com
TECHNOLOGY
Getting in
formation
Why Australia is teaming up with
Boeing for loyal wingman project
ISSN 0 0 1 5 - 3 7 1 0
£3.90 Powering ahead Blown away
1 1
Comac outlines plan to double UK waves off Tornados, as its
strength of C919 test fleet 11 last GR4s enter retirement 26
9 770015 371310
Cargo: The Digital Revolution
Hilton Amsterdam, 2-3 July 2019
Digital innovations
to drive profitability,
efficiency and
transparency in cargo
The air cargo market is massive. It is
currently valued at US$38.2bn and is just
one of the many modes of a much wider
logistics industry. Despite its size, a lot of the
industry is fragmented and very inefficient.
Digitalization can radically improve this,
however, owing to resistance, a lot of the
industry is still paper-based.
Getting in
flight-test ambitions (P11) 9 Talks launched on A380 staff transition against emerging formation
Why Australia is teaming up with
15 MTU gears up for PW1100G rate rise strike aircraft retire, we look back at the type’s
23 Dassault navigates global market with prudence operational and technological contributions
next week digital
In our third digital-only issue heli-expo show report
of the year, we report from 16 Kopter touches down in USA with SH09
Everett, as Boeing unveils production facility
its new-generation 777-9
17 H145 lifted by five-blade rotor upgrade
18 Sikorsky makes B-line for S-92 modification
19 FARA need brings Swift response from MDHI
REgulars
defence
5 Comment 20 Northrop pursues B-52 radar update
35 Straight & Level 21 Trappier confident Rafale production secure
36 Letters
22 US Navy declares F-35C ready to fight
38 Classified
Crown Copyright
19/07/2012 17:51
contents
Image of
the week
Pictured during a recent
Middle East exercise, a
Boeing B-1B bomber from
the US Air Force and a
Qatari-operated Dassault
Mirage 2000 fighter fly in
formation to test command
and control procedures.
Both aircraft are due for
replacement in the coming
years with new models
US Air Force
flight-international
75%
Last week, we asked: Commercial supersonic flight? You said:
Aeroflot Group
Total votes: 1,110
Profits at Aeroflot Group fell in 2018 to just Rb5.7bn despite
sharp rise in revenue – it blames the soaring cost of jet fuel
$41.6m
Gone with Concorde
530 votes
36%
Cirium Dashboard
48% Powering up afresh
400 votes
A 25% revenue boost helped South Korean budget carrier
T’way to match 2017’s full-year profit, overcoming a Q4 loss Environmental affront
16% 180 votes
1,000
Munich airport’s annual CO2 emission cut in tons, owing to
Munich airport
This week, we ask: Farnborough axing public days?
❑ Terrible loss ❑ Bettered by rivals ❑ No surprise
its world-first switch to using LED lighting in ramp areas Vote at flightglobal.com
Cirium’s premium news and data service delivers breaking air transport stories with profiles, schedules, and
fleet, financial and traffic information flightglobal.com/dashboard
Public interest
M any in the industry recall the first
time they visited an air show as a
formative experience that stirred their
passion for aviation and set them on
course for a career as a pilot, engineer, or
even aerospace journalist.
So the announcement that Farnborough
2020 will not include a public weekend for
the first time in more than 70 years may
seem like the end of an era, a symptom of
the decline of the world’s second largest
and second oldest air show.
However, Farnborough International’s
BAE Systems
decision had an inevitability about it. The
Saturday and Sunday element of the show
Into the sunset has struggled to attract the six-figure
crowds it once did, a victim of a changing
Last blast
industry, tougher air display rules follow-
ing the 2015 Shoreham crash, and evolving
consumer behaviour. The 2018 aerial dis-
play offered little new or exciting to lure
The UK’s final remaining Tornados have been powered down following an families from other weekend distractions.
astonishing service life, evolving from atomic strike platform to precision Even though 80,000 people still turned
up in 2018, pulling the plug now – and
attack specialist. What similar advances might its successors see over time? replacing the weekend with a charged-up
Friday that the public, and especially
War relic into the RAF’s offensive weapon of talking up its bold hopes for a Franco-German
choice. Eurofighter Typhoons have assumed Future Combat Air System project, while
the GR4’s duties, in mid-February making Boeing has lifted the veil on its own “loyal
their first strike using Brimstone weapons, wingman” pact with the Australian military.
against Islamic State militants inside Iraq. At We will certainly miss you, mighty Tonka.
the same time, the UK’s first squadron to have But in with the new… ■
been equipped with the stealthy Lockheed See Feature P26
briefing
cathay eyes hong kong express purchase
ownership Cathay Pacific says it is “in active discussions”
about a potential acquisition of low-cost rival Hong Kong
Express. Talks are being held with China’s HNA Group, which
holds a 45% stake in the budget carrier. HK Express launched in
Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock
2005, connecting Hong Kong with secondary cities in China.
Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows that it has 24 aircraft in its all-
Airbus fleet: 11 A321s, eight A320ceos and five A320neos.
atlas transcript backs loss of control Red Arrows visited last show, but restricted aerobatic manoeuvres
investigation The US National Transportation Safety Board
has completed an initial review of the cockpit-voice recorder air show david kaminski-morrow london
Farnborough calls
from an Atlas Air Boeing 767-300ER Freighter which crashed
southeast of Houston on 23 February, killing all three crew
members. “Crew communications consistent with a loss of con-
strategy Edward Russell Washington DC & Sophie Segal New York management
woman as new
as lessor eyes twin-track plan chief at Ryanair
US carrier’s chief executive provides clear signal to Boeing of interest in future widebody
R yanair chief executive Mi-
chael O’Leary would like a
US Air Force
itsubishi Aircraft has start- the schedule with the FAA,” the
ed certification flight tests airframer says.
for its MRJ90 regional jet, The company’s fleet of MRJ Subsonic vehicle completed first 76min airborne trial on 5 March
launching the activity using its prototypes have so far logged
FTA-4 asset. more than 2,500 flight hours. unmanned systems greg waldron singapore
The company declines to give
further details about the trials,
The Japanese manufacturer re-
ceived type inspection authorisa- USAF lauds ride of the Valkyrie
which are ongoing at a flight-test tion from the JCAB last Decem-
facility in Moses Lake, Washing-
ton, but says that it is “getting
good results”.
ber, paving the way for it to
launch its certification campaign.
Mitsubishi Aircraft is working
K ratos Defense & Security Solu-
tions’ XQ-58A Valkyrie dem-
onstrator has conducted its first
Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Tech-
nology [LCAAT] portfolio, which
has the objective to break the esca-
Only the Japan Civil Aviation towards a mid-2020 delivery of sortie, launching a planned five- lating cost trajectory of tactically
Bureau (JCAB) is involved for the its first aircraft to launch custom- flight test campaign. relevant aircraft,” the USAF says.
time being, although Mitsubishi er All Nippon Airways. Performed from the Yuma Also referred to as a Loyal
Aircraft’s earlier plans had called Meanwhile, the company has Proving Grounds in Arizona on 5 Wingman, the Valkyrie travels at
for US Federal Aviation Adminis- promoted Hiroyuki Tatsuoka March, the debut lasted 76min, high subsonic speeds. Flight test-
tration (FAA) personnel to be on to head its programme manage- the US Air Force says, adding ing will fall into two phases,
board at the same time. ment division, taking over the that the unmanned air vehicle spanning functionality, aerody-
“Communications were slowed portfolio from Alex Bellamy, performed as expected. namic performance and launch
during the US government shut- who continues to serve as chief “This joint effort falls within the and recovery. ■
down and we are now finalising development officer. ■ Air Force Research Laboratory’s See Cover Story P30
Airbus
get from the market”. widebody [aircraft] during sum-
He says SAS views the Airline currently operates 15 examples of re-engined A320neo jet mer,” he says. “But it’s not eco-
A321LR as a complement to its nomical to do that during winter.”
widebody long-haul operation, American east coast, as well as craft to provide more direct long- Combining a twin-aisle
and that the aircraft should be ca- India and the Middle East. haul connectivity from Scandina- operation for the peak season
pable of reaching the North It is considering using the air- via, linking secondary cities in with the A321LR during the
low-demand periods would en-
able the airline to continue offer-
operations lewis harper brussels ing year-round service.
Aer Lingus cites handover hold-up in Montreal service delay Gustafson says the A321LR
will be configured with a three-
Aer Lingus has blamed “aircraft says the late arrival of aircraft is ircraft scheduled to arrive later
a class cabin, including lie-flat
delivery delays” relating to its in- also causing a “temporary reduc- in 2019.” seats in premium.
coming Airbus A321LRs for its tion in frequency on four transat- This also indicates the carrier He stresses that the conserva-
decision to push back the launch lantic routes” during July. Those has made a revision to its previ- tive introduction of the A321LR
of Dublin-Montreal service. routes are: Dublin to Bradley, ously stated plan for its first is in line with SAS’s strategy of
The Irish carrier is still expect- Connecticut, Minneapolis, A321LR to go into service on its seeking profitable expansion,
ing to take delivery of four Minnesota, and Philadelphia, Dublin-Hartford, Connecticut “rather than growth for the sake
A321LRs in 2019, as previously Pennsylvania; and Shannon to route from 1 July. of growth”.
announced, but the Canadian New York JFK. The operator currently serves SAS will carry out an evaluation
route will now launch in summer “We’re expecting all four deliv- Hartford with Boeing 757-200s, of the performance of the initial
2020, rather than 8 August this eries of the A321LR to take place while the Montreal service is new. few aircraft and, says Gustafson,
year as originally planned. in 2019,” Aer Lingus says. “The Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows “either scale up or scale down”.
Aer Lingus has not provided a first two aircraft will be ready for that the Irish flag carrier has a to- The carrier presently has 15
detailed explanation of the deliv- commercial operation in late tal of eight A321LRs on order, all A320neos in service, records
ery delays, nor any reasons, but summer, with the other two via Air Lease. ■ Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer. ■
interiors
Alaska cabins are Virgin on complete
Alaska Airlines will begin operating Airbus aircraft with interior
upgrades including new premium seats this year, with the goal of
updating 36% of its cabins by early 2020. “Just two years after ac-
quiring Virgin America, we’re thrilled to introduce a modern cabin
that aligns the onboard experience across our fleet,” Alaska presi-
dent Ben Minicucci states. Cabins will be modified with brand
elements from Virgin America following customer feedback.
Minicucci describes it as a “premium experience at an affordable
price”. The first of Alaska’s fleet to be upgraded this year will be
A320-family aircraft, while Boeing 737-700s will be adapted by
2020. Alaska’s new 737 Max 9s, including three due to arrive this
Alaska Airlines
Nick Ut/AP/REX/Shutterstock
and recommends strategies going beyond scheduling
Rolls-Royce
Airbus long-haul aircraft. 25,000-100,000lb-plus (111-
He says, however, that R-R has 446kN) of thrust, making it capa-
no intention to further “accentu- First likely candidate that could take new engine is A350, says East ble of powering short- or long-
ate” that situation. haul aircraft.
GE is the sole engine supplier the majority of engines for the erplant is offered as an option. The first opportunity to pro-
for the Boeing 777, 747-8 and in- 787 – the only in-production In addition, all 737s since the vide an UltraFan variant will
development 777X, and provides Boeing type on which a R-R pow- Classic series have been powered probably be on a widebody, with
the A350 being a likely candidate
for a potential re-engining effort,
strategy East says.
Boss insists his firm will waste no more time planning for Brexit But he says that R-R has a
“very rich and very healthy”
UK engine maker Rolls-Royce be- tions and that the company is now sign approval processes for large relationship with Boeing, and
lieves it has sufficient contingencies as “ready as we can be” for that engines from its Derby headquar- that he is “quite optimistic” that
in place for a no-deal Brexit and eventuality on 29 March. ters to Dahlewitz in order to keep the UltraFan will find an
says it will not “waste” any more R-R has built up “necessary” regulatory activities within the application with both the big
time or resources on the scenario. buffer inventories to ensure mate- jurisdiction of the European two airframers.
“Brexit has wasted a huge rial supplies in the event of cus- Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). East says that while participa-
amount of a lot of people’s time toms-related hold-ups, and EASA type approval documen- tion in the NMA programme
over the last several months. And transferred job functions – albeit tation recently showed a large would have been “very good” for
it is not going to waste any more no actual jobs – relating to regula- number of engine type R-R, the UK manufacturer con-
of our time,” says chief executive tory approvals over to its German certificates – including those for sidered it unfeasible to develop
Warren East. site at Dahlewitz, near Berlin. all its in-production Trent-series an UltraFan derivative with suffi-
He says R-R has spent a “long In 2018, R-R disclosed that it powerplants – transferred to the cient maturity within Boeing’s
time” making no-deal prepara- was considering a move of its de- German operation. ■ timeframe. ■
MTU
phoon and Panavia Tornado.
Production of the Eurofighter’s New assembly line featuring motorised carriers has targeted completion of each engine in eight days
Eurojet EJ200 and the MTR390 tur-
boshaft for the Tiger has been trans- ably as processes employed at the dling the PW1100G, and each en- pieces for PW1100G engines,
ferred to a different site, in Erding, US company’s own GTF assem- gine must undergo 20-24h of eval- alongside a number of other, non-
outside Munich. But the A400M’s bly facilities in Middletown, near uations, according to P&W’s critical parts as a first step in the
Europrop International TP400 tur- Hartford in Connecticut, and specifications. By comparison, an industrialisation process.
boprop is still assembled on a line West Palm Beach, in Florida. International Aero Engines The eyepieces are printed in
next to that for the PW1100G. The PW1500G variant for the V2500, an option on the A320ceo, an automated laser-melting pro-
For the geared turbofan, MTU A220 – the former Bombardier needs 8-10h of testing, MTU says. cess and require about 30h of pro-
developed a floor-based transport CSeries – is assembled at a Pratt & Two additional test cells are lo- cessing time per 16-unit batch.
system with remote-controlled Whitney Canada facility in Mira- cated at MTU’s overhaul shop in
carriers to move engines through bel, near Montreal, while Mitsub- Hannover, although availability is NECESSARY EXPENSE
the different assembly stations. ishi Heavy Industries Aero En- dependent on the maintenance, MTU acknowledges that relative-
The engine cores are horizontally gines produces PW1200Gs in repair and overhaul operation. ly high production costs com-
assembled on top of the carriers, Nagoya for Mitsubishi Aircraft’s P&W’s endurance requirements pared with traditional manufac-
and can be adjusted in height and in-development MRJ. The series mean there is little scope to trim turing techniques have been an
fully rotated around the engine’s also includes the PW1700G and test times in the short term, but obstacle for the adoption of 3D
main shaft for ease of access. PW1900G for Embraer’s E-Jet E2 MTU expects these to become less printing. But the company says it
Each carrier consists of two family, and the PW1400G as the stringent over time, as the engine has achieved double-digit sav-
motorised units, supporting the initial engine on Russia’s in- matures. The manufacturer has no ings on the borescope eyepiece
core’s fore and aft ends, connect- development Irkut MC-21. plans to build additional test cell and that its current production
ed by a removable, rigid link. capacity in Munich. costs are “very close” to target.
When the fan module is in- DEDICATED PROCESS Elsewhere at the Munich Traditional subtractive produc-
stalled, the front-end carrier will be MTU’s assembly line is focused plant, a few minutes’ walk from tion techniques – in this case
removed – the core is temporarily solely on the PW1100G, and rep- the assembly hall, MTU is work- milling borescope eyepieces from
supported by a separate stand – resents about one-third of GTF ing on new production processes solid nickel-chromium alloy –
and replaced with another carrier output for that model, the com- for GTF components and has es- incur cost penalties from tool
fitted with the fan section, using a pany says. tablished an additive manufac- wear and material waste, and
laser-guided alignment procedure. Having delivered about 125 ex- turing centre. The main purpose MTU is confident that any re-
The entire engine assembly amples in 2018, MTU plans to as- of this site – which hosts nine 3D- maining cost premium for 3D
process is designed to last eight semble around 200 of the engines printing machines – is to further printing will be eradicated in the
working days, with a target of this year, and further raise pro- develop and industrialise the foreseeable future.
producing one completed engine duction to 250 in 2020. technology for application in the The manufacturer is now in the
every 24h. Engine-testing capacity is a lim- production of engines. process of certificating 3D printing
MTU says it needed to demon- iting factor for MTU’s production MTU began experimenting with to produce more complex parts,
strate to P&W that the floor-based plan: there is only a single test cell 3D printing in 2010 and today rou- such as compressor seals featuring
production system works as reli- at the Munich site capable of han- tinely produces borescope eye- honeycomb structures. ■
Garrett Reim/FlightGlobal
products. Jon Hemmerdinger and Garrett Reim report.
Additional contributions by Dominic Perry
development manufacturing
says Drennan. That forward lift Two more test assets – “pre-
will not come from the fans being series” or “PS” aircraft – will
tilted slightly down, but from the join the fleet, with PS4 coming
ducts, which act as aerofoils – in on line by late summer and PS5
effect, circular wings. ■ Programme has amassed 100 flight hours across three prototypes to join the fleet by year-end. ■
enhancement
Sikorsky
though no specific prices have “market interest” will determine
been disclosed. Optional engine enhancement increases hot and high performance scheduling.
The upgrades will also be Both variants will be offered
available as a retrofit package, “We really have an opportuni- ment in the aircraft… and bring with optional GE Aviation CT7-
raising in-service helicopters to ty here to standardise the config- more multimission capability,” 8A6 engines, improving hot-and-
an A+ designation. uration of a lot of the basic equip- Sikorsky oil and gas market seg- high performance.
The aircraft will also have
“phase one” of its Matrix autono-
unmanned systems my technology, including the 2.0
Matrix technology helps underpin urban air taxi partnership iteration of its Rig Approach sys-
tem and a new facility called Su-
Despite having no concept air- instead is building a foundation of that it brings to the partnership perSearch, which helps crews lo-
craft to show at Heli-Expo, autonomous systems and passen- both expertise with conventional cate missing objects faster,
Sikorsky unveiled a partnership ger-vehicle interface technology, helicopters and the Matrix au- Sikorsky says.
with Otis Elevators and The says vice-president of innovations tonomy technology that it has “That’s the initial foray into the
Spaceship Company aimed at Chris Van Buiten. “For now, it’s been developing for several years infrastructure of a more-automat-
developing and maturing the not about a vehicle,” he says. with the US Defense Advanced ed cockpit,” Martin says.
technologies and infrastructure Sikorsky has disclosed few de- Research Projects Agency. The updated S-92s will have
required for the deployment of tails about how the partnership The Spaceship Company has new aluminium “Phase IV” main
urban air taxis. will operate or what role each expertise in designing and testing gearboxes, with better resistance
Rather than building its own company will perform. composite air vehicles, says com- to corrosion than the current
demonstrator aircraft, Sikorsky But the manufacturer notes pany president Enrico Palermo. ■ magnesium part, Martin says. ■
programme
modification
Airbus Helicopters
Mississippi. The H130 is also fit- European and US approvals for
ted with a CRFS as standard. the STC extension should be
“We already have a very safe achieved later this year, with de-
aircraft, but we believe we can do liveries of the kits from 2020. ■ CRFS will be installed on all H125s as factory-standard equipment
concept engine
T he Northrop Grumman
APG-83 active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar is
president and general manager,
airborne C4ISR systems. “Our
hot production and sustainment
being considered by Boeing for a lines are already in place to
future enhancement of the US support our current and future
Air Force’s B-52 fleet. customers’ needs for decades to
The company says it is pitch- come.”
ing the design to the airframer as The APG-83 was selected in
part of the B-52 bomber modern- 2017 to modernise 72 Lockheed
isation radar system initiative, Martin F-16s operated by the US
which would include engineer- Air National Guard.
ing, manufacturing, develop- Northrop says the sensor is in
ment and delivery of an initial full-rate production in support
seven units. of this programme, as well as for
US Air Force
A version of the scalable agile international F-16 upgrade
beam radar (SABR) has also been customers.
developed for the Boeing B-1B Initiative would involve manufacturing new sensors for aged type Its system borrows some capa-
fleet, according to Northrop, and bilities from the APG-77 used on
the manufacturer has also previ- Marine Corps. differentiating capability for air the US Air Force’s Lockheed
ously performed a fit check on “The SABR and SABR-Global dominance and strike missions,” F-22 and the F-35 Lightning II’s
the Boeing F/A-18C/D for the US Strike family of radars provides says Tom Jones, Northrop’s vice- APG-81. ■
Trappier confident
Rafale production
secure into 2030s
Further business expected for fourth-generation fighter,
with Dassault chief seeking additional European customers
Dassault
D assault believes it can secure
sufficient additional orders
for the Rafale to continue produc-
Martin F-35 for a Belgian require-
ment last year again raised the
issue of European countries not
Airframer will deliver 26 jets this year, including first Indian example
US Navy
laration, the first operational
F-35C squadron had to be Deck-based operations require the use of a wider wing, strengthened landing gear and increased fuel
manned, trained and equipped to
conduct assigned missions in of our carrier strike groups that engine repairs. that the USN has a current active
support of fleet operations, the significantly enhances the capa- The F-35C’s wingspan is 2.4m inventory of 22 F-35Cs, with the
navy says. This included having bility of the joint force.” (7.9ft) wider than the F-35 pro- Marines operating a further 11.
10 Block 3F-standard aircraft, NAS Lemoore, in California, is gramme’s other variants, which The navy is the last US service
along with associated spare parts the home base for the USN’s Joint allows it to approach an aircraft to achieve IOC status with its new
and support equipment, and a Strike Fighter Wing, F-35C fleet carrier’s deck at a lower speed. A combat aircraft. The USMC intro-
functional Autonomic Logistic squadrons and the Fleet Replace- more robust landing gear design duced its short take-off and vertical
Information System. ment Squadron 125, responsible was also required, to handle the landing F-35B to operational use in
“The F-35C is ready for opera- for training pilots for the navy and stress of catapult launches and 2015, with the US Air Force’s con-
tions, ready for combat and ready US Marine Corps (USMC). arrested-recovery landings. The ventional take-off and landing
to win,” says Commander Naval Several facilities at the site USN model’s 8,960kg (19,800lb) F-35A following a year later.
Air Forces, Vice Admiral DeWolfe have been remodelled or built to fuel capacity is also 46% greater The IOC milestone has also
Miller. “We are adding an incredi- support use of the new type, in- than that of its siblings. been achieved by Israel, Italy and
ble weapon system into the arsenal cluding for Pratt & Whitney F135 Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows the UK. ■
w w w. f l i g h t g l o b a l . c o m / w a f
Ruag 2017 strip ad.indd 1 04/12/2018 08:57
22 | Flight International | 12-18 March 2019 flightglobal.com
Alice takes charge
NEWS FOCUS
with Siemens motor
Business Aviation P24
Dassault navigates
global market with
prudent captaincy
French airframer reveals positive 2018 performance, and
future strategy should help to keep company on even keel
V Almansa/Dassault
ing presence throughout US or even in the UK – small
France, Dassault’s headquarters is means flexibility,” he says.
in the Parisian suburb of Saint- “We are small but can design a
Cloud, its heavy black gates a fighter or a business jet from A to Chief executive Eric Trappier is “optimistic” about competitive ability
stone’s throw from the river Seine. Z; nobody else worldwide can do
Journalists attending the air- that with this size of company.” Output of Falcon jets in 2019 The partnership with Germany
framer’s annual results press con- Although last year was tinged will be 45 aircraft, a “prudent” should help to ease the “disap-
ference have grown used to the with sadness for Dassault with increase, based on continued pointment” felt by Trappier that
event being held on the compa- the death of patriarch Serge market uncertainty, on the 41 work with the British and BAE
ny’s boat, Le Talisman, moored Dassault – son of company
units handed over in 2018. Systems on an Anglo-French un-
opposite the main office building. founder Marcel – in financial On the military side, Dassault manned combat air vehicle dem-
The name is a nod towards terms, 2018 was a positive one. scored further incremental ex- onstrator has now ended.
Dassault’s logo – which features a Turnover rose by nearly €200 port success, with Qatar exercis- While Trappier can guess at
four-leafed clover inside the styl- million on the previous year, ing an option for 12 additional some of the reasons for the cessa-
ised outline of an aircraft. order intake was markedly up – Rafales, adding to a previous tion of that effort – Brexit and
But one could be forgiven for €5 billion versus €3.2 billion in commitment for 24. Egypt has finance among them – he sug-
thinking that a reliance on 2017 – and adjusted net income already received 23 of its eventual gests that “misunderstandings”
chance is part of the company’s hit €681 million, against €410 24-strong fleet, while deliveries between the two countries
DNA: during a discussion on million 12 months earlier. of the first of 36 jets for India will “when it was really the time to
what would happen if there were begin by mid-year. launch” were also a factor.
no more orders for its Falcon “We are small but In 2018, the company deliv-
business jets or Rafale fighters, ered 12 of the fourth-generation political will
chief executive Eric Trappier said can design a jet from fighters. That figure will more Now that the “political wish and
the company would be fine as than double this year, to 26. will” of the French and G erman
“we trust a lot in luck”. A to Z; nobody else Backlog for the Rafale at governments is to work together,
Although Napoleon may have can do that with this year-end stood at 101 aircraft, in- he says, there is an opportunity
declared that he “would rather cluding a further 28 aircraft for for Dassault to use its “more flex-
have lucky generals than good size of company” France that will be handed over ible” a pproach to “maybe chal-
ones”, there is a sense that Trap- Eric Trappier from 2022, and Trappier is lenge the Americans”.
pier’s answer is largely posturing. Chief executive, Dassault confident that it can secure addi- There seems little left to
In some ways, Dassault is a cu- tional export deals. chance, in fact. When faced with
riosity: its focus is spread across He believes that the Rafale a question on the daunting
two unrelated sectors, and it is There were also hints last year presents a genuine and more nature of the FCAS project,
smaller than its rivals in either that both divisions of the busi- flexible alternative to US-built Trappier initially replies flip-
space, particularly in fighters. ness are now pointing in the combat aircraft: “If you buy pantly that things will be fine be-
Balancing the competing right direction. American, then you buy what cause “we are optimistic”.
needs – as well as the market dy- In business aviation, the linger- the Americans want you to buy,” But seemingly conscious that
namics – of business and military ing embarrassment of the 5X – he says. this may be too glib an answer,
aviation, allied to a prudent ap- perpetually delayed thanks to its Further out, Dassault is he adds: “We do not say we can
proach, are key to the company’s underperforming Safran Silver- working with Airbus Defence & do things just because we are op-
success, it seems, rather than crest engines – has been excised, Space – and engine providers timistic, we say that because we
trusting in fate. replaced with the 6X programme. Safran and MTU – to deliver on can do them.”
As for its modest size – sales The 6X is scheduled to enter an i nitially Franco-German Le Talisman’s gentle rise and
were around €5.1 billion ($5.7 service in 2022, just five years project for a Future Combat Air fall as it rides the waves from
billion) in 2018 – Trappier argues after its launch. In the meantime, System (FCAS). passing river traffic is noticeable
that this is actually a major plus the airframer is gearing up to To arrive in around 2040, the – and perhaps a more than apt
point for the company. launch another new business jet, system will feature both manned metaphor for Trappier’s ap-
“We have a big advantage in although it is staying tight-lipped and unmanned assets, with Das- proach to keeping Dassault on
Dassault to be a small company on details like cabin size or range. sault leading on the former. an even keel. ■
Eviation Aircraft
the decision to use more than construction, and the aircraft is
one provider “will not only ease scheduled to join the certification
potential supply chain issues 11-seat type is scheduled to achieve FAA type certification in 2021 effort in the fourth quarter. The
later down the line” but also give third aircraft will arrive in mid-
the company’s customers a Alice will have a range of Assembly of the first Alice 2020, with US type certification
much “broader choice of price 540nm (1,000km) and a cruise rototype is currently under way
p expected in 2021, followed by
points and maintenance sched- speed of 240kt (440km/h). It will in Vannes, northwest France – service entry in 2022.
ules for their aircraft”. be priced between $3.5 million home to the model’s composite Bar-Yohay describes North
Siemens 260kW electric and $4 million, “depending on fuselage supplier, Multiplast – America as the “main market” for
motors on the Alice will be
configuration”, and is projected to and ground testing is planned the 11-seat Alice, and its sole
powered by a 900kWh lithium- have a maximum payload of for April. focus initially. “We will concen-
ion battery pack, driving the 1,250kg (2,750lb) and a maximum “Systems integration will take trate on building our customer
all-composite aircraft’s three
take-off weight of 5,900kg. Honey- time, but we hope to fly the air- base, ground support and charg-
five-bladed Hartzell pusher pro- well will supply the Beechcraft craft ahead of the Paris air show ing infrastructure in this region
pellers – located at the tail and King Air-sized Alice with a fly-by- in June, where it will make its before moving on to other parts of
on each wing-tip. wire system and flightdeck. debut,” says Bar-Yohay. He ad- the world,” he says. ■
Bombardier
pilots, three passengers and lug- That aircraft flew 8,010nm from
gage with a combined weight of Singapore to Las Vegas with four
360kg (800lb). Taking a transpa- passengers and crew. Aircraft took just over 16h to fly from Singapore to Tuscon, Arizona
cific route, it arrived in Tucson, C-FXAI was handed over to its
Arizona just over 16h later at unnamed customer on 14 back arrangement. To date, the maximum speed of Mach 0.925.
08:19 local time, which also set a December 2018 and has since
aircraft has logged over 170h. Bombardier has a backlog of
new speed record for this city- been operated as a demonstrator The Global 7500 has an adver- more than 110 aircraft and pro-
pair, says Bombardier. by Bombardier under a lease- tised range of 7,700nm and a duction is sold out to 2022. ■
Storming
performer
As the Royal Air Force’s last Panavia Tornado strike aircraft
head into retirement, we look back at the versatile type’s
considerable operational and technological contributions
F
orty years after the type’s introduction debut during the first Gulf War of 1990-1991,
to service with the UK, the Royal Air its Tornado force had accumulated some
Force’s last Panavia Tornado strike air- 185,603 flight hours on operations. In addi-
craft have made their final operational tion to duties over Iraq, the type was also
flights and headed for retirement. involved in active duty in Afghanistan, Koso-
A milestone sortie conducted from the vo, Libya and Syria throughout its service life
RAF’s Marham base in Norfolk on 28 Febru- as a ground-attack platform, with air defence
ary marked the last outing for the Cold variant (ADV) fighters also having protected
War-era stalwart, which had until a month the UK and the Falkland Islands and served
earlier been involved in deployed combat in enforcing a “no-fly zone” over Iraq between
Farewell sortie from Marham
duties almost continually since 1991. 1999 and 2003.
home on 28 February involved
For the farewell flight, a “diamond nine” A final eight combat-tasked GR4s returned
nine remaining examples
formation of Tornado GR4s performed a to the UK from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in early
number of local flypasts. A week earlier, a February, with their duties over Iraq and Syria
broader s eries of three-ship flights had been having been assumed by the service’s Eu- target in Iraq with MBDA’s Brimstone air-to-
conducted around the UK, as part of the re- rofighter Typhoons. On 19 February, the latter surface missile, destroying a boat being used
tirement preparations. type for the first time engaged an Islamic State by militants. Longer term, the UK’s Lockheed
Martin F-35Bs will also become available for
such tasks, having achieved initial operational
capability for land-based operations with Mar-
ham-based 617 Sqn towards the end of 2018.
terrain-following
Through the course of its operating life, the
two-seat Tornado evolved from an original
GR1 version, optimised for Cold War duties
including night-time terrain-following flight
for the delivery of WE177 atomic bombs, and
later JP233 runway-denial weapons, to an en-
hanced GR4 model equipped for precision
strikes using modern weapons. In its latter
years, the aircraft was employed for the deliv-
ery of Brimstone and MBDA’s Storm Shadow
cruise missile, and Raytheon Systems’ 250kg
(500lb) Paveway IV precision-guided bomb,
while carrying the Rafael Litening III targeting
pod and advanced countermeasures equip-
ment for self-protection.
Such weaponry could only have been
FlightGlobal
wilson’s wonderbird
With the MRCA programme making advances
after the cancellation of the UK’s BAC TSR-2
strike and reconnaissance aircraft a decade ear-
lier and the abandonment in 1968 of a planned
purchase of the General Dynamics F-111K,
UK acquired both
prime minister Harold Wilson described the
ground-attack and
BAE Systems
improved standard
The RAF introduced the GR1 as a successor to
its Avro Vulcans, and later also fielded the F2
fighter, as a replacement for the McDonnell
Douglas F-4 Phantom. The air-defence version
was later modernised to the improved F3
standard, with operations of this type – latterly
armed with Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM
and MBDA ASRAAM air-to-air missiles –
coming to an end in 2011, after a 25-year ser-
vice life in which it never fired a shot in anger.
Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer shows that the
UK’s total commitment to the Panavia pro-
gramme was for 403 examples, including de-
velopment aircraft. This made it the largest
recipient of the type, followed by Germany
(367), Saudi Arabia (120) and Italy (102).
A first offensive use by the RAF came dur-
ing the first Gulf War, when 60 of its Tornados
were forward-deployed for missions flown
from bases in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. out the conflict, during which time six aircraft As in the opening hours of the 2003 Iraq
These logged more than 1,500 sorties through- were lost, and five crew members killed. War, RAF GR4s also released multiple Storm
Armaments used included ALARM anti-radi- Shadows against air defence targets at the
ation missiles and runway-disabling JP233s. start of the NATO-led campaign over Libya in
A handful of GR1s also gained the TIALD March 2011. This involved several aircraft
thermal imaging and laser designation pod, completing 2,600nm sorties mounted from
while others operated alongside RAF Black- Marham, receiving in-flight refuelling support
burn Buccaneers, which provided target des- from Lockheed TriStar and Vickers VC10
ignation support during releases of Paveway- tankers. These strikes represented the longest-
series laser-guided bombs. range offensive tasks conducted by the service
Aside from the use of so-called “Show of since its “Black Buck”-series flights with
force” tactics against the Taliban in Afghani- Vulcans during the Falklands War almost 30
stan almost two decades later, the UK’s Opera- years earlier.
tion Granby marked the last time that RAF
strike aircraft employed low-level tactics, fa- coalition stalwart
vouring instead the relative safety of medium- Seven RAF squadrons operated GR4s from
altitude operations, afforded by the increased Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan between June
accuracy and range of modern weaponry. 2009 and November 2014, logging a combined
By then upgraded to the GR4 standard, the total of 33,500 flight hours. This was followed
UK’s ground-attack aircraft played a part in the almost immediately by participation in the
opening salvoes of the second conflict with UK’s ongoing Operation Shader contribution
First Gulf War Saddam Hussein’s forces in Iraq. This was a to coalition activities over Iraq and Syria.
marked last time spectacular debut for its Storm Shadow weap- The considerable political and industrial
RAF aircraft were ons, which allowed pinpoint strikes to be con- aspects of the Tornado programme navigated
used in low-level ducted against key infrastructure targets from a by the Panavia organisation, meanwhile, also
strike missions launch distance of more than 135nm (250km). cleared a path for future multinational devel-
Crown Copyright
Operation Granby saw Buccaneer (left) provide targeting support for Paveway-armed GR1
Crown Copyright
BAE Systems
GR4’s final combat missions were flown in support of coalition campaign over Iraq and Syria
opments such as the four-nation Eurofighter, model, where retiring aircraft were used as a remain in frontline use for several more years
which added Spain to its earlier partner na- source of parts prior to being scrapped. This with the air forces of Germany, Italy and Saudi
tions. In-service experience with the type also successfully supported operations down to a Arabia. Fleets Analyzer shows around 270 ex-
shaped emerging requirements. two-squadron strength of 22 GR4s by the time amples remain in use, across the IDS and elec-
In RAF use, the GR4 – along with the BAE deployed operations ended in late January. tronic combat and reconnaissance models.
Harrier GR9/A and other, non-strike platforms Saudi Arabia is in the process of acquiring
– represented an opportunity for the military careful planning spare parts from the UK following the GR4’s
and its industrial suppliers to develop part- A decision to extend a third squadron’s opera- retirement, to support its 81-strong IDS fleet.
nering arrangements to reduce maintenance tional activities longer than planned, until One source describes Riyadh’s deal as includ-
and spare parts demands and boost availabil- into 2018, also required careful planning to ing a “huge amount of kit”, ranging from en-
ity on the frontline. Dubbed ATTAC, the Min- meet crew requirements, since the RAF gines to a wide variety of other components.
istry of Defence’s arrangement with BAE cov- stopped training rear-seat weapon system op- After flying the type for the last time late
ered maintenance, repair and upgrade erators for the GR4 earlier this decade. Under last month, chief of the air staff Air Chief Mar-
activities on the GR4, while a separate deal one initiative, some personnel who had previ- shal Sir Stephen Hillier – a former GR4 pilot
covered engine support by R-R. The last ously left the Tornado force were recruited – said: “I will personally be very sad to see the
RB199 to have been serviced under the back to support operations until its departure Tornado retire, but it is time now to pass the
“ROCET 2” availability-based support deal from service, including some with experience baton to our next-generation combat aircraft.
was returned by R-R to the RAF last July. dating back to the Gulf Wars. The F-35B Lightning is now operational and
“Over the last 10 years, almost every system The UK’s last two Tornado units will be dis- the Typhoon is now fully multi-role capable
has become more reliable, and availability has banded in mid-March. 9 Sqn will swiftly re- and able to take on the Tornado’s missions.”
gone up,” notes an RAF official involved with turn, re-equipped with the Typhoon, while 31 From its inception as the multinational
the Tornado force until its conclusion. “Our Sqn will commence duties with the General MRCA 50 years ago, the Tornado evolved into
understanding of the jet and teamwork with Atomics Aeronautical Systems Protector RG1 a versatile, adaptable and dependable asset,
BAE and industry partners has climbed.” remotely piloted air system early next decade. capable of supporting a wide range of tasks for
As the service drew down its squadron While the RAF will not fly another opera- the UK – traits its successors will be hard-
numbers, it adopted a “spare to repair” tional sortie with a Tornado, the type is set to pressed to match in the coming decades. ■
A
a Boeing study with
mass market for loyal wingman
Australian military
unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is
rapidly forming as Boeing, in a
development partnership with the
Australian government, unveiled a mock-up
of its Airpower Teaming System aircraft at the
Avalon air show near Melbourne, Victoria, on
26 February.
Boeing’s step adds to Kratos Defense & Se-
curity Solutions’ efforts to engineer drones
capable of teaming with fast-moving manned
aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 and
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Aerospace
analysts say General Atomics Aeronautical
Systems, Lockheed and Northrop Grumman
could also soon join the fray.
The vision is to have dozens of cheap and
expendable tactical UAVs flying and fighting
alongside manned aircraft. The new air force
structure is intended to greatly expand the le-
thality of the US and allied air forces, but at a
fraction of the cost of buying and operating
expensive fifth-generation stealth aircraft.
Prior to news of the Boeing-Australia deal,
the USA had been the only country to explic-
itly fund and outline an interest in such sys-
tems, with the US Air Force Research Labora-
tory (AFRL) “Loyal Wingman” programme.
However, Boeing says growing threats from
potential adversaries – namely China and
Russia – are making this sort of technology
more appetising to militaries worldwide.
China and Russia have invested billions of
dollars in upgrading their surface-to-air mis-
sile defence networks, making it more diffi- director of Boeing Phantom Works Interna- UAV propulsion, having acquired Florida
cult for the USA and allies to penetrate their tional, the unit helping to develop the new Turbine Technologies, a manufacturer of
airspace in the event of war, even with UAV with Australia. small turbine engines, for $60 million on 28
stealthy fifth-generation fighters such as the Boeing declines to comment on overcom- February.
F-35, say defence analysts. ing possible Missile Technology Control Re- Kratos has eight UAVs under development,
What is more, by investing in long-range gime (MTCR) regulatory hurdles around ex- including six that are funded by customers,
cruise missiles – and more recently, hyper- porting such an aircraft. However, US the firm said in its fiscal year 2019 earnings
sonic weapons – Beijing and Moscow have President Donald Trump’s administration is call. The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit
the potential to push US aircraft carriers far lobbying MTCR member states to relax re- has contracted Kratos to integrate unspecified
back from their shores and thus reduce the strictions around so-called “category 1” sensors on board the Mako UTAP-22, and the
strike potential of manned aircraft. Some de- UAVs – those that can carry a minimum pay- AFRL has contracted it to demonstrate its
fence analysts worry that adversaries could load of 500kg (1,100lb) and have a range of at Loyal Wingman concept with the XQ-58A
even destroy expensive stealth aircraft sitting least 162nm (300km). Valkyrie. Kratos’s other four development
on the ground in the US mainland via mis- Export regulations aside, there are already partners are undisclosed. The company says
siles from aircraft, submarines or launchers signs that the teaming UAV market is quickly it expects several more programmes to be
hidden on board civilian container ships. expanding. For example, Kratos has more under contract by the end of this year.
than doubled its number of drone develop- So-called loyal wingman drones are an idea
GLOBAL MARKET ment programmes in the past 12 months and whose time has come, believes Ken Herbert, a
Against such threats, the USAF and now the has added manufacturing facilities while stock analyst with Canaccord Genuity.
Royal Australian Air Force expect there may making a significant acquisition. “I think the business case is very strong,”
be strength in numbers. For its part, Boeing To accommodate its increased workload, he says. “AI and autonomous technology has
believes such a concept would appeal to air last year Kratos opened a 9,300sq m reached the point where this market is really
forces the world over. (100,000sq ft) production plant in Oklahoma starting to take off, whether it be for force pro-
“There are a number of shots on goal with- City, Oklahoma. It has also disclosed plans tection, for intelligence, surveillance and re-
in this capability area that have been identi- to sign a lease agreement on another manu- connaissance, or for strike capability.”
fied by a number of different governments, facturing facility at an undisclosed location, Boeing’s product is conceptually similar
not just the US government with the Loyal in addition to its Sacramento, California, to the AFRL’s Loyal Wingman concept and is
Wingman programme,” says Shane Arnott, production site. It also is investing to improve a demonstrator aircraft. Formally called the
Join the
building three prototypes at an undisclosed
location in Australia, and declines to reveal
where production examples of the aircraft
would be manufactured. The Airpower Team-
ing System is the first unmanned aircraft de-
formation
signed and built by Boeing outside the USA,
the company says.
“Australia presents a unique opportunity
for unmanned, because it’s a large country
[with] low population density,” says Arnott.
“There are lots of wide-open spaces, for us to
go and try. Fly, fail, you know – get the suc-
cess quicker.”
Airpower Teaming System concept aims
to strengthen manned aircraft in combat AFFORDABILITY
Boeing is also building the demonstrator with
against emerging threats – and cut costs large-scale production in mind. “We are actu-
Boeing
Boeing
❯❯ infrastructure, the Autonomic Logistics has also declined to disclose an expected top able to manage the workload of not only
Information System. By contrast, a loyal speed for the product, but says the UAV managing my own sophisticated airborne
wingman drone has the potential to be cheap would keep pace with modern fighters. platform, while being able to care for these
and simple, through the elimination of parts, “As you are screaming along at 600kt autonomous wingmen?”
maintenance costs and personnel. (1,110km/h) in your Super Hornet, then you If issues around manned-unmanned team-
“Essentially, it’s the difference between a have these systems flying around you,” says ing are resolved, loyal wingman UAVs could
1962 Volkswagen Bug with four cylinders… Arnott. “You’ll have four to six systems that profoundly change air battles of the future.
and a modern engine in a Ferrari,” he says. are a logical extension of your fighting capa- Commanders could, for example, offload
“The maintenance between the two: the one bility; they are under your command.” The risky missions in hostile airspace, such as
you can do in your back yard with a set of six UAVs will use artificial intelligence software strikes on radar installations, missile sites and
wrenches. The other requires computers and to fly independently or in support of manned surface-to-air missile batteries.
everything else.” aircraft, while maintaining a safe distance be- “If you could put up a flight of four fourth-
tween others in the formation, says Boeing. generation aircraft accompanied by eight of
FAST-JET PERFORMANCE Proving the aircraft’s autonomous capabili- these [UAVs], if nothing else, it confuses the
The Airpower Teaming System drone will ties may be the key to its adoption, says Jia enemy radar signature or attack signature.
measure 11.7m (38ft) long and have a range of Xu, senior engineer and associate director of He’s got to address these guys,” says Hammes.
more than 2,000nm, says Boeing. The compa- the Acquisition and Technology Policy Center “You can’t afford to let one of these things
ny declines to say whether the aircraft’s shape at the Rand Corporation. go by if he’s got two air-to-air missiles on it or
or skin would give it a stealthy radar cross “There’s definitely issues of trust,” he two small-diameter bombs. Obviously, it mas-
section, although that would appear to be the says. “Will my wingmen run into me? Will sively complicates the defence.”
case, given its configuration. The company they do what I intended them to do? Will I be Boeing declines to say if its aircraft would be
capable of carrying weapons internally or ex-
ternally. However, beyond lethal missions,
such UAVs could also conduct ISR duties, plus
electronic warfare tasks, the company says.
“It’s a configurable system,” says Arnott.
“The nose has a very significant payload area
that is built to enable that sort of multi-
mission nature.”
Unlike some of Kratos’s UAVs, which are
based on target drones with rocket-assisted
take-off abilities, Boeing’s Airpower Teaming
System will take off and land conventionally
using landing gear.
The aircraft is not designed to land on air-
craft carriers, but Robertson says there is noth-
Kratos is developing XQ-58A Valkyrie
US Air Force
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STRAIGHT&LEVEL
Greg Waldron/FlightGlobal
Matters in Madrid
Jumbo killer Monkeying about by the
British Airways’ repainting of a authorities in regard to flying
Boeing 747-400 in BOAC some of our
colours and the anniversary of planes to Madrid
Concorde’s maiden flight revive for commercial
memories of a parliamentary “missionary“
discussion in 1970. work cannot but have an
With a row keeping three effect upon the susceptible
newly-shipped BOAC 747s on Spaniards. Matters are not
the ground at Heathrow, MP so revolutionary in Spain as
Cranley Onslow took the chance to warrant such vacillation.
to big up Concorde and put the
boot into the US aircraft. Peace of the world
“We hear it said that the Mr. Bowles spoke in favour
distinctive noise of the 747 is of the internationalisation of
made by the people inside it, civil aviation, as
screaming for drinks,” he said, the Labour
suggesting that passengers on Australians, as we know, can be rather direct at times. Party’s solution.
this “flying omnibus” would This sign, at the entrance to the recent “Air Show Down They believed it
suffer from discomfort and Under” at Avalon, and next to an empty chair, does little was the only scheme to save
dehydration as a result of the to dispel the stereotype. The country’s chief bean- the peace of the world.
journey time. counter – the auditor general – warned late last year Mr. Hughes intimated that
“When the Concorde is in about the unknown and likely mounting costs of the others’ arguments were
service, we shall get back to real country’s Lockheed Martin F-35 acquisition programme. inspired by the urge for
first-class air travel,” Onslow power, and thus led to war.
declared. “As soon as BOAC
and Air France put the out all the stops to mark Concorde cruises
Concorde into general airline Concorde’s golden jubilee. Less than a week after its
service, I believe that we shall As part of a lunch to mark 50 Max Kingsley-Jones/FlightGlobal first flight, Concorde was
find the first-class lounges of the years since the delta dart flew, airborne again
747s empty.” attended by luminaries from the on March 8.
BA’s premium passengers, of airliner’s flying career, the Andre Turcat was
course, are still enjoying first- museum lowered and raised the in command as
class travel on the 747-400 famous droop-nose that has before. The flight lasted
while Concorde has been idle been lovingly restored on its She droops to conquer 61min, during which the
on the ground at Heathrow Concorde, G-BBDG. aircraft was flown at speeds
since… well, considerably A lucky raffle winner got to under the aptly named Nancy- of up to 300kt and altitudes
longer than BOAC’s Jumbos ever move the cockpit lever, first Bird Walton initiative, has of 15,000ft. Concorde is
were. lowering the glass visor and then pledged to ensure that women expected to make two more
the nose through its 5° taxi/take- make up half the airline’s cadet flights this week.
off setting to the 12.5° fully-down intake by the late 2020s.
What a conk position that gave the aircraft its Walton, the youngest Record keeping
Meanwhile, on 2 March, the distinctive birdlike appearance Australian woman to gain a The UK Department of
Brooklands Museum at on final approach. pilot’s licence and an Transport (DTp) will shortly
Weybridge near London pulled The nose – and more international aviation celebrity tell Government
importantly the visor – were in the 1930s, died 10 years ago, ministers that
returned to the up position, aged 93. it has now
much to the delight and relief of Western Sydney Airport, due found a way of
museum staff and volunteers. to open in 2026, will perhaps privatising the nation’s air-
serve as a longer-lasting traffic-control service. The
memorial to Walton than the Conservative Government
Nancy’s legacy Qantas Airbus A380 that also has a long record of
The decision to name Sydney’s bears her name. privatising public utilities.
Wong May-E/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Airbus
present any difficulty for India.
Four engines are The A380: popular with passengers but beaten by economics New airports are being
planned so the country could ac-
better than two The slow – if inevitable – closing of the Airbus A380 production commodate the larger aircraft –
The demise of the Airbus A380 line saddens me (Flight International, 19-25 February). and land is plentiful.
and the gradual retirement of the I have never flown in the aircraft, but I have yet to read or Peter Carey
Boeing 747 is regrettable. hear any unfavourable comments regarding passengers’ via email
In future we will circumnavi- experience.
gate the globe on two engines. Reg- So, do we have to settle for tin tubes and plastic pipes in the
ulatory influences, complacency sole interest of operating economics? Environmental
and economics play their part. On a happier note, I love the new-look Flight International
I recall an incident involving a – strong, modern and persuasive. considerations
passenger liner in 1912. As tech- David Stevens It is unfortunate that Airbus is to
nology had moved on to such a via email cancel the A380 (Flight
degree, it was assumed that if an- International, 19-25 February).
ything happened to the Titanic, it Depending on your environ-
would just shrug it off. Who the two countries even if London mental viewpoint, this aircraft
would need lifeboats? Swiss pleas opts to leave the EU without could be considered an ideal
We now have a situation We Swiss love the British, and as striking a deal. Nothing is going platform for the current climate.
whereby aircraft systems and en- a non-EU member, we follow to change between us. Stay If we had any concern for our
gines are so reliable we can build closely what happens in your strong. environment, we would agree to
in a bit of complacency and alter country. Capt Fabio Schulthess build no new runways or air-
the regulations to suit. I have my doubts that Brexit Ascona, Switzerland ports until existing capacity was
I have flown regularly for insecurities had anything to do used to full effect.
many decades in an amazing va- with the collapse of UK airline The A380 has a maximum
riety of aircraft and am not a
nervous passenger.
BMI Regional (Flight Internation-
al, 26 February-4 March). Planning ahead capacity of 853 passengers and is
specifically designed to be used
However, if I took a long jour- Switzerland was told more Having read your article at slot-constrained airports and
ney across water, say, I would be than 25 years ago that if it does “Growth Area” on the Indian from hubs.
more comfortable with four en- not join the EU, it will go down aviation sector (Flight Interna- If airlines knew that airports
gines rather than two. the drain. In fact, the opposite tional, 12-18 February), I would not be expanded and that
Single-engined airliners in 25 happened. It may interest your venture to suggest that this existing slots had to be fully
years? You know it makes readers to learn that the Swiss lovely country might be the utilised, then the A380 would
economic sense. and UK governments formalised victim of its own success. be sustainable.
Tim Mear a bilateral deal in February to Four large airlines are enjoying Rev Craig Smith
Uckfield, East Sussex, UK preserve trade relations between high utilisation of their fleets Manchester, UK
www.flightglobalimages.com
How did you get into aviation? and even heritage aircraft such as
My journey to becoming an air Spitfires. There are very few
traffic controller at London Big- airports left in the country that
gin Hill airport began when I serve such a variety of aircraft,
was 13. I joined the RAF Air and as a controller it really does
Training Corps, staying with make you think on your feet. The
them for eight years. That was annual Festival of Flight air
where my love for aviation was show in August is also every
born. When I later saw an advert plane spotter’s dream.
for a role at my local airport for What are the challenges?
an air traffic control assistant, I I’m one of those lucky people
took the opportunity. I was in who wakes up to a job they love
that role for seven years, and the every day, but I would say the
airport kindly offered to help toughest element of it is being a
fund my studies. shift worker, when most of my
How has your career friends and family work
progressed? Monday to Friday jobs. I have to
To get to where I am now, I com- try just that bit harder to make
pleted five months’ study at an my social and home life fit in
A s m a r t e r wa y.
CIRIUM.COM