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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2565.PDF
HEADLINES AIR TRANSPORT DARREN SHANNON / WASHINGTON DC 767 deal signals Iraqi expansion Baghdad carrier expects to put ex-Air Canada twinjet into service this month as it prepares major growth plan Iraqi Airways is set to take delivery of a leased Boeing 767-200 this week, and could add at least seven more Boeing aircraft to its fleet, including a 747, by the end of 2005. The 767 is at Timco Aviation Services in Phoenix, Arizona, where the aircraft's current owner Hamilton Aerospace contracted a retrofit. Ownership of this aircraft will soon be transferred to Jordanian company Teebah Airlines, which already leases two 737-2O0s to the Iraqi carrier. The aircraft is due to begin service from Baghdad within the next three weeks. This is the start of Iraqi Airways' expansion. According to Hamilton Aerospace - which was contracted to source the airline's two 737s and the soon-to-be-delivered 767 - the carrier is looking for at least another three 767s and two 737s. "We have already sourced about half of these aircraft," says Hamilton Aerospace president John Sawyer. He adds that the pur chase of a second 767 "will be closed by the end of the month", and that Iraqi Airways is planning to have four 737s and four 767s operational within the next 12 months. These aircraft will be added to the fleet at "roughly one aircraft every two months". Sawyer also notes that the Iraqi carrier is also considering the addi tion of a McDonnell Douglas DC- 10 and possibly a 747 to its fleet. The 767 was built in 1984 and was operated by Air Canada until August 2003, when it was retuned to then-owner Canada Trustco. Timco has carried out a cabin recon figuration, applied a new livery and performed a C check, says Hamilton Aerospace. The 767 will be sold to Teebah, which will register it in Sierra Leone, as it has with the two 737-200s it also leases to Iraqi. Iraqi Airways' first 767 underwent modifications in Phoenix ahead of delivery to the airline this week DEFENCE BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE Europe urges South Korea to think again on VIP helicopter purchase ministry of national defence this week. The South Korean contest is a key battle ahead of a selection by the USA of a new presidential heli copter - a competition that pitches versions of the same two heli copters against each other. South Korean president Roh South Korea is under political pres sure from Europe to delay or reverse an expected purchase of three Sikorsky S-92 VIP helicopters. Industry sources say the air force has rated the S-92 over the AgustaWestland EH 101 and will brief its recommendation to the DEFENCE New Zealand considers joining Australia for NH90 deal New Zealand is considering joining Australia's order for NH Industries' NH90 helicopters as it closes in on selecting replacements for its 14 Bell UH-1H Hueys and five Bell 47 Sioux. Industry sources say the NH90, Bell/Agusta AB139 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk are being evaluated as replacements for the UH-1s, while AgustaWestland's A109/A119, Bell's 407 and Eurocopter's AS550 are on offer for a six- to eight-aircraft Sioux replacement. Wellington had hoped to make selections for the combined $300 million pro gramme this year, but manufacturers now expect a selection will be delayed into 2005. The number of transport helicopters to be purchased is dependent on which types of aircraft are selected. If the NH90 is chosen, New Zealand will only be able to fund about six aircraft. Sources say it may be able to secure a better deal if it joins Australia's MRH90 purchase, but it is too early to deter mine if the deals can be linked. Australia has a 12-aircraft requirement. Moo-hyun is expected to receive a briefing from the ministry next week and make a final decision on the VH-X programme. AgustaWestland has not given up on the competition and members of the consortium are trying to per suade the government to reverse the air force recommendation or delay a decision until 2005. South Korea completed contract negotia tions with both manufacturers early last month, but only the Sikorsky bid meets the programme's $105 million budget. Both aircraft were evaluated in August. European aerospace companies are keen to break US manufactur ers' domination of the South Korean market and have been lob bying Seoul to better balance its procurements. Air force sources say a final decision has not been made, but they say it would be difficult to reverse the air force's recommenda tion because an EH101 purchase would require 10-20% more funds. SPACEFLIGHT Decision on Galileo near The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union will decide this week whether to go ahead with the next stage of the European satellite navigation system Galileo. Industry negotiators were late last week confident that a deal could be struck with their ESA counterparts by the weekend. ESA has been demanding an €880 million ($1.16 billion) price tag, but European consortium Galileo Industries is adamant its offer of around €1 billion is more realistic. A price between the two was expected late last week. "ESA has taken some extremely strong positions, and unreasonable ones in some instances, but we expect to reach something they can accept," one industry negotiator said last week. ESA is negotiating on behalf of the Brussels- based Galileo programme manage ment organisation and European Commission-ESA joint venture, the Galileo Joint Undertaking. 10 7-13 DECEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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