FACE THE FUTURE - SOLONGSIKORSKY | CHASING THE SUN UTC confirms helicopter Solar Impulse stresses division may be offloaded ‘everyday technology’ after 86 years to ease behind its round-the- UK DEFENCE P30 = shareholder pressure world adventure FLIGHT rom @ Flightglobalee ee eda Paris + Le Bourget FROM 15 TO 21 JUNE, 2015 lere aerospace leaders nee TEL) pa > siae.fr@Fightglobal FLIGHT ‘VoUUME 187 NUVEER 5480 A shot ofa Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER at Oslo airport by AirTeamimages’ Jorgen Syverson itstrates ‘ur news analysis on 777 production targets P Operations and safety ector David Learmount vs with ‘Airbus in Toulouse 00 at cemergnplot technology, lve an eyetracking headset being used dunng research bythe Institut Supérieur de Aéronautique ot do Forour country special we visitVancower sien, where Vik takirg the reborn “in Oner to new heights THis WEEK 6 Saab bulish over Gripen prospects 7 UTC looks to spin off poor it Siorsiy Usva-Hazy angles for bigger 757 replacement 8 Uk studying future rotoreratt needs. ISAE tests focus on pot stess due to workload 9 Jakarta urged to up game on satel, Second Fars LAR begins tau tests AIR TRANSPORT 114. Average dispatch reliability for 787 rises “above 95%" ‘Braking dficulties! contributed to MD-88 overrun 12 CFM set to make Leap to higher rates. Dagh Ts make way for Dash Be at Air Greenland 413. CSeries past haifway mark as fight test targets arehit. Rockwell Colins maps out gobal racking system DEFENCE 314. Croatien cispay plots wl break formation for Qatar AIO ready for counter mine tals 115. USAF broadens horizon in hunt for STARS. Neuron bead for tal as Dassauit completes tests 417 RAAF tanker feet set for boom time. Singapore revoa's Super Pura replacoment plan NEWS FOCUS {4B Solar Impulse 2: fight to energse the aviation wor 22 Lack of evidence clouds MH370 report BUSINESS AVIATION 20 GE puts Pesscort in Kansas. 2g ets boost tac for TAG Farnborough airport. First Brazilian 6280 ready for delvery GENERAL AVIATION 24. Support offer was key to HAS order, says Bristow hie, US start-up takes radical approach for VTOL fyer Trans Capital Air snaps up Alt Greenland Dash 7s 2. Solar Impulse 2 raises clean energy awareness 1723 MARCH 2018 = Japan receives first countersmine MCH03 | COVER STORY 10 Boeing bids to keep 777 line rolling The new. 777K models seling vel, but the challenge is finding enough orders for current large widebody tw bridge procucton gap FEATURES 24 UK DEFENCE Fresh fronts BAE Systems is looking farther afield to ensure business is sustainable - while nat abandoning ts sovereign uty 28 Welthty matters Delivery bya Rejl Ar Force |MMOOM of an unidentified payload to support “orcs in Cyprus mari an important milestone after four turbulent months ‘30 Equipping for new threats The UK's forthcoming defence review must answer key questions about assels REGULARS Comment Straight & Level Classitiod 5 33 34 36 39 43 fighglobal.com 117-28 March 2045 Fight international 2CONTENTS IMAGE OF THE WEEK Recontytransforrd to tho UK Royal Navy's Commando ~ Helicopter Force ftom the ee Royal Air Force's inventory, ‘an AgustaWestland Morin HOS of 846 NAS touches down at Bardfoss in Norway, ding Arctic training, Flghtglobal's ‘Ascend Fleets database records the RN as now having seven Merlin HC3/3As View more great aviation shots ‘online and in our Week tablet edition: oO A ‘igtinterational i THE WEEK IN NUMBERS QUESTION OF THE WEEK 0 wseegmate nina mas stems 13% » 31% 32% 100-120 More than 120 wth in Alcoa a 's acquisition of RT I £14.4m | Virgin Atiantic’s pretax pr $21.7 milion — was its firs The proforma gi $5.6bn, for f 201.4 — equivalent of sitive result since 2011 23% 14% 80-100 than 80 a This week, we ask: Who wil buy Sikorsky? Bocing Textron 1 Someone else Adding ARI21-700s to an order for 4 Spun off as standalone company JUTE will keep it lessor ICBC the largest customer for Chin Vote at flightglobal.com Rea oles Recs 4) Flight Intemational 17-23 March 2025 figmglobalcomCOMMENT © Toaccoss mor of our covert logh orepstererne at ‘ghtgota.com/ dashboard fignglobal.com No time for sleeping Itwas optimism all round at the air transport traders’ annual get-together in Phoenix, but galloping production rates, low oll prices and political instability will be Keeping some awake ot until the very last pane ofthe ISTAT conference did someone in the audience ask the one question tat had been hovering over the event for two days. Until that moment, attendoes had heard much about ‘commercial aircraft industry that is mostly ina great shape, with record backlogs, surging traffic growth, improving aircraft values and no analytic reason to think it will change course soon, So, regardless ofall the good news, the anonymous questioner asked, what is keeping the panellists awake at night? (On the stage were the captains ofthe aircraft leasing community, who gather wi airezaf traders, fixanciors and manufacturers in a plush resort hotel on the out skins of eternally sunny Phoonix, Arizona for an aa: ‘maal dialogue on the state ofthe ais transport industry. ‘Most years the public conversation cavers a wide variety of financial issues, but also focnses on the kine! of overriding, capital-T “Topics” thal tend toate the The near-absence of the phrase “order bubble” during the ISTAT dialogue spoke volumes psyches ofthe people who trade in aircraft worth tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars. For an industry that has experienced an mprecedented 11 years of steady growth, ithad always boon easy to find someting that everyone attending agreed to worry about. Several years aga it was how the industry would cope with the global financial crisis, but then it did. Then the worry was over where the capital would come from to pay for all those aircraft being delivered with hefty financing packages, but somehow the credit materialised. More recently, fears ‘The clock’s stil ticking focused on talk of otter bubbles and the declining service lives of narowbody aera. While not everyono is rusting at vaso, the noar- ‘absence of the phrase “order bubble” in the ISTAT dialogue spoke volumes about its current relevance. So what is keeping the aircraft trading community up at night these days? Digging deep into the ramarks made over the two days revealed a few worries. The price of al should re- rain well below $100 per barrel for yoars to come, it was said, unless a geopolitical crisis overwhelms mar- kot forcas. Russia's mtonnt actions in eastern Europe suggest a “catastrophic” geopolitical event is wow mote likely than ever, but that is still remote posstbility Arius and Boeing ar entering a potentially awkward transition toa seris of new and re-engined models, as ‘illoping production rates stoke fears of oversupply But these are all manageable problems. The industry thas every right to fee] optimasti, andl that seems to be why some may be having trouble sleeping. i ‘See This Week P7, Al Transport from PO Solar Impulse’s global challenge rn this age of intercontinental rave, the setting of av ation records may soem like a throwback toa bygone era, But there remain boundaries to push, and Solar Impulse’ be to set new endurance standards for solar powered, no-ful flying is impressive and important Impressive bacauso io build a 747-sizedaircrall with the mass ofa family car capable of flying day and night ‘onthe powor ofa motor scooter requires a new state-of the-art in design, materials, power management and avionics, not to mention pilot fitness. Important because achieving all those things shows that the “impossible” i possible with existing technol: gies, For André Borschberg and Bertrand Picea, that impossible” is not Dying round-the-world in a solar aircraft ~ it is the dramatic reduction in energy con- to provent runaway climate change to be repeated to anyone who will listen at every stop on their jonmey, isto ditch the fatalistic assumption that only a retum to Stone Age lifestyles can avert cataclysmic global warming. Horo they ae saying, in this magnificent aircraft, isthe proof. But can Solar Impulse ralistically hope to inspire ‘concrete action toward a clean future"? We should all, hope so ~ although it is entirely possihle that many people will compare their own lifestyle options with such a fragile, expensive andl impractical machine rover impressive, and remain mired in fatalisr. ‘See News Focus P18. 117.28 March 2045 Fight international |STHIS WEEK BRIEFING MALAYSIAN A400M TO STAR AT LIMA SHOW AIRLIFT Malesia took delivery ft rst Abus A4OOM tactical transport on 9 March, clearing the way forthe turboprop powered ‘ype’ participation in tho IMA airshow later ths nth, One of fou ‘Alles aiiters ordered forthe Royal Malaysian Ai Free, twillenable ‘the sence to “undertake an extraordinary range of military and hu ‘manitaran operation’, says chiof of staff Gon Roslen Bin Saad ‘AIDC TO BUILD ON TRENT XWB SUCCESS ENGINES Taivar's Aerospace Insti Development Corporation {AlDo) i iesting NIS1.3billon ($41.2 millon) to construct third ‘actor, decicated to engine casing work. The faci, which wi focus cen work forthe Rel Royeo Trent XWNB, could in tho future azo werk (on CAM rcemationa’s Leap engine, says AIDC. The new Kaot sung factory is expected tobe completed bythe end ofthe year anc scherkled tbe operational inthe second quarter of 2016, NABTESCO TO SUPPLY 77X ACTUATION SSUPPLY CHAIN Jopancca fem Nabteco isto supply primary ght control actuation for Boeing’ indovelopment 777%. Nabtesco is 2 longtime partner onthe 777, supplying actuators fr four fight con- ‘wol surfaces, This agreement wll double that to eght Tigh control surfaces, including spoilers. Japanese fs wil playable in the ‘TTX. Bosing announced lest year tht Mitsubishi Heew Indust, enasehi Heavy industies, Ful Heay Indust, ShinMaywa ancl Nippi wil supply 21% ofthe 777 arame structure. AGA STEPS BACK FROM GULF ‘SUBSIDIES’ CAMPAIGN ‘COMPETITION LS trade ascociation Aitines for America (MA) has ‘maintained its distanco fem a campigh lad bits three begs ‘members against alleged subsices o Gulf eariers. Stopping short, ‘of throwing support behind the effort led by Dla Ar Lines, American Alri and United Arines, te association has caled fr a “nee ‘Yona ine po or US caer to compete more effete. ‘THAITO FURLOUGH 22 AIRLINERS TO CUT COSTS FLEET Thai Airways international wll decommission 2 sterat this year ast works to streamline its eet a part ofa restructuring plan ‘Aimed at binging the srline back opal. Speaking to Flghtgobal, president Charempom Jotkasthir say the arcratto be removed fom service ae six Abus A340s, sb A330s, eight Boog 747s and two 747 Boog Converted Freighter. This is on top ofthe roughly 20 aircraft the cartier has alread grounded. UNMANNED G-STAR CLEARS QUALIFICATION TEST TESTING The GSiar unmanned air system oily developed and marketed by lraelimanufacturerImocon and Gforce Composites cf Thailand has completed quaifiation test fights at 10,000%, and performed automate take-off and landings at ts 200kg (4401) ‘maxima weight. Discussions cortinue wth potetil customers for the 8m (26h) wingspan typo, which has acurent 10h endurance, NASA: SOLID BOOSTER TEST MARKS SLS MILESTONE. ‘SPACEFLIGHT NASA‘ progjoss towards a 2028 uncreweitest fight ofits massive Space Launch System took step forward with a 2min ground fring of one ots solid boosters. The Utah testy sup plier Orbital ATK wile followed by a qui stage test thing in Mayor dune anda second solid booster test in eoly 2016. The unerewec 2018 test gt wil cary Lockheed Martins Orion crew capsule. 6 Flight Intemational | 17-23 March 2015 Te fot more done soctor covered suns to ou ogy newer gitoba com dotonconewsetor Officials refer to a “Brazil effect” with other potential buyers FIGHTERS CRAIG HOYLE LONDON Saab bullish over Gripen prospects Airframer confident of additional sales, as 36-aircraft deal ears conclusion and first prototype Emodel takes shape abs final assembly work on | Around 100, Brazilian ongi- ts fst prototype Gripen E/ | nos are due to amive in NG fighter is “well under way”, | Linképing by the end of 2015 to ‘he company sys, as ofiials re. | participate in taining and ae port unprecedented market inter | fame development activites, in- estin th product. cluding those inked to atwo-seat ‘Tho first fuselage sections of | version of tho ite test sireraft 398 have already | ” Under a progressive ramp-up come togetier in Linképing, | of Brazilian involvement in the lmonstating tho benolits ofits | programme, Ablavist says all-digital desig, says orkerAbI- | “maaybe 10 to 15° of Brazil's 56, 4qvist, head of the company’s | aircraft wll undergo final assem Gripen businose nit bly at Ember "Thy will aa “To fist soctions are being | fall capability to. manufacture put together inthe workshops,” | Gripen in the futue, and to cre says Ahlqvst. “Wo put them to- | atea fighter capability in Brazil” getherand hey itimmediately~ | heads this shows wore on the right | “Already we have soen the track." The siterat is due to be | ‘Brezil fect,” Ahiqvist says, rolled out caring 2026, support | with several ofthonation's neigh ing a progrunme to deliver the | bours “showing an intewest” in finst of 60 Gripen Es tothe Swad- | the type, ish air foro in 2019, "We have never had such a ‘Also linked to thedevelopment | strong situation,” says Nilsson. isatwo-seat demonstrator, which | “We have a business case where has logged 2anhin15 fights. | wo can talle about 300 aincral ‘Speaking duzingaGuipen semi- | and the potential to sell up to nar in Stockholm on 12 March, | 450. We see good opportunities UIP Nilsson, tho head of Saabs | to have [additional] customersin amonautiesbusinoss unit said the | tho near future.” finalelements of 36-aircra deal | Meanwhile, Saab says Sweden vith Brazil are expoctod to bo in | is in nogotiations with Slovakia place by mid-year: linked to a potential deal to sup- ts moving forward in a good | ply Gripen C/Ds tothe European, ‘way, according to plan when it | nation, witha decision anticipat- comes toapproving the financial | od later this yoar. Additional po- solution and export licences," he | tential users in the region could ‘comments include Bulgaria. figmglobal.comJakarta urged to up game on safety THIS WEEK PB THIS WEEK DIVESTMENT STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC UTC looks to spin off poor fit Sikorsky Helicopter manufacturer — an original part of group from 1929 ~ may be divested as part of strategic business review ikorsky could become a stan ialone company after a tax- ‘Gee spinoll, under an option now being reviewed by parent compa- ny United Technologies (UTC) The Stratford, Connecticut based helicopter manufacturer was a founding member of UTC in 1929, but it has increasingly ccome under scrutiny by Wall ‘Stroot invostors who regard it as f poor ft under UTCS ewrent ‘conporate structure, Former chief executive of UTC Louis Chenovert wesignod abrupt ly last November, and in Decetnber, the newly-appointid Grgory Hayes was continuing his predecessor's defence of ‘Sikorsky asa critical member of ‘corporation that includes engine ‘manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and aircraft electronics and systems supplier United Tech nologies Aerospace Systems. But early last _month UTC announced a stmitegic business review, This will consider divest a ana sient ‘The rotorcraft OEM has a predominately military customer base ing business units that fail to | “We are exploring strategic meet certain performance criteria | options for Sikorsky to. del ~ including whether they gener | mine the best way to enhance its ate earnings growth above gross | long-term success and create im- domesticpmdict,haveoperating | proved longterm vali for margins above 15% on asustain- | UTC customers and shazehold- ablebasis,retums in excess of n- | ers," Haves says. “Today, Sikor- vested capital and a trick meord | sky is a world leader in the de- ofroliable cass low sign, manufacture and service of military and commercial heli- copter platforms. Tt has um matched technological capabili- ties, outstanding people and a strong backlog," ho adds “Looking tothe future, we are evaluating’ whether Sikorsky’s unique business as a rotorcraft OEM with a predominately military customer base i best po- joned ag a stand-alone compa nny, amd whether a separation ‘would allow United Technolo- ies to better focus on providing high-tochnology systema and soe vioes tothe aerospace and build ing ndhstries."| "Tho roview should be ccmmplet- fed by the end of the year, but UTC has set no “specific timeta- blo” for making a final decision. ‘An 11 March statement re- leased by UTC did not discuss the possibility of selling Sikor- sky to another company or group of investors, although it says there is more than one option beingreviewed. ml ‘REPLACEMENT STEPHEN TRIMBLE? HOENK Udvar-Hazy angles for a bigger 757 replacement Hits renuinge boing intentions for a clean-sheet large airevaft to follow the 77%. into service attr 2022. ‘Air Lease Corp founder Steven ‘Uivar Hazy, ono of the industry's ‘most influential customers, says hho is aware of Seattle's secret ‘osigns, bul will nt reveal ther, “isreally not correct for me to tell you what's going on in the de- sign chambers in Seattle," Udvar- Hazy said during the ISTAT conference in Phoenix, Arizona, He is, however, lagally able to ‘oxpross his preference for what hhe describes as a 200-250-seat aircra occupying the gap in Boeing's portiolio between the 737 Max 9 and the 787-8 “This just my personal views Wsgoing to valve somawhere be- ‘twoen a 757 and 787-200, sizo- wise,” Udvar Hazy says fighglobal.com Although often refered toasa | Asked fhe prefers atwin-aisle 177 replacement, UdvarHazy’s | aircraft in that size category, discussions with potential ating | UdvarHazy says: "Yes ~ and customers suggest the aircraft | sometimes we prevail.” should be different. It should | If UvarHazy’s preferences havo the2;300m (7,000) runway | hold sway, tho project could luke-olf performance of the | challenge chief executive James 757-200, giving it the capability | McNerney’s stated view that to accoss New York's metropoli- | Boeing should avoid “moonshot” tan LaGuardia airport, he says, | development projects butatthe same time resemble the | Packaginga twinaisle fuselage sign ofthe twin-aisle 767-200, | ith into an aircrat with the United will wat for Boeing response to long-range A32n€0 take-off performance ofa single- aisle —without sacrificing higher {uel eficiency tagels ~Is a chal Jenge, but one that airlines need, For three years, Boeing has acknowledged interest inthe ‘market space between the 737 Max $ and the 787-8, It remains ocsel on developing a airall, ‘with about 20% more range and greater size than the 757-200, vice-president of markoting ‘ancy Tnsth said at STAT, In the meantime, Airbus has launched a long-range version of the A221n00 that cames clase to matching the 757-200's range, “"Wo'vo looked atthe A82ITR” says Ron Baut, United Aislines vioepresident of fleet. “But we have the lnxay of time in terms |) of waiting that wo ci soe what Booing’s going to do in terms of anirplane forthe market.” 117-28 March 2045 Fight international 7THIS WEEK Te noose moo af our overage aout the oto tra sector go oi to agitgobacem/roteopters ISAE tests focus on pilot stress due to workload Fe armen ging school the lustitul Supéieur lel’Aéconautique etd !Bspace in ‘Taulouseis rsvarching ple phys- iological and newolegical sess responses to recognise the signals {hat prooede potential errars via oloctro-mcephalogrm mad- | tions, and nowologits eam wate ings and infrared sensors that can | a the rational past of the brain show the level of activity in et | deactivates. This is the slate in cal surfaco brain ara ‘which plots, for example, ignore Prof Frederic Debais, the AXA | Ioud alet chimes. hair of neuroergonomics for | This new understanding {ight sty at ISAESUPAERO ia | promises to enable manulacie: Backed by the AXA Research | Toulouse, says even factors such | er to eliminate aeets that do:not Fund, the ISAE wants to under as “emotional bias" can bereaog- | work, and develop completely stand pilos’ neurological activity | Bain aetivity was monitored | ised. This canbe caused, forex- | new systems fr atractingthest- when tzybecomecanfised, ample, by plot yererption con | tention of pilots whose cognitive loaded, o focused on non-ctcal | ‘Tools used to monitor pil re- | mercial pressure to land when @ | capacity has been swamped: pits inetedofesitial once. This | actions during ight simulator ex- | gerund woud bowser. such as a window appoaring om curretiniloicalaivity Jad | excises and real fights include | Tests intended to put high | the navigation display showing ingtodccidentslikethe AirFrane | evetucking, measwement of | workload stess on pilots show | an animation of a plot casying flight 447 loss of 2008. pupil dilation deepbrain activity | progressive neurological reac- | out the requited action. ‘CAPABILITY DOMINIC PERRY RAF BENSON UK studying future rotorcraft needs Discussions ongoing around military helicopter requirements post-2025, as current fleet modemisatlon hits halfway point Five types will provide the backbone for operations by the Royal Alr Force, Royal Navy and British Army, as Apache decision nears Were | ete eee ee ee the UK's military helicop- | livery ofall the upgrades to the | HMAis. All but one of the ait | grade ofthe British Army's leat of tor Mlot around 50% complete, | numbers contained inthastrategy | forc's Pumas have bom modified | Bosing/AgustaWostland AH-64D discussions have begun within | wearebalfway through,"says Air | tothenew standard,and twofom | Apache AHL attack helicopters the Ministry of Defence about its | Vice Marshal Julian Young, the | planned three have been de- | The processis intended to allow it roloreraft requirements beyond | newly appointod ductor, boli- | ployed to Afghanistan to fiold 50 aircral configured to themiddle ofthe nest decade, | coptersaltheDefence Exuipment | Meanwhile, AgustaWestland | dae new E-mnodel standard. Launches in 2009, the t-ser | & Suppert procurement body. Bat | has inducted the initial batch of | “We will support whatever View enhancrmont andrationalisa- | at an event at the RAF's Benson | soven Merlin HCV3As into its | procuroment policy [Dafoneo Hon programme will eventually | base in Oxfordshizo on 12 March, | Yooul facility in Somers farcon- | Equipment & Support] doom ap- see the armed forces concentrate | he said the UK's Joint Helicopter | version to the new HC standard | propriate,” says Nick Whitney ‘on five com types. Significant | Command has started to “study | for use by the RN's Commando | director ofbusiness development ‘capobiity improvement workbas | futuehelicopterrequitemeuts", | Helicopter Forve, These will be | for Boeing UK's defence business. ‘also bom caried out on the | _ Over the past two months, ini- | delivered in early 2016, with an | AgustaWestland is also keem to ‘AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin, | tal operating capability has been | avionics upgrade to follow: offer a solution, but dectines to ‘Abus Helicopters Puma and | decaved forthe RAF: niwebuild | Manufactures ar also consid- | common. A decision on the £1 Bosing CH-47 Chinook, to bring | Chinook HO5s and upgraded | ering request for information is- | billion ($1.5 billion) programme themtonew opeatingstandanis. | PumaFHC2s,phustheRovel Naws | sued by the MoD lest November | isexpected in easy 2016. {| Flight Intemational 17-23 March 2035 figmglobalcomBoeing bids to heep ‘TTT line roling THIS WEEK /MAVIS TOH SINGAPORE Jakarta urged to up game on safety Indonesia pressed by IATA boss to tackle high accident rate, improve infrastructure and manage traffic to handle growth ATA has called on Indonesia to ovelop an aviation masterplan {hat will focus om three main is sues: improving safety, ensuring ‘capacity and introducing smart ‘regulation framework ‘In his keynote address at the IATA Aviation Day in Jakarta di rector general Tony ‘Tyler said safety isa top priority for Indone- sia, since the nation has sean at least one hull loss every year since 2010, The most recent inci ent involving Indanesin AicA- sia Might QZ8501 — killed 162 [passengers and crew in an Aisbus ‘A320 crash last December (0f 62 Indonesia airlines poe fling scheduled and charter ser ‘oes, only flag carrer Garuda In- ddonesia ison the ATA Operational Safety Audit JOSA) registry ‘Making JOSA compulsory for ‘an Indonesian AOC [air operators conificate] will senda very strong, signal of commitment to improve salely,” Tyler says. ‘The nation’s trafic growth also needs to be suppestad by infrastrcture an the ground and in the alr heads ‘Tyler is calling forthe develop- ent of Jakarta’s congested Sorkarno-Haln International ait port into a hub, saying tis wil require a major redevelopment of the airport’ terminal areas Indo- nesia already has plans to build 62, sirports over the next ive years, IATA has algo highlighted is. sues in slot management process feat Indonesian sirports, and says | 800 aircraft om order by its carers it iszeady to asist with the into- | —TATA isalso mgingit to improve duction of professional and inde- | the skills of air walic controllers, pendent co-ordination, which | implement performance based ‘would ining working procodiims | navigation and intrehaco ar tral in line with global standards, ficflow management at airports, ‘As Indonesian skies become | “Indonesia's aviation potential mare crowdod — with more than | is hugo. By 2084, iis expectod to ‘The loss of fight QZ8501 was the latest in a string of crashes: bo the sixth Ingest matkot for air tenvol. Thats too ties th ‘oftoday’s market,” says Tyler. “There isa big role for collac- live leadership among industry partners ~ inchuding the govern ‘ment — to make the aviation sec- tor Nearish.” KATE SARSFIELD LONDON Second Flaris LAR-1 begins taxi tests ish engineering, company Metal Master began tat tests ofits sncand Flars LAR" proto {ype (MSN2) on 20Fobruay, at is preparing the ullmigt per soma et forts debt ight. During the 2h evaluation a By dégoszca aizport in norther Po- Tana Metal Master teste MSN2' Prat & Whitney Canada PW610 turbofan engine brakes and land ing gear during the acceleration | the Polis civil aviation author: and deceleration phases of taxi- | tysS-1 experimental aircraft des ing The aircraft reached a maxi | ignation. Deliveries rescheduled sna speed of 5Kt (100k). | tobgin in 2016, with a erties Although the PW610 is being | el version approved to European sed during inital ight tsting, | C5-23 standards expected to fl thecompanyas yetto discloses | low in 2018, The typeis projected final choice of engine forthe €15 | to have a maximum take-off nillon($19muilion)aieraf. | vweight of 500K (2.20015, « Metal Master plans to validate | cruise spond of 380kt and a range thefiveseat LAR initially under | of .730am (0200kn). figglobal.com Prototype MSN2 underwent evaluation of its turbofan engine, brakes and landing gear last month Bag ASR oR BA tests water with sharklet fit for A320s Bott ines se tot some ofits Airbus A205 with, shark” wingstips to “reduce fuel bum and increase efficiency’ ‘Tho carrier has yot to confirm when the retofit~ initially in- volving 10 of its newest A3205, ~ will begin, but hints it will stat, the workin the next few months, ‘The most recent A320s' wings already moet the production standagd zequlzed to accommo- date the modified wingstips. Air- Inushas also started offering aret- rmfit for older examplos, which involves wingreinforcement. BA has no immediate plans to extend the revolt beyond the fist 10 jes. The carier has been in- volved inabroader scheme to save costs on its A206 by harmonising care specifications for avionics, talleysand cain erew seating 417-23 March 2015 Fight international \SCOVER STORY Foruptothorninut anspor rows, two one fet norman p> IN STEPHEN TRIMBLE PHOENIX Boeing bids to keep 777 line rolling New model is selling well, but challenge is finding enough orders for current large widebody to bridge production gap Bory, bs, amid te ils of performance and interior upgrades aimed at keeping its 777 assembly line at ful rates thromgh toa least 2017, including attracting 40-60 now ‘orders this your. Airbus and Boeing have altmcted massive onder backlogs the last fow years, but mast of the ordens are for new oF reengined models that have not yetentered service Keeping backlogs filled for coxisting assombly lines has nat ‘been so easy, especially for wide- body aircral. Last month, Airbus snnounced that the A330 pro ‘duction rate will fall a second time from nine to six aircraft per month, dwn from 10 por month a year ago. Any further reductions in rate could make it harder for Aras to ramp up production of the re-engined ‘A330neo in three years. PRESSURE ‘Boeing is under similar pressure to koop building 777s at a rato of 193 per month or about 100 per ‘year through the transition to the 77K. The fest 777-9 howd for the flight test fot enters the as sembly ine in 2018, a caitioal year of transition forthe programme. ‘An analysis Flightglobal’s ‘Ascend Fleets orders. database suggests Bosing still has some work to do, The database shows ‘bout 15 unsold positions in 2036, bout about 65 unclaimed produce tion slols in 2017. Factoring in normal production lead times, that gives Boeing about 18 months tovsgh up to 80 ordars far the 777, ‘or facea rate cut decision, ‘Our frst focus was to fill the production line in 2016,” says Booing vice-president af market ing Randy Tinseth, speaking at Uw ISTAT conferenas in Phoenix, ‘Arizona on @ March, ‘We're to the point we're essentially sold ont {for 2016) now. Hook at 2017, Took at op: tions, I look at what's coming down the pipeline, I think wee Seattle is undor prossure to keep building 777s at a rate of 8.3 per month, o well-positioned for 2017, Tinsolh says, "Wo're especially excited that wee seeing move ‘ment in the cargo market." ‘Bowing stil has several lovers it could pul to bring in new orders It can offer aislines that have oriored 787s to switch to more readily available 777-B00ERS, ‘That tactic is coment boing pur sued with United Aislines om a potential crder conversion for up to 10 aircraft “There is room for dedicated freighters, but more and more freight is moving in thebellies” Chief ectivn Air Attracting new orders from a resingent cargo markol is another option, as Tinseth suggests, but many doubt that this strategy will work, Although air cago demand {is uending upward forthe second, conseentive year, additional cargo volumes may not translate into a now wave af orders for dedicated feighters, such a the 7778. ‘More than 300 passenger-car- 410 light International 17-23 March 2015 zing widebody aircraft are enter- ing service annually, each with significant space for belly cary says Steven UdvarHazy, chief fexoctive of Air Lanse, That sup- ply has wduced demand for new ‘ncighter orders, be says. “There is room for dedicated freighters, but more and more ofthe ivight {smoving in the bellies,” he says That loaves the passenger curying version to carry tho load in Boeing's campaign to fl the production slots for the 777. Asa sll, Boeing has timed a performance upgrade package to appear in the third quarter of 2016, just as the current backlog begins torun dry. ‘The package includes a 1.5% improvement in fuel ofcioncy from aerodynamic "clean-ups of the airframe, Tinseth say Bowing, for example, is elimina ing the tailskid and updating the Aly-by-wire contrls to prevent a tail strike from occurring. The slats on tho leading gos of the ‘wings will be made 60% thin nor. Booing also is improving the ‘camber of the outer wing's al: ‘ing edge to make it’ more ficient. An update tothe fight control software wil allow the levator to augment stabiliser ‘rim to reduce drag bout 100 per year ‘Another one-half percentage inmprovoment point will come {om new updates othe GE9O en- ine, Drawving on advances from {he GEnx ancl GEOX programmes, GE Aviation has improved the ef ficiency of the blisk in the frst stage of the high pressure com- pressor aud tightening elearances| between the shroud and. the ‘Blades of the nezzle in the Sst stage ofthe low pressure chine Finully, GE is reintroducing ‘an improved core comapartment ‘cooling valve that had previously bbeen removed from the GE90 due toreliablity problems. IMPROVEMENTS Despite those improvements, the 77 remains a tough sales challenge in an otherwise hhoalthy orders market. Its biggost cbstacle to gaining now orders may be a fundamental pricing issue. As AerCap chief executive ‘Aongus Kelly noted atthe ISTAT. ‘conforence, he and other lessons ‘would have bought dozens of A3305 if Aizhus offered a stoop price discount to fill the backlog Airbus chose not to do so be- cause, Kelly says, thet could Ihave slowed the uptake ofits at- est products, like the A330n00 and the A360. figniglobal.comGy | cnveisese ‘Leap to higher rates AIRTRANSPORT P12 AIR TRANSPORT [PROGRAMME STEPHEN TRIMBLE PHOENI Average dispatch reliability for 787 rises ‘above 98%’ Figures for global fleet show improvement in Dreamliner's performance — but are stil falling short of Boeing's target ectwide dispatch reliability | the Newowide average was hover- forthe Boeing 77 progruamne | ing around 98.3%. Tinseth de- has improved by about 05 par | cines to confirm thet mirber, bat canoe points cver the past six | exysthecaunent average sa lot montis, according to Randy Tn | a percentage point higher than six sell vice-president ofuarkating, | mouths ago, and stl below 90%, That improvement still tals | The 787 dispatch reliability short of the company’s objective | rate has improved slay since neamythreeandabalfyearsafter | the type wes introduced into the fit 77-8 a introccod to | service in 2011 with solos of AIINippon Airways Operational probleme, Speaking at the ISTAT 2015 |" Bocing’s objective forthe 787 conferonoe in Phoenix on 9 | hasalways been tomatch the reli March, Tinsel says the let | abalily slndard set by the 77 average is curently above 98%, | fet within three years of entry LastSeplomber anexecutivefora | into service, and tht has been 787 opeatortold Fighglobal tat | maintained at around 90.5% Dispatch reliability for the *Boeingis trying to | 707-8 intially sured due to Sells the-9, as well | mr aes with i as the lessors” electrical systems have also been jose yuo | a souron of rola problems. acon! deta | A widely reported issue surinced All Nippon Alrways Introduced the type three and haif years ago ‘wit the 767 lithium-ion batter: Jes used to start the auailiary power init and provide stand-by ‘power fr the eockpit avionics. ‘The recent improvement in Aeotwide rolability may not be tho result of any specific updates for changes to the 787, says Tin: sth. Instead, the improving trend ana bo driven by a neve group of ‘operators that are benefitting fom, the knowledge gained by the earli- est 787 customers, be says, ‘Meanwhile, Colombian carrier Avianca says it would “take advantage” of a highor perfor: mance Boving 787-9 if improve: ments are made to the aircraft. “Boeing is trying to sell us the as well as the Lessors,” feet management ditector Jose Yunda said at ISTAT “We ae analysing {hat option right now, because the point we Fao right now with the -9 is performance out of Bogota. Ifthe performance im- proves, of course wo wil ike te fake advantage otal.” Avianca's primary hub at Bogota El Dorado Intemational airport is 86608 (2.640m) above sea level, making aicratt perio mance iamportant in ordor to avoid payload restictions ‘The carrier is abe to mest its prformaico targets with the 787-8, which i conigures with 250 sets. ‘Aduitional reporting by Edward Russel [RGCIDENT GAIN LAY YEO WASAINGTONDG ‘Braking difficulties’ contributed to MD-88 overrun sho crew ofthe Delta AirLines | In an investigative update, the Booing MD-88 that overran | agency alsa says the aircrafts the runway at New York LaGuar- | tainod significant damage. ‘dia wiport on 5 March ad strug- | ‘The MD-88 was attempting to led to keep the aircraft from veer: | Jane during a winter storm after ig lof, and experienced baking | operating fight DLA086 from AL- flficies, says the US National | lan It overran Runveay 13 and ‘Transportation Sefety Board. came toa stop with its forward fi- ‘The aircraft stopped at LaGuardia with its nose over Rushing Bay figglobal.com selageatop aberm and its nose jut- ting over the berm abeve the wa tors of Flashing Bay. Twenty throe of the 127 passeugors on board sustained minor injuries. Tho flight's crew dacided to land based on reposts of good braking actions from air traffic control says the agency. Another Delta MD-88 that landed on the same rumway before D.1086 con- firmed that air traffic controlles snlayedd the braking action parts to flight crew ofDL1086, Thesere- prs wore based on tivo oarlier ‘lights that ported braking action on the nmway as “oo Citing interviews withthe crew, the NTSB says the erew reported that “the runway appeared all ‘white when they broke ont ofthe overcast, moments before land- ‘ng’. The aircraft's autopilot was fengiged ntl it was about 2900 above the ground. On final ap- proach, it hac an airspeed of about {40Kt (259kn/) and touchdown, took place at abet 183Kt, acca ing to preliminary data from the alerts ight data rocorden ‘The aircraft's automatic spoilers die not deploy but the first officer quickly deployed them manually, the agoney adds In addition, the MD-a8: automatic brakes wore set to “max”, but the crew did not sense any brake deceleration. “The captain reported that he was unable to provent the airplane from drifting le,” says the NTSB. a 117-23 Moreh 2015 Flight Intemational 1.AIR TRANSPORT ead mare news nd vows frm our | goto artrnsport porters ot igitgobacom/altansport Dash 7s make way for Dash 8s at Air Greenland i Gmonland bias sold its de | "Two Dash & turboprops (OY- willand Canada Dash 7 | GRO and OY-GRP) are due to | pala feet to Canadian operator Trans | join the fleet in March and Octo- | (Raion Capital Ait Dor this yoar, bringing the cari- | (Midi The airline had put its three | ers total to seven. Dash 7s — registered OY-CBU, | These wil be the “backbone” OY.GRE and OY-GRF - on the | ofits domestic fight operations, ‘market Last year Air Groonland states Trans Capital Air, based in To- | Hajgaard says the Dash 8 is tonto, senta party to Niuk to in | less expensive, in terms of spect theairraft in February. | spares, and generates 25% sav= ‘Air Greenland chief Michael | singin fuel. Hisgad says theDash 7 isa“sta- | Tho two aircraft boing ble and robust” type but thatthe | ered this year will also have sale wil enable it to modemise | higher fuel capacity, for longer- its fleet. range services. Mt CFM set to make Leap to higher rates GE AvlatlonSnecma joint venture prepares for major production increases with upgrades to engine assembly processes s pmssure grows to raise al- | “Weare facing a massive pro- | ity by investing $800 million to | other platforms, including the ready peak production rates | duction ramp-up and we have to | addmorethan 140.000m"(.5mil- | Bombardier CSeries, Embraer for single-sisle aircraft, CFM In- | deal with that successfully," | lion f) of manufacturing space at | E-JetR2 Irkut MC-21 and Mitsub- temational has decided to roll | Ehanga says sven major now facilitias un- | ishi Regional Jot ‘out two major upgrades to the | WithChM the sole-source sup- | veiled wilhinthe lat throoyexrs. | “We'ra partnoring willy our ‘production system for the Leap | plier for the Boeing 737 Max and supply base, partnering with our ‘ongine sries. the Comac Co10| and offering a | “We have to logistics toams,” says Rick Dur The joint venture of GE Ava- | competitive option on the Atwus | Suesesstully GallverAll | 1 PEW vice president of sales tion and Snecma vill automate | A320n0, the thor versonsof he | SHeeessfully deliver all | ee eating can tell you tho quality inspection process | Laap-lsoriashavealready tact. | thOS® Engines. We AFE | fight now wo aro way for this and Integrate a final assembly | ed orders fr 000 engines. focusing on the main | mp«p Noquestion cess that includes both pulsed | Airbus and Boeing have eom- | [<= ——T=——> Sy — | Ebangacalls the production in- mmc ecPURY | was crear | ste, one af aU” | nent Phan the 320ne0 050 permanth and | JEA}PAUL EBANGA eyissue icing theindustry sug. on the 737 Max to 52 per month | Hefeseesive CrMinatonal | gesting CPM may waitto matcha within the next feo years, p= 25; fuel efficiency improvement jing CFM: eimial ont oF 1,500 announced by PSW last year engines today to about 1,800 by | ‘The next step CFMis takings | until the ramp-up is addressed 2020, Ebanga says. Thatramop-up | toimprovehow itassembles and | “We have this hoge ramp-up includes a transition from the | inspocts engines as it transitions ever saw bofore,” he says CEMS8 series ta the Leap series | tothe Leap series, Bbanga says. In ave to deal with that. We coverthat time period, headds. | addition tomodifying theassem- | have to successfully deliver all ‘At the same timo, Airbus and | bly process optcal-basod inspec- | those enginos. Weare focusingon Boeing are considering even fur- | tion machines will replace | the main issue, one at a time ther increases in production, | “human quality-control activi | There will bea time to upgrade wwth Abhon sudying a map-xp | tes beans coorengfom md will da ib 60 Akzo por month and | With moro than 70% of the | CFM has empled meno tha Boeing ecknowleging potential | singleisleengine backlog, CFM | halfofthecertifcation testing on capacity tobnild as many 69737 | is most affece! by any changes for tho Maxaireraf per month in production mute by Altus, Tht ver | “Wie have oun best customers | Boeing and Comac of the reengine irra is H| who ae asking us to go higher | Pratt & Whitney supplies the | cv o enter service fn 2016 ok and tne” Enna ays PWW1100C-IM.ongino for the | lowing tho intention of the Qualty Inspection of FM's | CEM previously announced | A320nco family 8 well a simi- | PWi100G-JM-powered A320n00 ‘Leap engines will be automated | plans ivexpand production capac- | Tar geared turbofans for several | in the fourth quarter. 412 Flight Intemational 17-23 March 2015 figniglobal.comAIR TRANSPORT [PROGRAMME STEPHEN TRIMBLE PHOENIX CSeries past half-way mark as flight test targets are hit With type heading to certification, manufacturer vows it will Keep promises on performance she Series programme has passod tho midway point of iis lest programme, with four to 410 months remaining before a scheduled entry into. service, Bombarcie's top salesman says, Four CS1006 and one CS300 row in Hight test have accu lated move than 1,100 flight test J thous, said Ross Mitchell, Bor 4 bardie's vice-president of busi nos acquisition, on 9 March at the ISTAT conference in Phoenix. | One €$300 and four C5100 have racked up 1,400h of fight tests o miost of the way rough the programins,” Mitch- | that will be comploted on a | successfully in Might tosts sofa cll says, ‘ground:based simulator, Mitchell | Mitchell says. The company’s ‘Thefflight test hours have beon | says. Bombardier has commis- | original performance targets~in- ‘accumulating mpidly since the | sioned the integrated systems | cluding a 15% reduction in spe- test foot retumed in September | and test cettifcation rig in Mize: | cific fuel consumption and a ffom a 100-day hiatus caused by | bel, Canada, to gain credit with | range of nearly 3,000nm ‘anengine malfunction, ‘Transport Canada for a certain | (5,500km) —arebeing mnt, based At the time of the 29 May | number offight test hours. By in- | on testing results, he says gramming, the test fleat had | cluding the credit from the sh “We are going to moet every- ‘amassed about 100 flight test | lations, the CSeries test pro- | thing we said. Wo're going to hit housafieeight months oftesting, | grammo is now past the midway | the range targets. Weve going to ‘In the six months since return | point, Mitchel says. hit the payload range targets. We toflight, thefivotostaircralt have | ~ Meroover, tho tests complotod | are going to give you the cost we completed atleast 800 stows, | so far are more likely to have | said we would,” Mitchell says Bombarcior originally said the | raised issues that could cause fur- | “We are going fo save airlines a C8100 eastifieation programme | thordelays, he says Jot of money’ when they got this would consumozbout2.400 fight | Entry into servo in thosecand | airplane. We may not be on time ‘est hous, Last mouth, exouutives | half of 2013 represents a delay of | but we madea promiseand we're said that number was a guideline | sbout two years compared with | keeping.” rather than a specific target, Bombardier’s original schedule. | See next week's Canada country ‘That estimate of 2,400 flight | — Despite that delay, the aircraft | special for an update on test hours includes a percentage | design appears to be performing | Bombardler and the CSerles i avionics Rockwell Collins maps out global tracking system Or tes see ance, of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, avionics company Rockycell Collins has announced it has developed a system that can help airlines costelfectively track aircrait nearly anywhere around the globe. Key fo the new system, called ‘ARINC MultiLink, i its ability to ‘allt position data fran a patch- work of six different sources. “Those include position infor ration from air navigation ser- vioo providers andl data fom a craft communications addressing and reporting systoms, automatic Sopendent surveillance broad- cast systems and automatic de- pendent —surveillance-contract, systems, Collins says In addition, the company says MaltiLink can process data from Collins’ sirto-gronnd high-lre- quency data link (HFDL) system, Collins says it has modified HDL, which forme primarily ‘uunsmitted non-wal-time aizcat data for maintenance purposes, so that it can transmit real-time position data, including in re ‘mate regions of Asi. MuldiLink morges the data which can thon besentdirealyto tislines or incoeporated into other Collins products it ays. i Koop rack the atest news eesare:herssrg anne: igrgeoa.con/MHS7O 43509008, sccordng 0 Albus. ‘WIDEBODIES Heavy Delta A330-300 shows colours ‘ious has released photographs ofits fst highorwoight variant of the ‘4320-200 in the colours of Delta A Lines. ‘The manufacturer rolled the aiteaft out of ts Toulouse paint shop bout fourmonths afte the airframe entered final assembly and less ‘han two months after making is steht. The hiherweignt A330-300, which shares the same platform as ‘ious’ inevelopment A330ne0, has a maximu take-off weight of 2421 and is powered by General Electric CFE-B0E% engines. ‘The arrat, which can fly an ational 50Onm (926km) and is upto 2% more fuetefcient, can operate fights as long as 15h, Arbus says. ‘eta has orders for 10 4330-2006, 25 A330-900ne0s and 25 figglobal.com 17-23 Merch 2015 | Flight Intemational 13DEFENCE Te fot more done soctor coved ROTORCRAFT DOMINIC PERRY LONDON RECONNAISSANCE [BETH STEVENSON LONDON Sentinel setto |AW101 ready for counter-mine trials bolster coalition over Iraq, Syria [Force has received the first | the new variant is equipped with | AQS-24A carriage and its deploy, » A Japan's Maritimo SelfDefonce | buill at Kawasaki's Gift factory, | integration and design of the AgustaWestland/Kawasaki Heavy | Northrop Grumman's AQS24A | tow and recovery system. {east ono of tho Royal Air | Industries MCE-101. helicopter | airbomomino-buntinganci AES-1 | AgustaWestland has provided Force's Bombardier Global | configured for the airborne mine | laser mine detection systems, technical support, including Express-hased Raytheon Sentinel | countermeasures tole, A licence- | Development ofthe model has | modification of the helicopters 1 surveillance aircraft is due to | produced version of the AWW01 | boon led by Kawasaki, inchuding | nutomaticflight contra sytem. bbe deployed to an undisclosed Following delivery on 27 location in the Mediterranoan, February, the MCH-101 has been. suggesting that itis being post transfered to the service's Sist tioned to join the coalition oper Experimental Squ for evaluation tion against Islamic State mili- ¥ trials [tis due to enter operation- tants in hq and Syria al sorvice in 2016. Assets including Panavia Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets ‘Tomado GRas, Boeing E-SD al database records Japan’s navy as ‘bora warning and conto system, having taken delivery of six airerat! and an Aisbus A330 Jf) MCH-101 airfiames so fr froma a Vovagertanken/transport are cur. 4 total order for 11, as well as two rently operating fom RAF Bf 2] of an eventual ‘theoe CH-101 Alsolriin Cypmis~rlso the Bikely | Kawasaki fitted the AQS-24A deploy, tow and recovery system — | ullity transports. i location for a Sentinel deploy- ‘ment, should the type join the UK's "Operation Shader” activity. | AEROBATICS IGOR SALINGER BELGRADE The launch and recovery loca: vakataciiattse | roatian display pilots wi nnutical Systems MQ.9 Reaper homme coon | OF@AK formation for Qatar Thours during the operation — has not been disclosed. Members of Krila Oluje team tender their resignations following lucrative offer from Doha ‘The suggestion that Sentine] will be committed to tho US-Iod | @¥ix of the Croatian air foren’s ‘campaign has been bucked by a | Stop instructor pilots ~ all of senior RAP commander, who | them members ofthe Krla Ohije told Defence 10's Airborne ISR | ("Wings of Storm") acrobatic dis- and C2 Battle Management con- | play team — have appliod to re- ference in London that the ais | sign from active duty craft would be a natural choi Acenrdng to sonreas quoted by’ Following the retum of two | local media, the plots—ranked as ‘Sentinels from their participation | captains and majors — have in a three-woek Red Flag-series | received a superior offer trom ‘xcrtisoat Nellis AFB in Nevada | Qatar. Croatian daily Sloboda last month itis understood that | Dalmacja reports that the Gulf all five RAF examples are cur- | state plans to form a display team. only in the UK. ‘wilh its now Pilatus PC-21 train- | "Wings of Storm’, based at Zadar, perform using PC-9 trainers ‘According to the UK's 2010 | ers, to includethe Croatian pilots, Strategic Defence and Security | Submitted on4 March, theres- | compromise the combat readi- | Kiowa helicopters, following Roviow, the battlefield recon- | ignation requests willbe decided | ness of he Croatian armed foress, | donation offar made by the US daissance type had been due to | on “after consultation with the | namely the education and train- | government. Import taxes linked exit service this year, but | pilots and in accordance with | ing segment within the Croatian | to the acquisition are expected to trldiional. funding. confirmed | aw, Croatia's defence minis | alt foe, tad total round RIGO" nlion test uly will extent hisuntlat | says” Any departure “wil not | "The ministry notas that as | ($14.1 milion) lest 2038, pilos“taveabvioustyepted fora | "The exUS: Amy rotocat ‘A rooployment ofthe RAs | "the pilots have ——— | such bor inna or that | would ‘bo delivered without fut Boeing RCLISW Rivet Join | —2P@ PHORS ave | tnt matt maamenls, but vith their signals intelligence sircratisalso | opted for a better Croatia's display pilots are as- | mast-mounted sights. still in- expected, while 51 Sqn's second | offer that the ministry | simod tots Zadar airbase, with | stalled‘ related weapons pack- ‘of threo examples is also due for } Eto Krila Olu team flying PCs. | agawill bo requested once fund- delivery in mid-2015, slighty | COUld not match’ ‘Separately, Zagreb is expected | ing can be secured, but no ahead of schedule. ‘GRORTIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY — | to receiv up to 16 Bell OF-54D | sooner than 2018. +14 Flight International 47.29 Merch 2015 figniglobal.com‘Singapore reveals ‘Super Puma replacement plan DEFENCE P17 DEFENCE Booing is offering a 737-based systom as a replacement for the service's current E-8C fleet ‘CONTEST DAN PARSONS WASHINGTON DC USAF broadens horizons in hunt for JSTARS successor Requirements dictate use of smaller airframe, with international types to be considered she US Air Force will consider domestic and intersational sinframens to place the North- op Grumman E-8C JSTARS fleet, ‘according to documents released (on 5 March, which also confirm the service's preference for a smaller aircraft than the Boeing 707-based type. ‘Requirements are fora “sunall- cr, more efficient airframe, there- by reducing liff-cyelo casts of the ‘weapon systens”, the USAF mys, Its selocted platform must come ‘complete with @ JSTARS battle ‘management, command and con- ‘rol system and synthetic aperture radar/moving target indication ability, it ads ‘The JSTARS Recap Program (Otic will contract fr the delivery of a complete integrated weapon, system solution, as apposed to ‘holding separate competitions for individual weapon subsystems for subsequent integration,” the air {oroe says. Also required are sys- tems with high technology readi- nese lovels and open architecture, “The decision fo accept interna tional competitars opens the pro- oss to mamufacturors including Aixbus, Bombardier — whose Global 6000 and in-development Global 7000 business jts could it ‘hobill Dassault and Gullstrean ‘A previous alter to replace the E-9C with a Nostazop solution based on the 767-400ER was can- called ch thigh casts, Competitors already include Boeing, which is offering a 737- ‘iasod systom, a Gulfstream pro- ‘posal based cn the GBS0 and a Northrop offering using the G50. Lockhoor! Martin has joined Ray theon and L-3 Communications {or the contest, but was waiting for the USAF to docide what sizo aisraftit prefers before contiran- ‘nga platform choice. First flight edges Ka-52K towards maritime debut sia has conducted the frst ight of « Kamov Ka-52K at tack ielicopter, with the mazi- time type having made a 40min abut on 7 March, ‘Adapted from the Ka-$2"ALl- gator” for deployment aboard the Russian navy's future Mistral- class amphibions assault ships, the new variant features folding rors and folding stub wings Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleots database records the Russian navy as having signed a firm ‘der for four Ka-52Ks, with op- tions to increase this by a further 28 aircaft. The programme has boon subject to dolays, however, ‘with a frst ight target intially hhaving been set for mid-2013, France late last year halted the planned delivery af the service's first of two ships, the Vladiv- fstok, due to Moscow's part in stoking umest in eastern Ulzaine Russia has previously con- uclod ship-based trials in sup- portof the Kmodel development ‘using tsar foree' Ka-52 variant ‘Ascand shows the service as hav- ing 63 Alligators in use, with an- other 93 on order: i ‘UNMANNED SYSTEMS BETH STEVENSON LONDON Neuron heads or haly as Dassault completes tests esting. of the pan-European [Neuron untae combat air vehicle demonstrators set tomove to lal, following the completion (of Frrnchasenssment oftheir, Following 100 test fights by Dassault, uring which the sensor, ‘dalalink and stealth characteristics of the demonstrator were tested, responsibility for the sixnation "Notion aia willbe transfered to Alonia Aomaochi, A Talor pro- gramme phase will see futher test- ng performed in Sweeny Saab, ‘All French tests were author: ised by the nati procurement agency, and shovwod “axomplary” availability ‘and reliability throughout, Das- sult says, The ist phase of ests figglobal.com ‘The UCAV demonstrator performed 100 flights in Fronch airspace involved the opening of Neuron's flight envolopo —including open- ing its weapons bey door ~ as ‘well as electro-optical sensor and Aatalink performance validation, Daring a second phase flights were dedicatad to infared. and electromagnetic signature? detection conftontations against operational systems”, Dassault siys, adding that these “pro ctuced al the expected results”. “This. success demonstrates Dassault Avation's know-how ia strategic tochnologios and prime ccontractorship, as well sits abil= ity to lead programmes involving Buropaan co-operation," tas ‘Neuron caro out is East ight ‘in December 2012. Greece, Spain ‘ancl Switzsland arwalso involved inthe demonstration effort. Dassault is also involved inthe Anglo-Fronch Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project with BAE ‘Systems, to design a UCAV under ‘contract from the Franch and ‘UK govomments. A two-year faa sibility study was launched last Novoraber, for which Dassault is expected to utilise some ofits ex perience ftom the Neuron effort “Stealth-rlated data and feed- back [rom Neuron] will sarve as reference fr future aircraft pro- jncts, "it says. a 417-23 March 2025 Fight international | 15,FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL son @ Fhtglba Inside the world of aviation & aerospace every week Flight International is the essential weekly magazine for aviation & aerospace professionals. It offers you insight into the key developments in commercial aircraft Poco eA ECLA CASAL LULLED UA yO CA NTO OF 9 A LIMOS ELC AN LITO (ACCT D ESR ReON eR UR OL L Flight International gives you the knowledge & intelligence you need OU MMe Meee Te MMeM Rc un ur icomtan cas Ce Brennen Pete ROM aCe meer Ne ee a Atma R 2s PMO Cle Yh) t PaO S URE RSE eea te Unc ur ea cxe Ce Ui oy Ld‘Solar Impulse 2: flight to enersise the aviation world NEWS FOCUS P18 DEFENCE ‘CAPABILITY GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE RAAF tanker fleet set for boom time Canberra removes KC-30A from ‘Projects of Concern’ list following: successful remediation work on aerial refuelling system rogue refuelling, counting 24 Bowing FA-18F Super Hornats and 12 EA-10G Grovlers, Auoth- er 100, including the Lockheed Martin F-5, will require boom, refuelling. Flightglobal’s Ascend Flests database records four of the ser- vioe's KC-S0As as being in cur rent active use with Amberley, (Quoensland based 4 Sqa, Speaking at last month's Assia bs moved, the Airbus A330 multiree tank cer transport fom its “Projects af Concer’ ist, following the suc- ccesful completion of remodia tion work related to the type’s serial refueling boom, Designated the KC-30A in ‘Australian service, the type has bbeen on Canberra's watchlist since February 2020 owing to a number of project delays, with extensive work having been un | The service has already taken delivery of five modified A330s | Avalon airshow nea Melbourne, dlertaken by Airbus in Spain re- ‘Air ere Warren MacDonald said late to th capability ‘ThoRoyal Australian AirForce | “Tho woot acceptance of the | the KC-30A flat is axpocted to “Resolution of this boom) | operates five KC-30As, with one | boom capability pavesthe way to | accumulate a combined 4.500 issu comptes the rmodition | camently deployed tothe Middle | begin introduction of boon in- | fight hours this yar: Tho type of all activites idumtied in the | Ent to support USloed offers | Might rofwoling into servion | has alveady logged in excoss of projects emediation plan, audit | against Islamic State insurgents in | through 2015," the DMO says. | 1,300h in the Middle East sinoo has beon emeved from the list," | Iraq, The type has so far rfvelled | “This capability will ow under- | being deploved to the region lata says Harry Dunstall, acting chief | Australian and ooalition aircrat | go operational evaluation.” last yoar as part of Australia's cexocutive of Australia’s Defence | using its underwing hose-and- | ~ By 2023, only 36cfthe RAAF's | operation “Okra” commitment, ‘Materiel Organisation (DMO). | drogue pods. aircraft will sill use hose-and- | heedds. [REQUIREMENT GREG WALDRON SINGAPORE, Singapore reveals Super Puma replacement plan fonce minister Ne ng Hon J bom issuod forthe quirement, | maintained, industry observers | tion’sho, humid climate, nas announced plans to e- | or which manufacturers could be | say the ageing aisames are likely | A newer, more maintenance ‘lace Singapore's air force fleet of | ‘interested in bidding to impose a substantial mainte | friendly aircraft would alla itto 32 Abus Holicoptas S332 | ~ Although Singapore’ Super | nancs eden, particularly given | operat ower asians apor Pama ane ASS22 Cougar | Pumas sand Cours ate woll | high utilisation rlas and thesna- | A roplacemont contest coll rojorcrft over the nex 10 yeas atuact interest from manufactur “Our Super Puma helicopters erssuch as AgustaWestland, Ait Iuwveboen in servie foralmest 30, thus Helicopters, Bell Helicopter ‘vars Ng sai ina speach to the and Sikorsky. Atthe 2014 Singa- ration’ partiamant. “Thay will pore airshow; Bell Boeing also toed roplacoronts, and this will lamonstated the V-22. Osprey ‘cocur over the next decade." tllotor, but Singapore may not ‘Ng made no mention of the noed sch a significant enhance- umber of airiames to. bo ob ‘nn iis rotoreralleapabilitio, tained, but it is baieved Ut the Flightglobal’s Ascend Favs da fet acquired could be substantial tabase records the Republic of Iyer than at present pahaps | Singapore AirForc's ASSI2/5525 ‘al the curent toa tis not clear | ashaving boon delivered between ‘whetherarequestforproposals has | Deliveries of the AS332 tothe nation's airforce started in 1985 | 1965.7 1995. Download the 2015 mi Rssocurion, Mite World Air Forces Report Together www. flightglobal.com/waf ahead. RUAG figglobal.com 417.23 Merch 2015 | Flight Intemational| 17NEWS FOCUS oad about cur top seven amps ot eteatey powered art at DAN THISDELL LONDON Solar Impulse 2: flight to energise the aviation world Swiss pilots of recorcbreaking solar-powered venture say they are flying to raise awareness of clean energy worldwide AS Sitio ortting tho endure rect tran machine, Solar Impulse 2is | upcoming legs across the Pacific ‘off to a good start. Following a | and Atlantic oceans ~ their por: ‘atively short frst leg of its | sonal endurance will also be om round-the-world adventure — | test during those legs, which will 400km (249 miles) from Abu | take up tosixdays. Dhabi to Muscat, Oman in just cover 13h, including a long hold- | TECHNOLOGIES: ing pattern — staga two coverod | If all goos to plan and the 12- 41408km in 18h 20min across the | stago, 35,000lan journey brings ‘Avabian Sea to Ahmedabad in | aircraft, Borschberg, Piccard and ee td aed Ce eee India, claiming the-solarpowered | ground crew back to Abu Dhabi | sive presence of their aircraft ~ | “Clean technology world straight distance rocord for | — possibly by mid-May — they | curing all thoie stops along the | <= manned fight between pre-de- | will hve achieved another first: | way to hold press conferences | @nd renewable energy cared waypoints frdling the globe in an aircraft | and meet with goverments.non- | can achieve the Subject to Fédération Aéro- | powered exclusively by solar | goveramental enganieaions,uni- ‘nautique Internationale verti | power. Technically, that “iret” | vesties and schools AsPiceara | Mpossible’ tion, the rcord will replace that | may emain up for grabs, as Solar | puts: "With our attempt to com by SI's predocsssor air | Impulse 2 route won' take it | plete tho frst solar-powered in 2013 ~ a ight of 1.386 | across the equator. Bu by crus | tound-the-world fight, we want made duting a bamstorming | ingthe Middle East India,China, | to demonstate that clean tech- | cable in everyday life, These axe (Cofeundar Slarkaple rojet tour ofthe USA that formed part | two oes, the USA and Europe, | nology and renewablonengy can | not socet, futuristic technologies. ‘of the preparation forthe round | Borschberg and Piccard willhave | achieve the impossible they were used routinely in our ‘the-world fight made theit point. “Renewable energy canbe | society, we would be able to save Project co-founders André | Thal point —purhapsromarks- | comoan intogral part of our lives, | 50% of our consumption of fossil Borschborgand Bertrand Piccard | bly given the icon ofthis ventura | and together wo can save our | energies and to produco half of = both accomplished aviators ~ | —isnotabout aviation: itis about | planet's natural resources, the est with renewable energies, ‘must be pleased to be making a | energy. The pair hope that flying “Solar Impulse wants to em- rmark inthe aviation history | huge distances with about as | DREAMS phasise the energy solutions as ‘books, Borschberg wasatthecon- | much power as a small motor | AsPiccardzocently told Hight In- | well as the environmental and trols during the now-eclipsed re- | scooter will demonstratethat the | temational sister journal ICIS | political solutions from a decid- ‘cord and for the Abu Dl worlds formidable energy chal- | Chemical News:“Thatachnolog- | edly constructive angle in ordar ‘Muscat leg, while Piccard lew lenges can be met by existing | ical solutions tht allow Solarlm- | to engender enthusiasm and the the crossing to India. Both of | technologies. So, they will be | pulse to fly both day and night | necessary motivation to leave be- them will havea chance to push | using their time ~ and the mas- | amaccessiblotoalland are pli- | hind this pervading fatalis Aviation makes you diva, feeds ‘your passions. Grand vision aside, Solar Impulse 2 is a remarkable achievement from a purely avia- tion perspective, whether it uli- ‘mately complotes its global tour as planned ornot. The single-seat aircraft has.a wingspan of 72 (a Boeing 747-81 comes in at “just 6.5m), but_weighs a mere 2,300kg (507016) — abont the 2) mass of a car — including its 633k load of lithium batteries and the 17,248 solar cells on its ‘The single-seat aircraft has a wingspan of 72m ~ wider than a 747-81 ~ but weighs a mere 2,300kg, £18 Flight Intemational 17-23 March 2015 figniglobal.comhorizontal surfaces. The materi- alsa assembly toctniquos that make such a lightweight structure possible, combined ‘with the solar power harvesting ‘and electronics needed to keep the aircraft flying day and night, ‘may not be of direct use to en ‘noors working on “normal” aircraft -but the extraordinary of- ficincy of Solar Impulse can ‘only be inspirational. TEMPERATURES Flying at altitudes of almost 27,900! and speeds of between 27-54kt (60-100 km/h) makes the ‘nip a series of lang hauls for the pilots — especially as they are oingit ina single-seat cockpit of just Saim!, noither hated or pressurised and subject to exter. nal temperatures ranging from -A0°Cto H405C. Critical to survival under such conditions are some of the most ‘exotic structural materials in use today, Bernd Rothe, the Solar aa- alse project manager at one of is sponsors, Bayer MaterialSci- ‘ence, dascribos the dosign ofthe The cockpit shell was a"major” insulation — challenge met by a Bayer-developed rigid polyurethane foam figglobal.com First Brailan 6280 © ready for delivery ‘BUSINESS AMATONF20 cockpit shell asa “major” insula tion challenge, met by a Bayor- developed rigid polyurethane foam that is also being used to oop the batteries warm, snd las bboen pushed into the automotive and refrigeration industries, Elsevwhore in Solar Impulse 2, Bayor supplies a carbon iano” tubezeinforced epoxy resin that dramatically improves the me- chanical properties of the cabon- fibre-einiorced plastic includ ing some in the “paper thin shoots that make up much of the sircral’s structure, ‘The pilots ae also high-tech. To endure long stretches in the ais, ‘and Piccard are em: ploying state-of the-art approach- sto dint, and techniquas includ ing selEhypnosis, micronapping and yoga. The Payeme, Switzer Janel-based duo are in any caso well-suited tothe task Pca isa ‘medical doctor whose aviation pesigroo includes ho 1985 Euro- pean aerobatic hang-ghiding tite and captaining the 1989 Breitling Orbiter non-stop mound-ae-workd balloon Hight, Brschborg isa mo- chanical engineer, a former Swiss tir froe pilot, consultant and en- teepronenr, ‘The project got going in late 2003, with feasibility studies at Switzerland's Eeole Polytech nique Federale de Lausanne: Solar apulse also credits the B= pean Space Agency for “invalu- able” expertise in batteries and solar cells, energy management systems and ultrelightweight ma terials. Ax Borschborg tld Flight. global during the Solar bnpulse 1 ‘campaign, the projet is truly bid ‘osiow the world that itm solve iis formidable environmental challenges with technologies that aro available toy. EFFICIENCY Ashe said at the time, only two of Solar Impulse’ technology paut- ners were in aviation: Dassault and Germanys DLR research ‘agency. The others are about aceting the projects energy ell ciency demands. But separating Solar Impulse as an aviation project from Solar Impulse the energy efficiency project is probably impossible, Flying on solar power alone is ul- timately possible only by driving aircraft weight down to an abso- Jute minimum while maximising ‘mechanical and aerodynamic ei- ficiency. Ae such, Borschborg ‘and Plccard’s aircraft. should trace its DNA to the pioneering days of haman-pouverod fight ia the 1970s. ‘The roots of Solar Impulse can ‘bo senn clearly in AeroVironment founder Paul MacCready’s 197, Gossamer Condor ~ the fist hu aman powered aircraft to demon strato takeoff, contrllod flight and landing ~ and is Cossuner Albatross, which two years later captured the public imagination ‘witha pedal-powered crossing of the English Channel, a feat in no small way assistid by the pioneer: {ng use of then-exotic carbon Bbre construction, which got the air- craft mass down ton mere 2g. Daedalus set the human-powered flight record of 200km in ah, NEWS FOCUS A deca later, Massachusots Institute of ‘Technology and NASA researchers pushed eli ciency further with Daedalus, nnamod after the mythical Grook with waxand-feather wings. real Greek cycling champion pi Totod the machine from Grote ta Santorini in 1988 ~ at wearly 4h ‘and jst short of 200km, the en- ddurance cords stan to this day ‘MacCieady went on to exeale ‘what was essentially a solar pow- fered version of Albatross, Gossa- ‘mexPenguin, and then Solar Chal- lenge — an ircraft whose ‘configuraion prosageel Solar I ppulse, and which in 1981 set the ‘world reoaed for the highest, fa thest and longest solar-powered ‘manned slight with a 260km, 5h. 23min tip from Comeilleen-Ver- in airport, north of Paris, across the Channel to RAF Manston Built as « demonstrator fer solar power and advanced composite materials, he airframe and solar propulsion system weighed only ‘akg and was designed fora 9gul- {imate lord factor POTENTIAL, As with any of these projects, Solar Impulse should ot be judged in terms ofits dizect com- ‘mercial potential in aviation, though spinoff technologies axe already making their way into ‘marketable applications, and no doubt will eventually feature on commercial aizerat. Rather, its values in its message, and while the power consumption gap be- tween Solar Impulse and any ‘commercial aircraft is a yawning ‘hast, in this enongy-challonged ‘world it is a gap that the wider aerospace industry should ad dress with some urgency. Ml 117-23 Moreh 2015 | Flight Intemational 29,BUSINESS AVIATION op up with to ets ews nose depth ana rm the business ‘tl sector pea om By (CERTIFICATION KATE SARSFIELD LONDON CHARTER, KATE SARSFIELD LONDON First Brazilian G280 ready for delivery | stratajet gives booking tool a $5 million push KK tuchnology startup Seatyjet has secured $5 millon of invastment to find the rollout of is realtime, online lfstreamn is poised to deliver the first Brazilian owned and istered G20. husiness jt following validation of thosup ‘midsize type earlier this month by the country’s civil aviation authority, ANAC. Gullstzeam says it has deliv ‘business acral booking plate, cred moro than 50 6280s since across Europe in the third quarter, the aircraft entered service in | Gulfstream has delivered more than 50 of the type since 2012 | as well as its expansion into the November 2012 USmatket “Ithas proven popular around | Lamy Flynn. "From fo aulo,the | Demand for Guistream’s mid | Statajet says the technology the world,” the company says. It | C280 can roach the entire conti- | size family ~ also including the | willshako up thebusinass jet mar- is now certifcated in countries | nent without refuelling and can | smaller G150 ~is ising. In 2014, | ket by making online booking including China, Mexico and the | fy toEuzope withone stop.” the Genel Dynamics-owned | simple clear costellicient and ac- USA, and across Europe and | The Honeywell HTF7250G- | company delivered 33 models, 10 | curate.“ Wehave been daveloping South America. “This aircraft is | poworod G280 has a rango of | mare than tho previous year, and | this software fr fivo yours,” says particularly well suited for Bra- | 3,600nm (6,670km) at Mach 0.80 | plans to ramp up midsize et pro- | Stratajet founder and managing 22,” says Gulfstream president | with four passengors, ductionbyathird in 2016.48 | director Jonathan Nicol. "Weave boon wating to penfoct the prod ‘uot befae we formally launch i.” ENGINES KATE SARSFIELD LONDON ‘The pricing tool, called Strata GE puts Passport in Kansas |}: somber Manufacturer to invest $7 million in facility for powerplant slated for Bombardier Global jets | comprehensive data operators can provide “immediate and perfect E Aviation has selocted its | (MRO) provision for the 16,5001 | on GE's 747-200 flying testbed, | quotations” to the ond user Strother, Kansas facility as | (78kN}-hrust powerplant Tased in Victorville, California. | through the Stratajet booking plat- eel ean [Uae ener | ee er ullradongrangebusinessjets. | lo, GE Aviation's vice-president | to certificate the Passport engine | tive booking platform will not ‘Tho US company says itis in- | and genoral manager, assembly, | by tho end of 2015. It can then | only help oparators to increase vesting $7 million in machinery } testand MRO operations joina certification programme for | their profit margins [by slashing at the Gi-year-old site, which is | GE says it will install equip- | the first 7,300mm_(13,500km)- | the number of empty legs}, it will curently a service centre for the | ment und trin employees on the | range Global 7000, which is | also drive down the cast of char CFMS6, CF34, 1700 and Cl7 | engineassemblylinethisyea and | scheduled to enter service in | ter forthe customer,” says Nicol, airliner and helicopter ngines. | expectstorollthe first Passport en- | 2016. Stratajet i set to embark on a ‘Tho funding will support the | ginooffthoassorbly in 2016, ‘The 7,000nm-range Global | fourmontt tour af Burope to pro- engine assembly anderatemain- | The Passpost powerplant | 6000 is earmarked for service | mote its technology to operators tenance, repair and overhaul | made its first fight late last year | entry the following year. ‘and FBOs, ‘AIRPORTS DOMINIC PERRY FARNBOROUGH Big jets boost traffic for TAG Farnborough airport ‘AG Famborough axport—the | Famboraugh still experienced a | ments, an increase af 5.0%% over | Movements in these categorios ‘only dadicalod business avia- | positive 2014, soaing rafficlovels | the provious yoar Howover,anal- | recorded your-on-yoar growth of tion facility in the UK — sav | retumingto prezecession levels. | ysis ofthe figures shows thatthe | 8% and 5.7% respectively, says ‘movements the site, tothe wost | Tk was, says chief executive | Targost growth was in twocatego- | O'Reilly, andl a 5% growth is ex- ofLondon, yowby justunder6% | Brandon O'Reilly, “the highest | ries of aircraft: astinerderived | pected this year last year, despite potential distup- | numbersince 2008". ven during | business jets with a maximum | Meanwhile, improvement tion cansed by the 2014 edition of | their show, it saw “no disceri- | take-off weight (MTOW) of up to | works are continuing at the ter the biennial ai how ia uly ble decline”, ho ad. at and ultrtong-range businoss | minal as if looks to eater fr in- Discounting the movements | In all, TAG Farnborough re- | jets, such s the Gulfstream G650, | creased passenger loads brought associated with the air show, | corded a total of 24,784 move- inby the bigger aircaf. mL 20) Flight International 17-23 March 2015 fignglobal.comLack of evidence >PROCTOR Aviation Talk tous forthe most exciting Eee | gemmnp Strongfield Specialist Aerospace Personnel = WE Cur Uy Aviation Resourcing Services (resource group APPLY FOR JOBS ON THE GO 42 | Fight Intemational | 17-23 March 2015 Drea Ra Mia ee} eat Curia Seer Eun One Toa Hes: sierra. tia (Our new mobile frien job site makes it even easler for you to search and apply fer jobs on the go from your mobile or tablet ‘Search the latest aviation jobs today ot jobs flightglobal.com tletegetyoumeving fighigiobaLcomWORKING WEEK Life of an international jet seller Tim Barber is regional managing director of business aircraft sales broker and consultancy JetBrokers as well as partner in Daher TBM 900 distributor Aura Aviation, roles that take him around the world in search of buyers Why did you pursue a career in ‘the aviation industry? ‘thegan by chanes wally. Leame cut ota senior corporate ole and was taking some time with my ‘young family. Aftera yearor sol Started thinking abot anew challongp. Atthat time, Twas ap- proached by Jolun Mery, now my business parinerin Aur Aviation and the business formerly known aselBrokers Europe, oso fd be intersted in bringing an estab- Tishod and respectoa US aiccraf sales brand into Europe, ad that ‘was my fist dealings with JtBro kes. John had bought and sold many of is own personal aircraft ‘through JetBrokers overa number cofyears and believed that they Thad the profssionaism and in- tegity to make along term part ner. Affornmuch research and due siligonce wo launched ftBrokers Europe at NBAA 2008, We subse quently gained the distrbutor ship forthe Daher Socata TBM £850 and created Awa Aviation to ‘oversee that side ofthebnsiness. ‘Wocontinuoasairezft sales mp resentative forthe now upgraded ‘and renamed TBM 900 pretly mobile. Atthe end of last year] was in Georgia, India, the USA and Istanbul withina fo woeks ofeach other Talso tuavelled to Dubal twice in throe ‘weeks, along with other European, citi, Wirneed to son the aircraft that we are selling cr buying and ‘wealso haveto vsitour clients and prospects, Sonny given ‘day Lean be anywhere in the ‘world, Not only am looking for — sircral to ell and also actively selling sircraf, but [am also look ing out for new business partners, snow locations and so an. Mest days TU find Sve minutes to log onto the social mesta channels that wowuse, mainly LinkedIn and “Twitter both of which am inereae- ingly interesting platforms that can'tbe ignored. Thorw'llbe many conference calls between the vat fos teams across the globe, invari ally at strange mas day. and when thom'sa deal to cose then itseasy to gt totally consumed al this stage ofthe process, ‘Whore do you source aircraft? ‘They aro sourced globally. We have listings of aircraft in Eu rope, Asia, tho Middle East and, of couse, the USA. We have ‘enormous physical and virtual nofweorks and this is affectivaly fone lifeblood, We gain our listing of arcraftto sell through direct ‘ntact with owners, although a ‘good proportion of the lads will come about asa rest of intro- 4 ] Barber colaunched JetBrokers (then Europe) at the NBAA show in 2009 ductions from business partners, satisfied customers, aviation pro- fessionals and recommendations from former elients and sa 0. How is the market for pre- ‘owned business jets in Europe? “The market today is certainly showing some signs of improve ment It’s not unusual forbrokers ‘obo talking tho market up, but ‘we closed five deals in January and had a strong Febroary, sell- ing the Lenjetsinasingle ‘wook, Our biggest challonge nove is tomplace thesold inventory ‘with new aircraft to sell. Fort nately we have quite a few acqui- sition projects keeping us busy at ‘the moment, but eur forsale in- ventary is now down to around 20-25 alta, which is about as Tw as Thave seen it, Bveryon torreponts a good level of activity butit's easy to be busy whilst not achieving sults. At presont [foe ‘we are seeing a prety busy sector and the results will hopefully be ee LTE ‘Try Flightalobal Training's new site for the fastest route to building your aerospace and aviation career reflocted in the statistics a we ‘move through 2015. Howover, all too often the sul are only being achioved as arosult of agressive pricing The market i very seg- ‘mented and in some ars we see the inventory rising and prices falling, while in otheramas we ‘soe slable or reducing inventary ‘accompanied by mete stable pric- ing. Basic supply and demand ‘sconomics, ut it fascinating just how localised itcan be, What are the major challenges for an airoraft broker? The min challenges arvthe inun- dation of enquiries from prospec- tivebuyors from dubious sources, Youcan'twrite offany enquiry butt’ clear many ofthe Gmail, ‘Yahoo or Hotmail accounts they ‘come irom are merely our com: potitorsresearching. ust wish ‘everyone mal the eniry in. ‘heir eal same andl stated that they were researching. because in {ho long run wo dall bnefit: bro- ers, owners, sellers and buyers Finding listings is alwayschal- ge, and it's always disappint- ing tobe verbally promised some: thing only te lier see Usturn but wormall se to that by ‘now I's patience and tenacity — you have to play thelong game, Looking ora in arospace? hack out ousted eine entseba om obs you would ik to etna in Werking Week, oryou know someone who does, mal your pitch to kate sarsfiolda ‘ightsdobal.com Tene MCT) pers eee figglobal.com 117-23 Moreh 2015 Flight Intemational 43,THE DREAMLINER EFFECT. XIAMEN SUCCESS.