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Week ending January 25, 1998
+++ First flight of Dornier 328JET +++ Airbus Industrie confirms top appointments +++ Dasa reports record sales in 1997 +++ Boeing 737-600 makes first flight +++ Eurocopter reports record orders for 1997 +++ Eurofighter meets more test milestones +++ Good sales for US aerospace industry +++ Asian Airlines' Possible Order Delays Trouble Boeing +++ Space Shuttle docks with Mir +++ News in Brief +++
First flight of Dornier 328JET
Dornier 328JET absolviert Erstflug
Fairchild Dornier's 328JET successfully accomplished its first flight on 20 January. The aircraft, a twin-engine jet derivative development of the 328 turboprop regional aircraft, took off at 11.16 local time from Oberpfaffenhofen, reaching altitudes up to 25000 feet. Several flight parameters were evaluated in the two-hour flight. A second prototype will join a one-year flight test and certification program in April. The first delivery to a customer is scheduled for the first quarter of 1999. According to Fairchild Dornier, the manufacturer has already logged 32 orders and options.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Airbus Industrie confirms top appointments
Neue Leitung bei Airbus bestätigt
As expected, the member assembly and the Supervisory Board of Airbus Industrie have made the following appointments, effective April 1, 1998:- Noel Forgeard (51) is appointed Managing Director of Airbus Industrie, replacing Jean Pierson who leaves the company at the end of his third mandate. Forgeard is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matra Defense-Espace, and Chief Executive Officer of Matra Bae Dynamics. In previous positions, he has followed aviation matters as Technical and Industrial Advisor in various French ministerial cabinets, including that of Prime Minister Jacques Chirac from March 1986 to June 1987.
- Dietrich Russell (56) will take over from Volker von Tein as Chief Operating Officer of Airbus Industrie. Mr. von Tein is leaving to join the Managing Board of the German research and development institute DLR (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt). A graduate in Engineering and Economic Science from the University of Aachen (Germany), Mr. Russell is member of the Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) Board of Management, responsible for the Aircraft Group since 1995, and since 1997 for the Civil Aircraft and Helicopter business unit.
- Manfred Bischoff (55), is appointed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. This follows Edzard Reuter's decision to retire at the end of March. Bischoff is Chairman of the Management Board of Daimler-Benz Aerospace, a member of the Daimler-Benz Management Board, and a member of the Airbus Industrie Supervisory Board.
Dasa reports record sales in 1997
Rekordergebnisse für die Dasa
On January 20, Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG announced that it is swinging back to profit after expanding sales by 20 percent to a record of 15.3 billion marks (8.3 billionU.S. dollars) in 1997. Without specifying the exact profit figure, DASA chief executive Manfred Bischoff said that the group "have achieved a turnaround" in business performance last year with all business segments reporting profits. DASA had previously expected a group profit of more than 100 million marks for 1997. It just managed to break even in 1996 after losing 7.22 billion marks in 1995. According to Bischoff, the DASA group also saw new orders increase by 14 percent to 19.1 billion marks (10.4 billion dollars) in 1997. Turnover by segments was as follows:
- airliners: 4,9 billion DM (1996: 3,5 billion) - 15403 employees
- helicopters: 1,1 billion DM (1996: 1,1 billion) - 3847 employees
- military aircraft: 1,7 billion DM (1996: 1,6 billion) - 5640 employees
- spaceflight: 2,5 billion DM (1996: 2,2 billion) - 3569 employees
- defence and civil systems: 2,8 billion DM (1996: 2,75 billion) - 8742 employees
- propulsion: 3,0 billion DM (1996: 2,3 billion) - 6023 employees
Boeing 737-600 makes first flight
Erfolgreicher Erstflug der Boeing 737-600
The Boeing 737-600 - the smallest member of the Next-Generation 737 airplane family - made its first flight on January 22, with Boeing Capts. Mike Carriker and Ray Craig at the controls. At 10:16 a.m. PST, the 737-600 took off from Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. After heading north over Lake Washington, the pilots flew the newest member of the 737 family north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to conduct a series of flight tests. Two hours and 28 minutes later, the airplane landed at Boeing Field in Seattle. "The first flight of the last of the members of the original Next-Generation 737 family is very satisfying and is a testament to several years of hard work and dedication by many Boeing employees," said Jack Gucker, 737/757 Derivative Programs vice president. The 737-600 is equivalent in size to the current 737-500 and provides seating for 110 to 132 passengers. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) launched the 737-600 in March 1995 with an order for 35 airplanes and added six more in October of that year. With its first flight, the 737-600 begins a seven-month flight-testing and certification program. Eventually, the program will include two additional -600 airplanes. Together, the three aircraft will conduct more than 550 hours of flight tests prior to certification in July and delivery to SAS shortly thereafter.
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Eurocopter reports record orders for 1997
Rekordzahlen bei Eurocopter
Boosted by an expanding civil market, Eurocopter reports excellent results for 1997. According to the German/French company, there were a record 303 orders, including- 43 Super Puma / Cougars
- 16 Dauphin / Panther (among them 12 Dauphin N4)
- 102 Ecureuil /Fennec (among them 50 Ecureuil B3)
- 9 Ecureuil / Fennec twin-engined variants
- 7 BK 117
- 58 EC 135
- 68 EC 120B Colibri
Deliveries amounted to 210 helicopters, and total turnover for 1997 is put at 10,1 billion FF, a rise of 6 per cent against 1996. Counting machines, Eurocopter got 40 per cent of the civil market worldwide, with a particularly strong position in Europa but 30 per cent in North America as well. On the stagnating military market, 27 per cent was clinched by Eurocopter (excluding US and Russia). Though no detailed financial results are available, Eurocopter declared a return to break even, helped by strict cost control and restrictive personal policies.
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Eurofighter meets more test milestones
Weitere Testerfolge für den Eurofighter
According to the latest update released by Eurofighter, the EF2000 has reched more flight test development milestones in recent weeks. Achievements include:- a first flight at the design goal of Mach 2, achieved by DA2 in the UK on December 23
- a series of air-to-air refuelling tests with a VC-10 tanker of the RAF over the Irish Sea. This enabled the EF2000 to stay aloft for over four hours, the longest flight time yet.
- the first launch of a Sidewinder, conducted by DA7 over Decimomannu (Sardinia) on December 15.
- the first release of an AMRAAM, also conducted by DA7, on December 17. Speed was Mach 0.8
- DA3 in Italy has flown with external tanks under the wings. This was important, as modified tanks will be stuffed wth test equipment
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Good sales for US aerospace industry
US-Luftfahrtindustrie mit steigenden Umsätzen
According to the US Aerospace Industries Association(AIA), 1997 was a very good year for the industry, with sales reaching 129,8 billion US-Dollars, eleven per cent more than in 1996 and over 20 billion US-Dollars up on the recent low point of 1995. Even better results are anticipated for 1998, when a turnover of 144 billion US-Dollars is expected. Half of the turnover now comes from exports, and the industry attains a positive trade balance of 34 billion US-Dollars, says the AIA. The contribution of the different sectors was as follows:- Civil aircraft: 38,6 billion Dollars (1996: 27 billion), including 4,5 billion from the General Aviation sector
- Military aircraft: 30,5 billion Dollars (1996: 33 billion). This is the lowest level since 1983.
- Missiles: 8,2 billion Dollars (1996: 8 billion)
- Space: 31 billion Dollars (1996: 29 billion)
- Services: 21 billion Dollars (1996: 19 billion)
Asian Airlines' Possible Order Delays Trouble Boeing
Krise in Asien könnte Boeing treffen
Some financially-strapped Asian airlines may delay Boeing jetliner orders, and the delays would greatly hurt the Seattle-based manufacturer, aerospace analysts said last week. Philippine Airlines reportedly is negotiating to cancel delivery of four Boeing 747-400s. Malaysia Airlines is planning to delay delivery of 20 Boeing jetliners by up to five years. Uncertainty also appears to cloud orders from South Korea's Korean Air Lines and Asiana as well as Garuda of Indonesia. The analysts said other airlines may delay orders rather than cancel them, but the situation could become worse if the deferrals or cancellations stretch out into the next century or too many occur at the same time. Boeing said last month that up to 60 deliveries might be delayed over the next three years. Approximately 52 percent of Boeing 777 orders and 48 percent of its 747 orders, its largest and most expensive jets, were from Asian carriers, aerospace analysts estimated. So far Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong has dropped options for 16 Boeing and nine Airbus airplanes, although it still plans to take delivery of four Boeing jets this year and three in 1999. On the bright side, China's orders are not considered in jeopardy, and two Japanese airlines which have substantial orders with Boeing, namely Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, seem to be in a strong financial position. Singapore Airlines also reportedly has no plans to change its schedule of eight 777s and one 747 to be delivered in 1998-1999. Meanwhile, analysts said deferrals are not all bad and may in a way help Boeing with a crowded production line. This year 550 Boeing airplanes are scheduled for delivery worldwide, up from 375 last year.
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Space Shuttle on course to Mir rendezvous
Space Shuttle Endeavour auf Kurs zur Mir
Space Shuttle Endeavour successfully lifted off on the scheduled time on 22 January. The Shuttle then headed for Mir, where it docked late on Saturday afternoon without problems. Mission STS-89 is the eighth rendezvous of a Shuttle with the Russian space station. One of the mission objectives will be the replacement of David Wolf who has been on-board Mir since September of last year. He will be succeeded by astronaut Andrew Thomas. Also, the Shuttle delivers tons of new equipment, including new computers and air conditioning units.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Lufthansa has reported the traffic figures for 1997, which show 44,5 million passengers (+7,4 per cent) and 1,69 million tons of freight (+ 0.3 per cent). this led to record laod factors of over 70 per cent. Condor counted 7,3 million passengers and the CityLine flew 3,8 million, a plus of 25 per cent. Financial data will be revealed in March. According to the company, the Asian crisis will not force it to revise profit predictions.+++
Eurowings reports record traffic figures for 1997. It carried 2,51 million passengers,a third more than in 1996. Load factor was boosted from 55 to 59 per cent. The rise mainly stems from charter flights with its A319 and international routes, while passenger numbers in Germany wnt up by only 1,6 per cent.
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Aerospatiale has received orders for the supply of six SESAR 3000 test systems (MERMOZ version) for the production and level 2 maintenance of the Dassault Rafale fighter. Two of these systems will be used for the operational support of the navy Rafale. One will be locatd at the Landivisau naval air base and the other installed onboard the Charles de Gaulle nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
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NHIndustries claims to be the first programme management company for international aerospace projects in Europe to be certified according to ISO 9001. The certification was awarded by Bureau Veritas Quality International. NHI partners are Agusta (28,2 %), Eurocopter France (41,6 %), Eurocopter Germany (23,7%) and Fokker Aviation (6,5 %).
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Followig the order for four ATR 72s from Iberia's franchise airline Air Nostrum, delivery of its first two aircraft has taken place at Toulouse on January 20.
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The last Dassault Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was handed over to the French Aéronavale on January 15. It will serve with flottille 21F at Nimes-Garons. The other Atlantique unit is 23F ant Lann-Bihoué. With the phasing-out of the last Atlantic 1s, the French Navy now only flies the latest version of the twin-turboprop.
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Meteor, an Alenia Difesa/Finmeccanica company, will continue to supply target services to the NATO users of the NAMFI (NATO Missile Firing Installation) range on Crete, Geece. The remotely piloted Mirach 100 is used as an aerial target for missile battery training by the Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Norway, Germany, Greece and Denmark. The Mirach 100, which has achieved a reliability factor of 95 per cent, was first choosen in 1987, Since then, Meteor and Dornier have won all successive contracts, the latest one of which now has a value of 22 billion Lire to Mirach.
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Croatia Airlines has taken delivery in Hamburg of the first of its six A319s on order. The aircraft, which is named "Zadar" seats 132 passengers in a two- class layout (42 in business and 90 in economy). With a range of up to 6,500 km the A319 can fly nonstop on all of the carrier's longest routes, such as Moscow and Copenhagen. It will join a leased A320 which the airline has been operating since May 1997 to cope with the strong development of the country's economy and tourism.
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Southwest Airlines has ordered 59 more Boeing 737-700 jets, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group confirmed on January 22. With this announcement, firm Boeing orders by the Next-Generation 737 launch customer total 129. Total orders for the Next-Generation 737s now stand at 811. Southwest's Chairman, President and CEO Herbert D. Kelleher said, "Our increased commitment to Boeing's Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft will significantly contribute to our ability to remain the lowest-cost producer in the U.S. airline industry."
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On January 22, Boeing, Hexcel Corporation and Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) announced they are nearing the successful conclusion of negotiations to form a joint venture to manufacture in China composite parts for commercial airplanes. The composites manufacturing facility is to be built in the Tanggu marine high-technology development zone in Tianjin, China. It will manufacture composite parts for secondary structures and interior applications for commercial aircraft.
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On January 16, the first ultra long-range Bombardier Global Express business jet aircraft has begun interior outfitting in Montreal. Its arrival in late December marks the start of operations at Bombardier's new completion centre, dedicated to the design and installation of custom interiors for Global Express and Challenger 604 aircraft. Global Express 9005 is the first customer aircraft to be outfitted with an interior. "We are expecting a second Global Express aircraft in the next few weeks and at peak production we will be capable of supporting more than 30 aircraft a year", said Jean Girard.
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Northrop Grumman has chosen the Gulfstream V ultra-long range, large cabin business jet as the platform for its entry in the United Kingdom's ASTOR competition. Northrop Grumman's entry, an advanced variant of its airborne ground surveillance technology, is being offered in response to the United Kingdom's Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) invitation to tender. The ASTOR requirement calls for the delivery of at least five airborne ground surveillance platforms as part of a turnkey U.K. capability that includes ground segments, interoperability and system support.
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On January 21,the first two new Boeing F-15Is arrived at Israel's Hatzerim Air Force Base. Dignitaries gathered for the ceremony included Israel's Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Mordechai; the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Richard Roth; Israel's Chief of Staff, Amnon Shahak; Israel's Commander of the Air Force, Eitan Ben-Eliahu; and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs, Clinton V. Horn. Also attending representing Boeing was Mike Sears, president of McDonnell Aircraft and Missile Systems, which builds the F-15.
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On January 21, Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, signed a purchase agreement for five Next-Generation 737-800 jetliners. These airplanes are part of the historic 50-jetliner order placed during the Sino-American summit in October 1997. The Boeing jetliners are the first Next-Generation 737-800s to be purchased in China.
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Russia offers Iran to purchase medium-range Tu-214 airliners, manufactured by the aircraft company in Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic. This proposal will be discussed in Teheran late in January during a visit by a Russian government delegation, including high-ranking representatives from the Tatar government, Itar-Tass says.
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On January 21, the Royal Danish Air Force has awarded a contract worth more than 20 million Pounds to GKN Westland Helicopters to upgrade its fleet of eight Lynx helicopters to Super Lynx standard. The contract covers the building by GKN Westland of replacement airframe structures into the existing fleet's engines, flying controls, hydraulic systems, avionics and electrical systems. The upgrade and life extension programme will enable the Danish Super Lynx to remain in srvice with the Navy until 2015 and beyond.
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German engine manufacturer MTU München and the Dutch company Brunel International have set up a joint-venture called ATENA. While the companies currently do not want to comment on the exact activities, market, structure and goals, they say that the co-operation will be operating in the high-technology branch. More details will be revealed at a press-conference on 11 February.
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An American and a Russian veteran have been nominated to fly on Space Shuttle missions in 1998. Senator John Glenn, who was the first American to orbit the earth 35 years ago, was named to the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery, scheduled to launch in October. Glenn, who is now 76, already visited NASA's spaceport for a hands-on tour on the spacecraft Endeavour before its 22 January launch into space. The Russian Space Agency has nominated veteran cosmonaut Valeriy Ryumin to fly as a mission specialist on STS-91, scheduled for launch with Shuttle Discovery in May 1998.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen ist nach wie vor abrufbar:
January 18, 1998
January 11, 1998
December 21, 1997
December 14, 1997
December 7, 1997
November 30, 1997
November 23, 1997
November 16, 1997
November 9, 1997
November 2, 1997
October 26, 1997
October 19, 1997
October 12, 1997
October 5, 1997
January to September 1997
September to December 1996
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Last updated January 23, 1998
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