FLUG REVUE update: Week ending December 7, 2003

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UPDATE
Week ending 7 December 2003

+++ Boeing crisis: Condit resigns +++ Ryanair launches 9 new routes +++ Canard Rotor/Wing takes off +++ Gripen recommended in Czech Republic +++ Qantas buys A320s for low-cost carrier +++ News in brief +++

Boeing crisis: Condit resigns
Boeing-Chef Condit zurückgetreten
On December 1, Boeing announced that its board of directors has accepted the resignation of Phil Condit, 62, as chairman and CEO. After thorough deliberations, the board decided that a new structure for the leadership of the company is needed and named Lewis E. Platt, 62, as non-executive chairman and Harry C. Stonecipher, 67, as president and CEO, effective immediately.
Both Platt and Stonecipher are experienced leaders who are knowledgeable about the company's operations and strategy. Platt has been a member of Boeing's board of directors for four years; he is a retired chairman of the board, president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company. Stonecipher retired from Boeing in 2002 after working closely with Condit for five years in several roles, including vice chairman, president and chief operating officer. Stonecipher also has served as a Boeing director for six years.
"Boeing is advancing on several of the most important programs in its history and I offered my resignation as a way to put the distractions and controversies of the past year behind us, and to place the focus on our performance," Condit said. "I am proud of the strategies that have transformed Boeing into the world's largest aerospace company, and I have the highest regard and respect for Lew and Harry. They each possess the knowledge, experience and leadership to take this company to the next level. I will watch the progress of Boeing with great pride."
"The board appreciates that Phil acted with characteristic dignity and selflessness in recognizing that his resignation was for the good of the company," said the new chairman, Lew Platt. "We accepted his decision with sadness, but also with the knowledge that changes needed to be made. The board is confident that the new leadership will bring a renewed focus on execution and performance. "The board is in unanimous agreement that the company has been pursuing the right transformation strategy and that Boeing is in excellent financial condition," he said.

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Ryanair launches 9 new routes
Neue Strecken von Ryanair

Ryanair, has launched 4 new daily routes from London Stansted to Austria, Italy, Germany and Spain, with fares staring from £19.99. Ryanair now has 71 destinations served from London Stansted airport, and the new routes to Erfurt (Germany), Linz (Austria), Bari (Italy) and Jerez (Spain) will add an extra 400,000 in passenger traffic through Stansted airport, and will create an additional 400 jobs in the regional economies. In addition, Ryanair has launched 2 new routes from Stockholm Skavsta to Italy, 2 new routes from Frankfurt Hahn to Spain & Finland, and a new route linking Brussels to Spain. From Frankfurt Hahn the new routes are to Reus and Tampere. Over the last 12 months, Ryanair has launched over 60 new routes, and after on-going reviews, several routes will cease from 14th January 2004. London to: Ostend, Maastricht, Reims, Clermont Ferrand; Stockholm to: Oslo Torp, Tampere, Aarhus; Frankfurt to: Malmo Brussels to: Liverpool.
Commenting on the route announcements, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said: “Over the last year, Ryanair operated over 70 routes, carried 11 Million passengers and saved British consumers over £1Billion. Today we are demonstrating our commitment to Brussels Charleroi airport by announcing a new route from Brussels Charleroi to Valladolid in Spain. The four new daily routes will commence on 15th January 2004, and will deliver 400,000 additional passengers and create 400 additional jobs. “We remain hopeful that the EU Commission will recognise the enormous benefits for Belgian consumers and visitors of low fares services at Brussels Charleroi. We call on the Commission to rule in favour of Brussels Charleroi which complied with the market investor principle in offering Ryanair and other airlines a low cost base. Low fares are serving the needs of consumers and helping to develop under-utilised secondary and regional airports.

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Canard Rotor/Wing takes off
Neuer Drehflügler hebt ab

On December 4, a new generation of high-speed, unmanned air vehicle successfully began flight testing. The Boeing Company's Canard Rotor/Wing (CRW) concept demonstrator completed its first hover flight at the U.S. Army Proving Ground in Yuma, Ariz. During the flight test, the CRW advanced technology demonstrator – known as the X-50A Dragonfly – flew for about 80 seconds at 8:10 a.m. MST. It lifted off vertically from the launch site to an altitude of 12 feet above the ground, hovered and then vertically landed, commencing the flight test program.
Under joint development by Boeing and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the CRW is a revolutionary aircraft that combines the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of rotary-wing flight. This is because the CRW's rotor is designed not only to spin during vertical takeoffs and landings but also to stop turning during flight and convert to a fixed wing for high-speed cruise. “Today's successful hover flight was an exciting first step toward meeting the goal of this flight test program,” said Gary Gallagher, CRW Systems senior manager for the Boeing Phantom Works advanced research and development unit. “The ultimate objective is demonstrating the Dragonfly's ability to convert from rotary-wing to fixed-wing and back to rotary-wing flight.”
About a dozen flight tests are scheduled for the X-50A Dragonfly. Under the remote control of a pilot in the ground station cockpit, the vehicle will gradually perform more extensive hover flights, then forward moving rotary-wing flights, and finally a conversion to a fixed-wing flight and back again to a rotary-wing landing. Two such conversion flights are planned. The X-50A Dragonfly vehicle is 17.7 feet long and 6.5 feet high and weighs 1,460 pounds. In addition to its 12-foot-diameter rotor/wing, it also has an 8.9-foot-span canard and an 8.1-foot-span horizontal tail. It is propelled by a conventional turbofan engine combined with The Boeing Company's unique reaction drive rotor system.

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Gripen leads in Czech Republic
Tschechien an Gripen interessiert

The Czech Government's evaluation committee has announced its recommendation of Gripen as the best economic, operational and military solution for the Czech Republic. During a press briefing, the chairman of the evaluation committee has confirmed the decision of his nine-man team of independent experts was unanimous. Following Gripen, in order of ranking, were offers by Belgium (F-16), Canada (F-18), The Netherlands (F-16) and the United States (F-16). Many media observers are surprised by the low ranking of the US proposal, especially following promises that an “unbeatable offer” would be prepared, “for one of its closest allies”. It is important to recognise that this is just the first important milestone in the government's procurement of an interim solution which will meet the national air defence needs of the Czech Republic, for up to 10 years.
The Gripen team, led by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, now awaits the result of the Czech cabinet meeting to ratify this decision (during December) and stands ready to provide whatever assistance may be necessary to assist with the process. The Statement by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) said: “We are pleased by today's announcement that the Czech government's evaluation team has reaffirmed Gripen as the best economic, operational and military solution for the Czech Republic. This is just the first important milestone in the government's procurement of an interim solution to meet the Czech Republic's national air defence needs for up to 10 years. We now await the result of the Czech cabinet meeting to ratify this decision and stand ready to provide whatever may be necessary to assist with the process”

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Qantas buys A320s for low-cost carrier
A320 für australische Billigairline

Qantas said its new low cost domestic airline would be called Jetstar. The Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Geoff Dixon, said the airline would use new Airbus A320 aircraft from June next year and would eventually have an all-A320 fleet. “Jetstar will fly new A320 aircraft featuring 177 leather seats and an inflight audio entertainment system,” Mr Dixon said. “The domestic leisure market is growing rapidly and now represents over 60 per cent of all passengers. Jetstar will concentrate on growing this market with value fares while opening up new destinations.”
Mr Dixon said the Qantas Board had last week approved a number of initiatives for Qantas' domestic operations, including the: selection of Impulse Airlines as the operating entity for the low cost carrier; placement of an initial order for 23 A320s for the low cost carrier; reorganisation of the full service Qantas domestic airline into a two-class jet operation on all services, using only two aircraft types - Boeing 737s and 767s; and acquisition of an additional five Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the full service domestic airline to replace the airline's last 737-300s and further modernise the fleet. Mr Dixon said using Impulse as the operating entity and with new aircraft, new slimline seats, a new booking system and innovative products, Qantas was confident Jetstar would be the lowest cost operator in Australia.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

The Concorde era drew to a close on 26 November with the final landing of the world's last flying supersonic passenger jet. British Airways Concorde 216 made its historic touchdown at the Filton UK site where the airliner was originally built. In 1979, Concorde 216 (call sign 'Alpha-Foxtrot') was the last of the Anglo-French supersonic airliners to come off the twin production lines of Filton and Toulouse. After leaving Heathrow, with 100 British Airways staff on board, the aircraft landed at Filton in front of a crowd made up of the public and aerospace workers. This was the last ever flight of a Concorde; a design triumph which pushed the boundaries of aerospace engineering. At Filton, the aircraft was received by HRH The Duke of York on behalf of the community. This final flight was made by British Airways Captain Les Brodie, accompanied by Captains Mike Bannister and Paul Douglas, and Senior Flight Engineers Warren Hazleby and Trevor Norcott. Mike Bannister, Chief Concorde Pilot said: “British Airways is delighted that we are returning the last Concorde ever built, 'Alpha Foxtrot' to her birthplace at Filton. Concorde was born from dreams, built with vision and operated with pride. She is a fabulous aircraft that will become a legend thanks to the people who built her, flew her and looked after her.” Concorde 216 was the last of seven Concordes delivered to British Airways and made its maiden flight more than twenty-four years ago from Filton, on 20th April 1979. Since then it has clocked up more than 5,500 supersonic flights with British Airways and transported over 300,000 passengers.
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Major milestone at MTU Aero Engines: Germany's leading engine manufacturer made timely delivery of its first low-pressure turbine for the GP7000 engine to equip the A380 mega-transport. The turbine was handed over to Pratt & Whitney on Wednesday, December 3, when during a last-bolt ceremony one of MTU's shop people symbolically torqued the last bolt before the official hand-off. MTU president and CEO Dr. Klaus Steffens commented: "This milestone underscores our resolve to make this program a success technically and on-schedule, regardless of the time squeeze." The GP7000 is slated to make its first test stand run in spring of next year. Developed at MTU from a clean sheet of paper, the six-stage low-pressure turbine excels through its unique efficiency, low noise radiation and modest weight. In end-October, the Munich-based engine maker had completed the engine's turbine center frame, the intermediate frame located between the engine's high-pressure and low-pressure turbines, and shipped it to General Electric. This component also forms part of MTU's manufacturing stake in the GP7000, as does most of the high-pressure turbine. Totally, the German engine builder has a roughly 22% share in the superjumbo's powerplant.
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On Dec. 3, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded a Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Company team the Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) contract, which is to provide the U.S. with the ability to destroy hostile missiles at their most vulnerable stage, the boost/ascent phase of flight.Led by Northrop Grumman, the industry team will develop and test this critical boost phase element of the Agency's global layered missile defense system. The KEI contract is valued at more than $4 billion over eight years.The award follows a $10 million, eight-month concept design effort during which two competing teams produced concepts for a KEI boost phase program. The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon team will now move forward with its design and begin managing the development and test phase, leading to planned deployment of this new land-based element in the 2010–2012 timeframe. KEI will complement the other boost, midcourse and terminal defense interceptor programs currently underway. The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon design includes a mobile land-based launcher built by Northrop Grumman and subcontractor SEI; a Raytheon-built interceptor that will be faster and more agile than any other interceptor to date; a HMMWV that will house the command and control battle management and communications system; and satellite receivers to process the signal that a hostile missile has been launched. The equipment is highly mobile and can be easily loaded onto a C-17 aircraft and transported worldwide.
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Airbus has shown it is willing to go the extra mile for its customers by helping Australian operator Qantas overcome a long-standing aircraft certification issue. For the first time in Qantas history, an aircraft – the new A330-300 – will be delivered to the airline without the need for waivers (or exceptions) from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for some of the airline's unique cabin equipment. Bill Osmond, Qantas's technical representative, said the new Airbus aircraft represents a significant achievement for the airline. “This is something that Qantas and CASA have been working toward for a long time,” he said. As with most customers, Qantas often specifies its own buyer furnished equipment (BFE) that is unique to the airline. However, such a decision may lead to complications with certification.
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Aermacchi has recently signed a contract with the Italian Air Force for the purchasing of 30 primary trainers SF-260EA, in a new configuration to meet the requirements of the Italian Air Force. As agreed in the contract Aermacchi will buy-back the 21 SF-260AM actually owned by the IAF. The first aircraft delivery is planned by the beginning of 2005. The contract includes, together with the non-recurring development activities and efforts for the certification of the SF-260EA, also training activities and integrated logistic support provided directly at the base of the 71° Wing of the IAF, which will operate the aircraft in Latina (near Rome). The agreements in the contract make provision for the settlement of an Aermacchi Logistic Support Centre within the military base, whose task will be to help the IAF personnel during maintenance operations. The Logistic Centre will also handle material, spares and tools by means of an advanced computer system.
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The Galileo satellite navigation programme is maintaining its pace and making good progress. The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Galileo Industries a contract to finalize and freeze the specifications of the satellite constellation and the related ground segment. This is the initial stage of the main development and validation phase of the programme. The contract, valued at 30million euros, will involve 65 companies across Europe. The work, which commenced on 28 November, will ensure that the momentum of the programme is maintained until the full development and validation phase for the first 4 operational satellites starts in mid-2004. This first development phase contract follows the recent contract award for the Galileo experimental GSTBV 2 satellite to Galileo Industries in July 2003 and re-affirms the roles of the industrial partners. Evert Dudok, Director of EADS Astrium's Earth Observation, Navigation and Science Division, said: “We are delighted that the previous work performed by EADS Astrium on Galileo has been of value and that our expertise is recognized to be crucial to the development of the Galileo system. ESA's decision confirms our competitiveness in cost-effective satellite design.” Teams from EADS Astrium, the principal shareholder in Galileo Industries, will lead various key activities. In particular, EADS Astrium in Germany is leading the design and development of the space segment and aims to oversee and manage the manufacturing of the 30 Galileo satellites. The team, based in Ottobrunn near Munich, has an extensive heritage in series-production of medium-sized spacecraft and mission-design for large constellations of satellites.
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Raytheon successfully conducted the first guided seeker test flight of its Precision Attack Missile (PAM) at the White Sands Missile Range Nov. 12. All test objectives were met or exceeded during the test. The NetFires PAM is being developed by Raytheon under contract to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Guided Test Vehicle-2 tested the Raytheon-developed dual mode Uncooled Imaging Infrared/Semi-Active Laser (UCIIR/SAL) seeker. Post-flight analysis of the test data indicates that the seeker performed as expected, successfully guiding the missile to intercept against a full-scale armored target. In addition to demonstrating Raytheon's UCIIR/SAL seeker, the test marked the third successful flight test of the variable thrust solid rocket motor technology, developed for the NetFires PAM by GenCorp Aerojet of Sacramento, Calif.
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The V-22 Integrated Test Team recently completed a detachment in USS Bataan (LHD 5), the second at-sea period for the Osprey program this year. During the eleven days of the Phase IV shipboard suitability testing, the ITT conducted deck landing qualifications for five V-22 pilots (including one from VMX-22, the new test and evaluation squadron based at MCAS New River, North Carolina), completed test points necessary to expand the Osprey's wind-over-deck envelope, and measured the effects of hovering H-53 and H-46 helicopters on a V-22 on deck behind them. ITT engineers were pleased with the test results. “With the V-22 at its lightest operational weight, its roll response to an approaching H-53 or H-46 wake was three-point-five degrees, approximately half that of what was predicted,” said Dave Mason, Bell-Boeing flying qualities engineer. “This represents a tremendous improvement over the previous configuration. We still have some testing to complete and data analysis to do before removing the restriction on helicopters landing on adjacent spots forward of the V-22, but these results are promising.” The wind over deck envelope expansion testing was conducted with the V-22 parked on Spot 7, near the Bataan's stern, and the results gleaned could allow the aircraft's operating envelope to be increased by as much as fifteen knots of wind velocity across the flight deck during take offs and landings. Osprey No. 22 was used for the bulk of the testing and was joined for the final two days of the detachment by Osprey No. 10. “The deployment went very smoothly,” said Colonel Craig Olson, USAF, V-22 Joint Program Manager. “Our success is a reflections of the effort of the test team – from flight control software development to simulation to shipboard verification – and the cooperation of Bataan's crew.” Phase V, the ITT's next shipboard suitability testing period, will be carried out in April '04.
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's state-of-the-art AirTrain JFK rail system, providing fast, reliable and convenient transportation to, from and around JFK International Airport, will begin passenger service on 17 December 2003 - the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight. The system will link the airport to the state-of-the-art Howard Beach and Jamaica AirTrain Terminals where passengers can transfer on to the subway; Long Island Rail Road express trains; and buses to central New York. Service from Penn Station in Manhattan to JFK's terminals via AirTrain JFK is projected to take less than 45 minutes; the trip from midtown Manhattan to JFK can presently take more than two hours by car or taxi. The approximately 8-mile light-rail system is expected to serve 34,000 passengers per day at the start. Passengers will be able to use, free of charge, the six stations in the Central Terminal Area loop for easy connections among all terminals; the Lefferts Boulevard Station for long-term and employee parking; and the Federal Circle Station for car rentals. Service between the Howard Beach and the Jamaica Station AirTrain terminals and the on-airport stations will cost $5 for a single trip. Monthly passes offering unlimited trips will cost $40.
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The US101 Team competing to provide the president of the United States with a new Marine One helicopter fleet has selected GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) to supply the power plant for the three-engine US101 medium-lift aircraft. GEAE will provide American-made CT7-8E engines for the US101 helicopter. At more than 2,500 shaft horsepower, the CT7-8E is a member of the newest and most powerful derivative of GEAE's successful T700/CT7 family of helicopter engines.
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Raytheon has been competitively selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a one-year study contract, worth $2.5 million, as an initial step toward the next generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) system. The Raytheon team was awarded work in all four segments offered on the proposal including Space and Launch; Command, Control and Communications; Product Generation, Distribution, Archive and Access, User Interface; and End-to-End Integration.
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EADS has successfully operated the new DO-DT 25 drone system for air defence training during the “Baltic Fire“ exercise of the German Air Force (GAF). As reported by Dornier GmbH – a unit of EADS –, the company-built drones have been used as aerial target simulation systems for live firing with the man-portable air defence system. Every year, the German Air Force conducts air defence exercises with shoulder-fired weapons at the Polish firing range near Uska on the Baltic Sea. Within an order granted by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) to Dornier GmbH in June 2003, the DO-DT 25 drone was operated for the first time for live firing. DO-DT 25 is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with jet propulsion. Reaching a speed of 450 km/h, this new Dornier-developed system allows low-cost and realistic simulation of attacking combat aircraft. For this purpose, the drones have been equipped with special heat sources simulating the infra-red signature of advanced combat aircraft. Furthermore, radar sensors for stand-off and scoring measurement have been installed in the drones. The DO-DT 25 drones are launched by a pneumatic catapult. In-flight control and guidance is carried out by the autopilot in accordance with pre-defined, pre-programmed flight profiles whose way-points are determined via satellite control (GPS).
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EADS PZL “Warszawa-Okêcie” has undergone a visit of representatives of Swedish Company Telair, a supplier of payload loading systems for Boeing 737 and 757. It has been agreed upon that EADS PZL will manufacture elements to this equipment. It is possible because Swedish partners are very satisfied with the quality of prototype components.
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The V-22 recently surpassed 1,000-flight hours flown since the Osprey's return to flight in May '02. Osprey No. 24 got the program past the mark during an icing test flight over Nova Scotia, where a V-22 Integrated Test Team detachment is currently based for the first half of the icing portion of the test plan. Since the V-22 program's return to flight, the Osprey has gone through exhaustive developmental testing, highlighted by two at-sea periods and a battery of high rate of descent tests that clearly defined the airplane's robust operating envelope and led to Tom Macdonald, the chief corporate test pilot, receiving the Society of Experimental Test Pilot's prestigious Iven C. Kincheloe award. Additionally, the program received important shows of confidence from Department of Defense leadership during the two most recent defense acquisitions boards held at the Pentagon. In the coming months, the program will be focusing on other facets of developmental testing as well as supporting VMX-22, the tiltrotor test and evaluation squadron based at MCAS New River, North Carolina, as it prepares for the Osprey's operational evaluation next year and eventual fleet introduction of the aircraft.
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U.S.-based Lockheed Martin and Elbit Systems Ltd, based in Israel, jointly pursue helicopter modernization opportunities in Bulgaria as well as in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Near term, the companies are teaming to pursue recently announced plans to upgrade Bulgaria's Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters to meet NATO standards. Bulgaria is planning to repair and modernize these aircraft by incorporating modern avionics and mission systems and extending the life of the helicopters. The Mi-24 helicopters' arms systems also will be upgraded. “The agreement with Lockheed Martin creates a team with unparallel expertise and experience which will result in the most cost-effective proven solution for our customers” said Yoram Shmuely, corporate vice president and general manager of Elbit Systems' Airborne and Helmet Systems Division. “Our aim is to create strong relationships with Bulgarian defense industries to meet both domestic and export market requirements.”
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SAS Flight Academy has signed a contract with flybe for Dash8-Q400 and Dash8-300 pilot training. flybe has been a customer at SAS Flight Academy for three years, and the new contract is a five-year exclusiveness contract and means increased training since flybe has 14 Q400s on order and additional 20 on options. The new Q400s will replace the Dash8-200/300 fleet, but are also additional capacity to its fleet.
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A Raytheon Company team, which includes Boeing, General Dynamics, and AT&T Government Solutions, has been competitively selected by the U.S. Air Force's MILSATCOM Joint Program Office (MJPO) for a requirements definition contract. Worth up to $9 million including options, the contract is an initial step toward transforming military communications. The win competitively positions Raytheon for a subsequent development program estimated at more than $500 million. The Raytheon team will work with the MJPO to define requirements for the Program Research & Development Announcement (PRDA) phase of the Transformational Communications MILSATCOM (TCM) Network, which will expand the military's network capability and interoperability between systems.
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Mars Express, ESA's first probe to Mars, still has some challenges to face. The spacecraft has successfully come through its first power test after the gigantic solar flare on 28 October. Since 17 November the on-board software has been 'frozen' after several updates and the spacecraft is now quietly proceeding to its destination. The next major task, starting on 19 December, will be to safely release the Beagle 2 lander. To deliver Beagle 2 where planned, Mars Express has been put on a collision course with Mars, since Beagle 2 does not have a propulsion system of its own and must therefore be aimed precisely at its destination.
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Four NASA astronauts have been chosen to fly on the newly created Space Shuttle mission, STS-121. It is the mission following the Space Shuttle's Return to Flight. Veteran astronaut Steven W. Lindsey (Col., USAF) is the commander of STS-121. Mark E. Kelly (Cmdr., USN) is the pilot; Carlos I. Noriega (Lt. Col., USMC, Ret.) and Michael E. Fossum are the mission specialists. Other crewmembers will be named later. STS-121 was added to the flight schedule to help accommodate the growing list of requirements originally assigned to the Return to Flight mission. The crew will re-supply the International Space Station with equipment and consumables. They will also continue the testing and development of new hardware and procedures designed to make Space Shuttle flight safer.
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An Atlas IIAS rocket successfully lifted off on December 2 at 2:04 a.m. PST (10:04 GMT) from this West Coast launch site, releasing a national security payload into transfer orbit 74 minutes later. The launch was provided by McLean, Va.-based International Launch Services (ILS), from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3E, for the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Designated AC-164, this was the fourth Atlas mission this year, and the 67th consecutive successful Atlas flight. It also was ILS' fifth mission of 2003. “ILS is honored to have a major role in enhancing our nation's security, having now launched five NRO payloads,” said ILS President Mark Albrecht. “ILS and Lockheed Martin share a long and valued partnership with the Office of Space Launch, and we take great pride in providing mission success.” Albrecht added: “Now we're working toward NRO launches in 2004, 2005 and beyond, on Atlas III and Atlas V boosters from both Cape Canaveral, Fla., and from Vandenberg. With Atlas V capability at both coasts, we look forward to meeting NRO mission requirements well in the next decade.”
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A milestone in air navigation history was reached November 27 at 0200 UTC when the minimum vertical separation between aircraft on major air traffic routes between Asia, the Middle East and Europe was reduced from 2000 feet to 1000 feet. The increased route capacity and operational flexibility result in considerable economic, environmental and passenger service benefits. The Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) improves the availability of more efficient cruising levels. This leads to less air pollution because of reduced fuel burn and to fewer ground delays, in this case for flights on the Asia-Europe routes south of the Himalayas. It also provides a more seamless transition through the airspace of the Middle East. In the North Pacific, RVSM has reduced fuel costs by 0.5 % to 1.0 %, for savings of some US$8.0 million per year for the fleet of aircraft using this airspace. In Europe, it is expected that the RVSM programme could save airlines close to 4 billion Euros annually. Similar financial benefits are expected for other regions. RVSM implementation began in 1997 under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association (IFATCA) and the aviation industry. Implemented initially in the airspace of the North Atlantic, the concept was applied successively to the South Atlantic, the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
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When the first European heavy maintenance customer docked at Lufthansa Technik Philippines in Manila last October 13, it marked another milestone for the three-year-old MRO joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and Philippine-owned aviation services provider MacroAsia. 35 days later the aircraft, an Austrian Airbus A330, was back in the air on its first post-D-check revenue flight from Vienna to New Delhi. The aircraft was the eighth Airbus long-haul jet overhauled by LTP in 2003. Seven D-checks had been completed for launch customer Philippine Airlines before. The first aircraft from the third customer, Lufthansa German Airlines, an Airbus A340, arrived in November to undergo a D-check in the newly commissioned second production line. LTP's two overhaul lines can accommodate about 16 aircraft a year in total. Austrian is sending six A330/A340 aircraft to Manila for overhaul. Lufthansa Technik Philippines is the only Lufthansa Technik facility outside Germany equipped for A330/A340 heavy maintenance. Aside from performing overhauls, LTP also maintains the entire Philippine Airlines fleet consisting of 29 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Furthermore it provides line maintenance services to 17 international carriers that fly to Manila, Cebu and Davao.
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The Pentagon has put a hold on implementation of a controversial multi-billion dollar deal with aircraft maker, Boeing, for new tanker aircraft pending an investigation into possible improprieties in connection with the contract. Pentagon officials describe as “highly unusual” the decision to slap a hold on the huge, more than $27 billion Air Force contract to lease 20 Boeing 767s and buy 80 more for use as mid-air refueling tankers. The decision was disclosed in a letter this week to the Senate Armed Services Committee from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. Mr. Wolfowitz had earlier asked the Pentagon's inspector general to determine whether there was any compelling reason not to go ahead with the deal. No timetable was set for completion of the investigation. But Mr. Wolfowitz ordered the probe after Boeing fired a senior executive for discussing a possible job with the chief Air Force negotiator in the tanker contract. The negotiator was hired by Boeing but subsequently dismissed. Defense officials say Mr. Wolfowitz wants to know whether improper conduct by the two negatively affected the contract negotiations. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Mr. Wolfowitz has offered to share drafts of the Boeing contract with members of Congress and also to brief them on the deal. The officials say the Pentagon wants the process to be transparent and open, especially in light of the possible ethical violations.
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The new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle FALCO Surveillance System, entirely designed and developed by Galileo Avionica, a Finmeccanica Company, has successfully begun its flight testing at PISQ, the Italian Firing Range in Sardinia. The first flight lasted about 50 minutes yielding first flight envelope results. The FALCO flight was kept within the PISQ area constantly under radar an optic telemetering systems control. All flight data have been collected and recorded and are now available for technical after-flight tests. Entirely designed and developed by Italian company Galileo Avionica (in which Meteor S.p.A. has recently been incorporated as Simulators and UAV's Business Unit) FALCO surveillance UAV system is operated by remote control and responds to the new civilian and military air patrolling requirements. FALCO is a propeller-driven tactical unmanned aerial vehicle 5.2 m long and with a wing span of 7.2 m. which encompasses leading edge technologies. Its maximum speed is 40 m/sec with a payload in excess of 70 Kg which may include an electro-optic multi-spectral sensor and/or a surveillance radar. Operational endurance is up to 14 hours. Its first successful flight has proven fully responsive, validating specific functions such as conventional take-off from runway and different remote control mode even in bad environmental conditions.
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The U.S. Air Force recently further extended the phase maintenance interval for its Block 40/42/50/52 F-16C/Ds to 400 flight hours. This is a strong indicator of the F-16's inherent reliability and maintainability. The F-16 is produced and supported by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, a business area of Lockheed Martin Corp. The F-16 phase maintenance for this group of aircraft was extended from a single-phase inspection every 300 flight hours to one every 400 flight hours. This latest change is expected to cut the inspection workload nearly 20 percent. It also increases the number of aircraft available on the flight line for operational training or combat missions. "The F-16 is widely known as the most reliable and maintainable fighter in the U.S. inventory," said John L. Bean, vice president of F-16 programs. "The USAF extension to 400 flight hours could have application for the international Block 40/50/52 operators, since many often follow the U. S. Air Force's lead in maintenance matters, and several are pursuing extensions of their particular F-16 phase intervals."
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Hungary and the Czech Republic recently signed European Cooperating State agreements with ESA. This means that both countries will be able to participate in nearly all ESA programmes. On 5 November 2003 Hungary signed their PECS document (Plan of space collaboration activities for European Cooperating State) and became the first PECS country to join ESA. This was the result of seven months intensive work between ESA and Hungary to define the specific plan for space activity collaboration following the signature last April of the European Cooperating State (ECS) agreement between Hungary and ESA. On 24 November the Czech Republic followed Hungary with their signature of the ECS agreement. The signed agreements define the legal basis for developing the specific plan (the PECS document) for the Czech Republic which must be in place and signed within the next 12 months. For these two states, this concluded a process which started in 1999 to define how four European States: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania, could increase their participation in the European space programme. All four countries have experience in developing space technology from their previous participation to the Russian space programme.
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A Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) was successfully launched from a B-1B bomber Oct. 30 over China Lake, California, making it the first conventional guided missile launch from a B-1B. The separation test vehicle demonstrated successful operation of JASSM during captive carry, launch from the B-1B's Multi-Purpose Rotary Launcher (MPRL) and flight. The test met all launch objectives and achieved a stable and controlled flight. “This mission was planned and carried out by the 419th B-1 special project office at Edwards Air Force Base,” said Gerry Freisthler, program director of the Lethal Strike Joint Systems Program Office at Eglin AFB, Florida. “That's a credit to them and to the Lockheed Martin trainers.”
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Officials in Japan are investigating what went wrong in the failed launch of two spy satellites on November 29. The aborted launch is a blow to the prestige of Japan's space program and its intelligence efforts. The rocket lifted off smoothly Saturday from the southern island of Tanegashima, about 1,000 kilometers from Tokyo. Minutes later, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency officials ordered the rocket destroyed. The agency says it believes that one of the two rocket boosters failed to separate from the fuselage in the second phase of the flight. The Japanese designed and produced H2-A rocket was carrying two sophisticated spy satellites meant to work with another pair already in orbit. Together, the four satellites would have allowed Japan to monitor any point on the globe. The minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Takeo Kawamura, whose ministry oversees the space program, says the failed launch is a blow to Japan's space program and its intelligence-gathering efforts. Mr. Kawamura says the lack of the satellites is a serious concern and is a problem for national security. He says there will be a full investigation.
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Raytheon has established a corporate-wide Unmanned Systems Leadership Council (USLC). In response to customers' desires for innovative and affordable unmanned systems solutions, the USLC has been chartered to provide netted ground systems for command and control, mission planning, data management and dissemination, as well as integrated sensors to meet the growing customer requirements for unmanned systems.
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To enhance its successful business activities in Russia, EADS will set up a company under Russian law. The Executive Committee of EADS has appointed Vadim Vlasov (38) to head this new company. The new entity aims to leverage and to develop the already important existing EADS business in Russia and to materialise further opportunities. It will become operational in January 2004 and is set to be complimentary to the current EADS office in Moscow. Vadim Vlasov has finished the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI). He then held various positions in the MAI research staff and administration, in the Russian Ministry of Defence and in Russian and Western companies. His latest position was Vice-President and Head of Siemens Medical Solutions Division of Siemens Russia. Among other activities, EADS is preparing the marketing for the Russian amphibian airplane with Irkut Corporation and Rolls Royce Deutschland. Airbus has set up the ECAR engineering centre with the Kaskol Group. EADS is also cooperating with Russian partners in helicopters, military aircraft and space.
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Gripen has achieved another significant milestone in its weapons release programme with the successful carriage of the Taurus long range stand-off missile (LRSOM). On Thursday the 20th of November, Saab's Gripen test aircraft 39.208, made a captive flight with two Taurus KEPD 350s (Kinetic Energy Penetration Destroyer). Taurus KEPD 350 is a high precision stand-off weapon system developed by Taurus Systems, a company owned by German LFK and Saab Bofors Dynamics. The purpose of the flight was to test the impact on Gripen's flying capability with this heavy load. The flight was carried out by FMV (Swedish Defence Material Administration) test pilot Richard Ljungberg with assistance from FMV test facilities and test personnel from Saab. After the flight, the test team reported with great satisfaction that everything had gone as planned, and that the Gripen had displayed very good flying characteristics when fitted with the KEPD350
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In a flight test last month at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the U.S. Navy successfully demonstrated the increased flight performance capabilities of the Raytheon Company-built STANDARD Missile-2 Block IIIB equipped with a maneuverability upgrade package. The missile achieved all test objectives, demonstrating highly controlled flight performance throughout a sequence of high-G maneuvers during the Nov. 15 test. The Maneuverability Upgrade program is a part of the Navy's Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) SM-2 In-Service Missile improvement effort. This test successfully achieved a major milestone of the Maneuverability Upgrade project and is expected to lead to implementation of the upgrade into fleet missiles.
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The Australian Government has decided that Australia will participate in the United States' missile defence program, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced. Senator Hill said Australia was working with the US to determine the most appropriate forms of Australian participation that will not only be in our strategic defence interests but also provide maximum opportunities for Australian industry. These could include: expanded cooperation to help detect missiles at the point of launch and therefore get early warning of an impending attack; acquisition of, or other cooperation in the fields of, ship-based and ground-based sensors; science and technology research development, testing and evaluation. Senator Hill said the missile defence program was a non-nuclear defensive system that did not threaten other countries. Its purpose was to be able to negate a ballistic missile threat and therefore discourage other countries from investing in ballistic missile systems.
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China Southern and Air France signed a code-share agreement on Paris-Guangzhou (Canton) services which will be launched on 5 January 2004 by the French airline. This agreement is the outcome of a fruitful and determined collaboration developed by the two airlines over the eighteen months which followed their initial exchanges. This will make Air France the first European airline to fly to Southern China's capital as well as the first European airline to fly to four cities in China, namely Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. According to the terms of the agreement, China Southern will purchase blocks of seats on Air France operated flights. Once China Southern's service in Boeing 777 between Paris and Guangzhou begins, a balanced exchange of blocked seats will be set up between the two partners.
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Lockheed Martin UK Ltd., Rolls-Royce plc and VT Group formally announced the name of their consortium team bidding for the UK Ministry of Defence's Military Flying Training System (UK MFTS) program. The team will be known as Ascent. The three companies had previously signed a Letter of Intent in September 2003 at London's Defence Systems Equipment International exhibition to team for the procurement of a Training Systems Integrator for UK MFTS. Since September, the team has continued to support the UK MOD as the program has progressed through its Convergence Phase. “This represents our team entering a new phase as the UK Government's procurement program continues on schedule,” said Jim Keeler, Vice-President of Business Development for Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support and Project Director for Ascent. “This is the right name for a team which has consistently supported the UK Government and focused on a holistic solution to future flying training for Her Majesty's Armed Forces.”
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The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is driving the design of leading space technologies through the investment of C$65 million in contracts awarded to Canadian industry. The contracts announced today by Jacques Saada, Member of Parliament for Brossard-La Prairie, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, were made before industry representatives gathered at CSA Headquarters for its annual Technology Days conference. “The Canadian Space Agency's investment in leading-edge space research and development increases Canadian knowledge and specialized expertise, and reinforces Canada's position in the global knowledge-based economy,” said Mr. Saada. “These investments will drive breakthroughs in emerging technologies, strengthen our space industry and enhance Canada's ability to draw talent and investment from abroad.”
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Sichuan Airlines signed a contract with Airbus today for four A319s, becoming a new customer for the type. The aircraft, powered by IAE V2500 engines, are scheduled for delivery from 2004 to 2005. The four A319s are part of the General Terms Agreement (GTA) signed on April 25 in Beijing by the China Aviation Supplies Imp. & Exp. Group Corporation (CASGC) and Airbus for a firm bulk order of 30 Airbus aircraft. The Chengdu-based carrier plans to deploy the aircraft mainly at the newly opened Jiuhuang Airport, which is around 3,400 meters / 11,200 feet above sea level. The airport is close to the well-known scenic spots of Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The A319 also offers the potential for flying further afield to destinations such as Lhasa, Tibet and other high-altitude airports.
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EADS will develop an air defence system together with the Malaysian company System Consultancy Services Sdn.Bhd. (SCS), Kuala Lumpur. Thanks to the latest technologies, the system will guarantee a more effective coordination between the existing anti-aircraft facilities. As EADS announced, the two companies signed the corresponding cooperation agreement in Kuala Lumpur. The air defence system will be based on the concept devised by SCS and on technologies developed by the EADS business unit Defence & Communication Systems, which have already been used successfully by the German armed forces. The concrete work packages of the partner companies will be finalised during the ensuing negotiations for the agreement.
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Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva, a subsidiary of Embraer, delivered the 900th EMB 202 Ipanema crop-duster aircraft, in a ceremony held at the company headquarters in Botucatu. The Ipanema crop-duster is a sales leader in this segment, with 30 years of uninterrupted production and about 85 percent of the national fleet, which today counts some 1,000 units. “Brazil is becoming one of the main global agricultural producers, and dusting crops with aircraft has definitely contributed for that,” said Paulo Urbanavicius, Managing Director of Neiva. “Today the agribusiness' yield is secured thanks to sophisticated, high-technology implements, and we are proud to see the Ipanema taking part in this success”. The Ipanema no. 900 is the sixth aircraft of the fleet owned by Grupo Maggi, the world's largest soybean cultivator, with a crop of 286,600 acres. Based in the state of Mato Grosso, the company exports to Europe and Japan, is now taking delivery of its sixth aircraft and has a seventh on order. Itamar Locks, Managing Director of Agropecuária Maggi, stated: “Our production has increased at a yearly rate of 15 percent, and one of the main factors of that expansion is the Ipanema.”
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