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UPDATE 
Week ending January 21, 2001
+++ FedEx orders Airbus A380 +++ UK to join JSF +++ Bombardier CRJ200 record order +++ Lufthansa reports excellent traffic in 2000 +++ Concorde return preparations +++ News in brief +++

FedEx orders Airbus A380
A380: Frachter von FedEx bestellt

On January 16, FedEx Express announced plans to acquire the A380-800F, the new high-capacity, long-range aircraft from Airbus Industrie. FedEx Express will take delivery of ten of the aircraft beginning in 2008 providing superior service capabilities in key international air cargo markets that will exceed the capacity of the MD-11, the company's current long-range intercontinental aircraft. "Global commerce trends in the 21st century dictate the need for a larger aircraft, capable of flying longer distances and offering greater efficiencies than those provided by aircraft available today," said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Corp.
As a launch customer for the A380-800F, FedEx Express has executed a memorandum of understanding that is subject to the execution of a definitive purchase agreement. FedEx Express plans to take delivery of three aircraft each in 2008-2010 and one aircraft in 2011. FedEx Express also holds options from Airbus for an undisclosed number of additional A380 aircraft. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "The FedEx order is a major milestone in the future of the A380 program. FedEx is our first U.S. operator for the airplane and the first all cargo operator for the freighter version," said Noel Forgeard, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. "We considered a variety of options, including the Boeing 747X Stretch, but none met our anticipated demands in the international air cargo market as efficiently as the A380-800F," said Smith. "This aircraft will play a significant role in advancing our global leadership position. We look forward to working with Airbus and its employees in Europe, Asia, here in the United States and around the world on this unique aircraft."

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UK to join JSF
JSF-Programm mit Grobritannien

On January 17, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has announced that the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) offers the best potential to meet the MOD's requirement to replace its Harrier and Sea Harrier aircraft early in the next decade. Just before Geoff Hoon's announcement, Baroness Symons, the Minister for Defence Procurement, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US in Washington for the next stage of the JSF programme-Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD). Hoon said: "Signing the MoU now will continue our involvement in the JSF programme as a full collaborative partner and will enable the UK to take part in the selection of the prime contractor for the next phase. Participation in the JSF programme represents a tremendous opportunity for UK industry, UK companies are well represented in each of the competing consortia. We expect that work on the EMD phase will create or sustain 5,000 UK jobs in around 70 companies. JSF will play a crucial part in continuing our transatlantic partnership, maintaining NATO interoperability and improving European military capability".
The cost to the UK of the EMD phase will be in the order of 1.3 Billion Pound, plus some further 600 Million Pound to fund work on UK-specific requirements. Including export orders, the JSF production run may approach 5000 aircraft, estimated to be worth some 400 Billion US-Dollars through life. JSF may well be the largest ever military procurement programme. Contracts are expected to be awarded for this phase of the programme later this year.

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Bombardier CRJ200 record order
SkyWest Airlines bestellt 128 Regionaljets

Bombardier Aerospace announced the sale of up to 128 CRJ200 aircraft to St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines. The transaction includes 64 orders (35 firm orders and 29 conditional orders) plus 64 options. Value of the 64 orders is estimated at approximately $1.43 billion U.S. ($2 billion Cdn.). Including today's order, SkyWest has total commitments for 248 CRJ200 aircraft comprised of 100 firm orders, 29 conditional orders and 119 options. Fifteen of the firm aircraft are delivered and in revenue service. The 29 conditional orders are subject to an extension of the current SkyWest and United operational agreement and are expected to be firmed up in 2002. Deliveries for the new orders (firms and conditionals) will begin in March 2002 and continue through December of 2004.
SkyWest's current order brings Bombardier's firm orderbook for the CRJ100/200 to 798 aircraft, 460 delivered and a backlog of 338. Options and conditional orders for the 50-seat model CRJ100/200 represent another 615 aircraft, for an overall total of 1,413 units.

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Lufthansa reports excellent traffic in 2000
Gute Verkehrsergebnisse der Lufthansa

Lufthansa re-wrote the record books in 2000: During the year, close to 47 million passengers flew with the airlines in the Group, a year-on-year increase of 7.4 per cent. Of the total, Lufthansa German Airlines carried 41.3 million passengers (plus 6.1 per cent) and the Lufthansa CityLine regional carrier 5.7 million (plus 17.3 per cent). Aircraft capacities were exceptionally well utilised. For the first time ever, Lufthansa sold more than 74 per cent of its capacity. According to Lufthansa Chairman Jrgen Weber, the excellent traffic figures substantiate the Group's strategy: "The Lufthansa product is successful. It is backed by the global network of the Star Alliance, sound capacity management and the efforts of a good team. High utilisation evidences cost-efficiency and envi-ronmental awareness."
The cargo business sustained its positive development: During the year, Lufthansa Cargo transported 1,801,817 tonnes of cargo and mail, an increase of 3.2 per cent on the 1999 level. All in all, the Group lifted performance to an all-time high: The overall load factor rose by 0.7 percentage points on the year-earlier level to 71.8 per cent. All the capacity increase of 7.9 per cent was sold in the marketplace: Sales were up by 8.9 per cent.

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Concorde return preparations
Vorbereitungen für die Rückkehr der Concorde

On Janaury 18, an Air France Concorde flew from Paris Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to the Istres military base for tests aimed at returning the supersonic fleet to the sky. In Istres, technicians from the plane's manufacturer, EADS Airbus, are to conduct at least 15 days of high-speed ground tests on the aircraft that simulate fuel leaks, Air France executives said at a news conference Tuesday. The tests are intended to help the plane's owner and manufacturer better understand the chain of events that led to last year's crash.
Meanwhile, British Airways has begun modifying its Concordes, with hopes rising that the airline's supersonic flagship will be back in service this spring. The airline will be investing more than #30 million to ensure its delta-winged aircraft can resume flying safely, and offering the best customer experience in the skies. Of that, #17 million will be spent on safety-related modifications, and #14 million, announced last year, on new seats, cabin interiors and other customer service improvements. Alpha Foxtrot is the first of its seven aircraft to be adapted. It is currently in the Concorde hangar at Heathrow, where engineers are preparing it for new linings to its fuel tanks to be fitted and wiring in the undercarriage area to be strengthened. The new fuel tank liners - manufactured by EADS, the former Aerospatiale, in Toulouse - are made of a kevlar-rubber compound. They have been designed to contain the fuel should the wing skin be punctured, adopting an approach already successfully used in military helicopters and Formula 1 racing cars. Current estimates are that it will take a team of 40 engineers around eight to ten weeks to carry out these alterations to each aircraft. Initial tests on the modifications, carried out by the manufacturers using advanced computer modelling and actual physical trials, have proved encouraging. They were presented at the most recent meeting of the Anglo-French Government Concorde working group last month.
While no firm date has yet been targetted for a resumption of Concorde services, British Airways hopes to start flying passengers supersonically again this spring, with an initial daily return service between London Heathrow and New York JFK, building later, when modifications have been completed to more aircraft, to the regular two daily flights in each direction. Mike Street, British Airways' Director of Customer Services and Operations, said: "British Airways has always said that we would only resume Concorde services once we are convinced we can do so safely. We are confident that the modifications now underway will enable us to achieve this. Concorde's customers can't wait to get back on board. We are very much looking forward to carrying them - sooner rather than later."

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

The ARRIUS 2B1C engine, whose development was recently announced by TurbomÈca, will from now on be known as the ARRIUS 2B2. It succeeds the current version, the ARRIUS 2B1A, on Eurocopter's light twin-engined helicopter, the EC 135 T1. The engine will be certified by the end of 2001 and will enter service mid-2002. The ARRIUS 2B2 allows take-off weight to be increased to up to 2835 kg in category A (V.T.O.L) for temperatures above 20(infinity)c (at sea level) and has a contingency rating of 30 seconds. The ARRIUS also powers the EC 120 Colibri, the AS 355 Ecureuil, the AS 555 Fennec and the Agusta A109 Power. The ARRIUS programme was launched in 1981 and the first flight was carried out in 1983 on the AS 355 Ecureuil. To date, 1000 ARRIUS engines have been delivered.
+++
A Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 production standard engine has successfully passed a key qualification milestone for the NH90 helicopter. The overtemperature test - performed under the authority of Europe's airworthiness organisation, JAR (E) - was run at the Rolls-Royce site in Bristol, England. Run at much higher power than standard operation - representing the engine's 30-second OEI (one engine inoperative) rating of 2106 kW (2824 shp) - the successful completion of this run is an important step towards the RTM322's certification in the NH90. The rating is provided for emergency use by the pilot in the event of an engine failure. The RTM322-01/9 was selected in June 2000 to power the NH90 helicopter fleets of France, Germany and The Netherlands; it will power up to 219 German, 160 French and 20 Dutch NH90 helicopters. These nations, together with Italy which has yet to announce its NH90 engine selection, make up the four-nation NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) group, which is developing and procuring tactical transport and maritime versions of the NH90 design.
+++
The installation of new communication and navigation equipment in the Marine Corps UH-1N "Huey" helicopters significantly enhances its mission capability and tremendously decreases the pilots' workload. Despite the complexity of this change, this $74 million upgrade was brought to the fleet on schedule and $2 million under budget, due to the combined efforts of the government and industry teams. Communication and navigation equipment was installed in more than 100 UH-1Ns and into three training simulators. The upgrade includes a state-of-the- art communications and radio package (ARC-210 radio), Doppler Navigation System, control display navigation units with a digital data set, miniature airborne Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and replacement of the existing TACAN. The Internal Communications System (ICS) on board the helicopter was also replaced with a secure, voice activated system.
+++
Kaman Corporation has announced that its Kaman Aerospace subsidiary has signed a contract for the delivery of five K-MAX external lift helicopters with the U. S. State Department for a value of $21 million. The aircraft will be utilized in Peru in support of that country's counter drug efforts. The value of the initial contract includes acquisition of the aircraft, equipment and spare parts. A follow-on support contract will be negotiated to cover up to four years of logistics support and training. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled for March and April 2001. Walter R. Kozlow, president, Kaman Aerospace Corp., said, "This is a very significant contract for the K-MAX program. It marks the first K-MAX sale to the U. S. government and the first application of the aircraft in a law enforcement role." The Department of State envisions that the helicopters will be operated and maintained by the Peruvian National Police to provide supplies and equipment to police forces involved in Andean and riverine counter drug operations.
+++
In Marignane, Jean-Franois Bigay, President of the Eurocopter Group, presented the EC 725 helicopter to General Jean-Pierre Job, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, who flew the aircraft for 40 minutes. This helicopter is the latest member of the Cougar line, and benefits both from the experience of its predecessors and from considerable technological improvements. It will be used especially by the Air Force, the helicopter's initial customer, who currently requires 14 of the aircraft to perform Combat SAR missions for the French Armed Forces. The first three helicopters will be delivered in 2003. The MK2 version that has already been delivered will then be brought up to the EC 725 standard. Thus, in 2004, the Air Force will have a fleet of 4 helicopters, all qualified in accordance with the objectives for entering into service. This new helicopter exists in both the EC 725 military and EC 225 civilian versions. It performed its first flight in November, 2000. It is a medium-sized (11 tonne), twin-engine helicopter with highly improved performance. Its Civil certification is set for 2002, and its military qualifications for SAR combat missions in 2003.
+++
The 60th CityLine jet took off from Cologne recently on its inaugural scheduled flight to Barcelona. The new Canadair Jet of the CRJ 200 type is the 42nd fifty-seater to enter service with Lufthansa CityLine and takes the total complement of jets in its fleet to 60 modern and environment-friendly short to medium-haul aircraft. In the course of this year, a further seven, new aircraft of the Canadair Jet CRJ 200 type and Canadair Jet CRJ 700 (6) type will commence flight operations with Lufthansa CityLine. The first of the new and larger, 70-seater Canadair Jet CRJ 700 with a range of more than 3,600 kilometres is scheduled for delivery in March. The new aircraft will add an extra dimension to the European route network of the regional carrier in the Lufthansa Group.
+++
On January 18, Boeing announced it has selected Singapore Technologies Aerospace's (ST Aero) subsidiary, ST Aviation Services Co (SASCO), to modify 13 MD-11 passenger airplanes into freighters. In addition to the freighter conversions, UPS also has chosen Singapore-based SASCO to perform concurrent maintenance work on the airplanes. In November 2000, UPS announced it would acquire 13 MD-11 freighters from Boeing. The agreement between Boeing and UPS also includes options for 22 additional MD-11s. Under the agreement Boeing will obtain the airplanes and convert them from passenger airplanes to freighters. ST Aero is a member of Boeing Airplane Services' international network of modification and engineering facilities. SASCO completed its first DC-10 freighter conversion in October 2000, making it the first DC-10 conversion program completed in Southeast Asia. While this will be SASCO's first MD-11 conversion, they have completed numerous maintenance programs on MD-11 airplanes.
+++
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced the beginning of final assembly for the first T-50 prototype aircraft. A formal ceremony celebrating this important milestone for the T-50/A-50 Advanced Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft program took place on January 15, 2001 at KAI's aircraft plant in Sachon, South Korea, with guests from the Korean government and program partners. The forward, center and aft fuselages, along with the tails, were mated together for the first time, earmarking the start of Mate-Through-Delivery > (MTD). MTD was originally scheduled to take place on April 20, 2001, but was successfully started three months early and only 17 months after the freeze of the outer mold line design. The schedule was reduced by implementing a disciplined design, development and fabrication approach that decreased the typical drawing release time by eight months and parts fabrication and subassembly time by five months.
+++
China's unmanned "Shenzhou II" spacecraft returned safely to earth on Janaury 16 after a seven-day mission, part of a programme to put astronauts into space in the next five years. The spacecraft landed in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia at 7.22 p.m (1122 GMT) after circling the earth 108 times and carrying out scientific experiments, state television and the official Xinhua news agency said. The mission followed a similar one in November 1999 by "Shenzhou I," China's first unmanned spaceship, which circled the Earth 14 times before returning safely 21 hours later.
+++
With the U.S. Laboratory Destiny in the payload changeout room, Space Shuttle Atlantis began rolling back to the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at 7 a.m. CST (13:00 GMT) on January 19. The Rotating Service Structure moved back from the shuttle Thursday morning at about 10 a.m. CST (16:00 GMT) after workers disconnected ordnance and removed weather protection panels. Once Atlantis is in the VAB, technicians will conduct various tests of the solid rocket booster cables over the weekend. Upon successful completion of these tests Atlantis could roll back out to Launch Pad 39A as early as Thursday, Jan. 25. A launch will not occur before February 6 at the earliest.
+++
ESA has selected Ariane-5 to launch its latest communications satellite, Artemis, that will play a vital role in developing future European and global communications systems. Artemis was originally scheduled for launch on a Japanese H-IIA rocket under a cooperative agreement with the Japanese space agency, NASDA. However, development delays with the launcher meant a review of launch options by ESA during the second half of 2000. As a result Artemis was switched to Europe's Ariane-5 and is now scheduled for launch as a co-passenger with INSAT 3C in the late summer of this year. The completed satellite is currently in storage awaiting shipment to the French Guiana launch site.
+++
Northwest Airlines has ordered 24 Airbus A330-300 wide-body twin jet airliners as its main trans-Atlantic aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to run from June 2003 through 2006. The airline also exercised options for six A319 single-aisle aircraft for 2002 delivery. The A330s will replace Northwest's fleet of DC-10s for use on its trans-Atlantic routes. Northwest will configure the A330-300 with 302 seats in a two-class layout. The A330 operation will provide up to 30 per cent in fuel savings and other significant operating cost benefits over the DC-10s they will replace. Northwest has selected Pratt & Whitney PW4168A engines to power their newest Airbus widebodies. Northwest was the North American launch customer for the single-aisle A320 in 1986, and currently operates a fleet of 90 A320 Family aircraft, including 20 A319s and 70 A320s. Northwest is one of the top three U.S. operators of Airbus aircraft, in terms of number of planes.
+++
On January 17, Boeing confirmed an order from Northwest Airlines for 18 Boeing 757-300 single-aisle and two Boeing 747-400 twin-aisle airplanes. The value of the new airplanes at list prices is estimated at $1.75 billion. Deliveries for the 757-300s are scheduled to begin in 2002. Deliveries of the 747-400 passenger airplanes are scheduled for 2002. "We are looking forward to putting the 757-300 into service on our domestic routes and to having the flexibility to take delivery of -200 aircraft if needed," said John Dasburg, president and chief executive officer of Northwest Airlines, Inc. "Our passengers will benefit since the 757-300 is a modern airplane with an interior that improves passenger comfort and it has high commonality with our fleet of 757-200s, meaning substantial savings in training and maintenance." Northwest's order for the greater capacity 757-300s upgrades an existing order for 757-200s. The airline will use the new airplanes to retire its fleet of three engine DC 10-40s since the more efficient twin engine 757-300 will substantially reduce both fuel costs and overall maintenance costs.
+++
The US Department of Defense has announced that the commandant of the Marine Corps has directed the inspector general of the Marine Corps to investigate allegations that the commanding officer of Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron-204 asked Marines to falsify maintenance records on the squadron's MV-22 Osprey aircraft. Marine Corps officials first became aware of these allegations Jan. 12, when they received a copy of an anonymous letter and audio tape that was mailed to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. The information alleged that the unit commander asked his Marines to falsify maintenance documents concerning the squadron's MV-22 Osprey aircraft. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. Marine Corps officials said that although the inspector general has yet to complete his investigation,at this point there appears to be no relation between these allegations and the causes of either the April 8 mishap in Marana, Ariz., or the Dec. 11 mishap in North Carolina.
+++
To the question heard on Radio Erevan: "When will Austrian Airlines start flying to the Armenian capital?", there is now a precise answer: Austrian Airlines will offer a scheduled flight Vienna-Erevan-Vienna as of March 25, 2001. Thus, the Austrian airline is consistently expending his network towards Eastern Europe and the CIS-countries. Flights will depart from Vienna to Erevan at 10:10 p.m. every Thursday and Sunday to arrive at 4:45 a.m. (local time) on the following morning. Return flights will leave Erevan at 5:35 a.m. (lt) on Mondays and Fridays to touch the Viennese ground at 6:25 a.m. Starting June 5, 2001, a third weekly departure from Vienna will be added to the schedule on Tuesdays for a return on Wednesdays, both following the above schedule.
+++
Based on the approval given at the Cabinet meeting of December 29, 2000, the contract for the "Operational Update of the Spanish Air Force fleet of P-3 B aircraft" has been signed. The contract, valued at 109 Million Euros, provides for the modernisation of the Air Force's five P-3 B aircraft. It is planned for the delivery of the first updated aircraft to be made by the end of September 2003. The Programme envisages the integration of the EADS/CASA (FITS) Mission System, as well as the incorporation of new sensors and/or sub-systems, among which are the following: New Radar, Electronic Warfare System (ESM), Interrogator IFF, Acoustic System, Data Link (Link11), Communications (V/UHF, HF), Navigation (INS/GPS), New Mission Ground Support Centre (CAM). It is also foreseen that Integrated Maintenance Support (FIS) will be performed on the object systems of the modernisation until the year 2008. This contract represents the culmination of the development effort for the Mission System (FITS) that EADS/CASA has been undertaking since 1995 and is an important step inthe consolidation of this line of business for EADS/CASA, after being selected as the leader of Maritime Patrol/Anti-submarine Warfare Programmes within EADS.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*January 14, 2001 *January 7, 2001

*December 24, 2000 *December 17, 2000 *December 10, 2000 *December 3, 2000

*November 26, 2000 *November 19, 2000 *November 12, 2000 *November 5, 2000

*October 29, 2000 *October 15, 2000 *October 8, 2000 *October 1, 2000

*September 24, 2000 *September 17, 2000 *September 10, 2000 *September 3, 2000

*January to August 2000 *January to December 1999 *January to December 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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