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UPDATE
Week ending December 23, 2001

Contract for A400M finally signed
Größtes europäisches Rüstungsprogramm gestartet

In a landmark event in the history of defence procurement, eight European nations committed to purchase a total of 196 Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft. The final contract was signed in Brussels between Airbus Military SAS and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement), representing the customer nations. Worth some 18 billion Euros, the A400M contract is the biggest yet handled through this organisation and the most far-reaching in terms of the number of nations participating. The single procurement contract for all 196 aircraft was signed by Dr. Klaus von Sperber, Director of OCCAR Executive Agency, on behalf of the launch customer nations, (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom), and Alberto Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Military. The signature ceremony took place in an extra-ordinary session during a scheduled meeting of European NATO Defence Ministers, in the company of senior executives from the industrial participants.
The contract signed today will become effective upon formal notification from OCCAR and provides for the following numbers of aircraft to be delivered to the launch customers' air forces: Belgium, 7; France, 50; Germany, 73; Luxembourg, 1; Portugal, 3; Spain, 27; Turkey, 10; United Kingdom, 25. The first aircraft is due to fly in 2006 and the first customer deliveries are planned from 2008.
UK defence secretary Geoff Hoon said it was essential that full financial approval from Germany for their order of 73 aircraft was in place if the programme was to continue to move ahead successfully. He said Britain and the other partners would review progress towards this at the end of January. If funding is not granted by 31 January the MOU will not take effect.

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MBDA formation finalised
Neuer Lenkwaffengigant für Europa

Eight months after the signature of the shareholders agreement for the incorporation of a single company re-grouping the missile and missile systems activities of BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica respective subsidiaries, the process of creating MBDA has been successfully completed. With a total annual sales figure exceeding EUR 2 billion and an impressive order book of around EUR13 billion, the new company is a market leader. "Our joint venture benefits from the support of three major aerospace companies, BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica, and, in its own right, is a world player, giving good value for money for its customers and shareholders as well", said BAE Ssystems' CEO John Weston. "Taking the best European skills in the field, and building upon the experience of the most exported programmes, MBDA possesses a powerful base in high technology and shall take the lead in developing New Generation weapon systems; we are proud of our new joint company", said Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, CEOs of EADS.
MBDA - the management of which is headed by Fabrice Brégier - will encompass the remaining missile activities of its shareholders and has a strategic alliance with the German missile industry (starting with LFK, an EADS and MBDA common company) as well as with the Spanish missile industry (with EADS-Casa, Indra and Izar). "A winning team, MBDA will increase and strengthen co-operative programmes which represent the success of European technology in the field of Defence" agreed the CEOs jointly. On the Meteor programme, for instance, MBDA will from the very beginning fit all major European platforms, including Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen.

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EU Commission authorises rescue aid for LTU
Rettungsaktion für LTU von der EU genehmigt

On December 20, the European Commission authorised aid to rescue the German air transport company LTU (Lufttransport Unternehmen GmbH). This temporary aid should make it possible to rescue the company from bankruptcy and to win time to define the legal, economic and financial arrangements for any restructuring. Funding of Ä120 million guaranteed by North Rhine-Westphalia can now be released by three banks over the next six months. LTU was already in trouble, but its situation became acute when Swissair announced a request for a stay of bankruptcy at the beginning of October following the difficult situation that arose in the aviation industry in the wake of the 11 September attacks.
After considering the rescue aid planned by Germany for LTU, the Commission has today concluded that it meets the five strict criteria for rescue aid: the aid is justified for urgent social reasons. 2 500 direct and 2 000 indirect jobs depend on the company's future. Furthermore, the risks of negative spillover effects in other Member States as a result of the action by North Rhine-Westphalia are limited by the clear arrangements laid down for the aid; the amount of aid is limited to what is necessary for the running of the company; the aid consists of a loan guarantee of Ä120 million, at market rates; the loans are for a period of six months and must be repaid; Germany has undertaken to send the Commission, within six months of today's date, a restructuring plan, a liquidation plan or proof that the loan has been reimbursed in full and/or that the guarantee has been terminated.

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Navy aerea missile defence program cancelled
Raketenabwehrprogramm der US Navy gestrichen

Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge, under secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, announced the Navy Area Missile Defense Program has been cancelled due to poor performance and projected future costs and schedules. The cancellation will result in a work stoppage at some contractor and governmental field activities. The cancellation came, in part, as a result of a Nunn-McCurdy Selected Acquisition Report breach of the existing program. A Nunn-McCurdy unit cost breach occurs when a major defense acquisition program experiences a unit cost increase of at least 15 percent. If the unit cost increase is at least 25 percent, the secretary of Defense must certify that: the acquisition program is essential to the national security; There are no alternatives to the acquisition program which will provide equal or greater military capability at less cost The new estimates of the program acquisition unit cost or procurement unit cost are reasonable; and The management structure for the acquisition program is adequate to manage and control program acquisition unit cost or procurement unit cost In the case of the Navy Area Missile Defense Program, the program acquisition unit cost and average procurement unit cost exceeded 57 percent and 65 percent, respectively. The Department has decided not to certify the program as currently configured.
"It's unfortunate we've reached this point," said Aldridge, "but certification was impossible. We are still in pursuit of a sea-based terminal phase capability as part of the overall missile defense strategy, but we must now move forward from here." Over the next several months, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) will address sea-based missile defense as part of its plans to develop an integrated ballistic missile defense system that provides a layered defense against ballistic missiles of all ranges.

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Kick-off for SAR-Lupe
OHB baut Aufklärungssatellit

Dr. Knut Schloenbach, vice president of the BWB, and Prof. Manfred Fuchs, chairman of OHB-SYSTEM (FUCHS-GRUPPE), have signed the contract for the reconnaissance satellite system SAR-Lupe. The budget committee of the German Lower House of Parliament has fully agreed to the financing of the SAR-Lupe program on its session last Wednesday in Berlin. With this signing, the official kick-off for the development and manufacture of the 300 MEURO project was set. OHB-SYSTEM has already been working on the studies for SAR-Lupe since 1998. In close collaboration with the space companies Alcatel Space (Toulouse), TESAT (formerly Bosh Satcom, Backnang), Carlo Gavazzi Space (Milano, FUCHS-GRUPPE), Saab Ericsson (Göteborg), OHB TELEDATA AG (Bremen, FUCHS-GRUPPE), the German radar system company RST in Salem, EADS Dornier (Friedrichshafen) and numerous further subcontractors, OHB-SYSTEM has won the tender for the prime contractorship of the reconnaissance satellite system last August.
The launch of the first of five satellites is planned for the beginning of 2005 with a Russian launcher. The overall system will be completed in 2006 to deliver radar images for the German Armed Forces for at least ten years. Due to intelligent combination of existing technologies, SAR-Lupe is working independent from weather conditions and operates night and day. It delivers up-to-date and highly detailed images from virtually all regions of the world. SAR-Lupe will give the German government the tool to identify and monitor regions of latent crisis at an early stage. With SAR-Lupe Germany joins the countries with satellite reconnaissance and avoids unilateral dependencies.

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Bell UH-1Y rolled out
Erste UH-1Y vorgestellt

On December 13 Bell Helicopter unveiled the first UH-1Y utility transport helicopter the company is producing for the US Marine Corps. Bell will produce 100 UH-1Y aircraft as part of the $4.5 Billion H-1 Program which also includes 180 AH-1Z attack helicopters. The event at Bell's Flight Research Center located at Arlington Municipal Airport was attended by a large number of Marine aviators including Lt. Gen. William Nyland, Deputy Marine Corps Commandant for Aviation. The H-1 Program is a major upgrade to remanufacture the US Marine Corps fleet of AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1N utility helicopters to an advanced configuration featuring common engines and flight dynamics. The H-1 upgrades include an enormous amount of commonality between the two aircraft including engines (GE-T700 engines), four blade all composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor, identical drive trains, hydraulics and electrical distribution systems. By utilizing common systems the cost of the logistics support process for the two helicopters reduces dramatically allowing for vastly improved shipboard operability. Far less critical shipboard space will be needed to store spare parts and support equipment to support the two helicopters comprising the H-1 Program. First flight of the UH-1Y is scheduled for later this month. At full production the H-1 Program will employ approximately 300 people at Bell Helicopter

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Sostar develops new surveillance system
Auftrag für Sostar erteilt

The European company Sostar GmbH, headquartered in Friedrichshafen at Dornier GmbH premises, was awarded the contract to develop the demonstrator of the new European all-weather ground surveillance system Sostar (Stand-Off Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar). Sostar GmbH, founded in February 2001, is a joint venture in which EADS/Dornier, FIAR of Galileo Avionica and Thales Airborne Systems each hold 28 per cent, Indra 11 per cent and Fokker Space 5 per cent. The contract (order volume of 85 million Euro) for the development, manufacturing and testing of the demonstrator Sostar-X was awarded to Sostar GmbH by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), acting on behalf of the Governments of France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and Germany, following the final approval of the Governments Memorandum of Understanding by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag (Lower House of the Federal Parliament) on 12 December 2001.
Dr. Eugen Herpfer, General Manager of Sostar GmbH said: "The Sostar programme combines the technical capabilities in radar technology of competent European partner industries and will ensure the competitiveness and the related know-how for future European Surveillance systems". Sostar meets the operational requirements for the Nato Alliance Ground Surveillance Programme and is offered to Nato and European Nations to cover their urgent needs for surveillance of large areas for crisis and conflict management. The objective is to develop complete systems based on an advanced radar with Active Electronically Scanned Array which can be installed on manned and unmanned airborne platforms and which allows detection and tracking of slow moving targets and high resolution imaging of fixed targets as well as target classification.

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Crossair capital increase progressing well
Crossair-Kapitalerhöhung erfolgreich

Crossair's capital increase has made a decisive step forward. The Crossair shares subscribed to date surpass the minimum amount required for the implementation of the capital increase. Still not underwritten are commitments for about CHF 407 million from Cantons, cities and municipalities. The major investors who participated in the "Lufbrücke" agreement have to date subscribed shares valued at more than CHF 2.2 billion. This enabled the minimum amount for the implementation of the capital increase to be surpassed. "We see this as a sign of trust", says Thomas Hofmann, Crossair's Chief Financial Officer, with satisfaction. Subject to the condition that the shares subscribed to date being paid in by December 20, 2001 (Major investors initially up to 30%, public shareholders up to 100%) leading to a cash inflow of CHF 675 millions to Crossair, the capital increase can be concluded this year, as planned. Still not underwritten are commitments for about CHF 407 million from Cantons, cities and municipalities. The commitment from Canton Zurich depends on the result of a referendum to be held on January 13.
The new shares were also on offer to current shareholders. The deadline was last Monday. Because the share price lay below the issue price of the new shares during the rights exercise period, there were few shareholders who subscribed. The listing, as well as the first trading day for the new shares after the capital increase, the conversion of the dividend-right certificates (Genusssscheine), as well as the current shares on a split basis were submitted in the main board of the SWX Swiss Stock Exchange for December 28 and have been approved.

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Highest-Resolution Earth Imagery Released
Hochauflösende Satellitenbilder von QuickBird

The QuickBird satellite, built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., is providing the highest-resolution, commercially available imagery of Earth. The imagery, made public by Ball Aerospace's customer DigitalGlobe, owner and operator of QuickBird, features two-foot (61-centimeter) panchromatic and 2.5-meter multispectral resolutions. "This is a wonderful milestone for this industry,'' said Cary Ludtke, vice president of Ball Aerospace's Commercial Space Operations. "QuickBird sets a new standard for commercial remote sensing and we are proud to take a leadership position in providing the complete system -- the camera and spacecraft bus -- that makes this world-class imagery possible. We offer a capability that is unparalleled in the marketplace.'' QuickBird is a Ball Global Imaging System 2000 product consisting of a Ball High-resolution Camera 60 integrated with a Ball Commercial Platform 2000 bus. The QuickBird bus is the fourth such bus completed by Ball Aerospace in as many years. As the highest-resolution commercial satellite in operation, QuickBird circles the Earth at a 450-km 98-degree sun-synchronous orbit, which provides consistent revisit time year-round.

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Shuttle lands after ISS mission
Raumfähre wieder in Florida gelandet

Endeavour touched down at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on December 17 at 11:55 a.m. central time, returning the third resident space station crew to Earth after 129 days in space. Concluding a successful mission to the International Space Station, today's landing brings to an end a voyage of more than 4.8 million miles for Endeavour and marks the 57th shuttle landing at the Florida spaceport. On Endeavour's flight deck are Commander Dom Gorie, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Linda Godwin and Dan Tani. On the middeck, strapped into recumbent chairs to reduce the effects of reentry, is the Expedition Three crew, Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin.
During their 12 days in orbit, the STS-108 crew worked with both the returning Expedition Three and newly-arrived Expedition Four crews to transfer more than three tons of material, hardware and supplies from Endeavour to the station. Godwin and Tani also conducted a spacewalk to install thermal protection on motor assemblies that control the motion of the station's large solar arrays. On board the International Space Station, the Expedition Four crew - Commander Yury Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Dan Bursch and Carl Walz - are settling in for a planned five-month stay on orbit, unloading the recently arrived Progress resupply vehicle.

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Maiden flight of first converted A300-600
A300-600 Frachterumbau fliegt

On December 13, 2001, the first converted A300-600 (MSN 477) freighter aircraft performed successfully its first flight. At 11:07 a.m., the aircraft took off for a six hours acceptance flight at Dresden airport. The conversion work of this A300-600 began in May 2001 at EADS EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke), the core conversion centre within EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V.. Yesterday's first flight took place on schedule. The LBA - STC is expected to be issued at the end of this month; the FAA - STC will follow one week later. Again, this Airbus freighter conversion at EADS EFW consist of a 100 % OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) solution and uses a maximum number of common parts from the corresponding Airbus freighter production, which gives the operator all the reliability and safety of a serial production aircraft. So far, EADS has provided the delivery of 88 converted Airbus aircraft (34 A300B4F, 43 A310-200F and 11 A310-300F). 15 customers all over the world are op

erating these aircraft, all converted under OEM-rules. EFW has a backlog of 26 aircraft conversions to be converted into freighter configuration within the next years.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Whereas the European Space Agency Ministers have approved financial support for GALILEO, the European Transport Council, at its meeting on 7 December, was unable to agree on the go-ahead with the GALILEO Satellite Navigation System, with some countries requesting additional time for reflection. According to AECMA, this further delay in the decision making process creates a strong shortfall to the European aerospace industry. Indeed, the successive high level political decisions endorsed by European Councils had led the industry to build significant confidence in a full launch of the programme before 2002. The GALILEO programme is vital for European independence in transport management as well as in telecommunications (network synchronisation, mobility, ...), security and a wide range of applications that will otherwise still depend on GPS. This strong strategic dimension is complemented by commercial and economic benefits to accrue with the development of downstream added value services and applications. The GALILEO definition studies are nearing completion and the preparations for system construction progress thanks to early investments by industry. Delaying the programme will have severe impact on employment within 100 companies throughout Europe, all committed to ensure that the system is optimised in terms of cost and performance for a delivery as planned in 2008; the provisional frequency allocations granted to GNSS: the preparations for the World Radio Conference in 2003 need to be maintained; the confidence of future investors. A positive signal is needed to develop and maintain it; the development of downstream applications and services. Furthermore, the commercial projections of GALILEO are closely linked to timeliness and fast access to market. Further delay may severely impair the present economic rationale of the system. A clear decision to proceed is urgently required, said AECMA
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On December 14, LTU received its first Airbus A321 to continue its extensive fleet renewal program. With the delivery of the A321 LTU expands its A320 Family fleet into the 200-seat category while maintaining full operational commonality. The A321s in LTU's fleet will serve holiday destinations on the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. LTU's A321 is leased from GATX and is powered by CFM56-5B3/P engines from CFM international. LTU has chosen the 93 tons MTOW version which enables LTU to cover distances up to 3000 nm.
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Fairchild Dornier announced orders for Envoy 3 jets worth more than $56 million, bringing the company's total order book for its Envoy 3s to 10 aircraft valued at over $140 million. The orders were announced at the National Business Aviation Association Meeting and Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. AvCraft Jetcharter has ordered an Envoy 3 Corporate Shuttle. AvCraft will operate the aircraft for an undisclosed Ohio-based company to help serve their expansion program to new sites. The Envoy 3 Corporate Shuttle will also be available for Part 135 charter operations. Grupo Protexa, a Monterrey, Mexico-based corporation, has agreed to purchase an Envoy 3 executive jet for its widespread corporate activities. Grupo Protexa is a multi-company organization involved in a wide range of industries including construction, aviation, air ambulance operations and tourism. One other Envoy 3 corporate shuttle has been ordered and delivered to an undisclosed customer.
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On December 17, Air France took delivery of the first of eight A330-200s ordered from Airbus. The aircraft was handed over to Air France President Jean-Cyril Spinetta by Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Noël Forgeard during a ceremony held at the aircraft manufacturer's headquarters in Toulouse. The newly delivered A330-200 will enter service with Air France by the end of the year on the carrier's Paris-Boston route.
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Alenia Aerospazio, a Finmeccanica company, has signed an agreement with Airbus to participate in the A380 aircraft project, Airbus's largest strategic investment for the next 20 years. Alenia's industrial role will be the design and production of a fully fitted section of the central fuselage in 3 pieces, as well as related engineering work. The value of the parts, which will be produced between 2002 and 2020, is around EUR 2.78 bn (USD 2.5 bn), or around 4% of the value of the air-frame. Once on-stream, production will involve over 1,000 workers a year (including work outsourced to many small and medium-sized businesses), while the related engineering work, to be carried out over the next five years until 2006, will involve an average of 500 workers a year.
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On December 14, - Swissair Group and EDS announced they have finalized the agreement for EDS - the world's leading provider of IT services to the airline industry - to provide IT services to former clients of Atraxis, Swissair Group's IT subsidiary. Under terms of the agreement, EDS ensures the uninterrupted continuation of IT services to Atraxis' worldwide client base of airlines and airports. Today's announcement finalizes an agreement signed between the two companies on November 5, 2001. A number of Atraxis employees in Switzerland, South Africa and the U.S. will transition to EDS as part of the agreement. The agreement also secures social plan benefits for the Atraxis employees in Switzerland who are not scheduled to transition to EDS.
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The second build of the advanced six-stage high pressure compressor (HPC) being developed at part of CFM Project TECH56 has successfully completed full-scale rig testing, with a third build scheduled to go on test in 2002. Project TECH56 is a technology acquisition and maturation program of CFM International (CFM). CFM, the world's leading aircraft engine manufacturer, is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric Company of the United States. "CFM has a long tradition of stall-free compressor operation," said Pierre Fabre, CFM president. And CEO. "With Project TECH56, we're taking that advantage to the next level, demonstrating a quantum leap in compressor technology." The HPC has a simplified design that achieves much higher stage loading with fewer airfoils and rotors, thus providing operators with high efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Build I, which completed testing in 2000, achieved design intent airflow and demonstrated outstanding operability. Build II featured newly contoured airfoils to maintain operability and improve efficiency. Testing has confirmed a substantial efficiency improvement with no compromise in operability, establishing a new standard of performance for this class of compressor. Overall, the HPC has completed more than 335 hours of testing at GE's compressor test facility in Lynn, MA.
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Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide will be taking full ownership of Amsterdam-based ICTS Europe Holding B.V. Fraport's CIVAS GmbH subsidiary of Neu-Isenburg, Germany, took a 45-percent share in ICTS Europe at the beginning of this year. One year later on January 1, 2002, Fraport AG itself intends to acquire the remaining 55 percent of ICTS Europe. As a result of this acquisition, Fraport AG will become a market leader for aviation security services in Europe. Active in most West European countries, ICTS is well placed to pursue further growth opportunities in the entire area of terminal services. Through CIVAS and ICTS, Fraport AG will be represented at 33 of the largest airports in the European Union (EU). Plans call for merging CIVAS and ICTS in the near future. The new company will employ about 6,000 people and have revenues of Euro 160 million.
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KDA and Eurocopter SAS of France have signed a Contract for the single source serial of Carbon Fibre Cockpit Floors for the NH90. The contract, worth 68MNOK covers floors for the first batch of 243 helicopters ordered by the four partner nations; France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands. KDA have been involved and invested in the programme since 1994, through the design, development and prototypes manufacture of the floors. Norway has recently purchased NH90 helicopters. The assemblies will be made in the Composite facility in Kongsberg opened in April this year, and delivered to the helicopter assembly sites in France, Germany and Italy.
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Embraer delivered the first ERJ 145 to the Belgian Air Force. The aircraft, to be registered CE_03, is the third of a fleet of four aircraft acquired by Belgium and that includes another ERJ 145 and two ERJ 135's delivered in May and August of this year. Delivery of the third aircraft to the Belgian Air Force took place this morning with the presence of the Chief of Staff of that Branch, Lieutenant General Michel Mandl, and the Belgian Ambassador to Brazil, Jean-Michel Veranneman de Watervliet.
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Turbomeca announced the development of the new turbo-shaft engine for helicopters: the Ardiden. Ardiden completes Turbomeca's engine range, the widest range in the market. This engine of new design is intended to power 5 to 6 tonne helicopters. The power at take-off will be 1,200 shp. Its certification is planned for the year 2005. Ardiden has been designed to deal with the most demanding missions thanks to a maintaining of the high level of its performances in "hot and high" conditions. The main features of this turbo-shaft engine are: A gas generator composed of two centrifugal compressor stages coupled to one HP turbine stage; a two stage power turbine. The control system will be operated by a dual-channel FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). The Indian helicopter ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) from the company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will be one of the first helicopters powered by the Ardiden engine. The Ardiden version fitted in this helicopter is the product of a co-development with HAL. In India, this version is called "Shakti."
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Careflite, a Dallas-Ft. Worth based air medical operator, has signed a contract with Agusta Aerospace Corporation, the US branch of Agusta, an AgustaWestland Company, for eight Agusta A109 Power EMS twin turbine helicopters. Careflite will take delivery of four Powers in 2002 and expects to execute options for four additional Powers for delivery in 2003.
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The Sikorsky S-92 has begun formal FAA certification flight testing and the cabin for the first production aircraft is near completion as the program gathers momentum toward 2002 certification and 2003 first deliveries. Aircraft 4 and Aircraft 5 are engaged in busy flight test schedules at Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Aircraft 4 is performing handling qualities flight testing to develop data for the FlightSafety Inc. pilot training simulator. Meanwhile, Aircraft 5 is completing performance flight testing to generate the information on speed, lift, and engine operating characteristics needed for FAA certification. As work continues in the skies over Florida, on the ground Sikorsky is moving forward with S-92 production. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc., of Japan is nearing completion of the cabin section for Aircraft 6, the first production aircraft. Long lead time components have been ordered for production aircraft scheduled for delivery through 2004. Sikorsky is also developing the lean tooling and manufacturing methods that will increase delivery flow and decrease costs for S-92 customers.
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Eurocopter has ordered 300 Topowl helicopter helmet-mounted sight/displays (HMS/D) from Thales Avionics for the NH90 helicopter. Thales Avionics' Topowl HMS/D is already operational on the Tiger and Rooivalk helicopters. With this latest contract signed December 12th, armed forces from seven countries (France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Finland, Australia, South Africa) have now chosen the Thales Avionics Topowl. The current programs will lead to a production of more than 1000 Topowl. Topowl is based on the visor projected images concept.
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The New York State Police successfully conducted the first flight of a UH-1 modified with a Bell Helicopter Textron Huey II Upgrade package. The modification upgrade installation was performed by Helipro - East Coast Division facility located in Wappingers Falls, New York. This is the first of three planned Huey II upgrades for the New York State Police. According to the New York State Police, these aircraft will conduct fire fighting, fish stocking, search and rescue, as well as general law enforcement operations. Jeff Pino, Senior Vice President for Bell Helicopter said today, "This first flight is important because it launches the first public use Huey II in the United States. This provides continuing evidence of the on going success of this very important program for both Bell Helicopter and the New York State Police."
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On Wednesday 12, at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting day one, a milestone deal was reached between Embraer and Chicago-based Indigo, a corporate jet service company. Constituting a firm order for 25 Legacy Corporate Shuttles, with options for 50 more, the sale amounts to US$ 1.1 billion. The deal is contingent on Indigo successfully obtaining financing for the order. The first delivery is expected in August 2002. The largest sale at NBAA 2001 so far, the Indigo deal marks yet another success in the roll out of Embraer's first corporate jet, the super mid-size Legacy. "It is very satisfying to be chosen to play an integral role in Indigo's expansion," said Sam Hill, Executive Vice President of Embraer, Business Aviation market, "and to have the sale finalized here at NBAA is great news. We were already looking forward to bringing the Legacy to the U.S.; this is a great reception."
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A NASA F/A-18 jet flying in the wingtip vortex behind another F/A-18 exhibited a 12-percent fuel savings at cruise altitude. The two aircraft, part of the Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) project based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., flew the mission in early December. During the 96-minute flight, the trailing aircraft burned about 600 pounds less fuel than a third F/A-18 that flew outside the formation. The savings demonstrated the aircraft range could have been extended more than 100 nautical miles while flying in formation. The trailing F/A-18 and the solo aircraft flew a second flight verifying the fuel readings, proving the results of the operational flight were accurate. The goal of the Autonomous Formation Flight project is to demonstrate sustained 10 percent fuel savings of the trailing aircraft. The project seeks to extend the symbiotic relationship of migrating birds to manage formations of aircraft. The traditional "V" formation allows each bird flying aft of the lead bird to reduce drag and conserve energy.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that Hydro-Québec has placed a firm order for two 72-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft for the employees' shuttle between Montréal and airfields serving hydro-electric generating sites in Northern Québec. Hydro-Québec is presently in the process of replacing its fleet of four Convair 580 turboprops.
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Boeing engineers have completed 90 percent of the design work for both the passenger and freighter versions of the new Longer-Range 747-400 family of airplanes - two weeks ahead of schedule. The first of these airplanes begins major assembly in February 2002, rolls out of the Everett, Wash., factory in June and, after a four-month flight test program, will be delivered in October to launch customer Qantas Airways. The delivery will be one month ahead of the original schedule.
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NASA announced an additional $94.6 million in contract awards to advance the agency's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) -- a research and development effort to develop the technologies needed to build a second-generation reusable launch vehicle, as well as to design vehicle architectures for 21st century missions. These awards represent the final round of competitive selections under cycle one of the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) for NASA's Space Launch Initiative issued in October 2000. NASA's Space Launch Initiative made its first round of contract awards -- valued at $791 million -- in May to 22 prime contractors. A new round of competitive proposals should be received in March 2002 under cycle two of the NASA Research Announcement. Today, NASA selected Northrop Grumman in El Segundo, Calif., and Orbital Sciences Corp. in Dulles, Va., to receive a combined increase of $20.7 million. The two companies will team to provide systems engineering and architecture definition for NASA's Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle program, which manages the SLI, laying groundwork for greater access to space for civil exploration, as well as potential defense and commercial applications. Of the new award, Northrop Grumman will receive $15.7 million and Orbital Sciences Corp. will receive $4.9 million. The two contracts hold a renewal option upon successful completion of a review in March 2002.
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NASA's adventurous Deep Space 1 mission, which successfully tested 12 high-risk, advanced space technologies and captured the best images ever taken of a comet, will come to an end Dec. 18, 2001. "American taxpayers can truly be proud of Deep Space 1," said Dr. Colleen Hartman, Director of NASA's Solar System Exploration Division, Washington. "It was originally designed to be an 11-month mission, but things were going so well that we kept it going for a few more years to continue testing its remarkable ion engine and, as a bonus, to get close-up images of a comet. By the time we turn its engines off tomorrow, Deep Space 1 will have earned an honored place in space exploration history."
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Compared with the corresponding month the previous year, the Traffic Performance Figures for November 2001 of the Austrian Airlines Group recorded a fall in the volume of passengers carried on scheduled flights of - 3.6%. While there was a 13.3 % reduction in the number of available seat kilometres, the number of revenue passenger kilometres was also down by 20.2 % , so that the passenger load factor fell 5.1 percentage points, to a level of 59.4 %.
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NASA researchers are developing new prototype robots that can drive up steep hills and descend almost-vertical cliffs. Working alone or as a team, these autonomous robotic explorers may go where no rover has gone before -- the cliffs of Mars.Recent Mars Global Surveyor images suggest water outflows near cliff edges and the possibility of rich water-borne mineral deposits that extend all the way to the cliff base.
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Stratos Mobile Networks (USA) LLC, Bethesda, Md., is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for commercial INMARSAT-B high speed data leased service to provide up to 200 leased channels per month, for a data rate of up to 128 kilobits per second per channel. The service shall be full duplex, global (plus or minus 70 degrees latitude), for ship-to-shore and shall be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both 64 kilobits per second and 128 kilobits per second service will be provided. In addition, non-channelized service is proposed as an unpriced pre-planned product improvement option. Service must be fully integrated with INMARSAT Nera Saturn-Bm terminals. Other items that are available for order include terrestrial connectivity between the service-provider's land earth stations (LESs) and Navy points of presence (POPs) located in Wahiawa, Hawaii; Norfolk, Va.; Naples, Italy; and Bahrain; and service from secondary LESs with terrestrial connectivity to the foregoing Navy POPs.
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The US Air Force announced a new initiative to transform Headquarters Air Force (HAF) into a more streamlined and effective organization. This will allow processes and staff arrangements to be put in place to cultivate efficiencies. The goals of this reorganization are to improve business processes, eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic duplication and oversight, and align appropriate headquarters functions in support of the nation's warfighters. "Along with our colleagues in the U.S. Army, we are closely aligning our civilian and uniformed staffs to speed decision making, and to facilitate effective handling of multiple issues ranging from Air Force Department management issues to providing support for Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom" said James G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force. "This headquarters transformation reflects the need for all of us in government to be more agile and efficient," said Roche. "The secretary of Defense has charged us with the task of working effective ly together to execute our joint responsibilities to provide global reconnaissance and strike capabilities for this nation."
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Boeing employees in St. Louis celebrated the start of final assembly of the 227th U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft, to be delivered in June 2002, is the first of 10 new F-15E aircraft Boeing is building for the Air Force. Deliveries of those aircraft will extend through 2004.
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BAE Systems has been selected by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense to conduct a technology demonstration program for UK's Fast Jet Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Laser System. Under a two year, $5.6 million contract, BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS), headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire, will develop a robust, miniaturized, laser-capable Acquisition, Pointing and Tracking System. BAE Systems new DART -- short for Defensive Avionics Receiver Transmitter - System will show its ability to provide ``stabilized and precise threat tracking, as well as a high-power laser jamming capability'' to defeat advanced infrared missile threats, according to Robert Delaney, DART System Program Manager.
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The fully indigenous cryogenic engine being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) would be ready by 2003-04. According the ISRO there are no bottlenecks in the development of the indigenous engine other than the complexity involved in the technology. Significant progress has been made in terms of erection and commissioning of the test facilities, realisation of the engine, production of liquid hydrogen from the in-house plant, initiation of qualification of engine and the fabrication of stage tankages and components.
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Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, today announced that it has finalized a contract with Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) of Japan for construction of the MBSAT communications satellite. MBSAT will deliver digital multimedia information services such as CD-quality audio, MPEG-4 video and data to mobile users throughout Japan. On-orbit delivery of the spacecraft is scheduled for fourth quarter 2003 with service expected to begin in early 2004. In 2001, SS/L has booked five new satellites, bringing its current backlog to $1.6 billion.
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CAE announced it has signed a definitive agreement with GE Capital Commercial Equipment Financing to acquire 100% of the shares of a leading business jet training company, SimuFlite Training International Inc. ("SimuFlite") for US$247 million (approximately C$390 million). US$60 million of this will be financed by a sale and leaseback of certain long-term assets of SimuFlite provided by the seller. The transaction, which is subject to certain regulatory approvals, is expected to close by December 31, 2001. CAE also announced it has made a strategic decision to divest its Forestry Systems businesses and has retained CIBC World Markets to manage a competitive sale process. The Canadian, American and Finnish operations provide advanced technologies which enable the optimization of value from wood fiber resources. CAE President and Chief Executive Officer, Derek H. Burney stated: "These are two pivotal moves which will strengthen CAE's future growth. With the acquisition of SimuFlite, we are accelerating our move into aviation training. This will position us prominently in the business aircraft training market in the U.S.A. and make CAE the world's number two provider of training services to third parties. At the same time, the divestment of our Forestry Systems group will enable us to concentrate more exclusively on the provision of comprehensive training solutions in commercial aviation, defense and marine markets."
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, the United Kingdom's Chief of the Air Staff, has just joined an elite band by taking control of the worlds most advanced swing-role aircraft, Eurofighter Typhoon. Sir Peter took control of DA4, the twin seat development aircraft based at BAE Systems Warton, in a 60-minute flight, during his visit to BAE Systems' Warton site in Lancashire. In doing so Sir Peter became the first non-RAF test pilot to fly the aircraft. During the flight The Chief of Air Staff experienced speeds in excess of 900mph and demonstrated the aircraft's supersonic, supercruise and groundbreaking handling capabilities.
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L-3 Communications announced that its Link Simulation and Training division and STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH, a Germany-based subsidiary of Rheinmetall DeTec AG, have formally signed a teaming agreement on future flight simulation projects using advanced laser projection systems. The agreement provides Link exclusivity to a unique laser projection system, known as Avior, and STN Atlas access to the U.S. military flight simulation market. STN Atlas expects significant revenue growth from this agreement. "A primary benefit to military flight simulation through the use of this laser projection system will be more realistic and reliable visual system solutions that will enhance the training experience," said Jim Dunn, president of Link Simulation and Training. "Military flight simulation users have long required improved visualization to undertake training that can support advanced war fighter readiness." "Access to the U.S. market has always been a strategic goal for our company," said Dr. Thomas Kuestner, chairman of the Management Board of STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH. "The agreement with L-3 Communications means a major step forward for us." Avior promises outstanding benefits for military flight simulation customers that include high brightness and exceptional contrast of computer generated imagery viewed by pilots during training exercises. This laser projection system, which also supports a low life cycle cost, provides a high performance alternative to existing projectors used in military flight simulators today.
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Rolls-Royce plc and Aviall, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement between the two organizations for worldwide aftermarket parts support of Rolls-Royce Model T56 and 501-D turboprop engines. Effective January 2, 2002, all sales, order administration, warehousing, component repair coordination, and product and publications distribution will be conducted through Aviall from their more than 37 customer service centers located around the world.
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Messier-Dowty announced that it has been chosen to provide the integrated landing gear system for Dassault's Falcon 7X. Joint development of the landing gear and associated subsystems has commenced at Dassault's facility in St. Cloud, France, under terms of the agreement, which could be worth over $175 million throughout the life of the program for a planned fleet of 400 aircraft. The 7X was announced at the Paris Air Show in June with first flight expected by the first quarter of 2005 and certification in mid-2006.
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Pressure from Boeing employees here, who feared their jobs were being sent overseas, helped earn a reprieve for production of the midrange 717 jetliner. Boeing said in October the 100-seat 717 was unwanted by airlines and would almost certainly be phased out. The Company said a decision on the future of the aircraft would be made this month. The announcement came even as Boeing held an agreement with Russia's Sukhoi and Ilyushin aircraft companies to build a similar jetliner. Boeing said this "new 717" had a world market of more than 3,000 aircraft. Last month, SCPEA members started a "Save our Jobs" campaign to solicit support for continuing the 717 program. The effort included a mailing campaign to local, state and national officials, workplace visibility items, and an employees' rally in Long Beach. The 100-seat 717 are the last commercial airplane originally designed and built by the former McDonnell Douglas Company.
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Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and Rolls-Royce signed the contract covering Rolls-Royce's short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) development work for the F135 propulsion system for the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. The contract was signed by Walter Bylciw, Executive Vice President of Military Engines at P&W, and by Andy Stevens, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defense (Europe), at a ceremony held at Rolls Royce's corporate headquarters. The contract, worth approximately $1 billion to Rolls-Royce over ten years, is for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of the program. It covers design and development work on the innovative LiftFan, the roll posts, the three bearing swivel duct and nozzle system that together provide the STOVL capability for the JSF. P&W has prime contractor responsibility for the development of the propulsion and lift system for the JSF under the terms of a $4.8 billion contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Activities iill include the design and manufacturing of ground test engines, as well as subsequent production and support of flight test engines.
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The European Commission plans to grant a six-year exemption from European competition rules to a partnership between Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines after the two airlines, in the Commission's preliminary view, sucessfully resolved concerns about reduced competition. The Commission's intention is announced today in a Notice published in Official Journal C356. The undertakings offered will create the conditions for entry of rival airlines on routes between Germany and Austria thus avoiding the creation of a quasi-monopoly on air transport services between the two countries which would have been against passengers' interest. In December 1999, Austrian Airlines Österreichische Luftverkehrs AG (AuA) and Deutsche Lufthansa AG notified a co-operation agreement with the Commission requesting an exemption under European competition rules. The agreement will, amongst other things, allow them to co-ordinate fares and schedules for all flights world-wide. After a careful examination and following unproductive discussions with the companies, the Commission issued a Statement of Objections in May 2001, warning that the co-operation agreement, as originally conceived, could not be exempted as it would eliminate competition on virtually all routes between Austria and Germany leaving travellers with no choice of airline and predictably higher prices. This warning bore fruit. Immediately afterwards, efforts intensified to promote competition on the routes concerned or to ensure that consumers would not suffer from monopoly profits. It must be stressed that although the EU air transport market has been liberalised, high entry barriers, like the shortage of slots at main airports, the parties' high number of frequencies and the pooling of frequent-flyer programmes, prevent other carriers to enter the market. In the case of non-EU airlines entry is made even more difficult by additional regulatory barriers.
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The EU Commission is continuing to act to counteract the repercussions of the terrorist attacks in the United States on the air transport industry. Following the emergency aid by the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Portugal and Belgium which it has already authorised, it has now authorised the aid schemes introduced by Austria, Danmark, France, Germany and Spain. The Commission's decisions are fully in line with its Communication of 10 October(1) in which it announced that some types of aid, including aid for insurance to compensate for damage caused by natural calamities or other extra-ordinary events could be granted to the air transport industry by way of exception. The Commission is currently examining the compatibility of similar emergency aid schemes notified by the other Member States.
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