SP's Aviation April 2009

Aviation
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ISSUE 3 • 2009
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 Lockheed Martin’s VP, Business  Embraer’s VP, S&M José
Light
Development Orville Prins spells out Eduardo Costas elaborates on
combat capabilities of the F-16IN strengths of Phenom 100
PAGE 4 PAGE 11
V E R Y
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Table of Contents
Aviation
SP’s Regular Departments
8
AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION
2 A Word from Editor

News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India.
ISSUE 3 • 2009 3 NewsWithViews

Dangerous Space Debris
On Record 20 NewsDigest
4 MILITARY
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16IN 24 LastWord
11 CIVIL Train Well to Rein Error
EMBRAER PHENOM 100
Series Cover Photo:

��
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6 COMMERCIAL AVIATION While it is not all doom and ��
gloom in the present VLJ ��

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THE FIRST FALTERING ATTEMPTS

�� ��
Light
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LIGHT UP THE SKY: While Cessna and market, there are key issues � ��
�
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that need to be addressed by
Business Aviation Embraer dominate the market, it is a
positive sign for VLJs that the Phenom operators, owners and the
8 VLJS and Mustang production lines are not regulatory authorities. � � � �
seeing any cutbacks in production.
��
LIGHT UP THE SKY
(Seen here is a Phenom 100, the first Photo Credit: Cessna
��
of which was certified and delivered by

SP's Avn 03 of 09 Cover.indd 1 4/18/09 5:32:28 PM
Industry Embraer in late December last year.)

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RISE OF THE NEXT ISSUE: MMRCA—The Progress So Far

ROTARY
Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 1

A Word from Editor
Lure of VLJs and
the humble origins of
commercial aviation
represent the two ends
of a spectrum defining
humankind’s unquenchable
thirst for flying. Precisely
why this edition is truly
unputdownable.
V
ery Light Jets (VLJs) pose a dream and a di- Euphoria fuelled by the advent of the VLJ necessarily
lemma. The dream of taking to the skies with- dictates a scrutiny of the remarkable evolution charted by
out the hassles and time frame normally asso- the commercial aviation industry. Merely a century ago,
ciated when travelling on commercial airlines; on May 14, 1908, in the US, the first passenger—Charlie
and the dilemma of ensuring stringent safety Furnas—had entrusted his life to Wilbur Wright, who took
measures while enforcing the distinct criteria him aloft and brought him safely back to Earth. In 1913,
for pilot training. Reporting on the Royal Aeronautical Soci- Igor Sikorsky developed the world’s first large, four-engine
ety’s Corporate, Air Taxi & Personal Jets conference held in plane. Le Grand could carry seven passengers and stay
London on March 18 and 19, SP’s correspondent for Europe aloft for nearly two hours. It had a plush cabin (with a lava-
Phil Nasskau affirms that a recurring theme at the conven- tory, private suite and bed) and cabin heating and lighting.
tion was that of safety and pilot training. On August 25, 1919, the British airline, Aircraft Transport
Statistical accident data corroborated that aircraft oper- and Travel, inaugurated a regular, sustained, civil, daily
ated by a single pilot have a 50 per cent higher accident (Monday to Saturday) passenger service between London
rate over a two-crew aircraft. Addressing the gathering, and Paris. It was probably the first such scheduled service
Captain John Cox of the Flight Operations Group pointed in the world. A host of such engrossing nuggets of informa-
out that this trend applies even when the single pilot has tion feature in the first installment of a series of articles
more experience than a typical First Officer of a two-crew in SP’s Aviation tracing the incredible journey of humans
aircraft. Cynics, meanwhile, have also raised the spectre of taking to the sky like fish to water.
the skies getting crowded with these “upstarts” piloted by Still on this page?
inadequately trained individuals.
How does one define a VLJ? In layman’s terms, a VLJ’s
design allows for single-pilot operation for the aircraft
weighing less than 10,000 lbs maximum gross takeoff
weight and with the capability to carry four to six passen-
gers. That’s the bare statistics. Advantages that stick, mak-
ing the VLJ hottest of corporate possessions (an estimated
5,000 are expected to take to the skies by 2017), is—yes,
you guessed right—price and time. No queues. No intermi-
nably delayed flights. No last minute cancellation of busi-
ness meetings. No eavesdropping strangers. All of that at a
cost much less than a business jet. All of a sudden, retrain-
ing the organisation’s aviation department appears not so
big a deal after all. Driving home the advantages, José Edu-
ardo Costas, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Embraer
Executive Jets, Asia Pacific, writes on the state-of-the-art
features of the Phenom 100, designed with the primary ob-
jective to offer more value for money to corporate bigwigs.
For the military, Orville Prins, Vice President, Business De-
velopment, Lockheed Martin, India outlines the air-to-air
combat capabilities that make the F-16IN Super Viper the Jayant Baranwal
ultimate 4th Generation Fighter. Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
2 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

NewsWithViews
DANGEROUS SPACE DEBRIS

Orbiting junk compelled NASA to order astronauts aboard the connected International Space Station (ISS) and shuttle Discovery to move out of the
way of a piece of debris on Sunday, March 22. Discovery’s pilots fired the ship’s thrusters to reorient the two spacecraft, thereby making way for a small
discarded piece from a 10-year-old Chinese satellite rocket motor that was to have hurtled pass uncomfortably close during a planned spacewalk.
“Space debris is becoming an ever increasing challenge,” Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho said the same evening. When it comes to dodging junk, “it’s
a big deal. It’s very tiring. Sometimes it’s exhausting”.
VIEWS
F
iring the Discovery’s thrusters, astronauts aboard the 10 drove home the grave danger posed by space debris when
space shuttle created a slow, natural drag of about a the deactivated Kosmos-2251 and an operational Iridium 33
foot per second, placing the shuttle and space station collided in space over northern Siberia. The relative speed of
in a belly facing forward position. After about three impact, approximately 42,000 km per hour, pulverised both
hours, there was enough room for the offending 4-inch piece satellites, consequently inflating the ominous pile of 600,000-
of junk to careen past without a collision. This, however, is plus pieces of junk already floating in space.
not an isolated occurrence. The ISS appears to perpetually Even as the menace rapidly acquires proportions similar
be in danger of colliding with a vast number of space de- to that of global warming, a number of alternatives are being
bris, also called space junk, thought of to check the genera-
circling similar orbits. Earlier tion of additional space debris.
in the month, the spectre of a Passivation of spent upper stag-
collision had forced the three es by the release of residual fu-
ISS residents to take shelter els is one such measure which
in their emergency get-away could decrease the risk of on-
capsule. That was not all, just orbit explosions. Yet another
a week prior to the incident on mitigatory step—that should
March 22, right before Discov- be made not just mandatory but
ery’s arrival, the space station also included as part and par-
had to dodge yet another piece cel of future satellite designs—
of a busted-up Soviet satellite. would be to deorbit satellites
How does one define space at the end of their operational
debris? These are objects dis- life. If a direct and controlled
carded by humans that orbit deorbit is not feasible (requir-
around the Earth, whooshing ing too much fuel), the satellites
around aimlessly. From spent should at least be brought to
rocket motors and defunct sat- lower orbits and slowed down
ellites to explosion fragments, through electrodynamic ‘termi-
space debris also constitute nator tethers’ wherein atmo-
objects that may have acciden- spheric drag would cause them
tally slipped out of the hands of to deorbit within a reasonable
astronauts during space walks timeframe. In case of very high
or extra-vehicular activity orbital altitudes, such as in the
(EVA). Famous Indian origin geostationary ring, the satellites
astronaut Sunita Williams lost could be parked in a marked
a camera during EVA. But such graveyard where no operation-
items, mainly because of the al satellites would operate.
proximity of their orbital path, The above measures, how-
reenter the Earth’s atmosphere ever, are preventive in nature.
and burn up. The real culprits To clean up the current mess
are the explosions. The largest in space, ways and means
man-made space debris in his- have to be found to ‘sweep’ the
tory was the anti-satellite weapon test conducted by China on debris back into Earth’s atmosphere—using ‘space garbage
January 11, 2007. The incident was estimated to have cre- collection trucks’ or automated tugs, laser brooms to vapo-
ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA
ated 23,000 pieces of trackable debris (about golf ball size or rise debris, or huge aerogel blobs to absorb impacting junk
larger), over 35,000 pieces of 1 cm or larger and one million and eventually fall out of orbit with the entrapped load. If
pieces of 1 mm or larger. As the explosion took place at higher mankind must shoot in space, it must be to bring down the
orbit altitude compared to the previous tests, the deorbit time debris and not add to the growing pile. SP
is likely to be in excess of 35 years. An incident on February — Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

MILITARY
SUPER
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16IN
OnRecord
DYNAMICS
Air-to-air combat capabilities of the

F-16IN Super Viper make it the ultimate By Orville Prins
4th Generation Fighter, providing proven air Vice President,
Business Development,
combat capability that the IAF can rely on Lockheed Martin, India
T
PHOTOGRAPHS: LOCKHEED MARTIN
he Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) the air-to-air combat capability required of the MMRCA, and
must be capable of many roles and missions, with they are formidable. The evolution of air combat and implica-
a key role being air-to-air combat. It must be able tions of fighter design on modern air combat capability are
to defend itself during a mission, or stand ready for fully reflected in the RFP requirements, and the ongoing tech-
an air-defence alert-launch. It must do more than nical evaluation and upcoming field trials will show the F-16IN
“dogfight” in order to fill its valuable role; it must Super Viper is the fighter for the Indian Air Force.
fight, win, refuel, rearm, and fight again! For half a century, the naked eye found the enemy. Just after
In its RFP, the Indian Air Force has outlined the basics of the Korean War the airborne radar began to assist in detecting

MILITARY LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16IN
aircraft. The newest breakthrough F-16 missions lasting more

in airborne radar technology is than 8 hours, and has with-
the Active Electronically Scanned stood the punishment of the
Array (AESA). The benefits of the ready room.
AESA radar are truly revolution-
ary and the F-16IN Super Viper INTEGRATED MISSION
offers the only AESA delivered in- PLANNING DATA
ternationally today. In the days of the open cockpit,
seeing and communicating
UNDERLINING THE ADVANTAGES with wingmen and knowing
Along with longer-range detec- front line locations were part
tions, a large operating bandwidth, of air combat. The F-16IN Su-
and interleave modes, there are per Viper embodies the ulti-
other benefits of AESA radar. The mate in the evolution of com-
antenna of the Super Viper AESA munication and situational
is a fixed plate that does not move. awareness using automatic
Gone are the stability limits of the establishment of all available
actuators driving the mechanical data links and automatic data
antennas in other fighters. The correlation. Mission planning
fully integrated and optimised F-16IN AESA radar does not TECH WONDER: data are fully integrated with real time on-
care if the Super Viper is manoeuvring; it continues searching, THE F-16IN SUPER board and offboard data for fusion on the
VIPER EMBODIES
detecting, and providing high quality tracking throughout the THE ULTIMATE IN
tactical situation awareness displays.
fighter’s entire envelope. When properly integrated, the AESA THE EVOLUTION OF While dogfighting is less common in
radar can detect when a contact is manoeuvring and devote COMMUNICATION modern air combat, the need for the per-
more time to tracking to prevent a loss of track. AND SITUATIONAL formance remains. Whether launching on
AWARENESS
The F-16IN AESA radar has high fidelity information on an air-defence alert, repositioning during
“ownship” velocities and a steady two-way stream of data be- a patrol, or manoeuvring for an intercept,
tween it and the mission computer resulting in superior per- fighter performance is a must. The F-16IN Super Viper has
formance in clutter, ECM, and manoeuvring target situations. the agility that the F-16 made famous, and that all others
It was inevitable that a counter to radar detection would entry to emulate. Even when carrying air-to-air weapons, con-
sue. Reduction in radar cross-section (RCS) is the counter- formal fuel tanks, and an empty centerline fuel tank, the F-
measure to radar detection. RCS reduced aircraft may not be 16IN still has a 9 “g” capability. The F-16IN has something
detected by radar until they are very close, so close that other even more—the fuel to support sustained high speed opera-
means of detection are more effective. At these short ranges tions. The F-16IN provides sustained supersonic speeds in
the human eye still plays an important role, and so fighter level flight needed to cross long distances for a time-critical
size and engine smoke must also be reduced to counter detec- intercept.
tion by sight. The F-16IN Super Viper has a small visual cross In the end, the basic principles of air combat haven’t really
section and a single, smokeless engine. With a small fighter, changed all that much. See the enemy first and fire on them still
RCS reduction can be combined with reduced infrared and applies, but the F-16IN Super Viper pilot’s eye is now supple-
visual signatures, allowing manoeuvring past the normal vi- mented with a myriad of sensors in multiple spectrums. “Check
sual scan of the enemy pilot’s eye to an unseen intercept, vi- your trim and ready your guns” is now accomplished through
sual identification or offensive firing position. Nothing sends the F-16IN’s digital fly-by-wire flight controls, automatic inte-
a message quite like pilots returning from airspace incursions gration of data and system level weapon management. Hand
with stories of your fighter “Just appearing out of nowhere!” signals between pilots have been replaced by its network-cen-
Through the Korean War era, the primary weapon of the tric situational awareness and multifunction radios.
air combat fighter was the gun employed in a “dogfight”. With All this capability can be hard on a machine, just as it was in
the advent of self-guiding air-to-air missile, many thought the days of grass fields, hammers and wrenches. The MMRCA
“dogfighting” was obsolete. History has shown first detection must be able to provide effective air combat capability daily
and firing of beyond-visual-range missiles is one factor in air with a very high mission reliability rate over a long lifetime.
combat victory but it is not a guarantee that dogfighting will The F-16IN Super Viper is that air combat fighter. There are
not ensue. So the “gun” persists to this day as an element years of real combat experience going into every system and
of dog fighting. But is that paradigm changing? The super- subsystem. It is the ultimate 4th Generation Fighter—provid-
manoeuvrable, short range air-to-air missile, aimed by the ing proven air combat capability that the IAF can rely on. SP
pilot’s eye, is becoming reliable enough that it might replace
the time-proven gun. The author is a graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons
Only recently have technological advances provided the so- School (Topgun) and the USAF Adversary Tactics Instructor
lutions needed to make the helmet mounted cueing system re- School, he has flown more than 3,000 hours in 14 different
quired for the employment of these new all-aspect short-range tactical aircraft. In addition to his corporate experience,
missiles comfortable, accurate and reliable. The F-16IN Super Prins’s military assignments include Project Test Pilot, Op-
Viper pilot uses the Helmet Mounted Cueing System, which is erations, Weapons and Air Combat Training, Logistics and
lightweight, comfortable, and multirole capable. It is worn on Administration, Quality Assurance and Maintenance.

C OMMERCIAL A VIATION
The First
SERIES
Faltering attempts
On May 14, 1908, the first passenger—
Charlie Furnas—entrusted his life to Wilbur
Wright, who took him aloft and brought
him safely back to Earth. Over the next
century, humans took to flying like fish
to water.A series of articles will trace the
evolution and growth of this sector.
I
nnumerable, dar- passenger with a one-way fare of $5 (Rs
By Group Captain (Retd)
ing aviation feats 250). After operating for just four months
that followed Orville Joseph Noronha and carrying a total of 1,205 passengers,
Wright’s pioneering the company shut shop at the end of the
flight on December tourist season. On July 15, 1916, William
17, 1903, invariably Edward Boeing, then 34 and already a
involved a single pilot, without passengers. The Wright Broth- millionaire, founded the US aircraft manufacturing corpo-
ers themselves flew together only once in the same aircraft. ration that still bears his name. Over several decades, the
Subsequently, they flew separately so that even if a crash cut company would evolve into the world’s largest commercial
one life short, the surviving sibling could continue their avia- aircraft manufacturer.
tion experiments.
Merely a century ago, on May 14, 1908, in the US, the THOSE ‘DREADFUL FLYING MACHINES’
first passenger—Charlie Furnas—entrusted his life to Wilbur World War I (1914-1918) was a wasted period for commer-
Wright, who took him aloft and brought him safely back to cial aviation with design and production efforts of major in-
Earth. The first woman passenger followed soon after when dustrial nations focussed on military aircraft. In the public
on July 8, 1908, Thérèse Peltier flew with Léon Delagrange perception, those “dreadful flying machines” were meant to
in Italy. If passengers were taken up it was mainly for brief rain death and destruction on the enemy rather than con-
joyrides. The caution of air passengers was understandable, vey peaceable civilian travellers quickly and safely to their
for the first fatality involving a powered aircraft occurred the destination. The huge surplus of military planes at the end
same year. On September 17, 1908, Thomas Selfridge became of the war ensured that the demand for new aircraft was al-
the first victim of many thousands of air accidents over the most non-existent for several years. Many aircraft builders
PHOTOGRAPHS: WWW.FLICKR.COM, WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM
decades when Orville Wright crashed their two-seat plane. went bust. The early airliners were simply converted bomb-
In 1913, Igor Sikorsky developed the world’s first large, ers—slow contraptions of wood, wire and fabric. They had
four-engine plane. Le Grand could carry seven passengers no radio and were navigated by using a map and compar-
and stay aloft for nearly two hours. It had a plush cabin (with ing it with features appearing on the ground below. Why,
a lavatory, private suite and bed) and cabin heating and light- then, would travellers want to risk their lives in the air?
ing. Its more refined successor, the Il’ya Muromets, (named In America, they could travel with far greater comfort and
after a legendary Russian warrior) also proved its worth as convenience, and comparable speed, by rail.
a powerful and rugged bomber—the first ‘dual use’ aircraft In Europe, however, the English Channel worked as an
with interdependent civil and military roles. In June 1914, it incentive for Great Britain and France to start commercial
flew from St. Petersburg (Russia) to Kiev and back—a round services. Consequently, on August 25, 1919, the British air-
trip of over 2,000 km. The world’s first scheduled air ser- line, Aircraft Transport and Travel, inaugurated a regular,
vice, the St. Petersburg (USA) to Tampa Air Boat Line, began sustained, civil, daily (Monday to Saturday) passenger service
on January 1, 1914. It operated a seaplane carrying a single between London and Paris. It was probably the first such

SERIES COMMERCIAL AVIATION
scheduled service in the world. The world famous KLM (Roy- intended specifically to carry passengers. The three-engine
al Dutch Airline) was founded in 1919 and began its service Model 80, launched in 1928, could carry 12 passengers,
from Amsterdam to London on May 17, 1920, with Fokker F-2 and an upgraded Model 80A could hold 18. The cabin had
aircraft. This is the oldest surviving air service in the world. hot and cold running water, a toilet, forced air ventilation,
In Germany, Adolf Rohrbach’s Zeppelin-Staaken E.4/20 was leather upholstered seats and individual reading lamps.
a streamlined design, constructed mainly of duralumin alloy, On May 15, 1930, registered nurse Ellen Church became
powered by four en- the world’s first stew-
gines, and weighing ardess travelling from
18,700 lbs fully load- “A recession is when you have to tighten your belt; a Oakland en route to
ed. Only large wheels depression is when you have no belt to tighten. When Chicago for Boeing
and landing gear you’ve lost your trousers, you’re in the airline business.” Air Transport. In ad-
struts marred its —Sir Adam Thomson, dition to being nurses,
graceful lines. It had the first eight steward-
late founder of British Caledonian
a cabin that seated esses had to be single,
up to 18, as well as a younger than 25 years,
lavatory and gener- weigh less than 115 lbs
ous mail and luggage space. At its first flight, in 1920, both its and less than 5 ft 4 in in height. At the end of the decade,
design and performance—cruising more than 130 mph at less new jobs began to appear in and around airports. Ware-
than full power, and travelling nearly 850 miles—were a good houses were set up and manufacturers began to build their
dozen years ahead of what any other airliner had yet attained. plants closer to airports. Aeronautical schools began train-
However, in accordance with post-World War I restrictions, ing aspirants to become designers and builders of aircraft,
the Allies ordered it destroyed. A sad loss. and pilots and navigators to fly them.
GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY TAKES SHAPE NOT ENOUGH PASSENGERS

In 1927, Juan Terry Trippe founded a modest air service that If there was one factor responsible for the establishment of
shuttled mail between Florida and Cuba. His little business aviation as a medium of commerce, it was airmail. And In-
eventually grew into Pan American World Airways. Com- dia deserves recognition as the cradle of airmail. In Febru-
monly known as Pan Am, it was the principal international ary 1911, the world’s first official airmail flight, piloted by
airline of the US from the 1930s until its collapse in De- French pilot M. Picquet, flew 10 km from Allahabad to Naini.
cember 1991. The airline became a major company credited In the US, the first scheduled airmail flight took place in
with many innovations that shaped the international airline May 1918. By 1925, US Post Office aircraft were delivering
industry, including the widespread use of jet aircraft, jumbo around 14 million letters and packages a year and maintain-
jets, and computerized reservation systems. ing regular flight schedules. However, scores of airlines set
The Ford Tri-motor 5-AT was used by almost all US air- up in most parts of the world could not make a profit without
lines. Introduced in 1928, it could carry 15 passengers in direct or indirect (on account of airmail) government subsi-
its corrugated fuselage. New technology was also being de- dies. Since subsidies were rarely forthcoming, most airlines
veloped. In September 1929, a young US Army lieutenant, folded up. The reason? Not enough passengers.
James Doolittle, took off from Mitchell Field in New York, But who can blame the passengers for staying away?
flew around 24 km and landed, all without seeing anything For better part of the 1920s, travellers could still make
outside of his cockpit. The cockpit was shrouded and he was most overland journeys faster by train than by plane. Fly-
using the first instrument air navigation package in history, ing by air was decidedly uncomfortable—the aircraft were
including a very accurate barometer, an artificial horizon un-insulated thin sheets of metal, rattling in the wind. Cab-
and gyroscope, and a radio direction beacon for landing. ins were un-pressurised and passengers had to stick cotton
Growing popular- wool in their ears against the deafening engine noise.
EARLY BIRDS: LE GRAND (BELOW) COULD ity of passenger flight However, in 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first
CARRY SEVEN PASSENGERS AND STAY ALOFT
FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS; (FACING PAGE) THE
inspired Boeing to person to fly across the Atlantic solo; Amelia Earhart was
FORD TRI-MOTOR 5-AT WAS INTRODUCED IN build its first aircraft the first woman to do so just a year later. This touched off
1928 AND COULD CARRY 15 a worldwide surge of interest in aviation and did much to
convince prospective air travellers that there were reason-
able chances of them reaching their intended destination
safely. The number of airline passengers in the US surged
from just 5,800 in 1926 to approximately 417,000 in 1930.
Businessmen comprised most of this number as more and
more companies began to pay for their employees to travel
by air. But despite the advances in air travel and the aspi-
rations of businessmen who hoped to cash in on this new
multimillion-dollar industry, airlines in the 1920s that op-
erated passenger-only routes lost money. Profitable pas-
senger airlines was realised not until the 1930s. SP
(To be continued.)

BUSINESS AVIATION VLJs
Light
S T O R Y
C O V E R
up
the
By Phil Nasskau
Sky
London
PHOTOGRAPHS: PHIL NASSKAU

While Cessna and Embraer

dominate the market, it is a
positive sign for VLJs that the
Phenom and Mustang production
lines are not seeing any
cutbacks in production
A
GOOD THINGS COME IN
SMALL PACKAGES: FROM rguably the world’s first drawing flak from Cox, who commented on the Eclipse 500:
100 IN 2008, CESSNA’S Very Light Jet (VLJ), the “Flying a jet is about drag management. The Eclipse (500)
MUSTANG’S (ABOVE)
PRODUCTION HAS THIS Eclipse 500 was frequently has no spoilers or anti-skid. How much harder do we want to
YEAR JUMPED TO AN cited at the Royal Aeronau- make it for the pilot?” Yet, for Wing Commander Rupert Clark
EXPECTED 130; (LEFT) tical Society’s Corporate, of the Royal Air Force’s Flying Training Fast-Jet SO1, HQ22
THE JET’S COMPACT
COCKPIT
Air Taxi & Personal Jets (Training) Group, the issues pertaining to training Hawk pilots
conference held in London on March 18 apply to VLJs, too. Crucially, Wing Commander Clark pointed
and 19. Yet, the pioneer of a new segment in out that given the aircraft is low drag, inexperienced pilots
the business jet world has become a victim will find it all the more difficult to handle emergency landings
of its own success. In 1998, entrepreneur such as those that are flapless. “A flapless circuit detail in the
Vern Raburn founded Eclipse Aviation with Hawk will always elicit many debrief points (because of the
the goal of a $1 million (Rs 5 crore) jet. In difficulty in executing such a circuit).”
2006, Eclipse received the US Federal Avia-
tion Administration’s (FAA) certification for ‘TRAINING IS THE ACHILLES HEEL OF VLJs’
the VLJ. Yet, the European Aviation Safety Several initiatives could address the training aspects. An opera-
Agency certification did not come until Feb- tor or owner with just a single aircraft does not generally have
ruary 2009, and after some 260 aircraft de- access to a safety or a training department. Captain Bob Scott,
liveries, the company filed for bankruptcy. Director, Business Development at Scott Consulting Services in
While it is not all doom and gloom in the the UK, said, “Training is the Achilles heel of VLJs. You are go-
present VLJ market, there are key issues ing to allow single pilot operations in complex and crowded
that need to be addressed by operators, airspace—everything is going to backfire. The VLJ may well
owners and the regulatory authorities. A re- become the widow-maker rather than the winged Ferrari that
curring theme at the conference was that of the hype makes it out to be.” He did concede that the credit
safety and pilot training. Admittedly, com- crunch did have its advantages for the UK vis-à-vis VLJs. “It is
pared to Europe, the ratio of owner/pilots giving us time to put the infrastructure into place.”
for VLJs is far superior in the US; however, Eclipse, though unsuccessful in solving its manufacturing
there’s no denying the potential problems woes, did take a pioneering step with regard to pilot training.
stepping up to the next level. The aircraft’s certified flight manual stated a need for recurrent
When the concept of a VLJ was first training. “Because it is in the flight manual the recurrent train-
mooted, it was speculated that the skies ing has to be carried out,” explained Robert Barnes of Robert
would darken and that these aircraft would Barnes Associates. Insisting on training programme validation,
be falling out of the sky. At the conference, Barnes pointed out that there were no controlled studies of VLJ
Captain John Cox of the Flight Operations training programmes, further contending: “Today’s regulatory
Group at the Royal Aeronautical Society environment for both training and licencing is a hodgepodge.
said a VLJ is just “another jet”, but it was Someone needs to take the leadership and address the issues.
single pilot operations that compound the Insurers are happy to treat each pilot as a unique case. Manu-
risk. Statistical accident data corroborated facturers have a basic training model which is being imple-
that aircraft operated by a single pilot have mented in different ways, but with unknown results.”
a 50 per cent higher accident rate over a For manufacturers, though, the outlook is different.
two-crew aircraft. Cox pointed out that this Where does the responsibility lie for adequate standardised
trend applies even when the single pilot VLJ pilot training? Certainly, CAE has three grading levels
has more experience than a typical First that it applies to VLJ type-training applicants as part of its
Officer of a two-crew aircraft. CAE Embraer Training Services joint venture. OEM Man-
Vern Raburn, however, insisted that ager and Head of Training Sven Lepschy said the grading
single pilot operations would be safer, enabled CAE “to better tailor the training”.

PROMPT ACTION: EMBRAER PLANS TO RETROFIT THE

PHENOM 100S ALREADY DELIVERED IN THE US WITH NEW
FLAP CONTROL UNIT LOGIC; (LEFT) INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT
control issue. The company is addressing the is-

sue and plans to begin retrofitting the Phenom
100s already delivered in the US with new flap
control unit logic and other upgrades from April
to correct problems at the centre of a Brazilian
emergency airworthiness directive. The US FAA
ETIRC Aviation’s Managing Director Matthijs de Haan ex- issued a ‘final’ advisory that prohibits operators from using
plained that he had undergone Eclipse’s grading test and was full flaps on landing, unless flying at recommended higher air-
told he was not ready for the step up to the jet because of a speeds that are called for in icing conditions to overcome the
relative lack of recent IR experience. “I was told to fly and build potential interference of the stick pusher giving un-command-
up my IFR experience. I did that for a year and now have a ed inputs. However, its prospects still remain strong.
type rating on the Eclipse,” explained de Haan. There are steps For the short term, while Cessna and Embraer dominate
being taken to ensure that as more of these aircraft enter our the market, it is a positive sign for VLJs that the Phenom and
skies the standards of safety do not drop. But while industry Mustang production lines are not seeing any cutbacks in pro-
sceptics and diehard fans engage in battle, the manufacturers duction. If anything this is a sure sign that even through the
continue to spot potentials in a market despite the recent spec- current economic crisis, the VLJ concept is no longer a concept
tacular failures and a woeful economic climate. but a sustainable reality. Cessna has always maintained that
the Citation Mustang—the first technically described VLJ to
‘THE WHOLE POPULAR CONCEPT OF THE VLJ HAS DISAPPEARED’ market—is not actually a VLJ. Like Embraer, Cessna describes
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer certified and delivered the the aircraft as an entry-level-jet. “The whole popular concept
first Phenom 100 in late December last year. But even the Phe- of the VLJ has disappeared,” says Robert Stangarone, Cessna’s
nom 100 is having problems with its well-documented flap Director of Communications. “There are personal jets on their
Continued on page 12...
FAST 1 2
FACTS CESSNA MUSTANG

Range: 1,167nm
Powerplant: 2x P&WC PW615F
1,460lbf each
Max cruise speed: 340ktas
EMBRAER PHENOM 100
Range: 1,160nm
Powerplant: 2x P&WC PW535E 1,615lbf each
Max cruise speed: 380ktas
Avionics: Embraer Prodigy
Avionics: Garmin G1000 Certified: December 2008
Certified: September 2006
3 4 5
EPIC ELITE JET HONDA AIRCRAFT HONDAJET SPECTRUM S-33 INDEPENDENCE

Range: 1,400nm Range: 1,180nm Range: 2,050nm
Powerplant: 2x P&WC PW617 Powerplant: GE-Honda HF120 Powerplant: 2x Williams FJ33-4A-19 1,750lbf each
Max cruise speed: 412ktas 1,880lbf each Max cruise speed: 433ktas
Avionics: TBD Max cruise speed: 420ktas Avionics: Avidyne
Certified: In development Avionics: Garmin G1000 Certified: In development; targeted for 2011/2012
Certified: In development and targeted for 2010

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...Continued from page 10
Air Taxi business model will ever come to fruition, especially

in Europe. But, in the meantime, the
Mustang is making a positive contribu-
tion to conventional air chartering, of-
fering low-cost travel that ensures the
industry remains relevant despite the
weak economy,” said London Executive
Aviation’s Chief Executive Patrick Mar-
getson-Rushmore. “In recent years,
PIONEERING MOVE: we’ve seen some very innovative new
THE ECLIPSE’S players announce their entry into the
CERTIFIED FLIGHT
MANUAL STRESSES ON
market, with pure Air Taxi operators
RECURRENT TRAINING; prominent among them. I would argue
(LEFT) VIEW FROM THE that they’ve done a lot of good in rais-
AIRCRAFT’S COCKPIT ing the industry’s profile and educat-
ing the market that business jets can
way and there are entry level jets which are the stepping stone also be good value. However, a lot has happened recently to
for charter operators. Those in between, that were catching all challenge the ambitions of Air Taxis to revolutionise business
the headlines a year or so back, have all but disappeared`” aviation,” Rushmore told delegates at the London conference.
“We’ve witnessed the probable demise of Eclipse, a principal
‘MUSTANG SALES CONTINUE TO GROW’ enabler for the model, as well as a nasty recession. In addition,
But Cessna believes that concept of the lighter jet will work. we at LEA are sceptical that the high aircraft utilisation aimed
“The sales of the Mustang have continued to grow,” says Cess- for by Air Taxis can actually be achieved. I would like to be
na’s Vice President of International Sales Roger Whyte. “We proved wrong, but our experience to date makes me doubt it.”
have moved from production of 100 aircraft in 2008 to an ex-
pected 130 in 2009.” His customers agree. “The current reces- ‘BUSINESS AVIATION REMAINS INDISPENSABLE’
sion means that the jury is still out on whether the vaunted LEA is one of Europe’s largest business aviation charter op-

erators and was the first in Europe to see the potential of ‘AIR TAXI OPERATIONS ARE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE’
smaller business jets. In 2002, it placed Cessna’s first Europe- In stark contrast to Margetson-Rushmore’s views are those of
an fleet order for the Citation Mustang and, in 2008, became Peter Leiman, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Farnbor-
the first European operator to introduce the type into charter ough-based air taxi company Blink. Speaking at the conference,
service. “We have always believed in the logic of smaller busi- Leiman said high utilisation is possible. “We’ve already had a
ness jets, but with 14 years of charter experience we have day where we put 11 hours onto a single airframe.” Although
a good sense of when customers want to fly,” he said. “They he did admit that utilisation that high on a daily basis would be
want to leave early in the morning and return late in the eve- unlikely because of the additional Mustangs joining the fleet.
ning, and hopefully they’ll make extra stops during the day. And that Air Taxi operations are a viable alternative. “Because
But that is a world away from a high utilisation model that the market is fragmented at the moment the end user doesn’t
will rack up 1,200 hours per aircraft in a year. To us, a more always get a consistent level of service, but with an Air Taxi op-
realistic target is 400 to 600 hours. Does that make you an Air erator they know what they are getting.” Roger Whyte believes
Taxi firm or just a charter operator? We find it hard to decide the Mustang’s success story will extend throughout Asia. “We
where a line could be drawn.” have seen interest in the region,” he says. “The aircraft offers
However, whether Air Taxis or not, Margetson-Rushmore good economic and operational advantages.”
says that the Citation Mustang and similar jets are very posi- On the west coast of America, Epic Aircraft remains com-
tive developments for the industry. “Right now, I challenge you mitted to offering its family of certified aircraft. The largest is
to find any operator for whom the going is easy, but business the Elite, a twin-engine VLJ. Epic Chief Executive Rick Schra-
aviation remains an indispensable tool for passengers strug- meck says, “The Elite programme has slowed down because
gling to reconcile time and distance. The Citation Mustang has of the global economic situation. We are still going ahead with
enabled LEA to cut charter rates by up to 40 per cent, a major it, although it is slower than we would like it to be. But the Dy-
saving by any standard. If nothing else, these smaller aircraft nasty (a single engine certified version of its LT turboprop) is
have substantially enhanced the competitiveness of conven- going well, and as planned will be ready sooner.”
tional air charter and I am convinced they will play an im-
portant role in expanding the charter market in the years to ‘WE ARE BELIEVERS IN THE INDIAN MARKET’
come.” Since entering service in February 2008, LEA’s Citation Although VLJs are sitting at the bottom step of the business
Mustangs have proved among the most popular aircraft in the aviation ladder, Schrameck said, “To me the issue is whether
company’s fleet, achieving on average 350 hours per aircraft a vibrant VLJ market is more of a vibrant GA (general avia-
annually despite challenging market conditions. tion) market. Is the market specific to models and what is the
Continued on page 14...
It’s as if we read the minds of

India’s business leaders. In many ways, we did.
Some Citation business jets are so perfectly suited to doing business in India,
it’s as if they were created specifically for that purpose. Here’s why: Every
Citation is based on what customers tell us they need. Those customers
come from all over the world, but they all have three things in common:
They are poised on the brink of a major breakthrough in the growth of their
business. They are seeing opportunities like never before. And they are
looking for the undeniably best way to seize them. Their answer can be your
answer – the best-selling business jets and propeller aircraft in the world. For
a free, no-obligation analysis of what a Citation business jet can do for your
company call Mike McGreevy at 971.4.295.4822 or visit Citation.Cessna.com.
Cessna Aircraft
Sure Thing® Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 13
...Continued from page 13

BOEING OPENS RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
CENTRE IN INDIA near and far term future of a general aviation light jet market?”
Schrameck sees a demand for Epic’s offerings in India. “We are
believers in the Indian market. India and China are still going
to be major players in general aviation. We look forward to
bringing our turboprops and VLJs to these markets.
“I think the market is going to grow, maybe not as fast as I
would have predicted 10 months ago. But the economy seems
vibrant and our interest is very significant. We see it as one of
the biggest markets for us,” he says. While Schrameck declined
to give a date for the Elite’s certification he did say that the
company was hoping to fly a conforming aircraft of its Victory
single engine jet by the end of March. He also declined to put a
date on certification for the Victory.
While the company aims to keep a stake in the jet mar-
ket Schrameck says the priority is the Dynasty, and that
(LEFT TO RIGHT) VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, BOEING it should be certified “within 18 months”. Certification
INDIA, DR NAVEED HUSSAIN; PRESIDENT, BOEING INDIA, DR DINESH
KESKAR; CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, THE BOEING COMPANY, DR JOHN programmes are financially exhausting and the company
TRACY; SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, DEPARTMENT OF is simultaneously developing three aircraft. “We are self-
M
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DR T. RAMASAMI funded, and given the economic market and the failures of
new start ups, going out to get financing for aircraft pro-
arking the inception of its third advanced grammes isn’t easy,” he said.
research centre outside the US, Boeing
inaugurated a Research & Technology In- ‘TOUGH TIME BECAUSE OF FINANCING ISSUES’
dia Centre at Bangalore on March 31. The Further down the US west coast, Spectrum Aeronautical is
other two are located in Europe and Aus- developing a pair of aircraft. Although arguably the Free-
tralia. dom is a mid-size jet, Gary Bushouse, Director of Sales, says,
With the establishment of this facility, “Both aircraft are VLJs if you work on the principle of maxi-
Boeing is. The centre marks another milestone in Boeing’s mum take off weights.” Although an economic crisis is never
long term relationship with India. desired, Bushouse says Spectrum is not feeling the effects
Confident of sustaining the company’s competitive tech- as other manufacturers are. “Obviously, any OEM delivering
nological edge while enhancing India’s aerospace capabilities, aircraft right now is having a tough time because of financ-
the Boeing venture will coordinate and consolidate collabo- ing issues and progress payments. But, because we’re in the
ration with Indian R&D organisations, including government development phase we are not really affected by the near
agencies and private sector providers, universities, and other term effects of the downturn,” he said. “Ultimately, people
companies. “Boeing is partnering with the best researchers will need to fly VLJs, light jets and mid-size jets. With our
around the world to find the best technology solutions for outstanding economics and low fuel burn, we will have the
our customers, and we look forward to working with our best performing aircraft hands down.” But there are some
partners here in India on some promising new technologies,” ripples being noticed by the company. Bushouse expects the
said John Tracy, Chief Technology Officer, Boeing and Senior Freedom to fly by the end of 2009 and to go straight into
Vice President Engineering, Operations & Technology. flight-testing. “We are still evaluating issues that the eco-
Boeing’s research in India will break new ground in aero nomic crisis may have caused for our suppliers. We need to
structures, aerodynamics and electronic networks with a see how it will affect our schedules,” he said.
team of senior researchers, scientists and engineers. The Tight-lipped about how many orders the company holds,
centre will also coordinate the work of more than 1,500 Bushouse, however, said the first years’ production is sold
technologists, including 100 advanced technology research- out for both models and that there are already orders for
ers, from across India on projects that will help define the the third and fourth year production slots. “It is in the ‘retail’
future of aerospace. “Boeing is defined by its technological market that interest has slowed down. The current interest
edge,” said Dinesh Keskar, President of Boeing India. “Work- is nowhere near the same as even six months ago.”
ing with India’s technology leaders helps Boeing assimilate Yet, it is India that Bushouse sees a good opportunity.
new ideas and innovative processes into our products and “We have been talking to a number of concerns over the last
programs. This also is good for India because it helps grow 18 months. The Indian market represent a major opportuni-
the capabilities of the Indian R&D community to meet the ty, but it also poses a major obstacle. Whoever comes in and
emerging needs in country.” opens the market will have to basically build the infrastruc-
The Boeing Research & Technology India Centre will build ture from scratch, and that’s the key factor. There needs to
PHOTOGRAPH: BOEING
upon an already solid foundation of collaborative research be enough hangarage, fuel farms, pilots and maintenance
projects in India. Since 2007, Boeing has been working to- facilities. There are people out there with some great ideas
gether with the Indian Institute of Science and two leading and those that implement them will likely be flying Spec-
Indian information technology companies, Wipro and HCL, trum aircraft.
as part of the Aerospace Network Research Consortium. • “The Indian market will be substantial,” he concedes. SP

INDUSTRY HELICOPTER
Riseof the
Rotary
TRENDSETTERS: THE CV-22
OSPREY AND (BELOW LEFT)
THE SIKORSKY X2
O
nly a handful of nations and international consortia
By are engaged in developing new designs or upgrades
Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia in the field of rotary wing aircraft. The trend, however,
is not limited merely to upgrades but also encompass-
es revolutionary designs that equip the new machines
with dual capability of vertical take-off and landing
(VTOL) as well as swiftness and range of fixed-wing aircraft. Two
key areas in which developments are concentrated relate to attack
helicopters and multi-role rotary-wing aircraft along with some
special applications, such as VIP and VVIP transportation.
Trend setters involved in the development of the rotary wing
PHOTOGRAPHS: USAF, WWW.HELICOPTERSMAGAZINE.COM & AGUSTAWESTLAND
include Bell, Boeing and Sikorsky from the US, Eurocopter and
AgustaWestland from Europe, and Russia. India has also been
making a mark in this field with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limit-
ed’s (HAL) versions of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Dhruv.
At the forefront of the attack helicopter variations are the Apache,
Super Cobra, Tiger, Mi-35 and the indigenous Light Combat Heli-
copter. In the multi-role utility designs are the products from Bell,
Revolutionary Boeing, Eurocopter, AgustaWestland, Mil Bureau and HAL.
designs are V-22 OSPREY

A multi-mission, military tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey has
equipping the latest both VTOL and short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is
designed to perform missions like a conventional helicopter with
versions with swiftness the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop
aircraft. The V-22 was developed by Bell Helicopter and is being
and the range of manufactured in partnership with Boeing Rotorcraft Systems.
fixed-wing aircraft The Osprey is the world’s first fully operational tiltrotor air-
craft, with one three-bladed proprotor, turboprop engine, and

INDUSTRY HELICOPTER
transmission nacelle mounted on each wingtip. For take- the stringiest test of versatility which has become a modern
offs and landings, it typically operates as a helicopter with day requirement of any utility helicopter. The helicopter also
the nacelles vertical (rotors horizontal). Once airborne, the has an impressive max speed of 300 km/h.
nacelles rotate forward 90 deg in as little as 12 seconds,
lunging the aircraft into forward flight, converting the V- ALH DHRUV
22 to a fuel-efficient, higher-speed turboprop airplane. The Indigenous, Dhruv has passed the test for its versatility, albeit
Osprey can also be used in STOL mode by swinging the in the light weight (5.5-tonne) class and as a multi-role heli-
nacelles forward by up to 45 deg. For compact storage and copter which has been successfully developed and manufac-
transport, the V-22’s wing rotates to align, front-to-back, tured by HAL. While the ALH is being supplied predominantly
with the fuselage. The proprotors can also fold in a se- to the Indian armed forces (80 in service plus 235 on order),
quence in about 90 seconds. it has also attracted a large number of other customers both
Equipped with a glass cockpit which incorporates four from within the country and also from abroad for military
Multi-functional Displays and one shared Central Display and commercial use. HAL plans to annually produce between
Unit, it allows the pilots of the Os- 50 and 80 ALHs.
prey a variety of images, including One of only three
digimaps, FLIR imagery, primary helicopter display
flight instruments, system status teams in the world,
and navigation (Tactical Air Naviga- the Sarang aero-
tion, VHF Omnidirectional Range, batic team of the In-
Instrument Landing System, Global dian Air Force (IAF)
Positioning System, Inertial Naviga- performs with four
tion System). Cockpit management Dhruv helicopters.
system allows for a fully-coupled Fitted with
autopilot which can take the air- the more power-
craft from forward flight into a 50-ft ful Shakti engines,
hover with no pilot interaction other REDEFINING VERSATILITY: Dhruv is capable
than programming the system. THE NH90 of flying at high al-
Ironing out the initial glitches in titudes, a crucial
flight-testing programmes, this revo- requirement for
lutionary aircraft was cleared for the Indian armed
full-scale production three years ago. Its unique utility in the forces. A Dhruv flew to an altitude of 27,500 ft above mean
battle area and force-multiplication qualities have been fully sea level in October 2007, bettering the record of 25,000 ft
acknowledged, considering the numbers ordered by the US set by an IAF Cheetah helicopter in 2005. A Weapon System
armed forces. Planned production includes 360 for the Ma- Integrated (WSI) Dhruv is under development for the Indian
rine Corps, 48 for the navy and 50 for the USAF. armed forces. It will have stub wings fitted to carry up to eight
anti-armour missiles, four air-to-air missiles or four rocket
NH90 HELICOPTER pods of 68 mm and 70 mm rockets. The WSI variant will also
A medium transport/utility helicopter, NH90 is a highly suc- be equipped with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), Charge
cessful product of NH Industries which entered a contract Couple Device camera and a target acquisition system with
with NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA), ini- thermal sight and laser rangefinder. In addition, Nexter Sys-
tially as a consortium of four participating nations, namely, tems (formerly GIAT) has been contracted for the installation
France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, with Portugal of THL 20, 20 mm gun turret which is armed with M621 low-
joining in as the fifth partner in 2001. The NH90 has been recoil cannon that combines with a helmet-mounted sight.
developed into two main variants: the Tactical Transport He-
licopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). How- SIKORSKY X2 CO-AXIAL HELICOPTER
ever, many of the customer countries have asked for special A highly revolutionary helicopter design is being undertaken
modifications. A large production order for about 300 heli- by the reputed US-based Sikorsky Aircraft. Christened the
copters by partner countries was soon followed by a series of Sikorsky X2 Demonstrator, it is an experimental compound
orders from Europe, the Middle East and Australia. In 2007, co-axial helicopter under development by the company.
Belgium became the sixth nation to join NAHEMA. Sikorsky will incorporate decades of research into X2 tech-
The primary role of the NFH version is autonomous anti- nology, including the S-69/XH-59A Advance Blade Concept
submarine warfare) and anti-surface unit warfare, mainly Demonstrator which showed high speed was possible with
from naval ships. Additional roles include anti-air warfare a co-axial helicopter and auxiliary propulsion.
support, vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and In addition, the Cypher UAV expanded the designers’
troop transport. The primary role of the TTH version, on the knowledge of the unique aspects of flight control laws in a
other hand, is transport of 20 troops or more than 2,500 fly-by-wire aircraft that employed co-axial rotors, and the
kg of cargo and heliborne operations, besides search and RAH-66 Comanche, which developed expertise in compos-
rescue. It can quickly be adapted to MEDEVAC or CASEVAC ite rotors and advanced transmission design. The X2’s first
missions by fitting up to 12 stretchers, special operations, flight took place in August 2008. The flight test programme
electronic warfare, airborne command post, parachuting, is well under way promising attainment of cruise speeds up
VIP transport and flight training. The NH90, therefore, meets to 250 kts (460 km/h). SP

INDUSTRY HONEYWELL
The Modular, Reliable, High Performance

Solution Ready for Jaguar
The Honeywell F125IN turbofan engine is a drop-fit retrofit,
superior option for Jaguar re-engining
PHOTOGRAPH: SP GUIDE PUBNS (HONEYWELL EXHIBITS AT AERO INDIA 09, BANGALORE)
T
he F125IN is a high performance, low bypass-ratio Ready for Jaguar. Axial turbines drive the fan and compres-
turbofan engine that meets the most rigorous re- sor rotors on concentric co-rotating shafts employing high
quirements of modern light combat and advanced work single-stage designs. Low HP turbine temperatures
trainer aircraft. The F125IN engine was designed in ensure long life and inherent growth capability. Substantial
accordance with U.S. Military specifications and standards, thrust growth has been designed specifically for demanding
including the USAF’s Engine Structural Integrity Program military applications.
(ENSIP), MIL-STD 1783.
ADVANCED CONTROL
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE Designed from inception to operate with a Full Authority
The engine has the highest thrust-toweight ratio in its class Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), the engine includes all
and allows unlimited operation at all power ratings. Incor- controls and sensors required for fully automatic operation
porating a three-stage fan and five-stage axicentrifugal and unrestricted throttle movement throughout the flight
high-pressure compressor, the unique design of the F125IN envelope. Pilot workload is significantly reduced through
engine maximizes engine performance while providing ex- features such as automatic start and ignition sequencing,
ceptional inlet distortion tolerance and stall resistance. With unrestricted throttle movement, continuous temperature
only a single stage of variable geometry at the compressor in- and speed limiting, automatic control of the afterburner,
let, the F125IN design also reduces complexity and increases including continuous thrust modulation from max dry thru
reliability. The Modular, Reliable, High Performance Solution max reheat, automatic relight after engine or afterburner

INDUSTRY HONEYWELL
Key Honeywell Advantages Key Performance Data

Performance Sea Level Static, Standard Day, Nominal Engine
Customer focus
Intermediate Maximum
The F124/F125 engine family has a proven track record of meeting
critical customer requirements for both oems and operators. the F125 Thrust, Ibf 6,230 9,850
has proven itself with more than 600,000 hours of operational expe- SFC, Ibm/hr/Ibf 0.775 1.91
rience in the Republic of China Air Force (ROC, Taiwan) Indigenous
Defense Fighter (IDF). Inlet Airflow lbm/s 92.5 92.6
The non-afterburning version of the F125, the F124, has a long Overall Pressure Ratio 19.2 19.2
record of demonstrated success in powering military aircraft, includ-
ing three highly successful re-engining programs. in service with a Bypass Ratio 0.46 0.46
diverse range of aircraft including the Alenia Aermacchi M-346, Aero
Vodochody L-159 and the Boeing/DARPA X-45A UCAV the F124 dem-
onstrates the adaptability of the F125/F124 to new installations and Key Jaguar Benefits Key F125IN Features
Honeywell commitment to its customers.
– Drop fit Retrofit – Highest Thrust to Weight Ratio
Technology licensing – 20-40% Aircraft Performance – Minimal Thrust Deterioration
Recognized leadership in advanced technology development with a Improvement – FADEC
wide range of patented and proprietary processes and products avail- – Reduced Pilot Workload – High Reliability and Durability
able for license. – Improved Flight Safety
Advanced technologies – Reduced Mission Aborts
Using the newest processes, materials and concepts to design propul- – Life Cycle Cost - $1.5Bn of saving
sion system high reliability solutions with improved performance, and
cost effective operation.
Global network
Worldwide resources that span the americas, europe, middle east, EASE OF MAINTENANCE
africa, asia and the south pacific, providing 24/7/365 support and The F125IN includes several features designed to ease
a full range of maintenance, repair and overhaul, and customer ser- maintenance. An integrated Engine Monitoring System
vice capabilities. (EMS) continuously monitors engine health and tracks life
usage in order to alert the operator when a maintenance
action is required. This on-condition maintenance
philosophy helps to significantly reduce maintenance
and down times. The EMS also records important
data to be used for performance trend monitoring.
EMS health monitoring and diagnostic information is
integrated into the technical publications to ensure
rapid post flight engine analysis and fault isolation.
Engine life records are also automatically captured
and transferred to engine maintenance records. Oth-
er design concepts such as the elimination of safety
SOURCE: HONEYWELL
wire, the elimination of shimming requirements,

easy access to line replaceable units, and excellent
boroscope access have been incorporated to simplify
maintenance actions.
The F125IN engine is offered with a comprehen-
sive and proven Integrated Logistics Support pro-
flameout, and transient fuel and nozzle scheduling to avoid gram. Packages can be tailored to meet the specific re-
engine surge. The dual FADECs perform continuous diag- quirements of the operator and include Ground Support
nostics through built-in test (BIT) and fault-detection/ ac- Equipment (GSE), Logistics Support Analysis (LSA), provi-
commodation logic. Transfers to backup modes of operation sioning and spares management, maintenance training,
are performed automatically with no pilot action required, and technical publications.
and with no degradation in engine performance.
JAGUAR BENEFITS
MODULAR DESIGN The F125IN engine is designed to be a drop-fit retrofit for the
The F125IN engine is designed to be truly modular. All Jaguar and requires no changes to the aircraft engine bay or
modules can be installed or removed from the engine, or inlet. Its modern design will transform the Jaguar aircraft.
interchanged with modules from another engine, without Its best in class thrust-toweight will provide a 23% reduction
requiring special re-testing, balancing, or shimming. This in takeoff distance or 2000 kg increase in allowable take-
feature of the engine provides significant maintenance and off weight and up to a 36% improvement in mission radius.
logistics benefits to the operator, and also facilitates inter- Whilst reducing maintenance costs thru longer time between
national co-production and support. inspections and superior thrust retention. SP

Hall of Fame
M
ERELY EIGHT YEARS at times carrying out circuits, at times Duigan, who witnessed the flight, pur-
AFTER the Wright doing some “rolling practice”. The last chased the biplane on the spot. The air-
brothers’ historic first reference in the issue of March 2, 1912 craft that Setty built for Duigan is con-
flight in 1903, the first says he “placed the Avro on its head”. sidered the prototype of Avro’s later E
Indian followed suit. The report mentions that the pilot was type. The D and E types were the mod-
In 1911-12, S.V. Setty designed and unharmed, but this was probably Setty’s els for the Avro 500. The Avro 500 was
helped manufacture planes at Avro of final flight. Notably, aviation at the time itself the inspiration for the Avro 504—
UK. He also piloted them. However, a was dominated by accidents—minor the first and one of the most widely op-
blaze that engulfed sections of Avro’s and major—that did not necessarily re- erated early trainer aircraft—that first
plant in Chadderton in October 1959 flect on the calibre of the pilot. flew in September 1913.
destroyed most of the early re- In a certificate dated March
cords of the company. Besides, 12, 1912 Avro recommended
it obliterated much of the evi- Setty with the words: “He has had
dence of Setty’s remarkable considerable experience in the
aviation achievements. Flying School and has become
Sri Ram Venkata Subba Setty very efficient in the tuning up of
(conveniently contracted to S.V. aeroplanes and engines. He has
Setty, and sometimes spelled the makings of a very good pilot.
Setti), was born on December He has also worked in the Draw-
28, 1879 into a family of meagre ing Office on some new types of
resources. After his early edu- machines, and we now consider
cation in Mysore, he graduated him to have had sufficient experi-
from Madras University. Later, at ence to be left in entire charge of
Thomson College of Engineering, the erection of a machine of any
Roorkee, he distinguished him- type.” Setty left England on June
self taking first place. He joined
the Mysore State service in 1906 S.V. SETTY 30, 1912 with a gold medal from
A.V. Roe for ‘General Proficiency
as Assistant Engineer. In 1909,
he won a scholarship for an elec- (1879 – 1918) in Aeronautics’. Inscribed on it
was an Avro E.
trical engineering diploma from In Bangalore, Setty began
Faraday House, England, where While testing an Avro D working towards his dream of
he later gained practical experi- building a plane in India. However,
ence through stints in engineer- prototype, S.V. Setty crashed he was denied permission. A few
ing companies.
Setty was determined not to
but escaped unhurt.To improve years later, an influenza epidemic
that killed about a fifth of the city’s
return to India without learning the machine, he came up with population claimed his life, as also
aeronautics. However, he was that of his wife and one of their
financially insecure since the a new design.Avro allowed him four daughters. He breathed his
Mysore government refused to last on October 12, 1918.
extend his deputation (though he to implement his design and J.R.D. Tata, the first Indian
was granted leave without pay).
There was also strong opposi-
asked Setty to fly it. He did, and to hold a pilot’s licence, is right-
fully acknowledged as the father
tion from his family. Undeterred, landed safely. Famous Australian of Indian civil aviation. S.V. Setty,
he joined A.V. Roe and Company though he never held a formal li-
(Avro)—the only British company aviator John Duigan, who cence, also merits recognition. The
specialising in building aircraft—
in May 1911 and plunged into
witnessed the flight, purchased July 1912 issue of The Modern
Review, published from Calcutta,
aircraft designing. With financial
support from a well-wisher, he
the biplane on the spot. calls him “the first Indian avia-
tor”. A letter signed by H.V. Roe
also enrolled to learn flying at (brother of A.V. Roe) dated April
the Avro School. 25, 1912 refers to him as “a very
The first reference to ‘S.V. Setti’ in But Setty had joined Avro to be an capable flier” and states that he sent in
Flight, the official organ of the Aero aircraft designer. While testing an Avro his application for the Royal Aero Club
Club of the UK that started publication D prototype, he crashed but managed Pilot Certificate but had to leave before
in January 1909, is in the issue dated to escape unhurt. Determined to im- taking the formal tests. In sum, despite
June 24, 1911 where he is referred to as prove the machine, he studied its flaws the Avro fire, the evidence is clear—Set-
a “new pupil” at Brooklands Aerodrome. and soon came up with a new design. ty was indeed the first Indian to design,
Over the next eight months it makes Avro allowed him to implement his de- build and fly an aircraft solo. SP
around 10 references to Setty flying var- sign, which he did. They asked him to —Group Captain (Retd)
ious exercises in “the Avro biplane” or fly it—once again he obliged and landed Joseph Noronha,
“the Green-engined Avro”, usually solo, safely. Famous Australian aviator John Goa

NEWS Digest
MILITARY Stratotankers located at Manas to spares supply for British QuickRoundUp
base delivers more than fuel Hawk Advanced Jet Train-
Asia-Pacific to the fight in Afghanistan as it ers (AJTs), India has shelved
is revolutionising the way war plans to place follow-on orders ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS
NATO forces face shortage is fought by serving as a data for 40 AJTs and instead have
of helicopters in Afghanistan network relay high above the floated new tenders to supple- • Alliant Techsystems has announced
Afghanistan is shaping up as a battlefield. At first glance, the ment its trainer fleet. A fresh that it has successfully completed
test of the NATO alliance but so cluster of cases mounted in request for proposal (RFP) testing for a new class of hypersonic
far the report is mixed. While the back of Manas Air Base’s was reportedly issued about a propulsion systems that will enable
a number of allied countries 50-year-old KC-135s does not month ago to six global aircraft High Speed Strike Weapons and UAVs
have committed troops, very look very revolutionary, but manufacturers. Surprisingly, to travel long distances at velocities
few of the NATO countries’ the innovative system and UK-based Hawks manufactur- more than five times the speed of
available helicopters have its use on a refueling tanker er BAE Systems is among the sound which are being funded by the
been committed, despite prom- employs the Roll-On-Beyond- six companies to have received US Air Force.
ises made and commanders’ Line-Of-Sight-Enhancement the RFP. Other trainers the IAF
requests from the field. Over (ROBE) system. Developed by has sent the tender papers to ANTONOV
the longer term, however, a Northrop Grumman in 2003, are Italy’s Alenia for the M-
different solution has emerged ROBE is a communication 346, Korean T-50s, the Czech • In April, An-148 regional jet of a
of chartering private helicopter system that provides a seam- L-159, Russian YAK-130 and new generation starts regular flights,
support that can take care of less and secure distribution the MiG-AT Trainer. as Antonov ASTC and AeroSvit airline
more routine missions, free- of information to warfighters, have decided to jointly launch An-148
ing the military helicopters in local commanders and higher Standards presentation to for operations. The aircraft will carry
theater for other tasks. headquarters. It also over- IAF units out regular flights on the airlines’
comes terrain restrictions by On March 25, President regional routes.
IAF One takes off facilitating beyond-line-of-sight Pratibha Patil presented the
on first official flight communications. ROBE knocks ‘Standards’ to 108 Squadron BOEING
precious minutes off the ‘sen- and 105 Helicopter Unit, in
sor-to-shooter’ kill chain and a magnificent ceremonial • The sixth and final Boeing 787
fills in the communication parade held at Air Force Sta- Dreamliner designated for flight test
‘shadows’ caused by Afghani- tion, Gorakhpur. Present on is now undergoing final assembly in
stan’s rugged terrain. the occasion were Governor of Everett, Washington. The airplane,
Uttar Pradesh T.V. Rajeshwar designated ZA006, will be powered
North Korea fires missile Rao, Chief of the Air Staff Air with General Electric GEnx engines.
over Japan Chief Marshal F.H. Major and The 787 Dreamliner has orders for
Defying warnings issued by a number of other senior air 878 airplanes from 57 customers.
Japan, South Korea and the force officers and civil dignitar-
Ushering in an era of power- US, North Korea launched a ies. The ceremony included a EMBRAER
jetting-in-style for VVIPs, Presi- Taepodong-2 missile which Ceremonial Parade, a fly past
dent Pratibha Patil inducted flew into the Pacific Ocean over by various aircraft, aerobat- • Embraer has confirmed signing the
the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) northern Japan. Pyongyang ics by Su-30 MKI, sky diving Ecuadorian Air Force for the sale of
newly-acquired, highly-secure claimed it carried an experi- by Akash Ganga Team and a 24 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft,
Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) mental communications satel- photo exhibition and release of through a contract that was finalised
on April 1 and embarked on lite. Confirming that no debris First Day Covers. last year. The tandem-seat airplanes
a visit to Arunachal Pradesh from the “provocative rocket will be used on border patrol mis-
and Assam on its inaugural launch” had fallen on its terri- India to equip para-military sions and for pilot training. Deliveries
flight. Patil performed prayers tory, the Japanese government forces with air power are scheduled to begin late this year.
and cut a ribbon to mark the said the first stage of the rocket India has decided to equip
commissioning of the aircraft fell into the Sea of Japan 13 para-military forces with air EUROPEAN DEFENCE AGENCY
worth around $180 million minutes after the launch, about power in the wake of threats to
(Rs 934 crore) into the IAF’s 280 km off Japan’s western Indian airports and the Mum- • A multinational helicopter exercise,
Communication Squadron at shore. The booster stage bai terror attacks last Novem- organised by the European Defence
Palam airport in Delhi. The dropped in the western Pacific ber, a senior Indian Home Min- Agency and hosted by France, was
plush VVIP cabin comprises a Ocean nearly 1,300 miles east istry official said. “The main conducted during March in the Alps.
state-of-the-art executive office of Japan. Japan’s Chief Cabinet para-military forces—the Bor- Belgium, Czech Republic, France,
with conferencing facilities and Secretary Takeo Nakamura der Security Force, the Central Hungary and Spain, as well as per-
a private bedroom, besides in- called North Korea’s ac- Industrial Security Force, the sonnel from nine other EU member
flight entertainment features. tion “extremely regrettable.” Assam Rifles and, the elite states participated.
Designed to act as a command Nakamura said irrespective command of force, the Na-
centre-cum-office in the sky of whether North Korea was tional Security Guards—would GE ROLLS-ROYCE FIGHTER
in the event of an emergency placing a satellite into space, soon be given eight multi-util- ENGINE TEAM
such as a nuclear attack, the as it claimed, or was indeed ity light Dhruv helicopters to
BBJs derived from Boeing testing a missile, the launch boost their operations in harsh • The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine
737-700 are custom built for violated a UN Security Council terrains and in difficult situa- Team has completed its recommen-
the IAF by the US aircraft resolution forbidding Pyong- tions like a terrorist attack on dations to the Joint Strike Fighter
manufacturer. yang from further ballistic the country,” the official said. Program Office and the Australian De-
missile development. The Home Ministry has signed partment of Defence for maintenance
KC-135s, a revelation in a deal worth $70 million (Rs and repair of engines for future F-35
Afghanistan war IAF plans for additional 350 crore) with Hindustan Lightning II aircraft. The team is devel-
The 376th Air Expedition- Hawk jet trainers shelved Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in oping the F136 engine for the F-35.
ary Wing’s fleet of KC-135 Upset over problems relating Bangalore.

NEWS Digest
Americas unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) from a Royal Australian
installed a hotline, and we’ve
provided several immediate-
QuickRoundUp
LITENING surpasses one Air Force (RAAF) Wedgetail response efforts that included
million operational hours 737 Airborne Early Warning two C-17 Globemaster III HARRIER
Northrop Grumman has and Control aircraft flying over aircraft providing cold-weather
achieved over one million Washington State. The three and earthquake relief in the • This year British-designed Harrier
operational hours for the ScanEagles were launched region,” he said. celebrates its 40th birthday, having
LITENING precision targeting from Boeing’s Boardman Test spent the past five years as a main-
and sensor systems currently Facility in eastern Oregon, Airbus integrates MTAD stay on operations in Afghanistan. The
deployed with US and allied around 190 km away from the as “Airbus Military” Harrier is unique in that no other jet
forces. LITENING Advanced airborne Wedgetail. EADS’s former military in service has its Vertical/Short Take-
Targeting pods have proven transport aircraft division, Off and Landing capability where
their combat capabilities and Sniper pod improves MTAD, has fully integrated into pilots can land on shortened runways,
inherent flexibility to adapt to lethality of B-1 Airbus. As a new Airbus busi- carrier decks or on landing pads in
changing operational require- ness unit, “Airbus Military” will the middle of a forest.
ments. Rapid integration on a be accountable for all military
wide variety of aircraft (AV-8B, activities within Airbus. Based IRAQ
A-10A/C, B-52H, EA-6Bs, F- in Spain Airbus Military is in
15E, F-16 and F/A-18s), plus charge of all EADS military • February-end Coalition jet fighters
the wide fielding of internal transport aircraft, ranging shot down an Iranian drone hovering
data links are just two ex- from the small CN-235 and over Iraq. It was detected hovering
amples of the benefits realised C-295 transport aircraft, to the inside the Iraqi border and tracked
by the warfighter. world leading multi role tanker for nearly one hour and 10 minutes
The B-1 Lancer, one of the transport based on the Airbus and after positive identification, it
THAAD successful in mission most versatile aircraft in the A330, and the A400M. was shot down by coalition aircraft.
against separating target US Air Force arsenal, is now The drone is believed to be Iranian-
Lockheed Martin and the US even more lethal due to a Europe made Ababil 3.
Missile Defense Agency have small torpedo-shaped pod
conducted their sixth success- stuck to the plane’s underbelly. Technical-operational LOCKHEED MARTIN
ful test in six attempts of the Called the Sniper Advanced evaluation of ASMP-A
Terminal High Altitude Area Targeting Pod, this device The third technical-operational • The Lockheed Martin F-35 Light-
Defense (THAAD) weapon enables the B-1’s aircrew to evaluation of the ASMP-Amé- ning II has begun two weeks of hover
system at the Pacific Missile ‘see’ the battlefield better using lioré (Improved Air-Sol Moy- pit testing powered by Pratt & Whit-
Range Facility. This flight test both infrared and television enne Portée) medium-range ney’s F135 propulsion system. Hover
demonstrated the system’s sensors. This gives them the nuclear stand-off missile has pit testing of the F135 Short Take
ability to detect, track and capability to positively identify been completed on schedule. Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL)
intercept a separating target targets without additional aids A Mirage 2000N nuclear strike variant demonstrates integration of
inside the Earth’s atmosphere. such as other aircraft or fighter took off from Istres air Pratt & Whitney’s flight-proven F135
This was the first salvo ground personnel and allows base, in southeastern France. engine with Rolls Royce-designed
mission, with two THAAD the operator to see behind the The crew fired the inert missile STOVL lift components. The F135 is
interceptors launched against aircraft for a 360-degree view. (without its nuclear warhead) the only engine powering the F-35
a single separating target The Sniper ATP possesses at a designated offshore Lightning II flight test programme.
which is a tactical option for advanced targeting technology maritime firing range and the
the system. As in previous and its high-resolution image missile completed its nominal • Ceremonies were held at Lock-
tests, soldiers operated the processing allows aircrews to flight profile. This operation, heed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas,
THAAD system throughout this detect and identify tactical-size designed to be representa- to commemorate the F-16 Peace
mission, employing a tactical targets outside threat rings tive of an operational nuclear Xenia IV programme for Greece.
launch mode. Lockheed Martin for the destruction of enemy strike mission, was the third This F-16 acquisition is the fourth
is the THAAD prime contrac- air defence mission, as well and final phase of the valida- for the Hellenic Air Force of Greece,
tor and systems integrator for as outside jet noise ranges tion process of the ASMP-A. raising the number fighters ordered
four major components: radar; for urban counter-insurgency by it to 170.
a fire control and communi- operations. Rheinmetall, BAE Systems to
cations unit; launchers and cooperate in ARED project • Lockheed Martin has been award-
interceptors. More work needed in military Rheinmetall AG and BAE ed a contract to upgrade the Taiwan
ties with China: US admiral Systems have agreed to coop- Navy’s P-3C maritime patrol and
Boeing demonstrates C&C The US has made “some erate on an advanced radar reconnaissance aircraft. Upgrades will
of ScanEagle UAS real headway” in improving system for Germany’s ARED include new mission system avionics
relations with China, but “the project, specifically designed and service life extension kits to
relationship isn’t where we for extensive airspace cover- extend the aircraft’s service life for an
want it to be”, Navy Admi- age. Starting in 2012, the additional 15,000 flight hours.
ral Timothy J. Keating of US German government plans to
Pacific Command (Pacom) has install a total of six radar sys- NORTHROP GRUMMAN
told the Senate Armed Services tems, which will eventually
Committee. Admiral Keating cover the entire country from • Northrop Grumman Corporation
cited solid progress in the US- the Alps to the sea. It issued achieved new heights in compact,
Sino relationship since the Chi- a request for tenders at the electric laser weapons by producing
On March 16, Boeing success- nese denied port access to the beginning of February 2009. the most powerful light ray yet cre-
fully demonstrated simultane- USS Kitty Hawk battle group The system will substantially ated by an electric laser, measured at
ous command and control during the 2007 Thanksgiving improve air safety through- more than 105 kilowatts.
(C&C) of three ScanEagle weekend. “Since then, we’ve out German airspace.

NEWS Digest
APPOINTMENTS CIVIL AVIATION QuickRoundUp
ASHOK NAYAK IS NEW HAL CHAIRMAN Asia-Pacific
From April 1, Ashok Nayak took over from • Northrop Grumman Corporation
Ashok K. Baweja as the Chairman of Hindustan Boeing to deliver 100 planes has announced that the Liten-
Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Baweja retired on to India in five years ing targeting and sensor pod set
March 31. Previously the Managing Director of US aircraft maker Boeing will another milestone by becoming the
HAL’s Bangalore Complex, Nayak will be its 15th deliver 100 planes worth $17 first 3rd Generation system to book
Chairman having joined the organisation as a billion (Rs 84,700 crore) over customer orders for over 500 pods.
management trainee in 1973. On the eve of tak- the next four to five years to The company’s latest contract is from
ing over as the Chairman, Nayak said, “With the offset opportu- Indian airlines, and will have the US Marine Corp and Air National
nity and massive new programmes coming up, HAL must find to compensate some for the Guard for the Litening G4 targeting
ways and means to capture all these opportunities for a safe late delivery of 787 Dream- and sensor pods.
and secure future. We have made an impact in the international liners. “We clearly want to
market and will now have to focus on our exports further to extend our footprint in India,” PRATT & WHITNEY
stay ahead in the race.” President of Boeing India
Dinesh Keskar told report- • Pratt & Whitney have begun
BOEING NAMES GREG HYSLOP HEAD OF ers at the launch of Boeing’s production of the first F100-PW-229
MISSILE DEFENSE DIVISION research and technology Engine Enhancement Package (EEP)
The Boeing Company has appointed Greg Hyslop Vice centre in Bangalore. Boeing engines. The F100-PW-229 EEP
President and General Manager of the company’s Missile has not seen any cancella- represents the latest evolution in the
Defense Systems division. Hyslop succeeds Scott Fancher, who tion of its order for civilian F100 series of engines, recognised
assumed responsibility for Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ 787 aircraft from Indian airlines, worldwide for its safety, reliability and
Dreamliner programme in December 2008. though Jet Airways deferred cost effective operation.
the order of two aircraft last
SENIOR POSTS IN SNECMA year that was expected to be RAYTHEON
Snecma and Snecma Services, both companies in the SAFRAN delivered later this year.
Group, merged their businesses on February 1 to adapt to • Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne
changes in the aviation market and meet customer expecta- HAL, CAE ink contracts for Systems, has been awarded a
tions. Within the scope of this merger, Philippe Petitcolin has helicopter training centre firm fixed price contract for the
been confirmed as Chairman and CEO of the expanded Snecma, A joint venture of HAL and procurement of 19 AN/APG-79 Active
and Denis Vercherin, previously Chairman and CEO of Snecma CAE has finalised all necessary Electronically Scanned Array radars to
Services, has been named Senior Vice President of Snecma. contracts and non-recourse be retrofitted into F/A-18E/F aircraft
financing to begin construction Lots 26-29. The radars will replace
MEADS INTERNATIONAL NAMES STEVEN BARNOSKE and development of a new $60 the APG-73 radars currently installed
NEXT PRESIDENT million (Rs 300 crore) helicop- in the aircraft and work is expected
The MEADS International Board of Directors has announced ter training centre in Banga- to be completed by end-2010.
that Steven Barnoske will become President of MEADS Interna- lore. The Helicopter Academy
tional, the international joint venture that is developing the next to Train by Simulation of • Raytheon has delivered the fifth
generation of ground-mobile air and missile defence systems for Flying, equally-owned by HAL and final Sentinel R Mk 1 aircraft
the US, Germany and Italy. MEADS is the 21st century replace- and CAE, will have a CAE-built to the UK Royal Air Force which also
ment for Patriot air and missile defense systems in the US and full-mission simulator featur- completes the delivery of all Airborne
Germany, and for the Nike Hercules system in Italy. ing its revolutionary roll-on/ Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) equipment.
roll-off cockpit design, which ASTOR aids counter IED operations
NORTHROP GRUMMAN APPOINTS DAVID L. RYAN enables cockpits representing and also other threats such as
VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT various helicopter types to be indirect fire location.
FOR ITS INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECTOR used in the simulator.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has named David L. Ryan RUSSIA
Vice President for Business Development at its Information
Systems sector, reporting directly to Linda A. Mills, Corporate INDUSTRY • Russia has conceded that it had
Vice President and President of Information Systems. signed a contract for the supply
Americas of highly potent S-300 air defence
missiles to Iran two years ago, but
Embraer’s Phenom 300 said that the actual deliveries were
Embraer launches KC-390 programme. The new jet will programme gathers pace yet to commence depending on the
programme meet the needs of the FAB, in ‘international situation’. Both the US
full compliance with the new and Israel have been opposing trans-
National Defense Strategy. The fer of the S-300 (SA-10, Grumble) air
participation of other coun- defence missile complexes.
tries in this programme will
be evaluated, in conjunction SUKHOI COMPANY
with the FAB, and the aircraft
is expected to enter service in • In February 2008, Sukhoi
2015. The KC-390 project will Embraer moved steadily Company had started flight tests of
contribute, in the short term, forward in its Phenom 300 Su-35. The Su-35 multi-role super-
to maintaining highly qualified light jet programme, with the manoeuverable fighter has now
Embraer has signed a contract jobs, and, longer-term, it has first flight of the fourth test made its 100th flight during which
with the Brazilian Air Force the potential for generating aircraft at the end of Febru- they conducted final tests of the
(FAB) for the new KC-390 significant export volumes with ary 2009. This jet, registration flight control system. In the second
military transport aircraft important aggregate value. number PP-XVL, and the third

NEWS Digest
SHOW CALENDAR (PP-XVK), which first flew on SPACE QuickRoundUp
December 23, 2008, are being
16 April – 17 April operated from the Company’s Americas
INTERNATIONAL Flight Test Center at the quarter of 2009 one more aircraft
AIR TAXI & CHARTER Gavião Peixoto plant, in Brazil, United Space Alliance bags is planned to join in and bring the
CONVENTION alongside the first two Phenom contract for Ares I, Ares 1-X number of flights up to 150-160 on
Westin Hotel, 300 executive jets. The test Alliant Techsystems an- three fighters.
Fort Lauderdale, fleet is comprised of four air- nounced that it has awarded
Florida, USA craft: two fully instrumented, United Space Alliance (USA) SWEDISH AIR FORCE
URL: www.miuevents.com. one equipped with basic a $257 million (1,280 crore) SIMULATION CENTER
interior and flight test instru- contract to perform subcon-
21 April – 23 April mentation, and another with tractor support to ATK for • Sweden has become a con-
AEROSPACE 2009: interior furnishings, which will the NASA’s Ares I and Ares tender for the Greek jet fighter
FACING UP TO THE be used for functional and reli- 1-X programmes through the programme by offering its Gripen as
FUTURE ability tests and in the maturity Design, Development, Test and an alternative to the French Rafale,
No.4 Hamilton Place, campaign. Engineering phase (DDT&E). the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the
London, The contract includes engi- Boeing F-18E Super Hornet. Greece
United Kingdom Boeing unveils new global neering, deceleration system is pursuing a two-round procurement
URL: www.aerosociety.com F-15 configuration development and techni- strategy in which the first round is
cal Kennedy Space Center to conclude this year and calls for
21 April – 23 April operations support for Stage an initial procurement of 40 aircraft
CORPORATE AVIATION I activities. ATK is the prime with an option for a further 20.
SAFETY SEMINAR contractor for Ares I first Deliveries would then take place in
Hilton Walt Disney World, stage, supporting NASA with 2010 and 2011.
Orlando, Florida overall requirements matura-
URL: www.flightsafety.org. tion, system integration and TURKISH AEROSPACE
establishment of interfaces INDUSTRIES
23 April – 24 April within subsystems. The Ares I
SPACE-BASED ISR The Boeing Company has launch vehicle, which is slated • Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.
Harrah’s, Las Vegas, unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle to replace the Space Shuttle, (TAI), a major international supplier
Nevada, USA (F-15SE), a new F-15 configu- utilises a five-segment reus- to Northrop Grumman Corporation
URL: www.ttcus.com ration designed to meet the able booster for its first stage on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft
future needs of international which is derived from the twin programme has delivered its first
6 May – 7 May customers. Improvements in four-segment boosters used structural assemblies for the jet. The
RAF AIR POWER stealth include coatings and to launch the Shuttle. USA’s metallic assemblies which contain
CONFERENCE treatments on the aircraft. subcontract work includes more than 100 parts each represent
Park Plaza Riverbank, With the added advantage Ares 1-X tasks to support the the next major step forward in TAI’s
London of redesigned conformal fuel test launch this year, engineer- evolving role as a second source
URL: www.shephard.co.uk tanks that allow for internal ing support, refurbishment supplier of complete F-35 centre
weapons carriage, the Silent of booster components and fuselages.
11 May – 13 May Eagle becomes a very attractive subsystems for the DDT&E
AIR POWER ASIA 2009 fighter for Boeing’s interna- first stage, and procurement of UK
TBC, Singapore tional customers. The Silent several heritage avionics and
URL: www.defenceiq.com Eagle will be able to internally ordnance components. • British Defence Secretary John
carry air-to-air missiles, such Hutton has announced that the
May 12-14 as the AIM-9 and AIM-120, and Europe first of the UK’s next generation
EUROPEAN BUSINESS air-to-ground weapons, such as of supersonic stealth fast jets, the
AVIATION CONVENTION & the Joint Direct Attack Muni- ILS, SES announce three Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), are to be
EXHIBITION tion and Small Diameter Bomb. new Proton launches purchased by the MOD. He added
Palexpo Convention Center, International Launch Services that three JSF test aircraft are to
P.O Box 112, P.O. Box 112, GE Aviation’s services (ILS) and SES have announced be purchased, marking a significant
Geneva business going strong three new launch assign- milestone in the UK’s commitment to
URL: www.ebace.aero As the aviation industry deals ments under the Multi Launch the JSF project.
with the global economic Agreement that was signed in
18 May – 20 May downturn, GE Aviation’s ser- June 2007 between ILS and US AIR FORCE
UNMANNED AIR vices business is providing SES Satellite Leasing Limited,
SYSTEMS 09— stable, long-term revenues SES’ satellite procurement • The US Air Force has accepted
LATEST PROGRAMMES while helping customers cope and leasing company. Two of delivery of Raytheon Company’s
& REQUIREMENTS with the challenging environ- the primary missions will be first Miniature Air Launched Decoy
17-18 Upper Woburn Place, ment. GE Aviation has an NSS-14 for SES NEW SKIES (MALD) low rate initial production
Hilton Euston, London installed base of more than and Sirius 5 for SES SIRIUS. unit. It is a state-of-the-art, low-cost
URL: www.andforum.com 8,000 engines in service, while These missions are scheduled flight vehicle that is modular, air-
CFM International, a 50/50 respectively for late 2010 and launched and programmable. MALD
20 May – 21 May joint company of GE and Snec- 2011. NSS-14 is poised to protects aircrews and their aircraft
SPACE SECURITY ma (SAFRAN Group), has more be the largest satellite in the by duplicating the combat flight
AND DEFENSE than 13,000 engines in service. SES NEW SKIES fleet and will profiles and signatures of US and al-
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, They are the foundation for GE enhance what is already the lied aircraft. It weighs less than 300
Alexandria, Aviation’s Services, with 2008 largest neighborhood in the lbs and has a range of approximately
Virginia, USA revenues approaching $7 bil- Atlantic Ocean region at 338 500 nautical miles.
URL: www.ttcus.com lion (Rs 34,885 crore). degrees east. •

Word
Train
LAST
a diversion for reasons un-
known to the Air Traffic Con-
trol. In a somewhat similar
fatal crash in 2005, a PC-12
was suspected to have gone
Well
down when operating under
severe icing conditions, kill-
ing the five passengers on-
board. The Narita crash may
have been brought about by
an erroneous decision not to
divert but instead attempt a
landing under highly adverse
weather conditions of which
the crew was aware.
to REIN ERROR
While investigating agen-
Three mishaps in cies search for clues in the
America, and yet wreckage and delve into evi-
dence to establish the precise
another in Tokyo, cause in each case, the four
have drawn the accidents in quick succession
F
have drawn the spotlight on
or the US, jinxed appears to sadly be the spotlight firmly certain key issues. First is the
apt prefix for 2009. Grappling with shrink-
ing finances and swelling unemployment on the key issues value of rigorous training of
cockpit crew. A vital element
numbers, beleaguered Americans were fur- that need to of this process is the develop-
ther rattled by the astonishing frequency with which ment of balanced judgement
airplanes came crashing down even before the year be addressed and the capability to take the
had gathered momentum. Three flights—two script-
ing disasters and one miraculously saved—crashed
when training right decisions, especially un-
der stress and in crisis situa-
in as many months. While 155 on board the US Air- cockpit crew— tions—attributes clearly man-
ways Airbus A320 that ditched in the Hudson River
on January 15 were lucky to survive, barely a month
the ultimate ifested in the Hudson episode
but sadly lacking in the other
later, 50 were killed when a Dash-8 Q400 Continen- guardians of civil three. Second is the need for
tal Flight 3407 careened headlong into a house while
approaching to land at Buffalo-Niagara airport. More
aviation safety oversight by regulatory bod-
ies of the conduct of civil avia-
recently, on March 22, the Pilatus PC-12 disaster in tion activities, and third is the
Montana claimed 14 lives. Beyond its borders, an- critical role of the supervisory
other major accident featured an American aircraft. Attempt- staff and the quality of in-house monitoring and supervision.
ing to land amid gale force winds and severe gusty conditions Not long ago, the Federal Aviation Administration had
in Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, an MD-11F owned by cracked the whip at a number of airlines in the US that had
FedEx bounced and turned turtle, bursting into flames. The been found violating the laid down maintenance procedures.
sole occupants onboard—the captain with over 12,000 hours Given the fact that there are over 10,000 airliners and 300,000
and the co-pilot with 6,300 hours in their log books—perished General Aviation aircraft operating in the US, it is not beyond
in the inferno that engulfed the wreckage. the realm of possibility that there could be similar violations
In all the four cases, the primary cause appears to be ex- or recourse to short cuts which could go undetected by the
ternal to the aircraft. In the Hudson episode, it was a case of short-staffed and overworked regulatory agency.
both the engines simultaneously ingesting large birds, lead- Although miniscule in comparison to the US, the civil avia-
ing to total loss of thrust. In a remarkable demonstration of tion sector in India has expanded at a phenomenal pace in the
capability as Commander of an airliner, excellent professional last five years. Civil aviation standards could easily be prone
skills and sound training, the pilot managed to save lives and to dilution in the wake of such rapid expansion and, hence, it’s
avert a tragedy. The two other accidents inside the US appear imperative for regulatory authorities in India to remain alert
to have been caused by icing conditions. and arrest degeneration and degradation of quality standards.
The fatalities, however, seem to have been brought about But while regulatory authorities bear ultimate responsibility
by human error or poor judgement. Crew of Q400 continued for air safety, the real custodians of quality in civil aviation are
to use autopilot in severe icing conditions against the more the operating crew and the supervisory staff integral to the avi-
ILLUSTRATION: MAMTA
prudent option of taking over controls and flying manually. ation organisations such as airlines, non-scheduled operators,
In the case of the PC-12, the single engine aircraft which en- flying training establishments, flying clubs or private owners.
countered icing conditions was also reported to be overload- They must be trained well as it is on their shoulders that the
ed—14 were onboard, whereas the aircraft was designed to final responsibility for civil aviation safety must rest. SP
carry only 11, including crew. The pilot had also resorted to — Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

451964-2009
SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS
WIDENING
H O R I Z O N S . . .
www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com
www.spsaviation.net
www.spsairbuz.net
www.spslandforces.net
www.spsnavalforces.net
www.spshomelandsecurity.com www.spguidepublications.com
WHAT AVIATION
NEEDS IS A GIANT
LEAP FORWARD.
The engine that powers the next generation of narrow-bodied

aircraft will have a decisive impact on the future of the world’s
airlines. In this contest of technologies, CFM* intends to leap
way ahead of any other engine program announced so far.
Developing an engine expected to reduce fuel consumption
by up to 16%, and to lower CO2 emissions to unprecedented
levels. See the strides we’re going to make. www.cfm56.com/leap
*CFM, CFM56 and the CFM logo are all trademarks of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma and General Electric Co.
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Aviation

SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION

News Flies. We Gather Intelligence. Every Month. From India.

 Lockheed Martin’s VP, Business  Embraer’s VP, S&M José

Get your copies via -

2 A Word from Editor

ISSUE 3 • 2009 3 NewsWithViews

Series Cover Photo:

6 COMMERCIAL AVIATION While it is not all doom and ������������������������������������������������������������������

gloom in the present VLJ �������������������

THE FIRST FALTERING ATTEMPTS

of which was certified and delivered by

Industry Embraer in late December last year.)

Bipasha Roy SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

Sushant Deb, LeRoy Cook, Lon Nordeen, REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

RISE OF THE NEXT ISSUE: MMRCA—The Progress So Far

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 1

2 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

DANGEROUS SPACE DEBRIS

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 3

Air-to-air combat capabilities of the

4 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

aircraft. The newest breakthrough F-16 missions lasting more

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 5

6 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY TAKES SHAPE NOT ENOUGH PASSENGERS

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 7

8 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

While Cessna and Embraer

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 9

PROMPT ACTION: EMBRAER PLANS TO RETROFIT THE

control issue. The company is addressing the is-

FACTS CESSNA MUSTANG

EPIC ELITE JET HONDA AIRCRAFT HONDAJET SPECTRUM S-33 INDEPENDENCE

10 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

���������������������������������������������������������� ��������� ���������������

��������������� � �������������� � ���

...Continued from page 10

Air Taxi business model will ever come to fruition, especially

12 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

It’s as if we read the minds of

...Continued from page 13

14 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

Revolutionary Boeing, Eurocopter, AgustaWestland, Mil Bureau and HAL.

designs are V-22 OSPREY

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 15

16 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

The Modular, Reliable, High Performance

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 17

Key Honeywell Advantages Key Performance Data

wire, the elimination of shimming requirements,

18 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 19

20 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 21

22 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

Issue 3 • 2009 SP’S AVIATION 23

24 SP’S AVIATION Issue 3 • 2009 www.spsaviation.net

The engine that powers the next generation of narrow-bodied

SPS.AVI_267X210_LEAP.indd 1 16/2/09 17:34:01

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