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UPDATE
Week ending April 6, 2003
+++ Italy and Germany reach agreement on Galileo +++ Investigators theories of Shuttle disaster +++ Rolls-Royce Trent 900 meets test targets +++ Opening of Eurofighter International Weapon System Support Centre +++ X-31 completes ESTOL Up-And-Away +++ News in brief +++
Italy and Germany reach agreement on Galileo
Galileo-Einigung nach langem Streit
An agreement has been reached between Italy and Germany on contributions to the Galileo programme, which, if acceptable to the other countries involved, will pave the way for the official launch of the Galileo joint undertaking's activities. The agreement was reached at governmental level, and foresees Italy assuming responsibility for the engineering part of the programme, while Germany will manage the space facet. Germany will also host the joint undertaking's site, where 30 satellites will be constructed. Discussions over contributions to the Galileo programme have, for the first time, seen European countries in disagreement because they want to contribute more. This is because national contributions will be met with contracts for companies in that country. 'Now we have to check that the agreement [between Italy and Germany] fits in with the overall ESA [European Space Agency] framework and that it doesn't have any implications for the other countries. You have to remember that ESA is a 15 Member State organisation,' an ESA spokesperson told CORDIS News.
The European Commission has welcomed the agreement, calling it 'encouraging', although a spokesperson emphasised to CORDIS News that they are still waiting to see the details of the agreement, and that the matter should not be considered closed until a formal agreement has been reached. The Commission is now awaiting the outcome of an ESA meeting due to take place in April. While Ottobrunn was initially announced as the new home for the joint undertaking, a final decision has not yet been made, according to reports in the German press.
In a separate development, China has expressed an interest in becoming involved in the programme. A final decision on this matter lies with the European Commission, although as the ESA spokesperson highlighted, 'Galileo is supposed to be global. It will work on the other side of the world when it is operational.' Additional third countries are also believed to have expressed an interest in participation.
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Investigators theories of Shuttle disaster
Columbia: Untersuchungen gehen weiter
The investigation into what caused the break-up of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia supports the theory that a left wing panel broke off during its mission, possibly playing a role in its demise. But corrosion along the wing's front edge might also have played a part. Investigators have narrowed the location where devastating superheated atmospheric gases entered the shuttle during its re-entry to somewhere near the leading edge of the left wing. That is where sensors from a recently recovered data recorder show that temperatures heated up first, right after Columbia re-entered the atmosphere from its 16-day flight. The investigators do not know where the breach in the wing was, but they say their probe points to several theories. One option is that one of protective panels beneath the left wing detached.
One of the investigators, Air Force Major General John Barry, says the object that flew off the shuttle on its second day of flight almost certainly was one of these panels, called carrier panels. He cites analysis of data from military radars that observed the debris floating in space and tests of different types of materials that could have fallen away from the shuttle in orbit. "We've got a lot of radar cross-section feedback, and there have been 29 various materials examined at Wright Patterson Air Force Base," said Gen. Barry. "We've concluded that, right now, only the carrier panel remains a viable candidate for the day-two object." The investigators are also considering whether tiny holes in the wing's edge could have contributed to Columbia's demise. They have learned that it is common for the front edges of shuttle wings to have pinholes from corrosion. General Barry says the cause of the corrosion could be zinc oxide leaching down from aging paint on the shuttle launch tower. Another culprit might be oxidation, perhaps from weathering, might also be the culprit.
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Rolls-Royce Trent 900 meets test targets
A380-Triebwerk absolviert erste Tests
Rolls-Royce announced today (2 April) that the Trent 900, lead engine for the Airbus A380, had achieved certification level thrust of 81,000lb during its first sequence of testing at the company's Derby, UK facilities. Ian Kinnear, Director Airbus Programmes, Rolls-Royce, said: "The engine has met all its test objectives at this stage. We have achieved the thrust required for airworthiness certification even though that landmark is still 19 months away on our development schedule. "The engines for the first passenger version of the A380 at entry into service will be rated at 70,000lb thrust, so this initial testing demonstrates that the Trent 900 will operate comfortably within its limits."
Certification strain gauge tests were successfully completed on the intermediate pressure system and the engine also demonstrated low vibration levels as well as proving air and oil systems. This is the first of seven engines in the development and flight test program which culminates in engine certification in October 2004. The Trent 900 enters commercial service with launch customer Singapore Airlines in Spring 2006. In addition to Singapore Airlines, the Trent 900 has also been ordered by Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa, and selected by International Lease Finance Corporation, giving it a 57 per cent share of firm and option business announced to date.
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Opening of Eurofighter International Weapon System Support Centre
IWSSC in Hallbergmoos eröffnet
Eurofighter GmbH announced the formal opening of the joint industry-operator International Weapon System Support Centre (IWSSC) in Hallbergmoos, Germany. The IWSSC is the International organisation through which Industry - represented by Eurofighter and Eurojet - and the Eurofighter Typhoon Weapon System operator community - represented by NETMA and the four Eurofighter Partner Nation Air Forces - provide and undertake technical In-Service Support of all Eurofighter Typhoon Weapon System products. This event marks the first formal operational step in establishing the joint service and support network for the Eurofighter Typhoon Weapon System ahead of Entry to Service later in the year.
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X-31 completes ESTOL Up-And-Away
ESTOL-Versuche von X-31 machen Fortschritte
The Vectoring Extremely Short Takeoff and Landing Control Tailless Operation Research (VECTOR) X-31 flight test program completed the final flight of its lengthy "up-and-away" test phase March 22, clearing the way for the final phase of flight test to begin in early April. By the end of April, the team hopes to have flown the world's first thrust-vectored, automated landings on the runway. The X-31 uses thrust vectoring controlling the direction of its engine exhaust with paddle-like vanes to maintain control at high angles of attack and reduced speeds, even well below the typical landing speed for an aircraft of its type. The Navy is using the X-31 to explore applications of thrust vectoring technology for extremely short takeoff and landing (ESTOL), with a particular eye toward the carrier landing environment. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has partnered on the VECTOR program with Germany's Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) Company and Boeing Aerospace.
In May, the test team began flying the "ESTOL up-and-away" test phase, which centered around flying ESTOL approaches to a "virtual runway" at 5,000 feet, successfully validating the technique. During the 51 flights for "up-and-away” testing, X-31 test pilots flew ESTOL approaches at altitude to a maximum of 28 degrees angle of attack, said Doug Wilkin, lead flight test engineer for VECTOR. The X-31 is also being used as a test bed for EADS' Flush Air Data System (FADS), a nose-mounted sensor that measures local pressures used to calculate airspeed, angle of attack, sideslip and altitude information, Wilkin said. The FADS has been hailed as a more accurate, more stealthy alternative to the pitot static probes and ports commonly used on aircraft today, he added.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
A report calling for the establishment of an armament and research agency, was adopted by the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on 27 March. The establishment of such an agency would be part of an overall objective to build the foundations for a new European defence architecture. The report states that the proposed armament and research agency would be entrusted with the task of evaluating and improving Member States' commitments to defence by assessing the proportion of their defence budgets in relation to GDP, and in particular the proportion of the defence budget devoted to equipment and research expenditure. Part of its workload would include evaluating the EU's military readiness with regard to its force deployment capabilities and their interoperability. It is also envisaged that the agency would be responsible for encouraging Member States to adopt a harmonised purchasing policy and to run pilot projects for cooperation among themselves. In terms of financial support, the report stipulates that the agency would also have its own budget. This would initially be restricted to research and development relating to new technologies where the spin-offs for civilian industry are known.
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Iberia has signed a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 12 A340-600s (five firm and seven options), bringing to 15 its acquisition of Airbus' latest and largest airliner to date. This confirms a decision announced by the Spanish flag carrier at the end of January, following a long and intensive evaluation process as part of its fleet renewal. The newly ordered firm aircraft will be delivered between 2004 and 2006. They will follow Iberia's first three A340-600s which the airline will start receiving this summer. The A340-600s will replace the carrier's ageing 747 fleet on long haul routes, bringing considerable savings due to lower fuel consumption, better operational efficiency and greater cargo capacity. Together with a fleet of 18 A340-300s currently in service, they will be operated mainly on the airline's routes from Madrid to major Latin American cities.
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Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector and subcontractor teammate Schweizer Aircraft Corp. have successfully tested a four-blade rotor upgrade that will increase the payload capacity, speed, range, altitude and endurance of the U.S. Navy RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system. The upgrade is compatible with the existing Fire Scout engine and transmission, and requires no major mechanical or structural changes to the airframe. Fire Scout currently uses a three-blade rotor configuration. The Northrop Grumman/Schweizer team conducted ground, hover, taxi and flight evaluation of the four-bladed rotor hub mounted on a Schweizer Model 333 helicopter at Schweizer's Horseheads, N.Y., facility during the last week of March. To date, the team has conducted six flights with the aircraft reaching speeds up to 90 knots and altitudes up to 1,500 feet.
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The contract signed by Eurocopter, and the Greek MoD/DGA (General Delegation for Armaments), in conjunction with the Greek Merchant Navy Ministry, became effectives at the end of March 2003. Worth close to 47 million euros, the contract covers the supply of five AS 365 N3 Dauphin 2 helicopters (plus 1 option). The entry in service of the five AS 365 N3 Dauphin 2s is set for the 2004 Olympic Games. The helicopters will perform day and night surveillance missions for the Harbor Police of the Merchant Navy Ministry. For these duties, they will be fitted with radar, infrared cameras, loud speakers and nother equipment.
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Egyptair has signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of seven A330-200s, the unquestioned leader in its category. This is the first A330 acquisition by Egyptair which already operates a large Airbus fleet. Deliveries for the aircraft are scheduled to begin in June 2004. The Egyptian flag carrier plans to operate the A330-200 on routes mainly within the Middle East and to Europe. In Egyptair's layout the aircraft will seat around 275 passengers in a highly comfortable configuration. The A330-200 offers the most spacious cabin of any aircraft in its category, creating a more enjoyable seating arrangement for passengers, while state-of-the art systems help to provide a comfortable atmosphere that reflects the commitment to passenger comfort found in all Airbus aircraft.
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Sikorsky Aircraft and the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) have signed a $113 million contract to provide performance-based logistics support for U.S. Navy SEAHAWK helicopter dynamic components. The contract represents the third major military support contract for Sikorsky in the past four months. Under the PBL agreement, Sikorsky will provide a broad range of support for repairable items on the SEAHAWK H-60 helicopter over the next 31 months. The program is designed to reduce the total life cycle cost and logistics pipeline for the SEAHAWK fleet, and gives Sikorsky comprehensive oversight of material management, technical, engineering and logistical support services for 14 U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and foreign military SEAHAWK dynamic components.
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Canada is to participate in India's mission to moon. This is one of the areas of joint collaboration envisaged in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Canadian Space Agency. The other areas of collaboration include, satellite communications, Remote sensing as well as encouragement of academia and private sector participation in the use and exploration of space. The two sides also signed a letter of intent referring to several projects and programs in which they have mutual interest. These cover, provision of bilateral support to telemetry, tracking and command operations for satellites and Canadian support to the UN Centre for Space Science and Technology education set up at Dehradun and cooperation in the development of scientific instruments that could be flown aboard Indian satellites.
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Turbomeca announces expansion plans for Turbomeca Engine Corporation (TEC) located in Grand Prairie, Texas to accommodate for more manufacturing capability in North America. TEC's new President and CEO, Russ Spray arrived in February 2003 with orders from corporate to have an expansion plan in place by the end of March. The expansion is necessary in order to support more Arriel engine production in North America.
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The Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI, Italian Air Force), joined by Lockheed Martin, commemorated the acceptance of its National Training Center (NTC) at Pisa Air Base, Italy. Lockheed Martin led a team comprised of Italian industry in the design, building and completion of the facility. "The National Training Center will substantially increase the speed with which the Italian Air Force can qualify and train their flight crews to fly the C-130J," said Ross Reynolds, vice president of the C-130J program. "This state-of-the-art facility and the equipment being installed will make the NTC the most advanced aircrew training facility in Europe. In addition, it has been very rewarding to work with our Italian industrial partners throughout this entire project."
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Aerospace has continued its long trend of being the single largest net exporter of any industry sector of the U.S., with a net trade balance in 2002 of $30 billion. The industry's trade surplus grew $3.5 billion above 2001's balance, with a $1.7 billion decrease in exports and $5.2 billion decrease in imports. AIA President and CEO John W. Douglass said that the decrease in both U.S. exports and imports of aerospace products reflected the financial decline of the world's airlines. However, he said, the overall trade balance for aerospace in 2002 improved moderately from the year before. "While this improvement is very good news," said Douglass, "it should not mask the fact that the U.S. aerospace industry is in a severe crisis that overshadows improving trade data." According to data collected by AIA's Research Center, foreign sales decreased in 2002 by $1.7 billion from last year's $59 billion. Military aerospace exports, which peaked in 1998 at $12 billion, grew moderately in 2002 to $9.4 billion. On the other hand, civil aerospace exports declined after a one-year rebound--down $2 billion to $47 billion.
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The U.S. Air Force started flight-testing a Boeing 500-pound JDAM on the B-2 bomber with recent successful separation tests at Edwards AFB, Calif. A B-2 bomber released 16 of the lightweight JDAMs, designated MK-82 500- pound JDAM or GBU-38 by the Air Force, from four smart bomb racks in the bomb bay of the aircraft. The new smart bomb racks were designed and built by Boeing to allow the B-2 to carry up to 80 of the 500-pound JDAM bombs. Each smart bomb rack carries 20 500-pound JDAMs. Boeing engineers and produces the electronics that directs the power and interface signals to the JDAMs in St. Charles, Mo., while workers at the Boeing facilities in Seattle engineered, manufactured, and installed the bomb rack kit and software to the B-2. The flight test was to verify that the weapons could be dropped from the aircraft successfully in a planned sequence with the correct timing and spacing between individual bombs.
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The European Space Agency's Maxus 5 sounding rocket mission was successfully launched on 1 April at 08:00 CEST (06:00 GMT) from Esrange, north of the Arctic Circle near Kiruna in northern Sweden. The rocket, an 11.5 tone solid-fuelled Castor 4B, carried a 488 kg payload of five scientific experiments with their associated telemetry and video links. The five experiments were stacked in five self-contained modules. They were designed to investigate phenomena in biology, fluid physics, material science and fundamental physics. The launch, originally planned for later in the morning, was brought forward due to the bad weather forecast for later in the day. Maxus 5 hurtled upwards through a partially cloudy sky to reach a maximum speed of about 3600 meters per second and maximum height of just over 700 km. From booster burnout 70 km up, until atmospheric re-entry 740 seconds later, the payload was in excellent microgravity conditions.
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AMS, the equal-shares joint venture between Finmeccanica of Italy and BAE SYSTEMS of the UK, changes its management with the appointment of Carlo Venturi as Chief Executive Officer and Andrew Walsh as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Their mandate with Alenia Marconi Systems NV (AMS) will last for 3 years. Carlo Venturi has recently been appointed by the Board of Directors of the Italian subsidiary of AMS NV, Alenia Marconi Systems S.p.A., as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Andrew Walsh will be Managing Director of the British subsidiary, Alenia Marconi Systems Limited.
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After taking assistance from cities and states where its factories have been located for more than 80 years, The Boeing Company is turning its back on communities by setting up a bidding process to choose the location for its new 7E7 plant, according to the union representing technical workers at the aerospace giant. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, now the largest union representing Boeing workers in the Puget Sound region, said the bidding process announced this week disregards years of contributions by employees and whole communities like Renton, Seattle, Everett, Auburn and Wichita, Kansas. In many cases communities and states have worked hand-in-hand with Boeing for decades. "This is a slap in the face of everyone who has worked and supported Boeing for decades," said Pat Waters, SPEEA Council Chairman. "Now, The Boeing Company is saying all that work, all the help over the years, doesn't matter. We are taking a stand now, not to hurt Boeing, but to help save Boeing from misguided management."
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Lockheed Martin UK Ltd Integrated Systems announced today that it had been selected as the European hub to provide a secure computer network infrastructure to support the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. It will allow companies across UK and Europe to share detailed information simultaneously - especially sophisticated design blue-prints - in real-time, across a secure network and with complete accuracy. The hub - also known as JSF EuroNet - allows rapid transmission of design data to and from the main Lockheed Martin JSF project office at Fort Worth in Texas. The service will reduce the costs of information supply and transfer to individual contractors whilst providing quicker access and improved levels of support. The JSF EuroNet deal is worth about £2 million over three years and could lead to savings of upto £1 million over the same period. If, as projected, further British and European companies participate in the service greater economies of scale will generate even bigger savings.
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On the 1st of April Saab Avionics and SaabTech Systems merge and form the company SaabTech. President of the new company, with some 1900 employees and pro forma sales per year of around 3,000 MSEK, is Björn Erman. The products and services of the company avionics, electronic warfare and decision superiority systems are key areas for the defense market, both now and in the future. The main office will be at Järfälla but the company will also have operations at Kista, Uppsala, Linköping, Jönköping and Gothenburg in Sweden, at Adelaide in Australia (through the subsidiary Saab Systems Pty) and at Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa (through the partly owned subsidiaries Avitronics, Logtronics and Grintek Communication).
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Rolls-Royce has produced its first LiftFan blisk for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in the programme's System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. The blisk, which was machined from a solid piece of material, was completed at the company's factory in Annesley, Nottinghamshire, England and has been dispatched to the Rolls-Royce facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, US. There it will be assembled into the first SDD aerodynamic rig for the LiftFan, which is due to be tested in July of this year. The first F135 STOVL engine will go to test in early 2004.
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A Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force, was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-9, was the eighth successful launch of the new-generation GPS IIR spacecraft that will improve global coverage and increase the overall performance of the GPS constellation. This satellite will join the GPS IIR-8 satellite launched on Jan. 29, 2003, which is now fully operational along with the 26 other operational GPS satellites now on orbit. Lockheed Martin has delivered 21 of these satellites to the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. to sustain the GPS constellation. 12 satellites remain in storage to support future launches.
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Boeing delivered the first of three new Boeing 747-400ER (extended range) Freighters ordered last year by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines of the Netherlands. The freighter is the first new all-cargo airplane to enter KLM's fleet. The other two new freighters are scheduled for delivery in April 2003 and early 2004. The new Boeing 747-400ER Freighter can fly 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 kilometers) farther than a 747-300 Freighter and carry 15,400 pounds (7 metric tons) more cargo. It can fly 530 nautical miles (982 kilometers) farther than a 747-400 Freighter.
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