FLUG REVUE update: Week ending September 28, 2003

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UPDATE
Week ending 28 September 2003

+++ SWISS goes for BA cooperation +++ Sikorsky UH-60M flies +++ P&W / MTU in joint research +++ 300th EC 135 handed over +++ News in brief ++

SWISS goes for BA cooperation
Rettung der SWISS durch BA-Allianz?

British Airways and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have signed a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the principal terms under which the two airlines envisage entering into a commercial agreement. British Airways and SWISS plan joint operations between the UK and Switzerland with codesharing on Heathrow Swiss routes from October 26th that will give customers convenient access to worldwide destinations via London and Zurich. The Swiss TravelClub, SWISS's current frequent flyer programme, will be gradually integrated into British Airways' Executive Club. Miles already earned with SWISS will retain their current validity. In addition, BA will enter into a slot exchange agreement for eight Heathrow daily slot pairs from SWISS. British Airways will support a CHF 50 million credit facility for SWISS, to be secured against slots at London Heathrow.
SWISS will also enter the oneworld alliance, of which British Airways is a founder member. This will provide the grouping with an additional high-quality carrier and an important additional hub in central Europe, serving one of the world's most important financial centers and providing customers with greater choice of destination, airline and global alliance. André Dosé, Chief Executive Officer of SWISS said: “We are proud to be a member of oneworld, one of the world's leading airline alliance. SWISS as well as oneworld clients will benefit from the enhanced network and the joint frequent flyer programs.”
SWISS becomes the ninth member of the oneworld partnership, joining reputed carriers American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LanChile, Finnair and Aer Lingus. SWISS's customers will benefit from new connections and more frequencies: oneworld operates over 8 600 flights a day to more than 570 destinations in 136 countries. SWISS customers can earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on all oneworld services. They will also enjoy access to the 380 airport lounges on all six continents provided by oneworld's members.
The membership of oneworld and the alliance with British Airways will enhance SWISS's business prospects and perspectives in a number of key respects. This in turn will put the current SWISS business plan on an even firmer foundation. While oneworld membership marks a key strategic milestone for the company, SWISS will continue its current programme towards sounder business health. These efforts will focus in particular on bringing cost down to (and maintaining them at) highly competitive levels. SWISS has already introduced a number of cost-cutting measures over the past few months. The implementation of the new business plan is well on track: Some 80 per cent of the company's “Foundation for Winning” restructuring programme has already been put into effect. SWISS expects the programme to generate total bottom-line improvements of CHF 1.6 billion a year. The SWISS network and fleet have been resized, with capacity lowered by 35 per cent and fleet size reduced from 137 to 79 aircraft. The associated workforce downsizing will be completed by the end of the year.
SWISS has been conducting intensive and constructive discussions with the major banks and a number of its main shareholders (including the Swiss Confederation) over the last few days. These discussions have centred on SWISS's desire to secure sufficient liquidity reserves to cushion the company against the impact of any unforeseen events. In the course of these consultations, UBS and Credit Suisse have had the opportunity to examine the business plan presented by SWISS and the collateral which the company would be able to offer. On the strength of their current findings, both banks see possibilities of financing part of the liquidity reserves desired on terms which are customary for such activities within the banking sector. They would be prepared, subject to certain conditions, to jointly assume a certain amount thereof against securities. SWISS is also in discussion with further possible sources of the credit facilities it requires, including certain major shareholders. In addition to this, British Airways, its new alliance partner, has agreed to provide a guarantee for CHF 50 million, secured against slots at London Heathrow. The Swiss Confederation is also considering possible means of enhancing certain framework conditions.

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Sikorsky UH-60M flies
Erstflug des Transporthubschraubers UH-60M

Sikorsky Aircraft's UH-60M BLACK HAWK #1 took to the Florida skies on September 17th, completing a flawless first flight and ushering in a new era in U.S. Army aviation. The aircraft is designed to replace the UH-60L as the standard configuration for all new Army Black Hawk production in 2007. Black Hawk pilots Kevin Bredenbeck and Chris Geanacopoulos guided the helicopter through a 75-minute flight over the Sikorsky Flight Development Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, performing all normal shakedown maneuvers for the new systems and instrumentation equipment aboard the upgraded UH-60M. The aircraft met all objectives of the aggressive flight test development schedule, achieving forward flight out to 120 knots and successfully executing 45-degree turns. "This is a triumphant and historic day for both Sikorsky and the U.S. Army," said company President Steve Finger. "Years of work have culminated in the UH-60M, offering more power, maneuverability, and survivability than ever before."
Aircraft #1, originally a UH-60A model, is the test vehicle for airframe issues such as performance and handling. Extensive flight testing will be required because the UH-60M incorporates new GE T700-701D engines, wide chord rotor blades, a new stabilator system and many other changes in various gyros and accelerometers. Also slated for upcoming flight tests is UH-60M #2, a former UH-60L, which will serve as the avionics test aircraft. Flight testing will focus on the glass cockpit displays, the Embedded GPS Inertial (EGI) navigation system and the 4-axis fully-coupled autopilot. There are presently four Black Hawks in the development program?a UH-60A, UH-60L, and a UH-60Q medevac variant as well as a new production UH-60M. After completion of the first four aircraft, work on the low rate initial production UH-60M aircraft will begin in 2004 and will eventually increase to a maximum of 90 existing aircraft inducted per year by 2012.
The U.S. Army's aviation modernization plan calls for improvements to the UH-60 BLACK HAWK that will position it as the service's primary utility helicopter for decades to come. The Army could decide to upgrade up to 1,200 existing UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft and purchase 300 new production BLACK HAWKs that together will provide greater capabilities, a larger payload and lower maintenance costs than current UH-60A and UH-60L models. The overhaul is expected to span 25 years.

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P&W / MTU in joint research
Brennkammer mit niedrigen Abgaswerten

Pratt & Whitney and MTU have begun development testing of a new, low-emissions combustor for new-generation commercial aircraft engines in the Joint Technology Demonstrator Program (JTDP). The goal for Pratt & Whitney's TALON III (Technology for Advanced Low NOx) combustor, the engine component where fuel and air are mixed and burned, is to reduce the emissions of nitric oxides (NOx) 15 percent from the proven TALON II low NOx combustor in current production engines. The goal was achieved in the initial tests, and the combustor also showed very low smoke levels.
TALON technology, developed in conjunction with the NASA Glenn Research Center, does not rely on complex mechanical devices. It provides the best possible mixing of air and fuel to achieve efficient combustion and then cools the hot gases quickly to lower NOx emissions. The TALON III technology, once fully demonstrated, can be applied to new-generation engines such as the PWEXX engine for Boeing's 7E7 Dreamliner.
The JTDP is an advanced technology program partnership between P&W and MTU that uses a PW6000 development engine as a base configuration to demonstrate advanced features that could be used in future commercial engines or to upgrade existing engines. This approach allows Pratt to thoroughly prove out new technology in an actual engine environment before it is incorporated into production. The JTDP has already successfully tested the new Pratt & Whitney PW6000's high-pressure compressor designed by MTU. An even more advanced version of TALON technology will be tested in the JTDP in 2005 with the goal of reducing NOx by an additional 5 percent.

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300th EC 135 handed over
Eurocopter liefert 300. EC 135

Eurocopter, the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, has just handed over Serial Number 300 from its successful EC 135 light twin helicopter line to its UK dealer, McAlpine Helicopters Ltd. in Oxford. The aircraft is destined for the North Midlands Police, after completion and customization by the British company. Number 300 is the 26th EC 135 to enter service in the UK, making it the best-selling new-generation light twin in this challenging market.
The “jubilee helicopter”, EC 135 Number 300, was consciously dedicated to Eurocopter's international network and the UK market, which accounts for a large share of the aircraft's commercial success. Eurocopter intends to involve its international network even more strongly in the customization of aircraft in the future, with industrial presence in its major export regions being one of the key factors to long-term market commitment Besides McAlpine in the UK, the facilities chosen for higher shares of EC 135 completion work at present are American Eurocopter in the United States, Eurocopter Espana in Spain and Eurocopter Romania. The latter is aimed at opening a strategic central market in Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, the Czech Ministry of the Interior through Omnipol A.S.A. placed an order for eight EC 135 light twin helicopters to equip its Police Aviation Dept. The aircraft will be delivered between 2003 early 2008. Contract value is 36 million euros. The Czech Police will use its EC 135s for emergency medical service, surveillance, anti-terrorism and missions. These aircraft will be equipped with Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 engines. With this new order, Eurocopter becomes fleet leader with Czech Police Aviation Dept, which currently operates five Bell 412 and two BO 105. To date, more than 330 EC 135s have been sold to some 103 customers in 28 countries, proving that the machine's quality standards have been recognized on an international level.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Dr. Matthias Oehm has been named the new CEO of Eurockot Launch Services GmbH of Bremen, Germany. The 55-year-old lawyer had previously held the position of Contracts and Finance Director at Eurockot since 1995 when the company was founded. The former CEO of Eurockot, Mr. G. Stamerjohanns, was recently named the General Manager and future CEO of the new Galileo Industries enterprise. Eurockot Launch Services is the joint venture of EADS SPACE Transportation (51%) and Khrunichev Space Center (49%) and provides commercial low earth orbit launch services using the Russian Rockot launch vehicle. Rockot represents the small launcher within the EADS launcher family that also comprises Ariane 5 and Soyuz.
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The framework agreement between the European Union and the European Space Agency came one step closer on 22 September when the EU's Competitiveness Council reached a political consensus on signing a draft version agreed by ESA and the Commission. The agreement will contribute towards the development of an overall European space policy and the subsequent securing of Europe's independent and cost-effective access to space. A compromise text, prepared by the Italian Presidency, was adopted unanimously after it was made clear that operational arrangements for the effective cooperation between the EU and ESA will not interfere with existing institutional settings and frameworks. The Council's political agreement follows an earlier resolution emphasising 'the need for concluding the framework agreement between the Community and ESA as soon as possible and no later than the end of 2003, in view of the White Paper, as a step towards the development of an overall space policy.'
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With the development of a high-precision control system for energy transmission by means of lasers, EADS Space Transportation has achieved a first milestone in the field of future solar power supply directly from space. The algorithm specifically developed for this purpose will allow for the first time to precisely transmit energy and data onto an object, according to EADS Space Transportation during a press conference held in Bremen. Using ground simulation facilities, engineers and researchers were able to furnish evidence that thanks to the new technology energy-transmitting laser and receiver - in this case a moving micro-rover, which in a larger version is also intended for use on future space missions - can automatically and exactly keep contact with each other. Frank Steinsiek, manager in charge of the Solar Power Infrastructure (SPI) project: “This will not only allow accurate energy transmission to the receiver on Earth by means of free-flying orbital structures. Laser transmission will also enable us to supply manned and unmanned missions with power in those areas in space where solar cells do not produce and supply energy. We are opening up a huge potential for space flight and life on Earth alike.”
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Low-cost carrier easyJet received its first Airbus A319. It is the first aircraft from a 120 unit order placed the carrier at the end of last year. easyJet will receive five A319s this year, all of which will be based at its subsidiary easyJet Switzerland in Geneva. The remaining aircraft will be delivered to the UK carrier by the end of 2007. All aircraft will be powered by CFM-56-5B engines from CFM international. The A319 is a member of Airbus' single-aisle Family, comprising the A318, A319, A320 and A321 and has a seat capacity between 107 and 220 seats. It is the fastest selling aircraft family with nearly 3,100 sold so far.
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NASA's Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program is one step closer to becoming the nation's next space vehicle with the successful completion of its Systems Requirements Review. The review evaluated the vehicle's concept design for providing crew rescue and transfer for the International Space Station. The NASA-led review evaluated contractor designs based on the primary design criteria, or Level 1 requirements, set by the agency in February. The contractor teams designing the OSP, The Boeing Company, Seal Beach, Calif.; Lockheed Martin, Denver; and a team including Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, Va., and Northrop Grumman, El Segundo, Calif., have been working to develop system specifications, including systems analysis, trade studies, and concept feasibility in preparation for the review. The System Requirements Review includes analysis of requirements and supporting technical documentation to ensure the system is safe, reliable, maintainable and affordable. It is one in a series of reviews that occurs before the Orbital Space Plane system is built.
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In the forthcoming winter timetable, Lufthansa is offering flights to 160 destinations in 72 countries. Come October 26, a Lufthansa aircraft will be taking to the skies 1,550 times daily, or more than 10,800 times weekly, in a network spanning the globe. Compared with the previous year's winter flights schedules, moderate growth is in the offing in Lufthansa's European and intercontinental services. "The serious crisis besetting the industry has certainly bottomed out. Air traffic is slowly but surely picking up again. Lufthansa will harness the trend to further expand its leading position in the airline business," said Ralf Teckentrup, Executive Vice President Network Management, IT and Purchasing. "Measured and circumspect growth is our maxim," he added, "we still have 66 aircraft idle on the ground. We will naturally exploit every opportunity but avoid any excess capacity." In intercontinental traffic ex Frankfurt, air travellers to South America especially will profit from attractive timetable newcomers: From 8 December, Lufthansa is again laying on a daily flight to Rio de Janeiro. The route from Frankfurt through Sao Paulo to the city backed by the Sugar Loaf Mountain will be operated by a Boeing 747. Lufthansa had to discontinue its non-stop flights ex Frankfurt to Rio on economic grounds two years ago. Flights to the Brazilian east coast will be on offer initially for the duration of the winter timetable up to the end of March 2004. More frequencies will also be available from Frankfurt to Sao Paulo: Instead of the previous seven flights weekly, Lufthansa is offering ten weekly initially up to mid-December. The winter flight schedules also feature more Lufthansa flights to the Middle East: Instead of two flights weekly, passengers travelling to Kuwait will have choice of five - two flights via Cairo, the other three direct from Frankfurt to Kuwait.
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Offshore transportation giant CHC Helicopter Corporation announced that it will add four Sikorsky Aircraft S-76C+ helicopters to its current 21-country, 300-machine fleet, furthering the renaissance of the S-76 in the commercial marketplace. “We transported 1.8 million men and women more than 12 million miles last year,” said Sylvain Allard, CHC President. “The safety heritage and the performance record of the S-76C+ make us proud to call it the latest addition to our global fleet.” Sales of Sikorsky's innovative S-76C+ have reached a twenty-year high as offshore oil operators continue to populate their fleets with the admired helicopter. Since December 2002, Sikorsky has received contracts for 36 S-76 aircraft, with options for an additional 30 over five years.
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Schweizer Aircraft Corp. recently delivered a 333 turbine helicopter to CSE Oxford, Schweizer's UK Distributor. CSE's 333, which is outfitted with a deluxe interior and a crisp paint job will be on display near the CSE chalet, number 12, at Helitech in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK September 23-25. The helicopter will also be available for demonstration flights. Paul Schweizer said, “We are excited about this long overdue delivery of a 333 to the UK. CSE's position in the UK helicopter market will provide the 333 with the high level of visibility it deserves. I am sure customers who fly the helicopter will be impressed with its performance, flight handling characteristics and comfort.”
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AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica and GKN Company, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed the license and purchase agreement to produce and support the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) EH101s. The EH101 will meet the Navy 's Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM) and Antarctic Survey transport requirements. EH101 was selected after a competition which started with Sikorsky's S-92 as a contender. Fourteen utility, RTM322 powered, rear-ramped variants of the EH101 have been ordered to replace the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force's (JMSDF) long-serving fleet of Sikorsky MH-53Es and S-61s. Kawasaki Heavy Industries will establish manufacturing and test flight facility and extensive support facilities in Japan to reduce maintenance costs still further, whilst providing JMSDF with the other benefits of a local support service.
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Raytheon has been selected to develop the next-generation militarized GPS system with anti-jam and stealth capabilities for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The JSF Digital Anti-jam Receiver (DAR) will provide unprecedented accuracy supporting the precision strike mission capability of the multi-role, stealthy strike fighter aircraft. Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business was awarded an initial $25.8 million subcontract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, which is responsible for mission systems integration of the GPS sensor on the F-35 JSF team. The potential value of the work is $125 million to provide DAR systems through SDD and production.
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Even before it started, Helitech 2003 was a success for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI). Just prior to the show's opening day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henk Schaeken announced three new helicopter orders. MDHI also announced that it delivered a third MD Explorer last week to AeroCare of Lubbock, Texas, for emergency medical service. The new orders include: The Luxembourg National Police has ordered a twin-engine MD Explorer. The aircraft, slated for delivery in the second quarter of 2004, will complement the fleet of MD Explorers operated by the internationally renowned Luxembourg Air Rescue. The sale is being made through Helifly, MDHI's long-time distributor in Belgium. MDHI distributor Fuchs Helikopter has ordered one MD 600N. The single-engine helicopter will be delivered before year-end to a health spa operating in Switzerland.
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Ryanair has started services from Baden-Airpark in southern Germany. The connection to London-Stansted replaces the previous flights from nearby Straßburg as French courts have blocked subsidies by local authorities to Ryanair.
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Aeroflot is expanding its operations at Hahn airport in Germany. From October, two more DC-10 freighters will double the fleet stationed at the cargo facility. They will boost capacity and frequency on existing routes but will also add new destinations in the Asian direction.
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Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, the largest helicopter operator of the US State of Hawaii, who in February 2001 was the launch customer for the EC 130 B4, has clocked up a remarkable 3,000 flight hours with one of its EC 130s.The achievement is based on a stunning 1,400 flight hours flown per year! With an availability rate of 95 per cent, the aircraft provides excellent service. Blue Hawaiian has accumulated over 11,500 hours on its current fleet of EC 130s. Operating out of three bases, one on Maui and two on the Big Island of Hawaii, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters operates 16 aircraft - nine state-of-the-art single-engine AS 350 Ecureuils and seven EC 130 B4.
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Rockwell Collins has been selected to join the Boeing team in the development of the Family of Advanced Beyond-Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) for the U.S. Air Force. Boeing is the prime contractor for a six-year, $273 million contract to design and develop the first increment of wideband satellite communications terminals for a transformational Department of Defense initiative known as FAB-T. FAB-T will upgrade existing satellite communications for advanced extremely high frequency (AEHF) modes, meeting the government's next-generation satellite communications requirements. The upgrade allows for increased data capacity and a much faster data transfer rate between airborne platforms and ground command posts. The family of terminals will be used with the Milstar satellite constellation, currently being upgraded by the military, to ensure protected, survivable, worldwide communications.
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German Secretary of Defense Dr. Peter Struck and his Polish colleague Jerzy Andrzej Szmajdzinski attended the ceremony marking the hand-over of the first German air force MiG-29 fighters by the Inspector of the Air Force to the commander in chief of Polish air forces. The lease of the aircraft is a further example of the close co-operation of Germany and Poland, in particular in the area of security and defense policy. With the 23 aircraft, the Polish armed forces can cover their short-term need for a new combat aircraft, and move a step closer towards integration into NATO's integrated air defense. The symbolic hand-over at Laage air force base of a log book and of the first five aircraft marks the beginning of the delivery process for a total of 23 MiG-29s to the Polish air force. The remaining aircraft will follow until mid-2004.
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Germanwings has announced that it will shift its Berlin operations from Tegel to Schönefeld with the start of the winter season. Flights will start to Cologne and Stuttgart. One of the reasons cited for the change is that Schönefeld is much less crowded and will allow consistently quick turnarounds. The airport on the souhern outskirts of Berlin is not very poular however.
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Turbomeca has announced that the Makila engine, in operation since 1980 and of which 1,650 units have been manufactured, has more than 5 million flight hours to its name. The Makila, which operates in more than 40 countries, already powers Eurocopter's Super Puma, Cougar and EC 725-225 twin-engine helicopters as well as Denel Aviation's combat helicopter Rooivalk. It is also planned to re-engine Eurocopter's Puma helicopter. The latest version, Makila 2, should receive the European certification EASA in March 2004. Currently, the Makila 2 powers Eurocopter's EC 725 military helicopter. Later, it will also power Eurocopter's civilian helicopter, the EC 225. The EC 725's first flight took place in November 2000. The first of the four EC 725 helicopters ordered by the French air forces has completed its first flight.
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The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has ordered an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) for the transport of senior government officials, becoming a new customer for the type – as well as the first client for it in the Asia-Pacific region. The order highlights the increasing success of the Airbus ACJ in this role – since it is already in widespread service with the governments of France, Italy, Qatar, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, it is also a favorite amongst private owners and executive airlines. Delivery of the RTAF's Airbus ACJ, which is powered by CFM International CFM56-5B7/P engines, is planned for July 2004.
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Congress should not tamper with a cost-saving and sensible plan to cut 33 B-1 Bombers from the Air Force's inventory, POGO's Executive Director Danielle Brian said. The B-1, a Cold War era bomber originally designed to carry a nuclear payload, has been plagued with serious spare parts shortages, less-than-satisfactory mission readiness rates, and excessive maintenance costs. In addition, its eyes and ears, or avionics, have never worked. Now, South Dakota Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson are attempting to stop reduction of the B-1 fleet at 83 aircraft -- rather than allowing the fleet to shrink to 60 aircraft to Senator Daschle's press release. A total of 26 B-1 bombers are currently based at Ellsworth Air Force base in South Dakota, according to a recent GAO report.
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South African defense manufacturer Denel has secured two contracts from BAE Systems-Saab worth US$ 10.5-million (currently approximately R80-million) to produce advanced tracking helmet systems for NATO's newest aircraft, the Eurofighter-Typhoon, and for components for the Gripen helmet display system. The contracts arise directly from Saab and BAE Systems' industrial participation obligations linked to South Africa's Gripen and Hawk procurement. “Our industrial participation obligation oblige us to look at what we can source from South Africa's defense industry, but it was the quality and advanced design and engineering we found at Denel that convinced us that these helmets meet and even exceed the standards required on Gripen and also on Eurofighter-Typhoon,” said Saab Senior Vice President, South Africa, Kjell Möller. Saab is building the Gripen for the SA Air Force. Besides South Africa, Hungary has also ordered Gripen and the aircraft is under consideration in Brazil and the Czech Republic. Under the agreement announced at Denel's Centurion facility, the company will design and develop its state-of-the-art helmet tracking system for installation on the Eurofighter-Typhoon. It will also develop an Electronics Unit for the Display Helmet System for the export variants of the Gripen.
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Northrop Grumman Corporation has selected Stork Aerospace to develop and produce various In-flight Opening Doors for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The work represents a value of $ 55 million. Stork was selected by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, a principle teammate on the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter team, for work during the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase extending through 2007. The Dutch government has invested $800 million in the program.
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The “Direccion General de Trafico” of the Spanish Ministry of Interior has signed a contract for 4 AS 355N Ecureuil and 2 EC120B Colibris for delivery between 2003 and 2006. Contract value is 12 million euros. Operating out of six bases, the six new helicopters will be used for traffic surveillance and traffic flow control.
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Air Moldova has integrated its first Airbus aircraft into its fleet, a single-aisle A320, joining some 200 operators of Airbus aircraft worldwide. The Moldavian flag carrier, the fifth airline to select the A320 in the CIS, plans to receive a second aircraft of this type next year. Both aircraft will be operated under an operational lease agreement. Air Moldova's A320 offers a spacious, comfortable and flexible two class layout, which can accommodate up to 144 passengers. The cabin features two rows of fixed business class seats (eight seats), five rows of convertible seats (20 seats business or 30 seats economy) and 106 fixed economy seats.
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The U.S. Government has granted final approval for the sale of four CFM56-7-powered Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Government of Turkey. The engine order is valued at approximately $40 million and the first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2006. CFM56-7 engines are produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric Company. The AEW&C, which Turkey has dubbed “Peace Eagle”, is a derivative of the 737-700 IGW (increased gross weight) aircraft commercially available as the Boeing Business Jet. This platform is designed to operate at heavier weights to carry more fuel for greater range. The CFM56-7 engine is rated at 27,300 pounds takeoff thrust for this application. The “green” aircraft was certified earlier this year in preparation for installation of radar and other electronic hardware. Flight tests are scheduled for late 2003.
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Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)'s Bedek Aviation Group has announced that it will be proceeding with a cargo conversion program for Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The decision to proceed with this program was reached after an extensive Bedek study was completed on the market potential for converting Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft into freighters. Potential customers and the financial community were briefed on the various configuration options for a Boeing 747-400SF (Special Freighter) aircraft. The positive reaction from the customers and financial community to the Bedek preliminary designs prompted IAI and Bedek management to proceed with the program. Based on current estimates, Bedek is confident that the first delivery of a reconfigured aircraft can take place in the second quarter of 2005.
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Saab AB and the Swedish National Debt Office have today signed an agreement on co-financing Saab's participation in the Airbus A380 project. The agreement means that the state can co-finance up to one third of the development of the mid and outer fixed leading edge for the A380, to a maximum of MSEK 350. “We are very pleased that the agreement with the Debt Office has now been finalized. It means that the Swedish state is sharing opportunities and risks with us in this important initiative for Swedish industry,” says Pontus Kallén, head of the Saab Aerostructures business unit.
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Loral Skynet, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, said that its Telstar 4 satellite experienced a short circuit of its primary power bus today at 8:56 am EDT, causing the satellite to cease operations. Loral Skynet immediately made capacity available to most Telstar 4 customers, many of whom have already had their services restored on Loral's Telstar 5 and Telstar 6 satellites. Loral Skynet and Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the satellite, are working to determine the cause of the problem and to restore service on the satellite, if possible. The satellite is insured for $141 million. Telstar 8, currently under construction at Space Systems/Loral, will replace Telstar 4, as planned, at 89 degrees West in mid-2004.
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SpaceDev was chosen as the exclusive provider of specific components for the Scaled rocket motor for world-renowned aircraft designer Burt Rutan's revolutionary manned SpaceShipOne. The SpaceDev hybrid propulsion system, which is safe, low-cost and the largest of its kind in the world, burns a combination of rubber and laughing gas. For almost two years, SpaceDev has been competing with another rocket motor subcontractor for the exclusive contract to provide components for the propulsion system to Scaled Composites, Rutan's company. “SpaceDev did a great job,” said Burt Rutan. “Their engineers were highly competent, worked well with the Scaled team, stayed on schedule and met or exceeded all requirements. We are anxious to start powered, manned flights with SpaceDev's help.”
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Friday 12 September 2003, only one week after the establishment of a new record number of flights for a single day within CFMU, the record was broken again, with 28,173 flights compared to the previous record of 28,150 flights set on Friday 05 September 2003. The number of flights requiring regulating by the CFMU was 6375, of which only 3802 flights were actually delayed. The Average Delay Per Flight was only 2.39 minutes, with the Average En-route Relay only 1.52 minutes. The traffic figures over the previous months do seem to confirm the forecasts - i.e. that the underlying trend is for continued growth.
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Boeing Air Traffic Management announced its support for the newly released National Research Council (NRC) report, "Securing the Future of U.S. Air Transportation: A System in Peril," which, among other findings, recognized the urgent need for strong, focused leadership to bring about the transformation of the U.S. air transportation system. Boeing Air Traffic Management was one among a number of Boeing business units that provided input to the report team. "We applaud the NRC for its efforts in creating this report and for addressing the critical issue of the future of our nation's air transportation system," said John Hayhurst, president of Boeing Air Traffic Management, "because in our view, transforming the nation's air traffic system is fundamental to the health of the aviation industry and the strength of the economy. We believe the findings and recommendations in this report are consistent with those provided by the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry, amplify the need to establish air transportation as a national priority, and provide a framework for moving forward expeditiously."
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The latest ESA Earth Observation data show that reports of the demise of the ozone hole appearing annually above Antarctica have been greatly exaggerated. The ozone hole is normally at its largest in September, but 2002 saw it at its smallest extent for more than a decade: 40% down on previous years. And a year ago yesterday ongoing satellite measurements of ozone - gathered by the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) instrument on ESA's ERS-2 satellite - showed it splitting in two. This dramatic reverse came just two years after the ozone hole had reached a record size – more than 30 million sq km in 2000.
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The European Space Agency is to declare the “Zentrum für Angewandte Raumfahrt Microgravitation” ZARM Drop Tower in Bremen an ESA External Facility. This prestigious title will be conferred at a ceremony at ZARM on 2 October, beginning at 12:45, attended by the Mayor of Bremen and President of the City Senate Dr Henning Scherf, Prof. Dr Hans J. Rath, ZARM Director General, Dr Hans Kappler, ESA Director of Industrial Matters and Technology Programmes, and Mr Gaele Winters, ESA Director of Technical and Operational Support. ZARM Drop Tower obtains this prestigious title in consideration of the fact that it is both unique in Europe and regularly used by ESA. The Drop Tower offers the capability of conducting extensive research in microgravity, and it is an essential test bench for projects about to become operational. For both applications, ZARM has provided years of invaluable access to reduced gravity conditions for thousands of experiments, in many of which ESA has been involved.
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ESA intends to build on its quarter-century of experience constructing and flying weather satellites with new generations of spacecraft, Director of Earth Observation Programmes José Achache informed an audience of European meteorologists. The Director was addressing attendees of the European Conference on Applications of Meteorology (ECAM), organised by the Italian Meteorological Service and taking place in Rome last week. His speech on Thursday was part of a special session on the future of satellites in meteorology, organised by the European Meteorological Society (EMS). The first Earth Observation satellite developed and operated by ESA was the geostationary weather spacecraft Meteosat, launched back in 1977. Six more Meteosat spacecraft were launched after it, and today – turned over to Eumetsat for routine operation - the series plays a key role in the global satellite meteorological system. Meteosat is due to be replaced by a new series of improved satellites called Meteosat Second Generation or MSG. Designed and built by ESA for Eumetsat, the first such spacecraft, MSG-1 is already in orbit, launched by Ariane 5 from French Guiana in August 2002.
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