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Week ending September 16, 2001
+++ Concorde can fly again +++ German aerospace industry seeks government support +++ Nordic nations choose NH90 and EH101 +++ Chief of Luftwaffe Air Staff Flies Eurofighter +++ Hungary Chooses JAS Gripen +++ Gulfstream V-SP test article flies +++ News in brief +++
Concorde can fly again
Wiederzulassung der Concorde
On September 5, The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and French Direction General de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) announced that the manufacturer's package of changes has been approved, which will allow the return of the Certificates of Airworthiness to the Concorde fleet. This decision paves the way for Concorde to return to commercial service. Once the changes are completed on each individual aircraft the regulatory authorities can return its Certificate of Airworthiness. Commercial operations can then resume at the discretion of the airlines. Both the CAA and DGAC have issued a mandatory Airworthiness Directive detailing the required changes. These include:The fitment of Kevlar lining to key fuel tanks (this will reduce the flow of fuel from any leak which may occur, which together with the removal of electrical ignition sources will make sustained fire impossible. The use of the new Michelin Near Zero Growth (NZG) tyres on all eight main wheels - these tyres are designed to be more resilient to damage by foreign objects and only in extreme cases can smaller, lighter tread pieces be released, giving a much lower level of energy on impact than that which occurred at Gonesse. The armouring of electrical wiring in the undercarriage bay - the investigators believe that the fire may have been ignited by anelectrical spark in the undercarriage bay, and that protecting this area eliminates that risk. The other changes called for require:The water deflector retention cable must (if fitted) be removed and there is a slight reprofiling of the deflector to accommodate thenew tyre.The antiskid protocols are changed. This is necessary because of the tyre change. (The anti-skid system is common to most airliners. If an aircraft is about to skid it automatically releases the brakes, for a short time, to prevent a skid developing.) The flat tyre detection and warning system must be working on departure.The electrical power to the brake cooling fansis switched off before take off and landing.
The accident investigators have stated that they expect no further significant findings from the Paris accident which would have a bearing on these modifications. On this basis both the CAA and DGAC have taken the decision to allow the aircraft to return to service prior to the publication of the final accident report.
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German aerospace industry seeks government support
Luftfahrtindustrie sucht Regierungsunterstützung
At a top level meeting, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder accepted a report entitled "Deutsche Luft- und Raumfahrt: Zukunftsbranche des 21. Jahrhunderts im europäischen und globalen ettbewerb" (Germany's aviation and aerospace industries: Setting the trend in European and global markets in the 21st century). The report was signed by the High Level Group of sixteen leading representatives of the sector and includes current updates on and demands from the fields of air transport, civil aviation, aerospace and military aviation. "We have made a clear commitment to Germany as one of the major economies and seek a strategic alliance with political decision-makers in order to improve the business environment. Germany should be able to put itscore skills and consequently its enormous economic growth potentials tomuch better use if it attaches as much importance to aviation and aerospaceas do other European countries and the United States. The main areas wherethe government could intervene include: improvement of infrastructures onthe ground and in the air, increased support for research and technology at aninternationally competitive level, and investment into the latest communications, space and defense projects", underlines Dr. Gustav Humbert, the President of the German Aerospace Industries' Association. (BDLI). The top-level talk with the German Chancellor and the coordinator of the German aviation and aerospace industries Siegmar Mosdorf - who initiated the report - was attended by Rainer Hertrich, the CEO of the EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Lufthansa Director Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Dr. Wilhelm Bender, Chairman of the Managing Board of Fraport, and Horst Rauck, Chairman of the BDLI Advisory Board and Director of MAN- Technologie, in addition to BDLI President Dr. Gustav Humbert.
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Nordic nations choose NH90 and EH101
NH90 und EH101 für skandinavische Länder
The Program Committee NSHP (Nordic Standard Helicopter Project) representing Finland, Norway and Sweden announced, on September 13, its selection of the NH90 as the reference helicopter for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Project. Finland confirmed a requirement for 20, Norway for 14 aircraft of the NH90 type, with an option for an additional ten in total. The Swedish government should announce its decision in the coming days. This international competition launched in February 1998 is for the acquisition and maintenance of several dozen helicopters from the medium and heavy classes. With 287 firm orders, along with options for 65 more aircraft, the NH90 has confirmed with this new success that Eurocopter is in an excellent position in the helicopter export market for the 9-11 metric-ton class. In June of this year EADS acquired a 26.8 percent stake in the Finnish aerospace and defence group Patria Industries Oyj. The decision in favour of NH 90 will further strengthen the integration of the Nordic aerospace industry in European structures. The Defence Ministry of Denmark has announced the selection of the EH101 helicopter which best meet the country specific requirements. Denmark will procure 14 EH101 aircraft for search and rescue and tactical troop transport. Subject to satisfactory contract negotiations, the value of the order to be signed by EH Industries Ltd, a wholly owned company of AgustaWestland, will be worth approximately 380 million Euros. This contract will include substantial participation from indigenous defence industries through production of the selected components of the helicopter together with full co-coperation in a variety of projects. Commenting on the announcement, Amedeo Caporaletti, CEO of AgustaWestland, said: "This selection highlights the widest spectrum of the operational capability of EH101. This programme will ensure a solid foundation for further success of the EH101 in the market, thus strengthening AgustaWestland's leading position in the world's helicopter industry".
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Chief of Luftwaffe Air Staff flies Eurofighter
Inspekteur fliegt Eurofighter
The Chief of the German Air Force's Air Staff (Inspekteur der Luftwaffe), LtGen Gerhard Back, on September 6th, 2001, made a visit to EADS Flight Test Center Manching, Germany to get a personal impression on the Eurofighter program and the product maturity. After a briefing on the aircraft and its systems, General Back flew the Getafe-based (EADS CASA) Eurofighter two-seater DA 6 together with the German test pilot Heinz Spölgen. As Back is a very experienced pilot with many different types of high-performance jet aircraft, the fifty-minutes flight was used by him for an intense evaluation of the Eurofighter, which will be fielded from 2003 onwards into his service. LtGen Back, whose visit to Manching attracted many German mass media, stated after landing: "With the Eurofighter the Luftwaffe will get exactly the flying weapon system which is needed to fulfill all future requirements." After his flight, he stressed that his high-flying expectations in the Eurofighter had been even surpassed, praising the pilot-friendly lay-out and the high potential of the next-generation combat aircraft. Aloysius Rauen, President EADS Military Aircraft, congratulated the Inspector General: "We are very pleased that your first Euroflighter flight proved to be very successful, which we see as a the best compliment for the product and its producers."The introduction of the four-national Eurofighter into the German Air Force will start within due time: From 2002 onwards, the first out of a total of 180 aircraft for the Luftwaffe will be available for the service-instructor training of the first operational unit, Fighter Wing (Jagdgeschwader) 73 "Steinhoff" at Laage near Rostock. The very first German production aircraft currently is in a very advanced equipping status at EADS final assembly hangar in Manching.
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Hungary chooses JAS Gripen
Erfolg der Gripen in Ungarn
Hungary's National Security Office has decided to proceed with the Swedish-British offer of the loan of JAS Gripen. The Hungarian government announced its intention to start discussions on the conditions for the loan of 14 JAS Gripen aircraft According to the Hungarian Minister for Defense, Janos Szabo, one of the reasons why Hungary decided to proceed with the Swedish offer was that "great importance was given to the economic aspects". He also stressed that JAS Gripen is the most modern alternative. "It is a very gratifying decision," the Minister for Defense, Björn von Sydow, said in a comment. "The decision Hungary has taken today may be considered to point the way. Negotiations between the Swedish Defense Matériel Administration and the Hungarian State now remain." "If Hungary chooses the Swedish-British offer, it will be choosing a modern and cost efficient system," Mr. von Sydow says. Gripen International welcomed the announcement that the Hungarian Government has selected the Gripen new-generation, multi-role fighter as its preferred choice to meet the national, NATO and European defense needs of the Hungarian Air Force.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Gulfstream V-SP test article flies
Erstflug der Gulfstream V-SP
The ultra-long range Gulfstream V-SP prototype (test article T1) made its first flight onAugust 31 to conduct a series of tests on the airplane's basic systems with special emphasis on the GV-SP's PlaneView cockpit. The GV-SP flight crew of John O'Meara, pilot in command; Tom Horne, co-pilot, and Bill Osborne, flight test engineer, performed engine operational clearance tests throughout the flight envelope. After verifying valid engine and control-system responses, they climbed to 41,000 feet and reached the GV-SP's ultra-long range cruise speed of .80 Mach. "The aircraft handled even better than we had anticipated. During the two-hour, six-minute flight, we conducted all scheduled tests successfully," said O'Meara. The crew spent a significant portion of the flight testing the exclusive GV-SP PlaneView cockpit, the most advanced flight deck in commercial aviation. The initial flight also represented the first opportunity for pilots to test components of the PlaneView cockpit such as Honeywell's Visual Guidance System (HUD), Gulfstream's Signature Cursor-Control Device, and its revolutionary Enhanced Vision System. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
The newest version of GE Aircraft Engines' CF6 engine, the CF6-80E1A3, has successfully begun flight testing on an Airbus Industrie A330-200 aircraft. The two CF6-80E1A3 engines performed flawlessly during its two-hour-and-fifty-minute first flight on August 24 at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France. To date, the two CF6-80E1A3 engines have completed four test flights totaling 12 hours and 55 minutes and will be put through a series of flight tests expected to measure engine performance in a variety of flight scenarios. "We are extremely pleased with the results of the CF6-80E1A3 engine's first week of flight tests," said Roger Seager, general manager of the CF6 Project at GEAE. "The CF6-80E1A3 incorporates the latest technology and is building on a 30-year legacy of CF6 engines." The CF6-80E1A3 received U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) FAR Type 33 certification on June 27th and is on schedule to deliver the first aircraft to launch customer Air France this December. The CF6-80E1A3 has the highest thrust rating within the CF6 family at 72,000 pounds (320 kN). The engine will incorporate the R88DT high-pressure turbine rotor proven on the CF6-80C2 and 3-D aerodynamic enhancements to the compressor. These improvements will lower operating temperatures, increase exhaust gas temperature margin, and increase engine time on wing while retaining the demonstrated CF6 stall-free reliability. The improvements will be incorporated in the entire -80E product line, providing the customer the added operational flexibility of a common engine build regardless of thrust rating.+++
On 11 September 2001, in Dassault Aviation's Bordeaux-Mérignac plant, Mr. Charles Edelstenne, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, handed over to Mr. Kevin Russell, Vice President of Executive Jet, in the presence of the Minister of Development, Transportation and Housing, Jean-Claude Gayssot, the 1,500th Falcon to be built. This is Falcon 2000 no. 159, the 29th builtfor Executive Jet out of the 125 the operator has ordered.
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On September 7, the US Army announced a significant acceleration of its aviation modernization plan. The plan, the result of a two-year effort, contains specific guidance to accelerate the retirement of older, Vietnam-era helicopters and the recapitalization of other types of helicopters remaining in the fleet. It allows The Army to compress the procurement timeline of the Comanche aircraft and moves newer helicopters sooner into the U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. The plan includes the Chief of Staff of the Army's guidance to conduct feasibility studies and refine implementation plans for several initiatives. The aviation modernization plan accounts for the increased capabilities of modern military helicopters whil e creating a more maintainable fleet with improved operational readiness rates. It reduces previously projected unfunded requirements. The plan also embraces a holistic view of doctrine, organization, training and materiel, as well as soldier and leader development. The Army leadership, active and reserve, collaborated closely in the development of the plan. The Army's plan will reduce the total number of aircraft by more than 400 in the active force and by more than 600 in the reserve forces. This will include accelerating the retirement of the Vietnam-era UH-1 "Huey" helicopters and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. The acceleration will divest Army aviation of these "legacy" aircraft by 2004. These aging aircraft are difficult and expensive to maintain and are far less effective than their modern successors, the UH-60 Blackhawk and the AH-64 Apache.
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Energomash successfully completed the second fire test of the RD-191 engine on 28 August. In accordance with the program the test duration was 10 s.The engine is being developed to use in the first stage of the Angara familyLV including reusable stage booster Baikal. RD-191 is a Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine consuming LOX and kerosene with after-burning of oxidizing gas-generator gas in the main combustion chamber. The engine has been designed based on the engines RD-170 and RD-171developed for LV Energia and Zenit accordingly. RD-191 is a one chamber engine unlike four-chamber RD-170 and RD-171. The engine is equipped with a new turbo-pump of less power, one gas generator and a new system of propellant consumption rate control. Regulating of the thrust vector is provided through deflection of the main combustion chamber in two planes.
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The agreement between the Norwegian airline Widerøe and Saab Aviocomp of Sweden covers component overhaul, repair and maintenance of Widerøe's current fleet of 27 Dash 8 aircraft. Saab Aviocomp will complement the in-house capability of Widerøe. Saab Aviocomp and Widerøe will work closely together to increase the Dash 8 maintenance capability with the objectives of further reducing Widerøe's present out-sourced repair costs and improving maintenance services. This agreement is valid for an initial five-year period and has a potential value in the order of 50 million SEK.
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The BAE Systems Hawk Mk115 has been an unqualified success during its first twelve months of operation with the Canadian NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada) programme. Seventeen Hawk Mk115 aircraft (designated in-country as CT-155s) are currently operating from Canadian Forces Bases (CFB) at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Cold Lake, Alberta. Between them, they have amassed over 3,500 flying hours, enjoying remarkable flight line availability in their first year of operation. The first Hawk to join the NFTC programme is already approaching 500 flying hours. Pilots from Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Italy, Denmark and Germany have all flown the NFTC Hawk Mk115s during the last year, and the first student pilots have now graduated from the Hawk courses.
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PanAmSat Corporation and Japan's JSAT Corporation have selected Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) to build a new spacecraft in support of the two companies' recent joint venture, Horizons, as well as PanAmSat's domestic U.S. cable program distribution offerings. BSS, the world's largest satellite manufacturer, is a unit of The Boeing Company From its orbital slot at 127 degrees west longitude, between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. West Coast, the new Boeing 601HP satellite will have coverage over North America, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii. The spacecraft will carry a total of 48 active transponders, 24 in Ku-band and 24 in C-band. The contract calls for launch in late 2002 aboard a Sea Launch booster. Financial terms were not disclosed. The spacecraft's Ku-band payload, which will be known as Horizons-1, is being constructed for the Horizons partnership and will be jointly owned by PanAmSat and JSAT. It will be used to offer a variety of digital video, Internet and data services. Using a Hawaii-based relay station, the satellite's Ku-band payload also will be able to deliver content and services between the United States and Asia.
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EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, will build a coastal surveillance radar for Estonia. As reported by the company on September 12, the EADS Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics has been awarded the contract for the implementation of an advanced coastal protection system by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. The contract is worth a total of EUR 26 million. Dr. Stefan Zoller, Head of the EADS Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics: "We are glad that this new radar system will be built for the first time in Estonia and will thus prove our system capability. Among others, this advanced coastal protection system also has a significant political function for the Republic of Estonia. With this system, Estonia will be able to meet the stringent requirements on the protection of external borders which are essential for joining the EU".
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European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and Nortel Networks have entered into a series of agreements to realign their telecommunications operations and business focus in key markets. The agreements relate to the following: the transfer to EADS Defense and Security Networks (EDSN) of Cogent Defense Systems, a UK leader in defense and security telecommunications systems and currently a division of a Nortel Networks' UK subsidiary. The agreement also covers the transfer to EDSN of EADS' current German based communication networks division, DASA Com Networks, which specializes in defense tactical networks. These transfers are subject to usual regulatory approvals and other pre-conditions, the satisfaction of which is currently underway and expected to be completed in the next 60 days. These transactions are part of EADS' plans to strengthen its telecommunications business, created in March 2001 within the EADS Defense & Civil Systems Division, which focuses on defense and security markets. It aims to turn EDSN, an EADS subsidiary in which Nortel Networks is a shareholder, into a global leader in telecommunications for defense and security systems based on civilian technologies. Nortel Networks will continue to support the defense business through its relationship and stake holding in EDSN but has recognized that a more specialist approach to the defense market will benefit Cogent and its customers. The transfer to EDSN of the IP Telephony M6500/Succession activity from Matra Nortel Communications (MNC), a Nortel Networks subsidiary in which EADS is a shareholder. EDSN will assume responsibility for the M6500 product and technology, including its path to Internet Protocol (IP) telephony. This is a core technology of EDSN as it is at the heart of its security solutions.
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The government and state-run Korea Telecom (KT) have drawn up a blueprint for new satellite due to launch in 2003 at the earliest, the Ministry of Information and Communication announced in a parliamentary inspection report on Monday (Sept. 10). The new EASTSAT satellite will cover high-speed data communications and digital broadcasting services in the Asia-Pacific region, the ministry said. The project is to pave the way to expand the worldwide satellite communications market over the next decade and to carry out space-based research, it added. The exact cost of the project was not revealed in the report, but the ministry said overall cost will be set at around 250 billion won. In the first phase, KT will sign a memorandum of understanding with local satellite equipment manufacturer High Gain Antenna in October, the ministry said.
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After a hard fight against five competitors, HELISIM has just won the mid-2000 competitive bid of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) for the purchase of Full Flight Simulator (FFS) training time on the Cougar MK2. The contract is worth multi-million Euro. It involves between 8,250 and 11,500 hours of training for RNLAF pilots over a 15 years period beginning in February 2003. The RNLAF, which operates seventeen Cougar AS 532 U2s and AS 332 U2s, is an impressive launch customer for HELISIM and for its Super Puma/Cougar Mk2 simulator. Set up in early 2000 by Eurocopter and Thales Training & Simulation SA, HELISIM will soon be joined by Défense Conseil International. HELISIM will bring its two full flight simulators progressively into operation starting in January 2002.
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The recent success of Gripen in the export market has demonstrated the potential of the BAE SYSTEMS and Saab joint approach to securing export sales for the aircraft. Significant market interest in the Gripen has resulted in campaigns in a number of countries. BAE SYSTEMS and Saab will be working closely together to secure and deliver export contracts for this excellent defence system for many years to come. In order to maximise the return from our marketing investment, and to ensure effective co-ordination of our activities through contract delivery, we have decided to strengthen our export alliance through the further enhancement of our Joint Venture company, now named Gripen International. The company will be registered in Sweden, and populated by staff from both shareholders and co-located in offices both in Sweden and the UK, thereby combining the strength of the two nations in the support of the Gripen export. The new company will be formed from 3:rd September this year. The resources of Gripen International will be reporting through its Managing Director to a joint Board and equally owned by the two shareholders.
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L-3 Communications today announced that its Link Simulation and Training division has been awarded a $12.5 million contract by the U.S. Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center to build a F-16C Block 52+ Aircrew Training Device (ATD) for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF). As currently planned, Link will deliver the F-16C Block 52+ ATD to the HAF in early 2004. In addition to allowing HAF pilots to remain current in takeoffs and landings, aerial in-flight refueling, low-level flight, emergency procedures and interacting with the aircraft's avionics, the F-16C Block 52+ ATD will enable pilots to hone their air-to-air and air-to-ground combat skills within a virtual, simulated environment. During these training exercises, which can occur under a variety of simulated weather conditions, HAF F-16 pilots will be able to acquire and identify targets and accurately deliver a wide range of ordnance.
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Secretary of the Air Force (Dr.) James G. Roche, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Lance W. Lord and former first lady Mrs. Nancy Reagan boarded SAM 27000, the "Spirit of '76," after its final flight Sept. 8. The aircraft flew from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to San Bernardino International Airport, Calif., where it will be retired and displayed at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. The ultimate decision to locate the aircraft in California was based not only on available resources, but also on the library's nearness to a large metropolitan area, Roche said.
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The US Air Force announced Sept. 7 it will not assume program management and funding responsibility for the NASA X-33 or continue funding beyond September 2002 for the NASA X-37 experimental demonstration programs. In March, NASA allowed the X-33 cooperative agreement with the contractor to expire and deferred work on the X-37. Both the X-33 and the X-37 are unmanned aerial vehicles. The X-33 was designed as a technology demonstrator and a possible next step toward a replacement for the aging space shuttle system. The X-37 is a prototype of a reusable, flexible spacecraft that can be launched into space by another vehicle, maneuver using its own engine, and then re-enter the atmosphere and land. The Air Force, with the assistance of NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office, conducted a 60-day study of the military utility of the X-33 and X-37 programs.
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An Atlas IIAS rocket successfully lifted off on September 8 at 8:24 a.m. PDT (15:24 p.m. GMT) today from this West Coast launch site, releasing a national security payload into transfer orbit 66 minutes later. The launch was provided by McLean, VA.-based International Launch Services (ILS), from Vandenberg Launch Complex 3E for the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Designated AC-160, this was the first Atlas Centaur mission launched for the national security community from the West Coast. Today's launch was the third Atlas mission this year, and the 57th consecutive successful Atlas flight. It also was ILS' fifth mission of 2001. Lockheed Martin Corp. builds the Atlas family of rockets. Today's vehicle, the Atlas IIAS, can lift 8,200 pounds to geosynchronous transfer orbit. The upgraded Atlas III can lift up to 9,920 pounds, and the next-generation Atlas V is available in a range of configurations to lift payloads up to 19,000 pounds.
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Israel signed an amendment to a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) with the U.S. government for 52 more Lockheed Martin F-16I fighters on September 4. This agreement follows the announcement at the Paris Air Show in June of Israel's intent to exercise an option for more F-16s. These aircraft are in addition to the 50 F-16I aircraft ordered in January 2000 and were an option to that order. The agreement covers aircraft, logistics support and training, and U.S. government program management and services under the Foreign Military Sales arrangement. Total program value for the option is approximately $2 billion, and Lockheed Martin's portion is approximately $1.3 billion for only the aircraft. The F-16I aircraft are of the same two-seat configuration as the original Peace Marble V program. Many of the electronic systems are being developed and produced in Israel. The aircraft will be powered by the F100-PW-229 engine.
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company recently completed the first phase of flight testing of its new conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) for its F-16 multirole fighter. Flight testing with aerodynamic shapes was conducted on an F-16C at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., from March through August. A total of 24 test flights and 65 flight test hours were accomplished, and testing involved loads, flutter, and stability and control. "Lockheed Martin has made a substantial investment in CFTs for our advanced F-16 versions,'' said Donald W. Jones, vice president of F-16 Programs. "We have done this in response to international market demands for more range and payload. CFTs have become a very popular option in recent orders and new business pursuits.'' Lockheed Martin began F-16 flight demonstration of an initial CFT shape in 1994 to investigate performance and handling quality characteristics. Subsequent wind tunnel testing led to the current external lines, which were initially validated in flight testing of high angle-of-attack handling characteristics at Edwards AFB, Calif., last year.
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The action plan to bring Arianespace's Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher back to flight status is proceeding as planned. In Germany, the third series of Aestus test firings was conducted on August 28 to evaluate the engine's ignition process. This test series went well, and "soft" ignition conditions were reproduced. Work on modeling the conditions inside Aestus during engine ignition also is moving ahead, with the merging of hydraulic and combustion models now underway. A first validation of the dynamic model created with data from the initial test firings showed results that were very representative of actual conditions seen during the third test firing series.
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The Board of Directors of the National Business Aviation Association has voted to postpone the Annual Meeting & Convention with a date and format to be determined in order to redirect the Association's resources toward national recovery and aid to the victims and their families following yesterday's terrorists attacks. NBAA's attention is focused on those companies and individuals affected by yesterday's events. The Annual Meeting of Members and the meeting of the Board of Directors previously scheduled for September 19 and 20, respectively, will be held in Washington, DC, on a date no earlier than October 17, and no later than November 28, as required by the laws of the District of Columbia and the Association's Bylaws.
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The air transport agreement approved by the transport ministers of Germany and Switzerland will bring serious disadvantages to Zurich Airport, the Swiss citizenry and, as the main user of the airport, Swissair. The Swiss airline maintains its opinion that the key figures confirmed by this agreement cannot be enacted. This is also the opinion of various industry experts who believe that the agreement does not correspond with international civil aviation agreements and the bilateral air transportation agreement with the EU. The Swissair Group never called for the disengagement of negotiations but repeatedly stated that it is interested in such an agreement with Germany. But any agreement must embody a certain proportionality and may not be allowed to discriminate against the people living around Zurich Airport or against Swissair's home base. The key values contained in the agreement do not meet either of these requirements. It is incomprehensible to begin limiting the tolerable burden of people via the number of flights permitted rather than with internationally-recognised noise limits. This contradicts conventional practise and logic as Switzerland, Germany and other nations applying noise regulations base these on limiting noise rather than on limiting flight movements. Swissair views its progressive fleet policy, that currently features the quietest aircraft, as being ignored while the company is being punished by being dictated various limits. It will be less significant in the future if a loud or a quiet aircraft flies over residential areas. The Swissair Group also finds discriminating the regulation stating that the most important approach routes to Zurich Airport may only be used between 09:00 and 20:00 on weekends and on German holidays. This regulation and the extended ban on night flights over southern Germany during the week, will require costly changes to airline timetables and, in all likelihood, the cancellation of certain flights. It is estimated that the longer flights these regulations require will result in the use of an additional 20,000 tonnes of kerosene per year.
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The Swissair Group has sold its 50% shareholding in Flughafen Restaurant AG to the Italian-based Autogrill group. Flughafen Restaurant AG, which operates restaurants at Zurich and Geneva airports, was a joint venture between the Swissair Group's Gourmet Nova subsidiary and the Autogrill group. The holding has been sold as part of a broader refocus of the Swissair Group's overall strategic thrust onto its core airline operations and closely associated activities.
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The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High team led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company successfully completed the system critical design review (CDR) with its customer, the U.S. Air Force, on August 30-31. The review demonstrated that SBIRS High would meet the customer's requirements and establish the foundation for the next generation space-based surveillance systems. More than 300 people from the Air Force, Department of Defense and industry participated in the two-day session at Lockheed Martin's Sunnyvale facility.
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Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) announced the award of a contract to build three A2100 geosynchronous satellites for GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom). The next generation cable television satellites, designated GE-10, GE-11, and GE-18, will provide distribution of premium cable programming across North America. All three spacecraft will carry twenty-four, 36 MHz C-band transponders and be used to provide cable television services to the 50 United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. GE-10 will take the place of GE Satcom C-4 and GE-11 will replace GE Satcom C-3, which currently operate from their orbital locations at 135 degrees West and 131 degrees West Longitude, respectively. GE-18 is being developed as a ground spare that could operate from either 131 or 135 degrees West Longitude. The satellites will expand GE Americom's global fleet of satellites, which provide global distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services, business television and broadband data.
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Lockheed Martin has delivered the first three fully configured KC-130J tanker aircraft to the United States Marine Corps. These aircraft, the first of seven to be delivered this year, will be based at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station N.C. The USMC KC-130J program calls for the one-for-one replacement of the entire active duty and reserve fleet of 79 KC-130 F/R/T models. The Marine Corps has 11 KC-130Js on order, with the FY02 President's Budget containing funding for four more KC-130Js. The Marine Corps intends to request aircraft at the rate of at least four per year.
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17 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and around 20 MEP assistants attended the first meeting of the Sky & Space Intergroup of the European Parliament on 5 September in Strasbourg. The open meeting was dedicated to the subject "Aeronautics and Space and the 6th Framework Research Programme" and had also several participants from industry and the European Commission. An important step was the establishment of the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) in June, Metthey said. ACARE is developing a Strategic Research Agenda that will be a guideline for European and national research programmes, and will improve the co-ordination between EU and Member States rrogrammes. Roger W. Hawksworth, Secretary General of AECMA, was the second guest speaker. He emphasised the importance of a sufficient budget for aeronautics and space in FP6, which is presently under discussion in the European Parliament. This budget should be at least 1.5 billion Euro, he said, in order to enable industry to work towards the goals of Vision 2020. In its first budget proposal for FP6 the European Commission has allocated 1 billion Euro to the aeronautics and space sector. "This is inadequate", Hawksworth said. European aerospace contributes significantly to employment and wealth in Europe. Therefore it requires a budget that allows appropriate levels of research in the segments of large, regional and small civil aircraft as well as rotorcraft.
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NAVAIR's PMA-207 has delivered a new Cessna Citation Encore aircraft, designated the UC-35D, to the United States Marine Corps. This new aircraft provides additional Operational Support Airlift (OSA) capability to the Marine Corps. The third of seven planned Cessna Citations, this is the first "D" model and it will be assigned to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. Two more UC-35D models will be delivered over the next six months, one for MCAS Futenma and one for the Marine Corps Reserve at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Washington, DC. The two initial UC-35C Citation Ultras are assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve at Naval Air Station (NAS) New Orleans.
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The Marine Corps is launching a new $200 million program to improve the engine reliability of its CH-46E helicopter fleet. This new program, called the T58-16 Engine Reliability Improvement Program (ERIP), will deliver new, General Electric (GE) produced, modified gas path modules (engine cores) and will overhaul the remaining engine accessories at the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP), Cherry Point, N. C. NADEP Cherry Point will take delivery of these brand new engine cores from GE and then complete the final engine assembly.
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German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder will open the ILA 2002 International Aerospace Show at Berlin-Schönefeld on May 6, 2002, the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) - joint organizer of this trade fair of world renown - was told by the Federal Chancellery ahead of the Chancellor's planned meeting with German aerospace industry leaders. "The Chancellor's confirmation to open ILA 2002 underlines the significance of Germany's aerospace industries as sectors of strategic importance. It is this strategic aspect that distinguishes this sector from all other industries: No other industry enjoys such close links with foreign and security policy interests, whilst being at the cutting edge of high technology, which is indispensable for the industrial prospects of any highly developed country. This will also be one of the issues at the top of Chancellor Schröder's agenda when he meets the leaders of the German aerospace industries", says BDLI Managing Director Dr. Hans Eberhard Birke.
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Production of light aircraft in Staré Mesto (South Moravia) is set to soar, following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Czech Aircraft Works and the Gripen new-generation, supersonic fighter team in the Czech Republic. The MoU includes direct assistance with the expansion of manufacturing facilities in Stare Mesto which will allow production to increase to 500 aircraft each year. It also includes the provision of technical training and assistance from Saab and BAE Systems plus help with the identification and opening of new markets and other business activities.
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On September 4, MirCorp announced it has reached an historic agreement for the design, development, launch and operation of the world's first private space station. The MirCorp orbital facility, currently named Mini Station 1, will accommodate three visitors for stays of up to 20 days at a time. It is to have a lifetime of more than 15 years, and will be serviced by both Soyuz manned transports and unmanned Progress cargo re-supply spacecraft. Start-up of commercial operations is expected in 2004. Signing the agreement authorizing MirCorp's space station development were: Yuri Koptev, General Director of Rosaviakosmos, the Russian space agency; Yuri P. Semenov, President and General Designer of RSC Energia, the world's leading manufacturer of manned space structures, and Jeffrey Manber, President of MirCorp. The accord is a blueprint for MirCorp's plans to fully develop the commercial exploration of space -- a market it pioneered through the commercial lease of Russia's Mir space station in February 2000 and the signing of Dennis Tito to a commercial flight contract in June 2000. With the de-orbiting of Mir earlier this year, Tito was transferred to the International Space Station and became the first space tourist.
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Goodrich Corporation has completed an agreement with privately-held Hella KG Hueck & Company. Under the agreement Goodrich has purchased a 95 percent stake in Hella Aerospace GmbH -- the second largest manufacturer of aerospace lighting systems and related electronics in the world. In addition, a technology sharing agreement allows Goodrich access to Hella KG's lighting technology for aerospace applications on an ongoing basis.The acquired operations, with annual revenues of approximately $45 million and 240 employees, will be combined with Goodrich's existing lighting operations to create a global leader in aerospace lighting. The resulting entity, Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting, will have the critical mass necessary to successfully compete and expand in the attractive original equipment and after-market segments of the industry. The new business will have its headquarters in Lippstadt, Germany. Goodrich's Oldsmar facility in Florida will serve as the base of operations in North America. The two businesses are very complementary in terms of product lines, customer mix, and geographical presence. While Goodrich's strengths are in exterior products and systems for the retrofit market, Hella's focus has been on interior and cockpit applications for new aircraft. Both of these businesses enjoy strong after-market participation. Over half of Hella's business is for Airbus aircraft balanced by key positions on regional, business, and military aircraft programs.
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Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced it has won a competitive bid from Boeing Commercial Airplanes to manufacture the aft body section of its 767 widebody twin-aisle jet through the year 2010. The aft body section includes the pressure bulkhead and the aft fuselage section of the aircraft. Boeing also extended existing contracts with Vought through the year 2007 to produce the 767 horizontal stabilizer and center wing section. In addition, Vought manufactures doors and nacelle components for the 767.
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