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Week ending September 7, 1997
+++ ILA with Boeing and many Russian exhibitors +++ ILFC places big orders with Airbus and Boeing +++ Ariane flight 99 a success +++ Lufthansa profits soar as full privatisation nears +++ STN ATLAS Elektronik shows multimedia learning stations +++ Galaxy business jet rolled out +++ Osprey pilots receive first FAA "powered lift" pilot rating +++ American Eagle takes delivery of the 500th ATR +++ Blanc to step down at Air France +++ News in brief +++
ILA with Boeing and many Russian exhibitors
Boeing und viele russische Firmen auf der ILA
ILA '98 at Berlin-Schönefeld airport will be attended by the Boeing company for the first time, organizers Messe Berlin and BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association) have revealed. This decision by the arospace giant is regarded as a big breakthrough for the show, which faces tough competition from Farnborough. Other US participants will be Lockheed Martin, Litton and Bell Helicopter.ILA '98, which will run from 18. - 24. May next year, will also see a big presence from leading Russian companies like Ilyushin, Kazan Helicopter, MAPO, Rostvertol, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev. They will hopefully bring newcomers like the yet to fly Tu-334 airliner and a MiG-29 with thrust-vector control. Also, the An-70 transport may give its debut in the west. Other companies fitting the East-West theme of the show will come from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungaria and Romania as well as Moldova, Uzbekistan and Bulgaria. To push visitor numbers, a special shuttle service will be established with flights to Moscow and other Russian cities, say the organizers.
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ILFC places big orders with Airbus and Boeing
Airbus und Boeing erhalten Großaufträge von ILFC
On September 2, Airbus Industrie's largest customer - International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) - has placed a further major order for both single-aisle and widebody Airbus aircraft. The order is the largest placed so far this year for Airbus aircraft, and comprises firm orders for 50 A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, along with 15 aircraft from the A330 family. Deliveries will begin in the year 2000, and are spread over five years. The order is designed to secure a strong and flexible portfolio for ILFC at a time of increased demand for Airbus aircraft worldwide, it was declared at the announcement."The A320 family has become very popular among our 112 customers," Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, ILFC's President and CEO, said."In addition, we have enjoyed considerable success in placing new A330-200 widebodies far in advance of their deliveries. Outstanding payload range characteristics make the A330 an exceptional aircraft to lease to a growing number of major airlines worldwide, ranging from high-utilization charter operators to high-service level international and global airlines." Total firm orders for Airbus aircraft to date now stand at 2,392 from some 135 customers around the world. This includes 266 from ILFC, representing 11 percent of total Airbus orders.
A day later it was Boeings turn to announce that ILFC had ordered 61 more Boeing jets, bringing orders by the worldwide lessor and financier of jet transports to 455 from the Seattle manufacturer alone. ILFC this time around placed orders for 31 Next-Generation 737 jetliners, the -600, and added two more Boeing 747-400s. Included in the order are seven of the Boeing 767-300ER (extended range) twinjets and five 767-400ERs, a stretched addition to the 767 family. ILFC has also affirmed its commitment to the Boeing 777 by ordering a mix of ten 777-200 IGW (increased gross weight) airplanes with substitution rights for the 777-300, a higher capacity, stretched version. The quantity of each will be decided at a later date. In rounding out the product line of Boeing jetliners, ILFC has ordered six 757-200/-300s, the combination of which also to be determined in the future. Engine decisions will be announced by ILFC.
"These new jets will ensure that we have a sufficient flow to meet our customers' requirements," said Steven Udvar-Hazy, president and CEO of ILFC. "The flexibility of this order of 757s and 777s will allow ILFC a better position with which to lease to our extensive customer base worldwide." ILFC now has 269 737s, the world's most popular commercial jetliner.
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Ariane flight 99 a success
Hot Bird 3 und Metosat 7 mit der Ariane gestartet
Arianespace successfully launched two European-built satellites for two major European organizations: the Hot Bird 3 direct TV broadcast satellite (DBS) for EUTELSAT, and the METEOSAT 7 weather satellite for EUMETSAT. Flight 99 was carried out by an ARIANE 44LP, the version of the European launcher with two solid and two liquid-propellant boosters. It used the 70th Ariane 4 out of the total of 96 ordered from the European space industry. The launch took place at the Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on: Tuesday Sept. 2, 1997 at 7:21 p.m. local time in Kourou (or 10:21 p.m. GMT). Provisional parameters at third-stage injection into geostationary transfer orbit were:- Perigee:199.3 km (plus/minus 3) km for a target of 200 km
- Apogee: 35,948 km (plus/minus 150) km for a target of 35,786 km
- Inclination: 7,02 degrees (plus/minus 0.06) degrees for a target of 7 degrees.
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Lufthansa profits soar as full privatisation nears
Hohe Gewinne der Lufthansa vor der Privatisierung
Lufthansa has reported pre tax-profits of 397 million DM for the first half, more than trebling last years result. The figure was far ahead of analystes expectations. Main factors were the strong dollar, which alone pushed the figure by over 100 million DM. Negative factors were fuel prices 25 per cent higher than before. The group's sales increased 9,1 per cent to 10,7 billion DM, and all divisions made a profit, it was annonced. Chairman Jürgen Weber said if all went well in the second half, dividends would be raised. The latest figures set a very good base for the forthcoming sell off of the rest of Lufthansa shares still held by the Government (37 per cent stake). A consortium of 23 banks will handle the floatation, which will include incentives for small shareholders to subscribe. A nationwide advertising campaign has been started, and a preliminary prospectus will be published on September 29. The shares will be priced on October 11 and 12 and trading begins on October 13. Current stock price is around 37 DM, up 80 per cent for the year and thus outperforming the German DAX index.
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STN ATLAS Elektronik shows multimedia learning stations
Interaktives Computersystem für die Heeresflieger-Ausbildung
STN ATLAS Elektronik GmbH has completed the Phase I development of its integrated learning and traning system which will be used by the German army aviation Heeresfliegerwaffenschule at Bückeburg. During Phase II, 200 learning stations will be built in the next five years, the company said. The multimedia stations comprise of two colour monitors, keyboard and mouse and present a lot of theoretical subjects with pictures, animations, spoken commentary and video sequences. Software modules are managed centrally and distributed via high-speed networks. The multimedia stations are part of a fully revamped training syllabus, which places havy emphasis on simulation. The simulators are built by CAE Elektronik, but here STN ATLAS Elektronik is also involved with an image projection system, the so called DISI-6. This in turn is fed by the new Harmony image generator from Evans & Sutherland, the first military application of this system.
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Galaxy business jet rolled out
Roll-out des Galaxy Geschäftsreisejets bei IAI
Galaxy Aerospace rolled out its new super mid-size Galaxy aircraft at Tel Aviv on September 4. The Galaxy business jet, priced at $14.5 million in 1996 dollars, was developed as an aircraft positioned between the current mid-size planes where prices range between $10-12 million and the large business jet category where prices range between $20 and $37 million. The Galaxy business jet is in full-scale production with the first flight scheduled for December, 1997 and certification following in late 1998. Galaxy Aerospace expects to deliver 18 to 24 Galaxy aircraft per year.The roll-out of the first Galaxy aircraft, now under development at Israel Aircraft Industries, comes less than eight months after the launch of full-scale production. Israel Aircraft Industries, a partner in Galaxy Aerospace, is the largest aerospace company in Israel and a world leader in aerospace technologies.
Galaxy Aerospace reports that the basic airframe for the second Galaxy business jet has already been completed. Both aircraft once outfitted with sensors and advanced telemetry equipment will begin a 12-month flight test program. Joint certification by the FAA in the U.S. and Israel's CAAI is expected before the end of 1998. Coordination with Europe's joint Airworthiness Authority is underway and certification by that body is expected to be received in 1999. Suppliers for the Galaxy aircraft include Pratt & Whitney Canada for the aircraft's PW-306A engine; Rockwell Avionics, USA for the avionics system; Aerospatiale subsidiary Sogerma of France for the aircraft's fuselage and empennage; AlliedSignal Aerospace, USA for the aircraft's auxiliary power unit; Nordam, USA for thrust reversers and other components.
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Osprey pilots receive first FAA "powered lift" pilot rating
FAA: Tiltrotor-Flugschein für Osprey-Piloten
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued the first civil Powered Lift pilot rating to Tom Macdonald, Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor chief test pilot at the V-22 Integrated Test Team's (ITT) pilot office at the Patuxent River Naval Air Warfare Test Center in Maryland. Ray Stinchcomb, Jr., aviation safety inspector with the FAA Flight Standards District Office No. 7, awarded the certificate that specifically recognizes tiltrotor aircraft with a new pilot certificate category, the "Powered Lift" category. "The establishment of the Powered Lift pilot certificate category represents one of the many areas in which the FAA is actively working to help introduce tiltrotor technology to main-stream civil aviation in the United States."Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
American Eagle takes delivery of the 500th ATR
US-Regional-Carrier erhält 500. ATR
On September 5th, American Eagle, the regional carrier of American Airlines, received the 500th ATR delivered by Aero International (Regional) - AI(R). The milestone aircraft is an ATR 72-210A - the lates version of AI(R)'s 72seat turboprop regional airliner. The airplane delivered is the third from the airlines most recent order for 12 new ATR 72-210A's. Deliveries of additional aircraft will continue through May 1998. To date, American Eagle has ordered 92 ATR's (46 ATR 72s and 46 ATR 42s). Of this total, 36 ATR 72s and 46 ATR 42s have already been delivered to the airline. With this latest delivery the ATR family becomes the first European aircraft program in its category to reach the 500th milestone over the period of 12 years. To date, as the three-national consortium puts it, one out of every three truboprops in the world is an ATR.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Blanc to step down at Air France
Air France-Chef tritt zurück
Air France chief Christian Blanc has declared that he will not seek re-election when the directors of the company are re-apointed in early October. This step came after he "has taken note" of the Governments decision that "Air France can remain the West's last major airline to be state owned", a way forward for the company he has vehemently opposed. In a strongly worded statement, Blanc remarked that "in the ruthlessly competitive battle among the airlines worldwide, the clocks are ticking away. There is no time to lose. It is precisiely on this crucial point, the pace of our development, that there is a disagreement with our shareholder. Privatization is necessary for the development of Air France. I proposed a different kind of privatiszation, one where a large portion of the shares would be held by the staff, as in the case of United Airlines. This original approach would enable us to reconsile three factors: economic growth unde market conditions, protection of national interests as the State would hold a minority stake, ant the preservation of the social values I have always been deeply attache to." But this and other proposals were rejected, Blanc said, leaving him no alternative but to make room for a new chairman "able to carry through, with no reservation, a policy which corresponds to the Governments wishes.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
The 11th inter airport exhibition will take place from September 23 to 26 on the south side of Frankfurt airport. According to the organizers, 413 companies have booked space so far, a plus of nearly 30 per cent. The main contingent is from Europe, including some Russian prsence for the first time, but US and Canadian presence is also good with 51 companies. 40000 square meters of exhibition space will be available. German transport minister Matthias Wissmann will open the show, which is still the biggest of all inter airports (the others are at Atlanta, Dubai and Singapore).+++
A six hour spacewalk by Anatoly Solovyov and Mike Foale on September 6 failed to find the holes in the damaged Spectre module of the Mir space station. At least the cosmonauts were able to re-adjust a solar panel for better power output. Now new means to check for the leaks in Spectre will have to be found.
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Saab AB has signed a contract with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group for a Boeing 777 wing assembly package. The contract is worth SEK 160 Million, approx. US$20m, and covers manufacture of a wing assembly package for the rear portion of the wing. Saab thus intensifies its subcontracting work for Boeing. "I am delighted with this agreement with Boeing, as it is an important step in the direction to become a substantial partner and subcontractor for large commercial aircraft, thus forming a third business area for Saab in aviation, along with our production of fighters and regional airliners", said Saab Group
CEO Bengt Halse.
+++
Microvision has successfully delivered to The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) a helmet-mounted technology demonstration system incorporating Microvision's Virtual Retinal Display(TM) (VRD(TM)). The delivery was made on schedule to Boeing Information, Space and Defense Systems, which will use the system to demonstrate new kinds of human interfaces for advanced aircrew systems. The helmet-mounted display is the first full-color VRD system to be delivered by Microvision to any customer.
+++
On August 28, Russian space forces have launched a Proton-K rocket carrying the U.S.-made PAS-5 communications satellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The 3.6 ton satellite, built by Hughes and Sweden's SAAB-Ericsson for PanAmSat, will be used for TV broadcasts to the Caribbean, parts of Latin America and the southern United States.
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The type approval for Bombardiers Learjet 45 was granted by the FAA last Friday, Aug. 29, following one of the most comprehensive flight test and certification programs in corporate aviation history. Bombardier engineers are in the final stages of preparing supporting documentation for the FAA which will result in final type certification in the coming weeks. Aircraft have already entered the completion process in preparation for customer deliveries which will begin in November.
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A Lockheed Martin Astronautics Atlas IIAS rocket successfully launched the GE-3 commercial communications satellite into supersynchronous transfer orbit from Complex 36, Pad A, at Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Fla. Liftoff occurred right on time at 8:03 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 4. It was the fifth successful Atlas launch of 1997 from CCAS and the thirty-second consecutive successful flight for Atlas. Once in final orbit at 87 degrees west, GE-3 will join the rest of GE American Communication's (GE Americom) commercial domestic satellite fleet and provide educational cable television, broadcast television and radio, private business and government communications services to the 50 U.S. states and Alaska. GE-3 is the third A2100A satellite built by Lockheed Martin for GE Americom.
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British grandmother Jennifer Murray and co-pilot Quentin Smith completed their 97-day journey around the world in a Robinson R44 on August 15. They returned to London after a trip that covered 28500 NM in 320 flight hours. This is the first circumnavigation of the globe by a piston powered helicopter, it is claimed. The only modification was installation of an 50 gallon supplemental fuel tank and a moving-map display atop the center console.
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The latest Ample Train exercise will be held at RAF St. Mawgan, near Newquay in Cornwall, from September 8 to 12. It is aimed at training groundcrew in the servicing of other nations'aircraft, and at training aircrew in aspect of their wartime roles. St. Wawgan also offers the chance to train for operations from a deployed base. Eight nations participate with almost 300 personnel, including two German Tornados, F-15s from the USAF, F-16s from Turkey and AMX from Italy.
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Swissair, a member of Delta Air Lines' Atlantic Excellence Alliance, announced it will begin an additional flight between Zurich and Newark, New Jersey. The expanded service is scheduled to begin October 26, 1997, and will continue through the winter season, ending March 28, 1998. With the addition of this flight, Swissair will provide daily nonstop service between the two cities on its Airbus aircraft with a two-class configuration. Delta is taking a series of strategic steps to improve its transatlantic and intra-European services by offering more frequent Delta service to more cities in Europe. The Atlantic Excellence Alliance, which includes Delta, Swissair, Austrian Airlines and Sabena, facilitates this goal by allowing the carriers to synchronize flight schedules and coordinate reservations.
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Lufthansa Cargo has returned to profitability in the first half of 1997. Turnover was 1,796 billion DM, a plus of 10 per cent, leading to a profit of 33 million DM after losses of 44 million DM in the first half of last year. Main factors were better yields and exchange rate gains, it was said.
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August 24, 1997
August 10, 1997
August 3, 1997
July 27, 1997
July 13, 1997
July 6, 1997
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Last updated September 6, 1997
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