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aerokurier 8/1997
ETOPS: JAA’s top flop According to ETOPS regulations, only specific aircraft with particular engines that have proven a certain standard of reliability can be operated commercially over long over-water routes. Now, the JAR-OPS committee has had the presumably smart idea to apply ETOPS rules to the commercial traffic with business jets as well. This would mean that part of the twin-engine business jet fleet, which today fly non-stop routes over the Atlantic, must make an intermediate stopover on their flights from continent to continent. There is no reason whatsoever to force such a regulation on these aircraft. Business jets have flown across the northern Atlantic for 30 years without any ETOPS-relevant incident. ETOPS unveils as a needless bureaucratic rule-making effort. Are You interested to read the complete version please click here PILOT REPORT MCR 01: The fast carbon The MCR 01 is a new two-seater which is currently being flight tested in Dijon, France. The aircraft, which is made of 90 percent carbon fibre, has the potential to put a new light on private aviation. MCR 01 is a joint project of the two French Michel Colomban and Christophe Robin. Colomban is probably known by insiders of the experimental scene, for example having developed the single-seat mini-twin Cricri. Christophe Robin is Pierre Robin’s son. Colomban and Robin have joined and developed the MCR 01 from the MC100, for which only plans exist. The low-wing which is powered by an 80-h.p. Rotax engine and features a fixed wing has been, so far, only offered as experimental aircraft. A certified ultralight version will supposedly be available on the market by the end of this year. A VLA version could possibly be certified within two years. During a visit at Christophe Robin’s company Dyn Aéro the aerokurier had the chance to fly the prototype of the MCR 01. Our assessment: As compared to other aircraft of its class, this aircraft offers lots of space, the cabin having a maximum width of 110 centimeters. Taxing the aircraft takes some time to get used to the simultaneous operating drum brakes. These are operated via a T-handle located on the center console. The MCR 01 has an empty weight of only 210 kg. The maximum weight is limited to 450 kg, giving the aircraft a payload of 240 kg. Following an impressively quick take-off run, the aircraft climbs with 1500 ft/min. According to Robin, 1800 ft/min are realistic at sea level. Flying the prototype, we did not find a real point of critique concerning the handling. Only a slight vibration in the pitch control which is generated by the propeller air flow and only appeared at high airspeeds, along with a high sensitivity of the elevator at high speeds. Other than that, the MCR 01 is offering lots of fun flying – along with a cruise speed which may often cause the controller to ask "Say type of aircraft". At 75 percent power we were flying at 140 KIAS. A DA20 Katana with the same engine only achieves 100 to 110 KIAS at the same power setting. The MCR 01 kit is available for DM93000, including engine, fixed three-blade prop and a basic instrumentation. Complete aircraft will supposedly cost approximately DM130000. The price for the VLA is currently estimated to be around DM160000. Have you become curious? Here the address of the manufacturer: Dyn Aéro, Aéroport Darois, F-21121 Dijon, France, Fax: +33-389-258382. JAR-FCL Part 3/Medical: What will change? The Europeanization of the aviation regulations does not halt for the medical examinations of the flight crews. Beginning in the summer of 1999, there will be two medical categories. Commercial and airline pilots will be examined according to class 1, private pilots according to class 2. The requirements for both classes have become more tolerant in some areas and more stringent in others. Flight medical examiners criticize that toady’s extensive blood examinations will be omitted in the future regulations. Only a hemoglobin test will be necessary. This takes away the opportunity from the medical examiners to timely recognize health problems, which have not yet shown symptoms. The exertion EKG will be omitted also. This new regulation also has an unfavorable effect on the supposedly preventative character of the medical. The blood pressure value for class 2 medicals, on the other hand, will become more restrictive. The current upper limit of 180/100 mm Hg will be lowered to 160/95 mm Hg. Class 1 first-time examinations will also become much more stringent: Once the new regulations apply, these medicals can only be carried out at an AMC and the medical certificate itself will be handed out by the highest level which is the AMS. Also, an EEG will be a future requirement for these first-time medicals. In the future, physicians from all areas can be trained to become a flight medical examiner. So far, only internists and general practitioners were allowed into this career path. Altogether, the new regulations will affect a significant centralization. The Aeromedical Section (AMS) at the top will probably be located at the German aviation administration LBA. The next lower level will be comprised of four or five so called Aeromedical Centers (AMC), below which the authorized medical examiners are positioned. The AMS will definitely have a word in critical cases. The positive effect of the new medical regulations: There will be more clearly defined exemption regulations. Also, the tasks and responsibilities of safety pilots supposedly will be much clearer regulated. Whomever fails the medical has two options for a repetition. Good for private pilots up to 30 years of age: Their medical will be valid for 60 months. Bad for private pilots older than 65: They must go to see the medical examiner every six months. Business Aviation at the Aérosalon: Paris has confirmed its position The 42nd Aérosalon in Paris has shown that Le Bourget has become a known quality in Business Aviation. At the show, various contracts for business aircraft were announced, worth approximately $700 million. Since customers for business jets are often very standoffish concerning any publicity of their names, not all manufacturers reported their sales. It has to be assumed that even manufacturers who did not announce sales in Le Bourget still signed contracts at the show, or at least had serious sales talks. Big birthday fly-in of the aerokurier The aerokurier team had picked the longest day of the year (June 21) for its fly-in on the occasion of aerokurier’s 40th anniversary. The fly-in at the airport Paderborn/Lippstadt was designed to be a celebration for pilots. More than 1000 guests came to Paderborn in spite of some adverse weather conditions in the South and the East. While some visitors came by car, approximately 130 guest aircraft found their airway to the Paderborn airport. The crews were welcomed with a surprise package, and free food, an Oshkosh slide show, and interesting workshops were waiting for them. The performance of German aerobatic champion Klaus Schrodt with his Extra 300 was the highlight of the small but fine flying display. The birthday cake in shape of an extra large aerokurier title page was cut by the editorial team with editor in-chief Volker K. Thomalla and airport head Fritz Henze. This exceptional event would not have been possible without the support of the airport company. The aerokurier team had picked the longest day of the year (June 21) for its fly-in on the occasion of aerokurier’s 40th anniversary. The fly-in at the airport Paderborn/Lippstadt was designed to be a celebration for pilots. More than 1000 guests came to Paderborn in spite of some adverse weather conditions in the South and the East. While some visitors came by car, approximately 130 guest aircraft found their airway to the Paderborn airport. The crews were welcomed with a surprise package, and free food, an Oshkosh slide show, and interesting workshops were waiting for them. The performance of German aerobatic champion Klaus Schrodt with his Extra 300 was the highlight of the small but fine flying display. The birthday cake in shape of an extra large aerokurier title page was cut by the editorial team with editor in-chief Volker K. Thomalla and airport head Fritz Henze. This exceptional event would not have been possible without the support of the airport company. Accident analysis: Collision in landing approach A Piper PA-28 Turbo Archer collided with a pole during a landing approach into the airfield Schleswig-Kropp. The aircraft then hit the runway with a high degree of bank and speed, subsequently crashing into a parked touring glider whose tank exploded immediately. The Piper caught fire while the pilot and the passengers were trying to escape the aircraft. A woman died at the crash site and two more people, a passenger and the pilot, died later in the hospital. The Piper and the touring glider completely burned and a third aircraft was massively damaged. The investigation of the German accident investigation board revealed that a strong gusty wind and turbulences at the touchdown zone, along with the inexperience of the pilot with this aircraft had contributed to the accident. Transponder: it blinks, it doesn’t blink The transponder has an important function in flying. It increases the safety of flight by giving the controller at the radar display accurate information as to where an aircraft is and with which speed it is flying. The secondary surveillance radar (SSR) is an active radar system which interrogates the aircraft mounted transponders. The primary radar, on the other hand, sends out impulses and receives the reflections. The SSR has a longer range than the primary radar and is less susceptible to interferences. Transition to multi-engine The transition from single-engine to twin-engine aircraft is a challenge. The additional engine does not increase safety in all situations but, also involves some real dangers. Twins need a lot of extra consideration in the case that one of the engine fails and the airspeed is low. A good knowledge and understanding of the aerodynamical characteristics of multi-engine aircraft is vital. Landing for free Our action towards more and safer flying continues. Again, we have four coupons for four free landings for our readers. This time, the airports Rerik-Zweedorf, Lager Hammelburg, Brilon, and Burg Feuerstein are participating. Short trip to Czechia Czechia still offers a touch of exotic for many fliers. Hospitality is big in this country. Petra Montag and Uli Schreiner took a closer look at the Czechian countryside during a flight to the manufacturer of their TL-232 Condor plus. 2nd ultralight workshop on construction Due to the big success of the first UL workshop, on construction, in March of this year, Calin Gologan will organize a second weekend-seminar about the construction of light aircraft on October 11 and 12 at the Hahn Campus seminar center on the Hahn airport. The event will be supported by aerokurier. The October workshop will focus on the calculation of a simple and affordable to build ultralight. The computer program which was developed by Gologan will be used during the workshop. Information and registration through the aerokurier editorial office (Phone: +49-228-9565 222) or directly with Calin Gologan under phone number +49-8261-6215. Information is available also from Calin’s web site. FK 9 MK III is certified The youngest version of the FK 9, the MK III, received its type certification at the beginning of June, only a few weeks after its debut at the AERO in Friedrichshafen. Speyer, Germany based B & F is offering the new and more powerful plastic variant parallel to the other FK 9 versions. The fuselage is made of glassfibre reinforced plastic and the wings are covered with carbon panels. The cockpit of the production aircraft is bigger than the one of the prototype shown at the AERO. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery at the beginning of July. 12th German ultralight championships With 34 participants, the 12th German ultralight championships of the German Aero Club (DAeC) in the Bavarian town Sonnen were well attended. A fatal accident overshadowed the event. Results: 12th German UL championships
25th world gliding championships in St. Auban The German gliding team has a champion again: Werner Meuser in the Racing Class! Eight years after Bruno Gantenbrink had won the title (1989 in Wiener Neustadt) a German glider pilot succeeded again. Werner Meuser (age 45) fought for Gold in close team flight with Michael Grund (28) who is the current German and European champion. Mike won Silver, Bronze in the Open Class was won by Robert Schröder. Host France was the most successful gliding nation during the 25th world gliding championships of the FAI classes from 29 June to 13 July in St. Auban. The French pilots were as strong flying over their own "territory" as was expected before the championships. Jean-Marc Caillard and Gérard Lherm won the titles in the Standard and Open Classes, and, with just one exception, all other top places went to French pilots also. In the medal ranks, there was only one place left for another nation: Giorgio Galetto (Italy) flew into Bronze in the Racing Class. In the beginning of the nine counting days, the German pilots dominated the Open and the Racing Class. The routes in the Open Class averaged 399,4 kilometer, 359 in the Racing Class, and 338 in the Standard Class. In the first, wet and cold competition week, the crews flew mainly in flat land. The most northern turning point of the Racing Class was Col d’Aravis, east of Annecy and approximately 200 km north of St. Auban. The results can be retrieved from the Website of the Organizer. 4th European championships of the juniors in Musbach For the fourth time, Europe’s best gliding juniors meet for a competition. The gliding field Freudenstadt-Musbach is the venue for this year’s competition which will take place from 9 to 23 August. 65 participants from 18 countries have signed in. The Flying Group Freudenstadt has invested a lot of effort into this European championships to become a festival of gliding. The competition will be officially opened with a big music event at Germany’s largest market place in Freudenstadt. The pilots will be presented to the public and, on the day after, the official opening celebration will commence at three o’clock in the afternoon. From 11 to 22 August, the participants will compete for points. Norway: the unknown gliding paradise The EuroCup is always a discovery tour. The tenth of these competitions, which took place at the beginning of June in Norway, was especially surprising. For the first time in the history of the Cup was a 1000-kilometer flight the task of the day. And, it was successfully accomplished! This was a surprise for a country which everybody normally thinks of being cold and wet. These were the first 1000-kilometer flights in Norway. Money-spinning: Taxes on sport trailers The new German car emission tax law from April of this year regulates the annual fees for cars, depending on how clean the engine emissions are. The new law contains the absurd regulation that trailers, which are used to transport sport equipment or animals for sports are to be taxed also. This is a tax for vehicles that don’t have any emission! For every 200 kg of weight, the owners of such trailers were to pay 14,40 Marks. The states, on whose request this new direction was put into the law, were hoping for an additional DM170 million of tax incomes per year. An initiative by the German Aero Club and the Sport Association, as well as, individual clubs led to the German parliament’s financial committee omitting the "trailer passage" from the law. However, the Upper House must agree to the cancellation also. The decision is pending. Around Oerlinghausen After a rainy competition in 1996, the International Gliding Competition Oerlinghausen ’97 from 23 May to 1 June allowed for intensive flying. 56300 route kilometers were flown by 45 aircraft (three classes) during the five competition days. For results, please see the airSport section. World gliding aerobatics championships: final training in Oppenheim The preparations of the national gliding aerobatics team for the world championships in Antalya, Turkey, in September of this year are entering a decisive phase. The participation in the gliding aerobatics state championships in Hünsborn and an official final training in Oppenheim are on the program of the German national team. Editorial: DGPS – progress only with safety The branch is anxiously waiting for the first certification of a differential GPS ground station in the USA. Once certified, the system will allow the flying of precision approaches according to the new special category I (SCAT I). The market for DGPS systems is already booming although none of the systems available in Germany is IFR certified. Often, they are being installed at small VFR-only airports. Whomever uses these DGPS systems in adverse weather must know about the limitations of GPS. Frequency spacing in central Europe changes to 8,33 kHz Beginning on January 1, 1999, the upper airspace of central Europe can only be used by aircraft which can communicate on frequencies in the 8,33 kHz spacing. The implementation area covers Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands (above FL 245), and France (above FL 195). The reason is the increased frequency demand in this core area. According to pessimistic forecasts, the communications in the lower airspace may also be affected later on. DGPS: On course to precision approaches The time when GPS can be used as primary navigation system for precision approaches comes closer. According to forecasts of experts, the local area DGPS, as well as, the space-based augmentation systems (WAAS in the USA, EGNOS in Europe) will not only fulfill the same standard but, will also have reached their full operational capability. Market survey: panel-mounted GPS moving-map systems GPS-based moving-map systems for panel installation are selling good. The three systems of this market survey, the Becker AirScout II, the Moving Terrain MT-Cockpit, and the Skyforce Colour Skymap, not only present flight-relevant data, but also offer terrestrial features. The three systems differ in their map presentation. The two German products (AirScout II and MT-Cockpit) used scanned ICAO flight maps which are digitally stored on a hard disc. The Colour Skymap uses a vectorized map presentation which presents the most dominant terrestrial ground features, such as highways, larger towns, lakes, rivers and railroads. |
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Last updated July 24, 1997
