FLUG REVUE update: Week ending January 27, 2002

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UPDATE
Week ending January 27, 2002

+++ German A400M finance unclear +++ Ryanair places record order for 737-800s +++ First Ariane launch of 2002 successful +++ 2001: An excellent year for Eurocopter +++ Oman orders Super Lynx 300 +++ Austria offered up to 30 Gripen +++ News in brief +++

German A400M finance unclear
Probleme mit A400M-Finanzen nicht gelöst

After intensive wrangling and high level orders from leaders of the ruling coalition paries SPD and Bündnis 90/die Grünen the German parliament approved a resolution on Thursday designed to bring forward the A400M transport programme. The move said that the Government was fully behind the programme and will deblok the first 5,1 billion Euro for the A400M by 31. March. Another 3.5 billion Euro to cover the full purchase of 73 planes should follow in the 2003 budget. The opposition conservatives said the government's plan broke financing rules and will not enable contracts to be ratified now. CDU/CSU and FDP acted quickly and put an application to the Federal Constitutional Court, Germany's highest court, for an injunction preventing the government from signing the deal. It was not immediately clear how great a threat the injunction will pose to the deal. Peter Struck, parliamentary leader of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats, said: "We're relaxed about the complaint. The government will stick to the parliament's decision. Let's keep politics in the parliament and out of the courts."
Britain, who is particularly impatient and wants definite approval by 31 January, welcomed the vote. "We welcome that but we are waiting to see in detail what the German position is," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. The programme is considered to need at least 180 orders to be financially viable and so far 196 such orders have now been received, including those from Germany.

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Ryanair places record order for 737-800s
Rekordauftrag für Boeing 737-800

On January 24, Boeing announced that Ryanair, Europe's largest low-fare airline, has ordered 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. It is the largest-ever single firm order for Next-Generation 737s. Ryanair, which is an all-Boeing operator, also signed for 50 options. The catalog value of the order plus options is $9.1 billion. The 100 new 737-800s are scheduled to deliver to Dublin, Ireland-based Ryanair beginning in 2002 and continuing through 2010. "We have found through experience that the 737 provides the unbeatable cost economies and reliability you need to run a profitable low-fare airline," said Michael O'Leary, Ryanair chief executive. Since Ryanair converted to a low-fare model in 1991, it has turned a profit yearly, with traffic growing by about 25 percent each year. Ryanair now is the most profitable carrier in Europe. Ryanair will use the new airplanes to support a network that currently carries more than 10 million passengers on 64 routes and serves 12 European countries. During 2000 and 2001, airline customers ordered 551 Next-Generation 737 jetliners. Of those, 100 airplanes have been ordered by new airline customers.

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First Ariane launch of 2002 successful
Erfolgreicher Start für Ariane 4

A telecommunications satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was put into geostationary orbit from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. At 8:47 p.m. local time, Flight 147, an Ariane 4 launcher with two liquid-propellant strap-on boosters, successfully lifted off into space. On board was an INSAT 3C telecommunications satellite, the eighth ISRO satellite to be launched from Europe's spaceport. The First INSAT satellite was launched on 21 July 1988 by an Ariane 3 launcher. This latest communications satellite, assembled and integrated in Bangalore, southern India, will provide telecommunications and television services for the whole of the Indian sub-continent.
Two more launchers are in the immediate pipeline. On 20 February an Ariane 4 launcher with four liquid propellant strap-on boosters will place an Intelsat 904 satellite into orbit, while the next Ariane 5 launch, Flight 124, is scheduled for the end of February. After extensive testing of the Ariane 5 Aestus engine which demonstrated upper stage ignition problems on the last Ariane 5 mission, preparations and stage re-qualification are now underway for the next launch. This event will mark the return into service of the Ariane 5 launcher, which will put ESA's newest environmental satellite ENVISAT into orbit.

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2001: An excellent year for Eurocopter
Eurocopter mit 2001 zufrieden

2001 was an excellent year for the Eurocopter Group, who chalked up 375 new aircraft orders, representing 43% of the market based on the number of new civil and military helicopters, and thus confirmed its position as the world's No. 1 helicopter manufacturer. The total order book, including new and previously owned aircraft (50 helicopters sold by Eurocopter and its subsidiaries), research and development, services provided to customers, and other various activities increased to 2,825 million Euro. The breakdown of these orders by value is 45% for the civil and parapublic sector and 55% for the military sector.
Speaking about the results, Eurocopter President Jean-François Bigay said that he was particularly satisfied with the orders, which reflect once again "the excellent range of products offered by Eurocopter. The Super Puma/Cougar helicopters deserve special praise: 26 were ordered, proving how well they complement the NH 90." Thanks to the first Tiger export contract signed with Australia and the NH 90 contract for Norway, which will take effect in 2002, Eurocopter is already building a strong order book for the coming year.
In 2001, the consolidated turnover of Eurocopter reached 2.243 billion Euro, an increase of approximately 10% over the previous year. This figure comprises primarily customer support services, Research and Development, and the delivery of 335 helicopters. 57% of turnover comes from the civil and parapublic sector and 43% from the military sector. Exports (outside of France and Germany) totaled 65%.

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Oman orders Super Lynx 300
Super Lynx 300 von Oman bestellt

In implementation of the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, Supreme Commander of the Oman Armed Forces, to provide the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) with modern helicopters, His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, signed an agreement on January 19 with Westland Helicopters Ltd, an AgustaWestland company, to provide RAFO with sixteen Super Lynx 300 helicopters to replace RAFO's current helicopters. Richard Case, Chairman of Westland Helicopters Ltd, signed the agreement at a special ceremony. The signing of the agreement came within the context of efforts to modernise and enhance the Sultan's Armed Forces defence capabilities to keep abreast with the comprehensive development witnessed by the Sultanate. The signing ceremony was attended by Air Marshal Mohammed bin Mahfoudh al Ardhy, RAFO Commander; Air Commodore Said bin Hamdoun al Harthy, Acting Commander RAFO; Brigadier Rafee bin Hilal al Busaidy, Acting Director-General of Finance and Expenditure, who is also in charge of the tasks of the Defence Ministry's Under-Secretary; the British Ambassador to the Sultanate and a number of company officials. Over 400 Lynx helicopters have been sold to fourteen operators around the world. In 1998, Westland launched the Super Lynx 300 programme representing a new generation of the Lynx helicopter. Malaysia placed an order for six Super Lynx in 1999 and the Royal Thai Navy confirmed its order for two Super Lynx 300 in August 2001.

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Austria offered up to 30 Gripen
Österreich: Fighter-Angebote eingereicht

The Gripen team has submitted its response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the replacement of the Saab Draken interceptor fleet to meet Austria's air defense needs for the next 30 years. The company's proposal is based on the supply of up to 30 new Gripen fighters.The Gripen offer includes two possible solutions to the Austrian Air Force Requirement: The first solution is based on the supply of 24 new single-seat and six optional dual-seat Gripen fighters, and an associated interim solution of 12 leased Gripen fighters. A second, alternative solution proposes an early delivery of 24 new single-seat and four dual-seat Gripen fighters. This solution avoids the need for an interim leasing period. Each solution builds on the last 40-years military co-operation to meet the needs for a smooth transition from the Saab Draken, and both provide continuous air policing during the transition phase. "Both solutions offer exceptional value for money, both in initial procurement as well as over the next 30 years or more of operation, and both are backed by a large, high quality industrial co-operation program", says Roger Lantz, Gripen Director in Austria. "The Gripen team's offer is based on 9 years preparatory work since the opening of an office in Vienna in 1993. We have submitted fully compliant offers to both BMLV (Austrian Ministry of Defence) and BMWA (Austrian Ministry of Economy) and we believe that the Gripen solution will provide the most cost efficient security for Austria over the next 30 years", says Roger Lantz, Gripen Director in Austria.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

The A380 entered production on schedule at Airbus' Nantes site in France. The A380 will enter into service in the spring of 2006. The traditional “first metal cut” from the machining of an aluminum triform (wing-to-fuselage junction) was accompanied today by the production of the first carbon fiber component for the Centre wing box. The A380's Centre wing box measures 7 meters by 6 meters by 2 meters (23 feet by 20 feet by 7 feet) and weighs 12 tons (26,500 lbs.). The use of composite materials for the manufacture of this part is just one of the many innovative features of this new aircraft. Specialized in the field of structural composites, Airbus' Nantes plant achieved a world premiere with the A340-600, which features the longest carbon fiber keel beam ever built for a civil airliner. In October 2003, all the A380 parts manufactured at various Airbus sites around Europe will be transported by land and sea to Toulouse for final assembly.
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Duke Life Flight accepted delivery of their second Agusta A109 Power on January 17, 2002 from Agusta Aerospace Corporation, the U.S. branch of Agusta, an Agusta Westland Company. Delivery of Duke's first Power was on December 17, 2001. . Life Flight, Durham, NC was established in 1985 and is North Carolina's first hospital-based emergency transport service. Operating two twin turbine helicopters, Life Flight flies over 1200 transfers per year covering North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.
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ESA's new micro-satellite PROBA has captured its first test images of the Earth's surface using its small but powerful optical instrument, just two months after its launch from the Indian equator. PROBA (Project for On Board Autonomy), the size of a small box and in orbit 600 km above the Earth's surface, has provided scientists with its first detailed environmental images thanks to CHRIS - a Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer - the main payload on the 100 kg European spacecraft. PROBA boasts an 'intelligent' payload, has the ability to observe the same spot on Earth from a number of different angles and can record images of an 18.6 km square area to a resolution of 18 m. Data from the lightweight instrument are sent automatically from PROBA to ESA's ground station in Redu, Belgium, where scientists will use it to monitor the 'health' of our planet. CHRIS, weighing just 14 kg, can capture images that will allow scientists to develop tools for environmental monitoring, forest cataloguing, crop forecasting and marine science. The first areas imaged by CHRIS are of Lake Volta, Ghana, and Zeebrugge, Belgium.
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Researchers aim to avert airport gridlock with a new software tool being evaluated in NASA's virtual control tower simulator. NASA researchers and Dallas/Fort Worth air traffic controllers conducted the second evaluation of the Surface Management System (SMS), being developed at NASA Ames Research Center located in California's Silicon Valley. Current systems used by airports don't provide controllers with accurate information about the number of future departures. During the various 'rush hour' times at the airport, scheduled departures often exceed runway capacity, creating delays.
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Larger than a football field and flying near the edge of space, a NASA scientific balloon has set a new flight record of almost 32 days after completing two orbits around the South Pole. The record-breaking balloon carried the Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (Tiger) experiment, designed to search for the origin of cosmic rays, atomic particles that travel through the galaxy at near light-speeds and shower the Earth constantly. The pilotless, helium-filled scientific balloon was launched from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, at 6:30 a.m. EST on Dec. 20, 2001. The balloon traveled approximately 8,800 miles (about 1,400 kilometers) before landing about 31 days, 20 hours later at 3:03 a.m. EST, Jan. 21, 284 miles (458 kilometers) from the McMurdo Station. The previous endurance record for a long-duration balloon flight was set in January 2001 from McMurdo. The flight was one orbit of the South Pole that lasted 26 days. The Tiger mission was able to more than double the amount of continuous science observational time over any previous balloon mission.
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Crossair Executive Management is relieved and satisfied to note that the CCP, the Crossair pilots' association, has agreed to conduct joint negotiations on a new Collective Working Agreement for cockpit crews together with Aeropers, the Swissair pilots' association. The CCP's agreement to this joint approach has brought us a major step closer to our goal," said Kurt Renggli, Head of Crossair Human Resources, commenting on the accord. “All the parties involved will now be able to sit around the same table to work out a new Collective Working Agreement for all the pilots at our new airline." “This has always been the overall objective of the Crossair Board and Executive Management,” Renggli continued. “We have always rejected the idea of separate negotiations and the separate working agreements to which they would have led, as this would have created intolerable tensions within our pilots corps.” Negotiations on the new Collective Working Agreement will now be initiated as soon as possible.
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Consultations between the USA and the EU on large aircraft financing were productive. Parties reaffirmed their adherence to the 1992 EU-US Bilateral Agreement which provides a useful forum for discussions that has reduced government support and thereby avoided litigation since 1992. Parties exchanged transparency information on government funded R&D. The U.S. posed questions regarding European government support to the A380 program supplementary to the information provided on 19 April 2001, to which the EU responded. The EU enquired about the recent legislation authorizing lease of 100 B767 tanker aircraft to the U.S. Air Force. Parties discussed updating the WTO plurilateral Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft. Both Parties agreed to explore ways and means to improve the functioning of the Bilateral Agreement. Parties have agreed to hold the next regular meeting in Washington D.C.
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It was reported today that the number of passengers carried by the Austrian Airlines Group – Austrian Airlines, Tyrolean Airways, Lauda Air and Rheintalflug – was virtually unchanged in 2001, at 8,548,243. This result, which represents a decline of 0.1 % on the previous year, is a considerable achievement in light of the clear difficulties experienced by the entire industry post-September 11. Of the total figure, 7,175,048 passengers (+ 2.8 %) were attributable to scheduled traffic. On charter flights, availability (measured in available seat kilometres) was reduced by 16.6 %, with 1,373,195 passengers being carried. By applying targeted product adjustments to take into account the decline in demand after September 11, the Group succeeded in holding the passenger load factor on scheduled services at 68.6 %, the same level as the previous year. Although the overall result for 2001 is practically unchanged against the figure for 2000, scheduled services saw strongly divergent developments in individual traffic regions. For example, while the negative consequences of the terrorist attacks were considerable on services to and from Western Europe (- 7.2 %), North America (- 2.9 %) and the Middle East (- 3.6 %), the area of Eastern Europe, in which the Austrian Airlines Group traditionally enjoys a position of real strength, experienced a rate of increase well above the average (+ 11.6%). For the first time, both the 2001 statistic and the comparison figure for the previous year include Rheintalflug as a 100 % subsidiary airline of the Group.
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EADS Socata has selected Goodrich Corporation's SkyWatch HP Collision Avoidance System as a factory option aboard its TBM 700. The 35-mile surveillance zone of the SkyWatch HP system will have the flexibility to be displayed on the Socata's Honeywell KMD display, as well as sharing a display with the Goodrich Stormscope model WX-1000, as configured by the customer.
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Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach welcomed the agreement reached between the Ministry of Defence and MBDA UK Ltd (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) to bring the new Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile into service this month with the Royal Air Force. The RAF's Tornado F3 will be the first of our aircraft to be fitted with ASRAAM. The missile will also be one of Eurofighter's principal weapons when the aircraft comes into service. Lord Bach said: "I am delighted that the excellent ASRAAM missile is now entering service. It will provide a major advance in our short-range air-to-air combat capability, giving our pilots the decisive edge in air superiority well into the future. I am very pleased with the constructive approach adopted by MBDA and MOD officials. By adopting the best practices of Smart Acquisition, they have reached a speedy and successful resolution. We now have a robust and clear route map to get to the level of missile performance we need, which is precisely what we set out to achieve. By working to overcome our differences, we have achieved what is undoubtedly good news for the company and for our world class military aircrews."
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The first prototype of the new Fairchild Dornier 728 traveled on its own landing gear for the first time. During upcoming final assembly, the empennage and engines will be installed and the aircraft will be painted and prepared for first flight. "Nearly all structural work has been completed, and the fuselage and wing assemblies now form a single unit," said Ralf Drees, head of 728 production. The "marry up" in mid-December saw the joining of the major fuselage sections. A total of 6,000 rivets were used for butt joining the areas where the three fuselage sections overlap. With its removal from the assembly jig at the beginning of this week, not only did the first prototype stand on its legs for the first time, but also space was made available for assembly of the second aircraft, whose major components are ready and waiting. A total of six prototypes will be built before series production of the 728 begins.
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American Trans Air, Inc. (ATA), the principal subsidiary of Amtran, Inc. and The Boeing Company announced signing an agreement to exercise options for two additional Boeing 757-300 airplanes for delivery in 2003. The order will bring the number of airplanes in the ATA 757 fleet to 27, 12 of the new 757-300's and 15 of the 757-200's. The 757-300 will be powered by Rolls Royce RB 211-535-E4C engines. ATA was the North American launch customer for the -300 model of the 757 and is the only operator of the performance enhanced -E4C model engine.
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SkyTeam carriers Delta Air Lines, Air France, Alitalia and CSA Czech Airlines received final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for antitrust immunity agreements that will permit the carriers to implement a more integrated global airline alliance. The four carriers operate a number of transatlantic codeshare flights. With antitrust immunity, Delta, Air France, Alitalia and CSA Czech airlines will have the opportunity to discuss and agree on routes and schedules and coordinate marketing and sales programs, frequent flyer programs, pricing and revenue management initiatives, service standards and procedures, advertising and media programs, and cargo programs. This enhanced cooperation will result in improved services to customers. "With this approval by DOT, the four SkyTeam carriers now will be able to operate the third immunized transatlantic alliance, create a more competitive marketplace, and allow customers more choices. We are delighted that the Department of Transportation has given SkyTeam the green light to complete on an equal footing in the global marketplace," said Leo F. Mullin, Delta's chairman and chief executive officer.
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Thales Nederland fully supports Rafale International's industrial offer to the Netherlands. A decision to choose the Rafale would not only have a positive effect on Dutch industry, it would also represent a positive step to ensure a self-sustaining European defence industry (a key issue discussed by European authorities in Laeken). The Rafale is the only competitor that is currently in production. As a result, Rafale International has been able to propose a fixed price proposal to the authorities in the Netherlands. In addition a clear strategy on industrial involvement could be proposed. Thales Nederland plays a pivotal role in this strategy. Fundamental in the Rafale industrial offer is the foundation of a new Aerospace cluster in the Netherlands. This cluster will be responsible for the development and production of the airborne radar for all Rafale aircraft. Through this initiative the Netherlands will receive a technological competence that was not available as such to date. This cluster, that will be formed around Thales Nederland and important partners such as the NLR and TNO institutes and the Delft Technical University, guarantees a technology injection that will be highly potential in creating more business on it's own accord in the foreseeable future.
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Turbomeca announces the selection of the Arrius 2B2 for the engining of six twin-engine EC 135 helicopters from Eurocopter ordered by the Spanish company Helicsa. The delivery of the first aircraft will take place in November 2002. The EC 135 was proposed with a powering alternative between Turbomeca's Arrius and the Pratt & Whitney's PW 206 B2. Helicsa is the biggest helicopter operator of the private sector in Spain. Its aircraft are used in firefighting, offshore or emergency medical services (EMS).
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EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, entered up to 5% in the capital of Hispasat, S.A. , the Spanish operator of telecommunications satellites. The shares acquired by EADS come from the private companies Grupo Admira, AUNA and BBVA and the subscription of a part of capital increase. "By providing its technological and industrial experience to Hispasat business, EADS reinforces the commercial cooperation initiated in the eighties by its subsidiary Astrium," said Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, the CEOs of EADS. "This participation also shows the EADS involvement in the Spanish industry and beyond in all the Hispanic world area". Furthermore, through this agreement reached in Madrid, EADS CASA will have a seat in the Board of Hispasat.
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In 2001, the European consortium ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) registered a total of 48 orders (25 ATR 42s and 23 ATR 72s) with 21 operators. ATR announces a total of 25 firm orders for new aircraft (5 ATR 42s and 20 ATR 72s) with 7 airlines. Out of this total, 8 orders were registered after September 11th. In addition to the new aircraft sales, ATR achieved 23 second hand aircraft contracts (20 ATR 42s and 3 ATR 72s) including 10 cash sales ; ATR also secured 16 lease extensions which are not included in the overall results. In terms of deliveries, ATR has delivered 20 aircraft in 2001 (5 ATR 42-500s and 15 ATR 72-500s) to 10 operators.
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Turbomeca announced the setting up of its subsidiary in Canada, Turbomeca Canada Inc., at the international trade area of Montreal Airport in Mirabel (Quebec). This will be the 11th subsidiary in Turbomeca's worldwide network. Motivated by the evolution of the helicopters' operation in the area of North America, the setting up of this new subsidiary on the East Coast shows above all Turbomeca's strong willingness to get closer to its customers in order to provide a truly convenient service. This subsidiary will contribute to a large part to the industrial/regional benefit package (IRB) for the Canadian Maritime Helicopters Program (MHP).
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One of ESA's longest-serving and hardest-working communications satellites is being put into retirement after years of dedicated service. Marecs B2, built as a reserve satellite but launched in 1984 to replace the failed Marecs B, had a nominal life-span of seven years. Now, after 18 years of sterling service to the world's sea-going vessels, the maritime communications spacecraft is to be taken out of service and boosted into a high 'retirement' orbit. The decision has been made because the satellite, which played its part in revolutionizing sea-to-land communications, no longer has any commercial backing. According to Pietro LoGalbo, of ESA's Telecomunications Department, funding to continue the life of Marecs B2 was close to being secured prior to the events of 11 September. "Unfortunately, the political and economic fall-out from this had a knock-on effect and the American National Science Foundation withdrew its planned use for the provision of a communication link to an Antarctic research station, leaving the satellite without any commercial backing and no commercial future," he said.
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company was awarded a contract on Jan. 18 for delivery of F-16 modification kits that will significantly upgrade the capability of F-16s used by air forces in several European countries. Total program value, including options, is approximately $142 million. The contract is for delivery of 306 modification kits, an option for 39 additional kits, plus spares, support equipment and technical manual changes. These kits will be used to upgrade F-16s previously modified with the F-16A/B Mid-Life Update (MLU), and operated by the air forces of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. Portugal is planning to incorporate this modification on its F-16s as well, but under a separate contract at a later date.
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Ultra Electronics announces that its Weapon Systems business has been awarded a £4m production investment and series production contract by EADS, Germany to supply its High Pressure Pure Air Generator (HiPPAG) on-board compressor. HiPPAG will be integrated into a launcher on the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter and will support four Long-Range Trigat missiles. Production deliveries will commence in 2004. The HiPPAG 320 is a miniature, electronically controlled, pure air compressor and filtration system, designed as an on-board source of pure air for cooling infra-red seekers in missiles. HiPPAG offers lower total operating costs, due to higher reliability and availability than traditional bottle systems. HiPPAG also requires less logistic support, a significant factor in modern, deployed operations. HiPPAG 320 has been in operational service in the USA since 1997 with exceptional levels of in-service reliability, including deployments on the AH1 Cobra helicopter.
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The Boeing Commercial Airplanes team will be working together with the best aerospace suppliers in the world to develop the technologies needed for the Sonic Cruiser program. "To enable the Sonic Cruiser to meet our airline customer's requirements Boeing is going to utilize early involvement by potential supplier-partners to help point the way to the success of the Sonic Cruiser program," said Jeff Luckey, director of Supplier Management for the Sonic Cruiser program. "We will be putting together a Boeing-supplier team to work on the technologies for the airplane and expect to announce these technology team members during the first half of this year," Luckey said. "By working together from the earliest days of the program, we will be able to bring forward the best technical solutions and the best business case for the Sonic Cruiser."This first round of supplier selections will not include any decisions regarding design or manufacturing work.
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At a ceremony held at ESA headquarters in Paris, NASA European Representative Karen Feldstein, on behalf of former NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, presented ESA Director General Antonio Rodotà with the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. This exclusive distinction has been awarded to Mr Rodotà in recognition of his strong advocacy of transatlantic cooperation with NASA.
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The United States "will not cut corners" when it comes to national defense, President Bush told about 1,500 members of the Reserve Officers Association. The president said the military takes top priority in the 2003 budget he'll present to Congress next week. It includes more than $48 billion in new defense spending, and another pay raise for the military. "This will be the largest increase in defense spending in 20 years," Bush said. It will be used to invest in more precision weapons, in missile defenses, in unmanned vehicles, in high-tech equipment for soldiers on the ground.
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The Expedition Four crew of the International Space Station wrapped up a busy week Friday, installing a new, more robust computer storage device and preparing for the second spacewalk of its duty tour a little more than a week after the first. Flight Engineer Carl Walz worked with computer experts on the ground to install and activate a new solid state mass memory unit for one of the station's three main command and control computers, known by its acronym of “C&C1.” It took Walz about two hours to remove the older mass memory unit, which used a spinning disk design, and another two hours for flight controllers on the ground to complete the reactivation of C&C1. Computer experts on the ground are continuing to evaluate data on the health of the computer, but expect to place it in the backup spot to the primary computer, C&C2, on Jan. 23. C&C2 had its mass memory unit upgraded earlier this month. The final new mass memory unit is to be installed in C&C3 on Feb. 1. In addition, flight controllers this week also installed new software in two guidance, navigation and control computers on the station.
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