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Group C Dickson Chan / Brett Johnson / Kaman Lau / Bertha Luk / Josefa Wivou. Antarctic Support. Aircraft Evaluation & Design Appraisal Project. Tuesday, 24 October 2006 Lecturers: Mr. John Page Mr. Zoran Vulovic. Antarctic Support.
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Group CDickson Chan / Brett Johnson / Kaman Lau / Bertha Luk / Josefa Wivou Antarctic Support Aircraft Evaluation & Design Appraisal Project Tuesday, 24 October 2006 Lecturers: Mr. John Page Mr. Zoran Vulovic
Antarctic Support • Aim: Investigate the possibility of providing specialist air support to activities in the Antarctic…... • Support the Tourist Trade and Scientific Exploration • Provide Search and Rescue & Medivac Capability • Select aircraft capable of operating in the extreme environment
Presentation Outline • Antarctica – In Brief • Market Research • Mission Requirements • Regulatory Requirements • Aircraft Analysis • Planned Aircraft Operations • Financial Projection • Questions
Antarctica in brief Terrain • 5th largest continent • Terrain: 98% thick continental ice sheet 2% barren rock • Average elevations: 2000 to 4000 m • 11% of Antarctica are Glaciers and floating ice shelves
Antarctica in brief Weather / Climate - Coldest, Windiest and Driest Continent
Antarctica in brief General Facts • Home to various national scientific research base • 11 ice runways and 22 skiways • These facilities do not meet ICAO standards • Very few transport systems within Antarctica
Market Research Our Focus – 2 Key Areas • Look at existing air support for Antarctica • Examine Scientific and Tourist Market
Market Research Existing Air Operations to Antarctica
Market Research Scientific Market • Examined Australia, Japan, New Zealand & USA science bases • Opportunities to serve Australia’s Research Activities (Australian Antarctic Division - AAD) • Identified AAD needs: high speed service from Antarctica to Australia
Market Research Tourist Market consists of: • Airbourne / Over-flight Tourism (by air, no landing, e.g. Qantas) • Vessel Trips (tourists stay onboard shipping vessels) • Actual Landings (mostly via shipping vessels) • Limited Accommodations Available on Antarctica Cost of tour packages range from $19,000 to $59,000usd Majority of tours are ship-based
Market Research Antarctic Tourism Data (1 of 2)
Market Research Antarctic Tourism Data (2 of 2)
Market Research Base of Operation (Australian Mainland) • Examined various locations – selected Hobart Benefits • Location (closest major Australian city to Antarctica) • Existing base of Antarctic community + organisations • Existing infrastructures (e.g. ports / research centres)
Market Research Base of Operation (Antarctic Mainland) • Examined various Australian bases – selected Casey Benefits • Location (closest to Hobart) • Purpose built blue-ice runway for larger aircraft • Hub of all Australian Antarctic bases
Market Research Our Operating Model Tourists will: Travel by Air on one sector to or from Antarctica and then travel on the remaining sector by sea on shipping vessel
Regulatory Requirements • Air Operator Certificate (e.g. aerial work to and from Australian Antarctic Territory) • Environmental Restrictions • Crew Provisions (3 flight crew required) • ETOPS
Mission Requirements Inter-continental The Aircraft should be able to: • Improve existing capability for urgent / critical re-supply missions • Compliment the AAD’s existing air support capabilities
Mission Requirements Major requirements (Inter-continental) • Range (at least 3443km; preferably > 7000km) • Speed (Hobart – Casey in less than 6hrs) • Payload (2 to 5 tonnes) • Capacity (5 to 10 passengers; scientists given priority to fly) • Weather (operate at -30°C; max cross-wind limit > 20 knots) • Fuel (Jet B grade fuel)
Mission Requirements Search and Rescue / Medical Evacuations • Very different requirements • SAR requires STOL / VTOL capability + trained ground staff • Medical Evacuations requires fast aircraft with good ground access, and also enough space for medical equipments / stretchers on board Conclusion: Not feasible to provide Search and Rescue Focus will be on providing Medivac services
Mission Requirements Other requirements (Inter-continental) • Navigation instruments • Ground accessibility (e.g. for convenient loading) • Noise footprint (the smaller the better!) • Aircraft with more than 2 engines (avoid ETOPS restrictions)
Aircraft Analysis Inter-continental mission • Examined potential candidates for the mission • Existing inter-continental aircraft: • Lockheed LC-130F Hercules • Ilyushin IL-76 • Lockheed C-5 Galaxy Too large for our mission requirement • Selected Dassault Falcon-900EX
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX – Summary • Designed as a large intercontinental business jet • 16 -18 passengers • 3 x Honeywell TFE731-60 Turbofan engines • Max fuel capacity: 11,865 Litres • 2 man cockpit
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX – Summary • Ground turn radius of 14.55m • Tri-cycle type landing gear with anti-skid system • 2 independent hydraulic systems (3000 lb/sq in) • 3 engine-driven pumps • Heated bleed air anti-icing for wing leading edges, intakes and centre engine duct
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX – Dimensions External • Length: 20.21m • Height: 7.55m • Wingspan: 19.33m • Baggage Door: Height – 0.75m / Width – 0.95m • Passenger door: Height – 1.72m; Width 0.8m
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX - Dimensions Internal • Cabin: Length – 10.11m; Height – 1.88m; Width – 1.91m • Rear Baggage Compartment Volume: 3.8 m3
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX – Performance • Long range cruise: Mach 0.75 • Range: 8334km • Payload: 2796kg • MTOW: 21,900kg • Max Cruise altitude: 51,000ft • Operating Temp: -54°C to 50°C • Take-off run: 1,590m • Landing run: 724m(thrust reverser on centre engine) • V approach – approx. 109 kts
Aircraft Analysis Falcon 900EX – Benefits • Meeting all the mission requirements • Operates more efficiently and effectively than larger aircraft • Reduced reliance on long-range weather forecasting • Environmental benefits: only requires refuelling in Antarctica by exception, reducing costs of transporting fuel • Ability to be used in emergency response or medivac • Ability to carry small amounts of time-critical cargo
Planned Aircraft Operations Airfield + additional requirements • Casey (Wilkins Aerodrome) • Glacial blue ice runway surface • Airfield: 4000m long & 200m wide • Elevation: 750m ASL • Requires backup ground-based APU and fuel stockpile
Planned Aircraft Operations Flight Schedule • Return flights take 1 day • Depart Hobart at 1700, Arrive Casey by 2300 (day light) • Depart Casey at 0100, Arrive Hobart by 0500 43 return flights (Summer 2007-2008) for tourists / scientists 6return flights (Winter 2008) for scientists
Conclusion & Questions • Antarctic Air-link: Hobart - Casey • Most suitable aircraft: Falcon 900EX • Enhance existing air-transport capability • Expect Growth in Scientific and Tourist Markets • Profitable Operations • …………………… Questions?