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Week ending May 21, 2000
+++ UK opts for Meteor, C-17, A400M +++ Singapore Airlines in talks to acquire A3XX +++ CAE wins contract for Tornado Cockpit Procedures Trainer +++ Rockot launch succeeds +++ Shuttle finally lifts off to ISS +++ News in brief +++
UK opts for Meteor, C-17, A400M
London entscheidet großes Rüstungspaket
On May 16, UK Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon announced a "major step forward in Britain's defence capability", revealing keenly awaited Government decisions on politically highly charged procurement programmes. The Royal Air Force will receive new, large transport aircraft to support the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces being established as a key commitment of the Strategic Defence Review. Eurofighter, the RAF's front line fighter for the 21st Century, will be fitted with an Advanced Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile, giving it the edge in combat with next Generation enemy aircraft. The contracts are together worth a potential 5 billion Pounds, and will create or sustain nearly 5,000 jobs with British defence companies, Hoon said. The key decisions are:- Four C-17 Globemaster aircraft will be leasedfrom the Boeing Company, to meet the SDR commitment for a short term enhancement of the RAF's airlift capability. They will enter service from the middle of next year. Price tag is 0,5 billion Pounds
- Later in the decade, the A400M - formerly known as the Future Large Aircraft - will be purchased from the Airbus Military Company, to replace the remainder of the RAF's ageing Hercules aircraft. 25 will be bought in a fist instance, to serve alongside C-130Js. A400M is not yet launched, as Airbus has not enough commitments from European nations yet. All will depend on the German decision, which is promised by the summer. Price tag is 3,5 billion Pounds.
- The Meteor missile, produced by Matra BAE Dynamics, will enter service on Eurofighter in the latter half of the decade. Thus, Raytheon of the US was not successful with its AMRAAM based bid. Meteor is a highly risky development, but Hoon said contracts will include very strict clauses for the manufacturers if they fail to deliver. Even pay back of funds is considered. Price tag is 1 billion Pounds.
Singapore Airlines in talks to acquire A3XX
A3XX für Singapore Airlines?
Singapore Airlines is in talks with Airbus Industrie to become one of the first airlines in the world to operate the all-new A3XX. The airline is in discussions for the initial purchase of up to 16 aircraft, including 10 firm orders and six options, for delivery from late 2005. The A3XX is currently under development at Airbus Industrie. In its initial version, the A3XX-100, it will be able to carry 555 passengers in a standard-three class layout over distances up to 7,650 nm/14,150 km. Singapore Airlines would deploy the aircraft on its major routes to Europe, as well as on trunk services within the Asia-Pacific region. Noël Forgeard, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Industrie said that the news from Singapore Airlines confirms the requirement at leading airlines for an all-new very large aircraft from the middle of this decade. "Singapore Airlines has been one of our key partners in the design of the A3XX and we are especially proud to count a carrier of this stature in our group of potential launch customers. The airline's declared interest in acquiring the aircraft marks a significant step towards the formal launch of the programme before year end." That launch will take time, it seems, because the much-awaited supervisory board meeting on May 26 has been postponed indefinitely.A story in the Friday edition of the Financial Times said that Airbus partners believed it was still too early to move to the commercial launch stage because of a lack of demand for the 555-seat double-decker plane.
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CAE wins contract for Tornado Cockpit Procedures Trainer
Tornado-Simulator von CAE für Luftwaffe
On May 17, CAE announced that its Military Simulation and Controls business has been awarded a contract to provide the German Forces with a Cockpit Procedure Trainer (CPT) for the Tornado fighter bomber. The value of the contract was not disclosed. The CPT consists of two replicas of the rear cockpit in which the Weapons System Officer operates. The CPT provides Weapons System training for standalone operations, as well as in co-ordination with a wingman. The new trainer will be installed this year at the German Air Force Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, USA. It will supplement the Tornado flight and tactics simulators delivered by CAE to the German Air Force in March 2000. Since the Tornado was introduced as the standard fighter bomber of the German Air Force and Navy in the early eighties, CAE has delivered eight Tornado flight and tactics simulators to the German Forces.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Rockot launch succeeds
Erfolgreicher Rockot-Start
EUROCKOT Launch Services GmbH, Germany, and its parent companies Astrium GmbH, Germany, and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Russia, announced the successful Commercial Demonstration Flight of their ROCKOT launch vehicle from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia, using the new commercial BREEZE KM upper stage for the first time. The goal of the Commercial Demonstration Flight CDF was the commissioning of the ROCKOT as an operational launch vehicle as well as the qualification of the dedicated EUROCKOT launch facilities at Plesetsk (40,5 deg E, 62,6 deg N) following their recent completion. ROCKOT simulated a commercial mission by successfully deploying two mass frequency simulator satellites SIMSAT-1 and -2 into an circular orbit of 540 km at an inclination of 86,4 degrees. "With this successful launch, ROCKOT and our facilities at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, in which we invested approx. 35 Million US$, attained their full operational capability," Günter Stamerjohanns, CEO of Eurockot, said. "This flight is not only a demonstration of the reliability of ROCKOT but also a proof of our partnership with Khrunichev. We are proud to be serving the LEO-satellite market with them so ably through Eurockot," Mr. Josef Kind, President, Astrium Space Infrastructure, adds. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Shuttle finally lifts off to ISS
Flug zur ISS: Shuttle startet am 19. Mai
After a string of delays, the Space Shuttle lifted off from pad 39A at 6:11 a.m. EDT on May 19, shortly before sunrise. Launch director David King told the crew, "It looks like we are ready to send you to the International Space Station. We wish you well. Commander James Halsell Jr., replied, "We're ready." The crew is their way for the first visit to the fledgling space station in one year. Six American astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut are scheduled to perform urgent repairs on the station and to boost its orbit, which has been decaying at a rate faster than NASA would like because of increased solar activity. The astronauts have the most important task of replacing four faulty batteries on the station out of a total of six. The Atlantis crew includes commander Halsell Jr., 43; pilot Scott Horowitz, 43, mission specialists Mary Ellen Weber, 37; Jeffrey Williams, 42; James Voss, 51; Susan Helms, 42; and Yuri Usachev, 42. Their mission is to last 10 days, possibly 11. Voss and Williams will perform a spacewalk to replace a broken antenna, make sure a U.S.-built crane works properly, and set up a camera. This mission was supposed to take place after the launch of a Russian part, called a service module, which is currently set to lift off from Kazakhstan in mid-July.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
From May 18, the German DFS (ATC agency) is changing the airspace structure over the country. This could lead to increased delays at first, as pilots and controllers get used to the new routes. Deutsche Flugsicherung is confident. though that the alterations will improve traffic flow and reduce delays.+++
Luftrettungsstaffel Bayern, a private club which is using its GA aircraft and helicopters on patrol flights to detect fires, floodings etc., has flown 6185 hours in 1999. During this time they detected 10 fires, it was said. 311 pilots are organized in LRST, with 138 aircraft and 10 helicopters at their disposal.
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A test firing of an Ariane-5 solid rocket motor (MPS) is to take place on 16 May on the booster teststand (BEAP) at the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's spaceport in Kourou, under the Ariane-5 Research and Technology Accompaniment programme. ARTA-5 is a European Space Agency programme with CNES as prime contractor. Its objectives are to verify that Ariane-5 launcher qualification, reliability and performance levels are maintained and also to qualify modifications resulting from obsolescence or changes in technology. ARTA activities cover the solid rocket motors built by Europropulsion. This motor test will also serve to qualify Ariane-5 improvements designed to increase launcher lift-capability and get production costs down. The prime contractor for the test is Europropulsion, which defines the objectives and supplies the specimen. Responsibility for conducting the test has been assigned to CNES, whose role covers stand deployment, supplying the test facilities and conducting operations with Arianespace's assistance.
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The aviation industry will fail to meet the expectation of the European travellers and shippers because Europe's aviation policies lack coherence - specifically, while "airlines are now fully liberalised, infrastructure providers, namely airports and air traffic services providers are not" said IATA Director General Pierre J. Jeanniot speaking on the opening day of the "Economist" Global Airlines' Conference in London, 16 May. Our industry continues to be heavily regulated through the sheer inefficiencies of much of the world's aviation infrastructure - and the archaic approach of some governments, who want to continue to control ATCs. "We are becoming 'infrastructure supply' regulated" said Jeanniot. "Now, we are also threatened with re-regulation from two other sources: the political opportunism of moves to convince governments that a long and detailed list of product features should be legislated, rather than simply left to competitive forces. And, the attempts of some environmentalists to convince ordinary people - and governments - that the growth of air transport is sinful, and perhaps should be capped."
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A B-1B strategic bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base set a milestone May 9 as it became the first Lancer to surpass 5,000 flight hours. The aircraft, 86-0132 and nicknamed "Oh, Hard Luck," reached the milestone and completed its 1,150 landing. Brig. Gen. Joseph Stein, 7th BW commander, and Lt. Col.Garrett Harencak, 28th Bomb Squadron commander, were among the crew when theflight-hour milestone was reached. The aircraft is assigned to Dyess' 28th BS, the Air Force's only formal training unit for the B-1. The aircraft, the 92nd B-1 built, was delivered to the Air Force Feb. 29, 1988, and spent one year at McConnell AFB, Kan., before being transferred here. As the "oldest" B-1 in terms of flight hours, the aircraft will under go a special inspection this summer at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla. The findings of that inspection will provide the Air Force and the plane's manufacturer, Boeing, with insight for any future improvements to the B-1 fleet.
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The Air Force's Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle excelled during two missions flown in support of its first international joint military force exercise, Linked Seas '00. Winging its way toward Europe for the first time, Global Hawk Air Vehicle No. 4 took off from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 8, and flew non-stop to Portugal, carried out some radar imagery tasks, and then returned to Eglin some 28 hours later. During this flight, the UAV first traveled up the eastern coast of the United States, climbing to 51,000 feet where it demonstrated direct down-link of radar imagery to U.S. Army systems located at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and U.S. Navy systems onboard the USS George Washington, docked at Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va. Global Hawk then banked toward Europe, heading east across the Atlantic and passing north of the Azores Islands, enroute to Portugal.
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A Cathay Pacific Airways A340-300 has undertaken a special flight from Toronto to Hong Kong using a northern polar route, marking the first ever non-stop commercial service between the two cities. The flight was organised by the airline as part of a programme to prepare for the future opening of new, more direct polar routes between North America and Asia, significantly reducing total journey times. Operating as CX829, with 127 passengers and 16 crew on-board, the A340 departed Toronto's Pearson International Airport at 01.02 local time on 18 May and covered the distance of 7,221 nautical miles in 14 hours and 59 minutes. The aircraft arrived at its gate at Hong Kong International Airport at 04.21 local time, cutting almost three hours off the usual journey time between Toronto and Hong Kong, where existing routes for all aircraft involve a technical stop. The aircraft flew along the route designated Polar 2, which is statistically the shortest polar routing at this time of the year, heading north out of Toronto to Hudson Bay and on towards the Arctic Ocean. The aircraft passed within 50 nautical miles of the North Pole, before heading south towards Russia, over China, Mongolia, and China and into Hong Kong.
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Boeing and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) hjave confirmed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to expand their broad cooperative relationship covering aerospace and other business areas. Boeing and MHI have been working closely together for more than 30 years, and this agreement extends that long and mutually beneficial relationship. In recent months, Boeing and MHI have cooperated in developing programs for space businesses, such as the announcement of a joint effort to design and develop a new upper-stage propulsion system, designated the MB-XX. In addition, Boeing and MHI continue feasibility studies of mutually beneficial projects involving commercial jetliners, electronic systems, launch vehicles, and manned and unmanned space systems. Through investments and other initiatives, Boeing and MHI are focused on securing and expanding their respective leadership positions in aerospace. The companies will work together on a broad range of aerospace activities to provide customers with innovative products and services, complete solutions that enhance global competitiveness, lower costs, and improve quality.
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The first Hawk Mk.127 (DT10) Lead-In Fighter (LIF) trainer assembled in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has made its maiden flight from the BAE SYSTEMS site at Williamtown, NSW. Flown by BAE SYSTEMS test pilots Gordon McClymont and Garth Gardner, the aircraft was airborne for 70 minutes during which general handling characteristics, aircraft systems and avionics were tested. All functioned correctly.
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On 16 May, officials from Cessna Aircraft Company and Wipaire, Inc. gathered to celebrate the completion of the 100th Caravan float installation. "The Caravan is truly a unique airplane and it brings me great pleasure to celebrate the completion of the 100th 208 to be equipped with the Wipline Model 8000 floats," stated Wipaire, Inc. CEO Robert Wiplinger. In 1985, Cessna began deliveries of the new Caravan, a single-engine turboprop utility aircraft designed to carry passengers, freight or a combination of both. Today, the total Caravan worldwide fleet numbers nearly 1,200 aircraft operating in 66 countries. In 1986, shortly after the first customer deliveries began, Wipairecertified the series 8000 amphibious float for the Caravan.
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The designated Executive Committee of the future European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) has nominated 162 more EADS Managers. Only three months after the nomination of 52 Top Managers forming the EADS' Top Executive Team, Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, the designated Co-Chief Executive Officers (Co-CEOs), presented the management structure of the next level of each of the five EADS divisions and the corporate functions on Tuesday in Hamburg. "EADS is now ready for the merger and the IPO in July," Rainer Hertrich and Philippe Camus said. "We have a management structure, we have a business plan, we have set targets for each and every division and corporate function. We will now quickly move ahead to finalise the merger and IPO preparations." EADS is a merger of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Dasa, Munich), Aerospatiale Matra (Paris) and Construcciones Aeronáuticas S.A. (CASA, Madrid). More than 100 merger integration projects are being initiated at the level of corporate functions and within all divisions in order to identify and achieve additional value creation through increased efficiency, synergies and growth and to create a fully integrated company. "We have been working together across borders with considerably fewer misunderstandings and frictions than anybody had expected when we announced our tri-national merger," underlined both CEOs.
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In 2003, NASA may launch either a Mars scientific orbiter mission or a large scientific rover which will land using an airbag cocoon like that on the successful 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission. The two concepts were selected from dozens of options that had been under study. NASA will make a decision on the options, including whether or not to proceed to launch, in early July. Two teams, one centered at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA, and the other at Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, CO, will conduct separate, intensive two-month studies to further define the concepts. In the studies the teams also will evaluate risk, cost, and readiness for flight, allowing 36 months of development leading to a May 2003 launch date.
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Copenhagen, Singapore Changi, Helsinki Vantaa and Vancouver head the list of passengers' favourite airports, according to IATA's latest Global Airport Monitor. The report measures passenger satisfaction through 60,000 interviews at 57 major airports world-wide, for a wide range of customer service attributes. Particular features of this year's report are increased competition for the top places in the survey. The gap between the 'best in class' airports and other top performers is closing and the top end of the scale is becoming notably more clustered. This reflects airports' investment in either upgrading facilities or focusing on customers. Significant improvement in approval ratings were observed for Nagoya, Birmingham, Brussels and New York's JFK airport, all ranking within the top 10 in terms of most improved airports over 1998. After being ranked second to Helsinki Vantaa by business travellers last year, Singapore Changi regains the top position for Overall business passenger satisfaction for 1999. Ratings for business and leisure passengers continue to show a differential (higher score given by leisure passengers) in the latest report. The new Asia-Pacific airports in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong received a high level of approval for service performance, ranking highly for Overall passenger satisfaction, Comfortable waiting area/lounges and Speed of baggage delivery. Copenhagen, Zürich Kloten, Hong Kong, Amsterdam Schiphol and Oslo were perceived to be the top performers overall for Ground transportation to/from the airport, reflecting passenger appreciation for well functioning interconnected transport systems.
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SAirLogistics buys a minority participation in Global Freight Exchange (GF-X), an internet marketplace for airfreight capacities. By this strategic investment the SAirGroup division, to which also Swisscargo belongs, is responding to the growing demand for innovative E-commerce solutions in the airfreight industry. "For quite some time both forwarders and airlines have been looking for transparent, simple, and cost effective solutions regarding the selling and buying of air cargo capacities. With the wholesalers' marketplace of GF-X on the internetthis wish will soon become reality", explains Klaus Knappik, President and CEO of SAirLogistics. Further participators in GF-X are among others Deutsche Post, Lufthansa, and the investment bank Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.
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May 14, 2000
May 7, 2000
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April 2, 2000
March 26, 2000
March 19, 2000
March 12, 2000
March 5, 2000
February 27, 2000
February 20, 2000
February 13, 2000
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