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