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Week ending March 31, 2002
+++ Galileo GPS gets the money +++ F-15K and Rafale in Korean final +++ Europe/Russia in rocket engine deal +++ Ariane 4 in successful launch +++ ILA to set new records +++ EADS and Northgrum in ATC deal +++ News in brief +++
Galileo GPS gets the money
Gelder für Galileo freigegeben
Following on from the unanimous conclusions of the Barcelona European Council on 13-14 March, the Council of Transport Ministers on March 26 released the Euro 450m needed to develop GALILEO, Europe's satellite navigation and positioning system, and at the same time adopted the regulation establishing the joint undertaking responsible for operating it. The GALILEO project, which has been developed in conjunction with the European Space Agency, will enable users to accurately determine their positions in time and space at any given time. Its everyday uses are multiple, from radionavigation in individual cars to transport safety, not to mention the effects on the various commercial activities (banking sector, geology, public works, energy, etc.). "Europe has finally taken the political decision to launch this strategic programme. Today we are seeing the creative side of Europe," declared Mrs Loyola de Palacio, the Commission Vice-president responsible for transport and energy. "This is good news and it shows the European Union's capacity to carry out an ambitious industrial project that will create 150 000 highly qualified jobs and generate income of some ¤10bn a year. It will help Europe to maintain its autonomy, its sovereignty, its technological capacity and control of its knowledge," she concluded. "The GALILEO project sets out to be perfectly compatible and redundant with GPS. The dovetailing of the two systems will make the whole more solid and more reliable," said Mrs Loyola de Palacio, "and it will help to prevent a monopoly situation and give everyone a choice".GALILEO is vital to Europe's future in technological, economic and strategic terms. GALILEO will give Europe independence in, and control of, this technology, in the same way as it has done in other sectors with Ariane or Airbus. The economic spin-off will be enormous. Various studies put the potential market in equipment and services from this programme at around Euro10bn per year, with the creation of tens of thousands of highly qualified jobs in Europe.
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F-15K and Rafale in Korean final
Endauswahl für neuen Fighter in Südkorea
The South Korean government has decided to choose U.S. Boeing's F-15K and France's Rafale as the final candidates for its multi-billion-dollar fighter jet project. The final bidder is expected to be chosen through a second-phase evaluation, which will begin soon, officials said. The second-stage evaluation is expected to focus heavily on the new fighters' interoperability with allied U.S. forces. F-15K and the French-built Rafale, which have been leading a four-way competition for the lucrative project, were very close in the first-stage evaluation of cost, operational capabilities, technology transfer and compatibility with the existing weapons system, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday (March 27). "Dassault's Rafale beat Boeing's F-15K in terms of life-cycle cost, which includes procurement and maintenance cost," said Choi Dong-jin, deputy minister for defense procurement. "But we will have to choose the final winner in April because both failed to beat the other by more than 3 percent in the first-stage evaluation." He refused to go into details about the results of the first-stage evaluation. It is the ministry's policy not to reveal the final rankings of the four foreign bidders because the disclosure would put their reputation damaged in terms of future sales, Choi said. Life-cycle cost makes up the biggest proportion of the first-stage evaluation or 35.33 percent among the four different evaluation areas.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Europe/Russia in rocket engine deal
Forschungskooperation für wiederverwendbare Triebwerke
On March 22 in Moscow, Keldysh Research Center (KeRC), NPO Energomash, Chemical Automatics Design Bureau (CADB), all from Russia and Snecma Moteurs (France), Astrium (Germany), Volvo Aero Corporation (Sweden), Techspace Aero (Belgium) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming at starting a long term cooperation program named "VOLGA" related to an Advanced Reusable Rocket Engine for future Space Transportation Systems. Other partners in Europe are anticipated to join Volga program later. The project concerns a high thrust (about 400 tons in vacuum) rocket engine using liquid oxygen and liquid methane as propellants. The Volga program will be implemented jointly by the seven partners through several steps: during the first three years, propulsion trade-off analysis will be conducted in relation with space transportation systems studies to define the propulsion requirements and in particular verify the advantages of the Oxygen/Methane propellant over existing solutions. In parallel, specific technologies, related to reusability will be developed, pooling Russian and Western European expertise; two years after the beginning of the previous step, demonstrations of engine key components and subsystems will be implemented, followed by integration and ground testing of a complete Volga Engine demonstrator; on the basis of these preparatory steps, full scale development and production will be carried out.
The first step of the program is anticipated to start before mid 2002 with the support of national agencies (CNES and DLR) and within the ESA technology program. In the near future, the industrial partners propose to include the Volga program in the ESA Future Launcher Preparatory Program (FLPP) in cooperation with Rosaviacosmos.
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Ariane 4 in successful launch
Erfolgreicher Start einer Ariane 4
On March 28, Arianespace orbited two satellite payloads built by Boeing Satellite Systems, using an Ariane 4 to loft Japan's JCSAT-8 for the JSAT Corporation and ASTRA 3A for Luxembourg-based operator SES ASTRA. Flight 149 marked Arianespace's fourth launch in 2002, during which five satellite payloads were orbited in less than 90 days. Today's successful mission, performed only weeks after the 11th Ariane 5 flight, confirms Ariane's predominant position in the global launch services marketplace. Major satellite manufacturers and satellite communications operators from the U.S., Japan and Europe have chosen Ariane, reflecting international recognition of Arianespace's top-flight launch service. JCSAT-8 and ASTRA 3A are the 45th and 46th Boeing satellites orbited by Arianespace. This represents nearly 124 metric tons of payload from the U.S. manufacturer that have been boosted into orbit aboard Ariane vehicles. JCSAT-8 is the 17th Japanese satellite launched by Ariane. It follows earlier Arianespace missions with the JCSAT-1, JCSAT-5 and JCSAT-110 satellites for JSAT Corp. -- the leading satellite telecommunications operator in Asia. Two other satellites, N-Star a and b, joined JSAT's fleet, and were also launched by Arianespace. ASTRA 3A is the eighth satellite carried by Ariane for SES ASTRA, the world's no. 1 private satcom operator. The launch was performed within the scope of a contract signed by the Luxembourg-based operator with Boeing Satellite Systems. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
ILA to set new records
Neuer Ausstellerrekord in Berlin erwartet
ILA, the International Aerospace Exhibition (6 – 12 May 2002) has been continuously growing since 1994, and will set new records in 2002. As a meeting place for the international aerospace industry the role of the ILA2002 is not only to provide a showcase for new technology, products and services, but also to offer a forum for worldwide joint ventures. Approximately 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries will be presenting their products at the Schoenefeld Airport, which has now been designated Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI) Airport. Many high-ranking international delegations have stated their intention of attending. Over 85,000 trade visitors from all over the world are also expected to attend. The first three days of the fair are reserved exclusively for trade visitors. In 2002, ILA is the only international aerospace trade-show taking place within the Euro-zone, the economic heart of Europe, an economic region comprising 12 countries with a population in excess of 300 million. ILA will be officially opened on the afternoon of May 6, 2002 by Germany's Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. ILA is firmly established as a major gateway to the European Union as well as Central and Eastern Europe since its return to Berlin in 1992. ILA's central location comprises the second-largest aerospace market in the world, exceeded only by that of North America, and the emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. With a wide-ranging spectrum covering every area of aviation and aerospace, ILA provides its exhibitors and trade visitors with a unique synergy. In addition 'Safety and Security' has become a new significant issue at ILA2002. More leading international companies than ever before will exhibit at ILA2002, including Airbus, Airbus Military, Agusta Westland, Arianespace, Astrium, BAe Systems, BGT/Diehl, CAE Elektronik, CargoLifter, Eurocopter, Eurofighter, Eurojet, Fairchild Dornier, GKN Aerospace, IBCOL, Israel Aircraft Industries, Liebherr-Aerospace, Kayser-Threde, LITEF, MAN Technologies, MEGGIT, MTU Aero Engines, NHI, OHB, Pilatus, Rolls-Royce, Thales and Zeppelin.
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EADS and Northgrum in ATC deal
Flugsicherung: Kooperation EADS/Northrop Grumman
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company has achieved another milestone in its cooperation with the American defence manufacturer Northrop Grumman. Following the Teaming Agreement established between the companies last year, Northrop Grumman Overseas Services Corporation and EADS Deutschland GmbH have signed a contract for an Advanced, Cost-Effective Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (ATCMS 2000), as EADS announced on Monday. Through the worldwide Air Traffic Control (ATC) marketing channels of Northrop Grumman, ATCMS 2000 will provide prospective international ATC customers with the leading technology of both companies. EADS, as one of the major IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) companies, will bring their IFF expertise and system knowledge together with the MSSR 2000 I Interrogator to provide superior performance for the commercial ATC market. Under the contract, EADS will supply their MSSR 2000 I Interrogator for a total of 30 ATCMS 2000 systems over the next 6 years, with an option for additional units. The MSSR 2000 I Interrogator sends out coded request signals to be automatically answered only by selected civilian and military aircraft (MODE S). Through the use of MODE S, aircraft identification and communication of supplementary information can still reliably be achieved in areas that traditionally have airspace congestion problems.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
On April 1, China's third unmanned space craft returned successfully to earth. It thus completed a week-long mission which marked another step in Beijing's plan to put an astronaut into orbit. The Shenzhou III (Divine Vessel III) space capsule returned to earth in central Inner Mongolia at 4:51 pm (08:51 GMT), the Xinhua news agency said. The mission, the third test flight of China's fledgling space program, took off from the Jiuquan launch center in northern Gansu province late on March 25, making it the longest flight in the series. The return of the re-entry module came after the spacecraft had orbited the earth 108 times. An orbiting section was expected to continue to circle the earth for "the coming months", the report said.China is aiming to become the third nation to put a human in space after the former Soviet Union and the United States.
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More comfortable, more environmentally friendly and cheaper to maintain: For these reasons, the Crossair Executive Board has decided to replace the Boeing MD-11s by 13 brand new Airbus A340-300s on its long-haul routes. The Crossair/SWISS Executive Board has decided to replace the entire Boeing MD-11 fleet with 13 brand new Airbus A340-300s. The decision is subject to the resolution of all contractual cornerstones by April 15, 2002 The first aircraft will be delivered in June 2003 and the last in July 2004. The MD-11 aircraft in use until then will be returned to their owners under the terms of agreed leasing contracts.
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On March 25, the Board of BAE Systems plc announces that John Weston has resigned with immediate effect as a Director and the Chief Executive of the company to pursue other interests. Michael Turner, currently executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive with immediate effect. John Weston said, "Following the transformation of the company through the MES merger, the series of US acquisitions and the successful integration of these into BAE Systems, the company is well placed for the future. After more than 30 years in the company and 16 years in senior management I have decided to look for fresh challenges in new fields". Sir Richard Evans, Chairman of BAE Systems plc, said, "John Weston has made a significant contribution to the company for the more than 30 years he has been here and in particular the recent integration of the company and MES. We wish him every success for the future.
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On March 28, Boeing affirmed that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced its intent to replace its Boeing 747-300 airplane types with eight Boeing 777-200ER (Extended Range) passenger jetliners and three 747-400ER freighters. These will be the first 777s and the first 747-400 freighters for the Netherlands-based carrier. The first 777-200ER will be delivered in late 2003. The 747 freighters will replace 747-300 Special Freighters. KLM will use the 777 on intercontinental routes from Amsterdam. The 747-400 freighter will be used on KLM long-range cargo routes.
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Lufthansa has devised a cost-effective and efficient technology for retro-fitting traditionally designed aircraft like the Boeing 737 with modern satellite navigation. The technology simultaneously expands and enhances the aircraft's Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS ) to lessen the risk of ground collisions. A Lufthansa Boeing 737 coded D-ABJA will be conducting certification flights with the new system on the coming Easter weekend (March 30 to April 1). After take-off from Frankfurt, the Boeing named "Bad Segeberg" will flight to to Münster/Osnabrück airport and will perform a few landings there. Afterwards the aircraft will depart from Münster/Osnabrück to overfly the 557 metre-high Schwengeberg southwest of Baunatal, with its ideal-type silhouette, at a height above it of about 120 metres. The flights have all been cleared with German air traffic control (DFS). They are subject to visual flight rules and will, therefore, only take place in good weather.
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With more frequent flights ex Frankfurt to Phoenix/Arizona, Caracas/ Venezuela, Nagoya/Japan and Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam. Come June 1, daily flights will be available to the metropolis in the US state of Arizona. For a time, Arizona was served only thrice-weekly following capacity adjustments after September 11 2001. Also from June, Lufthansa will be operating six flights weekly instead of the previous three a week to the Venezuelan capital. The flights to both Phoenix and Caracas will be with the Airbus A340. To accommodate growing demand, the two flights cut from services to Nagoya because of the September 11 outrages will be reinstated in the summer timetable: Pending government approval, an Airbus A340 will be operating five flights weekly to the Japanese business centre from June 1. Before that, on April 29, Lufthansa is increasing the number of its flights between Frankfurt and Ho Chi Minh City from two to three weekly connections flown by a Boeing B747-400.
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On the basis of preliminary figures, Fraport Group's fiscal year 2001 revenue grew 2.9 percent to EUR 1,580.6 million and net income reached EUR 101.1 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) amounted to EUR 507.2 million, 4.9 percent below the figure in 2000. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in 2001 reached EUR 235.2 million, versus EUR 329.9 million the previous year. Extraordinary income was offset by a number of unscheduled write-downs on financial assets. An essential item in non-recurring income was the reduction of provisions for environmental reserves at Frankfurt, which had an impact on income, and the related reserves in the total amount of EUR 22.2 million for a legal dispute settled with the State of Hesse. A previous settlement in connection with soil cleanup performed in previous years had resulted in a claim against the State of Hesse in the amount of EUR 23.0 million. A EUR 59.8 million write-down on loans to associated companies refers to loans and shareholders' advances to the Philippine company involved in the Manila Airport BOT (build, operate, transfer) project. The commitment to construct and operate the airport terminal in the Philippine capital is currently Fraport AG's largest and most important activity outside Frankfurt Airport. Construction progress is on schedule. Extraordinary write-downs were made because of a lowered forecast for future traffic volume in the region and because duty-free proceeds from the project are anticipated to be lower than originally expected. Up to December 31, 2001, Fraport invested EUR 234.7 million to finance terminal construction and provided guarantees in the amount of EUR 142.9. Up to March 26, 2002, Fraport provided further guarantees in the amount of EUR 38.7 million as scheduled. When long-term financing is paid out, Fraport will presumably invest a further EUR 45.3 million in equity capital and will provide guarantees for a further EUR 79.3 million. However, this will considerably reduce Fraport's exposure. Furthermore, PIATCO shares in the amount of EUR 48.2 million (current book value) will be pledged when long-term financing is paid out.
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Initial results from an ambitious health check of the whole planet Earth are due to be released by ESA on Thursday, 28 March. The Agency is set to unveil the first images returned from the Envisat satellite, the largest and most complex Earth observation spacecraft ever flown. Successfully launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport on 1 March, the eight ton spacecraft is designed to continue observations carried out by ESA's ERS spacecraft during the last decade and so add to the ongoing body of valuable environmental data as well as monitor many additional components of our planetary system. The spacecraft carries ten separate instruments to enable simultaneous monitoring of land, oceans, ice fields and the atmosphere. This combined data should enable us to keep track of their complex interactions, and help answer urgent questions on how human activities may be altering our environment.
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Rolls-Royce confirmed that it would be seeking shareholder approval at its Annual General Meeting on 30 May 2002 to put into effect changes to the Foreign Shareholding Limit and to the nationality provisions for directors, following the Government's announcement today that it would consent to the relevant changes being made to the Company's Articles of Association. The changes to the Company's Articles of Association to which the Government has agreed are : The removal of the aggregate foreign shareholding limit of 49.5%; the introduction of a requirement that a simple majority of the Board should be British, rather than the existing 75%; a further change to the nationality provisions for the directors permitting the appointment of a non-British, non-executive Chairman.
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Boeing, NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, unveiled a new twist in aircraft flight control during rollout ceremonies at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The new twist is an Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW), which uses new highly sophisticated flight control software, in conjunction with a highly modified wing, that actually bends and twists to maneuver and enhance performance. Because such wings would require fewer moving parts for controlling flight, they could be made thinner, lighter and more aerodynamically efficient than today's wings, and thus allow for greater range, payloads and fuel efficiency. Jointly supported and managed by Boeing Phantom Works, NASA and the Air Force, AAW project goals include investigating the use of the lighter-weight flexible wings for high-performance military aircraft and demonstrating aircraft roll control through aerodynamically induced wing twist on a full-scale aircraft.
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Boeing Air Traffic Management (ATM) has joined the Lockheed Martin team in competing for the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program recently announced by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration For this effort, Boeing will apply internally developed, advanced airspace modeling tools to help ensure that ERAM achieves its envisaged operational capabilities. These tools will bring a new level of systems engineering and analytical capability to the critical environment of air traffic management. ``The hardware and software upgrades provided through the ERAM contract will give the FAA an integrated en-route solution,'' said John Hayhurst, president of ATM. ``The critical need for more capacity to meet long-term demand is the fundamental reason our business unit was established about one-and-a-half years ago,'' he said. ``ERAM will be an important step toward meeting that goal.''
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Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector has completed several milestones in preparation for the first flight of its X-47A Pegasus experimental unmanned air vehicle. Earlier this month, the Pegasus flight test team successfully completed its third engine run test. That test, conducted March 16, as well as the earlier engine runs in December and January, are in preparation for the X-47A's first autonomous engine run later this spring. The Pegasus team's most intensive work has been to test and integrate avionics and software in the systems integration laboratory at Northrop Grumman's Advanced Systems Development Center here.
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For the first time, European ISS resources may also be used for commercial activities by customers from the private sector. This is the result of a new cooperation agreement concerning promotion and preparation of commercial ISS utilization, which Astrium signed with ESA and ten companies of the European aerospace industry. Astrium is ESA's most important industrial partner in the construction and operation of the International Space Station. The purpose of this agreement is to promote commercial utilization of the Space Station in the fields of life and materials sciences, technology development, communications, earth observation, advertising and entertainment. The agreement is also intended to strengthen the market position of the European aerospace industry in ISS customer servicing. "Having agreed upon a new quality of co-operation in ISS utilization promotion with ESA and our European partners is essential for Astrium", said Dr. Stefan Graul, Director Orbital Infrastructure and Operations at Astrium's Space Infrastructure business division, when the agreement was signed. "Under contract to ESA, we are responsible for the construction of the European space laboratory Columbus and numerous experiment facilities for use on the International Space Station. We are thus able to contribute our competency in this sector to the promotion of commercial ISS utilization and to provide an end-to-end service to our customers", continued Dr. Graul. By establishing the BEOS operation and utilization center in Bremen Astrium created the necessary pre-requisites and paved the way for implementation at the international level.
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, an area of Lockheed Martin Corporation, has awarded contracts to Fokker Elmo and Fokker Aerostructures, both parts of the Stork Aerospace Group in the Netherlands, to begin work on the development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter wire harnesses and utility doors. The value of this work will initially amount some millions of dollars, leading to at least $73 million and will be performed during the current System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase, which began on Oct. 26, 2001 and continues into 2012.
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According to a new study conducted by Forecast International/DMS, Incorporated, defense manufacturers worldwide will produce 3,600 fighter/attack/jet trainer aircraft over the next decade. "With no end to international security concerns in sight, nations worldwide are modernizing their combat aircraft,” says Bill Dane, author of the study. The study, entitled "The World Market for Fighter/Attack/Jet Trainer Aircraft: 2002 to 2011,” says manufacturers of fighter aircraft will profit handsomely over the next ten years. "This $140 billion market will gather momentum as demand accelerates during the second half of the decade, due to a new generation of combat aircraft moving into full-scale production,” says Dane. In terms of dollars generated from combat aircraft sales, the Forecast International report says Boeing will lead all manufacturers from 2002 to 2011. "Look for Sukhoi of Russia to make a comeback,” says Dane. "I expect the resurgent Sukhoi to place sixth among manufacturers in terms of revenue generated from fighter aircraft sales over the next decade,” says the Senior Aviation Analyst.
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SWISS, the new Swiss airline, and SR Technics have signed a contract covering the technical support of the 52 jets in the SWISS fleet. The contract is valid for seven years. SWISS has thus assured itself of high quality care for its Boeing MD-11, Airbus A330 and A320 family. SR Technics will maintain the aircraft in the form of a "Total Maintenance Contract”. This means that it is responsible for all technical work on airframes, components and engines of the above-mentioned jets. This practical manner of aircraft maintenance has become increasingly adopted in recent years as it relieves the operators from the need to build up an additional expensive infrastructure and spare parts store. SWISS is currently setting up an office in Zurich with about 30 employees for the administration of the maintenance of the aircraft mentioned.
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SWISS, the new Swiss airline, is entering into a comprehensive alliance with American Airlines. The two companies plan extensive Code Sharing through their respective hubs in the USA and Zurich. This agreement should soon enter into force. "We are extremely pleased and more than a little proud that we have been able to enter into an alliance with the largest airline in the world. It will serve to strongly optimise the travel and connection possibilities for our passengers and also for those in the United States”, explains SWISS CEO André Dosé. American Airlines is a founding member of the leading worldwide "oneworld” alliance. SWISS has close links with all the other "oneworld" partners – Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Lan Chile and Finnair. Full entry into "oneworld" necessitates bilateral agreements with all the alliance partners. This process is well advanced. It is the SWISS intention to become a full member of "oneworld". There are other alternatives should full entry not come about. In addition to extensive codesharing, members of the American Airlines and SWISS frequent flyer programmes, "AAdvantage" and "Qualiflyer” respectively, will be able to collect and redeem miles on both the American and SWISS route networks.
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