Re-Engining Appears to Offer Best Payback for Young: Chapter 2 Compliant Aircraft

摘要

As a result of aircraft noise regulations, Chapter 2 compliant aircraft are facedwith the prospect of enforced retirement by around the year 2000, and a tougher action at airports even earlier. The options for the older aircraft owner are in increasing order of cost: to do nothing, operating where the aircraft is acceptable for as long as possible, and then scrapping it (this is the obvious course of action with very old airframe); where technically possible to risk getting by with a bolt on hushkit, and then operating until further local noise constraints force scrapping; to rengine with a modern turbofan and, as a result, have an environmentally acceptable and valuable airframe as an asset (this option is attractive to owners of young airframes); to sell the aircraft while it still has resale value, and by a much more expensive replacement. The pros and cons of the 'hushkit' and 're-engine' options are considered. The re-engining option appears the most advantageous, having a whole array of benefits besides outstanding noise reduction, the hushkitting offering little real noise alleviation, especially at take off.