbus, which has yet to sell A380s to Chinese carriers. Five Chinese companies cur rently produce parts for Airbus air craft: Chengdu Aircraft, Guizhou Aviation Industrial Group, Hong Yuan Aviation Forging & Casting, Shenyang Aircraft and Xian Aircraft. The agreements were signed days after AVIC I and China's other state-owned manufacturing group, AVIC II, secured additional subcon tract work from Boeing, including deals for the new 7E7. 10 22-28 JUNE 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
