Julian Moxon/HANOVER
LOWER-THAN-expected despatch reliability of the AlliedSignal Engines LF507 turbofan powering Aero International Regional (AI(R)) RJ100 Avroliners has forced the engine manufacturer to spend $30 million on developing solutions.
Crossair president Moritz Suter criticised the engine's 99.3% dispatch reliability during the recent European Regional Airlines Association general assembly in Hanover, Germany, saying that it was "not acceptable". Other Avroliner operators, including Sabena of Belgium and German flag carrier Lufthansa, are also understood to be unhappy with the reliability of the engine.
The problems centre on oil leaks resulting from a faulty high-pressure (HP) turbine seal, which sometimes leads to loss of the No 2 bearing. "We have had a lot of cancellations, and had to lease in aircraft to cover our operation," says Suter, who adds that he intends to claim reimbursement from AI(R) for loss of revenue.
AlliedSignal says that it is giving the problem "top billing", and has introduced a series of modifications to the engine, which was originally designed by Textron Ly- coming before the company was sold to AlliedSignal in November 1994. "When we took it on, the LF507 was performing up to standard," says AlliedSignal, "but, as performance indicators came in, we saw a trend with which we were not comfortable."
The entire HP turbine-bearing package has been redesigned, and the new package will be available from the end of 1996, says AlliedSignal. The 450 engines now in service will be retrofitted during scheduled aircraft maintenance, with AlliedSignal proposing special, preventative, maintenance for in-service engines.
The aim is to achieve 99.5% dispatch reliability. The improvements will also result in lower fuel consumption, says the company.
Crossair has won this year's European Regional Airlines Association airline-of-the-year award. The carrier achieved unprecedented growth during the year, adding 50 aircraft to its fleet and creating 800 new jobs, following the take-over of some of parent Swissair's routes, along with eight of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. The airline's ten Fokker 100s have also been replaced with 12 AI(R) Avroliner RJ100s.
Source: Flight International
