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UPDATE
Week ending January 5, 1997
+++ Airbus closer to reorganisation +++ Next Ariane 5 launch delayed +++ Gulfstream delivers first Gulfstream V +++ US Air Force selects two teams for new launcher +++ Swissair, AUA and Sabena select A330 +++ Hughes signs up for H-IIA launches +++ Matra Marconi Space secures Satellite order +++ Antonov rolls out An-70 and An-140 +++ News in Brief +++

Airbus closer to reorganisation
Fortschritte bei der Airbus-Umstrukturierung

Airbus seems to have come a step closer to its urgent transformation from a GIE to a full-blown company. In a terse statement, released on January 3 after a meeting of the heads of the partner companies, the consortium has stated that "following the progress made (they) have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding. This MoU will be signed in the next few days." No further details were immediately available. but more infos were promised after signature.
The restructuring of Airbus, to better meet the challenge from a combined Boeing/McDonnell Douglas, is widely regarded as an extremely difficult task, with contradicting views from the privately-owned partners Dasa and British Aerospace against the still state-owned Aerospatiale and CASA. The discussions apparently centre on the question which factories will come under Airbus management and ownership, and when this should happen. A previous supervisory board meeting on December 13, just before the Boeing/McDD merger announcement, could not resolve the differences. The aim apparently still is to have a "new" Airbus in place by 1999.

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Next Ariane 5 launch delayed
Nächster Ariane 5 Start erst im Juli

Without further explanation, ESA and CNES have announced that the second test flight of the Ariane 5 launcher will be delayed from April to July 1997, a full 13 months after the spectacular failure on the first try. Preparation for flight 502 will start on April 9. Another qualification flight has been scheduled for December, to clear the new European launcher for commercial service. Meanwhile, the cost of the maiden flight desaster has been put at 360 million US-Dollars. This cost will be split between ESA member countries, the manufacturing companies, and Arianespace.

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Gulfstream delivers first Gulfstream V
Erste Gulfstream V ausgeliefert

On December 30, 1996, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that it has delivered the first Gulfstream V. The delivery to an international customer marks another major milestone in the four year development program. The aircraft will now be outfitted and completed at Gulfstream's facility in Savannah for real service entry by the second quarter of 1997.
Gulfstream V deliveries have begun following FAA provisional type certification of the new business jet on December 13th. The new business jet, with a nonstop range of 6,500 nautical miles, has a lead of narly 18 months over the rival Bombardier Global Express. Gulfstream claims that performance of the GV during flight testing has achieved all development goals. Test aircraft have flown to a maximum speed of Mach 0.96 and altitudes up to 54,000 feet. The fleet of test aircraft has amassed well over 1,150 flight hours to date.
The company has recently announced plans to increase production in 1998 and 1999. Gulfstream currently has a firm contract backlog of approximately $3 billion for its Gulfstream V and Gulfstream IV-SP business jets from customers around the world. The next available Gulfstream V has a fourth quarter of 1999 delivery date, and the next new Gulfstream IV-SP has a fourth quarter of 1998 delivery date.

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US Air Force selects two teams for new launcher
Zwei Teams kämpfen um neues Trägersystem

The US Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center has selected two industry teams to compete in the development of the new Evolved Expandable Launch Vehicle (EELV). Lockheed Martin and McDonnell Douglas both received a contract valued US-Dollar 60 million to produce more detailed design studies for this projected new family of efficient low cost missiles.
The US Air Force looks for a successor to ist Atlas, Titan and Delta payload carriers. The decision who will finally develop the EELV is expected for June 1998. First launch is planned for 2001. The EELV will not only serve military purposes but aimes also at commercial launch business.

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Swissair, AUA and Sabena select A330
Airbus A330 für Swissair, Austrian und Sabena

In a concerted action, Swissair, Austrian Airlines and Sabena of Belgium have choosen to modernise their fleets with Airbus A330-200 widebody twinjets. Swissair will take nine while Sabena will acquire four, all powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4168 engines. Austrian Airlines has ordered four, taking one in August 1998 and the rest from the beginning of 1999. All airlines will replace their A310 with the new Airbus long-haul airliner, which will be used an Asian routes for example. The A330-200 can take 259 passengers on trips of up to 12600 km.

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Hughes signs up for H-IIA launches
Japanische H-IIA wird Hughes-Satelliten starten

Hughes Space & Communications has signed up for ten launches with the Japanese H-IIA system. The number of optionsthat are part of the contract was not disclosed. The launches are expected to begin in 2000 and are to be spread over a period of five years. The H-IIA is able to lift payloads like the two largest Hughes satellites HS 601 and the new HS 702, which weigh 3 to 5 tons at launch. The launches will take place at Japan's Space Center Tanegashima.

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Matra Marconi Space secures Satellite order
Matra Marconi Space sichert sich neuen Satellitenauftrag

INTELSAT has selected Matra Marconi Space to build a new DTH satellite. This is the first time, the largest satellite communications organisation has placed an satellite order outside the US. The high-power INTELSAT K-TV satellite will have 30 Ku Band transponders, a launch mass of 3150 kg and 7.6 kW power. Launch is scheduled for the end of 1998. Two deployable fixed antennas will provide coverage for China and India, two mobile antennas will cover Indonesia, Malaysia and the Far East (Japan, Korea, etc.). Matra Marconi Space is Europe's number one in satellites with a turnover of $1.4 billion in 1995, 4700 employees.

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Antonov rolls out An-70 and An-140
An-140 und An-70 haben Roll-out

On December 23, Antonows new An-140 and the second An-70 prototype came out of the assembly lines at Kiev. The An-70, a wide-bodied military transport, can fly 5,000 kilometers nonstop with 30 tons of cargoes, at a cruising speed of 750 kilometers per hour.It is claimed to be capable of not only replacing the old military transport plane An-12, but also carrying out specialized missions of the An-76 civil planes
An-140 is a short-range passenger aircraft designed to eventually replace the renewed An-24. In the former Soviet Union, about 40 percent of passenger planes were An-24. Experts said that the An-140 is much more superior to An-24 in all aspects. It can save fuel by up to 50 percent, and its take-off distance is much shorter. Antonov Aviation Designing Bureau estimated that the potential sales of An-140 can reach 600 to 800 planes, mostly to the CIS countries.
Although the government hails the successes of the new planes, An-70 still faces much criticism. Vitaly Konov, a former chief engineer at the Antonov Aviation Designing Bureau, said An-70's control system has adopted a Russian electronic system far below international standards. "Due to its low performance, unreliable equipment and engine, the potential buyer of An-70 can only be Russia," said Konov, who has worked with the designing bureau for 22 years. The government is spending huge money on an unrealistic project, Konov said. He expressed doubts whether next year's test flight could be successful, saying that the internal management at the designing bureau has become so messy that an outsider will never believe it.

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NEWS IN BRIEF - KURZMELDUNGEN

Aero International (Regional) has shortlisted the Pratt & Whitney Canada/Snecma SPW14 and the General Electric CF34-8C turbofan for its planned regional jet. A final decision is due in the spring.
+++
The Swiss Government has ordered an Agusta A 109 Power for the training of its helicopter pilots. It will be fitted for IFR flights and will have rescue equipment installed.
+++
A Lockheed Martin Atlas IIA successfully launched the third of the new generation Inmarsat mobile communications satellites into the geosynchronous transfer orbit on December 17th, 1996. This was the second Inmarsat-e launch with an Atlas missile after the F2 was launched with a Russian Proton on September 6th, 1996, at Baikonur. The launch also was the 27th consecutive successful Atlas launch from the US Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station and the final Atlas launch in 1996.
+++
From January 1, the Slovak Republic and Spain have joined Eurocontrol as full members. The accession of Croatia has been accepted by the Permanent Commission. It is expected that Croatia will become a Member State soon.
+++
Dassault Aviations Falcon 50EX, an enhanced devolpment of the Falcon 50 trijet, was certified by the FAA on December 20. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in January.
+++
TAP Air Portugal on December 18 finally officially signed its order for 18 Airbus A319. Five of the single-aisle airlines can be taken as A320s, if TAP wishes. The aircraft will be fitted with CFM56 engines. Deliveries begin in 1997.
+++
Chinese airlines received a total of 34 new airplanes from Chinese and foreign aircraft manufacturers in 1996, according to latest figures. Meanwhile, the airlines ordered from foreign manufacturers another 62 planes, which are expected to be delivered before the year 2000. The new delivieries included 21 Boeings, three Chinese-built Yun-5s, seven Airbuses, and three McDonnell Douglas planes.

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Previous updates are still available:

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 November/December issue of LRI Fakten.

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Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated January 4, 1997