Forward looking

Autor(en): MM.

Objekttyp: Article

Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK

Band (Jahr): - (1969)

Heft 1571

PDF erstellt am: 04.10.2021

Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-694724

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http://www.e-periodica.ch FORWARD LOOKING prepares for the "Jumbo Jet" by MM

This is the time when a number of Switzerland, which also includes the capacity. Inside Europe, demand last countries look back on half a century foreign carriers landing in Switzerland year did not quite keep up with the of air transport, including Switzerland. — on 1st May, the number of air trans- total of available seats, but with in- A story of adventure and achievement, port companies using Swiss airports creasing air traffic, short-haul services in which the Swiss national air trans- stood at 37. Nevertheless, the develop- will become profitable again. port company Swissair has played a ment of Swissair may be taken as a The long-distance DC-8 model 62 major part of nearly four decades. But yardstick for the increase in Swiss has helped to improve the economics Swissair has never been one to rest on aviation, both for passenger and cargo for long-distance flying. The U.S. its laurels. Though with an increased traffic. The latter is not always noted Government's appeal to refrain from net profit of £2,641,000 in 1968, there sufficiently. Let us remember that, at travelling to Europe has, however, had would be reason to sit back with satis- least in terms of value, half the freight its unpleasant repercussions. In addi- faction. Increased operating capacity volume between Switzerland and U.S.A. tion, group travel reductions and other enabled the rising costs to be more than is carried by air. Today, approximately reliefs have reduced the profit margin. made good by £11 million additional 10% of all Swiss exports are trans- Swissair was one of the companies sup- revenue last year. ported by plane. In the field of watch porting these tariff reductions proposed But then, Swissair is not amongst exports (a tenth of total Swiss exports), by IATA, realising that the efficient the most efficient airlines for nothing. as much as 70% is carried by air. At long-distance of today will be As is characteristic of many successful the Annual General Meeting of Swiss- cheaper to run than their predecessors Swiss undertakings, the company is air on 25th April, the Chairman of the and more productive only if used to full usually a step ahead of others. It Board of Directors, Mr. J. F. Gugel- capacity. The times have gone when spends as little time as possible on past mann, gave an example of their DC-8 the North Atlantic routes were con- achievements, looking forward to new "Jet Trader" which transported 18.5 sidered the financial backbone of improvements, new possibilities. tons to New York on 23rd February Swissair's whole operation. 1969; nearly 3.5 tons of this was made The narrowing profit margin of the up of watches (19%). North Atlantic services was balanced in part by improved results on the South Quadrupled Output in 9 Years Atlantic lines. The "Coronado" was the DC-8-62, which Yet in order to fully grasp the More Productive Aircraft — Increased replaced by allowed an increase of 48% in ton- constant growth and expansion, we Efficiency permit ourselves to review the kilometre production. Once the may DC-8-62 is in service the position at the end of the 'sixties. In How was Swissair able to increase full to Far East and South there should be 1960, Swissair offered a capacity of 243 its productivity once again in 1968? Africa, favourable also in these million ton-kilometres. For this year, Dr. W. Berchtold, President and development the estimate is 948 million, in other Managing Director of Swissair, gave sectors. words nearly four times as much as 9 the answer to the 858 shareholders years ago. This compares most favour- attending the AGM: thanks to pro- New Aircraft Generation ably with the total gross national pro- gressive rationalisation encouraged by duct in Switzerland, which has doubled more efficient aircraft and the unim- So far as to the past. Special in the same period. It must be remem- peded growth of air traffic. The short- studies in connection with the airports bared, however, that Swissair is not haul plane DC-9 is twice as fast as the of Zurich, Geneva and Basle, have tantamount to the total air traffic in old "Metropolitan" and has twice its shown that on an average, passenger air traffic doubles every 5 and cargo traffic trebles every 5 to 6 years. This development is spasmodic, usually due to the introduction of a new aircraft type. In the 'sixties it was the jet plane, in the next decade the high-capacity jet (Grararawm/lttgzeng), the "Jumbo-Jet" will make a decisive impact. Here already, Swissair has shown its forward-looking attitude by order- ing two- Boeing 747 some time ago, an order recently changed to the more efficient "model B". Its maiden flight was made on 9th February last, and the two planes should be delivered in spring of 1971. The company also has an option on a further aircraft of this type. Already, comprehensive studies are on foot to find out which of the other new wide-fuselage planes will be most suitable as from 1973/4. These studies are carried out in co-operation with Swissair's partners SAS (Scandi- navian airlines) and KLM (Nether- lands), a group called KSS. There is no doubt that the Boeing 747 will not Svmsctfr Is aï present using mode/s to study tbe ground handling problems associated with alone a whole generation of the 747B "Jumbo" Jets which It bas on order. More tban 20 vehicles will be remain — Boeing be Involved In tbe departure o/ a single Boeing 747B Including a 50-ton tractor. high-capacity models will developed.

14 Already last year, a new medium- to important problems, too, not forgotten as training aircraft of the Swiss Air long-haul model, the DC-10, a three- by Swissair by any means (.veg urfi'c/e Transport School. Now she has 24,075 engined high-capacity jet (250 to 300 COT flow Jwrar tack/ay noAe in "SVAs flying hours to her credit, and her log passengers) designed by the McDon- Observer" o/ /2//z /«!>> 796# " From book registers 29,549 landings. With nell-Douglas Company was studied, /Voi.vc to TVou-rea"). The high-capacity that ceremony one of the most success- and Lockheed offers a similar type, the jets should bring a lessening of noise— ful aircraft was retired, and an brilliant L-1011. If the KSS group can agree on fewer starts and landings. Incidentally, era came to a close. a standardised version and an analog- the Boeing 747B is guaranteed to be The "Jumbo" will introduce a new ous distribution of duties as for the less noisy than the DC-8-62. And news phase. It will intensify the develop- B-747, a solid basis for rational opera- has just come to hand that the Ameri- ment of aviation which is one of the tion of the new kind of aircraft is can Federal Aviation Office has given most rapidly growing branches of Swiss assured. the airworthiness certificate to the jet economy. An enterprise like Swissair engine which is to be used in the 747B, whose President is convinced that the 500 Passengers take off in One Go made by Pratt and Whitney, Hartford best way to serve company and country (Connecticut). It shows a great im- is to base the costly investment plans What is the new "Jumbo-Jet" going provement : the combustion chamber is on the "field of sober reality" and not to look like? Impressive in sight, yes, of a construction which allows com- to be tempted by "visionary hysteria of but the outstanding difference be will plete burning of fuel without progress", can hardly fail to succeed. the inside of the cabin where 250 up any to trace of residue. The exhaust is Astute, but dynamic is its label, 500 be seated nine jet passengers will or free from soot and smoke. shrewdly forward-looking its guiding ten abreast, with two and gangways principle, a combination with every bulkheads the of seats. dividing rows chance of success. The cargo hold is also considerably No Investment yet in Supersonic larger than in today's customary jet air- Aircraft * * * craft. Naturally, a giant aeroplane of is the Since the above article was written, this type cannot simply be operated the Money first requisite for all the Swissair news has come that KLM, SAS, Swiss- same way as one of the jets in use at planned developments. as a has invest air and the French carrier Union de present. There are complex ground company to huge sums in the future to rise fully to the occasion. Transports Aériens (UTA) have in fact handling problems. More than twenty selected the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 vehicles be The Board's proposals to increase the will involved in the depar- series 30 as their next generation air- share capital and to create the pre-con- ture of a Boeing 747, including a 50- craft. In due course, the four airlines ton aircraft tractor. Hangar I at ditions for the issue of a convertible bond loan in the are expected to operate up to 36 of had to be enlarged and near future, were ac- shareholders. share these new wide body trijets, which will its roof raised by six metres to accom- cepted by The capital will be raised from 218,750,000 be powered by General Electric CF6-50 modate "Jumbo". high-thrust engines. First With the arrival of the wide- to 273,437,500 Swiss francs by the issue deliveries are due to start late in 1972. fuselage aircraft, airport expansion of 125,000 new registered shares and 31,250 bearer shares. The share The cost per aircraft including spares must keep in step. Airports with their will be increased further well is around £8.3 million. runways, taxiways, hangars, work- capital by 27 francs The DC-10-30 is a three engined shops, office blocks, can only be made over million to 300,781,250 francs 78,125 bearer wide body aircraft for medium and use of intelligently and profitably if the by issuing new shares. long-haul services. In the Swissair communication services by road and version it will seat 253 and function But the Canton of Zurich, too, has passengers rail smoothly. And again, all over 15 tons of cargo. The four be used to carry its share; it is aware that the carry this will only to the full where airlines have agreed on a uniform hotels, conference halls and other economic investment needed secures the Canton and specification for their trijets. This facilities are easily available to the air great advantages for ultimately also for the standardisation permits a division of passenger — business man, holiday company. and Swissair takes a rather reserved engineering maintenance work: it maker, congress participant, globe is planned that Swissair will maintain trotter. attitude with regard to the supersonic aircraft. In their considered opinion, the airframes, while KLM will over- of the haul the powerplants of all DC-10-30s Is Switzerland ready to cope? some most important problems of supersonic extent, operating to be operated by the group. Close is also in both What has to be done to be ready economics and noise are as yet com- co-operation planned and for the increased air traffic? As far as pletely unsolved. The Americans have operation training. airports go, the main need is that of re-shaped their project for the so-called extending runways. In Geneva, there "SST" (Super Sonic Transport) and POPE PAUL TRAVELS ON is only one, though apart from this economics are still not encouraging. SPECIAL SWISSAIR FLIGHT long-term handicap, the new He'rogare But even without supersonic air- opened last year, has put Cointrin craft, Swissair's fleet can stand com- For his eleven hour visit to Geneva ahead, also' by being close to the parison with any competitor. The com- on 10th June, Pope Paul VI and his National Road (motorway) network. pany was established in 1931 and be- suite travelled on a specially converted A new airport building will be ready came Switzerland's national carrier in 990 Coronado jet of Swissair, in Basle to receive the wide-fuselage 1947, although it remained a privately decorated with the papal coat of arms. planes. Zurich-Kloten is being ex- controlled enterprise. From its success, The flight from Rome's Fiumicino Air- tended further, but it is quite clear that it is evident that the company has been port arrived at Geneva-Cointrin at 9 it will not be big enough to cope with run wisely and competently. a.m. For his return on board the same the expected step-up in air traffic. A aircraft the Pope left Geneva the same new sector for use of the "Jumbos" is Exit the "Grand Old Lady" evening. needed, and an additional freight centre The Swissair Coronado jet's cabin is desirable. Kloten, even after the On 13th May, one of Swissair's was specially fitted out and divided into next stage of expansion, will not offer last DC-3 aircraft, affectionately called several compartments. The Pope had an ideal solution. There is space, "Grand Old Lady" by the pilots, was his own stateroom. The cardinals, though, to develop it further. But op- presented to the Swiss Transport archbishops, bishops and other church position exists amongst the inhabitants Museum in where it will have dignitaries of his suite were seated in a of near-by villages, and thirteen Com- a place of honour after 1971. All separate compartment, while a third munes have recently approached the DC-3s were withdrawn from line ser- cabin section was, among others, re- Zurich Government in this matter. vice in autumn 1963, and the HB IRN served for press, radio and TV repre- Noise abatement and air pollution are ("Inda-Romeo-November") then served sentatives accredited to the Vatican.

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