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UPDATE
Week ending November 3, 1996
Farnborough to challenge ILA +++ NH90 production numbers to be reduced? +++ Düsseldorf reopens Terminal C +++ TAP Air Portugal to aquire up to 26 more Airbus aircraft +++ Eurofighter essential for German equipment industry +++ USAir stops code-sharing with British Airways, effective next spring +++ Ariane to launch SICRAL +++ McDonnell Douglas abandons MD-XX +++ Dasa studies on new supersonic trainer +++ News in Brief +++
Farnborough to challenge ILA
Herausforderung für die ILA
The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) is currently evaluating to move the date for the traditional Farnborough air show from the first week in September to June. In a letter to BDLI president Dr. Manfred Bischoff, SBAC president M. J. Turner said that the summer recess of parliament and the holidays of the Royal Family made preparations for the show difficult.This somewhat obscure reasoning cannot hide the fact that a change in schedule would be a direct attack on the ILA show at Berlin, which is in May. The fight for the number two spot of European air shows (behind Paris Le Bourget) is escalating, and keeping in mind the ever escalating costs of attending the myriad of local shows around the world, some see just one survivor in the medium term.
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NH90 production numbers to be reduced?
Weniger NH90?
NH Industries is in the process of preparing the basis for a decision on the industrialisation and production phases of the NH90 multi-role helicopter, scheduled for the end of next year. According to latest reports, various options concerning production numbers and number of final assembly lines are evaluated, including the follwing figures which represent a cut of around 75 machines (roughly ten per cent) from earlier plans:
- France: 133 TTH + 27 NFH = (160 instead of 220)
- Germany: 205 TTH + 38 NFH = (243 instead of 272)
- Italy: 160 TTH + 64 NFH = 224 (instead of 212)
- Netherlands: 20 NFH = 20 (unchanged)
Despite the possible reduction, it is said that NH Industries (Eurocopter, Fokker and Agusta) is still using unit prices of around 30 million DM for the TTH and 50 million DM for the NFH. The company says that flight testing of the first prototype is going well and the second NH90 will fly before year end.
Meanwhile, the urgency of the NH90 service entry is illustrated by mounting problems with German army Bell UH-1Ds. As many as 50 of the old helicopters will be used for spare parts to keep the rest of the fleet flying.
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Düsseldorf reopens Terminal C
Terminal C in Düsseldorf wieder eröffnet
204 days after the deadly terminal fire, Düsseldorf airport has reopened Terminal C, which will now be used to handle scheduled services. For charter flights, two semi-permanent buildings were erected (Terminal D and E). These are four kilometres apart, so passengers should check carefully which airline they are flying. All arrivals will be handled at Terminal C.The new arrangements, which cost 150 million DM, replace tents and maintenance hangars used during the summer months. The fully rebuilt Terminal B will not be ready before May 1999. Eight architects are currently working on proposals. The aim is to have a total capacity of 22 million passengers a year.
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TAP Air Portugal to aquire up to 26 more Airbus aircraft
Großauftrag für Airbus Industrie von TAP Air Portugal
TAP Air Portugal announced it has decided to aquire 18 single aisle A319s from Airbus Industrie (AI) as part of its medium-range fleet renewal. Five of these aircraft can be converted into A320s. In addition, it has taken an option on eight aircraft from AI's single aisle family, and will lease another four A319s. Delivery will take place between December 1997 and June 2000. The new aircraft will progressively replace older generation ones and make TAP an all AI aircraft operator.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite.
Eurofighter essential for German equipment industry
Deutsche Ausrüstungsfirmen auf Eurofighter angewiesen
A speedy go-ahead for Eurofighter 2000 production is essential for many German equipment companies, the BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association) has said. Some could even be "threatened in their existence", BDLI-president Dr. Manfred Bischoff added.In its continued effort to get the production investment phase approved by the Bundestag, the BDLI claims that the small and medium sized German equipment companies will reap 450 million DM form the production investment phase and 4,1 billion DM from production to 2016. A survey has shown that 5400 high-quality jobs depend on Eurofighter. Up to now, the equipment companies have invested around 250 million DM of their own money in new technologies relating to Eurofighter, it is claimed.
A further delay of the EF2000 decision would threaten jobs and essential know-how, the BDLI reiterates, as well as increasing costs and possibly further eroding the German workshare on the programme.
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USAir stops code-sharing with British Airways, effective next spring
USAir kündigt Code-sharing-Abkommen mit British Airways
Surprisingly, USAir has cancelled ist code-sharing agreement with British Airways, effective March 29th, 1997. With that move, the collapse of the partnership between USAir und BA is more and more likely to become reality, analysts say. BA owns 24,6 percent of USAir's capital. Some weeks ago, BA announced an alliance with USAir rival American Airlines.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite.
Ariane to launch SICRAL
Italienischer Militärsatellit wird mit Ariane gestartet
On October 30, BPD Difesa e Spazio, representing the SITAB consortium, and Arianespace announced the signing of a contract for the launch of Italy's first secure communications and warning satellite (SICRAL). It will ride an Ariane 5 from Kourou in the second half of 1999.SICRAL is an integrated satellite communications system which will provide secure telecommunications for the Italian Ministry of Defence and civil security forces for both domestic needs and remote operations. As part of the SITAB consortium, Alenia Spazio is responsibel for the system's general architecture, and will also develop and construct the satellite and fixed and mobile receiver terminals. BPD Difesa e Spazio will manage the launch contract, and is also responsible for the satellites 's propulsion sysem. Nuova Telespazio will construct the control center.
Arianespace has now 43 satellites to launch, for a total value of approximately 3,4 billion US-Dollars.
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McDonnell Douglas abandons MD-XX
MD-XX wird nicht gebaut
After reviewing a six-month engineering study, the McDonnell Douglas board has decided the risk to launch the three billion MD-XX project are too great. Thus, the Long Beach company will be unable to compete with new models from Airbus and Boeing in the long-range, high-capacity market. Renewed speculations on merger options or the retreat from the airliner business were rejected.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite.
Dasa studies on new supersonic trainer
AT-2000: Dasa-Konzept für einen neuen Überschalltrainer
Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) is working on studies for a new supersonic trainer to replace aircraft like the T-38 Talon, which after 2000 "will be two to three entire aircraft generations behind the new fighters then entering service". The AT-2000 concept envisages 
an aircraft of around 7,7 tons take-off weight, powered by a version of the EJ200 engine and using state of the art systems like fly-by-wire and avionics with integrated inflight simulation and training modes to ease the transition to operational fighters.If the programme goes ahead, AT-2000 development will be shared with foreign partners, like Denel Aviation of South Africa and an "unnamed company in South Korea". A first flight could be in 2000 with service entry targeted for 2005. Price for the AT-2000 is quoted as slightly over 20 million DM.
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NEWS IN BRIEF - KURZMELDUNGEN
The Bavarian police intends to lease nine EC 135 helicopters from Eurocopter, with deliveries starting at the end of 1997. The contract, which has a value of 60 million DM, is expected to be signed in mid November. It includes an option to buy the helicopters after the ten year lease period. The police hopes to make a multi-million DM saving using this novel procurement path.+++
Hughes Aircraft Co. has been awarded a 12,7 million US-Dollar subcontract form Dornier GmbH to supply Sentry, an off-the-shelf air defense system, to the Control and Reporting Center Schönwalde for the Luftwaffe. Under the terms of the contract, announced October 30, Hughes will taylor Sentry to meet mission-specific Luftwaffe requirements. Customization includes the addition of a digital data link to the NATO E-3A AWACS, tailoring the graphic user interface for German operational needs, and the integratioin of an advanced tracker to be provided by Dornier.
+++
On October 29, Federal Express has started a new direct flight between Frankfurt and Moscow (Vnukovo). An additional improvement in the express-freight network will be the Moscow - Munich - Paris route, linking southern Germany directly to the FedEx intercontinental hub. All services are operated by Boeing 727-200s owned by FedEx, which has a fleet of 563 aircraft (September 1996).
+++
During the visit of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to the Philippines, Manila aviation officials and a consortium led by Germany's Daimler Benz Aerospace signed a memorandum of agreement for the creation of a regional airport in the central Philippines and a memorandum of agreement that calls for the transfer of technology in air transport control and navigation.
+++
As part of its service initiative, Lufthansa has opened a new Lounge for business-class passengers at Terminal A in Frankfurt. It has 1000 square meters and for the first time showers are installed for use after long intercontinental flights.
+++
After Dasa has guaranteed the financing, work on the Rockot launcher has accelerated at Russian partner Khrunichev, where the third stage in in production. The Eurockot joint company stated at the end of October that a first start from Plesetzk is planned before the end of 1998.
+++
On October 31, Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) and trade unions ÖTV and DAG concluded a new agreement to increase wages by 1,7 percent from January 1997 and 1,8 per cent from January 1998. For the rest of this year, there will be a one-off payment.
+++
Like other passenger and freight airlines worldwide, Austrian Airlines has introduced a fuel surcharge for tickets and freight from November 4. Prices are up three per cent or 10 cents per kilogramm.
+++
The next Ariane 4 flight is scheduled for November 13. Mission 92 will place the Arabsat 2B and the Measat 2 satellites into a transfer orbit using an Ariane 44L with four liquid strap-on boosters.
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Previous updates are still available:
- Week ending October 27, 1996
- Week ending October 20, 1996
- Week ending October 13, 1996
- Week ending October 6, 1996
- Week ending September 29, 1996
- Week ending September 22, 1996
LRI Fakten - News from the BDLI
The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI, Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V.) is publishing a monthly newsletter, which we are pleased to offer to our international readership online. Just klick here for the September/October issue of LRI Fakten.
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Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated November 2, 1996