Flight International 12 02 13

FLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL
INDIA ON A HIGH
WHO WAS BUYING,
WHAT WAS FLYING
IN BENGALURU?
SHOW REPORT P12
REVAMPED HOPES
Its next-generation E-Jet
is on the way, but for now
Embraer is pinning hopes
on mid-life upgrade 16
PIPER CALL
Thousands of owners
of Cherokees, Senecas
and Seminoles told to
inspect their aircraft 28
DEFENCE SPENDING
WINDS OF
CHANGE
Why transformation is fnally
in the air for UKs fghting forces
ightglobal.com

3.30
12-18 FEBRUARY 2013
Y O U R F L I G H T I S O U R MI S S I O N
Chronospace
Selfwinding chronograph
Ofcially chronometer-certied
Slide-rule
Water-resistant to 200 m/660 ft
12-18 February 2013
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Flight International
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FLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL
12-18 FEBRUARY 2013

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Quest seeks new operators as it eyes global expansion P27.
Historical, civil and aerobatic aircraft types take to the skies
at Aero India P14
FLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL
INDIAONAHIGH
WHOWASBUYING,
WHAT WASFLYING
INBENGALURU?
SHOWREPORT P12
REVAMPEDHOPES
Its next-generation E-Jet
is on the way, but for now
Embraer is pinning hopes
on mid-life upgrade 16
PIPERCALL
Thousands of owners
of Cherokees, Senecas
and Seminoles told to
inspect their aircraft 28
DEFENCE SPENDING
WINDS OF
CHANGE
Why transformation is fnally
in the air for UKs fghting forces
ighcgIebaI.cem

3.30
12-18 FEBRUARY 2013
NEXT WEEK AUSTRALIA
We preview the Avalon air show with a
country report spanning procurement
plans, rotorcraft and regulatory reform.
Plus: a commercial engines special
NEWS
THIS WEEK
8 Indian Rafale deal remains on track
9 Battery failure cause remains elusive
10 Continuing budget impasse threatens
US programmes
11 Bristow bullish on EC225 comeback.
First CSeries engines arrive
AERO INDIA SHOW REPORT
12 Boeing stays upbeat on Indian market.
New Delhi to learn lessons from Tejas
13 Helicopter manufacturers jostle for
maritime deals.
Business jet makers upbeat
14 Pictures from the show
NEWS FOCUS
16 Embraer pins strategy on E-Jet revamp
AIR TRANSPORT
19 ATR crash puts Carpatair pact on hold.
Russians test potential 19-seat
turboprop design
20 SriLankan nearing decision on A340
feet replacement.
Geared turbofan will not hold up MRJ
programme
21 Improvisation damaged landing 737
22 Red Wings sceptical over grounding
DEFENCE
23 Alenia, ATK set sights on armed MC-27J
test fring.
Peru offered 18 surplus Spanish
Eurofghters
24 Brazilian tax breaks prompt UAS
developers to team up.
Dutch NH90 programme fies forward
NEWS FOCUS
25 Irans dubious stealth claims
BUSINESS AVIATION
26 LEA puts faith in big cabins as it stakes
out West Africa.
G280 sets 15 city-pair speed records
27 Embraer predicts growth on rising output.
EASA plans new fight-time ruling
GENERAL AVIATION
28 AW169 number four fies as testing enters
fnal phase.
FAA orders Piper aircraft inspections
SPACEFLIGHT
29 Industry begins to run out of space.
Koreas KSLV-1 mission succeeds at
third attempt
BUSINESS
30 Space risk is at a premium
REGULARS
7 Comment
38 Straight & Level
40 Classied
43 Jobs
47 Working Week
44 JOB OF THE WEEK Radiola Aerospace,
business development manager, UK
COVER STORY
32 Out with the old The UK Ministry of
Defence has set a 10-year equipment
plan, but can the armed forces live within
their budgets?
PIC OF THE WEEK
YOUR PHOTOGRAPH HERE
AirSpace user Keith Campbell, AKA
sunshine band, posted this shot of BAE
Systems Hawk T1 trainer XX242
conducting a sunset-lit practice run ahead
of a display by the UK Royal Air Forces Red
Arrows team. Our latest World Air Forces
directory lists 58 T1s in the RAF eet. Open
a gallery in Flightglobal.coms AirSpace
community for a chance to feature here
ightglobal.com/imageoftheday
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VOLUME 182 NUMBER 5377
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COVER IMAGE
The UKs 10-year defence
equipment plan will run
beyond the life of the Royal
Air Forces remaining
Panavia Tornado GR4s. The
types low-level pedigree is
highlighted in this image
from Rex Features.
See Cover Story P32
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Dcwnlcad The Engine Directcry.
fightglcbal.ccm[CcmEngDirectcry
fightglobal.com
CONTENTS
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Vote at ightglobal.com/poll
Find all these items at ightglobal.com/wotw
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
36
%
Took too big a risk
with lithium-ion
Too early to say Still the right choice
28
%
36
%
Total votes: 2,933
This week, we ask what you think of Irans stealth ghter:
RDomestic propaganda RItll never y RSign of things to come
Last week, we asked for your take on Boeings battery strategy on
the 787. You said:
HIGH FLIERS
The top ve stories for the week just gone:
1 Iran reveals new Qaher 313 stealth fghter
2 Israeli experts dismiss Irans Qaher fghter claims
3 Japan probe fnds signs of thermal runaway in ANA 787 battery
4 Still no root cause for 787 problem: customers
5 American ups 777-300ER backlog to 20, CEO says
On The DEW Line, Craig Hoyle hailed good news for
people of a certain age (okay, and children too): there is
going to be a new series of Thunderbirds produced for UK
channel ITV. Gerry Ander-
sons tales from Tracy Island
are to be given a new-
generation, CGI spin I
could be opening a real can
of worms here, but my
aircraft choice would
certainly be Thunderbird 2 [see Rex Features shot, above]:
it will be interesting to see whether the new programme
is true to its groundbreaking design for a strategic
transport. On the Airline Business blog, Graham Dunn
detected some unlikely language used during Ryanairs
latest results briefng. Such events are usually
dominated by a mix of steady profts news and a
generous scattering of colourful jibes at rivals and
regulators alike, wrote Dunn. But this time two words
took an unusually high profle customer service.
Ellis Taylor (below left) and Greg
Waldron were in Bengaluru for
Aero India (P12). The ardu-
ous process of obtaining visas
and media passes was reminis-
cent of the uphill battle many
aerospace companies face
when dealing with New Delhi,
notes Taylor. Nevertheless,
the lure of a large developing
population and a growing
armed forces continues to
tempt many, and in some
cases the rewards are great.
Srikanta HU shot de Havilland,
Mil and Sukhoi aircraft for our
photo special (P14), and Bala
Vignesh Medha captured the
Dassault Rafale.
IN THIS ISSUE
Companies listed
AgustaWestland .....................................13, 28
Airbus ..........................................8, 10, 20, 22
Airbus Military ..............................................23
Air India .......................................................12
Alenia Aermacchi .........................................23
Alitalia .........................................................19
All Nippon Airways ......................................... 9
American Airlines .........................................16
Antonov .......................................................19
Arianespace ................................................29
Astronics......................................................31
ATR ..............................................................19
Aviastar .......................................................22
Avibras ........................................................24
Avjet ............................................................27
Boeing ...................... 9, 10, 12, 20, 21, 22, 25
Bombardier ...............................11, 16, 17, 18
Bristow Group ..............................................11
British Airways ..............................................31
Cargotec ......................................................31
Cessna ..................................................26, 27
CFM International ........................................20
CHC Helicopter ............................................31
Comac .........................................................20
Dassault ......................................8, 13, 23, 26
Delta Air Lines ..............................................16
Elbit Systems ...............................................24
Embraer .............. 8, 13, 16, 17, 18, 24, 26, 27
Eurocopter .......................................11, 13, 28
Eurofghter ...................................................23
ExecuJet Africa .............................................28
Harpia Systems ...........................................24
Hindustan Aeronautics .......................8, 11, 12
Honeywell ....................................................11
Ilyushin ........................................................24
Japan Airlines ................................................ 9
General Electric .........................10, 18, 20, 25
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems ........10
GippsAero ....................................................28
Gulfstream .............................................27, 28
International Launch Services ......................29
Jet Airways ...................................................12
Lockheed Martin ..........................8, 10, 25, 33
London Executive Aviation ............................26
Malaysia Airlines ..........................................20
Maldivian Air Taxi ..........................................26
Mitsubishi Aircraft ........................................20
NetJets ........................................................27
NH Industries ...............................................24
Northrop Grumman ......................................25
Piper Aircraft ................................................28
Porvair .........................................................31
Pratt & Whitney ................... 11, 16, 18, 20, 28
Prox Dynamics .............................................30
Quest Aircraft ...............................................27
Red Wings ...................................................22
Robinson Helicopter ....................................28
Rolls-Royce ......................................10, 11, 20
Row 44 ........................................................31
Royal Air Maroc ............................................21
Russian Helicopters .....................................13
Saab ...........................................................23
SCAT ............................................................22
Sea Launch ...........................................29, 30
Sikorsky .................................................11, 13
SpaceX ..................................................29, 30
SpiceJet .......................................................12
SriLankan Airlines ........................................20
Sukhoi ...................................................22, 23
Summit Aviation...........................................28
Tailwind Airlines ...........................................21
Trans Maldivian Airways ................................26
Tupolev ........................................................22
United Launch Alliance ................................29
Xian Aircraft .................................................19
4
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12-18 February 2013
High-delity transport and tanker simulators and training systems.
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natural environment. They would be pleased to know the Lindbergh Foundation and
its Aviation Green Alliance are working to promote technological advances that ease
aviations environmental footprint. Join our alliance, Aviation Green, and connect
with the growing number of leading individuals, companies and organizations
working together for the future of aviationand all of humanity.
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Ad space donated by Flight International
COMPOSITES
INNOVATION
BENEFITS
REDUCED FUEL
CONSUMPTION
GREATER FATIGUE
RESISTANCE
The model airplanes Burt Rutan played with as a child helped inspire
innovation that transformed the aerospace industry. For his rst
aircraft designs, Rutan drew on his experience with the light, plastic-
and-foam models. Though his goal was simplicity and ease of
construction, Rutans creations helped usher in the composites era in
aircraft construction. His radical conceptsfrom the ahead-of-its-time
Beechcraft Starship to the out-of-this-world SpaceShipOnepushed
the conceptual envelope, freeing aviation from the straightjacket of
derivative design. The cumulative environmental impact of Rutans
inuence is literally incalculable. But there can be no doubt: the planet
breathes easier thanks to the countless efciencies he pioneered.
Photo courtesy of Mark Greenberg Photography 2004
Simplicity and efciency
drive great aircraft design.
Its not an accident that the
best designs also are the
most environmentally friendly.
Burt Rutan
FOUNDER / CHAIRMAN EMERITUS,
SCALED COMPOSITES
BURT RUTAN COMPOSITES VIRTUOSO
900+ 0llkl5. 64 Alkllk5. 44 f00k1kl5.
0|scover tbe jall raoqe oj f-!et capab|l|t|es at fmbraerCommerc|alAv|at|oo.com
Aviution investors tule note. Witness the sluggish liquidity
o ugeing nurrow-bodies us curriers repluce them with more
emcient E-Jets thut own the 70 to 20-seut segment. Aircrut
thut deliver u muinline ight experience. 1hut nimbly spun ull
business models. And thut enoy growing ucceptunce rom
lessors uround the globe - neurly 30 ut lust count. t ull udds
up to increusing demund und steudily rising vulues or new
E-Jets, und u reussuring ussessment o long-term usset liquidity.
Or short-term, i the deul wusn't solid to begin with.
As a so||d
|avestmeat,
|t's very ||qa|d.
COMMENT
12-18 February 2013
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7 fightglobal.com
See Defence P25
To read more about Irans
stealth fghter, go to
ightglobal.com/qaher See This Week P10
Seriously?
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The agony of not knowing
O
ne thing that characterises managers in any indus-
try or region is that they work hard to give the im-
pression theyre in control even if they dont know
whats going on. So, when they dont know whats
going on and admit it, things are probably getting bad.
Alarmingly, thats a dynamic that can be observed in
the aerospace industry today but dont blame the man-
agement; the problem is with politicians in Washington
DC. Their 11th-hour deal to prevent the US federal
budget from going off the so-called scal cliff of auto-
matic spending cuts on 1 January did nothing but push
the cliff back a couple months, so a new cliff looms.
There is much to argue about the amount of money
that should be spent on everything from new equip-
ment to modernisation. But the real problem is uncer-
tainty. The US Air Force has warned Congress that the
budget impasse may force it to cut back on key pro-
grammes. Just about every recent corporate nancial
report has agged up uncertainty as cause for worry.
Consultants PwC have concluded the defence aero-
space industry is in need of consolidation but impor-
tant players are waiting for clarity from Washington.
The Aerospace Industries Association may not be
overstating the dangers by warning that automatic
budget cuts threaten to throw the economy into a tail-
spin. But even without a tailspin, loss of altitude can
bring danger. O
Fooling no-one
Irans advanced stealth fghter lacks in size, power, access panels, weapons bays and, most
of all, credibility. It seems less a threat to the nations rivals than an insult to their intelligence
I
rans rollout of its Qaher-313 stealth ghter is little
more than a poorly executed propaganda stunt for do-
mestic consumption. It is immediately apparent from the
many photos and video imagery of the purported ad-
vanced aircraft with a very small radar cross-section
that this is not a serious development. At best, it is a sub-
scale testbed, but in reality, it is probably just a mock-up.
Perhaps the most immediate giveaway is the minus-
cule size of the craft, which looks to be made from crude-
ly painted breglass or Dacron fabric. There appears to
be no room for avionics or fuel, let alone weapons. More-
over, its doubtful that there is an engine installed, given
the lack of a nozzle and the two tiny air inlets.
The other problem for Iran would be to nd an engine
small enough. Options seem limited to something like
the General Electric J85, which Iran has previously re-
verse-engineered, but without a nozzle the heat would
probably set this papier-mch mock-up alight.
Additionally, the cockpit appears to be too small in
relation to the pilot. The canopy is made of what appears
to be polystyrene and visibility through the material can
only be described as horrendous. But the cockpit instru-
ments are among the only items in the Qaher-313 that
might be real. The Iranians appear to be using instru-
mentation developed for the home-build aircraft market
with hardware sourced from Dynon and Garmin.
There are also no visible access panels or weapons
bays. Features such as access panels are found on every
aircraft for routine maintenance, and in the case of a
stealth aircraft, weapons bays are a must to maintain its
low-observable signature while carrying armaments. But,
as one engineer familiar with low-observables design as-
tutely points out, while supercially resembling what one
might imagine a stealth aircraft to look like, the Iranian
machine has serious radar cross-section (RCS) problems.
Stealth aircraft design is much more than simply mas-
tering the low-observable shapes. Advanced materials
sciences need to be developed for the aircrafts skin and
coatings. Advanced analytical tools are needed to shape
the internal bulkheads and other structures. Moreover,
one has to master the man-machine interfaces so a pilot
can manage the aircrafts RCS spikes in ight. There is
no evidence that might suggest Iran has anywhere near
even a rudimentary grasp of those technologies.
The mystery is how Irans leaders might assume that
they could present such a transparent farce before the
eyes of the world and expect anything other than mer-
ciless mockery. O
Without a nozzle the engine
heat would probably set this
papier-mch mock-up alight
THIS WEEK
fightglobal.com 8
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12-18 February 2013
For a round-up of our latest online news,
feature and multimedia content visit
ightglobal.com/wotw
I
ndias acquisition of up to 126
Dassault Rafale ghters for its
Medium Multi-Role Combat Air-
craft (MMRCA) requirement re-
mains the air forces top procure-
ment priority as negotiations with
the airframer continue.
The project is very much on
track as far as the [contract nego-
tiation committee] is concerned,
says Air Chief Marshal NAK
Browne. Its an extremely com-
plex project to bring together. The
main focus now is the work share
between [Hindustan Aeronautics]
and Dassault.
Browne made the comments
during a media brieng at the
Aero India show in Bengaluru.
The Dassault Rafale was desig-
nated as the nal competitor in
the MMRCA contest in February
2012. Three French air force Ra-
fales attended this years show.
By April or May the contract
should move to the next stage in
the process, says Browne, includ-
ing a crucial review by the minis-
try of nance. If all goes well by
the middle of the year we will be
in a position to sign the contract,
he says. There are no shortcuts
to this process.
He notes, however, that it takes
some programmes years to clear
the negotiation committee stage,
citing the protracted three-year
debate around the upgrade of 51
FIGHTERS GREG WALDRON BENGALURU
Indian Rafale deal
remains on track
Dassault and New Delhi still in negotiations to fnalise
order that would lead to acquisition of 126 combat aircraft
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The air forces MMRCA requirement is its top procurement priority
UK REVEALS COST OF FAILED F-35C SWITCH
SELECTION The UKs ditched plan to switch from the short take-off
and vertical landing to carrier variant of Lockheed Martins F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter wasted 100 million ($157 million), according to a
report by the House of Commons defence committee. The proposed
change was rushed and based upon incomplete and inaccurate
policy development, it says. Meanwhile, Lockheed has announced
that F-35 general manager Tom Burbage is to retire in late March.
See Cover Feature P32
TUNISAIR A320 DAMAGED IN HIGH-WIND LANDING
OPERATIONS One of Tunisairs Airbus A320s has been badly dam-
aged in a landing accident at Tunis on 6 February. It had arrived as
fight TU712 from Casablanca at around 14:20, but Tunisair says
there were strong wind gusts as the aircraft landed and that it experi-
enced a slight excursion from the runway. None of the 75 passen-
gers and eight crew members was injured. The twinjet (TS-IMB)
sustained heavy nose damage, including fuselage skin wrinkling, af-
ter the nose-gear collapsed. Meteorological data for Tunis at the time
of the accident show gusts of nearly 40kt (74km/h) from the west.
The ministry of transport has established an inquiry into the accident.
See Air Transport P19
ANGOLA RECEIVES INITIAL SUPER TUCANOS
DELIVERIES Embraer has delivered its frst three of six EMB-314
Super Tucano light attack and reconnaissance aircraft to the Angolan
air force. The new type will supplement the African nations existing
combat aircraft, which include RAC MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-25s.
EMBRAER PESSIMISTIC ON 2013 JET DELIVERIES
AIRFRAMES Embraer predicts that deliveries of its large regional
jets will fall by 10-15% in 2013, marking the lowest projected level of
output for Embraer in several years. After delivering 106 E-Jets to
airlines and lessors last year, the Brazilian airframer estimates deliv-
eries of 90-95 aircraft this year. Embraer also expects the deliveries
to generate net revenues of $3.2-3.35 billion. Compared with
Embraers latest guidance for 2012, the outlook for this year as-
sumes a reduction in the segments revenues of $500 million.
US COAST GUARD ADDS OCEAN SENTRY
ORDER The US Coast Guard has exercised an option to purchase
its 18th of a planned 36 HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol air-
craft. Airbus Military will prepare the converted CN235 turboprop for
the role at its San Pablo facility in Seville, Spain.
HELI-ONE NETS LONG-TERM MAKILA DEAL
REPAIR Maintenance provider Heli-One has secured a 13-year con-
tract with the UK Ministry of Defence to support the Turbomeca
Makila 1A1 engines that power the newly upgraded Eurocopter
Puma HC2 troop transports operated by the Royal Air Forces 33 and
230 Sqns. Servicing will be carried out at Heli-Ones facility in
Stavanger, Norway.
COLLIER TROPHY SHORTLIST UNVEILED
CONTEST The US National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has an-
nounced the seven aviation and aerospace projects that will com-
pete for the 2012 Robert J Collier Trophy. Nominees include
Lockheed Martins cargo UAS, the Gulfstream G650 and skydiver
Felix Baumgartner along with the Red Bull Stratos team.
BRIEFING
Dassault Mirage 2000Hs. We
hope this wont happen in the
case of the MMRCA, he says.
Both Browne and defence min-
ister AK Antony, who also at-
tended the show, stressed the ac-
quisition process is being
followed extremely carefully in
the MMRCAs case.
Unlike Browne, Antony de-
clined to give a timeframe for
when he expects the contract to
be signed. He says there are six
or seven layers before the
MMRCA deal reaches the Cabinet
Committee on Security, which
will make the nal decision on
the procurement.
We are in the process of clean-
ing up the contract, says Antony.
At every single stage we want to
be sure there is absolutely no sign
of malpractice.
Antony and Hindustan Aero-
nautics chairman RK Tyagi also
stressed that HAL remains the
prime contractor for the licensed
production of 108 MMRCA air-
craft. Sources suggest Dassault
has pushed in contract negotia-
tions to move a substantial pro-
portion of the work-share to its
joint venture with Indian con-
glomerate Reliance Industries. O
See Show Report P12
For more reports and pictures
from Aero India 2013, visit
ightglobal.com/aeroindia
THIS WEEK
12-18 February 2013
|
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9 fightglobal.com
Continuing budget
impasse threatens
US programmes
THIS WEEK P10
787 CRISIS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
Battery failure cause remains elusive
Safety investigators widen probe to include certifcation process as NTSB challenges assumptions made by airframer
U
S safety investigators have
widened their probe of 787
battery failures to include the cer-
tication process used by the
Federal Aviation Administration
and Boeing to declare the lithium-
ion batteries safe before the air-
craft entered service.
The move by the National
Transportation Safety Board on 7
February could complicate re-
ported efforts by Boeing to gain
approval from the FAA to start
testing an interim solution to the
battery problem.
The assumptions used to cer-
tify the battery must be reconsid-
ered, says Deborah Hersman,
chairman of the NTSB.
Boeings pre-certication anal-
ysis determined that a battery
failure could lead to the emission
of smoke in less than one of 10
million ight hours by the 787.
The 787 eet has accumulat-
ed less than 100,000 ight hours
and there have now been two bat-
tery events resulting in smoke
less than [two] weeks apart on
two different aircraft, Hersman
says. We know that some of the
assumptions they made to ensure
there was not a smoke event were
not met, much less a re event.
The NTSB also has narrowed
its search for a root cause of bat-
tery re on a Japan Airlines 787
last month to the source of a
short-circuit in one of the bat-
terys eight cells, but the team still
remains probably weeks away
from reaching a conclusion, Hers-
man says.
Microscopic and ight data re-
corder examinations have point-
ed to the sixth cell as the source
of the short circuit, which trig-
gered a thermal runaway that
cascaded to other cells and gen-
erated temperatures above 260C
(500F), Hersman says.
The NTSB is evaluating three
possible reasons why the sixth
cell in the battery failed.
There could be a problem in
the 787s overall electrical sys-
tem that charges the battery,
Hersman says.
The NTSB also is still consid-
ering possible contamination of
the cell during manufacturing,
she says. Finally, the review is
evaluating the design of the bat-
tery as the potential root cause.
Boeing continues to work on a
solution to issue. Reports suggest
it has identied an iterim x, but
no further details were available.
Meanwhile, the US Federal
Aviation Administration contin-
ues to consider a request from
Boeing to restart 787 ight tests.
Although a single ferry ight by a
Dreamliner, line number 43 for
China Southern Airlines, was
performed on 7 February oper-
ating as ight BEO382 from Forth
Worth to Seattle the FAA has
yet to approve Boeings plan. O
B
o
e
in
g
Air India has six aircraft affected by the Dreamliners problem
OPERATIONS MAVIS TOH SINGAPORE
Grounding forces eet rethinks
Japan Airlines could delay the retire-
ment of two Boeing 767s to cope
with the impact of the grounding of
787s in its feet.
The two aircraft were scheduled
to be retired between April 2013 and
March 2014, the airframer says.
JAL has implemented plans to
use replacement aircraft on routes
serviced by the 787s until 28
February. However, delaying the re-
tirement of its 767s could indicate
the airline is preparing for a longer
disruption to its 787 operations.
And on 4 February, the other affect-
ed Japanese carrier All Nippon
Airways said it is in talks with Boeing
to speed up the delivery of three
777s. The 777s were initially sched-
uled to be delivered between April
2013 and March 2014.
Between them, the two Japanese
carriers operate the bulk of the
worlds in-service Dreamliner feet.
ANA operates 17 of the type, while
JAL has a feet of seven 787-8s. O
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JALs 767s may stay in service longer than anticipated
Japanese safety investigators
released new data on 5 February
showing signs of thermal runa-
way and a short-circuit in the
main battery on an All Nippon
Airways Boeing 787 in January.
The findings, released in a
12-slide presentation, appear
similar to evidence released the
previous week by the US
National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB), which also re-
ported evidence of similar prob-
lems which led to a fire on a
parked Japan Airlines 787 in
Boston earlier the same month.
But there also appear to be
differences in heat damage
caused in the incidents.
Whereas the most damage on
the JAL auxiliary power unit bat-
tery was in the fifth of eight
cells, the ANA battery showed
the most extensive thermal
damage in the third and sixth
cells, including a hole in the
side of the sixth cell and a melt-
down of the anode or positive
electrode in the third cell,
states the briefing by the Japan
Transport Safety Board (JTSB).
The Japanese investigators
also are investigating why a
grounding wire inside the bat-
tery enclosure was severed. A
root cause for the thermal runa-
way effect and the short circuit
in the ANA battery is also being
pursued by the JTSB, as well as
by the NTSB for the JAL battery.
JTSB officials also found no
meaningful clues after inspecting
the GS Yuasa factory which man-
ufactures the 787s batteries.
Evidence of thermal runaway grows
See our timeline showing the
Dreamliner nightmare:
ightglobal.com/787woes
THIS WEEK
fightglobal.com 10
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12-18 February 2013
ightglobal.com/wotw
T
he Lockheed Martin F-35 com-
bat aircraft, Boeing KC-46
tanker and General Atomics Aero-
nautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper
unmanned air system programmes
could all be restructured if an on-
going budget impasse is not re-
solved, according to a US Air
Force presentation to Congress.
If Congress and President
Barack Obamas administration
are unable to reach a scal agree-
ment before 1 March, US defence
outlays will be automatically cut
by 10% across the board.
Without substantial repro-
gramming exibility, a year-long
CR [continuing resolution] and se-
questration disrupts modernisa-
tion programmes, delays capabili-
ty to the warghter and increases
cost, the USAF document says.
F-35 quantities would be reduced,
the KC-46 contract would be re-
structured, and the MQ-9 Block 5
would be delayed.
Such restructurings would be
on top of delays already being im-
plemented on the F-35, Lockheed
Martin AC-130J gunship and
space-based infrared satellite pro-
grammes, with new-start procure-
ment and research and develop-
ment efforts also being frozen.
If the sequestration measure is
enacted, ying hours would be re-
duced by 18% across the USAF
eet and depot level maintenance
deferred, the USAF says. Flight
training for pilots could shut down
and 180,000 civilian workers could
be furloughed for up to 22 days.
The service is also reviewing non-
readiness ying for necessity,
including aircraft appearances at
the Paris air show and the Royal
International Air Tattoo in the UK.
The USAF suggests to Con-
gress that if a full year continuing
resolution is unavoidable, that
legislators ensure its funding ap-
proximates the scal year 2013
budget plan, and allow it to re-
programme money more freely.
However, it requests that Con-
gress undo sequestration.
Obama has called for another
short-term agreement to once
again postpone the sequestration
cuts beyond a 1 March deadline,
but negotiations with Congres-
sional Republicans have so far
produced no results. O
U
ncertainty generated by the
US governments ongoing po-
litical battle over spending cuts is
holding back a wave of defence
industry consolidation, according
to a 2012 mergers and acquisitions
analysis by consultancy PwC.
While 2012 was overall a busy
year in M&A, with 108 deals cov-
ering aircraft or component man-
ufacturers compared to 107 in
2011, the value of the agreements
tells a different story. After rack-
ing up $22.7 billion worth of
M&A activity in 2011, the sector
managed just $9 billion in 2012.
But while civil sector M&A re-
mained reasonably solid 2012
saw GEs $4.3 billion acquisition of
Avio there was not one $1 billion-
plus mega deal in defence.
PwC US aerospace and defence
leader Scott Thompson places
the blame on Washingtons ongo-
ing budget wrangles but warns
the industry to brace itself for a
wave of takeover deals if the poli-
ticians can settle that issue.
He says: Defence M&A is facing
a perfect storm of pent-up demand,
strong balance sheets and cash po-
sitions, and most importantly
the necessity to consolidate in re-
sponse to a contracting market. O
E
uropean regulators have cer-
ticated the Rolls-Royce Trent
XWB engine ahead of the planned
rst ight of the Airbus A350
later this year.
Patrick Goudou, EASAs execu-
tive director, handed over the pow-
erplants type certicate to Chris
Young, Rolls-Royces director for
the Trent XWB programme, at the
authoritys headquarters in Co-
logne, Germany, on 7 February.
The approval covers the en-
gines for the baseline A350-900
and planned smaller -800 variant.
The largest A350-1000, however,
will require a higher-thrust ver-
sion of the engine, which is still
under development.
Airbus plans to conduct the rst
ight of the twinjet which is ex-
clusively powered by the Trent
XWB in the middle of this year.
On 1 February it began conduct-
ing virtual rst-ight operations
with the A350 test rig, a crucial
preparatory step for the maiden
ight of the MSN1 prototype.
The engines for the A350 pro-
totype have already been deliv-
ered to the airframers nal as-
sembly line in Toulouse.
Rolls-Royce says that the certi-
cation programme involved 11
engines and led to a total runtime
of around 3,100h.
Deliveries of the A350 are due
to begin in the second half of 2014.
The programme received a further
boost on 4 February when lessor
Air Lease underpinned the Airbus
A350-1000 by ordering ve of the
type, as well as 20 A350-900s.
Airbus says the company has
options for ve more A350-1000s.
The deal marks the third endorse-
ment of the largest member of the
A350 family since its redesign.
The order takes the A350 back-
log to more than 600 aircraft. O
Test flights were conducted on an A380 flying testbed
Cuts may be needed to the already tardy F-35 programme
Read the latest analysis of
global defence aviation on:
ightglobal.com/dewline
A350 gains momentum with Trent XWB approval
CERTIFICATION MICHAEL GUBISCH LONDON
SEQUESTRATION DAVE MAJUMDAR WASHINGTON DC
Continuing budget impasse
threatens US programmes
Air force warns failure to reach agreement would result in further delays and costs
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Political battle
holding back
consolidation
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THIS WEEK
12-18 February 2013
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Less noise but
plenty of action at
Aero India 2013
SHOW REPORT P12
B
ristow Group believes it will
be able to return its 16
grounded Eurocopter EC225 heli-
copters to service by spring or
early summer using an interim
x developed by the airframer.
The Texas-based company,
which has operations across the
globe including the UK, disclosed
the move during a third-quarter
earnings call on 5 February.
Bill Chiles, president and chief
executive of Bristow, says he is
pretty condent over the in-
terim solution to the issue that
has restricted operations of the
type since a North Sea ditching
involving an EC225 in October.
He says that as a longer-term x
to the shaft-cracking problem could
take up to a year and a half to im-
plement, it will nd a way to safe-
ly y these helicopters through
reduced inspection intervals and
increased monitoring of the types
vibration detection system.
To cope with the grounding,
which has particularly affected
its North Sea operations in the
UK and Norway, Bristow has
brought several older aircraft out
of retirement. It also plans to add
the rst Sikorsky S-92s from its
November 2012 order for 10 of
the type to its operation in the re-
gion from mid-2013.
In the UK, Bristow is one of the
two shortlisted bidders for the
Department for Transports long-
running search and rescue con-
test. It conrms that if successful
in its bid, it will offer the Agus-
taWestland AW189 for at least
one part of the requirement.
In addition, the company plans
to begin training ights later this
month on the rst of four S-92s that
it will operate as part of the UKs
Gap SAR contract from 1 June.
Examination of the operators
eet plan also indicates a possible
order for 10 Sikorsky S-76D medi-
um helicopters to its orderbook,
along with 16 options. But as Flight
International went to press Bristow
was unable to conrm the deal.
For the three months to 31 De-
cember, net income stood at $36.3
million on turnover of $326 mil-
lion, against 2011s gures of
$290 million and $25.5 million
respectively. Nine-month turno-
ver was $960 million, generating
net income of $89.7 million, com-
pared with $856 million and
$49.2 million in the prior year. O
N
ew Delhi is considering a
pitch from Honeywell to up-
grade the engines of 125 Sepecat
Jaguar attack aircraft after issuing
a sole-source request for propos-
als (RFP) in late 2012.
Honeywell recently submitted
a bid for 270 F125IN powerplants
to the Indian ministry of defence,
says an industry source at the
Aero India show.
Honeywell says the F125IN
will allow for 23% shorter high
and hot take-offs, 17-40% higher
thrust, greater mission range,
and better fuel efciency. It adds
that the Jaguars, introduced in
1979, have become overweight
and underpowered following
years of avionics and weapon
systems upgrades.
New Delhis Hindustan Aero-
nautics-produced Jaguars are
now powered by Rolls-Royce
Turbomeca Adour 811s. The UK
engine manufacturer had pro-
posed upgrading these to the
Adour 821 standard. However,
the company says that in Novem-
ber 2010 the Indian government
issued an RFP to itself and Hon-
eywell calling for a new design.
In February 2011, Rolls-Royce
threw the planned upgrade into
limbo when it decided not to ten-
der for the work. This created a
single-bidder situation that is
generally not allowed under In-
dian procurement policy.
Although sole-source bids con-
travene normal acquisition prac-
tice in India, the air force and
ministry of defence appear to be
making an exception in the case
of the Jaguar, says the source. O
B
ombardier conrms it has re-
ceived its rst pair of engines
to power the initial ight-test ve-
hicle for the CSeries.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1524G
geared turbofans the rst of the
PurePower engine series to be de-
livered to a manufacturer for test-
ing arrived at the CSeries nal as-
sembly plant in Mirabel, Quebec in
early January, Bombardier says.
P&W is still awaiting certica-
tion approval of the engines by
Transport Canada.
Bombardier plans to launch
ight testing of the CSeries engine
before the end of June, and has
indicated the rst ight event
could come months earlier.
The CSeries was originally
scheduled to enter ight testing in
2012, but was delayed several
months. Bombardier now plans to
deliver the rst aircraft in 2014.
Bombardiers new jet is the rst
aircraft to test the P&W geared
turbofan in ight. Different ver-
sions have been selected to power
the Airbus A320neo, Irkut MS-21,
Mitsubishi MRJ and, most recent-
ly, the Embraer second-genera-
tion E-Jet. O
ROTORCRAFT DOMINIC PERRY LONDON
Bristow bullish on
EC225 comeback
Operator expresses confdence in interim fx enabling return
in spring or summer but will add aircraft from rival airframer
POWERPLANTS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
First CSeries engines arrive
CONTRACT GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE
Honeywell bids in India to
repower Sepecat Jaguars
Bristows Super Pumas were used for oil and gas crew transport
New Delhi plans to upgrade the strike aircrafts capabilities
For full coverage of this years
Aero India air show, visit
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fightglobal.com 12
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12-18 February 2013
feature and multi-media content visit
ightglobal.com/wotw
AERO INDIA 2013
Aero India 2013 was more subdued than the 2011 edition,
where the climax of the nations Medium Multi-role Combat
Aircraft competition took place, and fghter displays above
Yelahanka air base made conversation impossible. This
year, the only candidate was the Dassault Rafale, the fnal
contender for the yet-to-be-awarded contract. Day one this
year is like day three in 2011, noted one executive. Its
so quiet. But there was still plenty of action. India is a
tough place to do business, but has an insatiable thirst for
aircraft. Report by Greg Waldron and Ellis Taylor
A
big newcomer at this years
show was the Hindustan Aero-
nautics Rudra, a weaponised vari-
ant of the indigenously developed
Dhruv helicopter.
Designated the Advanced Light
Helicopter Weapons System In-
tegration (ALH MkIV), the Rudra
is armed with a 20mm cannon in
a chin turret. It can also carry
70mm rocket pods, anti-tank mis-
siles and air-to-air missiles.
Two Rudras were shown at
Bengaluru, with one on the static
line and the other performing in
the ying display.
The Indian army reportedly
has plans to obtain up to 60 ex-
amples of the type. O
N
ew Delhi has adopted a go-
slow approach for its planned
Advanced Medium Combat Air-
craft (AMCA), which is in the
early stages of being designed by
Indias Aeronautical Develop-
ment Agency (ADA).
We plan on nalising the con-
guration by 2018, with a rst
ight in 2020, says an ADA rep-
resentative. The AMCA will
draw from what we learn with
the [Hindustan Aeronautics-built]
Tejas MkI and Tejas MkII.
The 20t AMCA is envisaged as
a twin-engined ghter with simi-
lar stealth characteristics to the
Lockheed Martin F-35. For the
rst time, the ADA displayed a
model of the proposed design for
the future ghter. Outwardly, the
aircraft resembles the F-35, with
twin canted tails and shaping op-
timised for low observability.
It will be powered by a variant
of the indigenously developed
Gas Turbine Research Establish-
ment Kaveri engine.
The Kaveri was originally in-
tended as the powerplant for the
Tejas but was detached from the
programme owing to weight and
performance issues. O
STRATEGY
Boeing stays upbeat on Indian market
Seattle confdent that customers will stick with 787 despite recent troubles as it pitches 737 Max for narrowbody needs
B
oeing is targeting its existing
customer base in India for
new orders for the Boeing 737
Max and 787, despite the latters
recent troubles.
Dinesh Keskar, the airframers
senior vice-president of Asia-Pa-
cic and India sales, says the
three operators of Boeing aircraft
in the country Air India, Jet Air-
ways and SpiceJet are its uni-
verse for the time being.
In particular, he is keen to en-
sure SpiceJet, Jet Airways and Air
India low-cost subsidiary Air
ders for current-generation 737s
32 and 44 respectively and
Keskar believes this will make
them key customers for the Max,
despite Airbus hinting recently it
would also pitch the A320neo to
the two airlines.
He is also upbeat about pros-
pects for the 787, despite recent
battery troubles that have ground-
ed the worldwide eet of 787-8s,
including the six Dreamliners op-
erated by Air India. Prior to the
grounding it was ying the air-
craft on some domestic services
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India Express continue to operate
the 737, eventually moving over
to the 737 Max. For the time
being, we do not see a lot of new
airlines coming into the market,
so we are going to work with our
customer base and will do every-
thing right to make sure that they
understand what the Max is all
about, says Keskar. We have
great condence that the 737 will
continue to be the mainstay of In-
dian aviation, he adds.
SpiceJet and Jet Airways still
have substantial outstanding or-
The ACMA will have similar stealth characteristics to the F-35
as well as to London and Frank-
furt and had plans to add Paris at
the end of January.
Keskar says Air India maintains
its condence in the aircraft, noting
it is a cornerstone of the airlines
plans to return to protability. He
points to recent remarks from the
carrier suggesting the efciency of
the Dreamliner had allowed it to
stem losses on its Delhi-Frankfurt
route. Air India still has 21 787s on
order, while deliveries of Jet Air-
ways 10 Dreamliners are sched-
uled to begin in 2014. O
ROTORCRAFT
Rudra makes
public debut
New Delhi to learn lessons from Tejas
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
12-18 February 2013
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AERO INDIA 2013
SHOW REPORT
See more fantastic
photographs from
Aero India 2013
PHOTO SPREAD P14
I
ndia is proving fertile ground
for business jets, its growing
wealth making it a signicant
market for business aviation man-
ufacturers and the airframers
were out in force at Aero India.
Embraer dominated, showcas-
ing its Lineage 1000, Legacy 650
and Phenom 100 on the static dis-
play. Dassault also brought its Fal-
con 900LX, 2000S and 7X to Ben-
galuru. Dassault Falcon Jet chief
executive Jean Rosanvallon says it
has nearly 60 years of history in
India, and it remains a key market
for the French manufacturer de-
spite sales dipping in recent years.
Things have plateaued a little
bit over the last two to three years,
but based on the activity we have
seen recently, we are optimistic for
the 2013-2015 period, he says.
Embraer is a relative newcom-
er to the market, delivering its
rst business jet to an Indian
customer in 2005, but it now has
18 in service.
Jos Eduardo Costas, vice-pres-
ident, marketing and sales Asia
Pacic for Embraer Executive Jets
says the market for business jets
has improved in line with the
economy: With the growth of
India over the last ve years it has
developed a lot of high-net-worth
individuals and companies.
The poor state of Indias infra-
structure, and the growing needs
of companies and individuals to
travel domestically has helped to
bolster interest, he says.
During the show, Embraer an-
nounced that it had entered an
agreement with local service part-
ner Indamer to provide support
for the midsize Legacy 500, which
is due to enter service in 2014. O
H
elicopter manufacturers Agus-
taWestland, Eurocopter, Rus-
sian Helicopters and Sikorsky had
a high prole at Aero India, as they
jostle for position around four
major naval contests.
Indias planned naval build-up
requires maritime rotorcraft in
substantial numbers. The navy
has three major requirements for
new helicopters, while the coast-
guard has one.
The navys long-running Multi-
Role Helicopter (MRH) require-
ment for 16-18 aircraft is still up
for grabs, following the release in
2009 of a request for proposals
(RFP) by New Delhi. The main ri-
vals for the deal are the NH In-
dustries NH90 and Sikorsky
S-70B Seahawk.
A further RFP is expected in the
second half of 2013 for the serv-
ices 120-aircraft Naval Multi-Role
Helicopter (NMRH) competition.
Sources stress that New Delhi
has yet to specify its requirement
for the NMRH contest, but they
believe it will call for an aircraft
capable of performing both anti-
submarine and anti-surface war-
fare roles, similar to the MRH
competition. However, unlike
the smaller contract, some of the
aircraft obtained under NMRH
would also be used for troop
transport. Contenders include
navalised versions of the Euro-
copter EC725 and the Sikorsky
H-92 Superhawk.
Despite the lengthy delay to
the MRH decision, sources are
condent that it will not be
rolled into NMRH.
These are two separate RFPs,
says one source. Besides, the
MRH is badly needed to replace
the navys [Hindustan Aeronau-
tics] Cheetahs. NMRH will coin-
cide with a broader build up of
the Indian navys surface eet in
the coming decades.
Other contests include the na-
vys 56-aircraft Naval Utility Heli-
copter requirement. The RFP for
this was released in August 2012,
with bids due in May 2013. Eye-
ing this contest, Eurocopter dis-
played a naval variant of its
AS365 Panther outside its pavil-
ion at the show.
The fourth and nal competi-
tion is for a 14-unit order by the
coastguard, which issued an RFP
in November 2012 for its Twin-
Engined Heavy Helicopter
(TEHH) requirement.
Bids are due in March 2013,
with the customer calling for a
helicopter optimised for both
search and rescue and combat
tasks. The TEHH will be based on
land, but must be capable of oper-
ating from coastguard vessels. O
TRAINERS
Air forces rst Pilatus PC-7 Mkll takes show bow
The Indian air forces frst Pilatus PC-7 MkII basic trainer made its public debut at Aero India. So far, New
Delhi has received two examples of the type, which in 2011 emerged victorious in a contest for 75 basic
trainers. Pilatus, however, denied widespread Indian media reports that India has exercised an option for
35 additional aircraft. In May 2011, New Delhi signed a deal worth more than Swfr500 million ($548 mil-
lion) for the 75 aircraft. The successful conclusion of the deal was of great importance to the air force,
which suffers from a severe shortage of modern trainer aircraft.
Indias navy has three
major requirements
for new helicopters,
while the coastguard
has one
BUSINESS AVIATION
Business jet
makers upbeat
on lure of India
COMPETITION
Helicopter manufacturers
jostle for maritime deals
AgustaWestland, Eurocopter, Russian Helicopters and Sikorsky eye four major contests
Based on activity we
have seen recently,
we are optimistic for
2013-2015
JEAN ROSANVALLON
Chief executive, Dassault Falcon Jet
14
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12-18 February 2013
With indigenously built and imported combat aircraft on display,
national airpower dominated Aero India. But historical, civil and
aerobatic types also featured, as our gallery attests. Photography
by Arvind Manjunath, Srikanta HU and Bala Vignesh Medha
SHOW OF
STRENGTH
AERO INDIA 2013
PHOTO SPREAD
12-18 February 2013
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15 fightglobal.com
(Clockwise from main)
The HAL light combat
helicopter; a Tejas taking
off; a vintage de Havilland
Tiger Moth; Mil Mi-8/17
helicopters flying the
flag; a Lockheed Martin
C-130J casting a long
shadow; a Sukhoi
Su-30MKI from below;
Capt Ryan Worrell at the
controls of a US Air Force
Lockheed Martin F-16; a
Pilatus PC-12; Dassaults
Rafale, earmarked for a
huge Indian deal; and a
Zlin Z-50 demonstrated
by the Flying Bulls
NEWS FOCUS
fightglobal.com 16
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12-18 February 2013
ightglobal.com/wotw
Embraer pins
strategy on
E-Jet revamp
REGIONAL JETS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
Brazilian airframer clarifes near-term proposal for aircraft
improvements anticipating rush of orders for regional jets
For Embraer, winning
more US regional jet
orders is essential to
bridge a gap before
the second generation
E-Jet arrives in 2018
ing a ve-year gap before the sec-
ond generation E-Jet arrives in
2018, featuring new Pratt & Whit-
ney PW1700 and PW1900 en-
gines, new wings and a 15% im-
provement in fuel efciency.
With so much still at stake,
Embraer is making a new push in
the market and describing the de-
sign changes that American
found so compelling.
As the launch customer, Amer-
icans regional partner, Republic
Airways, will be the rst to re-
ceive the E-175 with the im-
proved features in 2014.
This new version of the E-Jet
adds a redesigned pair of winglets,
a wingspan that is 2.7m (8.86ft)
longer and various smaller im-
provements to reduce fuel con-
sumption by 3.5% to 5.5%, de-
pending on which of the four E-Jet
models is ordered, says Embraer.
Embraer describes the update
package as a part of a long-term
strategy of continuously improv-
ing the E-Jet family, says Clau-
dio Camelier, vice-president of
market intelligence for the Bra-
zilian airframers commercial
aviation division.
It will arrive a decade after the
rst E-170 was introduced with
LOT Polish Airlines in March
2004, the rst of more than 900
N
ew battle lines have quietly
been drawn in the resurgent
competition between Bombardier
and Embraer ahead of an expect-
ed glut of regional jet orders.
Five years after Bombardier
unveiled the CRJ NextGen series,
Embraer now conrms it is pre-
paring to roll out a similar aero-
dynamic makeover of the current
E-Jet family. The mid-life upgrade
of the E-Jet design had been ex-
pected, but its arrival was over-
shadowed by Embraers ongoing
preparations to launch the devel-
opment of a second generation
E-Jet later this year.
Several airlines, however, are
already well-briefed on the make-
over planned for the current E-Jet.
A concept for an Embraer 175+,
featuring roughly a 5% fuel burn
reduction, was rst disclosed
but not publicly explained in
October, as part of an ultimately
unsuccessful campaign by Em-
braer to win an order from Delta
Air Lines. Instead, Delta selected
the Bombardier CRJ900 for a
40-aircraft order that launched
the long-awaited reeeting of the
US regional jet eet.
Embraer kept rening its E-Jet
improvement programme de-
spite the setback. The E-175+
nomenclature was dropped, per-
haps to avoid creating confusion
in the market with the second
generation E-Jet programme. It is
again simply called the E-Jet,
with improvements.
Embraer declined requests to
provide the details of those im-
provements until very recently,
following a critical vote of con-
dence from a major customer.
In January, American Airlines
announced an order for 47 E-175s
with the improved conguration.
Both the American and Delta
contracts served to immediately
stabilise the order backlogs of
both regional jet manufacturers,
but they were also merely a taste
of larger deals to come.
Last May, Bombardier and Em-
braer predicted that there could be
as many as ve major regional jet
orders involving more than 400
aircraft by US carriers. So far, only
two orders in the US market have
been announced, involving up to
164 aircraft, including options.
For Embraer, winning more of
these orders is essential for bridg-
Bombardier remains confident in the CRJ1000 NextGens performance against the improved E-Jet
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ATR crash puts
Carpatair pact
on hold
AIR TRANSPORT P19
portion of drag that exists because
the wing generates lift. This new
design we are developing com-
pared to the current one gives a
signicant benet in terms of drag
reduction and there is a signi-
cant benet in terms of fuel burn
per ight.
In aerodynamics, of course, few
if any changes that designers
make have only a positive out-
come. For every desired result,
there is some inescapable trade-
off, and the challenge is for the de-
signer to nd the right balance.
Embraers new winglet pro-
vides better aerodynamic charac-
teristics, but at the cost of two
negative effects a weight in-
crease on the overall wing, and a
longer wingspan that could
reduce access to a small number
of airport gates. Embraer consid-
ered these negative changes,
and in consultation with its
customers, determined that the
benets outweighed the nega-
tives, Laia says.
Although the new winglet is
available for new aircraft, the in-
ternal structural changes re-
quired inside the wing means it
will not be a feasible option to
retrot it on the existing E-Jet
eet, says Laia.
Embraer has already inducted
the new winglet design in sub-
sonic and transonic wind tunnel
tests. A ight test phase to vali-
date the windtunnel data is
scheduled to begin by mid-year,
says Laia.
The winglets are the only new
aerodynamic feature that is not
available as a retrot option on
the current E-Jet eet. A package
of aerodynamic improvements is
already available on new produc-
tion aircraft and as a retrot.
These include steps to mitigate
the drag caused by gaps in the
horizontal tail area, the rain de-
ector, the ram air door and the
Republic Airways will
operate 47 of the
modied aircraft
for American Eagle
The main objective [of
the redesigned winglet
for the improved E-175]
is to reduce induced
drag of the wing
LEANDRO LAIA
Vice-president of programmes, Embraer
E-JET FUEL BURN IMPROVEMENTS SUMMARY
Availability
E170 E175 E190 E195
Horizontal tail gaps Jan/13
Rain deector Jan/13
Ram air door Jan/13 Hw
Dec/13 Sw
Wheel fairing Jan/13
ECS Anti-ice optimisation Jan/13
Aerodynamic cleaning
(APU inlet, red beacon)
2014
New wingtip 2014 E175
2015 E190
2015 E170
2016 E195
Total fuel burn benet (%) 5.0% 5.5% 3.5% 4.0%
SOURCE: Embraer
look rst at the outboard sections
of the wings. This is where a
standard aircraft wing is least ef-
cient at generating lift, a rare
area of a lack of complete aero-
dynamic optimisation on a mod-
ern aircraft.
By simply adding a pair of
winglets, airframers can simulta-
neously improve the lift efcien-
cy of the outboard section of the
wing and reduce the induced
drag produced by any lift-gener-
ating surface, says Leandro Laia,
Embraers vice-president of pro-
grammes in the commercial avia-
tion division.
Embraer introduced the E-Jet
family with a rst-generation win-
glet. However, it found that a sub-
stantial redesign could achieve
signicant fuel savings, account-
ing for roughly one-third of the
5.5% fuel burn reduction on the
improved E-175, says Laia.
The redesign lowers the cant of
the winglet from a near-90 angle
on the original E-Jet to about 60.
It roughly doubles the length of
the attened winglet, which re-
sults in the wingspan increasing
to 28.7m from 26m.
It provides some additional
lift, says Laia. But the main ob-
jective is to reduce induced
drag of the wing, which is that
such deliveries over nine years.
The original E-170/190 proved a
formidable competitor to the
Bombardier CRJ700/900.
In 2008, Bombardier respond-
ed by launching the CRJ NextGen,
leveraging on the development of
the CRJ1000 to roll back aerody-
namic and interior improvements
to the CRJ700 and CRJ900 series.
The improvements included a set
of redesigned, fuel-burn reducing
winglets. The CRJ NextGen fami-
ly also included various aerody-
namic clean-ups on the fuselage
and the wings, as well as a major
increase in the duration between
basic maintenance intervals.
Five years later, it is Embraers
turn to roll out a package of simi-
lar improvements with undoubt-
edly the same goal keeping its
product relevant in a market that
is only becoming more competi-
tive, especially with the Mitsubi-
shi MRJ on track to enter service
in the third quarter of 2015.
Aircraft makers are always
looking to nd new ways to im-
prove the fuel efciency of their
products, despite the limitations
imposed by the mostly xed ge-
ometry of the original airframe.
To make meaningful improve-
ments, the trend among manu-
facturers in the past decade is to
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ment programmes at
ightglobal.com/aircraft
wheel fairing. Embraer has
also optimised the environmental
control system.
A second package of aerody-
namic tweaks will be introduced,
with the E-175 equipped with re-
designed winglets next year.
These reduce the drag caused by
the shape of the inlet for the aux-
iliary power unit and the anti-
collision beacon.
In an industry with products
delivered at near-peak efciency
levels, such aerodynamic chang-
es may seem modest, but are
gratefully received by both air-
lines and lessors.
Indeed, Bombardier rede-
signed the original CRJ series air-
craft with an almost identical list
of improvements when the Next-
Gen series was introduced in
2008. Not surprisingly, perhaps,
Bombardier remains condent of
the competitiveness of the CRJ
NextGen compared with the im-
proved E-Jets.
Were a couple years ahead of
what Embraers doing now, says
Ben Boehm, Bombardiers vice-
president of business develop-
ment and strategy.
While Embraer predicts a 3.5-
5.5% improvement across the
E-Jet series, compared with its
original design, Bombardier
claimed an improvement of up to
4% on the NextGen CRJ series
versus the baseline CRJ.
Moreover, Bombardier can al-
ways claim an inherent advan-
tage on fuel efciency. That is be-
cause of Embraers design
philosophy, with the E-Jet series
emphasis on cabin comfort. The
original E-Jet cabins are longer,
wider and taller than the equiva-
lent CRJ NextGen models, and
Embraer is making no interior
changes to the improved version.
The result is a heavier airframe.
The basic operating weight of the
E-170 is 6.63% more than the
CRJ700 NextGen.
Even if they could make their
aerodynamics just as good as
ours, were still lighter and we
still burn less fuel, says Boehm.
It is an advantage that Bombar-
dier believes will carry over even
into Embraers second generation
E-Jet, which will not enter the mar-
ket until 2018. That E-Jet will have
redesigned airfoils and new P&W
engines designed to be signicantly
more efcient than the General
Electric CF34s powering both the
current E-Jet and CRJ family.
With its commercial aviation
segment focused on delivering
the CSeries small narrowbody,
Bombardier has no plans to
launch a further refresh of the CRJ
NextGen or new regional jet air-
frame to compete with the second
generation E-Jet and MRJ.
Moreover, Boehm argues that
the existing CRJ1000 NextGen
will be able to compete with the
second generation E-Jet family.
Even with all those [second
SOURCE: Embraer Flightglobal
Current Wingspan 26m
New Wingspan 28.7m
EMBRAER E-JET WING-TIP MODIFICATION
pan 26m
8.7m 8.7m
generation] changes, well still
have an advantage, especially the
CRJ1000, Boehm says.
Bombardier has ruled out the
re-engine option for the CRJ, de-
spite the strategy being embraced
by Airbus, Boeing and Embraer.
The CSeries was launched before
Airbus and Boeing decided to re-
engine their single-aisle products
rather than launch an all-new air-
frame. We dont believe in re-
engining airplanes, says Boehm.
Optimisation of an airplane
starts at a pre-natal age.
That means the competitive
landscape for the large regional
jet market is now ofcially set for
the remainder of the decade. Bar-
ring some unforeseen announce-
ment, the competition will be
split initially between the im-
proved E-Jet and the CRJ Next-
Gen, and then between the MRJ,
the second generation E-Jet and,
still, the CRJ NextGen. In the near
term, Bombardier may claim a le-
gitimate advantage in fuel ef-
ciency, if not always in cabin
comfort. But Embraer will not be
without other favourable com-
parisons on the improved E-Jet.
Maintenance cost has been a
constant back-and-forth battle be-
tween the two manufacturers.
The CRJ700 was introduced in
2001 with a 4,000h interval be-
tween basic maintenance checks.
Embraer delivered the E-170 in
2004 with a 6,000h interval,
which Bombardier matched with
the CRJ NextGen.
Airframers are always seeking
an advantage, and Embraer has
made the next move. The im-
proved E-Jet, says Embraers
Camelier, will enter service with
a 7,500h interval between main-
tenance checks. O
We dont believe in
re-engining airplanes.
Optimisation of an
airplane starts at a
pre-natal age
BEN BOEHM
Vice-president, Bombardier
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19 fightglobal.com
SriLankan nearing
decision on A340
feet replacement
AIR TRANSPORT P20
A
litalia has suspended all
ights operated by Romanian
carrier Carpatair, after a landing
accident at Rome involving an
ATR 72-500.
The aircraft was badly dam-
aged as it arrived from Pisa, oper-
ating domestic ight AZ1670 at
night on 2 February.
Alitalia says the ATR was in
the nal stages of approaching
Rome Fiumicino but experi-
enced difculties in landing as a
result of strong wind. The air-
port had been experiencing
strong gusts from the southwest
at the time.
Preliminary data from the Italian
inquiry, disclosed by French au-
thority the BEA, indicates that the
aircraft suddenly lost altitude
before touchdown and struck the
runway with its nose-gear.
It bounced three times, the BEA
adds, before sliding off the runway
on its fuselage underside.
Alitalia says the aircraft
(YR-ATS), which had departed
A
erospace researchers in Russia
have developed a potential
inexpensive multipurpose aircraft
platform aimed at the 19-seat re-
gional airliner market.
Similar in appearance to the
Antonov An-38, the high-wing,
twin-engined aircraft features a
double vertical n and fuselage-
mounted main landing-gear.
Its design is intended to com-
bine high aerodynamic efciency
in cruise with high-lift capabili-
ties during take-off and landing,
says the Moscow-based Central
Aerohydrodynamic Institute. It
says windtunnel testing of mod-
els has conrmed these character-
istics, and the institute has also
undertaken landing-gear testing
of the design.
The institute cites analysis by
Russian aerospace co-ordination
company Avia Prom pointing to
INVESTIGATION DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
ATR crash puts Carpatair pact on hold
Alitalia suspends operation performed by Romanian partner airline after turboprop is badly damaged during Rome landing
FLEET FIRDAUS HASHIM SINGAPORE
Kyrgyz government expresses interest in Chinese MA60s
Kyrgyzstans government has be-
come the latest potential customer
to show interest in the Chinese-built
Xian Aircraft MA60 turboprop.
The Central Asian states deputy
prime minister visited the airframers
facility earlier this month and Xian
says the two sides would negotiate
sales of the type, but has not speci-
fed further details.
Kyrgyzstans talks follow delivery
of an MA60 to African operator
Eritrea Massawa Airways towards
the end of last year, as well as the
handover of an eighth airframe to
Chinas Okay Airways.
Okay has a deal to lease 10
MA60s from Chinas AVIC
International Leasing, and the car-
riers development director, Liu
Zhonghui, says they have helped the
airline develop its regional routes.
Xian also entered the Middle
Eastern market in December after
the Yemeni government took a pair of
its new MA600 freighters for Felix
Airways, becoming launch customer
for the type. Yemen also signed an
order for six MA60s and says a Xian
spares centre will open in Aden. O
demand for 1,770 airframes during
2016-2030, with more than 60%
congured as a 19-seat regional
transport. Two other variants a
13-seat and a nine-seat version
would account for the balance.
It states that the airframe would
be constructed of composite ma-
terials and the aircraft would be
able to cope with unpaved air-
ports in areas such as Siberia.
Russias state aviation research
institute GosNII GA suggests such
an aircraft could serve to replace
types including the Let L-410,
and cut costs of operations with
current equivalent airframes by
up to 45%. O
Russians test potential 19-seat turboprop design
AIRFRAMES DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Pisa at 19:15, was carrying 46 pas-
sengers and four crew members.
One passenger suffered a broken
leg as the turboprop left the run-
way and came to a halt on grass.
The aircraft sustained collapsed
landing-gear and damage to its
starboard propeller.
The Italian airline says it im-
mediately suspended all ights
carried out on its network by Car-
patair, which has two ATR 72-500s
operating for Alitalia.
Italian investigation authority
ANSV says it downloaded the
data from the cockpit voice and
ight data recorders in co-opera-
tion with public prosecutors.
The operation went smoothly
and the data was read, says
ANSV, adding that it is preparing
to analyse the information.
The recovered equipment was
subsequently returned to judicial
authorities, the investigators
state, because it remains in a
state of seizure.
ANSV has previously publicly
clashed with the countrys judici-
ary over access to ight recorder
information, notably in the wake
of a Cessna executive jet crash in
Rome in February 2009.
It reiterates that its sole objec-
tive regarding the ATR accident
is to determine its cause for the
purpose of prevention, and that
the courts are tasked with estab-
lishing responsibility.
While the inquiry has yet to
determine the precise circum-
stances of the accident, meteoro-
logical data shows that Fiumicino
was subject to gusting crosswinds
exceeding 30kt (56km/h) during
the day.
Irish investigators studying an
Aer Arann accident at Shannon
in July 2011, which similarly
damaged an ATR 72, recom-
mended that the carrier review
crosswind limitations. The turbo-
prop had landed in gusting con-
ditions with a nose-down attitude
and bounced, sustaining a nose-
gear collapse. O
Gusting winds were present as the flight from Pisa touched down
T
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The design includes an H-tail
AIR TRANSPORT
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S
riLankan Airlines has com-
pleted most of the work need-
ed to assess potential replace-
ments for its eet of seven Airbus
A340-300s, and could make a de-
cision around mid-2013.
The airline is assessing the Air-
bus A330 and Boeing 777-300ER
for the requirement to replace Sri-
Lankans long-haul aircraft,
which are too expensive to oper-
ate amid high fuel prices.
A decision will be made in a
few months as the airline hopes
to begin retiring its A340s from
2014, chief executive Kapila
Chandrasena said on the side-
lines of a ceremony to mark Ma-
laysia Airlines entry into the
Oneworld alliance.
Sources close to the situation
say the airline is leaning towards
the A330 because of its familiari-
ty with the type the airline op-
erates seven A330s, all -200s
powered by Rolls-Royce Trent
700 engines.
Introducing a new type of air-
craft into the eet will also add
unnecessary complication to op-
erations and potentially increase
costs. But Chandrasena says the
airline is determined to be fair to
both airframers and will make a
decision based on what will be
the best option for the airline.
We want an aircraft that will
make the most sense for us, he
says, adding that the carrier has
conducted 60% of the assessment
work for the eet renewal.
SriLankan hopes to have an en-
tirely new generation of aircraft
by 2023 and is likely to begin ex-
amining the Boeing 787 and Air-
bus A350 in 2014, says Chandrase-
na. A competition to nd a next
generation replacement for its
eight Airbus A320s will eventually
be needed as well, he adds. O
M
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A330s are tipped as a strong candidate owing to the commonality
P
ratt & Whitney has afrmed
that development of its
PW1200G geared turbofan will
not delay Mitsubishi Aircrafts
MRJ regional jet programme.
Its PW1217G powerplant for
the 90-seat MRJ90 had its rst
ight on a Boeing 747 ying test-
bed in mid-2012, and has since
clocked some 130h.
Weve now completed two
ight-test programmes for the rst
two MRJ geared turbofans, says
Pratt & Whitney president David
Hess. The engine is progressing
very well. When the aircraft is
ready, the engine will be ready
with it. The engine will not delay
the programme.
P&W is working with the air-
framer as well as Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries to ensure the certica-
tion programme for the engine is
synced up with the certication
programme of the airframe.
The engine manufacturer said
in January that certication of the
PW1200G had been pushed back
to the latter half of 2014, or at
least six to 12 months after the re-
gional jets scheduled rst ight
in late 2013.
Mitsubishi, meanwhile, would
only say the programme is on
track to perform its rst ight in
2013, and that it can start test
ights before the engine com-
pletes certication. The MRJ was
originally scheduled to enter
ight testing in late 2011. O
ENGINES
Comac talks future options with P&W
Pratt & Whitney is discussing with
Comac possible applications of its
geared turbofan range for future
models of the Chinese airframers
aircraft, including variants of its
ARJ21 regional jet.
Talks are in the early stages as
Comac is still working on its strategy
and is focused on the development
of its C919 narrowbody, says Pratt &
Whitney president David Hess.
Comac has asked that we con-
tinue to keep them updated on the
progress of the [geared turbofan],
says Hess. Theyre very excited
about the technology and new engine
and weve been engaged with them
in a number of studies on the applica-
tion of the [engine] on some of the
future aircraft they are looking at.
The C919 is powered exclusively
by the CFM International Leap-1C
engine, while the ARJ21 has
General Electric CF34s. However,
the Chinese also want to develop
their own alternative powerplant for
the C919.
With multiple variants of the
C919 and ARJ21 still on the drawing
boards, Comac is continuing to seek
other engine options.
This business with Comac is
very important. Its clear that they
are going to be a big player in future
in the OEM business, says Hess.
Its unfortunate we missed the
frst aircraft, but we know its not
going to be their last. There will be
others, and we want to be with them
in the future. O
AIRFRAMES SIVA GOVINDASAMY KUALA LUMPUR
SriLankan nearing
decision on A340
eet replacement
Asian carrier assessing both manufacturers long-haul twins
as its four-engined workhorses prove too costly to operate
SriLankan hopes to
have an entirely new
generation of aircraft
by 2023 and is likely
to begin examining
the Boeing 787 and
Airbus A350 in 2014
For opinions on developments
in the region read Asian Skies
ightglobal.com/asianskies
PROPULSION MAVIS TOH SINGAPORE
Geared turbofan will not
hold up MRJ programme
P
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P&Ws PW1271G powerplant first flew on a modified 747 testbed
AIR TRANSPORT
12-18 February 2013
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Sceptical Red
Wings vows to fy on
AIR TRANSPORT P22
INVESTIGATION DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Improvisation damaged landing 737
Late request from controller left Royal Air Maroc pilots with little time to prepare for tricky circle manoeuvre at Paris
P
ilots of a Royal Air Maroc
Boeing 737-800 damaged
the aircraft during an unstable
circle-to-land manoeuvre at Paris
Orly, after belatedly improvising
the approach.
Unavailability of runway 08/26
had led to saturation of runway
24 on 4 July 2009, and air trafc
control asked whether the RAM
crew arriving from Casablanca
could accept an approach to
runway 20 instead.
This required following the in-
strument landing system ap-
proach to 24 before peeling left to
line up with 20. Since the two
thresholds were 2km apart, the
glideslope for 24 was some 300ft
too high, and the controller in-
formed the 737 crew that they
would have to dip below it for
runway 20.
SAFETY
Premature Tailwind descent traced to chart x confusion
French investigators believe the pi-
lots of a Turkish-operated Boeing
737-400 misidentifed a crucial way-
point on approach to Lyon, resulting
in a premature descent which gener-
ated minimum safe altitude alerts.
The Tailwind Airlines aircraft had
been cleared to descend to 3,000ft
(910m) and carry out a localiser ap-
proach to runway 36R, as the glides-
lope was unavailable. But while the
procedure requires a descent from
6.9nm (12.8km) out, the aircraft be-
gan to lose altitude at about 10nm.
At the time the cloud base was
around 1,200ft, close to the mini-
mum descent altitude, and a preced-
ing fights crew had noted this in an
exclamation to air traffc control. The
737 stayed below the normal glides-
lope and eventually triggered a mini-
mum altitude warning, prompting
the controller to order a go-around.
French investigation authority BEA
says the crew was unaware of the
reason for the go-around instruction.
The aircraft had descended to 250ft
above ground level while still 1.4nm
from the runway.
None of the 105 occupants was
injured during the 7 September 2010
incident. The aircraft (TC-TLE) had
been operating on behalf of Tunisair.
Inquiries determined the pilots had
erroneously identifed the fnal ap-
proach point. Frances aeronautical
charts indicated the approach should
begin at 10nm after clearance to
4,000ft, but also featured a 6.9nm
fx for approaches from 3,000ft.
The BEA acknowledges that the
crew was not fully informed as to
which approach should be per-
formed, but questions the pilots
control of their descent.
It points out that, nine days later,
another crew on the same approach
detected their own similar error by
routinely cross-checking their dis-
tance and altitude. The pilots cor-
rected their descent at 2,400ft
without triggering any alarms.
BEA says the two approach fxes
on the same chart contributed to the
Tailwind incident and has recom-
mended that charts featuring multi-
ple fxes be removed. O
French investigation authority
BEA says the aircraft followed the
ILS 24 glideslope, its captain dis-
engaging the autopilot at 1,400ft.
It descended at a rate of 1,000ft/
min and was congured for land-
ing by 1,250ft.
After being cleared for an ap-
proach to runway 20 the aircraft
began a left turn at 400ft. But the
aircraft was subjected to an 8kt
(15km/h) tailwind and, as it contin-
ued in a left 28 bank, it overshot
the centreline at about 46m (150ft).
The captain continued the left
turn to compensate, and then
banked right to realign. At a
height of 40ft the 737 was still
banking 14 right.
HARD IMPACT
The pilot increased thrust at 20ft
but the aircrafts bank was still 10
right when it touched the ground,
to the left of the runway, with an
impact of 2.14g. The aircrafts
right-hand main gear rolled for
200m before the crew aborted the
landing and the twinjet became
airborne again.
It subsequently landed safely
this time on runway 24 but the
BEA says an inspection revealed
damage to the 737s wheels.
Investigators state the RAM
737 was the only aircraft to land
on runway 20. The BEA also says
that using the runway for depar-
tures would probably have pre-
vented saturation of runway 24.
It says the crew was offered the
approach less than 8min before
landing, leaving little time for
the pilots to prepare, and they
improvised the approach in
tailwind conditions. Guidance
lights for the runway were
switched off.
This manoeuvre was incom-
patible with the operators stabili-
sation criteria, says the BEA.
All of these circumstances led to
a non-stabilised approach to run-
way 20. O
Keep up to date with aviation
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ir
T
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Demanding conditions at Orly resulted in an unstable approach
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G
rounded Tupolev Tu-204 op-
erator Red Wings indicates it
intends to respond to all the nd-
ings which resulted in its ight
suspension, but appears suspi-
cious about the decision.
Federal air transport authority
Rosaviatsia ordered the ground-
ing from 4 February, citing the
ndings of an unscheduled in-
spection of the carrier in the wake
of the fatal Tu-204 overrun at
Moscow Vnukovo on 29 Decem-
ber but stressed it was not di-
rectly related to the accident.
The crash resulted in an un-
scheduled six-day inspection of
the airline in mid-January focus-
ing on ight operations, pilot
training and maintenance. Rosa-
viatsia says the inspection turned
up numerous signicant viola-
tions in these areas.
Red Wings Tu-204s were in-
volved in other incidents around
the time of the accident and Rosa-
viatsia says the latest during a
Chelyabinsk-Moscow ight on 29
January involved a thrust-re-
verser failure in one engine,
linked to crew actions. Thrust-
reverser operation has been cen-
tral to the Vnukovo crash probe.
But the airline points out it has
L
oss of a SCAT Bombardier
CRJ200 in Almaty came as
Kazakhstans government battles
to convince international regula-
tors to lift restrictions on the Cen-
tral Asian states airlines.
Few details have emerged sur-
rounding the circumstances of
the accident, but SCAT says the
jet, arriving from Kokshetau at
13:12 on 29 January, was con-
ducting an approach in freezing
fog and low visibility.
Weather data for runway 23R
indicated visual range consistent
with Category IIIb conditions.
The aircraft came down some
2km before the 23R threshold,
with no survivors among the 16
passengers and ve crew.
Before departing Kokshetau,
the crew was healthy and fully
prepared, says the carrier. SCAT
adds that the 13-year-old CRJ200
(UP-CJ006) underwent a 2A-
check at Novosibirsk-based main-
tenance rm Sibir Technics in
mid-December 2012.
Kazakhstan was blacklisted by
the European Commission in
2009, with the exception of Air
Astana which operates an Aru-
ban-registered eet. The govern-
ment told Europes air safety com-
mittee that in November 2012 it
had halted operations by all Sovi-
et-built aircraft which were not
ICAO-compliant. Fifteen aircraft
were banned: one Tupolev Tu-134,
seven Yakovlev Yak-40s, ve An-
tonov An-24s and two An-12s.
Documentation accompanying
the latest European blacklist says
the Kazakh authorities told the air
safety committee that no air op-
erators certicate can be granted
until the countrys regulators are
able to fully discharge their re-
sponsibilities towards ICAO.
ICAO conducted an audit of
Kazakhstan in April 2009, identi-
fying two signicant safety con-
cerns in aircraft operations and
airworthiness. Since the EU black-
listing, the government has drawn
up a new civil aviation code,
adopting dozens of particular reg-
ulations, and establishing a ight
safety centre, while performing a
recertication of operators. The
transport ministry says the SCAT
CRJ200, previously operated by
Denmarks Cimber Sterling, had
an airworthiness certicate valid
until September 2013.
Only ve days before the crash,
the government highlighted the
technical safety support it had
started receiving from ICAO. O
OPERATIONS DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
Red Wings sceptical over grounding
Airline suspicious about rationale behind certifcate suspension but vows to respond to fndings from inspections
PROGRAMME
Situation heaps further uncertainty on Tu-204SMs future
Red Wings is the largest airline user
of the Russian-built Tupolev Tu-204,
and its grounding is a further set-
back to the Tu-204SM programme,
for which the airline had been the
only tentative customer.
The Tu-204SM is a modernised
CRJ accident undermines Kazakh safety overhaul
REGULATION DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON
been regularly checked by Rosa-
viatsia and transport supervisory
authority Rostransnadzor, and
claims an audit committee in
September 2012 determined that
Red Wings continued to meet cer-
tication requirements.
Red Wings adds that Rostran-
snadzor completed an audit on 28
December, with 18 ndings, two
of which were dealt with immedi-
ately. Another 10, it says, have
since been addressed and work on
the remaining six is in progress.
None of these prevented the
company from continuing to oper-
ate, the airline points out. Red
Wings also claims it has not re-
ceived a formal notication of the
reasons for its grounding.
Once it has the documentation,
it says, it will respond promptly
to the matters in order to reinstate
ight operations. O
version of the twinjet and has been
undergoing certifcation testing. But
the type has failed to attract signif-
cant interest and the Ulyanovsk site,
where Tu-204 airframer Aviastar is
located, has recently become a focus
of the Sukhoi Superjet interiors work.
Russian businessman Alexander
Lebedev, whose aviation interests
include Red Wings, responded to
the grounding order by proposing
that 4 February should be declared
a national day of celebration for
Boeing and Airbus. He notes that
Red Wings had undergone checks
by Rosaviatsia and Rostransnadzor
towards the end of 2012, and says
the situation appears to have
changed drastically in January.
Rosaviatsia claims the airline lacks
fnancial resources necessary to
maintain its operations. Germanys
civil aviation authority put forward a
similar reason in 2009 when it sus-
pended Airbus A320 operator Blue
Wings in which Lebedevs company
National Reserve Corporation held a
substantial interest. O Certification work has progressed but customers remain elusive
T
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David Learmount comments on
operational and safety issues at
ightglobal.com/learmount
DEFENCE
12-18 February 2013
|
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23 fightglobal.com
Dutch NH90
programme
fies forward
DEFENCE P24
DELIVERY
UAEs rst A330 tanker heads home
The United Arab Emirates has taken delivery of its frst of three Airbus
A330 multi-role tanker transports from Airbus Militarys Getafe site,
near Madrid. The remaining two aircraft are at an advanced stage of
conversion and will be delivered by mid-2013, the company says.
Airbus Military performed the debut fight of a modifed A330 for the
UAE in April 2011, and had at that time expected to hand over its frst
example by mid-2012. Equipped with an aerial refuelling boom system
and under-wing hose and drogue refuelling pods, the type is also confg-
ured to transport up to 256 passengers, in a two-class confguration.
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I
ndustry partners Alenia Aerma-
cchi and ATK will complete the
rst phase of testing for an armed,
multimission version of the C-27J
battleeld airlifter by the end of
February, with the work to be
performed at an undisclosed
range in the USA.
A company-owned C-27J will
undergo initial trials comprising
ve or six ights involving single
and multiple rounds red from a
xed ATK GAU-23 Bushmaster
30mm automatic cannon, an Ale-
nia Aermacchi source says.
Unveiled at the Farnborough air
show in 2012, the MC-27J concept
involves the Italian company as
platform system integrator and its
US partner as modular mission
system and weapon supplier.
The MC-27J version is not just
a gunship, says the Alenia Aer-
macchi source, but an adaptable,
agile and affordable platform so-
lution to be equipped with a sen-
sor, communication and weapon
suite able to execute a wide range
of customer-driven missions.
The companies are offering a
mission suite based on a roll-on/
roll-off module, with two mission
control operator stations, a cockpit
display and command units. The
use of quick-connect interfaces
and a new external antenna and
sensor conguration will reduce
operational limitations when the
aircraft is used for transport appli-
cations, the airframer says.
Alenia and ATK have already
started work on a second pro-
gramme phase, where the testbed
aircraft be equipped with a train-
able mount for the GAU-23 gun,
plus a mission system, re con-
trol software and two electro-op-
tical/infrared sensor turrets for
surveillance and targeting. These
activities are scheduled to be
completed, with additional test-
ing, before the end of 2013.
Weighing less than 900kg
(1,980lb), with 500 rounds of am-
munition, the 30mm cannon is in-
stalled at the rear left door with the
gun barrel protruding. Flight Inter-
national understands the weapon
has a slant range of 2.2nm (4km)
from a 5,000ft (1,520m) altitude,
and will be red in unpressurised
conditions to enhance accuracy.
Precision-guided munitions
can also be installed, including
for release from launchers incor-
porated with the aircrafts rear
ramp. Other equipment to be in-
tegrated include a synthetic aper-
ture radar, secure radios and a
datalink, Alenia says. O
WEAPONS LUCA PERUZZI GENOA
Alenia, ATK set
sights on armed
MC-27J test ring
Partners to complete initial activity using fxed cannon
during February, as they advance gunship development
S
pains government has ten-
dered a proposal to its Peru-
vian counterpart covering the
possible sale of 18 Tranche 1 Eu-
roghter combat aircraft currently
in service with its air force.
Reportedly valued at 45 mil-
lion ($61 million) per aircraft, the
proposal was submitted at the re-
quest of the Peruvian defence
ministry, with sources suggesting
the airframes have accumulated
an average of about 600 ight
hours each. If negotiations go for-
ward, the intention would be to
transfer all of the ghters within
one year of a contract signature.
Faced with a looming shortfall
in air defence capabilities, the Pe-
ruvian air force has placed re-
quests for information for the Eu-
roghter Typhoon, the Boeing
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Das-
sault Rafale, RAC MiG-35, Saab
Gripen NG and Sukhoi Su-30/35.
Spanish prime minister Mari-
ano Rajoy visited Peru in January,
when the nations proposal was
formally submitted, although it is
understood it has been under dis-
cussion since November 2012.
Perus 12 Dassault Mirage
2000P/DP ghters are the subject
of a lengthy in-country overhaul,
valued at $140 million. Nine have
been returned to airworthy condi-
tion, but another $480 million
would be needed to modernise
the eet to the enhanced Mirage
2000-5 standard.
A MiG-29 upgrade launched in
late 2008 has experienced repeat-
ed delays, with eight aircraft so
far modied for $106 million.
Completing work on the other 11
will cost another $400 million.
Both types would be unlikely
to remain in use beyond 2025, ac-
cording to local media reports,
which also suggest only four of
the nations 18 Su-25 ground-
attack aircraft are operational. O
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
Peru offered 18 surplus
Spanish Eurofghters
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Sources suggest the airframes each average 600 flight hours
DEFENCE
fightglobal.com 24
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12-18 February 2013
For free access to Flightglobals Defence
e-newsletter visit ightglobal.com/
defencenewsletter
B
razilian aerospace supplier
Avibras has teamed up with
Embraer and Elbit Systems joint
venture Harpia Systems to work
on unmanned air systems, allow-
ing all three companies to take ad-
vantage of new tax incentives.
By adding Avibras, which is
developing the Falco UAS, to
the Harpia ownership structure
with a 9% stake, the joint ven-
ture can apply for special tax
breaks made available to defence
contractors owned at least 60%
by interests based in Brazil.
Harpias ownership structure
also includes a 51% share for Em-
braer and a 40% stake held by
AEL Systems, a Brazil-based sub-
sidiary of Israels Elbit.
Embraer formed the Harpia joint
venture two years ago to adapt El-
bits Hermes 450 tactical UAS for
Brazil, which includes adding a
satellite data link for beyond-line-
of-sight communications.
Avibras, meanwhile, has been
developing the similarly sized
Falco for rapidly emerging re-
quirements for border surveil-
lance in Brazil.
In 2012, Embraer was awarded
the system for the surveillance of
the frontiers (SISFRON) contract
by the Brazilian army, with a value
of up to $4 billion. During Phase 1,
Embraer is charged with establish-
ing a network of ground-based ra-
dars along the countrys remote
southwestern borders. A UAS ca-
pability is planned to be added to
the SISFRON programme in Phase
2, beginning in 2014.
While the Avibras move is
aimed at Brazils UAS require-
ment, the Harpia joint venture is
also intended to attract foreign
sales. The augmented company
will result in a highly competi-
tive UAS solution in Brazil and
abroad, says Sami Hassuani,
president of Avibras. O
T
he Netherlands NH90 pro-
gramme has taken two major
steps forward, with the NH In-
dustries type having embarked
on its rst operational mission on
board the navy frigate HMS de
Ruyter on 21 January.
Although the helicopter is still
in the so-called meaningful oper-
ational conguration (MOC)
standard, it will perform mainly
intelligence and reconnaissance
operations in support of EU anti-
piracy mission Atalanta off the
coast of Somalia.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Defence
Helicopter Command received its
rst NH90 in the full operational
conguration standard on 30 Jan-
uary, with aircraft N-234 having
been own from France to its
home base at De Kooy.
The new standard should
solve issues currently limiting
the MOC version, such as short-
range radar performance, and
also has a full electronic support
measures suite installed.
The newly delivered aircraft
will be used to test the advanced
features, and once all remaining
deliveries have been made, the
Netherlands earlier seven
NH90s will be brought to the
same standard. O
I
lyushin expects to wrap up ight-
testing of the new Il 76MD-90A
transport in the second half of
2014, after initiating the regime
with a sortie to Moscow Zhuko-
vsky on 28 January.
The upgraded transport got air-
borne from Ulyanovsk for a 4h
25min ight, during which it
climbed to an altitude of 33,000ft
(10,000m). The initial test pro-
gramme covered powerplant
checks, stability and control char-
acteristics and missed approach
operation, the Ilyushin design bu-
reau says.
Three more of the type are in
various stages of assembly at the
Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar pro-
duction facility, and Ilyushin
says a second batch of aircraft
will enter production later this
year. Russias defence ministry
signed a production order in Oc-
tober 2012 to acquire 39 of the
new model.
Previous versions of the Il-76
were assembled in Uzbekistan, at
Tashkents Chkalov aircraft pro-
duction plant.
Aviastar general director Sergei
Dementiev says the maiden test
ight is a signicant event for
the Russian facility, but adds:
We dont intend to stop here.
There is still work ahead of us to
produce the aircraft.
The modernised Perm PS 90A-
76 engines are intended to cut
fuel burn by 12% and improve
the aircrafts range by 18%. The
airlifter also incorporates glass
cockpit avionics, with eight mul-
tifunction displays.
Ilyushin general manager
Viktor Livanov says a three-stage
test programme will include 22
initial ights by the developers,
followed by a longer phase of op-
erational tests comprising 60
ights. The Il-76MD-90A will
then undertake specialised test-
ing for troop transport and para-
chute-assisted cargo drops, with
the full test programme sched-
uled to be completed in the third
quarter of 2014. O
TRANSPORTS
Modernised
Il-76 begins
test regime
UNMANNED SYSTEMS STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
Brazilian tax breaks prompt
UAS developers to team up
Avibrass 9% stake in Embraer and Elbit Systems joint venture brings major players together
Dutch NH90 programme fies forward
ROTORCRAFT ANNO GRAVEMAKER ARNHEM
The navy is to operate one of its aircraft off the coast of Somalia
For comprehensive coverage
of the rotorcraft sector, visit
ightglobal.com/helicopters
Avibras is developing the Falco for Brazilian border surveillance
Read the latest news on
unmanned air vehicles:
ightglobal.com/uav
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12-18 February 2013
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U
S defence experts consulted
by Flight International are
united in their opinion that Irans
newly unveiled Qaher 313 stealth
ghter is merely a mock-up de-
signed for domestic propaganda
purposes, rather than a ying pro-
totype as claimed by Tehran.
The advanced aircraft with an
advanced appearance has a very
small radar cross section and is
capable of operating and ying in
low-altitude, Iranian defence
minister Brig Gen Ahmad Vahidi
told the nations FARS state news
agency on 2 February. Designed
and built by the defence minis-
trys Aviation Industries Organi-
sation, the type was constructed
using high-tech materials, and
can be armed with indigenously
designed weapons, he claims.
The ghter jet is Iranian-
made and all its parts have been
manufactured domestically,
Hassan Parvaneh, project man-
ager for the Qaher 313, told Ira-
nian state television, which also
showed video footage of a sub-
scale model being own.
While the design shown to Ira-
nian president Mahmoud Ah-
madinejad bears a vague resem-
blance to Boeings Bird of Prey
prototype, its faceted appearance
is reminiscent of earlier US low
observables projects, such as
Lockheeds 1970s-era Have Blue,
which eventually evolved into
the F-117 stealth ghter. Other
notable features include xed ca-
nards with moving control sur-
faces behind the cockpit, and a
small non-afterburning engine
which could be a reverse-engi-
neered variant of the General
Electric J85 turbojet, which pow-
ers Northrop F-5s still operated
by Irans air force.
I suspect its for domestic con-
sumption, and then you may be
able to inuence a few people in
the neighbourhood, says Dan
Goure, an analyst at the Lexing-
ton Institute. If youre going to
build something like this, you
have to have all of the analytical
and sensor technologies. They
dont have the engine technology,
they dont have the materials
technology, and they dont have
the computer technology.
Air power analyst Mark Gunz-
inger, of the US Center for Strate-
gic and Budgetary Assessments,
agrees the aircraft is a crude
mock-up but says its emergence
highlights Tehrans greater geo-
political ambitions. It is another
indication that Iran is continuing
to pursue military capabilities,
including weapons of mass de-
struction, to support their anti-
access strategy. But, he notes:
Anyone can build a mock-up.
Even if it does make it off the
ground, I doubt that it will have
stealth characteristics.
UNINTENTIONAL CURVES
One aerospace engineer with ex-
perience on stealth aircraft says
the Qaher 313s planform align-
ment is questionable, and its
blend of faceting with non-com-
pound curves may not even be
intentional. I would bet the fac-
ets are really just structural ves-
tiges showing through the outer
mould line of the skin, he says.
The wing leading edges are
also very rounded and the airfoil
is thick, which the engineer says
are very non-low observable, as
are the control surfaces shown on
the xed canards. The engines
small inlets would also cause
aerodynamic issues at higher an-
gles of attack.
The use of drooped winglets is
also something of a mystery, the
source continues. With twin ver-
tical stabilisers, there should be
plenty of directional stability. All
these do other than look cool
is create interesting yaw/roll cou-
pling issues with little perceiva-
ble benet.
Small in size, the mock-ups
surface nish appears likely to be
painted breglass or fabric, while
the design seems to lack the aper-
tures needed to house communi-
cations equipment, sensors and
internal weapons bays, or even ac-
cess panels and to load fuel. Imag-
es of the cockpit, meanwhile,
show the design is furnished with
avionics from the home-built air-
craft market, while its imsy cano-
py has no visible latch mechanism
around its edge. Retired US Air
Force Lt Gen David Deptula is
abrupt in his opinion, dismissing
the Qaher 313 as laughable.
Iran has a history of presenting
new weapon systems which are,
in fact, adapted versions of older
equipment. These include its
Saeqeh ghter unveiled in 2006,
which equipped the F-5 with
new features including a twin
tail, plus indigenous helicopters
which have been derived from
the Bell AH-1 and UH-1. O
NEWS FOCUS
G280 sets 15
city-pair speed
records
BUSINESS AVIATION P26
Tehran says the ghter has a low radar cross section, and can carry domestically produced weapons
Western sources dismiss indigenous Qaher 313 as domestic propaganda tool, highlighting major design defciencies
Irans dubious stealth claims
DEVELOPMENT DAVE MAJUMDAR WASHINGTON DC
To have your say on the design,
visit our blog The DEW Line:
ightglobal.com/dewline
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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspects the basic cockpit
BUSINESS AVIATION
fightglobal.com 26
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12-18 February 2013
Keep up to date with all the latest
business and general aviation news at
ightglobal.com/bizav
L
ondon Executive Aviation
(LEA) one of Europes larg-
est business aircraft charter and
management companies is
eying expansion into West Africa
to exploit the regions booming
market for executive aircraft.
We are looking at Nigeria ini-
tially as there is already an sup-
port infrastructure in place
there, says LEA co-founder and
managing director George Galan-
opoulos. LEA is looking to se-
cure short, medium and long-
term contracts with local and
international businesses rather
than rely on the more volatile ad
hoc charter work.
The UK-headquartered com-
pany is also seeking to expand its
large-cabin business jet eet to ac-
commodate rising demand for
long-range travel.
LEA operates a eet of 28 busi-
ness aircraft and turboprops of
which it owns nine. Its eet rang-
es from the Beechcraft King Air
200 twin turboprop and entry-
level Citation Mustang to the
large-cabin Embraer Legacy 650.
Galanopoulos says: Since the
credit crunch began over four
years ago, demand for small-cab-
in aircraft has fallen off. This sec-
tor has become very competitive
and the operating margins are
very low. Despite these challeng-
es, we will continue to operate a
mixed eet so we can serve all
sectors of the market.
LEA is gearing up to take de-
livery of its rst Embraer Phe-
nom 300 before the end of Febru-
ary, but it is the top end of the
traditional business jet sector
that is driving LEAs growth, says
Galanopoulos. Demand for
long-range travel is on the rise
and our main focus is to build
our eet of large-cabin aircraft.
LEA added two new aircraft
last year a Bombardier Chal-
lenger 300 and a Legacy 650,
making it the worlds largest op-
erator of the Legacy 600 series
with a eet of nine aircraft. An
Estonia-based 650, a Dassault Fal-
con 2000LX and another Chal-
lenger 300 will be added to the
line-up this year.
Aircraft types such as the Fal-
con and Legacy are ideally suited
for the African market, he says.
LEAs eet is scattered around
Europe and it is seeking to set up
a base in Athens to serve the Bal-
kans, Turkey and Italy.
We would like to base an air-
craft in the Middle East. This is a
hard market to break into so we
will probably tie up with a local
operator, says Galanopoulos. O
G
ulfstreams G280 business jet
has recently set 15 new city-
pair speed records as part of a
company-driven programme to
demonstrate the reliability of the
super-midsize aircraft.
The 250h internal testing pro-
gramme among the most exten-
sive voluntary reliability pro-
grammes ever implemented by
Gulfstream incorporates pilot
check rides, maintenance on aux-
iliary power units, engine run
qualications, technical opera-
tions, publications validations
and basic servicing and handling
at typical xed-base operators,
says Mark Burns, Gulfstream
president for product support.
Of the 15 new city-pair speed
records set, the most notable were a
ight from Aspen, Colorado, to
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and an-
other from Honolulu to Savannah.
The G280 ew the 3,034km
(1,640nm) from Aspen-Pitkin
County airport to Fort Lauderd-
ale-Hollywood International air-
port in 3h 21min, at an average
speed of Mach 0.84.
The ten-seat aircraft ew
7,630km from Honolulu to Sa-
vannah in 8h 19 min, at an aver-
age speed of Mach 0.80.
Gulfstream says the city-pair
speed records have been certi-
cated by the US National Aero-
nautic Association and forwarded
to the Switzerland-based Fdra-
tion Aronautique Internationale
for ratication as world records. O
H
awker Beechcraft has been
cleared to emerge from
bankruptcy protection after 14
February as a restructured and
smaller company.
The US bankruptcy court
approved the companys re-
organisation plan which sheds
the Hawker identity and busi-
ness jet production, Hawker
Beechcraft says.
The renamed Beechcraft Corp
will focus on the turboprop and
piston aircraft that it considers
protable and that have high
growth potential.
Hawker Beechcraft chairman
Bill Boisture will become chief
executive of Beechcraft, replac-
ing Robert Miller, who will
remain a senior advisor to
the board.
The court has also approved
Hawker Beechcrafts plan to use
JP Morgan Securities and Credit
Suisse Securities as underwriters
for a $600 million loan. O
STRATEGY KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
LEA puts faith in big cabins
as it stakes out West Africa
UK charter frm tempted by burgeoning business aviation market in Nigeria and beyond
G280 sets 15 city-pair speed records
TESTING KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
For news from the business and
general aviation sectors, go to
ightglobal.com/bizav
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Gulfstream aims to demonstrate the reliability of its business jet
For more information on the
Gulfstream G280, visit
ightglobal.com/g280
FINANCE
Beechcraft clear
for Hawker split
on 14 February
U
S investment rm Blackstone
has acquired a controlling
stake in two Maldives-based sea-
plane operators Maldivian Air
Taxi and Trans Maldivian Air-
ways (TMA) paving the way for
the de Havilland Canada DHC-6
Twin Otter operators to expand
their ventures within the tourist
destination, which consists of
more than 1,000 islands.
This investment will take our
businesses to the next level, says
Lars Petr, chairman of TMA. The
Hulhul-based company is the
oldest operator in the Maldives
and has a eet of 20 seaplanes.
Maldivian Air Taxi says it is
the biggest seaplane operator in
the world with a eet of 24
aircraft. O
SEAPLANES
Blackstone
moves into
the Maldives
BUSINESS AVIATION
12-18 February 2013
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27 fightglobal.com
AW169 number
four fies as testing
enters fnal phase
GENERAL AVIATION P28
INDIAN PROMISE
Cessna is predicting rising de-
mand in India this year for its
Caravan single-engined turbo-
prop and Citation family of busi-
ness jets. Speaking at the Aero
India show in Bengaluru on 6
February, the airframer said:
India is expected to be
amongst the worlds fastest-
growing economies in 2013
and stands to beneft hugely
from a national expansion of
business aviation, both for do-
mestic and international travel.
Cessna adds it is optimistic
that legislative and regulatory
reforms during 2013 will re-
move several barriers to Indias
aircraft market development.
Flightglobals Ascend Online
database shows that Cessna
has an installed base of 31
Citation jets and 10 Caravans in
India, along with an order back-
log of 27 Citations.
TOUCHING BACE
The National Business Aviation
Association has rebranded its
US fagship Annual Meeting &
Convention as the Business
Aviation Convention &
Exhibition (BACE). The move is
designed to align the industrys
largest annual gathering to the
handful of other dedicated busi-
ness aviation shows around
the world, notably Europes
EBACE, Latin Americas LABACE
and Asias ABACE. NBAAs larg-
est US show has up to this
point been referred to as an
annual meeting, but in recent
decades it has grown in size
and importance to be much
more than just a meeting, and
this change refects that real-
ity, says NBAA president Ed
Bolen. The event which went on
to evolve into the NBAAs mod-
ern US convention was frst
held in September 1947.
AVJETS ADDITION
Business aviation services pro-
vider Avjet has added a new
Gulfstream G450 to its US-based
charter and management feet.
The large-cabin business jet will
be based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
IN BRIEF
Q
uest Aircraft is set to deliver
the rst two Kodiak single-
engined turboprops equipped
with its new VIP Timberline inte-
rior. The handover, to an undis-
closed customer later in Febru-
ary, is part of an effort by the
Sandpoint, Idaho-based airframer
to grow its corporate and VIP cus-
tomer base for the 10-seat, utility
aircraft, which is approaching its
100th delivery milestone.
The aircraft entered service in
2007 with main markets being
government, humanitarian, cargo
and charter.
In an attempt to back up global
sales of the high-wing Kodiak,
Quest is expanding its dealership
network in key geographical re-
gions, including South and Cen-
tral America, Africa and Asia.
Quest chief executive Sam Hill
says he hopes to clinch certica-
tion from China in the second
quarter of 2013 and then begin
deliveries of the rst of 12 aircraft
to its dealer Blue Eagle Aviation
Investment Management.
Quest will deliver four aircraft
to the Beijing-based company in
2013, and the remainder over the
following two years. There is
huge potential for the Kodiak
across Asia, Hill adds. We are
in discussions with two other
customers there for the sale of a
number of aircraft.
Quest is producing two Kodi-
aks a month but plans to ramp up
to three aircraft from July. O
Q
u
e
s
t

A
ir
c
r
a
f
t
The 10-seat utility aircraft is nearing its 100th delivery milestone
E
ASA says it hopes to publish
a proposed rule by mid-2014
on ight time limitations (FTLs)
specic to on-demand aircraft
charter operations. There is no
pan-European ruling on FTLs but
a proposal affecting only com-
mercial airline operations is
under consultation.
EASA has invited US trade body
the National Business Aviation As-
sociation and the US National
Transportation Safety Board to take
part in the formulation of the new
rules. The NBAA worked with the
US Federal Aviation Administra-
tion on formulating FTLs for busi-
ness aircraft crews in 2005 but no
US rulemaking followed.
EASA says it hopes to get a nal
rule accepted for business aircraft
FTLs by about mid-2016. O
E
mbraer is sticking to plans to
ramp up business jet deliver-
ies gradually in 2013, to between
105 and 120, including rst deliv-
eries of the Legacy 500.
The outlook released by the
Brazilian manufacturer on 5 Feb-
ruary predicts that 2013 will
bring a minor turnaround for the
business-jet division.
After peaking in 2010 with 144
business-jets delivered, the maker
behind the Phenom, Legacy and
Lineage product lines reduced
annual output to a total of 99 air-
craft for the next two years.
Embraer has been waiting for
the light-jet market in North
America to recover from the
post-2008 downturn but is not
expecting signicant improve-
ment this year. The outlook pre-
dicts light-jet deliveries could
improve to between 80 and 90
Phenoms, up from 77 last year.
The forecast also includes a
ramp-up of deliveries for NetJets,
which ordered 50 Phenom 300s
in 2010.
The number of large jets is also
expected to only grow incremen-
tally, despite the expected en-
trance into service of the Legacy
500 later this year. Embraer fore-
casts large-jet deliveries will in-
crease from 22 in 2012 to between
25 and 30 in 2013.
Meanwhile, Embraers execu-
tive aviation division expects to
generate revenues of $1.4-$1.6
billion, or about one-quarter of all
revenues. O
REGULATION
EASA plans new
fight-time ruling
TURBOPROPS KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
Quest seeks new operators
as it eyes global expansion
Airframer boosts dealership network as it closes in on Chinese certifcation for Kodiak
PRODUCTION STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
Embraer predicts steady
growth on rising output
For more about Chinas busi-
ness aviation market, go to
ightglobal.com/bizavchina
GENERAL AVIATION
fightglobal.com 28
|
|
12-18 February 2013
Explore 100 years of aviation history as it
appeared in the original pages of Flight:
ightglobal.com/archive
A
gusta Westlands fourth and
nal AW169 prototype made
its maiden ight on 31 January at
the airframers facility in Vergiate,
Italy. The production-conforming
intermediate twin built in only
71 days performed general han-
dling and basic systems testing.
Three other test aircraft have
already chalked up over 150
ight hours in total since they
took to the skies in May, July and
November 2012 respectively,
says the Anglo-Italian airframer,
adding that the 4.5t AW169 is
on schedule for certication
and service entry in 2014.
The fourth prototype is fully
representative of the production
conguration of the multirole air-
craft, designed for emergency
medical services, search and res-
cue, law enforcement, passenger
and offshore transport and utility
missions, says AgustaWestland.
It incorporates a number of
technological advancements, in-
cluding its rotor system, engines
and avionics.
One new feature is a turbine
engine with a mode to operate
also as an auxiliary power unit,
which allows the helicopter to
run its air-conditioning and
other systems on the ground
without the need to operate
the main rotor. APUs are
seldom seen in this weight class,
notes AgustaWestland.
The 10-passenger helicopter
was launched in July 2010 to ll
a gap in AgustaWestlands prod-
uct line between the AW109
light twin and the AW139 medi-
um twin. The Pratt & Whitney
Canada PW210-powered aircraft
is also positioned as a challenger
to Eurocopters Dauphin and
EC145 lines. AgustaWestland has
secured more than 70 orders for
the AW169. O
R66 BOOSTS ROBINSON
Robinson Helicopter grew deliv-
eries in 2012 by 45% compared
with 2011, with the product mix
swinging in favour of the fve-
seat R66. The Torrance,
California-based manufacturer
says deliveries continue to re-
bound from the post-2008
downturn. After handing over
893 helicopters in 2008, deliv-
eries sank to 169 aircraft in
2010, but output recovered to
356 helicopters in 2011 and
517 in 2012. Deliveries of the
four-seat R44 in 2012 rose
34.9% to 286 compared with
2011. Deliveries of the R66
jumped 117% to 191 in 2012,
compared with 88 in the previ-
ous year.
CHINA HOSTS IAOPA
The International Council of
Aircraft Owner and Pilot
Associations (IAOPA) will host
its World Assembly in China for
the frst time next year. The
move is a refection, says
IAOPA, of just how important
the country has become to the
growth of general aviation. It
adds: There are promising
signs that China is embracing
the broader use of GA as part of
its transportation system and
economy. IAOPA says the date
of the biennial gathering has yet
to be decided.
GA8 FOR SUMMIT
Australian general aviation air-
framer GippsAero has appointed
Summit Aviation as an author-
ised dealer for the GA8 Airvan
piston single in the USA. The
Middletown, Delaware-based
company will focus on govern-
ment and surveillance markets.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
ExecuJet Africa is partnering
with international risk manage-
ment company MS Risk to offer
emergency response plans for
companies with staff based at
remote locations in Africa. An
evacuation exercise requires
thorough planning to integrate
the air service with other modes
involved, says ExecuJet.
IN BRIEF
Keep up to date with the latest
general aviation news at
ightglobal.com/ga
T
housands of Piper Aircraft
owners are required to inspect
a historically problematic compo-
nent for cracks and make replace-
ments as necessary.
The airworthiness directive,
which was published on 5 Febru-
ary, affects 34,013 aircraft in the
US registry, which is the entire
eet of PA-28 Cherokees, PA-32
Cherokee Sixes, PA-34 Senecas
and PA-44 Seminoles.
The US Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration estimates the cost of
the 5h inspection on the hori-
zontal stabilator control system
at $425 per aircraft, or $14.5 mil-
lion across the US eet. Replace-
ment parts and labour adds an-
other $1,458 per aircraft to the
total bill.
Owners of Piper aircraft and
federal regulators have long been
aware of failures caused by as-
sembly errors on a Bell-Mem-
phis-built turnbuckle in the hori-
zontal stabilator.
Investigators have linked the
problem to 14 failures on Pipers
and one on a Cessna 172.
In 2001, the FAA required an-
nual inspections of the horizontal
stabilator, but instances of turn-
buckle failures continued. On 14
March 2012, a Cherokee Six
crashed while landing in Warren-
ton, Virginia after losing elevator
control because of a fractured
turnbuckle in the lower stabilator
control cable.
The annual inspection to check
for cracks in the same component
had been completed the previous
day but failed to prevent the frac-
ture, states the investigation re-
port by the National Transporta-
tion Safety Board.
In August 2012, the FAA pro-
posed a new rulemaking requir-
ing another round of inspections
and replacement parts, but this
time making the checks manda-
tory to maintain airworthiness of
the aircraft. O
A
g
u
s
t
a
W
e
s
t
la
n
d
AgustaWestland says it is on schedule for service entry in 2014
ROTORCRAFT KATE SARSFIELD LONDON
AW169 number four ies as
testing enters nal phase
AgustaWestland says certifcation of intermediate twin on schedule for 2014 certifcation
FAA orders Piper aircraft inspections
REGULATION STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC
Keep up to date with aviation
safety at our dedicated channel:
ightglobal.com/safety
12-18 February 2013
|
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29 fightglobal.com
Aerospace
Association warning
over budget cuts
BUSINESS P30
SPACEFLIGHT
I
nitial reports indicate a thrust
problem, starting with ignition
of the liquid oxygen/kerosene-
fuelled RD-171 engine, was be-
hind the 1 February failure of a
Sea Launch Zenit-3SL launch ve-
hicle carrying an Intelsat commu-
nications satellite payload.
A video of the launch shows the
rocket lifting off, but quickly losing
momentum. The rocket appears to
drift off-course and, about 25s after
lift-off, the engine cuts out auto-
matically, as it is programmed to
do in emergency situations.
A statement from Sea Launch
conrms the company lost telem-
etry about 40s into the ight,
roughly when the vehicle appears
to have impacted the Pacic
ocean, accompanied in the video
by a bright ash.
Russian space agency Roscos-
mos Sea Launch is owned by
Energia in Russia says telemetry
indicates the engine performed as
expected, meaning a likely prob-
lem with ight-control software
or erroneous signals. The rocket
carried Intelsat 27, a Boeing-built
satellite intended to join the
formers constellation in geosyn-
chronous orbit. It is fully insured,
says Intelsat.
Sea Launch has a troubled his-
tory, having only emerged from
bankruptcy in 2011. The compa-
ny has no future launches guar-
anteed, although it could step in
for customers in case their pri-
mary vehicle of choice, Khru-
nichevs Proton (pictured right),
is unable to accommodate two
planned missions.
Reserving a back-up launcher is
common in the industry, and Sea
Launchs Zenits often stand in for
the Protons operated by Russias In-
ternational Launch Services (ILS).
As such, this latest incident
may have an impact beyond Sea
Launch itself. Protons with civil
payloads are launched from
Baikonur in Kazakhstan, a legacy
of the days when both nations
were part of the Soviet Union.
However, when it comes to poli-
tics, the two countries do not al-
ways get along. Kazakhstan has
capped the number of Proton
launches it will allow for 2013 at
12, which presents an issue as
ILS has 15 Proton ights sched-
uled this year.
Nor can other rms soak up the
additional work. French compa-
ny Arianespace a preferred, but
vastly more expensive, alterna-
tive has a full backlog for the
year, as does USA-based United
Launch Alliance.
Start-up SpaceX is booked for
years to come, and has schedul-
ing troubles of its own. China is
off-limits to most because the
majority of the Protons custom-
ers wish to launch satellites with
US components, which are
strictly forbidden from entering
the country.
The only remaining capable ve-
hicle is the Japanese H-IIA, which
Japan simply is not geared up to
produce in quantity and which, in
any case, is very expensive. O
ACCIDENT ZACH ROSENBERG WASHINGTON DC
Industry begins to run out of space
Failure of Sea Launch rocket on 1 February, including the destruction of satellite payload, could have wider ramifcations
S
eoul has successfully own
the Korean Satellite Launch
Vehicle (KSLV-1), the nations
rst orbital rocket, which de-
ployed a small satellite. The mis-
sion was the countrys third
launch attempt with the KSLV-1
after two previous efforts failed.
The rocket lifted off from Naro,
in the southern area of the Korean
peninsula, early on 30 January.
South Korea claims the rockets
payload, a small scientic satel-
lite called STSAT-2C virtually
identical to the one lost in 2009
during a previous launch attempt
has successfully reached orbit,
but no independent conrmation
was available as Flight Interna-
tional went to press.
The launch comes weeks after
North Koreas rst successful
launch using an Unha-3 rocket.
South Korea recovered the
Unhas rst stage from the Pacic
ocean to nd that many of the
crucial parts, which observers
assumed to be imported from
Iran or China, were built largely
in-country.
The Unhas rst stage compris-
es four Nodong powerplants, es-
sentially scaled-up versions of
the liquid engines used to launch
Scud surface-to-surface missiles.
The second stage is thought to be
adapted from the SS-N-6, a sub-
marine-launched ballistic mis-
sile, and a third stage much like
Irans Sar launcher.
In contrast, KSLV-1 is built
atop a liquid oxygen-kerosene-
fuelled Russian-built rst stage
the same one that will be used by
Russias Proton replacement, the
Angara and a Korean-built sol-
id-fuel second stage.
KSLVs rst launch, in 2009,
failed when half of the satellite
fairing did not separate. KSLV
made a second attempt the fol-
lowing year. However, this failed
because of a fault in the Angaras
liquid stage.
South Korea is in the early
stages of designing an indigenous
rst stage to replace the Russian-
built version. While few details
have been nailed down, it will re-
portedly be liquid-fuelled.
Both ights signal the rise of
Asian space capabilities general-
ly, and may serve as a catalyst for
nearby nations to improve their
capabilities. Also, within weeks
of the North Korean launch, came
the successful launch of two Japa-
nese reconnaissance satellites,
with polar orbits passing directly
over North Korea. O
Commentary about the space-
fight sector is on our blog at
ightglobal.com/hyperbola
Koreas KSLV-1 mission succeeds at third attempt
DEVELOPMENT ZACH ROSENBERG WASHINGTON DC
I
n
t
e
r
n
a
t
io
n
a
l
L
a
u
n
c
h

S
e
r
v
ic
e
s
Seoul recovered the
Unhas rst stage to
nd many of the
crucial parts were
built largely in-country
Kazakhstan has
capped the number of
Proton launches it will
allow for 2013 at 12,
ILS has 15 Proton
ights scheduled
BUSINESS
fightglobal.com 30
|
|
12-18 February 2013
Good week
Bad week
Aircraft fnance is among the sectors covered
by our premium news and data service
Flightglobal Pro: ightglobal.com/pro
Good week
Bad week
USA Fourth-quarter con-
traction led the
Aerospace Industries
Association to warn,
again, that federal gov-
ernment budget cuts
threaten to throw the
economy into a tailspin
and unless Washington
acts fast to stop them,
automatic cuts sched-
uled to kick in next
month on top of $487
billion voted out of de-
fence spending in 2011
will be the second wave
that overwhelms our
foundering economic
boat, likely sinking us
back into a recession.
PROX DYNAMICS The
Norwegian UAS maker
had best keep its order-
book open following the
release of pictures of UK
troops handling its
PD-100 nanocopter.
The UK defence ministry
has at least 64 of the
120mm (4.7in) rotor
units in Afghanistan and
160 on order in a 20
million ($31 million) pro-
curement. In 2012, Prox
delivered nearly 500 of
the microscouts, which
can return pictures over
a 1km (0.5nm) range;
gotta have one barely
begins to describe it.
INSURANCE DAVID TODD LONDON
Space risk is at a premium
Satellite insurance has been cheap so prices may rise to keep underwriters in the black
W
hile it may be too early to
assess the nancial impact
on Sea Launch of this months
Zenit-3SL launch failure that left
its Intelsat 27 payload at the bot-
tom of Pacic Ocean, insurers
are licking their wounds. At
$406 million, the ight is the
largest space insurance loss ever
nearly wiping out the entire
prot from 2012 before much of
this years premium income has
been collected, and threatening
to throw the space insurance
market into loss.
As in other classes of insur-
ance, specialist brokers spread
the risk associated with any given
ight by offering shares to many
underwriters. A typical risk of an
insured value of $400 million
might have 25 underwriters cov-
ering it at premium rates for a
launch plus one year risk, ranging
from 7% to 15% of the insured
value, according to the perceived
reliability of the launch vehicle
and satellite design. After the rst
year, the annual premium rate for
in-orbit cover drops to 0.6-1.0%.
On a calendar accounting
basis, in 2012, the space insur-
ance market as a whole returned
a very healthy prot, continuing
the protable trend of recent
years. Again as in other classes of
insurance, though, prot attracts
more underwriters and the
competition tends to push premi-
ums down, raising the spectre of
unprotable years to come.
Insurance rates are largely
driven by supply and demand.
The over-supply of capacity today
has increased competition and
driven rates to some of the lowest
levels ever seen, says David
Wade, space underwriter at the
London-based Atrium Space In-
surance Consortium.
With respect to the type of loss-
es incurred, while the late 1990s
and early 2000s were dominated
by in-orbit failures compounded
by policy wording errors, in 2012
the estimated $425 million losses
incurred were dominated by
launch vehicle failures.
SOURCE: Flightglobal SpaceTrak database with insurers' premium estimates
$ million
SPACE INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND PAYOUTS
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Gross Premium
Total Losses
2010 2005 2000 1995 1990
C
r
o
w
n

C
o
p
y
r
ig
h
t
R
e
x

F
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
Underwriters are even more
concerned about the lack of dif-
ferentiation in rates between reli-
able and less-reliable launch ve-
hicles and spacecraft. Despite
losses, rates have continued to be
put under pressure and, signi-
cantly, the differentiation be-
tween different risks has been
eroded to a point where it is mini-
mal, warns Wade.
WHATS NEXT?
In any case, uncertainty is un-
nerving; while the Ariane 5 rock-
ets reliability is admired and is,
in turn, rewarded with a low pre-
mium rate, concerns remain over
its ability to y two high value in-
sured spacecraft on the same
launch. As sums insured con-
tinue to increase, and due to the
accumulation of exposure on
dual launches in particular, the
insurance market will probably
nd itself with insufcient pre-
mium revenue to pay a single
large loss, says Wade.
The market is also having to
cope with new risks. While Ari-
ane 5, Proton and Soyuz are well
known, they are being joined by a
new and diverse range of launch
vehicles. SpaceXs Falcon 9 has
built up a large launcher order
book, but is relatively untried.
New satellite technologies also
have to be priced for risk. Inmar-
sat chief technology ofcer Ruy
Pinto notes that operators want to
use new spacecraft technology to
stretch for ever more capability,
but believes the risk is managea-
ble by careful testing. However,
with a recent trend of offering
multi-year policies, insurers do
appear to have opened them-
selves up to a repeat of the expen-
sive lessons learned from the
heavy losses of the early 2000s,
when a string of in-orbit failures
led to annual renewal being a
standard practice.
Indeed, Jan Schmidt, space un-
derwriter at Swiss Re, the rm
that has led the recent re-intro-
duction of multi-year policies,
agrees that unexpected generic
faults with new technology might
be seen as a sword of Damocles
hanging over insurers. Neverthe-
less, he says: If you are charging
an adequate risk premium [for the
extra years], then you can do it.
As if launcher faults and space-
craft failures arent worry enough,
natural threats such as solar and
meteor storms are also real. The
45m (148ft) diameter asteroid
2012 DA14 will on 15 February
pass Earth inside the orbit of ge-
ostationary satellites worth some
$400 million each but any of the
more numerous bullet-sized mete-
orites could destroy a spacecraft.
Man-made debris is seen as less of
a threat at such high orbits, but an
Iridium communications satellite
in low-Earth orbit was hit and de-
stroyed by an out-of-control Rus-
sian satellite in 2009. O
Spacefight? Latest news and
quirky highlights at
ightglobal.com/hyperbola
BUSINESS
12-18 February 2013
|
|
31 fightglobal.com
Out with the old
COVER STORY P32
GLOBAL EAGLE SOARS ON BUYOUT APPROVAL
IFEC A $430 million pair of deals two Hollywood media moguls hope
will shake up the in-fight entertainment market are to go ahead, fol-
lowing approval by shareholders of Global Eagle Acquisition to buy
in-fight connectivity provider Row 44 and an 86% share of German
content specialist Advanced Infight Alliance. Former MGM chief ex-
ecutive Harry Sloan and former CBS/Sony Pictures president Jeff
Sagansky formed the acquisition vehicle in late 2012 in a bid to
merge connectivity technology with content.
SAGEM FEELS WAY TO SENSORS DEAL
ACQUISITION Safrans Sagem navigation systems unit has ac-
quired Swiss microsensors specialist Colibrys for an undisclosed
sum. Colibrys, with annual sales of 12 million ($16 million), makes
acceleration and vibration sensors based on silicon MEMS (micro-
electro-mechanical system) technology, and supplies Sagem with
accelerometers used by Airbus and other aerospace manufacturers.
PORVAIR SIFTS OUT RECORD SALES
FILTERS Aviation revenue growth of 20% drove microfltration divi-
sion revenue to a record 48.5 million ($76 million) up 15% for
2012 at flters specialist Porvair, with operating proft up 19% to
6.7 million. About a third of Porvair aviation flter sales are to Airbus
and Boeing for widebody airliners.
COMMERCIAL SALES LIGHT WAY FOR ASTRONICS
ELECTRONICS At Astronics, aerospace segment sales for the year
to end-December 2012 increased 19.2% to $255 million, driven by
increased sales of commercial-sector cabin electronics and acquired
avionics products. Military sales were up slightly with the addition of
avionics, but offset by lower aircraft lighting and airframe power
sales. Operating proft was up 17.3% to $44.1 million.
DEFENCE SLUMP DRAGS ON EATON
MANUFACTURING Aerospace segment proft dipped by 13% to $213
million on sales up 4.3% to $1.72 billion for the full year 2012 at diver-
sifed industrial manufacturer Eaton, as sales growth in the fourth
quarter slowed to only 1% and orders declined 4% as defence markets
slackened. Eaton anticipates 2% aerospace growth in 2013.
NEW-BUILDS DRIVE GROWTH FOR B/E
INTERIORS Fourth-quarter sales and proft growth in commercial
aircraft and business jet sectors eased off for aircraft cabin interiors
products maker B/E Aerospace, but full-year 2012 results remained
robust, with revenue up 23% to $3.09 billion and operating profts
gaining 26% to $540 million.
INTEREST COSTS HIT WESCO AIRCRAFT
SUPPLY CHAIN In its frst quarter to end-December, supply chain
manager Wesco Aircraft posted a near 10% rise in revenue to $211
million, refecting its acquisition of Interfast. However, rising costs,
including a near doubling of interest charges to $11.4 million, saw
pre-tax proft fall 28% to $27.8 million.
KINGFISHER POSTS RS7.6 BILLION LOSS FOR Q3
AIRLINES Grounded Indian carrier Kingfsher Airlines posted a net
loss of Rs7.6 billion ($143 million) in the quarter ended 31
December 2012. The carrier made no revenue in the quarter as its
operations remain suspended. In the same period a year earlier,
Kingfsher posted a net loss of Rs4.4 billion.
BUSINESS BRIEFS
PEOPLE MOVES
BA, BBA Aviation, Cargotec, CHC Helicopter, IFE Services
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
It would be
surprising if
Etihad did
not do well
Cass Business School strategy professor
JOSEPH LAMPEL is not surprised by the
Abu Dhabi-based airlines 24% rise in 2012
pre-tax profts to $170 million on
revenue up 17% to $4.8 billion,
given that it enjoys low-cost
capital, relatively cheap fuel
in the Gulf, top-notch foreign
staff thanks to incentives
and has no unions
Billson: aftermarket chief
Garrison: Space Foundation
Abbey has joined from Hampson
Aerospace to replace Mair.
Finnair chief executive Mika
Vehvilinen will resign on 28
February to become chief
executive of Cargotec. Former
Atlas Air managing director Joerg
Schiffmann is now commercial
director at IFE Services. Andy
Kerswill has moved from BA
CityFlyer to parent British
Airways as engineering director.
He succeeds Garry Copeland,
who has been promoted to
managing director, operations.
Fundraising and public relations
expert Linda Garrison is now
development director at the non-
prot Space Foundation.
At BBA Aviation, Peg Billson is
now aftermarket services chief
executive, and Gareth Hall has
been promoted to president and
managing director of the Ontic
business unit. Following the
January retirement of the US Air
Forces top enlisted man, Chief
Master Sergeant James Roy, his
wife Paula has joined the Air
Force Association as director of
the new airmen and family
programmes initiative. At CHC
Helicopter, former West North
Sea regional director Nick Mair
has moved to Australia to lead
Asia-Pacic, replacing Rick Burt,
who returns to Vancouver with a
strategic projects brief. Mark
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COVER STORY
32
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12-18 February 2013
Expanding the Typhoons
multirole potential is a
priority for the use of
unallocated funds
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UK DEFENCE
A
t rst glance, the conrmation of a
UK Ministry of Defence plan to
spend 159 billion ($240 billion)
on equipment and support by 2022
is an encouraging sign for the nations armed
forces, especially during a time of nancial
belt-tightening.
Left unchanged since it was revealed by de-
fence secretary Philip Hammond in May 2012,
the 10-year allocation includes a 1% increase
in real terms per annum after 2014-2015. This
will see spending rise from 13.2 billion in the
2012-2013 nancial year to more than 18.8
billion at the end of the cycle.
An ongoing restructuring of the UK mili-
tary will, in time, lead to the air force, army
and navy coming under a so-called Future
Force 2020 structure, which was outlined in
the current coalition governments Strategic
Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of Sep-
tember 2010. This process has already result-
ed in deep cuts to personnel and equipment
levels as part of an effort to eradicate what
Hammond describes as past poor project
management, weak decision-making and -
nancial indiscipline. Such factors had con-
tributed to a gap of about 74 billion between
the MoDs procurement commitments and
ability to pay, according to a review by the
UK National Audit Ofce (NAO).
The MoDs 31 January publication of the
Defence Equipment Plan 2012 conrms
Hammond has now balanced the books, with
the budget for the rst time also containing a
nancial risk and contingency provision of
13.2 billion to cover unexpected cost over-
runs and 8 billion in unallocated funding to
be used against emerging needs.
All three services now have greater input
and more certainty than ever before about
what equipment they will have and when,
says chief of the defence staff Gen Sir David
Richards. The clarity provided by the equip-
ment plan shows that Future Force 2020 is
affordable and achievable.
But while the document has brought some
fresh clarity to the military and its suppliers
in terms of the MoDs procurement commit-
ments, a deeper assessment of its only 20
pages of text and funding graphs leaves key
questions unanswered. In truth, the armed
services will each be faced with making more
difcult decisions during the next several
years, most immediately as they scale down
their more than decade-long combat involve-
ment in Afghanistan.
According to the MoDs plan, combined
procurement activities will account for about
60 billion, or roughly 38% of its 159 billion
spending until 2021-2022. The bill for sup-
porting its in-service and newly acquired
equipment will account for 86 billion, or
54%, it says.
SERVICE ALLOCATIONS
With the UKs land forces having received
major investment during the past several years
because of their action in the ght against the
Taliban in Afghanistan, the Royal Air Force
and Royal Navy will each now receive sub-
stantially more than the British Army.
A total of 44.5 billion 28% of the 10-
year allocation will be spent on aviation
projects, with combat air programmes in-
cluding the Euroghter Typhoon, Lockheed
Martin F-35 and unmanned air vehicles to
account for 18.5 billion of this sum. RAF
transport, tanker and air support projects in-
cluding the Airbus Military A400M, AirTank-
er-provided Airbus A330 Voyager and Air-
seeker electronic intelligence eets will get
13.9 billion.
The RNs total 33% share of the money
will allow both of its Queen Elizabeth-class
aircraft carriers to be completed, along with
other new surface ships for 17.4 billion. The
Astute-class attack submarine programme,
early work leading to the replacement of its
Trident-armed Vanguard-class ballistic mis-
sile boats, and other activities to maintain the
UKs independent nuclear deterrent capabil-
ity will account for 35.8 billion; little more
than 22% of the spending total.
By contrast, spending on armoured ght-
ing vehicles and other land equipment for the
army will total 12.3 billion, or about 7.7% of
the procurement and support allocation.
The RAF are the past masters of political
massage, and the Royal Navy have shown a
surprising turn of speed in this area of
CRAIG HOYLE LONDON
The UK Ministry of Defence has balanced the books with its 10-year equipment plan,
but questions remain as to whether its armed forces can live within their budgets
OUT WITH THE OLD
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The RAF will boost its Chinook fleet, as UK involvement in Afghanistan is scaled down
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12-18 February 2013
COVER STORY
gg
late, says Francis Tusa, editor of UK
publication Defence Analysis. The result is
that both will leave the army in their wake,
especially as it is pushed out of the limelight
as the Afghan mission draws to an early end.
Rotorcraft projects, including upping the
RAFs Boeing CH-47 Chinook eet to 60 air-
craft, will cost 12.1 billion, and programmes
to buy missiles, torpedoes and precision-guid-
ed bombs are to value about 11.4 billion.
UNCOMMITTED FUNDS
With several major new acquisitions to be
considered as part of the next SDSR process
during 2015, parts of each equipment area in-
clude planned, but as-yet uncommitted, seg-
ments of core budget.
For the air domain, this includes planned
new spending on the Euroghter Typhoon.
Further investment to develop and enhance
the aircrafts multirole and intelligence, sur-
veillance, target acquisition and reconnais-
sance capabilities are priorities for use of un-
allocated headroom in the plan budget, the
MoD says. Another priority when funds allow
will be to expand our investment in simulat-
ed pilot training, it adds.
The RAF is due to retire its last Panavia Tor-
nado GR4s in 2019, and the Euroghter is not
yet cleared to use either the MBDA Brimstone
air-to-surface missile or Raytheon Systems
Paveway IV precision-guided bomb the
services weapons of choice in Afghanistan
and Libya or MBDAs Storm Shadow cruise
missile, used in Iraq and Libya.
Funding has yet to be guaranteed to pro-
duce a new Captor-E active electronically
scanned array radar for Typhoon partners Ger-
many, Italy, Spain and the UK, or to fully inte-
grate MBDAs Meteor beyond visual-range air-
to-air missile. Money for such work will have
to be made available later this decade as
spending on the F-35 also begins to ramp up
with increased production.
It is uncertain whether the UK will proceed
with its previously planned nal Tranche 3B
purchase of Euroghters for the RAF. In Janu-
ary, the service received its 100th Typhoon,
against an original 232-aircraft commitment,
later revised to 208.
In May 2012, the UK reverted its procure-
ment plans to buying the short take-off and
vertical landing F-35B, following a brief but
expensive dalliance with the carrier variant C
model. A last-minute attempt to switch was
abandoned when the massive costs linked to
converting at least one of the RNs aircraft car-
riers became apparent, but only after the
planned shift had wasted 100 million.
Our commitment over the rst 10 years is
for 48 [F-35Bs], the MoDs permanent secre-
tary Jon Thompson told the House of Com-
mons defence committee in late 2012. Over
time, we would expect the number to rise to
beyond three gures, but that would be in the
second decade, he added. The MoD is ex-
pected to order its rst operational example
during the course of 2013, but exact numbers
should become clearer via the next SDSR.
The MoD says decisions on how to spend
the 8 billion of headroom funding which
has yet to be allocated will be taken by the
Armed Forces Committee.
This will allow us to fund, incrementally
and exibly, a number of additional pro-
grammes that are a high priority for defence,
as soon as we can be sure that they are afford-
able, Hammond says. We will do so only at
the point when commitment is required to
meet the operational requirement and only in
accordance with the military assessment of
priority at the time.
But the UKs equipment prole faces a
major challenge as it moves towards with-
drawing its last combat forces from Afghani-
stan before the end of 2014. The MoD must
decide which of the equipment acquired
under the urgent operational requirement
(UOR) model will be retained within its core
budget. Many systems, including the RAFs
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reap-
er remotely piloted air systems and Raytheon-
modied Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER-
based Shadow R1 surveillance aircraft, have
been acquired and supported under UOR
deals using money from the Treasury reserve
fund, and not the MoD equipment budget.
The MoD estimates the net additional cost
of operations in Afghanistan as having to-
talled 17 billion between 2001 and March
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A planned 48 STOVL F-35Bs
should be acquired during
the 10-year spending period
Updating the Royal Navys ballistic missile submarine force and also retaining the UKs
independent nuclear deterrent will account for 22% of the total defence equipment plan
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The army will be pushed out
of the limelight as the Afghan
mission draws to an end
FRANCIS TUSA
Editor, Defence Analysis
12-18 February 2013
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35 fightglobal.com
UK DEFENCE
Follow defence developments from the UK and
around the globe by visiting our dedicated on-
line news channel: ightglobal.com/defence
2012, including about 3.8 billion each in the
nancial years starting in 2009 and 2010.
Decisions on what to bring back and fund
as part of the core defence eet have yet to
be taken, with the MoD repeatedly having
stated it has yet to determine what will hap-
pen to its armed Reapers post-2015. This is
despite an expected programme spend of
more than 500 million since the type was in-
troduced in 2007, and an ongoing eet expan-
sion which will take the number of air vehi-
cles available to the RAFs 13 and 39
squadrons to 10. A UK ground control station
for the type has also been established at its
Waddington base in Lincolnshire, with 31
service personnel qualied to pilot the type
and 16 more to follow by September 2013.
URGENT ATTENTION
Primarily used to deliver intelligence, surveil-
lance, target acquisition and reconnaissance
services, the UKs Reapers are own from
Kandahar aireld. The MoD says its aircraft
had released 52 Raytheon Paveway II-series
226kg (500lb) laser-guided bombs and 293
Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellre air-to-
surface missiles by 22 October 2012.
Elsewhere, the UKs current Defence Equip-
ment and Support (DE&S) organisation also
faces a major structural overhaul from later
this decade, with a private sector-operated
successor being considered by the MoD. In
2012, private-sector company Serco was se-
lected to assist with a review process.
In its Defence Acquisition report of 5 Feb-
ruary, the cross-party House of Commons de-
fence committee says it agrees with the gov-
ernment that the current arrangements for
acquisition, constrained by public sector em-
ployment rules, are unsatisfactory. But the
proposal to entrust acquisition to a govern-
ment-owned, contractor-operated company is
not universally accepted as the best way for-
ward, and there are particular concerns about
how the MoDs overall responsibility for ac-
quisition could be maintained.
Support and maintenance costs are sub-
stantial, with contracts linked to the RAFs
Tornado and Typhoon eets having valued
more than a combined 880 million during
the 2011-2012 nancial year, the MoD says.
Reforming DE&S to deliver greater efciency
and cost savings remains a key priority.
Meanwhile, a separate factor which could
affect the cost and schedule performance of
the UKs defence acquisition projects con-
cerns the MoDs new and more stringent re-
quirements for the certication and release to
service of new aircraft and systems. Estab-
lished following the recommendations of the
Haddon-Cave review, which investigated the
loss of Nimrod MR2 XV230 over Afghanistan
in 2006, the UK Military Aviation Authority is
driving through tougher controls over the
safety standards acceptable for incoming and
operational equipment.
The MoDs desire to bring the British Ar-
mys Watchkeeper unmanned air system into
use with civilian certication continues to
delay the types planned introduction to use
in Afghanistan, despite this objective having
originally been scheduled during 2010. A new
announcement on when the asset will be
elded is expected later in 2013.
A senior RAF ofcial also warned late last
year that while the services acquisition of
three RC-135 Airseekers from the USA re-
mains on budget and on time to enter opera-
tional use in October 2014, difculties could
be encountered during certication of the
Boeing 707-based system.
Despite such challenges, the NAO says the
MoDs equipment planning is now being per-
formed on a more prudent basis, although it
suggests the departments attitude to risk is
still over-optimistic, when judged against its
past performance in buying new equipment.
However, Hammond notes: The [NAO] as-
sessment of the equipment plan will take
place annually so that parliament will gain
ever greater levels of condence that the MoD
equipment plan is affordable and will full
our capability requirements.
Only time will tell if the UK has truly
brought the desired level of military precision
and adaptability to its buying practices to
meet the challenges of the future. O
Reaper UAVs must attract core funding
if operations are to continue after 2015
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Parliament will gain ever
greater levels of condence
that the plan is affordable
PHILIP HAMMOND
UK Defence Secretary
fightglobal.com 36
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12-18 February 2013
INTERACTIVE
Click into the world of nance
The impact of changes to
export credit rules and the
growing role of lessors are
prime talking points in this
years Airline Business interac-
tive special report on the
aviation fnance market.
Produced in association with
DVB Bank, this years special
report examines how the leas-
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also scrutinises how airlines
nancing sources are being
adapted in the wake of more
NEW LEASES OF LIFE
To nominate, go to ightglobal.com/awards13
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NOMINATE YOUR INDUSTRY STAR PERFORMERS IN THE...
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Past recipients range from
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nominations for Aviator,
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TALKING SAFETY
How to make the most of a
safety management system
will be one of the key discus-
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Flightglobal Safety in Aviation
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line operation in the region
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safety systems for Virgin
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Papuas safety authority. Find
out more or book your place
at fightglobalevents.com/
safety2013.
TAKING THE TABLETS?
Own an iPad? Hundreds of
Flight International readers
are choosing to read the mag-
azine on the Apple tablet. You
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CUTAWAY COLLECTION
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These drawings are a unique
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include some of historys
most important aircraft, from
Concorde and Airbus A380 to
Cold War fghters. Look out
for the International Space
Station in our 2 April issue.
INTERACTIVE
costly export credit. Changing air-
liner economic lives and the effect
of this on the depreciation curve is
also discussed.
Leading experts from the
manufacturing, banking and advi-
sory sectors provide insight and
analysis in short video interviews.
The online special incorporates a
range of data presented in interac-
tive format, giving snapshots of the
largest lessors, funding sources
and fnancing forecasts by region.
There is also a defnitive guide to
the men who lead the top lessors.
COMING UP
Year, as well as Lifetime Achiever.
The best nominations in the frst
three categories will be
shortlisted and you will have a
chance to choose the overall
winners, while Flightglobal will
choose its own Lifetime
Achievement winner. For those
embarking on an aerospace
engineering career, there is a
chance for worldwide recogni-
tion as Boeing Engineering
Student of the Year. The award
chosen by an eminent panel
of former Boeing engineers
is based on entries from
students, endorsed by their
supervisors. Previous winners
have gone on to stellar careers
in industry and academia. All
the awards will be presented
at a ceremony at Junes Paris
air show, which Bombardier
is also sponsoring.
Farnboroughs nest: last years winners
Celebrating the very best
The Flightglobal Achievement Awards are designed to recognise the
contribution of the single human being or small groups of individuals to
industry breakthroughs or great moments in aviation and the search has begun
for 2013s worthy winners.
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fightglobal.com 38
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|
12-18 February 2013
From yuckspeak to tales of yore, send your offcuts to murdo.morrison@fightglobal.com
R
e
x

F
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
Chinese Caudrons
A dozen Caudron biplanes
have been ordered by the
Chinese
Government,
some to be ftted
with 50hp and
some with 80hp engines.
Obre has gone to China,
where he will assist Lieut Bon,
of the French colonial forces,
in organising an aviation
centre at Peking.
Any volunteers?
A new branch of the Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve is to
be established to
maintain RAF units
with equipment
and supplies.
Candidates must be 25-40,
physically ft, and with no less
than fve years employment by
one or more frms of standing.
Jet Commander
First fight of the Jet
Commander 1121 was made
from the Aero
Commander
Companys
Research and
Development Centre at
Norman, Oklahoma. Mr Ted R
Smith, vice-president of the
companys engineering
division, and test pilot Wendy
Dobbs were at the controls.
Pacifc takeover
The Pacifc Rim will supplant
Europe as Beechs prime
export market
within fve years,
with most sales to
governments
rather than corporations, says
vice-president George
Rodgers. Beech is currently
demonstrating the Beechjet in
Australia at the end of a
lengthy sales tour of South
East Asia.
This is your captain speaking. We have just reached our
infusing altitude.
BA takes its tea
to new heights
Tired of the laws of
thermodynamics standing in the
way of a decent cuppa, British
Airways (come on, who else?)
has started offering a new
altitude-resistant blend of tea to
its customers.
Lets spare you the tedious
discourse on vapour pressure
and the Clausius-Clapeyron
equation. The upshot is that
waters boiling point decreases
by about 1C for every 935ft rise
in altitude.
Black tea demands water at
100C, but during cruise the
cabin pressure is typically set at
8,000ft equivalent altitude,
which means the kettle starts
whistling at a tepid 91C.
Tea specialist Twinings
senior buyer Mike Wright says
the reduced pressure and
humidity affect the functioning
of the taste buds, making things
taste different.
Therefore, the companys
scientists have come up with a
blend of Assam, Kenyan and
Ceylon tea intended to counter
the problem. BA insists the
tea, being served on board
from February, will taste
as good in the sky as it does
on the ground.
BA is supposed to be taking
delivery this year of its frst
Boeing 787, the design of which
allows a lower cabin altitude
and a higher boiling point,
although this is admittedly a
more capital-intensive way of
making your Rosie Lee a bit less
Pony and Trap.
Despite the German
commentary, its worth turning
up the sound.
Spy mystery
Intriguing headline of the month
on Arabian Businesss website:
I dont employ spies Qatar
Airways boss.
News missile
Red faces all round on Budgie
News with our revelation of
Indias plans to procure an
Advanced Media Combat
Aircraft. Will bugged celebrities
be queuing up to buy one to
strike back at their tabloid
tormentors? As Peter Martin
points out: hadnt we better
warn our reporters covering the
Indian air show?
What the DHL?
Pots and kettles and all that, but
we thought wed fnish with a
headline from AllAfrica.com:
DHL launches Boeing 737-400
Cargo Airbus.
Now thats one way of
hedging your bets.
Taking the piston
Tempted to think elf and safety
is sometimes taken to daft
extremes? Take a look at this
clip from a video about a
restoration project on an
18-cylinder Curtiss Wright
radial piston engine.
A creaking powerplant,
bellowing smoke as it whirls
and shudders into life on a test
stand that looks like an open
shed; observers standing only
metres away what could
possibly go wrong?
To get the full effect watch the
video at http://tinyurl.com/
bxzx329 and skip to 26:10.
100-yeAr ArCHive
Every issue of Flight from
1909 onwards
can be viewed online at
fightglobal.com/archive 3
s
a
t
Smoke and whirrer: engine restorers get close to the action
FIN_120213_038 38 7/2/13 17:04:55
READER SERVICES
12-18 February 2013
|
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39 fightglobal.com
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EDITORIAL +44 20 8652 3842
Quadrant House, The Quadrant,
Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS, UK
ight.international@ightglobal.com
Editor Murdo Morrison FRAeS
+44 20 8652 4395
murdo.morrison@fightglobal.com
Head of Content/Flight Daily News Editor
Andrew Doyle +44 20 8652 3096
andrew.doyle@fightglobal.com
Managing Editor Niall OKeeffe
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+44 20 8652 8534 martin.rivers@fightglobal.com
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Defence Editor Craig Hoyle +44 20 8652 3834
craig.hoyle@fightglobal.com
Operations/Safety Editor David Learmount
+44 20 8652 3845
david.learmount@fightglobal.com
Business & General Aviation Editor
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EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST
Israel Correspondent Arie Egozi
Russia Correspondent Vladimir Karnozov
AMERICAS
Americas Managing Editor Stephen Trimble
+1 703 836 8052 stephen.trimble@fightglobal.com
Deputy Americas Air Transport Editor Ghim-Lay Yeo
+1 703 706 9474 ghimlay.yeo@fightglobal.com
Americas Air Transport Reporter Edward Russell
+1 703 836 1897 edward.russell@fightglobal.com
UAV & Spacefight Editor Zach Rosenberg
+1 703 836 7442 zach.rosenberg@fightglobal.com
Military Reporter Dave Majumdar
+1 703 548 4706 dave.majumdar@fightglobal.com
MRO and Air Transport Reporter Kristin Majcher
+1 703 836 8053 kristin.majcher@fightglobal.com
ASIA/PACIFIC
Asia Managing Editor Siva Govindasamy
+65 6780 4311 siva.govindasamy@fightglobal.com
Deputy Asia Editor Greg Waldron
+65 6780 4314 greg.waldron@fightglobal.com
Reporter Mavis Toh
+65 6780 4309 mavis.toh@fightglobal.com
Reporter Ellis Taylor
+65 6780 4307 ellis.taylor@fightglobal.com
Australia Correspondent Emma Kelly
FLIGHTGLOBAL AIRLINES
Editor Airline Business
Max Kingsley-Jones +44 20 8652 3825
max.kingsley.jones@fightglobal.com
Managing Editor Graham Dunn
+44 20 8652 4995 graham.dunn@fightglobal.com
Content Editor Alex Thomas
+44 20 8652 3184 alex.thomas@fightglobal.com
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Head of Design & Production Alexis Rendell
+44 20 8652 8127 alexis.rendell@rbi.co.uk
Global Chief Copy Editor Lewis Harper
+44 20 8652 4958 lewis.harper@icis.com
Chief Copy Editor, Europe Dan Bloch
+44 20 8652 8146 dan.bloch@icis.com
Chief Copy Editor, Americas Fred Seelig
+1 713 525 2649 fred.seelig@icis.com
Global Production Editor Louise Murrell
+44 20 8652 8139 louise.murrell@rbi.co.uk
Deputy Global Production Editor Rachel Kemp
Production Assistant Lizabeth Davis
Designer Lauren Mills
Senior Editorial Artist Tim Bicheno-Brown
Consulting Technical Artist Tim Hall
DATA TEAM
Head of Data Pete Webber
+44 20 8564 6715
peter.webber@fightglobal.com
Commercial Aviation Steven Phipps
+44 20 8564 6797
steven.phipps@fightglobal.com
Defence & GA John Maloney
+44 20 8564 6704
john.maloney@fightglobal.com
PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT
Publishing Director Melanie Robson
Publisher Mark Pilling
READER SERVICES
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Subscription Enquiries
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FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM
Head of Web
Michael Targett +44 20 8652 3863
michael.targett@fightglobal.com
Deputy Editor Stuart Clarke +44 20 8652 3835
stuart.clarke@fightglobal.com
Digital Production Editor Colin Miller
Web Production Editor Andrew Costerton
DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENT SALES
Quadrant House, The Quadrant,
Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS, UK.

Group Display Sales Manager Stuart Burgess
stuart.burgess@fightglobal.com
Sales Support Gillian Cumming
+44 20 8652 8837
gillian.cumming@rbi.co.uk
EUROPE
Sales Manager Shawn Buck
+44 20 8652 4998 shawn.buck@fightglobal.com
Sales Manager Mark Hillier
+44 20 8652 8022 mark.hillier@fightglobal.com
Display Account Manager Grace Hewitt
+44 20 8652 3469 grace.hewitt@fightglobal.com
NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
Vice-President, North & South America
Rob Hancock +1 703 836 7444
robert.hancock@fightglobal.com
Regional Sales Director
Warren McEwan +1 703 836 3719
warren.mcewan@fightglobal.com
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Rachel Sunderland +1 703 836 7445
rachel.sunderland@fightglobal.com
Sales Manager
Steven Kulikowski +1 630 288 8034
steven.kulikowski@fightglobal.com
Reed Business Information, 333 N.Fairfax Street,
Suite 301, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
ITALY
Sales Manager Riccardo Laureri
+39 (02) 236 2500 media@laureriassociates.it
Laureri Associates SRL, Via Vallazze 43,
20131 Milano, Italy
ISRAEL
Sales Executive Asa Talbar +972 77 562 1900
Fax: +972 77 562 1903 talbar@talbar.co.il
Talbar Media, 41 HaGivaa St, PO Box 3184, Givat
Ada 37808, Israel
ASIA/AUSTRALASIA
Sales Manager Michael Tang
+65 6780 4301 michael.tang@fightglobal.com
Fax: +65 6789 7575
1 Changi Business Park Crescent,
#06-01 Plaza 8 @ CBP
Singapore 486025
RUSSIA & CIS
Director Arkady Komarov
komarov@worldbusinessmedia.ru
Tel/Fax: +7 (495) 987 3800
World Business Media, Leningradsky Prospekt, 80,
Korpus G, Offce 807, Moscow 125190, Russia
CLASSIFIED & RECRUITMENT
+44 20 8652 4900; +44 20 8652 4897
Group Sales Manager Lucinda Chia
+44 20 8652 8507
lucinda.chia@rbi.co.uk
Key Account Manager Christian Warren
+44 20 8652 4900 recruitment.services@rbi.co.uk
Key Account Manager Michael Tang
+65 6780 4301
Sales Executives Oliver Kingston, Katie Mann
ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION
Production Manager Sean Behan
+44 20 8652 8232 sean.behan@rbi.co.uk
Production Manager Classifed Alan Blagrove
+44 20 8652 4406 alan.blagrove@rbi.co.uk
MARKETING
Marketing Director Fiona Benharoosh
+44 20 8564 6711 fona.benharoosh@rbi.co.uk
Senior Marketing Manager Ben Colclough
+44 20 8564 6722 ben.colclough@rbi.co.uk
Head of Marketing Georgina Rushworth
+44 20 8652 8138 georgina.rushworth@rbi.co.uk
For a full list of events see
ightglobal.com/events
EVENTS
25-27 February
Loyalty 2013
Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +44 20 8652 8818
lizzie.law@rbi.co.uk
loyalty-conference.com
25-27 February
MRO Africa Conference & Exhibition
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
conferences@africanaviation.com
africanaviation.com
1-3 March
Australian International Airshow
Avalon airport, Geelong, Victoria
Tel: +61 3 5282 0500
airshow@amda.com.au
airshow.com.au
3-5 March
Network USA 2013
Hyatt Regency Hill Country, Texas
Tel: +44 20 8652 4610
anna.chamberlain-webber@rbi.co.uk
networkusaforum.com
4 March
SpeedNews 3rd Annual Aerospace Raw
Materials & Manufacturers Supply
Chain Conference
Beverly Wilshire, California
speednews.com/conferences
4-6 March
SpeedNews 27th Annual Commercial
Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference
Beverly Wilshire, California
26-30 March
Langkawi International Maritime
& Aerospace Exhibition
Langkawi, Malaysia
Tel: +603 4142 1699
hw5@hwlima.org
lima.com.my
9-10 April
SpeedNews Aerospace Manufacturing
Conference
Charleston Place Hotel, South Carolina
9-12 April
LAAD Defence & Security 2013
Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
laadexpo.com
29 April to 1 May
African Aviation Training Conference
& Exhibition
Cairo, Egypt
africanaviation.com
21-23 May
EBACE: European Business Aviation
Convention & Exhibition
Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland
Ana Baptista
abaptista@ebaa.org
ebace.aero
27-29 May
African Business Aviation Conference
& Exhibition
Nairobi, Kenya
africanaviation.com
17-23 June
Paris Air Show
Le Bourget exhibition centre, France
visiteurs@salon-du-bourget.fr
paris-air-show.com
26-28 June
Air Finance for Africa Conference
& Exhibition
Johannesburg, South Africa
africanaviation.com
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40 | Flight International | 12-18 February 2013 ightglobal.com
CLASSIFIED
TEL +44 (0) 20 8652 4897 FAX +44 (0) 20 8652 3779 EMAIL classified.services@rbi.co.uk
Calls may be monitored for training purposes
Dauphin AS.365
Parts Specialists
www. al pi ne. aer o
Tel: +41 52 345 3605
www.skyworld.co.uk
Acting as appointed agent,
Skyworld Aviation is pleased to
ofer two Dash 8 Q400 aircraft
for sale. Lease or fnance options
could be considered, subject to
status.
Manufactured 2011
Low hours / cycles
74 seats
N registered
Available immediately
The Regional Aircraft Marketing Specialist

Tel. + 44 1753 832088 info@skyworld.co.uk
For sale
2 x Dash 8 Q400 Next Generation
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ightglobal.com 12-18 February 2013 | Flight International | 41
Airline Training Specialist
Simulator Center and TRTO
Airbus A320 and ATR SIMULATOR
in Madrid, Spain
For individual pilots and airlines we have
customised courses including!
New Boeing 737NG Trainer!
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IS YOUR RETIREMENT
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Tel +44(1)1797 322 655
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LONDON BIGGIN HILL
CLOSE TO THE HEART OF LONDON
HANGARAGE AND
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From an EASA Part 147 Approved Training Organisation
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E: info@lrtt.co.uk
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flightglobal.com/jobs
EMAIL recruitment.services@rbi.co.uk CALL +44 (20) 8652 4900 FAX +44 (20) 8652 4877
Getting careers off the ground
flightglobal.com 12-18 February 2013 | Flight International | 43
Offshore Flight Operations Manager EBU UK
Offering excellent developmental opportunities, this newly created position will have responsibility for the day to day running of a major Flight Operations Dept with over 230 pilots.
The main responsibilities will include recruitment strategy and execution; working with the Chief Pilots to ensure, operator profciency, line & task training and adherence to
regulations and Operations Manual requirements and formulating operational procedures to ensure safe & effcient operation of Company aircraft.
Candidates will be a current or ex JAR licensed Pilot with North Sea Operational experience. Applicants must have previous managerial experience at Chief Pilot (or equivalent
level), or above. The successful applicant must be able to meet the requirements of the CAA to be a Flight Operations Post-holder and assume a deputy role for this.
SAR Flight Operations Manager
Offering excellent developmental opportunities, this newly created position will have responsibility for the day to day running of a major SAR Flight Operations Dept with over 50
aircrew at 3 bases.
The main responsibilities will include recruitment strategy and execution; working with the Chief Pilots to ensure, operator profciency, line & task training and adherence to
regulations and SAR Operations Manual requirements and formulating operational procedures to ensure safe & effcient operation of Company aircraft.
Candidates will be a current or ex JAR licensed Pilot with UK SAR Operational experience. Applicants must have previous managerial experience at Chief Pilot (or equivalent
level), or above.
The successful applicant must be able to meet the requirements of the CAA to be a Flight Operations Post-holder.
The successful applicant will be in contact with US ITAR controlled technology, goods and information. As a condition of employment, employees with access to US ITAR
controlled technology and goods may be required to undergo an additional screening process as part of the recruitment process.
Pilots
We currently have a number of openings for qualifed Pilots within our European Business Unit at Aberdeen. To be included in this role, the candidate MUST possess UKCAA/JAA
ATPLH or UKCAA/JAA CPLH with ATP theory and UKCAA/JAA IR(H) along with offshore experience. The ideal candidate would have 500 hours fying multi-engine helicopters or
be a graduate from Bristow Academy. Candidates with Type rating on S92/ AW139/ S76/ AS332L /332L2 preferred, but conversion courses available if required.
A competitive salary and benefts package are on offer for all positions.
To Apply
t 1lease submit an online application with a covering letter and CV at: www.bristowgroup.com/careers Closing Date: 22 Feb 201
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. is a leading international provider of helicopter transport and support services. The Company especially values its ability to operate in
demanding environments whilst maintaining the highest levels of quality and safety performance in fight and on the ground.

Bristow Helicopters LTD is now recruiting additional key staff to support
our business and customer requirements.
Focus on the client -
Focus on Value Let your career take off
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Build your career
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44 | Flight International | 12-18 February 2013 flightglobal.com
HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE
TECHNICIANS
LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS
WORLD-WIDE
EXCEPTIONAL PACKAGES
ISATI Srl, urgently requires the services of the
following helicopter maintenance (ideally licensed)
technicians (Avionic or Mechanical):
AW139
AW119
AW109
and/or
AW101/Lynx *
* for this activity we are seeking technicians with competence on
both helicopters and ideally french speaking
Immediate requirements for Australia, Venezuela,
North Africa
For more information, please send your resume with
full personal details, together with copies of relevant
licence, training certificates, diplomas and two
references to:
Marco Rizzo, ISATI Srl, Via Verdi 3, 21013 Gallarate
(VA), Italy
Tel: +39 0331 245522 Fax: +39 0331 1816923
Mob: +39 346 8758068
Email: Marco.Rizzo@isati-srl.com
Flight Inspection
Flight Validation
Air Trafc Management Systems
Radiola Aerospace Limited with head ofce in Wellington, New Zealand
and subsidiary companies in Australia and the United Kingdom seeks to
employ a Business Development Executive.
The company requires this position to deliver increased revenue from
business activities in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The ideal candidate will have proven sales success in some or all of the
key product categories and markets. The ability to develop business
plans, achieve targets and work to tight time frames is essential.
Sound product knowledge will add credibility to the position while staff
and project management skills will be required.
Frequent travel to remote and challenging environments is often
necessary at short notice.
If this unique position is of interest please contact:
Richard Thompson
Executive Director
E: RichardT@RadAero.com
T: +64 (021) 270 9780
www.radaero.com
Business Development Manager
- United Kingdom
One industry, one job site
Get express relief with
THE industry job site
at Jobs.Flightglobal.com
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flightglobal.com 12-18 February 2013 | Flight International | 45
RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT FOR NON CIVIL SERVICE VACANCY
CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG
Senior Training Manager
Salary: US$11,197* US$12,020* per month depending on relevant experience of the candidate.
Entry Requirements: This post is open to both male and female candidates. Candidates should (a) have 10 years of
cadet and ATC experience in which at least 5 years as a practicing air traffic controller; (b) in addition to (a), have 10
years working experience in an ATC training institute in which at least 5 years in a senior managerial or higher position;
(c) have good knowledge in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and ATC training needs, and (d) be
qualified to instruct in at least one of the following subjects: On-the-job Training Instructor, Human Factors in ATC,
Fundamental ATC, Language Proficiency Testing.
Duties: Senior Training Manager is mainly deployed to lead a team of ATC instructors in implementing the new ATC
system conversion training to be provided to all Air Traffic Control Officers and Air Traffic Flight Service Officers, including
preparation of training schedule, simulator usage plans, instructors deployment production and vetting of training material
conducting specialized training on ATC subjects and other training related duties.
Terms of Appointment: Successful candidate will be appointed on two years non-civil service contract terms. Renewal
of contract will be subject to operational needs.
Fringe Benefits: An end-of-contract gratuity may be granted if the contract is completed with satisfactory performance
and conduct. Such gratuity, if granted, will be the sum which, when added to the Governments contribution to the
Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme in respect of the appointee as required by the MPF Schemes Ordinance, equals
to 15% of the total basic salary drawn during the contract period. 14 days annual leave and full pay sickness allowance,
whereas rest days, statutory holidays, maternity leave, where appropriate, will be granted in accordance with the
provisions in the Employment Ordinance.
Address and Enquiry Tel. No.: Assistant Departmental Secretary (Appointments), Level 5, Civil Aviation Department
Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong. For enquiries, please call (852)
2910 6395.
Closing Date for Application: 26 February 2013
General Notes:
(a) Persons who are not permanent residents of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may also
apply for this vacancy but will be appointed only when no suitable and qualified candidates who are
permanent residents are available.
(b) As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the Government is committed to eliminating discrimination in
employment. The vacancy advertised is open to all applicants meeting the basic entry requirement
irrespective of their disability, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, family status, sexual orientation and
race.
(c) Non-civil service vacancies are not posts on the civil service establishment. Candidates appointed are not on
civil service terms of appointment and conditions of service. Candidates appointed are not civil servants and
will not be eligible for posting, promotion or transfer to any posts in the Civil Service.
(d) The entry pay, terms of appointment and conditions of service to be offered are subject to the provisions
prevailing at the time the offer of appointment is made.
(e) Where a large number of candidates meet the specified entry requirements, the recruiting department may
devise shortlisting criteria to select the better qualified candidates for further processing. In these
circumstances, only shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend recruitment examination and/or
interview.
(f) It is Government policy to place people with a disability in appropriate jobs wherever possible. If a disabled
candidate meets the entry requirements, he/she will be invited to attend the selection interview/written
examination without being subject to any further shortlisting criteria.
(g) Holders of academic qualifications other than those obtained from Hong Kong institutions/Hong Kong
Examinations and Assessment Authority may also apply but their qualifications will be subject to
assessments on equivalence with the required entry qualifications. They should submit copies of their
official transcripts and certificates by mail to the above enquiry address.
(h) Towards the application deadline, our on-line system would likely be overloaded due to large volume of
applications. To ensure timely completion of your on-line application, it is advisable to submit the
application as early as possible.
How to apply: Application Forms [G.F. 340 (Rev. 6/2012)] can be downloaded from the Civil Service Bureau of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Regions (HKSAR) web site (http://www.csb.gov.hk). Completed forms should reach the
above enquiry address of the recruiting department on or before the closing date for application. On-line application can
also be made through the Civil Service Bureaus web site (http://www.csb.gov.hk). Candidates who are selected for
interview will normally receive an invitation in about six to eight weeks from the closing date for application. Those who
are not invited for interview may assume that their applications are unsuccessful. For further information and an
application form, please write to the Administration Division, Level 5, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters,
1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong (Fax No. (852) 2910 6399) or e-mail to
recruitment@cad.gov.hk, quoting reference CAD PR/5-25/69(2012).
[*Based on exchange rate (HK$7.8) = US$1 (Subject to fluctuation)
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+44 (0)1403 240 183
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T: +44(0)1483 332000
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aviation recruitment
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CTC FlexiCrew
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Rebecca Anderson, Kelly Biggart, Holly
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Tel: +44(0)141 270 5007
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aviation@firstpeoplesolutions.co.uk
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David Rowe, Alastair Millar,
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Tel: +44 (0)1737 821011
Email: aero@cbsbutler.com
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Tel: +44 (0) 1284 700676
Email: info@e-techs.co
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Looking for on contract basis consultants with
working experience gained from aircra
manufacturers customer services business,
incl. maintenance & engineering, supply
chain management, aircra parts service,
technical publicaons, training, operaon
support and supplier contract management.
Email: yongq@3oac.com Tel: +44 20 8643 3981
www.3oac.com
Three Oaks Aviaon Consultancy Ltd.
Global Aerospace contract
personnel and work packages
e: progers@strongfieldtech.com
t: +44(0)20 8799 8916
w: www.strongfield.com
The preferred company for Stress (Fatigue & DT), GFEM,
Composites), Aeronautical Research. Business units:
Contract staff, Workpackages, Innovation and New
Concepts, Aeronautical Research. www.bishop-gmbh.com
Contact bishop.peter@bishop-gmbh.com
Tel 0049-(0)40-866-258-10 Fax 0049-(0)40-866-258-20
GCT Group
Worldwide specialist for
Aerospace Engineering,
Certification & Management
Services
e: yourcv@garner.de
t: +49 (0) 8153 93130
w: www.garner.de
Recruiting Stress, Design and Fatigue & DT
engineers for our ofces in:
Amsterdam
Bangalore
Bristol
Glasgow

Hamburg
Seattle
aerospace.info@atkinsglobal.com
To advertise in this
Employment Services Index
call +44 (0) 20 8652 4900
fax +44 (0) 20 8261 8434
email recruitment.services@rbi.co.uk
Please note that calls may
be monitored for training purposes
WORKING WEEK
12-18 February 2013
|
|
47 fightglobal.com
If you would like to feature in
Working Week, or you know
someone who does, email your
pitch to murdo.morrison@
ightglobal.com
For more employee work
experiences, pay a visit to
ightglobal.com/workingweek
Hoy: Equipped with vast knowledge, experience and contacts
Spreading a culture of safety
A
ir

S
a
f
e
t
y

M
a
t
t
e
r
s
WORK EXPERIENCE DAVID HOY
After 38 years in the training industry working for a range of organisations in the UK and overseas, David Hoy
started his own business, advising training companies on how to set up safety management systems
Describe Air Safety Matters
ASM offers advice and assistance
in setting up safety management
systems within training organisa-
tions, something that will be-
come mandatory in 2014. ASM
has three subsidiaries Aviation
Employment Matters, Aviation
Medical Matters and Airline
Transport Pilot Selection and
Training (ATPST). Each is de-
signed to improve standards
while offering pilots and control-
lers concerned about medical or
employment issues a safe place
to go for advice. ATPST provides
sponsorship for aspiring pilots.
In addition, ASM has a publish-
ing department with the purpose
of exposing bad practice.
Where did the idea come from?
A lifetimes involvement in train-
ing has equipped me with vast
knowledge and experience and
contacts. Throughout my career I
have had insight to the challenge
of balancing safety and good prac-
tice, while also making a prot. In-
sight to these challenges at many
levels resulted in my decision that
to set up a business which aims to
support those in the industry and
prioritises good practice was the
only way I could go.
Describe a typical week
My week involves lots of meet-
ings with fellow directors and
shareholders, training providers,
the selection team, airlines and
ying schools, printers, solici-
tors, the bank
Talk us through your career
what have been the highlights?
I was originally sponsored by
BEA/BOAC just as it was mor-
phing into British Airways. Un-
fortunately, I lost my medical just
before graduating and for the next
ve years worked as a simulator
instructor. My medical was re-
turned in 1978 and I quickly re-
gained my licences and became a
ying instructor, something I had
always wanted to do. I spent a
couple of years running my own
ying school at Leavesden, then
joined Cabair, where I enjoyed a
lengthy stint progressing to be-
come its business development
director. I left in 1998, by which
time we had 10 airlines training
with us, including BA and Virgin.
Since then I have been head of
training in Qatar, manager of in-
structor training at Oxford, and
head of training with BAE Sys-
tems in Manchester. More recent-
ly, I was programme manager for
the Cessna Mustang in Europe.
Highlights include winning the
BA contract for Cabair and every
time a student whose training I
inuence passes a test.
How different is running your
own business?
Have you heard the one about the
man who spent most of his life
working for a big corporation but
was unhappy and decided to start
up on his own? A friend asks him
whether it is true that the rst year
is the hardest for a start-up. He re-
plies: The rst year was im-
mensely hard but it is much better
now. In fact, I have reached the
point where I only have to work
half a day. His friend replies that
perhaps he should go into busi-
ness himself. Yes, continues the
entrepreneur, and the best bit is
that it is me who gets to choose,
seven days of the week, which 12
hours I work. But to be serious,
however hard I have to work, the
independence and freedom is
more gratifying than I can say.
How do you see the future for
yourself and ASM?
The time is ripe for an organisa-
tion such as ASM, especially
with legislative changes about to
come into force. Aviation needs a
training organisation which com-
bines unrivalled experience with
unswerving commitment to the
highest standards and one, more-
over, that although it intends to
make a prot, is nevertheless de-
voted to making what it offers as
widely accessible as possible.
Opportunities for Software Engineers
www.jobs.eads.com
chanQe
no one
waits for
/ 20% ul burn bnnt ano a 15% cash oprating
cost aovantag only com rom a 100% new aircraft
osigno or tooay's oprational ralitis - not an
olo airlinr that has bn altro or rconnguro. Th
C3orios aircrat is a nw choic or a chango worlo.
www.csris.com
Bombaroior, C3orios ano C3IOO ar Traomark(s) o Pombaroir lnc. or its subsioiaris.
2C% ul burn bnnt ano 5% cash oprating cost aovantag vs. avrag in-proouction aircrat o C-sat
& 3C- sat catgoris 5CC NM.
Th CSris aircrat program is currntly in ovlopmnt phas ano as such is sub|ct to changs in amily stratgy,
branoing, capacity, prormanc, osign ano / or systms. /ll spcincations ano oata ar approximat, may chang
without notic ano ar sub|ct to crtain oprating ruls, assumptions ano othr conoitions. Th actual aircrat ano
connguration may oir rom th imag shown.
2C3 Pombaroir lnc. /ll rights rsrvo.

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