Koko - Civil Aviation (AU) - Page 6

All very attractive drawings, of course. Why does the Toscaire carry the tail surfaces so far forward (or alternately, why is the rear fuselage longer than it needs to be for stability and control)?

erik_t wrote:

All very attractive drawings, of course. Why does the Toscaire carry the tail surfaces so far forward (or alternately, why is the rear fuselage longer than it needs to be for stability and control)?

I suppose all fuselage length aft of the control surfaces is dedicated to housing the APU. In any case, we need to ask that to the defunct Fairchild-Dornier:
Fairchild-Dornier 728 family - Pic

Anyway, Koutei Koku entry is over, I'll move to its regional subsidiary next.

Impressive! Looking forward to see next entries!

_________________
best regards
Martin

~~Normerr~~FD stuff~~

Koutei Connection (formerly Kita no Kokukaisha-Northern Airlines):

Founded in 1985 and based at Miyabi Airport (Chichibu Island), Kita no Kokukaisha began scheduled operations in mid 1986 with a single second-hand Dornier 228-200, connecting the island's largest city with Nagaisaka (which is home of one of Koko-Kaijou major naval bases) with two daily flights. The small airline added a few more Dorniers in the next years starting to increase its local destinations culminating with the introduction of the Fokker-50 in 1990, which opened the first extra-island route serving Taniguchi (Yomei Island). In addition to the Fokkers, the 90's saw more slow but steady expansion with the introduction of the French-Italian built ATR-42 turboprops. By 1999 the airline had a fleet of 10 turboprops, serving destinations on the islands of Jimmu, Tenji and Heian as well. As the 2000s dawned, Kita attempted a sudden and vast expansion of its route network with the goal of fagocitating the market demands freed by Air Tenji and Koko Airways route cuts (both airlines had their own share of troubles). A large number of new ATR-42 and ATR-72 aircrafts were ordered, and both the Dorniers and the Fokkers were retired in the next years. Ultimately, the airline ended up tripling the fleet size in just eight years. This sudden and almost uncontrolled expansion plan soon resulted in more troubles than benefits, as Kita's profits hit the red in 2008 did not made profits again until 2011. Financial troubles kept waning and resurfacing intermittently into the 2010s as well. This all culminated in 2015 when Koutei koku announced that it was to acquire Kita to expand its regional connection. Koutei soon got complete ownership over Kita and decided to rebrand its new regional subsidiary. Kita's turboprops started to be repainted into Koutei colours, then in early 2017 the airline name and brand was changed to Koutei Connection. Under this plan the former Kita is phasing out all its ATR-42s while recieving the Bombardier Dash-8-Q400s from Koutei koku mainline fleet as a replacement. As a longer term plan, the ATR-72s are to go as well. For their replacement, planned to start in 2019, Koutei Koku initially ordered for its subsidiary 24 Mitsubishi MRJ-90. However, when January 2017 Mitsubishi announced a two-year delay in the program (the fifth since its launch), the airline canceled all its outstanding orders. A few weeks later a new order for 24 SCI toscaire-200 was announced.

Currently, Koutei Connection operates a fleet of 37 turboprop aircrafts and serves 40 feeder and regional routes for Koutei Koku.

Operated aircrafts:
Do-228-200 (1986-2002)
Fokker-50 (1990-2009)
ATR-42-300 (1992-2016)
ATR-42-500 (2000-on, 6 in service)
ATR-72-500 (2002-on, 24 in service)
Dash-8-400 (2017-on, 7 in service)

Dornier Do-228:

Kita began its scheduled operations with this 19-seat turboprop in July 1986, initially flying daily between Miyabi and Nagaisaka. A second airframe was added in 1988 and a third in 1991. One of them, the youngest one, was written off in 1997 in the only serious incident involving the airline. The plane veered off the runway after a landing in wet conditions at Tohokusan Airport and cartwheeled into a ravine, luckily there were no casualties. The other two 228s served on until their retirement in 2002.
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Fokker 50:

Kita introduced the Dutch-built fokker 50 in 1990, opening the first routes between Miyabi and Taniguchi. A second F50 was bought in 1992 to increase capacity on the Miyabi-Nagaisaka. The wo airframes served well, had no maintenance issues and neither were involved in service mishaps or accidents of any sort. They were retired in 2008-2009, both because they were approaching retirement age and as a cost-cutting measure after the airline was experiencing its first financial issues.
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Very nice. Keep it up!

ATR-42:

In the early 90's Kita ordered six French-Italian ATR-42-300 aircrafts, deliverered between 1992 and 1997, opening new destinations to the islands of Jimmu, Tenji and Heian. The planes were fitted with 50 seats in a single class. Two airframes were retired in 2011-12 as a cost-cutting measure, the other four survived until the airline acquisition by Koutei Koku and retired in 2015-16.
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In addition to the -300 series, Kita also ordered seven ATR-42-500 in the late 90's, recieving them in between 2000 and 2003. Two more were ordered in 2005 and delivered in 2007, for a total of 9. The -500s offered new engines and six-bladed propellers which allowed for better performance, cruise speed, fuel efficency and reduced noise levels. They can carry 50 passengers in a single class like their siblings. Following Kita's takeover and rebranding into Koutei Connection, the ATRs were repainted in koutei colours, although they are planned to be retired and replaced by DASH-8s from koutei mainline fleet. Six are still in service.
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ATR-72:

Workhorse of the fleet for all the 2000s, the ATR-72 was introduced by Kita in late 2002, as part of a large order for 20 machines signed between Kita and ATR in 2001. The order came as a consequence for the airline ambitious plan of expansion in the domestic regional market. It took thirteen years to have them all delivered, also accounting for a further order for four made in 2011. The purchase expense for the ATRS and the resulting overcapacity that resulted on many routes are often considered the starting point of kita's prolonged financial troubles. Repainted in koutei colours after Kita acquisition and rebranding the ATR-72 are fitted to seat 70 passengers in a single class. All 24 are still in service, although they are slated for replacement starting in 2019, when the first SCI Toscaire-200 will be delivered.
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Shipbucket

Koko - Civil Aviation (AU)

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