This seems to me a strange selection.
http://www.dawn.com/2004/06/19/top12.htm
PIA Fokkers to be replaced with new aircraft
By Tahir Siddiqui
KARACHI, June 18: Pakistan International Airline has decided to replace its ageing Fokker fleet with SAAB2000 aircraft.
Sources said the airline decided to replace the F-27s as the Fokker aircraft manufacturers, a Dutch concern, had stopped production over 10 years ago.
They said that spare parts of these aircraft were now available at exorbitant prices and therefore, PIA decided to go for the SAAB2000 aircraft. Interestingly, the sources said, the SAAB's aircraft manufacturing division stopped production some three years ago. The Swedish concern is now dealing in cars and defence aviation accessories, they said.
They said that neither the members of PIA's board of directors nor retired senior officers of the Pakistan Air Force were qualified to decide the type of aircraft suited for commercial aviation because they had no expertise in the field.
The sources said that fleet replacement and the choice of aircraft mainly depended on five factors which were: (a) airline's financial status, (b) passenger profile, © route structure, (d) Environmental conditions of the main hubs from which it plans to operate and (e) fare structure.
They said that none of the factors was considered when the decision to buy the new aircraft was made. The sources said environmental conditions were important for smooth operation of an aircraft as high summer temperatures, elevation, length of runway and obstacles in flight path determined the payload that an aircraft could carry.
They said the SAAB2000 aircraft were fully computerised and their operation capability depended on optimum operation of their computerised systems, while hot and humid climatic conditions with dust suspension affected the functioning of computers.
The sources said a high-tech aircraft, equipped with advanced airborne landing instrumentation, would be useless if the airports on which they were planned to be operated, were not equipped with appropriate landing instrument.
The sources said the airports used by the Fokker were not equipped with instrumentation to justify the high capital investment involved in the purchase of the new aircraft.
In fact no airport in Pakistan, except Lahore, has Category 2 landing facility, while the recently purchased B-777 has the capability to land in Category 3 weather conditions. (Category 3 landing facility enables an aircraft to land in visibilities ranging from zero to 50 metres).
The sources said the Fokker operation had never been profitable for the national carrier as it had been meant to meet the political obligation of successive governments over the past 15 to 20 years. They said the high cost of inducting new technology could be justified only if it could be used to its optimum capacity.
Full Version: Saab For Pia
Saab, Saab, Saab everywhere these days on Pakistani Defence Forums, it seems.
-3BSD
-3BSD
| QUOTE (3BSD @ Jun 19 2004, 01:25 AM) |
| Saab, Saab, Saab everywhere these days on Pakistani Defence Forums, it seems. -3BSD |
But it is the only news coming out from news media. I think in case of
PIA there are other better alternatives like ATR-42 or Bombadier. Which are
more in commercial business. There is ERIEYE on SAAB-340. But now they
are offering this bigger platforum for ERIEYE.
Seems like the PAF and Government is so keen to form a partnership with SAAB for a secure route to technology access in future at resonable price. This purchase only shows how serious PAF and the govt are about the relations with SAAB.
I am happy to see this news
. Maybe will cost us more in the commercial airlines but maybe if we see that it will benefit our defence wayyyy more so I say make such deals.
BUT I donot recommend we blindly buy crap and aircrafts not suited to our needs.
If Bombardier or anyother company has better options take a look , the Gripen and AWAC deal is already huge and no need to jump into such deals.
I am happy to see this news
. Maybe will cost us more in the commercial airlines but maybe if we see that it will benefit our defence wayyyy more so I say make such deals. BUT I donot recommend we blindly buy crap and aircrafts not suited to our needs.
If Bombardier or anyother company has better options take a look , the Gripen and AWAC deal is already huge and no need to jump into such deals.
Man i truly think that SAAB will be having a partner soon some kind of a small partnership so we wont have trouble in future even if we are pu ton snactions again btw all kind of sanctions are lifted from us Both England and US has removed sanctions.
I fear that the Generals are going to force PIA to purchase an uncompetative AC for strategic reasons (read purchase of Gripen and Erikeye).
The SAAB 2000 is not produced as it is not competative to other AC. HAL of India was offered to produce the AC but even they declined.
Hope PIA does not purchase it.
The SAAB 2000 is not produced as it is not competative to other AC. HAL of India was offered to produce the AC but even they declined.
Hope PIA does not purchase it.
Current PIA cadet pilots are being trained on Fokkers. I spoke to the Director Flight Operations Capt Asif Raza today, and he says that this news article is not correct since PIA has taken No decision on buying Saab
i think pakistan should buy jas grippen for PAF 
I don't think this is a god choice to replace the Fokker, unless we get some ToT to assemble them locally. Where will we get the parts for an out of production airplane?
| QUOTE (Saleem @ Jun 21 2004, 08:37 PM) |
| I don't think this is a god choice to replace the Fokker, unless we get some ToT to assemble them locally. Where will we get the parts for an out of production airplane? |
Saleem,
Read the following from the Article :
| QUOTE |
| Interestingly, the sources said, the SAAB's aircraft manufacturing division stopped production some three years ago. The Swedish concern is now dealing in cars and defence aviation accessories, they said. |
As such you could hardly expect to get Transfer of Technology and assemble them locally as there are no now ones being built.
As such these Aircraft are being acquired “Second Hand”
Peace
| QUOTE (Ajgir @ Jun 22 2004, 08:42 AM) |
| Saleem, Read the following from the Article : As such you could hardly expect to get Transfer of Technology and assemble them locally as there are no now ones being built. As such these Aircraft are being acquired “Second Hand” Peace |
There are new ones built for AWACS. It is on special order.
STOCKHOLM, May 16 (Reuters) - Two Swedish technology companies could sign a 10 billion crown ($1.2 billion) contract to deliver an air defence radar system to Saudi Arabia, one of the firms involved, Saab, said on Friday.
The deal, which could be finalised in six months to two years, involves the defence unit of telecoms equipment maker Telefon AB LM Ericsson and aerospace and defence equipment group Saab AB.
"It's a really big deal, even for Saab," the project's manager at Saab, Gert Schyborger, told Reuters. He said, however, the radar deal - reported by a Swedish newspaper to possibly close before year-end - was far from complete.
"Many stages remain. We must submit our final offer before anything can happen. It could be between six month and two years before a deal is done," Schyborger said, adding the companies formed a 50-50 consortium to handle the sale.
Ericsson's defence unit Microwave, which makes radar systems, declined to comment.
Ericsson and Saab shares were up 3.8 percent and 2.3 percent respectively.
Swedish daily Dagens Industri said Saab/Ericsson was the only contender for the contract, which would be for six to eight Ericsson Erieye radar units installed on Saab 2000 airplanes.
. Saudi Arabia is trying to reduce its dependence on U.S. military equipment, the newspaper said
© 2003 Bernama - Malaysian National News Agency
LANGKAWI, Oct 5 (Bernama) - Saab AB, the biggest defence equipment company in northern Europe, is at advanced stage of negotiations to sell its most advanced surveillance system to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Saab International Senior Vice-President Bo Rastedt said the talks have been going on for about seven to eight years and the RMAF might decide on the matter soon.
"If I should guess, I hope we should get something in four to six months," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the six-day LIMA `03 Exhibition that ends today.
The System, the Saab 2000 ERIEYE AEW&C (Aircraft Early Warning & Control) is the most modern tactical surveillance system today.
The company felt four of such systems are adequate for Malaysia to have a 24-hour nationwide air surveillance.
It was reported recently that the RMAF needed four of such systems.
Besides Saab, the other main contenders are Boeing and Northrop Grumman.
The Saab Surveillance System solves both national and international interoperability issues, such as search and rescue operations, surveillance and control of national borders and economic zones, detection of illegal activities (illegal immigration) and drug trafficking.
Saab Surveillance System includes a highly mobile sensor system that have a coverage distance of up to 450km. The sensor is placed on top of a fuel-efficient Saab 2000 turbo prop regional aircraft that can fly eight to 10 hours non-stop.
The Saab 2000 is bigger than the Saab 340 airplane used in the Swedish army-owned Saab Surveillance System. The larger aircraft has space to accommodate more than five people to operate the five working stations onboard.
"We've received interest from some countries in this area. So far, we hope Malaysia will be the first one (to acquire the Saab Surveillance System)," said Rastedt.
On pricing, he said, it depends on what RMAF would put onboard.
"We can offer them the latest technology but to mention prices is a little too early.
"We are not only trying to sell the product as we will also transfer technology through offset package and offer a government-to-government financing package," he added.
- BERNAMA
| QUOTE (3BSD @ Jun 19 2004, 01:25 AM) |
| Saab, Saab, Saab everywhere these days on Pakistani Defence Forums, it seems. -3BSD |
It's SAAB MANIA !!!
| QUOTE (Ajgir @ Jun 22 2004, 08:42 AM) |
| Saleem, Read the following from the Article : As such you could hardly expect to get Transfer of Technology and assemble them locally as there are no now ones being built. As such these Aircraft are being acquired “Second Hand” Peace |
Holy Sh#t, if they are second hand we are in SERIOUS trouble and the guys making these decisions should go to an ASYLUM...
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.