CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / PARIS
French civil aviation authority survey shows need for modern design for country's flying clubs and training schools
The French civil aviation authority (DGAC) is calling on industry to meet what it believes is an urgent need for a modern light aircraft designed for use by the country's flying clubs and pilot training schools.
The organisation has outlined its vision of an aircraft that it hopes, if developed, would help reverse a decade-long decline in general aviation in France due largely to the prohibitive costs of maintaining and operating ageing aircraft.
As a result, any new aircraft "must be cheap to buy and maintain, silent and multi-purpose", says the DGAC in a study based on a wide-reaching survey of pilots' associations, training schools and flying clubs, which reveals that 89% of three-seat aircraft in the French fleet are over 20 years old.
The study predicts a market for a new three-seat aircraft if it costs less than €110,000 ($128,000) fully equipped, and cost per flying hour can be brought down to €70. Items including more sophisticated avionics, an electric winch for towing gliders and modifications for handicapped pilots would be offered as options, the DGAC says.
Survey respondents said the JAR 23 certified aircraft should carry three people, have low wings, a three-wheel fixed landing-gear, a single front-mounted engine and be equipped for night flying. They want a minimum cruising speed of 110kt (200km/h), a range of 800km (430nm) or four flight hours, baggage capacity of 30kg (66lb), the ability to land with a 20kt crosswind and take off and land at any French aerodrome whatever the runway surface, and the ability to tow a 750kg glider. The aircraft should emit no more than 70dB on take-off to meet noise regulations.
The DGAC says that while the engine choice would be up to the manufacturer, "diesel would lower the costs".
Issoire Aviation, which makes the twin-seat APM20 Lionceau, is interested in taking up the DGAC's plan. "We were consulted by the DGAC during this survey and would not need to make enormous modifications to the Lionceau to meet the DGAC specifications,"it says.
Gilles Pellissier, chairman of Apex Aircraft, the manufacturer of the Cap and Robin aircraft, says the Robin 135 CDI (the diesel version of the popular DR400), which had its first flight in early October, meets many of the DGAC's specifications and should be c30-40 an hour cheaper to run than existing light aircraft.
Source: Flight International
