Page 24 - AAA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012 Online Magazine

FEATURE TURBOPROPS

to sell 200 large turboprops over the next
20 years, once the current 20% import
tariff is removed. russia’s largest aircraft
lessor, ilyushin Finance, has tentatively
indicated its interest in 10 aircraft.
The smaller-selling Fokker 100s
continue to be strong in Australia as
network Aviation, a Qantas subsidiary,
is adding five Fokker 100s to its existing
fleet of seven, taking its Fokker fleet to
43. While orders haven’t increased, “the
slightly smaller number now reflects
the lower availability of Fokker aircraft,”
ATR has landing at low rates to an increasing part of the says Fokker services’ director of Aircraft
gear designed population,” Wings Air chairman and remarketing, peter van oostrum. And
specifically for
airports with Lion Air president pak rusdi kirana says. Australian operator Alliance is adding a
unpaved runways kirana says that the flexibility turboprops Fokker 50 to its fleet of five Fokker 50s
bring is contributing to the development and 20 Fokker 70/100s. The Fokker 50 is
of business opportunities across the leased from dutch lessor GAFinance.
country and developing tourism in
regions like Java, Bali and nusantagara. Looking ahead
Bombardier Aerospace has big plans As technical obsolescence, cost
for China, having opened its office in inefficiencies and age drive small-
shanghai that supports its Q-series capacity aircraft to retire, turboprops will
and is also home to the Bombardier bring their advantages in fuel efficiency
Commercial Aircraft teams working with and flexible handling to the fore. This, say
the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of the makers, will result in a positive impact
China (ComAC). Bombardier predicts a on demand for new aircraft in the next 20
demand for almost 2,400 commercial years. Asian carriers like FireFly (owned
aircraft in the 60- to 149-seat segment by malaysian Airlines), philippines’ Bicol
in booming China over the next 20 years, Air express (looking to start services with
making it the world’s second-largest Fokker 50s) and pakistan’s Airblue (due
market for new aircraft deliveries, to implement 70-seater turboprops by
following closely behind the Us. 2013) are all jumping on to the turboprop
Bombardier is also moving bandwagon. The best for the market may
aggressively in russia, where it expects just be yet to come.

POST-SALES SERVICE
Post-sales service is an important part of any
aircraft deal. SpiceJet has signed a 10-year
agreement under Bombardier’s comprehensive
SmartParts programme that will provide
a wide spectrum of cost-per-flight-hour
maintenance for the airline’s full fleet of Q400
NextGen aircraft. “The fact that we will be
able to proactively budget for traditionally
variable expenses and count on optimal
repair turnaround times under Bombardier’s
SmartParts programme is another significant
advantage,” said Neil Mills, CEO, SpiceJet.

24 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM