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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2635.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT RENEWAL JUSTIN WASTNAGE / DAKAR Ethiopian to grow long-haul fleet African carrier will launch tender for major expansion and new routes as Boeing makes the running Ethiopian Airlines is on the brink of launching a tender for a major ex pansion of its long-haul fleet in re sponse to a study showing room for growth in its pan-African network. Boeing has "done considerable work with Ethiopian Airlines, look ing at their route structure to tailor the fleet to their requirements, across our product range", says Lee Monson, Boeing Commercial Air planes senior vice-president Middle East and Africa sales. Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Girma Wake says the carrier is "months away" from launching a request for infor mation on long-haul types and says the carrier requires around 15 Airbus A350s or Boeing 7E7s. The carrier - now an all-Boeing operator - wants to launch routes to South America, Asia and possibly to the USA, adds Wake. Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines says it will review its single-aisle requirement next year. The airline says this will fall broadly in line with recommendations made by consultants Ernst & Young. Their report found found considerable room for expansion from the air line's base at newly reconstructed Addis Ababa airport, especially for cross-African routes. The report rec ommends a doubling in size of the short-haul fleet. Ethiopian now has five Boeing 757s, of which one is a cargo vari ant; five 767-300ERs, of which three will be returned off lease next year; four 737-70US and a 737-200. An additional 767-300ER will be delivered in June; with another 737-700 arriving in July. Industry sources expect the carrier to place an order for around six 737 Next Generation aircraft. Monson says any sale would be accompanied by an offset deal and talks are advanced with its two South African suppliers Aerosud and Denel Aerospace to establish subsidiaries in Ethiopia to lead pos sible local manufacturing efforts. Ethiopian Airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul base is also being evaluated, he adds. Boeing says TAAG Angola Airlines and Libyan Arab Airlines are Africa's largest potential campaigns, with both carriers looking for com plete fleet replacements. TAAG says it will take three 777s and six 737s, although the deal is yet to be finalised, while Boeing is "working" with the US authorities to acquire an export licence before starting detailed talks with the carrier. The US manufacturer has 80% of the market in Africa and has restruc tured its sales arm in a bid to retain this level of sales, says Monson. The US manufacturer estimates a requirement for around 570 aircraft over the next 20 years in Africa, with 49% being single-aisle types. DEBUT Redesigned PW6000 powers A318 in flight for first time The Airbus A318 last week flew for the first time powered by redesigned Pratt & Whitney PW6000s, three years after it took to the skies with the original version of the engine. Certification of the PW6124A-powered A318 is targeted for the end of 2005, after a 500h test programme. Airbus says the engines performed "exactly as antici pated" during the 2h 52min initial flight on 9 December. America West is the only remaining announced P&W customer for the A318, with 15 orders. Service entry was effectively delayed by four years when the PW6000 design was changed in 2002 to include the new six-stage MTU-developed HDV12 high-pressure compressor. MODIFICATION MARY KIRBY / WASHINGTON DC Saab offsets passenger weight gain on 340B Saab Aircraft has made significant strides in increasing design weights on its 340B turboprop to accommo date customers affected by the US Federal Aviation Administration's revisions to passenger weights, says the firm's Americas customer ser vice director Erik Harrweg. Harrweg says Saab aims to raise the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) and the maximum zero fuel weight (MZFW) of the 340B by 454kg (1,0001b) - the conservative equivalent of about four passengers. In its investigation into a January 2003 Air Midwest Beech 1900D crash at Charlotte Douglas airport, North Carolina, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the probable cause was a loss of pitch control during take off exacerbated by the aircraft's aft centre of gravity. The FAA in August issued an advisory circular (AC) to operators adding 4.54kg to the aver age assumed passenger weight of 82kg in the summer and 84kg in the winter. This meant that some US cus tomers using 34-seat Saab 340s, for example, had to remove a few seats in certain circumstances as a result of the revised averages. A final order covering passenger and baggage average weight is expected to be released in June 2005. "The [AC] in June of 2005 will be clarifying certain things...but does not change the actual weight," says the FAA. To mitigate the effect of the weight increases, Saab performed a comprehensive study to evaluate possible increases in the design weights of the 340B. Harrweg says: "New certification regulations will be adopted requir ing a change in stall definitions, gust load considerations and a re- analysis of the structural loads [and] aircraft performance." He adds that some structural rein forcements of the 340B are expected, as is a modified stall warn ing computer. In addition, "there is very small risk for a new main wheel or nose landing gear cylinder", says Harrweg. Saab has determined that the maximum landing weight can not be increased without introduc ing a new landing gear, which has been judged too expensive. Harrweg calls the 340B modifica tion "a huge undertaking" that requires a 21-month lead time "from the day we get a substantial order", which he hopes will be "between now and January". 12 14-20 DECEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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