FLUG REVUE update: Week ending August 3, 2003

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UPDATE
Week ending 3 August, 2003

+++ Boeing and Arianespace cooperate +++ New services from Germanwings +++ Hawk for RAF training +++ Adam A700 jet flies +++ Ludwig Bölkow dies +++ Ratier-Figeac prop for A400M +++ Galileo programme management unveiled +++ Northrop Grumman F-5E for sonic boom research flies +++ News in brief +++

Boeing and Arianespace cooperate
Kooperation zwischen Boeing und Arianespace

In a bold initiative, Boeing Launch Services, Arianespace S.A., and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) announced the signing of an agreement to provide a powerful new commercial service offering that combines the strength of three leading launch service providers to ensure on-time launches for customers around the world. In a striking similarity to the commercial airline industry where passengers buy one ticket that connects the flight schedules of several partner airlines, the new launch services alliance makes mission assurance a reality by offering commercial customers the ability to fly on three of the world's finest launch systems. Under this agreement, Arianespace, Boeing Launch Services and MHI will create a unique service offering that allows customers to seamlessly transition among launch platforms for maximum flexibility to ensure on-time delivery to orbit. This tri-party alliance also preserves each launch provider's ability to individually market and promote its own unique platforms and capabilities to customers.
“In a competitive global market for launch services you need to provide customers with focused solutions that meet their needs,” said Will Trafton, President of Boeing Launch Services and Vice President and General Manager, Expendable Launch Systems for Boeing. “We believe that the best way to enhance service and optimize customer satisfaction is to offer the capabilities of three respected launch systems to achieve maximum flexibility and mission assurance.” Boeing Launch Services will offer Sea Launch, a launcher of heavy-class commercial satellites with a mass up to 6,000 kg to GTO. “We are providing unparalleled access to space in order to meet our customers' rapidly changing needs,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace. “Together we are reinventing and redefining launch services for the 21st Century.”

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New services from Germanwings
Germanwings fliegt ab Stuttgart

German low-cost carrier Germanwings has finally announces ist second base after Cologne. From September 15, new services will be offered from Stuttgart. In a first move, Prague, Barcelona, Vienna, Budapest, Thessaloniki, Lisbon und Istanbul will be served daily or at least three times a week. Further destinations will be added with the start of the winter timetable in October. Germanwings-CEO Dr. Joachim Klein commented: „After long and intesive negotiationw with several airports, we have decided on Stuttgart. It offers a very good infrastructure and a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants with good income.“

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Hawk for RAF training
Neuer Auftrag für BAE Hawk

The BAE Systems Hawk 128 is the right choice for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy's new Advanced Jet Trainer, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said. Subject to the successful completion of contractual negotiations, the Ministry of Defence intends initially to purchase 20 aircraft, with options to buy up to another 24. The value of a full order for 44 aircraft is expected to be about £800M. The aircraft, due to enter service in 2008, will be used to train the future pilots for the Tornado GR4, Harrier GR7, Typhoon and later the Joint Strike Fighter, taking over from the current fleet of Hawk T1 aircraft on 208 Squadron and 19 Squadron at RAF Valley in Anglesey. “This is excellent news for BAE Systems, its employees at the Brough factory on Humberside, where Hawk 128 will be designed and built, and for the several hundred people involved in the UK supply chain for the aircraft. “Over 800 Hawk aircraft are currently in service with some 17 customers. In a highly competitive global market, Hawk variants have won the last three Advanced Jet Trainer competitions and have demonstrated their status as one of the UK's finest exports. The future sales prospects for Hawk are extremely bright and I hope this decision will encourage other potential customers to place their orders.”
The Ministry of Defence had originally explored the possibility of a PFI arrangement with BAE Systems, leasing a number of Hawk 128 flyinghours over a period of some 20 years while the company retained ownership of the aircraft. However, the terms proposed by the company did not offer value for money for the taxpayer. The new plan to acquire an initial 20 Hawk 128s, with options for up to another 24 thereafter, will mean that MOD has outright ownership of the aircraft. MOD also intends to contract for a support package for the new aircraft.

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Adam A700 jet flies
Erstflug des Business Jets A700

The Adam A700 made its maiden flight on 27 July at approximately 1400 hours Mountain Daylight Time. This marks the first flight of a light jet with production engines. The A700 is powered by Williams International FJ33 turbine engines. The 50-minute test flight was conducted by Bruce Barrett and Glen Maben. The takeoff was smooth with no roll on rotation. The pilots climbed to 15,000 feet. Stability, control, slow flight, and aircraft systems were tested. The aircraft entered the pattern and the trailing link landing gear set the A700 gently back on the runway. The A700 is powered by two FJ33 fanjet engines rated at 1,200 pounds of thrust each. According to Williams President Gregg Williams, "The FJ33 is derived from the well-proven FJ44 that has accumulated over a million hours in business jet and trainer service. The FJ33 met its design thrust and low fuel rate specifications on its very first run and is well along in its certification program."
The A700 is a follow-on program to the Adam A500 piston twin. The A700 body is about 30 inches longer and has a full-width aft lavatory. The A700 features the Avidyne Entegra flight deck with three large displays. An Avidyne Primary Flight Display (PFD) was on board for the A700 first flight. The spacious cabin features either 6 or 8 seats. Service ceiling will be 41,000 feet and a top speed of 340 kts is predicted. Full fuel (330 gallons) range will be approximately 1500 nm. The A700, at $1,995,000, should be the price-value leader in available new jets. First customer deliveries are planned for late 2004.

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Ludwig Bölkow dies
Deutscher Luftfahrtpionier gestorben

Ludwig Bölkow has died. As EADS announced, Bölkow passed away late Friday evening (25 July) in Munich at the age of 91. “Ludwig Bölkow shaped Germany's postwar aerospace industry like no other and set the stage for the European integration of the sector”, said EADS CEOs Rainer Hertrich and Philippe Camus in praise of Bölkow's life work. Ludwig Bölkow served as CEO of the German aerospace company Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm GmbH (MBB) until 1977. The company, based in Ottobrunn near Munich, was regarded for decades as a peerless pioneer of German technology and earned the German aerospace industry an enviable reputation the world over. MBB introduced trailblazing innovations for helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and rockets. It also developed solar energy systems and did groundbreaking work on the Transrapid train. MBB is one of the predecessor companies of EADS, which was founded in July 2000.
“Ludwig Bölkow believed in a technological Europe. He knew that to be competitive this continent must assume a leading role in aerospace and that the European nations can only achieve this through concerted action,” said Hertrich and Camus. Bölkow was a pioneer of international cooperation in aerospace and defence technology. As early as 1957 he laid the cornerstone for the later wide-ranging and successful collaboration between his company and the French partner Nord Aviation, which later became Aerospatiale. Other ventures with British, Italian, American, Spanish, Dutch and Japanese companies followed. Euromissile, Panavia, Eurofighter, Eurocopter and Arianespace – these are just a few of the programme families spawned by the joint ventures conceived and initiated by Bölkow.
“First and foremost, though, Ludwig Bölkow is one of the fathers of Airbus,” Hertrich and Camus emphasized. As early as 1966 Bölkow founded the German Airbus Study Office shortly after the possibility of a Franco-German or even a European wide-body aircraft had been mooted in Le Bourget. The first employees moved into temporary offices at the German Museum in Munich. Two years later Deutsche Airbus GmbH was founded. “The unique success story of Airbus would have been inconceivable without Bölkow,” said Camus and Hertrich.

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Ratier-Figeac prop for A400M
A400M erhält Propeller von Ratier-Figeach

Ratier-Figeac in Figeac, France, has been selected to develop and produce the propeller system for the Airbus Military A400M air lifter. The potential value of the contract is $830 million over the life of the program. Ratier-Figeac is a business unit of Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. “This is a significant win for our propeller business following several years of work with Airbus Military on this state-of-the-art propeller system,” said Alain Guinaudeau, president of Ratier-Figeac.
According to Michel Ferey, Ratier-Figeac vice president, sales and marketing, “The FH386 propellers on this aircraft will operate at a high power rating and will allow the aircraft to fly up to a cruise speed of Mach 0.72. The propellers will be 17.5 feet in diameter and use eight composite blades each, with individual blade replacement capability.” Ferey added that the propellers for this program include the latest technological solutions developed by Ratier-Figeac in conjunction with Hamilton Sundstrand. “The close teamwork between Ratier-Figeac and Hamilton Sundstrand over the last 12 years on five propeller programs has demonstrated the capability of this team to develop and produce large propeller systems,” Ferey said. Besides Ratier-Figeac in France and Hamilton Sundstrand's Propulsion Enterprise in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, the development and production work will involve Nord-Micro in Germany and Microtecnica of Italy, additional Hamilton Sundstrand European business units.

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Galileo programme management unveiled
Programmmanagement für Galileo GPS

The EU Commission presented the future structures for managing the Galileo program in its deployment phase (2006-2008) and operational phase (from 2008). Two structures, each with essential public-interest missions, are proposed: a Supervisory Authority and a Centre for Safety and Reliability. The Supervisory Authority will award the concession for deployment and operation of the Galileo system to a private consortium selected after a call for tenders to be launched in the coming weeks. The Centre for Safety and Reliability, set up under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the Council, will in particular provide the interface between the political authorities and the concession holder in the event of a crisis. As Loyola de Palacio, the Vice-President responsible for Energy and Transport, stressed.”
This proposal, eagerly awaited by the Member States and the industry, is fundamental because it establishes the legal and institutional framework for management of the program from 2006 onwards. I urge the Council and Parliament to examine it without delay. The joint undertaking in charge of managing Galileo's development phase has been operational since 1 July. The Commission therefore wishes to waste no time before proposing the future structures for managing the European satellite radio navigation program during its deployment phase (2006-2008) and operational phase (from 2008).

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Northrop Grumman F-5E for sonic boom research flies
Testflugzeug absolviert Erstflug

An F-5E fighter jet with a modified fuselage has completed its initial flight in preparation for a joint government-industry test program to demonstrate the relationship between the shape of a supersonic aircraft and the strength of the sonic boom it creates. The Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration (SSBD) program is jointly sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Systems sector and NASA Langley Research Center. This program is scheduled to begin in several weeks at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The demonstrations are part of DARPA's Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) program, an ongoing effort to identify and mature technologies that could allow military and business aircraft to operate with reduced sonic boom. "Our objective is to show that by modifying the shape of an aircraft, the shape and behavior of shock waves—-and therefore the intensity of a sonic boom-—can be significantly altered," said Charles Boccadoro, Northrop Grumman's QSP program manager. "This technology could eventually enable unrestricted supersonic flight over land."

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Goodrich Corporation announced that it has been selected by Airbus to provide cabin attendant and cockpit occupancy seats for the A380. Under the contract, the company's Aircraft Interior Products division will develop and manufacture wall-mounted, floor-mounted and high-comfort cabin attendant seats. These products will also be used in the cockpit as the 4th and 5th occupant seats. The contract has the potential to generate sales in excess of $40 million over the life of the program, with first deliveries scheduled in 2005. Goodrich's Aircraft Interior Products facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado will provide between 18-25 seats for each A380 aircraft, depending on the configuration. These will include the only certified 16g high-comfort cabin attendant seats currently available in the marketplace.
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Spectrolab, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, has achieved an unprecedented conversion efficiency for a terrestrial concentrator solar cell. Using concentrated sunlight, these photovoltaic (PV) cells can convert 36.9 percent of the sun's energy to electricity, a technology capability that could dramatically reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar energy. Spectrolab's achievement is a necessary step to achieve one of the U.S. Department of Energy's major PV initiative goals, to develop solar modules that convert more than 33 percent of the sun's energy into electricity as targeted in the High Performance PV Project. "The modified cell design better suits the terrestrial solar spectrum and opens the path for higher performance terrestrial concentrators" said David Lillington, president of Spectrolab. "And because the terrestrial cell we have developed is similar to our conventional space cells, it can be implemented in production, and manufactured in very high volumes with minimal impact to production flow."
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Veteran NASA astronaut Michael Foale and seasoned Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kaleri are set to be the eighth crew to live aboard the International Space Station. They're scheduled to begin their mission in October, when they launch into space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Foale will serve as the Expedition 8 Commander and NASA/International Space Station Science Officer. Kaleri will be the Soyuz Commander and Space Station Flight Engineer. Their mission is scheduled to begin October 18, when the Russian Soyuz TMA-3 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Pedro Duque, from Spain, will make the outbound trip with Foale and Kaleri as Flight Engineer and return home 10 days later. On October 20, the three will dock their Soyuz to the Station and begin an eight-day transfer process with the Expedition 7 crew, Commander and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu, NASA/International Space Station Science Officer.
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Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Snecma Moteurs, Professor Achim Bachem, member of the executive board of the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V (DLR) and Professor Wolfgang Koschel, director of Space Propulsion of the DLR, have signed an agreement to collaborate on test systems for liquid-propellant rocket engines. Also attending the signing ceremony were Jean-Paul Béchat, Chairman and CEO of the Snecma group, and Sigmar Wittig, Chairman and CEO of the DLR. This agreement is designed to further strengthen the collaboration between the two partners, starting some 30 years ago, with a focus on testing of liquid rocket engines for the Ariane 5 launcher. It will facilitate information flows, harmonize test resources and procedures, and further cement the relationship between teams. By strengthening their partnership, the DLR and Snecma Moteurs will help reduce development and production costs for Ariane propulsion systems. The DLR's test rigs in Lampoldshausen and The Snecma Moteurs' test rigs in Vernon play a fundamental role in the development and ongoing support of the Ariane launcher.
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A milestone will be marked in space Tuesday, the 1,000th consecutive day of people living and working aboard the International Space Station. Seven crews have lived on the Space Station, as it has dramatically grown in size and capabilities. Since the first crew arrived Nov. 2, 2000, the Station has grown into an unparalleled space laboratory whose size will eventually more than double. The living and working area has increased 6,000 cubic feet during the past 1,000 days. The Station's 15,000 cubic feet volume is larger than a three-bedroom house. The seven Expedition crews, 10 Americans and 10 Russians, have conducted 12 spacewalks from the Station, welcomed 11 visiting Shuttles, 10 Russian Progress cargo vehicles and four Soyuz taxi crews. Additions to the Station include solar arrays of unprecedented size; the first space railway, stretching more than 130 feet; and a science facility, more sophisticated than any ever previously flown in space, the U.S. Destiny Lab. Canada provided a new generation of space robotics with the unmatched capabilities of the Canadarm2. Dual Russian and U.S. airlocks are functional and support spacewalks.
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Capitalizing on the current co-operation within airborne reconnaissance activities, Thales Optronics and Zeiss Optronik have agreed to expand their co-operation in the UAV optronic sub-systems. The two companies signed a mutual agreement on the 19th of June during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in order to meet surveillance mission requirements in the future European market. Zeiss Optronik and Thales aim to develop their collaboration in order to provide high performance value optical sensors in the framework of “High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle” programs (HALE UAV) to be launched by the French and the German MOD within the next ten years. This agreement includes studies, technical demonstrations, developments and mass production programs, dedicated both to ISTAR missions (Intelligence, Surveillance and Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance) and strategic assessment capability. Already privileged partners within the French Recce NG Programme, Thales and Zeiss Optronik will highlight their capability to re-use and integrate their common IMINT optronic sub-systems onboard HALE surveillance platforms. As a major asset the future IMINT HALE program is the first goal in establishing an independent European position. This program is dedicated to achieving the real time surveillance tasks in Europe with a high capability of deployment worldwide while meeting the allied NATO interoperability requirements.
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Northrop Grumman Corporation and BAE SYSTEMS announced they have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on developing missile defense solutions, focusing specifically in the area of modeling and simulation. This announcement follows the signing of a framework MOU on June 12, 2003, between the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.K. Ministry of Defence to develop bilateral cooperation on missile defense. The first immediate result of that accord was the July 18, 2003, launch of the U.K. Missile Defence Centre (MDC), a joint U.K. government and industry initiative set up as a focus for U.K./U.S. cooperation on missile defense. The two companies will establish a business-to-business framework for interaction between the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Joint National Integration Center, for which Northrop Grumman is the prime, and with the BAE SYSTEMS Battlespace Management Evaluation Centre (BMEC) facility. The BMEC facility is to be used within the MDC to evaluate, among other things, options for defending the U.K. This framework can be used at the discretion of both countries to immediately move out on missile defense wargaming activities.
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The European Commission has approved under the Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of sole control over the German manufacturer of electronic fire control systems STN Atlas by Rheinmetall, a German producer of military equipment. This merger does not raise any competition concerns on any of the markets considered. The Commission has examined the question whether the strengthening of the links between Rheinmetall as a producer of armoured vehicles and STN Atlas as a producer of fire control systems could lead to competitive concerns, especially on the German market. It has come to the conclusion that such a risk does not exist, due mainly to three reasons:
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Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel and Eutelsat S.A., one of the world's leading satellite operators, today announced the signature of a contract for the construction of the HOT BIRDTM 7A communications satellite. The order for this new satellite follows the loss of HOT BIRDTM 7 during launch last December. In addition to the original specifications, HOT BIRDTM 7A's mission has been expanded to provide additional back-up and replacement capacity at Eutelsat's key orbital slot, 13 degrees East, the world's leading neighbourhood for satellite television broadcasting. This expanded mission has led to the choice of a larger, more flexible satellite platform than for the original version. HOT BIRDTM 7A will be based on Alcatel Space's Spacebus 3000 B3 platform. Launch is planned for the autumn of 2005, when the new satellite will join Eutelsat's HOT BIRD family of satellites colocated at the 13 degree East slot, currently broadcasting 676 video channels and 565 audio channels. Equipped with 38 Ku-band transponders of 33 MHz minimum each (end of life), HOT BIRDTM 7A will replace HOT BIRD 1. The other 20 transponders will be available for potential back-up and replacement capacity for the HOT BIRD 2, 3 and 4 satellites. HOT BIRD 7A has a design life of 15 years.
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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has awarded a contract to a Boeing-led team to study deep space propulsion systems for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than 2011. JIMO would be the first space science mission in NASA's Project Prometheus, a part of the space agency's initiative to develop space nuclear power and electric propulsion technologies to revolutionize space exploration. The contract, valued at $6 million with a $5 million option for further research, is one of three awarded and runs through fall 2003. The Boeing-led team will study technology options for the reactor, power conversion, electric propulsion and other subsystems of the JIMO spacecraft meant to explore the Jovian moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. NASA plans to select an industry prime contractor in fall 2004 to work with JPL to develop, launch and operate the spacecraft.
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Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliner to the ANA (All Nippon Airways) Group of Tokyo, Japan. The carrier placed firm orders for four 74-seat Q400 aircraft in October 2002. The ANA Group's Q400 aircraft will be operated by subsidiary Air Nippon Network Co. Ltd. They will be based at Osaka's Itami airport and initially fly between Osaka and Kochi, a distance of 115 nm (213 km). Eight Japanese airlines have placed firm orders for 29 Bombardier regional aircraft, including 21 Q Series turboprops of all four models and eight CRJ200 regional jets. The ANA Group accounts for nine of the 29 aircraft ordered.
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The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) began Initial Operational Assessment (IOA) of the T-50, with the first flights on July 28. The T-50 is being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), with the assistance of Lockheed Martin. The T-50 IOA is the last of three key prerequisites for the Initial Production Authorization decision by the government of the Republic of Korea, expected later this year. The other prerequisites are the first 105 flights of developmental flight testing and the initial Integrated Logistics Assessment, both of which have been successfully completed recently. IOA is similar to Initial Operational Test and Evaluation flying performed in the United States and is used to perform an early evaluation of operational suitability to support an initial production decision. "This is an important event in the life of the program," said Col. Lee, Hee Woo, director of Development Management of ROKAF. "We have flown the aircraft enough to know we have a solid, reliable aircraft. Now, we are ready to evaluate how well the aircraft will perform operationally as a fast jet trainer."
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The Columbia Accident Investigation Board issued its fifth preliminary finding and recommendation to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in advance of its appearance in the final report. Recommendation Five: Provide a capability to obtain and downlink high-resolution images of the External Tank (ET) after ET separation. Modifying one of the two umbilical cameras to meet this requirement is acceptable , provide a capability to obtain and downlink high-resolution images of the underside of the orbiter leading edge system and forward section of both wings' Thermal Protection System (TPS). Facts: Imaging the Space Shuttle System during launch and ascent provides necessary engineering data including the ability to examine the Space Shuttle System for any unexpected debris or other anomalies during ascent; the Shuttle has two on-board cameras that image the ET after separation, but the images from these cameras are available only post-flight; Very little engineering quality, on-board imaging of the ET was available for STS-107. Findings: There is a requirement to obtain and downlink on-board engineering quality imaging from the vehicle during launch and ascent.
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Greece has joined the world's list of countries with an immediate interest in space with the launch of its first telecommunications satellite, Hellas Sat 2. The project was a joint initiative between Greece and Cyprus, and constitutes one of the most advanced telecommunications satellites. The Eurostar E2000+ model was built by the French company Astrium, and will provide broadcast services such as satellite Internet, voice and video services, digital satellite television broadcasting and interactive services. In a joint statement, Greek Minister for Transport and Communications, Christos Verelis, and Cypriot Minister for Communications and Works, Kikis Kazamias, outlined the importance of the project for Greece, Cyprus, and the rest of Europe: 'The launching of Hellas Sat signals a new era for Greece and Cyprus in the telecommunications sector [...]. The political and economic significance is evident for both countries. Hellas Sat, whose launching coincides with Cyprus becoming a member of the EU, will cover the telecommunication needs of Greece, Cyprus and 25 other countries of the region.'
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Saab Ericsson Space has been working for ESA for several years to develop the signal-generating equipment in Galileo, Europe's civil equivalent of the USA's military GPS system. The company has now also been entrusted to supply signal generators for the experimental satellite. Saab Ericsson Space and our industrial partners have all the expertise required for the project, and we also have the time advantage that is needed to meet the extremely tough schedule, says Rolf Kallander, project manager at Saab Ericsson Space.
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the GE90-115B, the world's most powerful jet engine, at an unprecedented 115,000 pounds of thrust. The certification marks the end of a 20-month certification program for the engine, which is scheduled to enter airline service in n 2004. The GE90-115B is the power plant for Boeing's new longer-range 777-300ER and -200LR aircraft. Airlines and leasing companies have ordered a total of 66 longer-range 777s powered by the GE90-115B, with the engine orders valued at more than $2.5 billion. Since February, Boeing has been flight testing the 777-300ER, powered by the GE90-115B, and expects to achieve FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities certification for this engine/airplane combination in December 2003.
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Lockheed Martin has delivered the first advanced Integrated Core Processor (ICP) modules for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter under a $300 million System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract. The initial prototype modules -- delivered two months ahead of schedule -- will be used by aircraft mission planners for software development and design verification. Employing advanced bus structures and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, the ICP is a liquid-cooled, ruggedized military computer capable of performing 40 billion sustained operations per second. Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems was awarded the ICP contract as part of the initial F-35 JSF award to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
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EADS EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH) has been selected by Airbus for the development, manufacture and support of Lower Deck Cargo Lining on the A380 aircraft (passenger and freighter version). The production at EFW will start within a few months. In January 2003, Airbus has already selected EFW as supplier for the production of A380 passenger floor panels. The delivery of the first floor panels will take place in November of this year. “We are proud that Airbus renewed its confidence in our products and selected EFW again as partner for the A380 program”, said Horst Emker, President & CEO of EADS EFW.
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The budget committee of the German Bundestag has approved the engine modernization program for the CH-53 medium transport helicopter. The members of the budget committee agreed 24 July 2003 to approve funds to modify the engines. This allows the procurement contract to be awarded for a maximum value of 26.9 million euros, covering 46 modification sets for part of the T-64-7 engines that have been in service for 30 years. The modification became necessary because most of the engines do not provide nominal performance because of their age and wear. By exchanging engine parts, the original performance specifications and the full efficiency of the helicopter for the certified flight profiles will be attained, even under difficult climatic and geographical conditions.
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Lockheed Martin has completed an Integrated Technology Demonstration (ITD) under the $20 million U.S. Navy Component Advanced Development (CAD) Phase II contract of the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program. The ITD was held at Lockheed Martin facilities in Colorado and Minnesota. The demonstrations focused on advanced systems for the aircraft, including risk reduction to the MMA program. Lockheed Martin demonstrated capabilities in open architecture and virtual prototyping, critical software and hardware, human-machine interface, multi-source integration and data fusion solutions.
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Lockheed Martin has been awarded $9.4 million to enter the second phase of a development agreement by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Army for the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) program. The award will fund the preliminary design phase of the unmanned air vehicle program. The goal of the joint DARPA-Army program is to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility and operational value for a UCAR system to perform armed reconnaissance and attack missions within the emerging Army Objective Force system-of-systems architecture. Lockheed Martin was the prime contractor for one of the four teams selected to complete the initial 12-month concept development and trade study phase beginning in May 2002. Two of the original four teams were awarded contracts to enter Phase II to complete a preliminary design of a demonstration system.
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Almost 22.5 million passengers traveled through Fraport AG's homebase Frankfurt Airport (FRA) during the first six months of 2003, only a 2.1-percent decline over the same period in 2002. The weak global economy, the Iraq war and the SARS infectious disease were the main reasons for this drop. In contrast, FRA's airfreight tonnage grew during the first six months of 2003 - almost 798,600 metric tons of air cargo and airmail were handled or 2.2 percent more than last year. The number of aircraft movements also increased by 1.4 percent to over 225,600 take-offs and landings. Groupwide (the Fraport Group comprises six airports: Frankfurt/Main (Germany), Antalya (Turkey), Frankfurt-Hahn (Germany), Hanover (Germany), Lima (Peru) and Saarbrücken (Germany), Fraport AG welcomed almost 30.9 million passengers. Despite a difficult market environment this represents only a minor drop in passengers of 1.6 percent. A total of some 937,500 metric tons of air cargo and airmail was handled at the Group's airports during the first six months of 2003, a 3.6-percent increase over the corresponding months in 2002. Aircraft movements declined by 0.2 percent to 342,800 take-offs and landings.
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The heads of the world's space agencies have declared their continuing support for the international space station (ISS) despite the recent problems following the loss of the Colombia space shuttle in February. The grounding of the US space shuttle fleet has led to delays, burdens and logistical problems, although cooperation between space faring nations has reduced the impact of the US grounding. Russia is now the only nation capable of accessing the ISS, and happily came to the rescue in terms of relieving the astronauts who were on board the ISS at the time of the Colombia disaster. The two Americans and one Russian had been in space for five and a half months. “Sometimes a partner has to take more responsibility,” said Yuri Koptev, Director of the Russian Aerospace Agency. “When such big projects are involved, there is no other way to do it.” This solidarity was echoed by Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director the European Space Agency (ESA). “The Columbia tragedy is not just NASA's tragedy - it's our tragedy,” he said. The heads of the European, US, Canadian, Japanese and Russian space agencies also agreed that any decisions regarding the future construction of the ISS must wait until the US shuttles are once again operational. NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe believes that this will happen in the first quarter of 2004.
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The world freighter airplane fleet will increase by twofold during the next 20 years, from 1,752 to 3,501 airplanes, The Boeing Company has revealed in its latest market forecast. According to the Current Market Outlook 2003, produced annually by Boeing Commercial Airplanes and recently released at the Paris Air Show, 2,976 freighters will enter the fleet by 2022 and 1,227 cargo airplanes will be retired, for a net gain of 1,749 airplanes. Freighters as a percentage of the total world airplane fleet will decrease from 11 percent to 10 percent, due to an increase in size of the average freighter. The share of wide body freighters is expected to increase to 56 percent of the fleet, compared to 41 percent currently. More than half of the freighters that will be added to the fleet will be wide body airplanes. By 2022, 761 new production freighters will enter the fleet, with the remainder - approximately 75 percent of the total growth - being conversions from passenger and combi airplanes. Nearly half of these airplanes will be in the large freighter category (greater than 65 tons).
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New Piper Aircraft announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded the company with the Type Certificate for the Piper 6X. The TC was issued just six months after project launch. “People said it couldn't be done in that short a time,” said New Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma, “but we focused our attention on teamwork and took advantage of our team's experience and the excellent coordination and working relationship we have with the FAA to deliver the seemingly impossible.” The Piper 6X is a normally aspirated, fixed-gear version of the popular six-place Saratoga II aircraft. The Piper 6XT – which is on track to be certified shortly – is its turbocharged equivalent. Both aircraft represent excellent value and top-notch performance at an extremely competitive price.
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