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UPDATE 
Week ending February 22, 1998
+++ Eurocopter Tiger crashes in Australia +++ ESA unveils XMM spacecraft +++ Lufthansa: No decison yet on low-cost airline +++ Loral and Alcatel form strategic partnership +++ Boeing 737-700 receives JAA approval +++ Globalstar satellites successfully launched into orbit +++ Taiwan suspends China Airlines Airbus A300 services +++ Boeing opts out of civil helicopters +++ Voyager 1 most distant probe ever +++ News in Brief +++

Eurocopter Tiger crashes in Australia
Absturz des Tiger bei Testflug in Australien

The number 4 prototype of the Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter has crashed in Australia on February 18, while being demonstrated to the Australian army. Both crew members--Eurocopter test pilot Jacques Larra and Australian Capt. Brendan Dwyer from the 162 Reconnaissance Squadron-- escaped serious injury, although the aircraft was heavily damaged. The aircraftcame down at night while flying at low-altitude on its return to a military base near Springvale Station, north of Townsville. Australian and French air safety officials have started an investigation.
The Tiger, which was participating in a marketing campaign across Asia that has been dubbed Eurocopter Tour '98, arrived in Australia Jan. 26 and had been demonstrated in Canberra, Sydney, Oakey, and Townsville, where the aircraft had spent the last 10 days. The aircraft that crashed also was scheduled to represent Eurocopter at the Singapore Airshow.
The Tiger is expected to compete in the Australian army's upcoming armed reconnaissance helicopter competition against the AH-1W by Bell Helicopter Textron, the AH-64 Apache by Boeing, the A-129I by Italy's Agusta, the Rooivalk by South Africa's Denel, and the Ka-50 by Russia's Kamov. The Tiger also is expected to compete for orders in Malaysia, Spain, and Turkey.

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ESA unveils XMM spacecraft
ESA präsentiert XMM-Sonde

Europe's largest scientific spacecraft was revealed to the public at ESTEC, ESA's space and technology center in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The X-ray Multi-Mirror mission (XMM), is due to be launched in 1999. XMM is supposed to collect X-rays coming from the Universe. It will have a much larger field of view than any previous mission. XMM's capacity will enable astronomers to analyse many strong sources of cosmic X-rays very quickly, and discover and characterize many faint sources previously beyond their reach. A combination of X-ray telescopes and optical monitoring will be used to track down gamma-ray busters. Its orbit will take the spacecraft out to distances of more than 100000 kilometers, which is well clear of the Earth's radiation belts. The XMM spacecraft's engineering model has already completed vibration testing at the ESTEC test facilities and is now undergoing further tests in the acoustic laboratory.

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Lufthansa: No decison yet on low-cost airline
Neuer Billigcarrier wird untersucht

Lufthansa has confirmed that it is studying a new low-cost airline since September 1997. A first report to the top managment, discussed in a meeting on February 17, concludes that a separate business entity for decentralised operations (excluding Frankfurt and Munich) would be feasible. It would have a new name and fly with six to 14 aircraft at first on German and European routes. Nethertheless, the managment is not convinced yet of the possible economic benefits and has therefore ordered further investigations on subjects like fees and automatic ticketing. The study groups will report back in the next few weeks, Lufthansa said in its statement.

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Loral and Alcatel form strategic partnership
Zusammenarbeit zwischen Loral und Alcatel

On February 19, Loral Space & Communications and Alcatel Alsthom of France today announced that they will jointly build and operate Europe Star, a multiple geostationary satellite system that will provide broadcast and telecommunications services to nearly half the world -- from Western Europe to Southeast Asia, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and India, as a part of a global network of operating companies that will use a common marketing strategy to provide customers "one stop shopping" for local, regional, and global satellite services.
Europe Star will join Loral Skynet's "Global Marketing Alliance," a worldwide sales and marketing coalition comprised of Loral Skynet, Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (SatMex), and Orion Network Systems, Inc. As such, Europe Star's satellite services and capacity will be also globally-marketed by other Loral alliance members through Loral Skynet's global booking service.
The three-satellite Europe Star system, ideally located between Europe and Asia at 43 degrees, 45 degrees, and 47.5 degrees, will be the first European Ku-band satellite system to be able to directly connect Europe and Asia in one single hop -- providing telecommunications, high-rate data interchange (Internet, on-line service access), and television and distribution services.

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Boeing 737-700 receives JAA approval
JAA-Zulassung für neue Boeing 737

On February 19, Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities have recommended type validation of the new Boeing 737-700, thus paving the way for formal type certificates to be issued by the individual countries. Certification was delayed for months by disputes on details like evacuation hatch size and design. Boeing had to come up with a new opening mechanism to satisfy the JAA.
Certification finally allows deliveries to begin to European airlines, the first of which are Maersk and Germania. Later on, the 737-800 test programme will lead to deliveries to launch customer Hapag-Lloyd.

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Globalstar satellites successfully launched into orbit
Globalstar-Satelliten erfolgreich ins Orbit gestartet

On Saturday, February 14, 1998, the first four satellites for the global satellite-based mobile telecommunication system Globalstar were successfully launched with a Delta-II launch rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Germany's Dornier Satellitensystem (DSS), a Dasa subsidiary, is supplying the inertial control system, the propulsion systems and the solar generators for the Globalstar satellites. A total of 56 of the telecommunication satellites will be launched into a low geostationary orbit over the next two years. 48 satellites will be operative and another eight will be used as reserve units in space.

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Taiwan suspends China Airlines Airbus A300 services
China Airlines A300-Flotte gegroundet

On February 17, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication of Taiwan ordered China Airlines to immediately suspend services of its nine Airbus A300 planes and undertake a thorough security check after a China Airlines Airbus A300 flying from the Indonesia resort island of Bali crashed at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Airport on Monday night, killing more than 200 people, including several on the ground. Following the order, China Airlines cannot further fly the Airbus 300 without government approval.

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Boeing gets out of civil helicopters
Zivile Hubschrauber stehen zum Verkauf

Boeing has announced its intention to leave the civil helicopter field and selling off its Model 500/600 and Explorer for a price that may be only 100 million US-Dollars. The most likely buyer is Bell, which is said just to await the approval of its parent Textron in the next few weeks. Details are not yet available, as both sides decline to comment. What is offical, though, is the fact that Bell will take over the 49 per cent stake of Boeing in the 609 civil tiltrotor development project from March 1. Boeing will continue as a subcontractor, but probably with much less systems responsibilities than before. A new risk-sharing partner is desirable, but not essential, Bell president Terry Stinson said at the Heli-Expo in Anaheim, but he also stressed that the company can go it alone with good support from Textron.

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Voyager 1 - the most distant human-made space object
Voyager 1 jetzt der am weitesten entfernte Raumkörper

On February 17, 1998, Voyager 1 has become the most distant human made object in space. At a distance of 10.4 billion kilometers, the space probe, which was launched 20 years ago (on September 5, 1977), exceeded the distance record which was formerly held by Pioneer 10 (launched 25 years ago). At 70 times the distance from the earth to the sun, Voyager 1 is now at the very edge of the Solar System. The sun there is only 1/5000th as bright as on Earth and there is only little solar energy to keep the spacecraft warm or to provide electrical power. Electricity is generated by radioisotope thermal electric generators (RTGs) on board the spacecraft. NASA's Voyager project manager says that "the fact that the spacecraft is still returning data is a remarkable technical achievement".

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

On February 15, Sikorsky announced it is launching business discussions with prospective customers aimed at sales agreements for its S-92 Helibus, its new, advanced technology, medium-lift helicopter. "Based on our program progress to date, we are ready to enter commercial discussions leading to memoranda of understanding," said Eugene Buckley, president and chief executive officer of Sikorsky. "Our discussions will cover definition of aircraft configuration, options, aircraft quantities, schedules and program support aspects.
+++
In mid-February, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) completed a two-week wind-tunnel testing campaign of a modified 328JET at the DNW low-speed wind-tunnel facility in Braunschweig, Germany. The tests, which were accomplished for aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier, focused on the optimum positioning of the jet engine on the wing. In order to achieve realistic data, the DLR team used model engines which were fed with a high-pressure airflow, generating up to 60000 rpm. This allowed to simulate very accurately the operational behaviour of the engines, for example concerning the effects of the engines' exhaust flow on the fuselage and the empenage.
+++
Matra BAe Dynamics has finalised a shareholding of 30 per cent of the capital of Lenkflugkörper Systeme GmbH (LFK), on February 12. This marks the first concrete result of a strategic partnership announced between Dasa and Matra/Lagardere on 7 May 1997. The linkup on the missile business will alow the joint development and production of missile-based weapon systems for the UK, France and Germany. An immediate example is the BVRAAM air-to-air missile, the companies claim.
+++
British Aerospace has reported a 31 per cent increase in profits before tax and excetpionals, to 596 million pounds for 1997. This was mainly due to continued improvement in the commercial aircraft division, which reduces losses to 20 million pounds.
+++
Speculation is rife that Airbus will announce a big order from a group of South American airlines soon. It is said that over 100 aircraft worth 4 billion US-Dollars will be involved. Airlines named in the deal are LanChile, TACA and TAM.
+++
Northrop Grumman's Commercial Aircraft Division has delivered the first tail section for the new Boeing 757-300 jetliner. Northrop Grumman began production in October on the 757-300, a stretched version of the Boeing 757-200. The company has been a part of the 757 from the airplane's launch in 1982, producing the complete empennage, or tail section -- the aft fuselage and the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Northrop Grumman also produces the 757's graphite composite wing spoilers.
+++
Britain's Royal Household has selected the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to replace its pair of aging Westland Wessex HCC4 helicopters. Air Hanson, the UK representative for Sikorsky, announced it had been selected to provide the S-76 and necessary support services beginning by April 1. The contract awarded to Air Hanson is in the form of a ten-year lease. The aircraft, to be flown by pilots employed by the Royal Household, "will be operated on the civilian register and based at Blackbushe Airport," Air Hanson said.
+++
During a grand opening ceremony on February 19, Cessna dedicated its newest company-owned Citation Service Center at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. Cessna acquired the new facility in June 1997 and recently completed extensive renovations to create a state-of-the-art, fully-equipped Citation Service Center capable of meeting all inspection, maintenance and service requirements for the Citation fleet, from the Citation I through the Citation X.
+++
The Chinese aviation authority has decided to concentrate on implementing large conglomerate strategy to establish air groups with economic efficiency and market competitiveness. Several large domestic airlines will be the cores of such groups. Last year, Eastern Airlines has merged General Airlines. Besides, restructuring airlines to shareholding company is the other focal point for Chinese aviation sector. Eastern Airlines and Southern Airlines have raised US$ 282 million and 719 million respectively in New York and Hong Kong stock markets. On Shanghai stock market, Eastern Airlines A shares and Hainan Airlines B shares are listed.
+++
Eurocopter has launched its EC 155 helicopter (previously known as the AS 365N4) on the US market during Heli-Expo 98 at Anaheim. It said the base price would be around five million US Dollars. Hopes are to make inrods in VIP and offshore markets as well as in EMS.
+++
Bell is considering successors for the venerable 412 medium twin and its 206B JetRanger entry level single to fend-off competition from Eurocopter. In the case of the JetRanger, it is not yet clear that it will be a completely new desing or whether extensive upgrades will do. One main point is surely to lower noise levels.
+++
To bolster disappointing sales, Schweizer will reduce the price of its 300CB by around 10000 US-Dollars and also has annonced that it will hold spare parts prices constant. Furthermore, better financing deals were promised at Heli-Expo in Anaheim.
+++

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

*February 15, 1998 *February 8, 1998 *February 1, 1998

*January 25, 1998 *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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