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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1423.PDF
HEADLINES DEFENCE STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC USAF C-130J policy under attack Air force's alternative financing approach brings new criticism as Department of Defense urges halt to upgrades The US Department of Defense's inspector general (IG) has targeted the Lockheed Martin C-130J pro gramme as it expands its criticism of the US Air Force's use of com mercial acquisition procedures. An IG report posted on 23 July urges the air force to stop paying for upgrades to the C-130J until Lockheed Martin can deliver air craft that comply with the original specifications. The air force and Lockheed Martin are disputing all of the IG report's findings. The air force has accepted deliv ery of 35 of the first 50 C-130JS ordered since February 1999, but the aircraft cannot perform two key missions - airdropping paratroops and equipment - until a block 5.4 software upgrade is installed next year. The C-130J also has been ordered for the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard, plus Australia, Denmark, Italy and the UK. Echoing its recent criticism of the air force's plan to lease Boeing 767 tankers, the IG report con demns the air force's alternative financing approach. "Essentially, what began as a contract to obtain a commercial aircraft that would meet the gov ernment's needs with minor modi fication evolved into efforts by the air force to manage the C-130J as a spiral development at additional expense to the government," according to the IG report. In its rebuttal, the service draws a link between the IG's criticisms of the Boeing KC-767 tanker and C- 130J programmes, saying these "suggest that DoD IG is opposed to applying the Congressional prefer ence for the acquisition of com mercial items to major system pro curements". The IG's C-130J report "ignores that Lockheed Martin developed the C-130J at its own risk for the commercial and military market places", it says. The service's rebuttal of the criti cism also contends that the pro gramme is achieving cost and schedule targets. "Lockheed Martin is already delivering contract-compliant air craft," the air force says. AIR TRANSPORT NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE Thai includes A380s in fleet expansion plan Thai Airways International is set to order six Airbus A380s and eight other widebodies from Airbus and Boeing after the carrier's board approved a major fleet expansion. Board approval for the 14-aircraft fleet expansion was secured on 28 July and Thai says it will cover its 2005-6 to 2009-10 financial years that begin every 1 October. The airline does not specify air craft types, saying only that it plans to acquire six long-range ultra-large aircraft seating 500 passengers, seven "long-range medium-size" aircraft and one "super-long-range medium-size aircraft". Thai has been considering an A380 order for a while and the board's endorsement allows it to formally consider a commitment for six of the type, which it plans to operate mainly to points in Europe such as Frankfurt and London. The "long-range medium-size" aircraft it plans to order are expected to be Boeing 777-200ERs, primarily for services to Europe. Thai already operates 777s on routes within Asia-Pacific. The one "super-long-range medium-size aircraft" is likely to be an A340-500. Thai already holds orders for three A340-500s and five -600s, all of which will be delivered next year. Its A340-500s will be used for the first non-stop services between Bangkok and the USA, while the larger -600s are intended mainly for European routes. DEFENCE EVAN SWEETMAN/LONDON A310 tanker passes milestone The Airbus A310 MRTT has completed its first "wet" in-flight refuelling tests. A total of 2,000 litres (530USgal) of fuel were transferred to a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and a Panavia Tornado through two wing- mounted refuelling pods on the A310 during the "wet" portion of the test. The A310 MRTT's service entry, and the development of the A400M airlifter, marks the debut of Airbus in the military special-mis sion market. Of the six A31 Os being delivered to Canada and Germany starting this month, three are being converted by Airbus with Lufthansa Technik at Elbe Flugzeugwerke, in Dresden. The other three will be converted at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany. Two Seabird Seekers will observe Iraq's main supply routes DEFENCE ALAN GEORGE/ LONDON Seekers poised to go on patrol over Iraq The new Iraqi air force has taken delivery of two Seeker observation and surveillance aircraft from Jordan's Seabird Aviation. To be based in the Gulf port city of Basra, the aircraft will be used to patrol main supply routes, pipelines and powerlines, which are frequent targets for attack by insurgents. The order for the two Seeker SB7L-360s, fitted with an electro- optical surveillance suite supplied by FLIR Systems of the USA, was placed by Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in June, shortly before the CPA's powers were transferred to the Iraqi government. The order, which includes training and support from within Jordan, is valued at over $2 million. The Seeker combines a helicopter-type cabin offering high all-round visibility with a conventional fixed-wing body, with the engine and propeller mounted above and behind the overhead wing. It is powered by a Lycoming O-360 engine derated to produce 170hp (125kW). "It's a very strong aircraft, but also very light, with an all-up mass of around 900kg [1,980lb]," says Seabird's chairman, Alec Mackenzie, adding: "Because it is designed for remote-field operation and can use low- grade fuel, the Seeker can land on roads or tracks and fill up with super-unleaded at a petrol station, making it ideal for convoy escort and long-range missions." 4 3-9 AUGUST 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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