U P D A T E
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Week ending March 2, 1997
+++ Russian-German crew safely back from Mir +++ Second German EF2000 flies +++ Small fire on Mir station +++ European Airlines: Almost ten million more passengers in 1996 +++ German LBA reports fewer accidents +++ BMW Rolls-Royce confirms interest in FLA powerplant +++ LFK GmbH continues work on FMRAAM +++ Ariane launches first Intelsat 8 +++ Small airports becoming more important +++ Russia delays module for space station +++ British Aerospace with record results +++ News in brief +++
Russian-German crew safely back from Mir
Reinhold Ewald wieder sicher auf der Erde
On March 2, German cosmonatu Reinhold Ewald and his Russian collegues Valeri Korzun and Alexander Kaleri safely returned from the Mir orbital station to earth. The descent module of the Soyuz TM-24 spaceship touched down, as was planned, at 09.44 Moscow time 130 kilometers east of the city of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. The cosmonauts feel well after the landing.Korzun and Kaleri worked aboard the Mir complex since last August, staying in orbit 197 days. Several foreign astronauts visited the space station during this time: French woman cosmonaut Claudi Deshayes, NASA astronauts Shannon Lucid, John Blaha and Jerry Linenger. During their mission, they accomplished work under the Russian national programme and under the international projects Mir-NASA, Cassiopeia and Mir-97.
On February 12, the Russian Soyuz TM-25 spaceship brought a "relief team" to the station -- Vassili Tsibliev and Alexander Lazutkin. German Ewald came together with them to the station. The German space agency DARA is to pay 60 million U.S. dollars to Russia for the three-week flight of its staffer.
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Second German EF2000 flies
Zweiter deutscher Eurofighter-Prototyp fliegt
On February 24, Dasa chief test pilot Wolfgang Schirdewahn took Eurofighter prototype DA5 into the air for its maiden flight. The test sortie from Manching in Bavaria lasted about an hour. During 
this time, the ECR90-radar was operated for the first time in flight in the EF2000, signalling a major milestone in the much delayed development programme.DA5s first flight was crucial as it is the first prototype to have both the Eurojet EJ200 engine and the radar, which was tested before in the nose of an BAC 1-11 airliner. GEC Marconi Avionics is responsible for ECR90-development, with Dasa Sensorsystem, FIAR (Italy) and Enosa (Spain) as partners. First flight tests will concentrate on air-to-air performance measurement against different target aircraft provided by Bundeswehr test unit WTD 61.
In the meantime, the last EF2000 prototype, DA4 (two-seater) should get airborne this week at British Aerospaces Warton test field in the UK. On the political front, the German cabinet has apparently still not decided on the production investment go-ahead.
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Small fire on Mir station
Feuer auf der russischen Raumstation
On Sunday, February 23, at 22.35 Moscow time, a small fire broke out abord the Mir station and burned for about 90 seconds, causing minor damage to some hardware. No injuries to any of the six crewmembers on board, including Reinhold Ewald, were reported later. The problem was caused by an oxygen-generating device on Mir, where Lithium perchlorate candles are burned to generate supplemental oxygen when more than three people are on board. The candles usually burn for five to 20 minutes. Russion officials believe the problem began when a crack in the oxygen generators shell allowed the contents of the cartridge to leak intothe hardware in which it was located. Crewmembers extinguished the fire with foam from three extinguishers, each containing two litres of water-based liquid.
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European Airlines: Almost ten million more passengers in 1996
Europäische Airlines haben 1996 zehn Millionen mehr Passagiere als 1995 befördert
According to a statement of Brussels-based Association of European Airlines (AEA), the 26 AEA-members carried 148 million passengers on their scheduled international operations in 1996, almost ten million more than the previous year's figure of 138,2 million. This means a 7 percent increase in passenger journeys. Translated into passenger kilometers, the industry's more usual measure of traffic volume, this means an even greater groth of 8,1 percent. This was due to consistently higher groth in long-haul traffic. Load factor for the year set a new record of 70,4 percent. But there was no improvement in punctuality performance, the AEA stated. On intra-European routes, 18,5 percent of departures were delayed by more than 15 minutes. This represents a fractional deterioration on 1995's figure of 18,4 percent.
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German LBA reports fewer accidents
Weniger Unfälle mit deutschen Luftfahrzeugen
The LBA (German aviation authority) has released its accident statistics for 1996, noting a further decrease in the number of crashes but an increase in persons killed. Here are the figures in detail, with 1995 results in parentheses:| aircraft type | crashes | people killed |
| aircraft over 5,7 tons | 4 (3) | 14 (2) |
| aircraft 2,0 to 5,7 tons | 10 (17) | 2 (7) |
| aicraft less than 5,7 tons | 133 (158) | 52 (34) |
| helicopters | 21 (19) | 8 (15) |
| motorgliders | 46 (57) | 9 (6) |
| sailplanes | 157 (157) | 7 (11) |
| balloons | 36 (41) | 0 (3) |
| parachutes | 51 (35) | 5 (3) |
| hang gliders | 28 (30) | 2 (3) |
| microlights | 21 (23) | 7 (6) |
| others | 34 (40) | 0 (1) |
This statistic includes all accidents by aircraft registered in Germany, whether in-country or abroad. It thus excludes the Birgenair crash, for example.
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BMW Rolls-Royce confirms interest in FLA powerplant
BMW R-R ist an Entwicklung des FLA-Triebwerks interessiert
At an official presentation in Bonn, BMW Rolls-Royce has confirmed its interest in developing a turboprop powerplant for the proposed FLA military transport. Starting with the modern core of its BR710 turbofan, the company would add a 10000 shp gearbox designed by Hispano Suiza/ZF Luftfahrttechnik. This would be the most powerfull propeller gearbox ever built in the west. Rolls-Royce military aircraft engines of the UK would contribute its logistics experience.Given a selection over its rivals in 1997 and a programme launch in 1998, BMW R-R is confident to be able to bring the BR700-TP to flight readiness within 42 months, meeting an in-service date target for FLA of 2004 (Royal Air Force). Concerning finance, state funding would be highly desirable, as no civil application for this type of powerplant is foreseen. But, acknowledging tight defence budgets, BMW R-R promised to be open to other solutions and apply some "creative thinking".
Meanwhile, the future of the FLA is far from assured. Recent reports that the RAF wants to reduce its requirement from 50 to 25 aircraft do not help. In France though, there seems to be progress towards a commercial credit arrangement guaranteed by the Government. Further indications on the next steps could come out of a meeting by Government representatives of the participating nations sometime in the spring.
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LFK GmbH continues work on FMRAAM
Neuer FMRAAM-Studienauftrag für die LFK GmbH
Lenkflugkörpersystem GmbH will continue its studies into a new medium-range air-to-air missile with much improved performance (FMRAAM = Future Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile). A new contract issued by BWB (German military procurement agency) is valued at 16,3 million DM an covers the next 18 months of work. Main topics of the demonstrator programme will be further aerodynamic studies, inclusive wind-tunnel work, the production of a digital simulation model, tests with rudder servos and static firings of the ramjet engine by Bayern Chemie. The new programme is a follow on to a technology study concluded in late 1996. It will enable LFK GmbH to make substantial contributions to an international consortium bidding for the UK FMRAAM competition (Staff Requirement (A) 1239).
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Ariane launches first Intelsat 8
Erster Intelsat 8 mit Ariane 4 ins All gebraucht
On March 1, at 1.07 am GMT, Arianespace successfully launched Intelsat 801, the first in the new generation of satellites operated by the Internaional Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Flight 94 was carried out by an Ariane 44P, the version ot the European launcher with four solid-propellant strap-on boosters. The Intelsat 801 is based on the first in a new series of platforms designed to provide more powerful and higher capacity C-band communications services. Built by Lockheed Martin Telecommunications in East Windsor, New Jersey, it offers two steerabel C-band spotbeams, interconnection between c and Ku bands, satelite newsgathering service and compatibility with VII and VIIA satellites. Intelsat 801 weighed 3420 kg at liftoff. It provides 3 TV channels, 22500 telephone circuits and up to 112500 digital telephone circuits.
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Small airports becoming more important
Regionalflughäfen mit großem Passagierzuwachs
Regional airports in Germany are becoming more and more important. According to a statement of ADV, the German airport association, small airports handled 2,6 million passenger in 1996, which means an 7,4 increase to the 1995 figure. ADV stated that leisure traffic is the fastest growing sector at regional airports. 912000 leisure passengers were handled during last year, 29 percent more compared to 1995. Among the smaller airports in Germany, Paderborn/Lippstadt (546000 passengers) is the the largest, followed by Dortmund (463000) and Friedrichshafen (320000). International airports in Germany saw a total of 113,2 million passengers in 1996, which is only a 2,6 increase.
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Russia delays module for space station
Raumstation Alpha: Russen können Termine nicht halten
On 24 February, Russian space agency director Yuri Koptjew told reporters the launch of the first Russian module for space station Alpha, a propulsion segment financed by the United States, will be delayed from November of this year until June 1998. The agency changed the schedule because a shortage of funds had already forced postponement of a second Russian- financed service module, where the crew would live."The change in the timetable is entirely Russia's fault," Koptyev said, blaming the Russian government for providing inadequate funds to the space program. NASA officials said they were surprised by Koptyev's comments and that nothing had been officially decided. "There are options that are being worked," said NASA's Frank Culbertson, who directs the agency's shuttle-Mir program.
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British Aerospace with record results
Rekordergebnisse für BAe
On February 26, British Aerospace announced its financial results for 1996, reporting good progress in all division. Main points are
- a turnover of 20,38 billion DM (87 per cent for export)
- profit before taxes 1,25 billion DM (plus 38 per cent), mainly due to excellent results in defence (1,515 billion DM).
- backlog 53,15 billion DM, with 32 billion DM in defence
- profit per share 0,42 DM, an increase of 52 per cent.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Kayser-Threde at Munich has delivered the third and last flight-unit of the mirror-module for the XMM-satellite (X-Ray Multi Mirror Mission). It is now integrated at its italian subsidiary Media Lario. Meanwhile, the second flight unit was shipped to Belgium for testing on February 25. The XMM launch is scheduled for 1999 by Ariane 5 from Kourou.+++
The US leasing company Pinnacle has ordered a second A300B4 freighter-conversion from Dasa. An aircraft previously used by Egyptair will be completed at Elbe Flugzeugwerke at Dresden by August. Dasa hopes for a further three orders from Pinnacle in the near future.
+++
Carl Michel, Head of Business Administration at British Airways, has been appointed General Manager of BA's daughter company Deutsche BA. 33-year-old Michel, with british citizenship as well as austrian, replaces Wolfgang Grund, 68, who is taking over as chairman of Deutsche BA's management board. Since the last six months, Michel has been responsible for Deutsche BA's restructuring.
+++
According to Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik (BGT), the first test launch of a RAM Block-1 ship-to-air missile was completed successfully at White Sands in New Mexico during February. The target drone was hit with "surgical precision" thanks to a new infrared-seeker and improved signal algorithms, it is claimed. Series production of RAM Block 1 in Germany and the United States (Hughes) is planned from 1999. New missiles will be built and RAMs from stock will be modified.
+++
Delta Air Lines and Austrian Airlines have announced a code-share/blocked-space agreement. Beginning April 1, 1997, Delta will purchase seats on Austrian's daily 80-seat Fokker 70s aircraft flights between Vienna and Warsaw.
+++
GEC-Marconi Avionics will supply its Seaspray 3000 radar for seven Westland Super Lynx helicopters orderes by the German Navy last year.
+++
The German cartel office has ruled that Lufthansa fares between Frankfurt and Berlin are too high and should not be more than 10 DM above similar routes. Lufthansa faces no competition an this particular sector, but maintains that even so it is in the red. Therfore, it will go to court to reverse the verdict.
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Previous updates are still available:
February 23, 1997
February 16, 1997
January 26, 1997
January 19, 1997
January 12, 1997
January 5, 1997
December 22, 1996
December 15, 1996
December 8, 1996
December 1, 1996
November 24, 1996
November 17, 1996
November 10, 1996
November 3, 1996
October 27, 1996
October 20, 1996
October 13, 1996
October 6, 1996
September 29, 1996
September 22, 1996
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Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated March 2, 1997