Dornier 328在十年前停產(chǎn)(甚至有些人說(shuō)如果從原制造商倒閉的年份算起的話,這一機(jī)型已經(jīng)停產(chǎn)將近15年了),眾所周知,Dornier328的特點(diǎn)是“能在荒野跑道上起降”以及“便于第三世界國(guó)家進(jìn)行維護(hù)”。如今, Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC)打算讓它重新回到生產(chǎn)線上。在2015巴黎航空展上,SNC宣布成立一家全新的全資子公司TRJet Havacilik Teknolojileri Anonim ?irketi (簡(jiǎn)稱TRJet)。而就在5月,SNC剛剛與Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S. (STM) 簽署了一份諒解備忘錄。其內(nèi)容是雙方合作生產(chǎn)土耳其的第一款支線飛機(jī),旨在為該國(guó)的交通、海運(yùn)與交流部的地域性飛機(jī)計(jì)劃提供支持。
土耳其公司TRJet的總部將設(shè)于土耳其安卡拉。SNC總裁Eren Ozmen在航空展上表示,選擇該市而非伊斯坦布爾的主要原因在于安卡拉現(xiàn)有的基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施更加理想,而且從地理位置上也能更好地為支線飛機(jī)計(jì)劃和國(guó)家商業(yè)航空部提供支持。TRJet將繼承SNC和328支持服務(wù)有限公司(328 SSG)的技術(shù)優(yōu)勢(shì),全力打造一家“融合現(xiàn)代德國(guó)飛機(jī)工程技術(shù)與最新行業(yè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的航空航天公司。”
全新啟動(dòng)的支線飛機(jī)計(jì)劃將使用TRJ328機(jī)型——32座D328的現(xiàn)代改良版。該機(jī)型是土耳其邁向自主生產(chǎn)第一架50-70座TRJ628商用飛機(jī)的第一步。328不僅僅在商用飛機(jī)領(lǐng)域享有盛譽(yù),執(zhí)行民用與軍用航空特殊任務(wù)也是它的強(qiáng)項(xiàng)。而628也有可能獲得同等的好評(píng),但它必須首先進(jìn)入商用飛機(jī)市場(chǎng)。
“我們相信,技術(shù)、研究、合作和數(shù)十年的經(jīng)驗(yàn)可以為T(mén)RJet在土耳其乃至全球的成功打下堅(jiān)實(shí)的基礎(chǔ),” Ozmen表示。“我們還相信,土耳其支線飛機(jī)計(jì)劃參與者的承諾與支持終將使土耳其的交通面貌煥然一新。”
自2006年以來(lái),328 SSG便持有高翼328的適航認(rèn)證,但并沒(méi)有重新啟動(dòng)生產(chǎn)這一機(jī)型,而是將主要精力放在328JET和328 turboprop的維修維護(hù)服務(wù)上。生產(chǎn)重啟之際,328 SSG執(zhí)行總監(jiān)Dave Jackson強(qiáng)調(diào),“公司的主要目標(biāo)并非發(fā)明尖端技術(shù),而是通過(guò)重新生產(chǎn)328幫助土耳其工程師熟悉飛機(jī)生產(chǎn)工作,為將來(lái)628的設(shè)計(jì)做好準(zhǔn)備。”
Jackson表示,在開(kāi)始階段,將有2-3架328飛機(jī)將在德國(guó)完成生產(chǎn),以重新取得認(rèn)證,之后的飛機(jī)將在土耳其生產(chǎn)。大部分原供應(yīng)商將繼續(xù)提供服務(wù),但有些合同可能需要進(jìn)行重新評(píng)估或設(shè)計(jì)。
在巴黎航空展上,Jackson曾在多次場(chǎng)合下將328稱為“踏腳石”、“訓(xùn)練機(jī)”、并且是最終目標(biāo)628的“學(xué)習(xí)曲線”。當(dāng)然,這并不意味著噴氣機(jī)和渦輪螺旋槳版的328機(jī)型就是628的丑小鴨姐妹,但它們的確肩負(fù)著幫助土耳其工程師實(shí)現(xiàn)技術(shù)進(jìn)步的重任。盡管飛機(jī)工程師并沒(méi)有“創(chuàng)造出”尖端技術(shù),但也并不意味著他們不會(huì)達(dá)到市場(chǎng)上最優(yōu)的技術(shù)水平。
以328JET為例,該機(jī)型預(yù)計(jì)將配備玻璃駕駛艙、適合當(dāng)今與未來(lái)ATM環(huán)境的先進(jìn)系統(tǒng)、經(jīng)過(guò)升級(jí)改良的現(xiàn)代內(nèi)飾(LED燈和全新座椅)以及全高度機(jī)艙。
生產(chǎn)該機(jī)型預(yù)計(jì)需要500名工人,這意味著有更多的土耳其人將會(huì)間接地受雇于該項(xiàng)目。328目前已在全球85個(gè)國(guó)家獲得適航認(rèn)證,并在美國(guó)、瑞士、德國(guó)、英國(guó)和丹麥等多個(gè)國(guó)家開(kāi)始運(yùn)行。TRJet相信,對(duì)與328同級(jí)載客能力飛機(jī)的需求將在全球范圍內(nèi)增加。
“328可在一個(gè)國(guó)家內(nèi)的小城市之間頻繁地直接往返,而用大型飛機(jī)是不能實(shí)現(xiàn)的,因此328擁有一個(gè)專門(mén)的細(xì)分市場(chǎng),” Ozmen表示。“市場(chǎng)分析表明,該機(jī)型將滿足國(guó)內(nèi)與國(guó)際航線的巨大需求。”
TRJet最終將實(shí)現(xiàn)TRJet328的生產(chǎn)與銷(xiāo)售,并在“土耳其自主生產(chǎn)首架TRJ628客機(jī)的過(guò)程中起到關(guān)鍵作用,” Jackson表示。“TRJ628將會(huì)繼承328的基因。”土耳其將最終完成628的設(shè)計(jì)、工程與生產(chǎn)的整個(gè)流程,而且工程師將在其中使用328的供應(yīng)鏈,盡管其生產(chǎn)停頓了幾年。
啟動(dòng)資金由土耳其政府以預(yù)訂50架飛機(jī)的形式提供,但最終TRJet將完全成為一家商業(yè)企業(yè),“公司的生死都取決于效益。” Jackson表示。
Some 10 years since being out of production (some might say even nearly 15 years if one considers the demise of the plane’s originator), the Dornier 328, known for its ability to function on “unimproved runways” and “being easy to maintain in third-world countries,” is going back into production under at least the partial guidance of Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), which Tuesday at the Paris Air Show announced the formation of its newest wholly owned subsidiary, TRJet Havacilik Teknolojileri Anonim ?irketi (TRJet, for short). The announcement follows SNC’s May 2015 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding involving the Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S. (STM) in support of the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs & Communications to produce the country’s first regional jet as part of its Regional Aircraft Project.
A Turkish corporation, TRJet will be based in Ankara, Turkey—chosen over Istanbul mainly due to existing infrastructure, SNC President Eren Ozmen said Tuesday—and will serve the Regional Aircraft Project as well as the commercial aviation sector. TRJet will combine the legacy of SNC and 328 Support Services GmbH (328 SSG), to create “an aviation and aerospace company that merges modern-edge German aircraft engineering and the latest industry modification standards.”
The newly launched Regional Aircraft Project will use the TRJ328 aircraft, a modernized version of the 32-seat D328, as a first-step toward production of Turkey’s first domestically built passenger aircraft, the 50-70 seat TRJ628. The 328’s reputation not only lies in the commercial arena, but special ops as well for civil and military applications, and the 628 may earn that reputation as well, but it is first anticipated as an entry into the commercial market.
“We believe that the combination of technology, research, collaboration, and decades of experience is the right recipe for TRJet’s future success in Turkey and around the globe,” said Ozmen. “We are confident that the commitment and support of those involved in the Turkish Regional Aircraft Project, will be successful in producing aircraft that changes the face of transportation in Turkey.”
328 SSG has held the type certificate on the high-wing 328 since 2006, but has not resumed production, focusing instead on MRO for the 328JET and 328 turboprop. On the re-launch of production, Dave Jackson, Managing Director, 328 SSG, emphasized that the company is “not looking to create cutting-edge technologies. Instead, the re-launch of the 328 is designed to be a stepping stone to familiarize Turkish engineers with the aircraft’s workings prior to design of the 628.”
To start, Jackson said two to three 328s will be manufactured in Germany for recertification and then their production will move to Turkey, with most of the original suppliers for continuity, though some contracts may be re-assessed and/or reassigned.
At various times in Paris, Jackson referred to the 328 as a “stepping stone,” a “training vehicle,” and as a “learning curve” toward the ultimate 628 goal. That said, by no accounts do the jet and turboprop 328 versions seem to be the ugly duckling sibling of the same versions for the 628, but, instead, strong shoulders upon which to technologically advance and provide Turkish engineers the ultimate in professional development, and while the aircraft engineers may not “create” cutting-edge technologies, that is not to say that they won’t make the best of cutting-edge technologies already in the marketplace.
For example in terms of the 328JET, it is expected to include a glass cockpit and updated systems suitable both for today's and future ATM environments, an upgraded modern interior with LED lighting and new seats, and a full-height cabin.
It is estimated that up to 500 people are needed to work in the factory to build the aircraft, which will also employ significant numbers of the Turkish population via indirect employment opportunities. The 328 is currently certified in 85 countries around the world, and is in use in many countries including the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, U.K., and Denmark. TRJet believes that there is an increasing demand around the world for an aircraft such as the 328 with this passenger capacity.
“The [328] fills a niche market for direct and frequent flights between small cities in the country that is currently not feasible using larger airplanes,” said Ozmen. “According to market analysis, the aircraft is expected to meet a large demand for both domestic and international [needs].”
TRJet will ultimately produce and sell the TRJ328 and “will play an essential role in making Turkey’s first indigenous passenger aircraft [the TRJ628] a reality,” said Jackson. “The TRJ628 will be built on the DNA of the 328.” And, ultimately, the 628 will be locally designed, engineered, and manufactured in Turkey, and it is expected that engineers will be able to leverage the built-in supply chain of the 328, even though it hasn’t been in production for some years.
Launch funding was enabled by the Turkish government ordering 50 planes, but ultimately, TRJet is fully commercial and “will have to live or die by selling airplanes,” said Jackson.