2.7 Civil Aircraft Market

The Air Staff Target (AST) is an elaborate aircraft specification as a customer requirement. A military project is of national interest and, in today’s practice, capable companies are invited to first produce a technology demonstrator as proof of concept. The loser in the competition is paid by the government for the demonstrator and learns about advanced technology for the next RFP or civilian design. Therefore, in a sense, there is no loser, and the nation hones its technical manpower.

Although it is used, the author does not think an RFP is appropriate terminology in civilian applications: Who is making the request? It is important for aircraft manufacturers to know the requirements of many operators and supply a product that meets the market’s demands in performance, cost, and time frame. Airline, cargo, and private operators are direct customers of aircraft manufacturers, which do not have direct contact with the next level of customers (i.e., passengers and cargo handlers) (see Chart 2.7). Airlines do their market surveys of passenger and freight requirements and relay the information to manufacturers. The surveys often are established by extensive studies of target-city pairs, current market coverage, growth trends, and passenger input. Inherent in the feedback are diverse requirements that must be coalesced into a marketable product. A major order from a single operator could start a project, but manufacturers must cater to many operators to enlarge and stabilize their market share. The civilian market is searched through a multitude of queries to various operators (i.e., airlines), both nationally and internationally. In civil aviation, the development of the national infrastructure must be coordinated with aircraft manufacturers and operators to ensure national growth. Airlines generate revenue by carrying passengers and freight, which provide the cash flow that supports the maintenance and development of the civil aviation infrastructure. Cargo generates important revenues for airlines and airports, and the market for it should not be underestimated – even if it means modifying older airplanes. Manufacturers and operators are in continual contact to develop product lines with new and/or modified aircraft. Aircraft manufacturers must harmonize the diversity in requirements such that management decides to undertake a conceptual study to obtain the go-ahead. There is nothing comparable to the process taken by the MoD to initiate an RFP with a single customer demand.

The private or executive aircraft market is driven by operators that are closely connected to business interests and cover a wide spectrum of types, varying from four passengers to specially modified midsized jets.

Military aircraft utilization in peacetime is approximately 7,500 hours, about one-tenth that of commercial transport aircraft (i.e., ≈ 75,000 hours) in its lifespan. Annual peacetime military aircraft utilization is low (i.e., ≈ 600 hours) compared to annual civil aircraft utilization, which can exceed 3,000 hours.

2.7 Civil Aircraft Market

Following up on the review in Chapter 1, about the current status of the civil aircraft market, this section describes how to generate aircraft specifications that will help to sell the product and generate a profit. The coursework starts here with a mock (i.e., representative) market survey leading to what must be designed – that is, the conception of the aircraft, the Phase 1 obligations.

the baseline design made provision for it. There are considerable savings in certification cost.)

(The other specifications are the same as in the baseline four-seater design.)

Derivative versions are achieved by shortening the wing root and empennage tips, unplugging the fuselage section (which is difficult if it is not a continuous section but is possible if the design of the baseline four-passenger aircraft considers this in advance), lightening the structural members, re-engining to lower the power, and so forth.

Design Specifications of a Baseline Eightto Ten-Passenger (Learjet 45 Class)

SHORTENED DERIVATIVE VERSION: FOUR TO SIX PASSENGERS IN A BASELINE AIRCRAFT

(This derivative works by unplugging continuous-section fuselage barrel on both sides of the wing.)

(The other specifications are the same as in the baseline design.)

TWELVE TO FOURTEEN PASSENGERS IN THE

(The longer derivative works in the same way by inserting continuous-section fuselage plugs on both sides of the wing.)

DERIVATIVE VERSION IN THE AIRCRAFT FAMILY (TYPICALLY AIRBUS 319 AND AIRBUS 321

This is accomplished by plugging and unplugging the fuselage as in a Bizjet design. Readers are referred to Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft for derivative details and Appendix D for an example. Wide-body aircraft design follows the methodology.

(Note: The author encourages readers to explore market surveys for other classes of aircraft. To diversify, following are brief specifications for two interesting examples [7]).

A. Agriculture Applications Aircraft

1.Airframe must be highly corrosion resistant.

2.Airframe must be easily cleaned (i.e., removable side panels).

3.Airframe must be flushed with water after last flight.

4.Airframe must be easily inspected.

5.Airframe must be easily repaired.

6.Airframe must be highly damage tolerant.

7.Dry and wet chemicals must be loaded easily and quickly.

8.Cockpit must have excellent pilot crash protection.

9.Pilot must have excellent visibility (i.e., flagman, ground crew, and obstacles).