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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 1614.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT Embraer and FMA push CBA-123 BY KIERAN DALY IN WASHINGTON DC Embraer and FMA say that their bid to sell 60 CBA-123 commuter aircraft to their re spective national governments is nearing success. The innovative twin-pusher turboprop being built by the Brazilian/Argentinian team fell victim to the collapse of the 19-seat airliner market and al most certainly needs the govern ment deal if it is to survive. The Latin American compa nies say that they are "...antici pating a 60-aircraft order...as a result of ongoing negotiations with the respective governments in order to meet the needs of the Brazilian and Argentine air forces, which require 40 and 20 aircraft, respectively". Earlier this year, however, FMA characterised the possible deal as government underwrit ing of the first 60 production aircraft, and said the intention was that no more than a handful would actually enter the air Embraer and FMA —^~^-^' : ~'™~™" expect government orders for 60 CBA-123s force service (Flight Interna tional, 18-24 March). The company said the propos als to the two governments were premised on continuing market ing efforts to secure commercial customers for the 60 aircraft before they come off the line. If those efforts failed, then the governments would still have to JET develops stall-warning device A revolutionary stall-warn ing device, which also monitors wing contamination, is approaching US certification. The SW Plus system, being marketed by BF Goodrich subsidiary JET Electronics and Technology, measures directly overwing airflow to give an accurate stall warning regard less of contamination. Perhaps most importantly, JET says, it will give crews warning of unacceptable wing ice contamination at a low- enough speed during the take off run to be able to abort. The company says SW Plus, which was invented by JET president and one-time Apollo lunar-module pilot Al Worden, costs about the same as rival stall-warning systems at about $20,000 a unit. The system incorporates a short probe on each wing — or tailplane — at about 60% to 80% of chord, which has its own pitot and static ports. Two pressure transducers in the probe measure the ratio of static to dynamic pressure. The measurement is then signalled to a computer and used to feed or trigger ancillaries such as stall-warning horns, shakers and pushers; contamination warning lights; and electronic flight-instrument display or head-up display. Since the system monitors the actual flow, it will give an accurate warning of flow break down even at the lower stall angle of a contaminated wing. JET says the system is poten tially usable on any aircraft and could be of particular interest on types with T-tails prone to stall conditions. The system is being certifi cated first on a particular type, at the request of a manufac turer, and JET says that this customer's identity is confiden tial; however it has worked closely with Beech and is giving presentations to Douglas. • purchase the initial aircraft for air force use. Embraer says the first two prototypes have completed 753h of flying in 477 flights and the type should be "...prepared to enter certification by mid-1993". The second aircraft is being fitted with an executive interior and will tour the USA with the Embraer Super Tucano being offered, with Northrop, for the US Joint Primary Aircraft Train ing System requirement. • Embraer has frozen the de sign for its EMB-145 regional jet. It hopes to select risk- sharing partners later this year. Partners are expected to be of fered wing, rear-fuselage, fin and tailplane, as well as engine pylon and nacelle production. The latest Embraer drawings show changes from previous im pressions, including two addi tional cabin windows, which now number 18 on the port side. Small dimensional changes re sult in a 20.04m wingspan (slightly reduced from 20.16m), increased overall length (up 90mm to 29.85m) and shorter wheelbase (down 60mm to 14.98m). The maximum operat ing altitude is now 37,000ft (11,270m), up from 35,000ft. Changes to the interior have permitted the increase to 50 passengers without decreasing seat pitch, according to Embraer. Certification is scheduled for mid-1995, a year after the planned first flight date. • Qantas can keep its routes for five more years .antas will retain its existing route entitlements for at another five years, although new carriers will be allowed on to its routes as Australia de regulates its air market. This was the message from the Australian transport and com munications minister Bob Col lins in a policy-definition statement over new arrange ments for a liberalised air trans port market delivered to the Australian Senate. In future, entitlements will be determined by the state-con trolled International Air Services Commission, for which enabling legislation is now before the Australian Parliament. Collins says that, following approval of the creation of a single aviation market between Australia and New Zealand, "air lines other than Qantas and Air New Zealand" will be able to operate "trans-Tasman". Multiple designation for all trans-Tasman city pairs and other routes, as well as other combinations approved by the two governments, would be phased in over the next three years, with the first new entitle ments applying to three city pairs "...on which Qantas does not have a substantial opera tional presence". Collins says: "At the same time, Australian and New Zeal and airlines will be permitted to increase progressively the num ber of destinations served and flights offered in markets be yond each country. "We aim to complete treaty arrangements which, from No vember 1994, will enable air lines of either country to operate domestic services in the other country. Progress will be re viewed in July 1993. "The new Commission will have independence in decision making and will comprise three members with backgrounds in law, commerce, business eco nomics or public administration. Appointees to the Commission will not be representative of sectional interests," he says. D 14 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 24 - 30 June, 1992
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