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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 1237.PDF
USSR forced Ariana DC-10 sale KABUL Afghanistan carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines was forced to sell the pride of its fleet, a DC-10-30, to British Cale donian under "intense pres sure" from the Soviet Union. The Russians evidently want Ariana to fly three Tu-154s instead. A Western diplomat said that the move would also reduce "the opportunities for Ariana staff to meet their Western counterparts during training". Several Afghan pilots have defected after taking the DC-10 for servicing in Europe. Ariana executives report edly resisted the sale of the aircraft to BCal, arguing that the Tu-154s do not have the same freight capacity as the McDonnell Douglas jet. The airline had been flying the DC-10 to India, the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Dubai. Its own landing rights in Western Europe were with drawn in 1982 after the Afghan Government allegedly supported the hijackers of a Pakistani aircraft. The DC-10-30 in question is now at BCal's maintenance base at London Gatwick undergoing full engineering checks and interior re furbishment. Mandatory modifications to UK Civil Aviation Authority specifica tions will also be performed. A spokesman for BCal says that the aircraft "is in extremely good condition—very close to our own standard" and major surgery is not required. This aircraft, which has logged 8,200 airframe hours, had been thoroughly worked on by McDonnell Douglas to restore it to airworthy condition after it had been struck by a missile on landing at Khwaja Rawash Airport in Kabul last September, causing damage to its hydraulics, port engine, and wing. BCal paid just under $30 million for the aircraft plus $6 million worth of spares and a $2 million quick engine change kit. Meanwhile, British Cale donian's newly acquired ex- Alia Boeing 747-200 Combi FLIGHT International, 27 April 1985 has been performing air worthiness flights with the UK Civil Aviation Authority in Shannon. The financing of both aircraft (involving about £82 million) has been arranged by the Trustee Saving Bank and Forward Trust groups. Under the terms of the deal the two banks will lease the aircraft to Marubeni Corp (guaranteed by the Bank of Tokyo and Fuji Bank) and Mitsui & Co of Japan, which will sublease the two aircraft to BCal under a 12-year contract. The finance has been arranged in sterling. Sabena orders 747-300 BRUSSELS Belgian flag carrier Sabena has signed for one 747-300 as a replacement for one of its two heavily-utilised 11-year old 747-100s. Sabena is paying BFr6,000 million (£83 million) including spares for the aircraft, which will be delivered in June 1986. It will be put to work on the carrier's transatlantic services to New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit. Finance details have not been disclosed, but Flight under stands that the capital is being arranged by Aviafin, the partly Sabena-owned leasing group which already finances the airline's two Airbus A310s. Sabena's -300 will be configured for 409 passengers in a three-class layout. Busi ness class will occupy the upper deck. It will have its own galley, enabling hot meals to be prepared. Jetstream to move? PRESTWICK ~ Jetstream 31 production could move from Prestwick to other British Aerospace sites if uncertainties over the future of Prestwick Airport persists. This is made clear by the chairman of British Aero space, Sir Austin Pearce, who is concerned about the effects of HM Government's current review of Scottish airport policy. This could mean the end of commercial air services at Prestwick after 1986. If the availability of the airfield were significantly affected, says Pearce, "this could have a serious impact on the operations of the company's factory at Prestwick, where the Jetstream 31 is manu factured, requiring the company to make alternative arrangements." AIR TRANSPORT Minister hints at Southern UK growth SHETLANDS ~ UK regional airports should not look to the Government to divert traffic their way, according to aviation minister Michael Spicer. He told members at a meet ing of the Joint Airports Committee of Local Author ities (Jacola) which repre sents 26 UK airports, that "a sound policy must be one which provides capacity to enable passengers to land and take off, within reason, where they choose to do so". His remarks come as Jacola members anxiously await the Government's verdict on inquiries into the expansion of Stansted Airport and Terminal Five, Heathrow. Further development in south-east England would dash the hopes of the northern airports which are eager to attract more traffic. Spicer, who refused to comment on the Govern ment's likely decision, said: "It is no part of Government policy to force people to fly from an airport they do not wish to use." BA collects first Air Lanka TriStar British Airways has taken delivery of two TriStar 500s plus spare engines from Air Lanka. Both are now serving on its new South American routes
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