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UPDATE 
Week ending April 2, 2000
+++ Bombardier super-deal with Delta +++ Mars program assessment report outlines route to success +++ Big players enter internet market +++ X-38 test flight succeeds +++ First order for RJX regional airliner +++ Frankfurt airport extends Pier A +++ News in brief +++

Bombardier super-deal with Delta
Mega-Auftrag für CRJ-Regionaljets

Bombardier Aerospace has announced that it has signed with Delta Connection carriers Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines letters of intent for 94 firm orders for CRJ200 Series and CRJ700 Series regional jets in a transaction valued in excess of $2 billion US ($2.92 billion Cdn) - the largest regional aircraft order in history. This transaction also includes options for an additional 406 CRJ aircraft. Comair of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) of Atlanta, Georgia, wholly owned subsidiaries of Delta Air Lines, will accept delivery of the 94 firm aircraft between the first quarter of 2001 and the end of 2004. The new order includes 25 70-seat CRJ700 aircraft and 69 CRJ200 aircraft with a mix of 40, 44 and 50 seats. The airlines' 406 options, once exercised, will be for a mix of CRJ200 Series and CRJ700 Series aircraft with delivery dates stretching out to 2010. Once this agreement has been finalized, ASA and Comair combined will have firm orders for 281 Bombardier CRJ aircraft, 125 of which have been delivered.
With the announcement, Bombardier's firm orderbook for the CRJ100/200 will total 702 aircraft including 381 deliveries and a backlog of 321 units. Conditional orders and options will further raise CRJ100/200 commitments by 443 aircraft for an overall total of 1,145 units. Firm orders for the CRJ700 total 129 aircraft, all on backlog. Conditional orders and options further raise CRJ700 commitments by 262 aircraft for an overall CRJ700 total of 391 units.

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Mars program assessment report outlines route to success
Bericht zum Marsprogramm mit Empfehlungen für zukünftige Missionen

An in-depth review of NASA's Mars exploration program found significant flaws in formulation and execution led to the failures of recent missions, and provides recommendations for future exploration of Mars. NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin appointed Thomas Young, a seasoned space-industry executive, to independently assess current and future Mars programs. The Mars Program Independent Assessment Team (MPIAT) started work on January 7, 2000, and delivered its final report to the Agency in mid-March. The team's charter was to review and analyze successes and failures of recent missions to determine why some succeeded and some failed; examine the relationship between and among NASA Headquarters, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the California Institute of Technology and industry partners; assess the involvement of scientists; identify lessons learned from successes and failures; review the Mars Surveyor Program to assure lessons learned are utilized; oversee Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 failure reviews; and evaluate the risk management process. The report concluded the most probable cause of the failure was the generation of spurious signals when the lander legs were deployed during descent. The spurious signals gave a false indication that the spacecraft had landed, resulting in a premature shutdown of the engines and the destruction of the lander when it crashed on Mars. Without any entry, descent and landing telemetry data, there is no way to know whether the lander reached the terminal descent propulsion phase. If it did reach this phase, it is almost certain that premature engine shutdown occurred, the report concluded. NASA's Office of Space Science will develop an integrated strategic response to the findings and recommendations of the report. NASA Chief Engineer W. Brian Keegan also will coordinate an integrated Agency response to the recent reviews of NASA program management practices. In addition, Dr. Edward Weiler, the Associate Administrator for Space Science, announced the cancellation of the planned Mars 2001 lander awaiting his approval of a new overall Mars "architecture" plan.

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Big players enter internet market
Internet-Marktplatz: Großkonzerne spielen mit

An aerospace and defense industry group including Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE SYSTEMS, Raytheon and B2B e-commerce solutions leader Commerce One have announced the creation of an independent enterprise that will develop an Internet trading exchange for the global aerospace and defense industry. This open aerospace and defense exchange, based on the Commerce One MarketSite Portal Solution, powered by Microsoft, will be a secure, electronic marketplace where buyers and sellers around the world can conduct business. "This trading exchange can deliver enormous buy- and sell-side efficiencies to our industry," said Phil Condit, Boeing chairman and chief executive officer. "By using a single e-marketplace, all of us -- manufacturers, suppliers, airline and government customers and service providers -- can significantly lower transaction costs and deliver more value."
The four aerospace and defense companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form the new venture. The parties expect to sign a binding agreement soon, and will form a new company that will own and operate the exchange. The web-based trading exchange is aiming for a launch by mid-year. Twenty percent of the equity has been set aside for other industry participants and employees of the new venture. Commerce One will have a five percent equity position. The company executives emphasized that the new exchange is an open platform for the industry, and invited all industry participants to join in. Citing the tremendous benefits to be gained by everyone, they said that, like any exchange, the more participants there are, the more value there will be for everyone in the trading community.

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X-38 test flight succeeds
X-38 absolviert erfolgreichen Flug

The path a future space "lifeboat" would take returning from orbit was successfully navigated today as NASA's X-38 prototype crew return vehicle completed its fifth atmospheric test flight at the Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif. In the highest, fastest and longest test of the X-38 to date, the vehicle was released from Dryden's NB-52 airplane at an altitude of 39,000 feet and flew free for 44 seconds, reaching a speed of over 500 miles per hour before it began to deploy its parachutes. Opening at the same speed and altitude as it will during a return from space, a 60-foot diameter drogue parachute first slowed the X-38 to about 70 miles per hour. Then, a 5,500-square foot parafoil began a phased opening, successfully demonstrating a new, more stable parafoil design recently developed by the X-38 team. The revised parafoil proved successful in ensuring a smooth ride for the craft during its 11 1/2-minute descent. The X-38 touched down smoothly on target, even though one of three landing skids did not deploy. The test also was the first use of automatic flight control software aboard the X-38. The new software, developed in a fraction of the time and cost of past spacecraft software, performed flawlessly. The X-38 is a prototype "lifeboat" for the International Space Station, designed to carry up to seven passengers home from orbit in an emergency. Although the United States leads the development of the X-38, international space agencies also are participating. Contributing nations include Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Throughout the rest of this year and 2001, increasingly complex, uncrewed X-38 atmospheric flight tests will continue at Dryden. A space test of an uncrewed X-38 is planned for 2002, when a vehicle already under construction at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, will be released from a Space Shuttle to fly back to Earth.

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First order for RJX regional airliner
Druk Air bestellt Avro RJX-85s

BAE SYSTEMS has announced that Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) has ordered two Avro RJX-85s, becoming the first customer for this new Regional Jet. Deliveries of the 82-seat, two class aircraft will be in November 2001 and January 2002. Druk Air is a well-established operator of the BAe 146, a predecessor to the Avro RJX, having flown the type since November 1988. With this decision to upgrade to the Avro RJX, Druk Air will be able to operate longer routes and carry higher passenger loads than at present. As well as providing an increase in capacity from 72 to 82 seats, the Avro RJX will allow Druk Air to fly non-stop to Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Avro RJX is the latest development of the BAe 146 / Avro RJ family and features new-technology Honeywell AS977 engines. Formally launched on 21st March 2000, the first Avro RJX development aircraft, an RJX-85, is already under construction and will fly later this year. The type will enter service in September 2001.With this latest announcement, the order book for the BAe 146 / Avro RJ / Avro RJX family has reached 375 aircraft.

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Frankfurt airport extends Pier A
Mehr Kapaziät in Frankfurt

With the opening of the new Pier A-Extension, the capacity of Frankfurt Airport's main Terminal 1 will be boosted by about 40 million passenger per year - five million more or the equivalent of Hanover Airport's annual passenger volume. It will provide extra capacity for the upcoming busy summer season, including passengers traveling to Expo 2000. Requiring three years to construct, the 540-meter-long Pier A-Extension features a glass facade, docking positions for 13 aircraft, and 17 gate rooms (13 Schengen and 4 Non-Schengen gates) spread over two levels. The airport's automated baggage handling system also has been expanded with some five kilometers of new guideways to serve the new facility. The original section of Pier A has already been redesigned and expanded as part of the huge Terminal 1 redevelopment that is costing the Frankfurt Airport company more than DM1 billion: including over DM400 million for the Pier A-Extension alone. Other projects in areas B and C of Terminal 1 are in progress; many have already been completed. Pier A is part of the so-called Lufthansa Terminal Frankfurt.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

On March 27, NASA's Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft, built at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, under subcontract to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) of San Antonio, Texas, was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Central California. IMAGE, led by Dr. James L. Burch of SwRI, was selected by NASA to be the first Medium-class Explorer Mission. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD manages the IMAGE mission. The IMAGE spacecraft was built, integrated with its payload, and tested at the Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale. IMAGE is the first mission dedicated to imaging the magnetosphere as it changes shape. IMAGE will use three-dimensional imaging techniques to study the global response of the Earth's magnetosphere to variations in the magnetic activity of the Sun. The magnetosphere is the region of space controlled by the Earth's magnetic field and populated with plasma - a gas consisting of equal numbers of positively and negatively charged particles - of both solar wind and ionospheric origin. Its behavior is strongly influenced by the solar wind, the supersonic stream of charged particles flowing out from the Sun.
+++
IATA has taken key initiatives to ensure that anyone who puts the safety of their fellow passengers or crew in danger is properly prosecuted and penalised. Airlines have adopted a Recommended Practice and a model Memorandum of Understanding between carriers and airport authorities and IATA has published 'Guidelines' for use by airlines in developing policies to deal with disruptive passengers. At a seminar in Geneva on 23 March, protocols adopted by Gatwick Airport's Disruptive Passenger Action Group for dealing with disruptive behaviour both in the air and on the ground were provided as examples for other airports to follow. These efforts are all key components of the new IATA Inflight Council's programme aimed at bringing customer and cabin service issues before the industry. The initiatives have already borne fruit. In countries where procedures and legislation had been put in place, such as the UK, there seemed to be a levelling off and even a decrease in the number of incidents reported last year. Based on statistics provided by presenters, incidents of serious disruptive passenger behaviour were now limited to approximately 1 in every 4 million passengers.
+++
Representatives of key Turkish defense and aerospace companies met in Ankara on March 22 to identify possible ways to participate in developing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Transatlantic Advanced Radar Project (NATAR). The meeting was hosted by officials of Northrop Grumman, which is developing the radar that will be part of the overall NATAR system. NATO has declared an urgent need for an airborne ground surveillance system for crisis management and to support peacekeeping missions. Officially designated a NATO project last month, NATAR is chartered to present a proposal for a NATO-owned and -operated solution that will meet the need for a multinational system that has both strategic and tactical capabilities, and is interoperable with other national systems. Recognizing the importance of this program, a NATAR Project Office has begun work in Brussels, consisting of representatives from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United States. Turkey has been invited to join the project.
+++
NASA's High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager spacecraft -- an international mission to explore the basic physics of particle acceleration and energy release in solar flares -- has sustained substantial damage during vibration testing. Repairs to the spacecraft, known as HESSI, will likely delay its launch to no earlier than January 2001. The damage was caused when a test device that simulates vibrations the spacecraft can expect during launch delivered approximately 20G's, ten times the appropriate levels for the test. As a result, the spacecraft's structure was damaged and two of the four solar arrays were cracked. The status of the HESSI instrument is not currently known.
+++
NASA's extremely productive and long-lived Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory mission -- which exceeded its mission by four years and completely changed ideas on the most important unsolved puzzles in astrophysics -- has come to end with the failure of one of the satellite's three gyroscopes. NASA plans to safely direct the satellite back into Earth's atmosphere no earlier than June 1 with the remaining two gyroscopes, which are used to steer the craft. As an extra precaution, Compton engineers are also developing a method to control the satellite without any gyroscopes, for use as backup during the reentry maneuvers in case an anomaly is encountered with the gyroscopes. Compton's four instruments are still in working order. Compton's lasting legacy will be its impact on gamma ray astronomy. The telescope detected more than 400 gamma ray sources, 10 times more than were previously known. Compton recorded more than 2,500 gamma ray bursts; before Compton, only about 300 had been detected.
+++
The aircraft factory in Ulan-Ude completes in April deliveries of a batch of civil Mi-171 helicopters to Iran. An-124-100 Ruslan planes will bring the Iranian navy four helicopters out of five, a contract for the purchase of which was signed last year. The first helicopter of the batch was delivered in January. If the Iranian side is satisfied with the qualities of helicopters, the Siberian factory can count on a new contract, providing for a delivery of another 20 civil copters Mi-171 for the Iranian navy. The current year can be crucial for the factory, experiencing serious problems with marketing its goods in the recent past.
+++
The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team has completed airframe assembly of the X-35A concept demonstrator aircraft at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company facility (the Skunk Works) in Palmdale, Calif. "We are very pleased with our progress in assembling the X-35A demonstrator aircraft," said Frank J. Cappuccio, vice president and program manager for the Lockheed Martin JSF. "All of our system checkout tests have progressed well, with good performance across all of the systems. The same can be said for proof loads testing. We anticipate that the flight test program will meet all expectations."
+++
Airbus Industrie is talking to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and other Japanese firms about participating in the planned manufacture of its A3XX superjumbo jet. This follows the DaimlerChrysler groups purchase of a stake in the Mitsubishi car division. DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Juergen Schrempp said thiscould open up business opportunities with other Mitsubishi companies.
+++
Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with the Italian government for the acquisition of two additional C-130J-30 aircraft, and the upgrading of six aircraft already on order. The two new aircraft are the longer "-30" variant of the C-130J, and the upgrade calls for converting six of the C-130Js on order to the longer C-130J-30 configuration. This will bring the number of aircraft on order for the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) to 22 - comprising 12 C-130Js and 10 C-130J-30s. The Italian configuration is among the most sophisticated yet developed for the aircraft. It has a highly advanced suite of communications and defensive systems equipment. This includes U/VHF combined multi-band radios and a laser warning receiver system. In addition, it will be the first C-130J "receiver-tanker" built. This means it has the ability to both refuel other aircraft as well as being refueled itself in-flight. This is a true 'force multiplier' for the AMI as it gives them great operational flexibility in tactical transport missions. The aircraft is also equipped with the capability for armor plating to protect the flight crew from ground fire.
+++
Boeing and General Electric have jointly confirmed Japan Airlines' (JAL) decision to purchase eight of the newest model 777s, the longer-range derivatives of the 777-300. "We are delighted to be a launch customer for the longer-range 777-300 airplane," said JAL President Isao Kaneko. "Our experience with the 777-200 and -300 models has been outstanding and we have great confidence in the economics and reliability of this new longer-range member of the 777 family." The airline plans to use the airplane on international routes replacing its 747 classics. The longer-range 777-300 is powered by General Electric GE90-115B engines, a derivative of the highly successful GE90. The engine is scheduled to earn U.S. Federal Aviation Administration type certification and validation in late 2002. The 777-300 longer-range derivative is progressing toward type certification in the third quarter of 2003.
+++
Boeing confirmed easyJet's announcement of an order for 17 new Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 airplanes. Deliveries are scheduled to begin July 2001. This is a new order not previously accounted for in cumulative order totals published by Boeing.The order brings the company's order total to 114 airplanes in 2000. With this order, easyJet will operate more than 40 of the world's best-selling jetliners. The airline previously ordered 15 Next-Generation 737-700s and 12 new 737-300s.
+++
Chinas Xinjiang Airlines (CXA) has ordered three Boeing 757-200 airplanes. The Next-Generation 737-700s currently on order with CXA will be delivered to another operator in China. "The 757-200 has been an exceptional performer for CXA. It is ideally suited for our route network and enjoys strong passenger preference," said Zhang Ruipu, CXA president. "The tremendous economics of the airplane and the commonality with our existing 757 fleet made it the clear choice."
+++
General Electric and United Technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a new military helicopter engine program. Under this MOU, the companies are negotiating a business venture that will compete for the U.S. Army's Common Engine Program (CEP). The CEP is a program envisioned to be used in growth applications of the Black Hawk, Apache and Seahawk helicopters, which today are powered by a common GE T700 engine. The CEP goals require 25 percent better fuel economy, a 60 percent power-to-weight improvement, and a 20 percent reduction in operation and support (O&S) costs. Under the CEP, the U.S. Army is planning to develop an advanced-technology engine for a modernized version of the Black Hawk. The Black Hawk Modernization Operational Requirements Document (ORD), the official U.S. Army document that defines the requirements for the modernized Black Hawk helicopter, establishes range and payload performance levels. Compliance with the ORD can only be achieved by a new centerline engine that meets the CEP goals.
+++
MD Helicopters has announced the sale of three twin-engine MD Explorer helicopters to three public service operators in the United Kingdom. The Greater Manchester Police, the West Yorkshire Police and a regional air ambulance operator eachselected the MD Explorer after completing competitive evaluations. The Greater Manchester Police, which will take delivery of its aircraft in December, will be the first customer to receive an MD Explorer equipped with more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada 207E engines, officials at MDHI said. West Yorkshire is scheduled to receive its MD Explorer early next year. The air medical Explorer is slated for delivery late this year or in early 2001.
+++
Mouawad National Company of Saudi Arabia has become a new customer for the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ). Mouawad National Company is situated in Jeddah and is headquarters for a jewellery manufacturing and retail empire called the Mouawad Group, which employs more than 1,400 people and spans the entire globe, from Saudi Arabia to Europe, North America and the Far East. The company also manufactures watches and works of art, has factories in three continents as well as boutiques and showrooms around the world.
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Following a commitment announced in October 1999, Air France has signed a firm order for eight Airbus Industrie A330-200s with options for a further five. This deal consolidates the French carrier's plans to rationalize its medium range to long-haul fleet, replacing existing Boeing 767-300ERs and A310s with Airbus Industrie's fly-by-wire widebody twin, which ranks amongst the most efficient aircraft ever designed. "Our decision to select the A330 makes the best economic sense for Air France," said Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Air France President. "The A330 will bring us substantial cost-savings and productivity gains thanks to the commonality it shares with our sizeable fleet of A340s and A320 Family aircraft." Air France's A330-200s will be configured in three classes and will be equipped with General Electric CF6-80E1A3 engines. Airbus Industrie's A330/A340 Family is the best selling aircraft family in its category, with firm orders for over 550 aircraft from 54 customers. Over 300 such aircraft are currently in service with 46 operators.
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The first S70A-28D Turkish Glass Cockpit Black Hawk helicopter continues in flight test at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's main facility at Stratford. The aircraft made its first flight on February 28. Over the next 14 months, Sikorsky will deliver 30 glass cockpit BLACK HAWKs to the Turkish Land Forces (TLF) and eight glass cockpit Seahawks to the Turkish Navy (TN). During the same time period, Sikorsky will re-configure the 20 TLF Black Hawks delivered in 1999 to the glass cockpit configuration in Ankara, Turkey. In mid-1998, Sikorsky and the Republic of Turkey agreed to incorporate a Sikorsky/Rockwell Collins glass cockpit into eight Turkish SEAHAWKs and in February 1999 they finalized the agreement to incorporate the glass cockpit into 50 Turkish BLACK HAWKs. In just 18 months, hundreds of dedicated employees at Sikorsky and Rockwell Collins have come together to design, build and fly this advanced technology machine.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*March 26, 2000 *March 19, 2000 *March 12, 2000 *March 5, 2000

*February 27, 2000 *February 20, 2000 *February 13, 2000 *February 6, 2000

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

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

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