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UPDATE 
Week ending February 13, 2000
+++ German industry wants more defence investments +++ Dasa demonstrates inflatable re-entry technology +++ Hochtief rejected for Berlin airport bids +++ RapidEye selects SSTL as prime for EO satellite network +++ Globalstar constellation complete +++ Rolls-Royce and SR Technics to create European repair and overhaul service +++News in brief +++

German industry wants more defence investments
BDLI fürchtet um wehrtechnische Industrie

While the civil sector in flourishing at the moment, the German aerospace industries association BDLI is very concerned on the future of the military sector. President Dr. Gustav Humbert used a presentation in Berlin to call the situation "dramatic", a rhetoric the BDLI has used many time in recent years. "The defence budget cuts ... are risking the survival of the German armaments industry" Humbert said. Since 1990, turnover of the industry is down 51 per cent, he said. Job losses amount to 57 per cent. This is no wonder as the percentage of the defence budget used for investments has slipped from a meagre 21 to just 15 per cent. This trend has to be reversed, Humbert emphasised. Core competencies are on the verge of being lost, in areas like missiles, communications and command systems.
Humbert also strongly criticised the latest tightening of export rules. "This is a lonely German move which hurts cooperation possibilities within Europe", he noted. What is needed are harmonised European rules, Humbert urged. On the other hand, he applauded the recent memorandum on "innovation, investment and economics" in the Bundeswehr, which fosters armed forces - industry cooperation.
On the civil side, Humbert sees the German aerospace industry as technological and industrial leader. Airbus beat Boeing in 1999, and on the regional jet front Fairchild Aerospace was able to launch its 728JET family. He warned, however, that further research grants are necessary. This, Humbert said, was especially true for the space sector as well. Here, money counting was the false track, visions were needed.

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Dasa demonstrates inflatable re-entry technology
Aufblasbarer Hitzeschutz im Flug demonstriert

The worldwide first successful test of the new re-entry technology IRDT (Inflatable Reentry and Descent Technology) has ended on Wednesday morning. According to the Space Infrastructure Business Unit of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace both the Fregat accelerator block of the Russian Soyus launcher and a demonstrator equipped with sensors for monitoring the mission have landed. Poor weather conditions and an additional failure of a directional antenna kept a search crew from recovering the upper stage. On Friday, search by helicopter continues in a region of 1,600 square kilometers.
Dasa and their partners from Lavochkin, Russia, managed to prepare for this mission in just nine months time. The ultimate goal was to ensure the capability of reentry for all kinds of space systems, thereby realizing cost efficient space transportation. Two innovative technologies were launched aboard the Soyuz-rocket: a new "Fregat" upper stage and a demonstrator. Both are equipped with the new IRDT-reentry-shield. This shield is designed to inflate shortly before reentry and then function as a parachute to sail its freight back to earth. As the heat shield can be launched in a very small package in contrast to all other reentry technologies sofar in use (i.e. Space Shuttle, capsules), space, weight and transportation cost can be saved. For Dasa this test mission can be considered a major step towards the realization of cost effective space technology.

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Hochtief rejected for Berlin airport bids
Berliner Flughafen wird nicht von Hochtief gebaut

The project planning company for the new Berlin-Schönefeld airport has excluded Hochtief from furhter bidding for the construction. The decision was widely expected, but was delayed several times. Hochtief at first won the bidding process but then was charged with using unallowed tactics in winning the contract. Jurisdictal investigations are under way against the company. The only bidder left now is the IVG Holding, but it seems unclear how things will proceed now, as further claims and counter-claims seem likely. The project company still hopes that the privatisiation can be completed this year and an opening of the new airport will be possible in 2007.

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RapidEye selects SSTL as prime for EO satellite network
Erdbeobachtung mit Minisatelliten

On February 1, RapidEye AG (RE) of Munich, Germany, announced an agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) based at the Surrey Space Centre, UK, to become the prime contractor and spacecraft platform supplier for the $100M USD RapidEye constellation of four advanced Earth Observation minisatellites. To strengthen the partnership SSTL plans an equity investment in RapidEye. RapidEye Inc., incorporated in December 1998, is a new satellite based GEO-information service company and concentrates on customers in the agricultural and cartographic segments. Significant advantages will be realized due to the high resolution, quality, and availability of the data and the speed and accuracy of the data evaluation. RapidEye's clients will receive jointly developed geographic information products which will be integrated in the clients' work processes and offer significant cost advantages and new revenue potential.
The RapidEye Earth Observation system, to be launched in 2002, will provide 6.5-metres resolution wide-swath multispectral imaging with a daily revisit and is targeted primarily at agricultural applications. The 380kg RapidEye minisatellites will use the SSTL minisatellite platform. Announcing the decision, Dr. Manfred Krischke of RapidEye AG said "This agreement with SSTL is a major milestone for us to realize our unique geo-information service. Being able to monitor fields on a worldwide scale and to accurately predict the world harvest for different crops will impact the agricultural (precision farming), industrial (food industry) and trading (commodity markets) sectors dramatically. We are pleased to have such an experienced, competitive and reliable partner as Surrey. This is a major step for RapidEye to fulfill the aggressive cost and time schedule for the launch of our services in 2002."

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Globalstar constellation complete
52 Satelliten in der Umlaufbahn

On February 8, Globalstar successfully launched four low-earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites, providing on-orbit back-up capacity for the company's global mobile telephone system. The company's space segment is now complete with 48 operating satellites supported by four spares. "With the space segment successfully in place," Loral boss. Schwartz said, "all of our energy and resources are directed toward the progressive roll-out of service around the world." The newest four Globalstar satellites, manufactured by prime contractor Space Systems/Loral, were launched today at 4:24 p.m. EST aboard a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida. The Globalstar system is designed to provide affordable satellite-based digital voice services to a broad range of subscribers and users. Globalstar will meet the needs of cellular users and global travelers who roam outside of cellular coverage areas, as well as residents of under-served markets who will use Globalstar's fixed-site phones to satisfy their needs for basic telephony.

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Rolls-Royce and SR Technics to create European repair and overhaul service
Rolls-Royce und SR Technics gründen europäischen Wartungsbetrieb

Rolls-Royce plc, the aerospace, marine and energy group, and SR Technics Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SAirGroup, are joining forces to create a new maintenance and overhaul company to service Trent aero engine customers in Europe and Africa. The 50:50 joint venture is scheduled to begin operations in 2001. The Rolls-Royce Trent family of engines has secured a worldwide market share of almost 50 per cent, powering the new generation of wide-body airliners from Airbus Industrie and Boeing. Zurich based SR Technics will repair and overhaul Trent 500 and Trent 700 engines while Trent 800 services will be carried out by Rolls-Royce in Derby, England. The new company will provide technical and commercial support for the growing number of customers in Europe and Africa with Trent-powered Airbus A330s, growth versions of the A340 and Boeing 777 aircraft. SR Technics' sister company, Swissair, has already committed to a total of 9 firm and 10 option A340-600 aircraft powered by Trent 500 engines, which will enter service in 2002.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

A German helicopter operator based in Bonn has signed an agreement to purchase a new MD Explorer to modernize its existing fleet of 21 helicopters. Wolfgang Schad, managing director of Air Lloyd, and officials from MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), signed the agreement Jan. 26 in Las Vegas, Nev. The aircraft, which is slated for delivery this month, will be used for VIP transport during EXPO 2000. EXPO 2000 is a worldwide exposition expected to draw large crowds to Hannover, Germany, this summer. Six MD Explorers, including the Air Lloyd aircraft, operate in Germany.
++
Bob Haslam has been appointed Managing Director at Eurofighter GmbH. Haslam was previously Director of European programmes with BAE Systems. He also held positions at BAE SEMA. Haslam replaecs Brian Phillipson, who has moved to head teh Type 45 Frigate programme for BAE Systems.
+++
On February 7, Bombardier Aerospace's new Q400 regional airliner made its inaugural revenue flight between Copenhagen, Denmark and Poznan, Poland, with SAS Commuter. SAS Commuter has firm orders for 22 Q400 aircraft, having recently converted three options. While the Q400 introduced has 72 passenger seats in a two-class configuration, SAS Commuter's fleet will also include single-class, 76-seat models. The Q400 will replace SAS Commuter's 50-seat turboprops on routes within Scandinavia and between Scandinavia and other points within Europe.
+++
On February 8, Bombardier Aerospace announced that Qantas Airways has placed a firm order for one 50-seat Q300 turboprop on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary Sunstate Airlines of Brisbane, Australia. The aircraft, the first 50-seat turboprop in Australian regional airline service, will enter revenue service in March 2000, joining the six 36-seat Dash 8 Series 100 and Q200 aircraft already in the Sunstate fleet.
+++
The world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, CFM International had one of the most successful years in its history in 1999, logging nearly 1,000 new engine orders at a value of about $5 billion. "We had a record year in 1998 with orders for more than 1,300 engines and expected orders to slow dramatically last year," said Gerard Laviec, president and CEO. "We felt if we could get half as many orders in 1999 as we did in 1998, it would be a successful year. It turned out to be the fourth best year in our history and, in fact, the fourth best year in the industry in terms of orders."
+++
A team developing a prototype International Space Station "lifeboat" called the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle successfully flew the largest parafoil parachute in history at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. They released a parachute with an area almost one and half times as big as the wings of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The Jan. 19 parafoil test was part of the development of a re-entry system for the uninhabited X-38 spacecraft. With an innovative combination of old and new technology and a streamlined development, the goal of the X-38 team is to develop a new human spacecraft for a fraction of the cost of any past programs. Plans are to develop and build four operational X-38-based International Space Station Crew Return Vehicles for less than half of what it cost to manufacture a single Space Shuttle orbiter. The X-38 may become the first new U.S. human spacecraft to fly to and from space in more than 20 years. The parafoil recently tested in Arizona has a span of 143 feet and a total surface area of 7,500 square feet, making it the largest parafoil in the world.
+++
In the latest of a string of Japanes space failures, a $105-million X-ray satellite is presumed lost after a flawed launch from the Kagoshima Space Center. According to the Tokyo-based Institute for Space and Astronautical Science, a malfunction in the first stage motor of the M-5 launch vehicle sent the craft into an erroneous flight path "which could not be restored by the effort of the second and third stages." The satellite may have only reached an altitude of 50 miles and likely burned in the Earth's atmosphere without completing an orbit, the agency said in a statement.
+++
The first major component of an experimental composite liquid oxygen tank for NASA's X-34 rocket plane has completed the curing process in an oversized oven at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The composite tank is one of 10 supplemental advanced technology experiments planned for the later stages of the X-34 program. It will be the largest composite liquid oxygen tank made and the first to fly on a launch vehicle. By replacing structures usually made of metal with lightweight composite materials, combined with other technology advancements, NASA hopes to lower the weight of future launch vehicles and, as a result, cut the cost for launching payloads into orbit from $10,000 per pound today to $1,000. Two tanks are being assembled and tested at the Marshall Center under a 50-50 cooperative agreement between Marshall and Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems in New Orleans. The first tank, now being built, will be used for ground tests. The second will be used for flight tests.
+++
Boeing was hit by a strike of 22,000 members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, sending the share price down more than five per cent. The SPEEA walked off the job on February 9 after contract negotiations with a federal mediator broke down. "The company continues to be obstinate," said SPEEA Executive Director Charles Bofferding. "Until they come around, we are striking." The FAA and Boeing said production would not be affected by the move.
+++
Honeywell has announced that it has successfully flight tested its new AS900 turbofan engine for the business and regional aircraft markets, the two fastest-growing segments in the aerospace industry. The first flight was conducted on schedule, 18 months after the engine program was announced. The test included thrust performance and overall engine evaluation, and Honeywell said it achieved 100 percent of its objectives. The AS900 is expected to be certified in the first quarter of 2001 and enter service on the Avro RJX regional aircraft in the fall of that year. The engine is also expected to enter service on the Bombardier Continental Business Jet in 2002. The engine is designed as an integrated powerplant system (IPPS) for aircraft manufacturers wishing to purchase a complete system from Honeywell.
+++
Dasa chief executive Manfred Bischoff has continued to urge the UK to opt for Europe's Meteor missile when it makes a forthcoming decision on how to arm its Eurofighters. In an interview with French daily La Tribune, Bischoff reiterated that a decision by Britain to go with U.S. firm Raytheon's Amraam-based missile could have dire consequences for Eurofighter. "In opting for an American solution, London would give the United States a chance to veto future sales of Eurofighter and this could favour sales of their own combat aircraft," Bischoff said. "This would limit our export opportunities and that is why I ask the British to choose European missiles that...have technical specifications that are 100 percent in line with the European combat plane."
+++
Aerospatiale Matra logged sales worth 12,898 million during its first year of operation, a rise of 4.9 percent compared with the pro forma figure for 1998. Airbus production rates have increased with the growing success of this family of jetliners (294 delivered in 1999, compared with 228 in 1998), bringing total Airbus sales to 5,471 million a. This marked a 25.4 percent increase over 1998 (19.2 percent with a constant dollar). The Aerospatiale Matra group booked orders worth 13,907 million in 1999 (excluding Dassault Aviation), bringing the order book (excluding Dassault Aviation) at December 31st to 34,671 millions. This is 8.8 percent higher than at year-end 1998, and equal to three years of sales.
+++
On February 1, the US Federal Communications Commission announced that the first licences have been granted for accessing EUTELSAT satellite capacity from within the USA for services that will include IP broadband and video contributions. BT North America Inc and Group W Network Services (CBS Broadcasting Inc) are the first two companies authorized to uplink to EUTELSAT.
+++
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army conducted another successful flight of a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., this morning. The PAC-3 Missile intercepted and destroyed an incoming tactical ballistic missile. Preliminary test data indicate all other test objectives were successfully achieved. The PAC-3 Missile has had five consecutive successful engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) test flights since 1997.
+++
The German navy aviation has released its SAR figures for 1999. After 474 alarms, there were 278 missions which resulted in the rescue/assistance of 199 people, Marinefliegerreschwader 5 at Kiel has said.
+++
On February 11, NASA and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency announced that the launch of the International Space Station's next component -- the Zvezda service module -- is scheduled to occur between July 8 and 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Zvezda launch window will be proposed for approval to the International Space Station Partners in accordance with the ISS Control Board process within the next several weeks. Following joint meetings in Moscow, including a General Designer's Review and a Joint Program Review, Rosaviakosmos has proposed that Zvezda (Russian for "Star") -- the early living quarters for crews aboard the station -- be launched on a Proton rocket with second and third stage engines modified to increase reliability.
+++
A Bo 105 helicopter of Heeresfliegerregiment 35 has reached 5000 flight hours. The liaison machine was handed over in 1981 and had 33 inspections since then.
+++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*February 6, 2000

*January 30, 2000 *January 23, 2000 *January 16, 2000 *January 9, 2000

*December 19, 1999 *December 12, 1999 *December 5, 1999

*November 28, 1999 *November 21, 1999 *November 14, 1999 *November 7, 1999

*October 31, 1999 *October 24, 1999 *October 17, 1999 *October 10, 1999 *October 3, 1999

*January to September 1999 *January to December 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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Last updated 11 February 2000
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