Sky Talk

Fokker is back

Dutch conglomerate Stork Aerospace has decided to capitalize on its heritage and a great brand name and beginning in January will become Fokker Aerospace Group., the company announced Wednesday.

"This decision has been taken because the Fokker name is regarded in the international aerospace market as an extremely strong brand, and one that is inseparably linked around the world with aviation, aircraft building, constant innovation and entrepreneurship," the company said in its press release.

"The brand’s 90th anniversary is an excellent opportunity to make even better use of its unique image for the positioning of the companies. This strong, clear brand name will make a major contribution to that aim."

With 3,700 employees, the Fokker Aerospace Group is a major component and systems supplier to aircraft builders like Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and even Lockheed Martin. The company is a supplier to the F-35 joint strike fighter program and has maintained a presence in Fort Worth almost since the inception of the F-35 program.

In modern times company, probably best known for the Fokker Dr.I Triplane and Fokker D.VII fighters used by Germany in World War I, built a fleet of smaller airliners in use worldwide, including the Fokker 100s formerly flown by American Airlines.

- Bob Cox

Bombardier to build MD-80 replacement

LONDON -- Coming to you live, at 11:11 p.m. London time, yes, really. News of the day before the Farnborough Air Show opens.

Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier earlier today announced plans to build a new, fuel efficient and environmentally family of jetliners.

Bombardier’s C-Series jets includes 110 and 130 passenger models (seating up to 145) aimed specifically at replacing fuel guzzling MD-80s, like the more than 300 flown by American Airlines, and even newer Boeing and Airbus jets.

The new planes “will revolutionize the economic and network strategies of airlines,” Gary Scott, president of Bombardier’s commercial aircraft division, said at the press conference held at the show site.

Bombardier officials said the new plane will burn 20 percent less fuel than the newest Boeing and Airbus jets of similar size and cost airlines 15 percent less to operate, with even better comparisons on older MD-80s and 737s. The plane will have five across seating, like the MD-80/DC-9 series, but will be six inches wider for more passenger room.

The aircraft will be based on a new highly fuel-efficient Pratt Whitney jet engine and be constructed of lighter weight carbon-fiber composites and aluminum-lithium alloys.

“Given the spiraling cost of fuel, this aircraft is exactly what the airlines need,” Scott said. The new engine technology will also mean a quieter aircraft, and large reductions in emission of carbon dioxide – the greenhouse gas – nitrous oxide pollutants.

At this point Bombardier does not have a firm order for the jets, which will carry a list price in the mid $40 million range.But Lufthansa, the big international carrier, has given Bombardier a “latter of intent” expressing the desire to buy 30 aircraft with options for 30 more.

-- Bob Cox

Flexjet expands fractional service area, cuts fees

Dallas-based Bombardier Flexjet, the fractional business jet ownership program of Bombardier Aerospace, has redrawn the lines of its secondary service area to include all of Central America and Canada.

The expansion will allow Flexjet fractional aircraft owners to travel to and from any location within Central America and Canada without incurring ferry (or repositioning) fees that are normally charged to cover the cost of repositioning an aircraft back to the U.S.

Flexjet says it is the first fractional business jet ownership service  to remove its re-marketing fees, which cover the maintenance and administration costs needed to place a jet back into inventory after the conclusion of a contract, typically constitute as much as four to seven percent of the fair market value of the jet.

- Bob Cox

Fuel sipping engine technology

Pratt & Whitney reports is continuing to make progress on the development of a turbine engine that will use at least 12 percent less fuel and be quieter than existing engines of the same size and class.

Pratt says it is moving into the second phase of tests on a full-scale demonstrator version of the Geared Turbofan engine after conducting extensive ground testing including running the engine on alternative fuel.

Bombardier and Mitsubishi has already selected the new engine for their new smaller narrow body airliners and Pratt has said the technology is suitable for wide-body aircraft as well. Bombardier says it plans to begin deliveries of its new C-series airliner equipped with the engines by 2013.

Flight International has an article on the new engine development.

- Bob Cox

A new airliner from Bombardier

Flight International reports that Bombardier has taken the next step towards launching a new airliner family, the C-series ranging from 110-1030 seats and may be close to landing some orders.

Qatar Airways is considering an order for 20 of the type, says the airframer, and the aircraft is also being studied by Lufthansa and US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC).

The CSeries family comprises 110- and 130-seat aircraft and will be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s geared-turbofan engine.

- Bob Cox

Problems with Bombardier's Q400

The International Herald Tribune reports that problems with Bombardier's Q400 aircraft have disrupted service at airlines worldwide, but the impact has been limited in the United States. Horizon Air, whose markets are focused in the Pacific Northwest, has had to cancel scores of flights, the Herald Tribune reported. Frontier Airlines recently took delivery of two Q400s, but hadn't put them into service. "No other carrier in the United States flies the airplane," the Herald Tribune said.

-- Scott