FLUG REVUE update: Week ending June 9, 2002

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UPDATE
Week ending June 9, 2002

+++ CargoLifter insolvent +++ ESA selects new Earth-observation missions +++ "Cosmic Vision": The new ESA Science Programme +++ Star Alliance expands +++ MV-22 Osprey resumes flight tests +++ European research facility on the ISS +++ Swiss signs for A340s +++ Europeans join JSF programme +++ Liquid hydrogen promoted by EU +++ Airbus A340-600 certified +++ News in brief +++

CargoLifter insolvent
Luftschiffprojekt vor dem Ende

For reasons of insolvency the CargoLifter AG Board of Managing Directors today filed an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings on the assets of CargoLifter AG at the Cottbus District Court. With this step the management bodies are fulfilling their legal duties in line with § 92 of the German Company Act ("Aktiengesetz"). At the same time the scope of the new insolvency legislation is to be used to order and streamline the group structure together with a reputable and experienced insolvency administrator. A solution for preserving the company is to be developed and implemented with a focus on the Brand location in the State of Brandenburg. With the closure of the office in the USA which has already taken place and the move of the entire Berliner office to the hangar site Brand, the first steps have already been initiated. The objective of the insolvency petition is the reorganisation of the insolvent legal entity . The key focus is the interests of the some 72,000 shareholders who have supported the project in such a marvellous manner. Prof. Rolf-Dieter Moenning has been appointed by the court as the interim administrator of CargoLifter AG.
In the now following phase of the insolvency procedure, the group now gets a breathing space. This is to be used for an assessment of the current situation in terms of technology and methodology within the framework of so-called technical due diligence. From the information derived in this procedure, further steps for the rapid launch of the transportation balloon CL 75 AC and the further development of the "flag ship" of the company, the transportation airship CL 160, are to be shown. The question of strengthening and developing Germany's leading position in this technology sector is also important, something which has been achieved not least by the development work at the CargoLifter Group.
Without external assistance it does not seem possible to secure the infrastructure in the short-term. The development of a long-term on-going perspective requires that the financing is secured until the generation of company revenues from the sale of the CL 75 AC and the Open Air Premiere of the transportation airship CL 160. This is to be done together with the State of Brandenburg, the federal government and the capital markets. Participation offers which have already been made are being carefully examined. The Dahme-Spreewald district is planning to establish a "Lighter than Air" research and technology centre at the Brand hangar site. This project too should help securing the unique plant in Brand as technology focus in the area of airship technology.

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ESA selects new Earth-observation missions
Neue Erderkundungsprojekte der ESA

For its second cycle of the Earth Explorer Opportunity Missions, ESA has recently selected three proposals to enter feasibility study: ACE+ , an Atmosphere and Climate-Explorer; EGPM, the European contribution to Global Precipitation Mission, and SWARM, a constellation of small satellites to study the dynamics of the Earth's magnetic field and its interactions with the Earth system.
Following a call for proposals in June 2001, ESA received 27 responses, which encompassed all science and application oriented disciplines of Earth Observation remote sensing. In January 2002, 25 were submitted for evaluation to scientific Peer Teams for an in-depth scientific and engineering review. The review was then analyzed by the Earth Science Advisory Committee (ESAC), which established a shortlist of six missions. Finally, on May 15-16, ESA's Program Board for Earth-Observation selected three missions to undergo feasibility study. The first Earth Explorer Opportunity Mission selection took place in 1999 and resulted in the selection of Cryosat and SMOS. Cryosat, to be launched in 2004, will study ice sheets and sea ice, while SMOS, scheduled for launch in 2006, will measure soil moisture and ocean salinity. The first Earth Explorer Core Mission selection of 1999, saw the birth of the Earth Gravity field and Ocean Circulation (GOCE) mission and the Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ADM-Aeolus) to be launched in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

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"Cosmic Vision": The new ESA Science Programme
Neues Wissenschaftsprogramm der ESA

Following the outcome of Council of Ministers in Edinburgh in November 2001, the Director of Science undertook a complete reassessment of the ESA Science Programme. This was done in close collaboration with the science community, represented by the Space Science Advisory Committee, industry and Member States delegations. The results of this exercise were presented as a proposal to the 99th meeting of the Science Programme Committee of the European Space Agency held in Andenes (Norway) on 22/23 May. Whilst noting the withdrawal by the Executive, during the meeting itself, of the Venus Express mission, the Science Programme Committee strongly endorsed the plan proposed by the Executive and encouraged it to proceed vigorously with its implementation. The outcome of the ESA Council at Ministerial level held in Edinburgh in November 2001 was not as positive as expected for the Agency's Science Programme. It appeared that the money made available would not be sufficient to carry out the Long Term Programme approved by the Science Programme Committee in October 2000, based on financial assumptions approved by the same Committee in Bern in May 1999. The resources granted in Edinburgh taken at their face value meant the cancellation of a mission (e.g. GAIA).
At the conclusion of the exercise, following extensive consultations with all its partners, the Executive could propose a revised plan, which not only maintained the missions approved in October 2000, but added the Eddington mission in addition. The new plan, strongly endorsed by the Science Programme Committee on the occasion of its 99th meeting, contains the following missions: XMM-Newton (1999), INTEGRAL (2002). X and Gamma Ray Observatories (studying the 'violent' universe), Herschel, exploring the infrared and microwave universe; Planck, to study the cosmic microwave background; Eddington, searching for extra-solar planets and studying the stellar seismology. (The three missions will be launched in the 2007-2008 timeframe.), GAIA, the ultimate galaxy mapper (to be launched no later than 2012). Missions will follow in the same group after 2012, Rosetta, a trip to a comet (2003); Mars Express, a Mars orbiter carrying the Beagle2 lander (2003); (Venus Express, a Venus orbiter, would have been in this group.), SMART-1, which will demonstrate solar propulsion technology while on its way to the Moon (2003); BepiColombo, a mission to Mercury, Solar Orbiter, a mission to take a closer look at the Sun (missions to be launched in 2011-2012), STEP (2005) the 'equivalence principle' test, SMART2, a technology demonstration mission (2006) for LISA, a joint mission with NASA, searching for gravitational waves (2011).

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Star Alliance expands
Neue Mitglieder für die Star Alliance

The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance, assembled in Shanghai in The People's Republic of China for its ordinary semi-annual CEB meeting, approved the addition of three new members to the global airline group. Work will commence immediately on the integration of Asiana Airlines of South Korea, LOT Polish Airlines and Spanair of Spain into Star Alliance. No official date has yet been set for the official entry into Star Alliance of the new member airlines. It is anticipated, however, that they will all become part of "the airline network for Earth" within the next six to 12 months.

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MV-22 Osprey resumes flight tests
Kipprotor wieder in der Flugerprobung

The MV-22 Osprey took to the skies May 29 for the first time after being grounded for over 17 months following the tragic Dec. 11, 2000 mishap. The first MV-22 test aircraft to resume flying has improvements in its hydraulic and flight control software systems that make it practically a brand new aircraft and the safest Osprey yet, according to V-22 program officials. "The long awaited return to flight was a success. The Osprey not only performed what today's test plan called for but exceeded our wildest expectations," said Col Dan Schultz, V-22 program manager. Today's flight plan called for the aircraft to take off, hover, and land. After successfully completing several vertical takeoffs, landings, and hovering maneuvers over the runway, the pilots conducted rearward and sideward flights to check the aircraft's maneuverability in helicopter mode. The pilots gradually built up maneuver speeds up and down the runway, went into landing pattern circuits and began conversion work. Later in the afternoon, the Osprey's encore performance included a full conversion to airplane mode at level flight speeds of 250 knots. The Osprey logged nearly two and one half hours of flight time today and returned in full up flight status.
Tom MacDonald and Bill Leonard, senior Bell Boeing V-22 Integrated Test Team pilots, who have a combined total of 13,000 flight hours in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft and over 500 hours each in the MV-22, took the aircraft through a series of maneuvers to evaluate its handling and performance. Part of this series included converting out from helicopter to airplane mode to take standard vibration measurements to check out the tracking and balance of the individual blades of the two proprotors. This "test card" for the first flight series follows the Osprey's methodical and event driven approach to safely return the aircraft to flight testing.

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European research facility on the ISS
MSG zur ISS gestartet

With a delay of six days due to technical and weather constraints, the US Space Shuttle "Endeavour" lifted off from Kennedy Space Center (Florida, USA) on Wednesday at 5.30 p.m. Destination of the 10-day mission will be the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard the Space Shuttle is the MSG Microgravity Science Glovebox research facility, which was developed by Astrium's Space Infrastructure under contract to the European Space Agency ESA, says the Bremen-based company on Thursday. After Shuttle docking with the Space Station, the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), first European ISS research facility, will be transferred from the transportation module MPLM to the Space Station and moved to its location in the US lab module Destiny. After installation completion the expedition 5 crew will perform the so-called on-orbit commissioning phase. As prime contractor to ESA, Astrium Space Infrastructure will be in charge commissioning and checkout of the MSG. The facility health and status data will be transmitted to the ground station in Huntsville, USA, which will then pass them on to the Astrium simulation and diagnosis room in Bremen, Germany. Via videoconference, a team of experts will monitor the whole commissioning process. All relevant systems will be activated one after the other and checked for proper functioning. After completion of the on-orbit commissioning phase and official MSG handover to NASA, the research facility will be available for science investigations as of August this year. The first experiments to be performed will be from the materials science sector.

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Swiss signs for A340s
Airbus-Auftrag von Swiss

SWISS, the new airline in Switzerland, has signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of 13 Airbus A340-300 long-range airliners, hereby confirming its earlier commitment. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between June 2003 and August 2004. The new four engine A340-300s will join 13 medium range A330-200s already operated by the Basel based airline. SWISS' long range A340s will seat 228 passengers in a very comfortable three-class layout. Airbus widebody aircraft are known worldwide for the quietest cabin in the sky - an essential feature on long-range flights. The A340-300s will be used for flights to the US West Coast, Asia, South America and South Africa. SWISS' A340-300s will be equipped with CFM56 engines from CFM International. The CFM56-5C4/P engines feature a lower fuel burn, leading to lower emissions and they operate at a lower temperature, which leads to reduced maintenance costs and significantly lower NOx levels.

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Europeans join JSF programme
Neue Mitglieder für die JSF-Entwicklung

After some delays due to the election, the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter. The signing makes the Netherlands the fourth international contributor to the stealth aircraft's development. Over the life of the program's SDD phase, the Netherlands will contribute approximately $800 million to the JSF's development. Several Dutch companies already are under contract to produce JSF subsystems, and the role of Netherlands industry is expected to grow significantly during SDD. Other nations considering participation in the JSF program include Italy, Norway, and Turkey.
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics E. C. "Pete" Aldridge and his Danish counterpart, National Armaments Director Jorgen Hansen-Nord, have signed Memorandum of Understanding documents committing Denmark to participation in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) system development and demonstration phase. This commitment will span the next 10 years and highlights the growing international impact of the JSF program. Denmark's participation signals the importance it sees in joining this far-reaching and technologically challenging endeavor. Participation also will provide opportunities for Danish industry to partner with U.S. and U.K. industry. As a result of Denmark's involvement, U.S. industry also has sought teaming arrangements in Denmark with strong opportunities for cooperation in follow-on production. In joining the JSF program, Denmark also teams with the U.K. and Canada.
The Government has decided to continue Norwegian participation in the United States Joint Strike Fighter project. Norway has been a participant in the introductory phase of this programme since 1996. The intention is to enable Norway to take part in a wide-ranging programme of multilateral co-operation in preparation for eventual procurement of the next generation of combat aircraft. This decision does not imply a choice of a successor to replace the existing F-16 aircraft, and the Government is therefore ensuring that Norway can continue to follow closely the development of alternative candidates, including Eurofighter and Rafale.In the Government's view, the most important thing is to focus on the operational requirements for the new generation of combat aircraft. On the basis of a comprehensive assessment to date, the Government considers that the Joint Strike Fighter is the alternative that looks most likely to be able to satisfy our future operational requirements in a cost-effective manner.

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Liquid hydrogen promoted by EU
EU an Wasserstoffantrieb interessiert

Liquid hydrogen fuelled aircraft is an environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil fuelled planes. The Cryoplane research project shows use of liquid hydrogen is technically feasible, and would greatly reduce the environmental impact of aviation without affecting safety. The project brings together 35 partners from industry, research centers and academic institutions across 11 EU countries including the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and it is led by Airbus, the biggest European aircraft manufacturer. The 26-month Commission-funded project results have been presented on 27 and 28 May in Ispra. This is an illustration of the new EU research approach, as foreseen by the forthcoming 6th Research Framework Program (FP6): the EU will concentrate research efforts in major technological endeavours, to reach a critical mass and real added value at EU level. "The Cryoplane project is not only a good illustration of how research is a vital component in fostering industrial competitiveness and sustainable development, it also shows how pooling of otherwise scattered resources gives European research and development a competitive advantage", said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "This is the spirit of FP6. We are heading in the right direction." The cost of hydrogen fuel is higher than kerosene, and fossil resources can cover the needs of aviation for the next 50 years, but the changeover to sustainable technologies is inevitable and may begin as early as 2015. Further and extensive research is required to meet specific aviation needs, so a long-term research and development (R&D) program is essential to prepare for the transition.

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Airbus A340-600 certified
Zulassung für A340-600

Airbus' latest and largest airliner, the long range A340-600, was granted type certification today by the European Joint Aviation Authorities. This marks the culmination of an intensive certification campaign that involved three A340-600 aircraft accumulating 1,600 flight hours in more than 500 flights since April last year. The flight test results show that customer aspirations have been fully met and, in some cases, significantly exceeded. "This is a major milestone in the completion of our renowned product line and takes our family concept a step further to offer even greater mission versatility within the Airbus fly-by-wire fleet,” said Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Noël Forgeard. "This achievement is a tribute to all those at Airbus, Rolls Royce and our suppliers who worked on the aircraft these last few years and we look forward to inaugurating the decades of in-flight satisfaction it will give our customers and operators." The first aircraft will be delivered to Virgin Atlantic Airways in July.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

SWISS, the new Swiss intercontinental airline, has taken delivery of its 25th Embraer RJ 145, thus completing the renewal of the section of the fleet comprising aircraft of up to 50 seats. The aircraft in question is also the 600th ERJ 145 to be produced by the Brazilian manufacturer. The acceptance of the last of the 25 aircraft, ordered by the former Crossair, represents an important milestone in the continuing SWISS fleet renewal programme. With this twinjet aircraft, SWISS can fly to more distant destinations such as Helsinki and Seville at jet speeds. Travellers appreciate the shorter flight times and considerably improved comfort of the ERJ 145, compared to the earlier turboprops. It is therefore a welcome forerunner to the larger aircraft in the Embraer fleet. The introduction of the Embraer 170 and 195 will begin in Spring 2003 and will probably be completed in 2006.
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Faced with a potential four-fold increase in their insurance premiums for 2002 and future years, largely due to war risk following September 11, the IATA airlines resolved to seek a global solution to the problem, on the final day of their 58th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, 4 June. They affirmed their strong support for the global war risk solution developed by the Special Group of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and requested governments to support the scheme. ICAO proposes the setting up of a "not for profit" new insurance company which would seek finance from the world market and assume global risks. The airlines asked ICAO to initiate measures to establish an international convention to limit third party risk war risk liability of international airlines. In a further Resolution, IATA airlines asked states to ensure that security measures are co-ordinated internationally, without disrupting air transport and recognising that the cost of enhanced security programmes are a state responsibility; the AGM approved the IATA Recommended Security Standards and asked all Members to ensure that effective airline security programmes are in place, consistent both with the IATA Standards and the ICAO Annex 17 requirements. Finally, the AGM expressed its appreciation to those infrastructure service providers who have frozen, reduced or waived their user charges since September 11, asked all service providers to review their costs, and requested States to set up independent "watch dogs" to review all user charges - and allow service providers to reduce charges in response to customer requirements.
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Addressing the Board of Governors of AIA (Aerospace Industries Association of America), AECMA President Jean-Paul Béchat highlighted the importance of developing partnerships between EU and US companies in the civil and defence sector, and the need to insure fair competition across the Atlantic. Furthermore, a consistent defence policy and an increase in security and defence spending are needed in Europe. At the occasion of this year's AIA Board of Governors meeting, Mr Béchat was invited to speak to the executives of the US aerospace industry. He said that as a result of the recent consolidation process on European side an important trend is the increasing interdependence between the aerospace industries in the EU and the US. He pointed out that "transnational alliances and ventures are an efficient way to address market needs on both sides". In 2000, for example, the EU exported aerospace products worth 25 billion Euro to the USA, and imported products worth 35 billion Euro from the USA.In the defence sector Europe is characterised by a fragmented market. In addition, military spending in Europe today lags far behind that in the US. "We need a joint and consistent European policy on defence and an EU-wide market", Mr Béchat said. European States should increase military spending in order to ensure the ability to meet security and defence needs for the future.
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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and U.S. Army have selected four teams for the first phase of the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) program. Subject to negotiations, each team will receive approximately $3 million for the initial 12-month concept development and system trades phase. The UCAR contractor teams are: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y./Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas; McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St Louis, Mo.; Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif.; Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn./Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif. The goal of the joint DARPA/Army UCAR program is to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility, and operational value for a UCAR system to effectively and affordably perform armed reconnaissance and attack missions within the emerging Army Objective Force system-of-systems architecture.
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ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, from Belgium, will soon finish training at ESA's space research and technology centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands on some of the scientific facilities he will have to work on during his flight to the International Space Station next October.
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Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet and Aviace AG, a Switzerland-based international jet club today announced that Aviace has ordered 112 of the advanced new jet aircraft. In Europe, flying clubs are an emerging phenomenon, offering private air travel solutions to frequent flyers. Aviace AG is in the process of establishing jet clubs in several Eropean countries. Aviace intends to use the Eclipse 500 to bring Aviace jet clubs to every country in Europe including small airport destinations that travelers cannot currently reach through commercial air travel. In addition, the economic advantages of the Eclipse 500 will enable Aviace AG to decrease significantly the cost of this growing mode of private jet travel throughout Europe, allowing more people to use private jet travel as an alternative to the commercial airlines.
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Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline, welcomed the decision of the Appeals Court in Cologne which overturned a previous injunction obtained by Lufthansa which sought to prevent Ryanair and Frankfurt Hahn from using the name "Frankfurt” in the title of the Airport. Both the Airport and Ryanair are now free to use the official name "Frankfurt Hahn” which complies with both the legal name of the Airport and the official IATA designation of Frankfurt Hahn. The Appeals Court in Cologne was persuaded to lift this injunction by the strength of Ryanair's case which was based on the fact that the legal name of the Airport is Frankfurt Hahn, that it was an IATA designated airport for Frankfurt, but also that the widespread publicity and huge passenger numbers who are now using Frankfurt Hahn Airport clearly highlighted that no German consumers were being misled by the use of the name "Frankfurt Hahn” Airport. Ryanair welcomed the decision of the Appeals Court as a major victory for Ryanair, for Frankfurt Hahn Airport, for German consumers and for competition in the air travel market in Germany.
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McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on May 29, 2002, a $51,822,912 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract (DAAH23-00-C-0124) for delivery of eight Longbow AH-64D, government of Israel-unique new build aircraft and all efforts associated with these aircraft. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2005. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on June 1, 2001.
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Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded on May 30, 2002, a $23,914,290 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for 15 TH-67A+ training helicopters. Work will be performed in Quebec, Canada (73%), and Bristol, Tenn. (27%), and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2003.
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The RAH-66 COMANCHE Prototype No. 2 made its first flight with the newly installed Mission Equipment Package (MEP) software and new engines here today, reaching the critical milestone weeks ahead of schedule. "This is a great first achievement for the restructured COMANCHE program, said Chuck Allen, COMANCHE Program Office director. "Five months ago we set down a plan to fly Prototype No. 2 by the end of June. We not only met that milestone, we beat it handily".
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The Kaskol Group has been selected by Airbus as a leading partner for the implementation of the first phase of its co-operation program with the Russian aerospace industry. Airbus co-operation program follows the agreement signed in July 2001 between Airbus major shareholder EADS and the Russian Aerospace Agency in Moscow , in presence of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. The West European aircraft manufacturer, which has currently the largest backlog of the aircraft industry in the world, and the Kaskol Group, which is one of the largest privately held holding companies in Russia with a primary focus on the aerospace industry, are to set up jointly an Engineering Centre in Moscow as well as to develop a long term program of industrial co-operation for Airbus in Russia. This was announced by Airbus Chief Operating Officer Gustav Humbert and Kaskol Group President Sergei Nedoroslev at a joint press conference today in Moscow during which an agreement was signed between the two parties.
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ATR, headquartered in Toulouse (France), announces that the worldwide ATR aircraft fleet (ATR 42 & ATR 72) in operation has reached the 10 million flight hours mark. This represents a cumulative distance of approximately 4 billion km (2.5 billion status miles) while roughly 450 million passengers have already flown with an ATR aircraft. The first ATR aircraft (ATR 42-300), which has a basic configuration of 48 seats, entered into service in December 1985. The ATR 72 with a standard 66 seat configuration, entered into service in October 1989. The new generation (-500 series) which entered into service mid-90s is faster, provides lower noise and vibration levels with a higher level of passenger comfort.
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Gilles Ouimet has been appointed chairman of Pratt & Whitney Canada and Alain Bellemare has been named president, the company announced today. "Pratt & Whitney Canada is a strong and growing segment of the Pratt family with remarkable contributions to our overall company performance and to the broader communities of Montreal and Canada," said Louis R. Chenevert, president of Pratt & Whitney. "These two appointments further strengthen the leadership team and reflect the criticality of P&WC to our overall portfolio." As chairman, Ouimet will continue providing strategic direction and leadership to P&WC. In making the announcement, Chenevert cited Ouimet's 25-year record of accomplishments with the company and, in particular, his leadership as president in enabling P&WC to win key strategic positions in the business aircraft and helicopter global markets.
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Early on June 5, Arianespace orbited the Intelsat 905 communications satellite for international communications provider Intelsat. Intelsat 905 is the fourth satellite to be launched in the Intelsat IX series by Arianespace, the new generation of satellite deployed by this global communications provider, and was the 21st Intelsat satellite to be launched by Ariane. The collaboration between Arianespace and Intelsat reaches back to 1983. Sixty percent of the Intelsat satellites in operation today were orbited by the European launcher, making it Arianespace's largest customer. The first series IX satellite, Intelsat 901, was launched by Arianespace on June 9, 2001 (Flight 141), followed by Intelsat 902 on August 30, 2001 (Flight 143) and Intelsat 904 on February 28, 2002 (Flight 148). Two more Intelsat IX satellites are scheduled for an Arianespace launch. Intelsat 905 is Arianespace's seventh successful launch in 2002 and the 71st successful Ariane 4 launch in a row.
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Aeronavali, a company of Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccanica has installed the first Large Cargo Door on an ATR-72 aircraft. The door installation is part of the ATR Freighter Conversion Program that is being carried out by Aeronavali at its Naples Facility. Last year the French-Italian consortium ATR selected Aeronavali as its exclusive outfitter for its ATR 42 and ATR 72 cargo modifications. The combined expertise of Aeronavali and ATR positions the ATR cargo version as a new standard in the 4 to 9 ton freighters category. The ATR 72 Cargo prototype aircraft (F/N 108) is expected to be certified within June 2002 and redelivered to the kick-off customer FARNAIR, the leading European feeder airline for integrators and postal services. FARNAIR is also active in the ad hoc market, where the Large Cargo Door (71” x 116”) will provide customers with an extended service unique in this size of aircraft.
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The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) continues to meet market demand for an airplane that can fly passengers more than 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 kilometers) in a comfortable, spacious cabin. Fifty Boeing Business Jets now are fully completed and in-service, including the first BBJ in Latin America. The fleet has generated more than 31,400 flight hours to date and 13,800 flights, with 99.9 percent reliability and no major technical issues reported. "We continue to see a wide range of applications for the BBJ," said Lee Monson, president of Boeing Business Jets, at the second annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. "The versatility of the airplane allows owners to create a unique environment tailored to their specific needs and seating requirements, whether it's for eight or 100 passengers; for private use, corporate, charter or even government transport."
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Page Aerospace, a British manufacturer of aircraft equipment, is placing a tooling and production order with Fimes a.s., part of Mesit Holdings, of Uherské Hradi_te in Moravia, for the supply of castings and plastic mouldings. This new order will form part of the Gripen team's offset programme for the Czech Republic. Page Aerospace, who manufactures the control-column and throttle assemblies for the Gripen supersonic, multi-role fighter, is a long-standing supplier of aircraft components to Gripen partner BAE Systems. In addition to placement of the new production order with Fimes a.s. it will work to develop a long-term strategic relationship with the Mesit group of companies for the supply of aerospace and defence components world-wide.
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The first test flight of the new L159 B, advanced jet training aircraft from AERO Vodochody took place on Saturday, 1 June 2002. The aircraft piloted by AERO's chief test pilot, Miroslav Schützner and test pilot Rostislav Stroin, took off from Vodochody airport a few minutes after 3 o'clock. The L159 B was accompanied by the company's L159 two-seat prototype during this test flight. The L159 B flew for almost an hour and reached the altitude of 11 000 meters. All systems worked optimally. The first flight of the L159 B aircraft plays a major role in AERO's existence and represents an important occasion not only for AERO but also for other Czech and international companies whose products are carried on board.
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Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), in cooperation with other Israeli hi-tech industries, launched its OFEQ-5 satellite, by means of the Israeli SHAVIT launcher, developed and produced by IAI/MLM Division. The satellite was launched Westward today 28 May 2002 at 18:25 pm (Israel time). With its insertion into orbit, OFEQ-5 will undergo a series of in-orbit tests, expected to last several weeks, to verify its operation and performance. The satellite carries a remote sensing payload that will enable it to perform its high-resolution observation missions for national needs. IAI/ MBT Division developed OFEQ-5. Its design is based on proven technologies employed in the OFEQ satellites, and, on latest developments using leading edge technologies. OFEQ-5 is a three-axes stabilized, lightweight satellite platform, adapted for high-resolution observation, scientific, or, technological payloads. The satellite circles the Earth, from East to West, every hour and a half, at an approximate angle of inclination 143 degrees.
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HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates, has confirmed that the airline has placed an order for two extra Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which have a list price of US$279 million, to be delivered in 2003. Emirates already operates 22 A330-200s and has existing orders for a further five. Two of scheduled for delivery in August and September this year and three in March, April and May next year. The two extra A330-200s are scheduled for delivery in June and October 2003. They will bring the airline's A330-200 fleet to 29 aircraft, all powered by Rolls Royce Trent 772 engines.
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The maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Technology Demonstrator II was carried out at 1147 hrs in Bangalore today. The flight was successful and met all test parameters set for the flight. The flight lasted 28 minutes and is a significant landmark in the LCA project and marks its entry into the Flight Test Programme. It may be recalled that the test flight of LCA Technology Demonstrator I had been successfully carried out on January 4, 2001. The LCA is an advanced technology, single seat, single engine, supersonic, lightweight, all weather, multi-role air superiority fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat roles.
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The first Boeing 757-300 airplane powered by Pratt & Whitney PW2000 engines today earned certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration after successfully completing a three-month flight-test program. The Pratt & Whitney-powered 757-300 also received validation from Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities. Until now, all of the 757-300s have been built with Rolls-Royce engines.
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The Lockheed Martin-led F-22 air dominance fighter industry team has delivered Raptor 4008 -- the program's dedicated low observable, or stealth, reliability and maintainability flight-test and evaluation aircraft -- to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Raptor 08 arrived at Edwards late Friday, May 31. It is the last Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), or developmental flight- test, aircraft to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Once at Edwards, Raptor 08 will be carefully monitored to determine the resistance of the aircraft's stealth coatings to both inclement weather as well as the usual wear-and-tear combat aircraft undergo while being operated and maintained in field conditions over a period of time. Despite the super sophisticated nature of the F-22 and its stealth technology, the Raptor is designed to be easily maintained on the ramp, adjacent to the runway, in a manner similar to today's conventional fighters.
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The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey has signed a $1 billion-plus contract with The Boeing Company for the design and development of a state-of-the-art 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system also being developed for Australia. The international Boeing-led team responsible for the program includes Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and several major Turkish companies including TAI and Havelsan. The contract calls for four 737 AEW&C aircraft plus a ground support segment for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance support. "This contract is another vote of confidence in the 737 AEW&C system and firmly establishes our new product line. The Boeing-led team looks forward to developing and delivering these four systems to Turkey," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Space and Communications (S&C), a business unit of The Boeing Company headquartered in Chicago.
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A new Bear Stearns survey of 50 airlines and leasing companies finds low cost carriers have largely paced a gradual recovery in the aerospace industry. According to the study by Bear Stearns aerospace analyst Steve Binder, traffic trends are slowly beginning to improve, with the declines diminishing in the U.S., picking up in Europe and strengthening in Asia. However, yields remain weak, with selected improvement cited in parts of Asia and in Europe. Binder expects the world's airlines will order only 500 planes this year, roughly half the annual rate of previous years. But of those planes, nearly 300 will come from the low cost carriers. "Low cost carriers have already accounted for 70% of total order activity this year," Binder said. "The low cost carriers are simply prospering." Easyjet and Ryanair placed two big orders this year. Binder predicts the low cost carriers will account for 20% to 25% of the manufacturers' deliveries by 2005, compared to roughly 10% this year. According to Binder, Boeing (BA) should be able to capture about half of the annual deliveries in 2003 and 2004. He also believes Boeing's narrow body 737NG and 777 programs will ultimately make up a bigger part of the company's sales. In fact, Binder estimates these two programs will account for about 80% of Boeing's volume in 2005 compared to 55% in 2002.
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The first production next-generation AIM-9X Sidewinder was unveiled May 1 during a ceremony at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Ariz. This delivery marks the beginning of an 18-year production plan to provide revolutionary dogfight capabilities to the warfighter. "Air-to-air tactics as they exist today will no longer be the same,” said Capt. Dave Venlet, Naval Air Systems Command program manager for Air-to-Air Missile Systems (PMA-259). "This is an advanced system design, which provides the warfighter with the firepower to ensure air superiority against any threat that exists today.”
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Director-General of the Commission's Research DG, Achilleas Mitsos, has called on Europe's Heads of State and Government to rethink the EU Treaty with a view to including a European space policy. Speaking at the European air and space conference in Brussels on 28 May, Dr Mitsos claimed that a number of Community policies, such as information society, transport, environment, research and enlargement 'not only need space, but depend on it.' 'The concept of a European space policy is yet to be defined and needs to be discussed with all institutions. We need a European space policy that takes into account the needs of the citizens [...]. Now is maybe the time for the Heads of State and Government to rethink the Treaty to include a European space policy,' said the Director-General. Asked whether such a European space policy would include defence issues, Dr Mitsos said that 'there is not a single possibility that we will have a European space policy without touching on defence. Let's be realistic and serious. Non-military purposes will remain the objective, but you can't have a space policy without focusing on defence and more general security issues.' Aeronautics and space is to be one of the eight thematic priority areas under the Sixth Framework programme (FP6) for research and development (R&D), which Dr Mitsos hopes to see finalised within three weeks. EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society Erkki Liikanen, who closed the first day of the conference, underlined the fact that EU programmes account for 30 per cent of aerospace R&D funding. 'Very few industries have achieved such a prominent position in the Framework programmes,' he said. Dr Mitsos claimed that some of his colleagues believed that prioritising space would lead to institutional problems. 'This didn't happen. Its time had come,' said Dr Mitsos.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) of Dulles, Virginia has signed a firm order for 25 Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets to be flown under the United Express banner. The transaction is valued at $571.5 million U.S. ($868.7 million Cdn.). The aircraft are scheduled for delivery during 2003 and 2004. The order announced today is the 10th order for Bombardier CRJ aircraft to be placed by ACA since the airline's initial order in January 1997 and will increase the airline's CRJ fleet to 121 aircraft. Sixty-two of the aircraft have been delivered and are flown on behalf of United Express.
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Finmeccanica and Rolls-Royce have modified their holdings in Europea Microfusioni Aerospaziali (EMA) - their joint venture based in Morra de Sanctis, in Irpinia in Southern Italy - to strengthen the company's presence in international markets for advanced turbine components. Rolls-Royce has increased its shareholding in EMA from 33,33 per cent to 51 per cent, while the Finmeccanica holding has been reduced from 66,66 per cent to 49 per cent. At the same time, both partners have approved an investment plan in EMA, with the objective of gaining a share in new market segments. The changes took place on 28 May in Rome.
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Peter Hartman, KLM chief operations officer, right, and Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, sign a contract for the purchase of KLM's new Boeing 777-200ER passenger jetliners and 747-400ER freighters. Hartman and Jan Witsenboer, KLM chief purchasing officer, participated in a ceremonial contract signing when they visited Boeing Commercial Airplanes headquarters in Seattle, Washington last week.
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By increasing its service frequency to one flight per day, Lauda Air, part of the Austrian Airlines Group, is taking account of the continually rising demand for flights to Australia. Since 27 May 2002, the company is travelling 'down under' on a daily basis. Sydney will be served five times a week, while flights will depart for Melbourne twice a week. The aircraft used to serve this Lauda Air 'fast route' will continue to be the 344-seat Boeing 777. The Lauda Air route has been the only direct connection between Austria and Australia for almost 14 years. Sydney was the first long range Lauda Air destination to feature as a scheduled service. The concession for the route was granted in 1988. At the time, a Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft was used, and the route included a stopover in Bangkok.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation today awarded a contract to The Boeing and Siemens Corporation to install and maintain explosives detection systems at the 438 U.S. airports serving commercial aviation. The $1.37 billion contract that will be managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also calls for the Boeing-Siemens team to train approximately 30,000 airport baggage-screening employees. Legislation enacted by Congress in response to the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks mandates the installation of detection systems in all 438 airports by Dec. 31, 2002. The contract also has options to support the fielded equipment for five years beyond the December completion date.
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