Tue, May 24, 2011
BAe 146/AVRO RJ Gaining Popularity For Use In Remote Areas,
Company Says
BAE Systems says that it is receiving a growing number of
enquiries from existing and potential operators of the BAe 146/Avro
RJ who are interested in using the aircraft for remote airfield
operations for both private and commercial purposes. Already one
Avro Business Jet customer has used the aircraft fitted with the
BAE Systems unpaved runway protection kit to operate regular
flights into and out of a remote/unpaved African airfield. But
demand for this growing trend is also coming from several other
market segments. These include mining resource companies who need
the aircraft to access ever more remote exploration sites and who
need an aircraft to fly in mineworkers and equipment.
In Australia, Cobham Aviation Services, which is one of the
largest providers of contracted 'Fly-in; Fly-out' aircraft services
to the mining resource industry, has plans to offer its customers
access to gravel and unprepared airstrips in Australia using,
initially, a BAe 146-100. Another source of demand is remote
tourism, where travellers want to experience short trips to
unspoilt destinations. These could be for airline charters or, more
exclusively, for smaller numbers of passengers within a business
jet interior. The Avro Business Jet Explorer concept created with
leading UK design company, Design Q, is designed to appeal to this
type of clientele.
Chris Sedgwick, Technical Sales Executive for BAE Systems
Regional Aircraft said: "Over the years the BAe 146 and Avro RJ
have consistently demonstrated their suitability to operate
economically into remote airfields, often with short unpaved
runways. In many ways this aircraft is the 'SUV' of the business
jet and indeed airliner market. "We are now seeing growing demand
for that type of operation. In addition to the operators already
flying these types of services, we are in discussions with both
private and airline clients who wish to use BAe 146/Avro RJs to
operate from remote and unpaved airstrips."
The smaller versions of the BAe 146/Avro RJ are already cleared
for gravel runway operations and an unpaved runway protection kit
is available as a standard modification. This is fitted via a
Service Bulletin and provides protection from debris to the lower
fuselage, landing gear and the undercarriage fairing panels.
Protection is also given to the lower beacon together with the
installation of more durable antennae. A nose wheel guard is also
fitted between the tyres to deflect debris being thrown back to the
fuselage. As airfields where unpaved protection kits are required
are often of low bearing strength, low pressures tyres are
essential. Other 'off the shelf' modifications to enhance the
aircraft's independent operational capability such as forward and
rear airstairs, dual battery start, steep approach and dual HF
communications can also be fitted.
The company says the BAe 146 design has a competitive advantage
over low wing aircraft and also rear-engined aircraft due to the
position and small diameter of its engines and the ground clearance
afforded by the high wing. This is coupled with a large and
comfortable interior seating between 70-85 passengers or a bespoke
executive interior, together with ample baggage space.
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