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UPDATE 
Week ending September 21, 1997
+++ Luftwaffe Tu-154 collides with Starlifter +++ America West buys Airbus A319/A320s +++ Big A300 freight-conversion contract for Dasa +++ First Eurocopter EC 135 for Austrian rescue services +++ Major assembly on first Boeing 757-300 begins +++ TRACE Flight Inspection contract with Baden-Baden airport +++ News in brief +++

Luftwaffe Tu-154 collides with Starlifter
Kollision for Namibia fordert 33 Tote

In one of its worst aviation accidents ever, the German Luftwaffe has lost a Tupolev Tu-154 with 24 people (10 crew and 14 members of the Marine) on board. The aircraft was on the way from Cologne-Bonn to Windhoek in Namibia when it apparently collided with an USAF C-141 Starlifter some 255 km northwest of Walvis Bay, Namibia. The C-141 from the 305th Air Mobility Wing (McGuire AFB, NJ) had a crew of nine. The catastrophe happened on the afternoon of Saturday, September 13, but as there was no emergency call it took some hours before the planes were found missing and a search was started. Until now, only a few parts of wreckage and one body could be retrieved from the South Atlantic.
Clues as to why the accident happened are non-existant, though the mass media were quick with speculations on inadequate ATC services in the region and incomplete transmission of flight plans. The C-141 had taken off from Windhoek at 16.11 local after delivering troops and mine-clearing equipment. Destination was Ascension Island. The Tu-154 was on its way to cape town for ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the South African navy. It was due to make a stopover at Windhoek. Neither plane was fitted with a collission avoidance system.

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America West buys Airbus A319/A320s
Großauftrag für A319/A320 von America West

On September 15, America West and Airbus Industrie announced a contract for 46 new single-aisle aircraft. The deal is for 22 A319s and 24 A320s, 12 of which are reconfirmable. Deliveries of the new aircraft will start in 1998. The airline has also elected to take purchase options on up to 40 A320 family aircraft for deliveries from 2001 to 2005. America West currently operates a fleet of 26 A320s.
"This order represents a major milestone for America West and replaces agreements made prior to and during the airline's bankruptcy with an order providing significantly improved commercial terms," said W.A. Franke, America West Holdings chairman and chief executive officer. "The new arrangements also provide enhanced fleet management flexibility and will permit the airline to grow, replace aircraft and continue to provide our customers with a young, modern fleet. In addition, the commonality of the aircraft with our existing Airbus fleet ensures that the A319 can be flown and maintained by the Airline's A320 pilots and mechanics," said Franke.

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Big A300 freight-conversion contract for Dasa
Dasa erhält Großauftrag für Frachter-Umrüstungen

Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus has received its biggest freighter-conversion contract ever, it was announced on September 19. Pinnacle Air Cargo Enterprises (PACE) of Miami ordered 18 A300B4 conversions worth about 100 million US-Dollars. The work will be performed mainly at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke site at Dresden, which is now nearly fully booked to June 2000. Meanwhile, Federal Express has ordered another two A310-200 freighter conversions form Dasa Airbus, for delivery in July and August 1998. This brings FedEx orders to 39 out of a total of 84 freighter conversions clinched by Dasa so far.
PACE is a new company formed by Pinnacle Aircraft Leasing, Air Fraffic Corporation and Aerolease International. Marketing of the modified A300B4s will be handled by Bristol Associates in Washington D.C. The A300B4s can transport 43 to 45 tonnes of cargo over a range of 4000 km.
In a related development, Dasa Airbus und Sogerma of France have signed a teaming arrangement for the conversion of a minimum of 10 A300B4s at the french company. The first aircraft has already arrived.

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First Eurocopter EC 135 for Austrian rescue services
ÖAMTC übernimmt ersten EC 135

The Austrian automobile association (ÖAMTC, Österreichischer Automobil- und Touring-Club) has recently taken delivery of its first Eurocopter EC 135. Until October next year, two more EC 135 will enter service, and in the long term another four are expected to replace the current Ecureuil fleet. The modernisation programme was promted by the new JAA rules which demand two-engined safety for flights in populated areas. Also, the EC 135 gives a better performance and has an excellent medical equipment fit for rescue duties. The first of the new helicopters is based at Innsbuck and will start regular operations for the winter season after all pilots have completed their training.

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Major assembly on first Boeing 757-300 begins
Boeing 757-300 in der Montage

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group has begun building the newest and largest member of its 757 airplane family -- the 757-300. Factory employees loaded a 63-foot-long front left-wing spar into a state-of-the-art automated spar assembly tool (ASAT) that will drill and install more than 2,600 fasteners into the wing structure. Assembly of the spar, which extends the full length of the wing and serves as an internal support structure, is considered the official start of manufacturing because the spar is the first major part to be assembled.
The 757-300 will have the shortest design-to-production and delivery-cycle time of any Boeing derivative airplane program. The 27-month time frame began the day the airplane's firm configuration was decided in November 1996 and ends in January 1999, when the first airplane is delivered to Condor Flugdienst. It was just a year ago -- Sept. 2, 1996 -- that Condor, a German charter airline, launched the 757-300 program with an order for 12 of the airplanes.
As a cost-saving measure, the 757-300 will be built on the same production line and in the same buildings as the 757-200. "We've been making preparations in the factory for nearly a year now," said Tony Micale, 757-300 manager of Manufacturing Operations. "We've put extensions on some of our assembly machines, lengthened trailers used to transport the longer sections of fuselage and even pushed out walls of the factory in some instances."

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TRACE Flight Inspection contract with Baden-Baden airport
Flughafen Baden-Baden beauftragt TRACE

The Flight Inspection division of TRACE Worldwide has been awarded a three-year contract to provide calibration services at the new Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport. This is the fifth flight inspection contract won by TRACE in Germany. According to the Biggin Hill-based company, its cost effectiveness and level of service was instrumental in beating fierce competition. In the UK, TRACE calibrates some 60 per cent of the countries airports. Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden is a former Canadian Air Force base shich opened as a civil airport in may. It has a 1280 m runway with CAT I capability.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

In a ceremony on September 25 at Ramstein, US General Michael E. Ryan will relinquish the command of AIRCENT (Allied Air Forces Central Europe). A successor is not yet named. Ryan, who took over at AIRCENT in April 1996, is expected to become USAF chief of staff.
+++
British Aerospace has signed a 16,5 million pound contract with the Indian Navy for the supply of two refurbished Sea Harrier T Mk.4. Work on the ex-Royal Navy trainers will start immediately at Dunsfold, with deliveries scheduled for 1999. Together with the Indian Navy's existing Sea Harrier T Mk.60 aircraft, these additional machines will allow a sustained pilot training capability for the Sea Harrier Mk.51s.
+++
Lufthansa Cargo will sell its 24,5 per cent stake in Cargolux. This was confirmed at a supervisory board meeting on September 18. The reason given for the move is the "progressively more different strategic targets" of the two companies. Lufthansa had bought into Cargolux in 1988.
+++
Eurocopter Deutschland has recently delivered the first "simplified" cargo compartment door for the Airbus A319/A320/A321 family. It was redesigned to cut down on production costs. At the same time, a better actuation system lowers hand forces for opening under extreme temperature conditions.
+++
The first F-15I fighter aircraft for the Israel Air Force successfully completed its maiden flight on September 12. The aircraft took off at 9:42 a.m. CDT from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis with Boeing test pilot Joe Felock and weapons system operator Major Rick Junkin of the U.S. Air Force at the controls. Normal flight assessments were conducted, as well as a comprehensive check of the aircraft's new flight control software. Flight time was one hour and thirteen minutes. The two seat F-15I, known as the "Thunder" in Israel, incorporates new and unique weapons, avionics, electronic warfare, and communications capabilities that make it one of the most advanced F-15s ever. The government of Israel has ordered 25 F-15I Thunders.
+++
The German federal government and the representatives of the Länder have found a compromise concerning ground services at the countries airports. To implement a EU directive for more competition, they will now mutually decide on the number of companies allowed at each location, with the minimum number being two. The agreement covers services such as baggage and freight handling, refuelling and catering.
+++
In response to recent moves by the competition from the so-called "red camp" (LTU, Hapag Lloyd and TUI), the Karstadt concern and Lufthansa have announced the formation of a C & N Tourist AG, in which they will hold a 50 per cent stake each. C & N in turn will take 90 per cent shares in charter airline Condor and tourist company NUR Touristic GmbH to form a powerfull "yellow camp" in the German holiday industry. The cartel office in Berlin has yet to approve the deals.
+++
Lufthansa has ordered two additional Airbus A340-300, bringing the fleet of this type to 20. Delivery is scheduled for 1998 and 1999.
+++
On September 23, Flottillenadmiral Wolfgang Engelmann (60) will formally retire and hand command of the Marineflieger (German navy aviation) units to Kapitän zur See Ulrich Otto (51). The ceremony takes place at Eggebeck. Engelman was a member of the Bundeswehr for 38 years and has ammassed 2850 flying hours, the last one in the spring in a Tornado.
+++
On September 16, Embraer has announced the launch of a new regional jet for 37 passengers - the EMB-135. It is based on the EMB-145 design, with which it has 90 per cent commonality, such as the Allison AE3007A-3 engines and main systems, same cockpit, same wing and fuselage, the latter shortened by about three metres. The prototype of the EMB-135 is scheduled to fly in 1998, followed by deliveris in the first half of 1999. An investment of 100 million US-Dollars wil be needed, and Embraer sees a market for 500 aircraft.
+++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen ist nach wie vor abrufbar:

PunktSeptember 14, 1997 PunktSeptember 7, 1997

PunktAugust 24, 1997 PunktAugust 10, 1997 PunktAugust 3, 1997

PunktJuly 27, 1997 PunktJuly 13, 1997 PunktJuly 6, 1997

PunktJanuary to June 1997 PunktSeptember to December 1996

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Last updated September 20, 1997
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