DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
A British Airways Aerospatiale/ British Aerospace Concorde was about to land back at London Heathrow after completing two "validation" flights as Flight International went to press. Capt Mike Bannister, chief pilot of BA's Concorde fleet and commander on both flights, says the tests have shown that safety modifications will not have any overall effect on the aircraft's range or payload.
Bannister reveals that the new Kevlar/rubber fuel tank liners reduce the aircraft's usable fuel capacity by about 350-400kg (770-880lb), and add 150kg to the aircraft weight. Offsetting this, however, new cabin interiors will save 350kg, and new Michelin radial tyres will save another 160kg. Bannister concludes the overall operational effect is "neutral", and that calculations done prior to the validation flights were "pessimistic".
Upon return of the certificates of airworthiness (CofA), Bannister says BA plans to carry out up to four operational assessment flights to ensure that the whole Concorde customer service system is up to standard. A date for return to service, he says, is more likely to be limited by the time it takes to get three Concordes - the minimum needed for a single daily London-New York round trip schedule - refitted and tested, than by the restitution of the CofA. BA still estimates "late summer/early autumn" for commercial flights to resume.
Air France says three of its Concorde aircraft will have undergone Kevlar liner installation before autumn, and work on a fourth will begin shortly. All the French airline's Concorde crew are undergoing refresher courses.
Source: Flight International
