FLUG REVUE update: Week ending July 4, 2004

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UPDATE
Week ending 4 July 2004

+++ Cassini-Huygens arrives at Saturn +++ Eurofighter Typhoons in Singapore +++ NetJets orders more Hawkers +++ ISS: Spacewalk succeeds +++ US and EU agree on Galileo GPS +++ SR Technics acquires FLS Aerospace +++ News in brief +++

Cassini-Huygens arrives at Saturn
Planetensonde erreicht ihr Ziel

After a seven-year cruise through the Solar System, the joint NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini-Huygens spacecraft on 1 July successfully entered orbit around Saturn. The Cassini orbiter is now ready to begin its four-year survey of the planet and its moons, while the Huygens probe will be prepared for the next major mission milestone: its release toward the largest moon, Titan, in December. “This shows international space co-operation at its best,” said ESA's Director of Science, Prof. David Southwood, after confirmation of the orbit insertion. “Few deep space planetary missions have carried the hopes of such a large community of scientists and space enthusiasts around the world. Congratulations to the teams in the US and Europe who made this possible and to all participants in the programme, who have a lot to do over the years ahead.”
The Saturn Orbit Insertion was the last and most critical manoeuvre performed by the spacecraft to achieve its operational orbit. If it had failed, the spacecraft would have just flown past Saturn and got lost in the outer Solar System. Cassini-Huygens was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 15 October 1997, atop a Titan 4B/Centaur, the most powerful expendable launch vehicle in the US fleet at the time. To reach Saturn it had to perform a series of gravity assist manoeuvres around Venus (April 1998 and June 1999), Earth (August 1999) and Jupiter (December 2000).
Cassini-Huygens approached Saturn from below the plane of its rings. Using its high-gain antenna dish as a shield to protect its fragile body from dust impacts, it first crossed the ring plane at 02:03 UT, some 158 500 kilometres from the centre of Saturn, in the gap that separates the F ring from the G ring. About 25 minutes later, at 02:36 UT, the probe fired one of its twin main engines for a 96-minute burn to enter orbit. The signal confirming this ignition took 84 minutes to reach Earth, some 1500 million kilometres from Saturn. The burn went smoothly and reduced Cassini-Huygens's relative velocity to Saturn while the probe passed only 19 000 kilometres from the planet's upper clouds. After completion of the burn, the probe was tilted first toward Earth to confirm insertion and then toward Saturn's rings in order to take close-up pictures as it flew only a few thousand kilometres above them. This was a unique opportunity to attempt to discriminate individual components within the rings, as Cassini is not planned to come this close to them again. The orbiter's instruments also took advantage of its proximity to the planet to make an in-depth study of its atmosphere and environment.

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Eurofighter Typhoons in Singapore
Kampfflugzeug wird von Singapur getestet

Two RAF Typhoon aircraft departed BAE Systems Warton – the current home of Typhoon in the UK - bound for Singapore, where the aircraft has been selected for the final phase of the country's Next Fighter Replacement program. The Typhoons will spend around two weeks in Singapore, and will return to the UK in July. This is the first deployment of Typhoon outside Europe, and represents a major challenge at this early stage of the aircraft's in-service life – the aircraft has been in service with the RAF since late 2003. Whilst Typhoon is being deployed to Singapore for an evaluation as part of the Next Fighter Replacement program, the requirement has coincided with a need to test a number of elements of Typhoon. So a deployment to Singapore fulfils a number of objectives including initial operational trials of Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), testing the supportability of the aircraft and evaluating its performance in a hot and humid environment. Officer Commanding 17 (R) Squadron – the RAF Squadron undertaking the evaluation – Wg. Cdr David Chan commented: “We've been operating the aircraft for six months now, and purely from a pilot's perspective it's been an enormously enjoyable experience. This deployment will give us a fantastic opportunity to further evaluate the aircraft in a very different environment. I have to say, I consider it an honor to lead the first deployment of the aircraft outside of the 'home nations', and I look forward to the challenges ahead”

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NetJets orders more Hawkers
Großbestellung für Raytheon von NetJets

NetJets is bolstering its worldwide operations by signing a contract with Raytheon Aircraft Company for 20 Hawker 800XP mid-size business jets and 20 Hawker 400XP light business jets. Total value of the contract will exceed $300 million. The Hawker 400XPs and 800XPs will be based in Europe and the United States. The 40 aircraft will be delivered in the 2005-07 timeframe. "This agreement recognizes that the growing NetJet worldwide customer base prefers roomy cabin interiors offered by both the Hawker 400XP and Hawker 800XP," said Jim Schuster, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft. "It's also a reflection of our efforts over the last several years to build perfect aircraft and improve customer service and support to world-class status."
This most recent agreement follows a series of transactions between Raytheon Aircraft and NetJets starting late last year. They are: December 2003 -- NetJets orders 50 new Hawker 400XPs and eight Hawker 800XPs. February 2004 -- Raytheon Aircraft and NetJets sign a 10-year maintenance contract with additional options for Hawker 1000, Hawker 800XP and Hawker 400XP business jets in the NetJets fleet. February 2004 -- NetJets orders an additional two Hawker 800XPs. Total value of all transactions is approximately $1 billion.

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ISS: Spacewalk succeeds
Raumspaziergang im zweiten Anlauf erfolgreich

The second time is the charm for two International Space Station (ISS) spacewalkers. On July 1, the Expedition 9 crew restored power to a key control system, completed a series of bonus jobs to get ahead on future work, and even finished up ahead of schedule. The spacewalk went smoothly from the moment NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke and Commander Gennady Padalka exited the airlock hatch, starting outside 20 minutes early. It was the second spacewalk for the two. An initial attempt was halted last week after only a few minutes due to a balky spacesuit oxygen control handle on Fincke's suit. Last night, Fincke and Padalka spent five hours and 40 minutes outside of the Station. The spacewalk was expected to last about six hours.
The two space-age electricians completed their primary task, that was to install a new circuit breaker to restore power to one of four U. S. gyroscopes that help orient the orbiting laboratory. Mission Control in Houston confirmed the gyroscope had power and appeared to be operating well a few minutes later. It's expected to be restored to full operation, assisting in controlling the Station's orientation, as early as this afternoon. Padalka and Fincke left the Station at 5:19 p.m. EDT. The duo moved smoothly from the Russian Pirs airlock along a 50-foot-long cargo crane and a series of handrails, and reached the American-built segments of the outpost at 6:09 p.m. EDT. At that time, primary control of the spacewalk transferred from Mission Control in Moscow, to Mission Control in Houston. By 7:52 p.m. EDT, Padalka and Fincke had swapped the faulty circuit breaker with a working unit. Fifteen minutes later, Spacecraft Communicator Rex Walheim conveyed the good news that power had been restored to the gyroscope. The gyroscope was tested to a speed of 30 revolutions per minute as a preliminary verification of its health. It is scheduled to be spun up to 6,600 rpm tomorrow, its normal operating speed, and brought on line to assist in stabilizing the Station.

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US and EU agree on Galileo GPS
Einigung über Satellitennavigationssystem

The European Union and the United States concluded an agreement on GALILEO and GPS at the end of the Summit held in Ireland on 26 June 2004. The agreement on the promotion, provision and use of the two satellite-based navigation systems and related applications that was signed by Commission Vice-President Loyola de Palacio and US Secretary of State Colin Powell will allow each system to work alongside the other without interfering with its counterpart's signals and thus give a huge boost to users worldwide. Vice-President Loyola de Palacio said: “This agreement will allow the European project GALILEO to become the world standard for civil and commercial use of satellite navigation; it will offer the best possible level of services to all users”.
After more than 4 years of intensive talks, the results for GALILEO, and, more importantly, users of GALILEO and GPS worldwide, are highly satisfactory. The agreement confirms that GPS and GALILEO services will be fully compatible and interoperable and therefore makes the joint use of GPS and GALILEO and the manufacturing of equipment much easier and cheaper. GALILEO has now become the de facto world standard of open signals in the GNSS mass market. GALILEO will not need to rely on a “GALILEO-only” user community; instead it will be instantly accessible and used by millions of people who today use GPS. This means that all users of satellite radio-navigation will be able to simultaneously, with only one receiver, use one or the other of the two systems, or both at the same time.
The agreement represents a major asset for the business case of the future GALILEO operator expected to finance at least two-third of the deployment of the system (1.4 billion euros), one-third being financed by the public sector (700 million euros). Such promising prospects will intensify the current competition between the three pre-selected consortia of companies which are running to get the concession to operate the system. Results of this competition which is run by, the Galileo Joint Undertaking (the programme's management-arm), will be disclosed by the Commission in October in view of a decision by the Council in December to move to the successive phases of the programme and open the way for the conclusion of the concession contract in 2005.
Finally, this agreement allows the last system specifications to be set, a crucial aspect for the swift operation of GALILEO. After the current development phase (2 satellites under construction will be launched by the end of 2005 and 2 shortly after), the deployment of the remaining 24 satellites (and related ground stations) is expected by 2008, date at which the system should start operation.

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SR Technics acquires FLS Aerospace
Wartungsbetrieb expandiert

On 28 June, SR Technics announced the completion of the acquisition of FLS Aerospace, from Danish conglomerate, FLS Industries. This acquisition, supported by SR Technics' investors 3i group and Star Capital makes SR Technics the world's largest, independent Total Solutions Provider of technical aircraft, component and engine services with a combined turnover of $1.2 billion USD. The group will have approximately 5,300 employees worldwide largely spread between Switzerland, Ireland and the UK. The combined forces of two of Europe's leading technical services providers see the Company now emerge as the world's major independent Global Solutions provider to the aviation industry. FLS Aerospace brings a wide range of both Boeing and additional Airbus capability to the SRT portfolio. In addition, FLS Aerospace has a strong European customer base, which will greatly enhance SR Technics' existing European presence. This strong foothold in Europe, in addition to SR Technics' market presence in Asia Pacific, sees the group well positioned to capture additional market share through this extensive product portfolio and capability to provide total solutions.
Commenting on the deal, Hans Ulrich Beyeler, President & CEO, SR Technics said “Our strategy is based on the demands by airlines for a provider, who has both the financial security and technical knowledge, to offer airline partners full support including asset management, which removes the need for heavy airline investment in the resources and assets for the technical operation of a successful, cost-efficient, quality airline.” The FLS Aerospace brand will be retained through a period of induction and integration. However, it is the intention that following this period, the SR Technics brand, which enjoys a reputation for uncompromised safety and high reliability and quality, will be applied across the entire Company.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Swiss International Air Lines is to introduce a Boeing Business Jet service on its Zurich-New York (Newark) route in January 2005. The aircraft, which will be operated by international business aviation specialist PrivatAir, offers seating for 56 passengers. SWISS will continue to operate its current Zurich-New York (JFK) service using Airbus A330 equipment. SWISS will be offering its new all-Business Class service between Zurich and New York (Newark) six times a week. The flights will be operated by a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) aircraft with seating for 56 passengers. The new service is scheduled to be launched on January 15, 2005. SWISS's current Airbus A330 operations between Zurich and New York (Newark) will be simultaneously withdrawn. But SWISS will continue to offer its present New York (JFK) services from both Zurich and Geneva. The new product will be carefully tailored to business travellers' requirements. Passengers will enjoy shorter boarding times, a calmer ambience on board and special inflight service. Cabin comfort will also be assured by the provision of lie-flat seats at a generous 153 cm pitch. And no fewer than four flight attendants will be assigned to each departure. The new product is expected to meet a clear market need among the business travel community.
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Mr. Mike "Red" Redenbaugh, CEO of Bell Helicopter Textron, said "The completion of these agreements means that together, Bell, KAI and Mitsui, will be able to develop the best light twin helicopter in the business. We listened to our customers, did our research and are now in a position to move forward with the 427i. The strong indication of support already seen from our customers with over 42 orders signed and 20 more expected by the end of the year clearly says we have responded correctly to their inputs." The new 427i will have IFR capability as well as increased cabin size and performance over the current 427 VFR. New technologies, improved design and the availability of numerous options and configurations all come together to deliver an aircraft with high cruise speeds, exceptional single engine capability, superior endurance and best in class ride quality along with ruggedness, reliability and safety. The 427 is a superior aircraft which delivers on its promise.
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Fraport AG has reorganized its cargo handling activities at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) into a newly established subsidiary called Fraport Cargo Services GmbH (FCS), which begins operations on July 1. Intensifying cost pressure and competition in this market segment inevitably required restructuring to ensure longterm competitiveness and to secure jobs within the Group. For years, Fraport's former Freight Services had been operating in an extremely difficult market situation, which made it necessary to create new framework conditions for sustained profitability. Otherwise, the entire segment would have been jeopardized. Therefore, in 2003 Fraport's executive board and supervisory board both decided to reorganize the company's Freight Services to ensure that a strong presence in this growth market could be maintained. The new subsidiary, with its noticeably leaner structures, will allow Fraport to offer airlines seamless freight-handling services at a more competitive and economical price. About 570 Fraport employees had a choice to transfer to the new Fraport Cargo Services GmbH subsidiary or to remain with the mother company, however at a lower pay rate under a direct union agreement. Over 90 percent of the affected employees decided to remain with the mother company. In the future, new cargo handling staff will be recruited exclusively by FCS at competitive market conditions.
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"Traffic growth for the first five months of 2004 is testimony to the resilience of air transport. Not only have we fully recovered from the impact of SARS and war in Iraq, all major regions of the world are reporting traffic levels above those of 2000—the last normal year for our industry," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Passenger traffic on all international routes was up by 38% in May 2004 as compared to May 2003. For Asian airlines alone the increase was even more extraordinary at 108% indicating a full traffic recovery from SARS. Overall, passenger traffic for the first five months of 2004 was up 19.4% over 2003, while freight traffic improved by 12.2% for the same period. More meaningfully, when 2004 data is compared to 2000 for the same 5-month period, global passenger and cargo traffic have risen to levels 8.8% and 13.6% higher respectively. Despite the shocks that have rocked the airline industry in recent years, the underlying industry annual growth rate is 3.6%, according to recent IATA trend analysis (chart attached). "Events beyond our control have clearly slowed the growth of the industry to half of what we experienced in the latter part of the 1990's. All things being equal, every 1% of growth adds US $1.6 billion to revenues on international services," said Bisignani. "While oil prices have declined recently, every additional dollar over US$33/barrel generates US$1 billion industry losses. Efficiency gains and cost cutting remain priorities to return the industry to health. The IATA-led initiative to move the industry to 100% electronic ticketing by 2007 is an example of the serious approach that airlines are taking to cutting costs out of the system. Our partners in the value chain—particularly airports and air navigation service providers—must approach cost efficiency with equal resolve," said Bisignani.
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The first three of sixteen AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 helicopters ordered by the Royal Air Force of Oman arrived in Oman on 24th June 2004. The three aircraft were loaded aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo plane at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton on the 23rd June, having completed pre-delivery inspections at AgustaWestland's UK plant in Yeovil. This important milestone was achieved just 28 months after contract signature. Richard Case, Managing Director of AgustaWestland, commenting on the achievement said "We are delighted that the Super Lynx 300 will soon be entering service with the Royal Air Force of Oman; our first customer for the type in the Middle East. The exceptional hot and high performance of Super Lynx 300, combined with the Royal Air Force of Oman's multi-role equipment fit makes this version of the Super Lynx 300 the most capable version of Lynx to be developed so far." The Royal Air Force of Oman will become the second operator of Super Lynx 300's and the first customer to operate the aircraft in a multi-role configuration. The aircraft are equipped for a wide range of overland and maritime roles including search and rescue, utility, troop transport and coastal patrol.
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The U.S. Army's RQ-5A Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be able to climb faster, operate at higher altitudes, and spend less time being serviced thanks to the integration of a heavy-fuel engine on the air vehicle by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), the Hunter prime contractor. The new engine, which recently completed a four-month engineering test and flight demonstration program, also helps advance the Army's goal of using JP-8 as the single fuel for all of its land- and air-based weapon systems. Heavy fuels are diesel- or kerosene-like fuels used to run diesel and jet engines in Army platforms such as helicopters, tanks and HMMWVs. They are less expensive and more available than the aviation MOGAS fuels currently used to power the service's fleet of tactical UAVs such as Hunter and Predator.
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ARA-Flugrettungs GmbH, partner in the air rescue alliance TEAM DRF, has started to operate an emergency rescue helicopter in Oberwart/Austria on June 24, 2004. The helicopter is on standby from 7 a.m. to sunset every day, with an experienced crew – a pilot, an emergency physician, and a paramedic (HEMS crew member) – on board. The BO 105 helicopter has all medical equipment on board to provide for all patient's needs at the mission site as well as during the flight. From its base in Oberwart, the helicopter can reach mission sites within a radius of 50 kilometers in maximum 15 minutes. The helicopter with the call sign "ARA-4" is mainly used to transport the emergency physician to the accident scene as quickly as possible. In addition, "ARA-4" will also be used for the interhospital transfer of intensive care patients.
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EADS Astrium and the European Space Agency (ESA) to sign the LISA Pathfinder contract to demonstrate, in orbit, the technologies for LISA, the ESA/NASA Laser Interferometry Satellite Antenna gravity wave observatory. LISA Pathfinder, originally named SMART 2 (one of ESA's Small Missions for Application Research and Technology), is a new ESA space science mission. To be launched in 2008, LISA Pathfinder will be packed with radical instrumentation and technology to prepare the way for LISA, the world's first space-based gravity wave detector. Professor David Southwood, ESA's Director of Science and Colin Paynter, Managing Director, EADS Astrium Ltd. will sign the 80MEuro contract to build this small but remarkable spacecraft that will eventually lead to a whole new way of looking at the Cosmos.
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Thales welcomes the entry of the Dassault Rafale F1 standard into operational service, announced by the French Navy at the Landivisiau naval airbase on 25 June 2004. The entry into operational service is a sign of the Rafale's operational success with the Aéronavale (the French Navy's air arm) and confirms the programme as a key element of France's defence for the coming decades. The air defence mission of France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is conducted using the ten Rafale F1 standard aircraft that make up 12F Squadron. Thales supplies most of the onboard equipment needed to ensure system implementation and mission success, including the RBE2 electronic scanning radar, the Spectra electronic warfare suite (in partnership with MBDA), the IFF identification system and airframe equipment such as the mission and data-storage computer, displays, communication systems, backup instruments and electric power generation systems. The entry into operational service of the Rafale F1 standard and the success of the Agapanthe 04 mission are the results of major development efforts conducted since the Héraclès campaign, in which Thales played a major role. Initial feedback in 2002, following deployment in critical naval operating conditions, led to a series of modifications to the onboard equipment in order to optimise its implementation and operational deployment. These modifications were made in close collaboration with French Navy's pilots and technicians. The current success is the result of all the development, production engineering and final adjustment efforts that have gone into the F1 standard.
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Boeing and Delta Air Lines have entered into an agreement that will reduce Delta's total cost of ownership by having Boeing manage much of Delta's airframe spare parts. Under the arrangement, known as Integrated Materials Management (IMM), Boeing will be responsible for the purchasing, inventory management and logistics for a number of Delta's expendable aircraft parts. Initially the program will be focused primarily on proprietary Boeing parts with the potential to expand the scope of the program in the future. "Boeing is very pleased that we are continuing our long-term relationship with Delta," said Mark Owen, Boeing vice president of Material Management and Spares. "Our intent is that, through this program, Delta will not only avoid the cost of holding inventory, but eliminate the problem of spare-parts obsolescence and improve its overall materials management productivity." Boeing and other suppliers will own the aircraft parts, which will be stored at a location near the airline's operations until needed. An airline will only pay for parts as it uses them, significantly reducing the airline's inventory holding costs and improving its return on assets.
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An open-architecture real-time operating system developed by BAE Systems has been selected for use on the newest version of the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift transport helicopter, the CH-47F. The CsLEOS operating system will underpin the helicopter's digital flight control system. The digital control will replace analog flight controls on CH-47D helicopters as Boeing upgrades 300 of the aircraft to the F-model standard under contract to the U.S. Army. Its digital design will provide significantly greater reliability, maintainability, and flexibility than the existing analog control. The system also will incorporate a built-in diagnostic system for detecting and analyzing system failures and faults.
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Simulation becomes more and more important when it comes to medical training. It enables the medical staff to train emergency and other medical situations under realistic conditions. As one of the first air rescue organizations in Europe, the nonprofit air rescue organization DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V./German Air Rescue) now offers their doctors and paramedics training courses with mobile simulation units. DRF cooperates with the leading simulation centers in Germany. First training courses with doctors and paramedics have already taken place in a DRF ambulance aircraft and a DRF helicopter. One of the most modern mobile high-tech simulation patient is used during the courses. The mobile patient is connected to the medical equipment on bord the ambulance aircraft or the helicopter. With the simulation patient and the medical equipment, the most frequent complications can be trained practically and with a team. A stroke patient with an impending circulatory collapse or a trauma patient can be simulated, for example. The simulation patient can imitate ECG rythms, heart and breathing sounds, and further clinical symptoms. Infusions, syringes, and medicaments as well as drainages can also be applied. The trainings are recorded on video and debriefed afterwards, together with the whole training team. "The participants of our courses have evaluated our training very positively", says Dr. Jörg Braun, director medical service at DRF. "This encouraged us to offer simulation trainings in ambulance aircraft and helicopters on a regular basis."
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Shortly after take off from Munich Airport on Tuesday evening (29 June), a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, with Turkish airline, Freebird, Flight number FHY 234, returned to Munich following a bomb threat from a passenger on board. Following take off from Munich at circa 8:47 p.m. Central European Time on Tuesday evening, the pilots of the Airbus A320-200 alerted air traffic control in Munich that they were returning to Munich Airport. The aircraft landed safely and without problem around 9:30 p.m. with 150 passengers and seven crew aboard. Several minutes after the aircraft landed, a male passenger sustained injuries after apparently falling out of one of the aircraft´s opened doors and onto the apron. The passenger has been taken into custody by the police and has received medical treatment at Munich Airport´s on-site medical center. The entire crew and all passengers have safely deboarded the plane since landing and have been returned to the terminal, where they are currently being questioned by the authorities regarding the incident. An ensuing search of the aircraft found no bomb on board and the investigation continues.
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Bookajet was granted its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The recognition enables the Southampton Airport-based executive jet operator to operate its fleet strictly in accordance with JAR 1 Ops standards and further improve its operational excellence. Bookajet, now in its second year, has been operating under the AOC of Farnborough-based aviation management company and Hawker 125 operator, Aravco. Last month Bookajet confirmed an order with AvCraft for seven new Dornier 328 Envoy jets, which will be configured in a 14-seat executive layout. The company is preparing to accept its first aircraft this summer and pilots are due to start their training on the type with CAE in Amsterdam next month.
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Finnair Aircraft Finance and Embraer have signed an agreement for an order of 12 Embraer 170 airliners. Finnair has also taken options on eight additional aircraft, which may be convertible to Embraer 175s or Embraer 190s. The value of the firm order at list price is US$ 306 million and the contract's potential value is US$ 510 million if all options are converted. Configured to seat 76 passengers in a comfortable single class layout, the deliveries will begin in September 2005 and will continue through May 2007. The Embraer 170 aircraft will replace the MD-80 fleet and ATR-72 turboprop aircraft, which are being retired. As of March 31, 2004, the Embraer 170/190 family had logged 258 firm orders and 342 options.
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Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, EFW Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas, is providing the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) its Hermes 450 Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) along Arizona's southern border as part of the Arizona Border Control Initiative (ABCI). Under the CBP lease contract, EFW and Elbit Systems provide UAV's, ground control stations, operational crews and support personnel for UAV flight support of border patrol operations. This initial pilot program, which is focused on the Arizona border with Mexico, may be extended into next year and may be expanded by CBP to include the northern US border with Canada. The ABCI initiative is intended to provide improved surveillance along the Mexican border for various homeland security applications, including illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The UAVs will supplement manned aircraft and ground sensors with flight operation scheduled for the summer of 2004. The Hermes 450 Unmanned Air Vehicles are equipped with electro-optic sensors and communications payloads providing day and night imagery to Customs and Border Protection agents. The UAVs permit greater coverage and quicker response in the rugged, desolate areas of the southwest border and are the first operational use of UAVs for border patrol in the USA.
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Boeing is increasing Hamilton Sundstrand's work on the 7E7 Dreamliner by selecting the company's nitrogen generating system for the all-new passenger airplane. The 7E7 will be the first commercial jet featuring a nitrogen generating system. Such a system enhances the overall safety of the fuel tanks by reducing oxygen levels in them. "Boeing is committed to safe and efficient air transportation," said Mike Bair, senior vice president of the 7E7 program. "This system will bring the 7E7 into compliance with new regulations and further establishes the 7E7 as an airplane that offers new technologies for the benefit of our customers and their passengers."
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Boeing said it is selling to BAE Systems North America its Commercial Electronics unit based in Irving, Texas. The Commercial Electronics business will become part of BAE Systems' Platform Solutions Sector, which provides a broad range of capabilities and products for commercial and military aircraft. Boeing did not disclose terms of the agreement. The sale includes all of the unit's operations and the service center at the Irving, Texas facility; the London and Singapore service centers; and certain portions of the unit's operations in Puget Sound. Approximately 800 people work for the unit, most of them in Irving.
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The Eurely consortium, formed by Alcatel, Finmeccanica and Vinci Networks, is now joined by Capgemini, one of the world's providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services and SFR, the second mobile operator in France. This consortium is short-listed to become the Galileo concessionaire, the civilian radio-navigation system initiated by the European Commission and the European Space Agency. The Eurely consortium is reinforcing its partnership strategy to better serve the program needs. The Galileo positioning system is based on a constellation of thirty satellites providing global coverage. It will serve both institutional needs and commercial expectations in terms of positioning as well as precise and dependable time. This system will be compatible with the American GPS system. Samir Naessany, senior vice president of Alcatel's private communications activities and representing the Eurely consortium, said: "Eurely is proud to welcome SFR and Capgemini. Telecoms will play an important role in the success of Galileo. Alcatel has been committed for the past several years in developing solutions using the Galileo signals, which will benefit mobile operators and their customers. The ultimate quality of the Galileo signals delivered to the users will allow numerous products and services innovations, in particular in the transport domain and in personal and property safety."
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The Osprey landed following observation of debris coming from the right nacelle area, and a simultaneous bang heard by the pilots. Officials said cause of the incident is under investigation, but confirmed there had been extensive damage to the nacelle blower assembly. Preferred procedure in the event of such a failure is to make a precautionary landing as soon as possible, an official said. If no immediate landing area is available, conversion to wing borne flight – making ram air cooling available – is substituted. Officials at Pax River say internal damage was contained within the blower assembly, with no damage to other systems in the immediate nacelle area. A crewman was sent for observation when it was thought some of the debris may have struck him. He was immediately released.
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ScanEagle, a low-cost, long-endurance autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle built by Boeing and The Insitu Group, demonstrated the ability to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage during the U.S. Joint Forces Command's recently completed “Forward Look III” exercise. One of the goals of Forward Look, a series of demonstrations and experiments that began in December 2003 and culminated with the June exercise, was to improve interoperability and increase data fusion among multiple UAVs in operational scenarios. During the most recent exercise, held near Cherry Point, NC., June 12 to 21, ScanEagle was the only UAV participant able to fly every day and meet all mission requirements.
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China Airlines of Taiwan has taken delivery of the first of fourteen ordered A330-300s, with the new aircraft being part of the carrier's fleet renewal program. The A330 order was placed in December 2002 and followed the introduction into service of the longer range A340 sister in 2001. Deliveries of the new A330s will continue through until 2007. China Airlines' A330s will be operated on the carrier's regional network and will be configured with 36 Dynasty Supreme Class seats and 277 Economy seats. All aircraft will be powered by General Electric CF6 – 80E1 engines.
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A Gulfstream GV business jet recently flew with pilots controlling the aircraft with NASA's experimental Synthetic Vision System (SVS). Using a combination of Head-up (HUD) and Head-down displays, an advanced multi-scan weather radar, advanced sensors, a voice-recognition system and cockpit displays with computer-generated images of the terrain, pilots flew approaches solely using SVS. In addition to NASA's SVS, a Runway Incursion Prevention System (RIPS) also is being tested and evaluated aboard the GV. Both experimental programs are part of NASA's Aviation Safety and Security Program, which researches and evaluates new onboard systems that improve a pilot's situational awareness, resulting in reduced incidents of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and runway incursions.
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The Sea Launch Company deployed Loral's Telstar 18 communications satellite into orbit from its ocean-based platform on the Equator.The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 8:59 pm PDT (3:59 GMT, June 29), as scheduled, from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude. On its way to a final orbital position at 138 degrees East Longitude, the spacecraft was separated into a reduced apogee orbit. A ground station in Perth, Australia, acquired the spacecraft's first signal, shortly after spacecraft separation. After the completion of the mission, Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch, said, "We are still assessing the data and we are optimistic the spacecraft will achieve its specified lifespan on orbit. We are supporting our Loral customer in this assessment. We will issue additional information as it becomes available."
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International Space Technologies, a developer of stationary plasma thrusters (SPT) used to keep satellites on station, today announced that its SPTs have been successfully deployed, tested and are now being used in routine on-station operations on the recently launched MBSAT satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), Palo Alto, Calif. for Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBCO) of Japan and SK Telecom of Korea. ISTI is a joint venture of Fakel Experimental Design Bureau of Kaliningrad, Russia, Snecma Moteurs of France and SS/L, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. MBSAT, which was successfully launched on March 13, 2004, uses SPTs for North/South station keeping maneuvers that keep a satellite in its proper position throughout the satellite's 12-year operational life. Since the satellite's launch, MBSAT's SPTs have logged over 100 hours of routine orbit maneuvers. SPTs are low thrust, Hall-effect thrusters that use available spacecraft electrical power to ionize and accelerate an inert gas, Xenon, to create the thrust to move the satellite. They are controlled and powered by specially developed and highly efficient Power Processing Units designed and manufactured by Space Systems/Loral.
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The United States and India intend to explore working together on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), the next generation U S environmental satellite system engaged in remote sensing from a polar orbit. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the U S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced this today, the concluding day of the India-United States Conference on Space Science, Applications and Commerce, after agreeing on a timetable to take this process forward in preparation for the expected launch of NPOESS in 2009. NPOESS will provide rapid distribution of global and regional environmental imagery, meteorological, climatic, terrestrial, oceanic and solar-geophysical data for use by the international community. Data from this system will aid in the timely prediction of cyclones, support disaster management efforts; and benefit the development and management of agriculture, fisheries, maritime industries and other economic sectors. The ISRO-NOAA effort will support timely receipt of high quality data derived from the NPOESS system. As part of this program it is envisaged to set up fifteen worldwide reception stations located on all seven continents. One of these stations could be in India. NOAA industry partners Northrop Grumman Space Technology and Raytheon Company are under contract to implement the worldwide NPOESS system.
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Eurofighter GmbH welcomed the decision by the German Government that effectively provides a route forward for contract signature of the Eurofighter Typhoon Supplement 3/Tranche 2 production contract. Eurofighter, in close collaboration with the Eurofighter Partner Companies, is in detailed discussions with NETMA and the four Partner Nations to finalise a contract that will provide the basis for future production of the Eurofighter Typhoon Weapon System.
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SWISS will introduce a new distribution model as of January 1, 2005. The new model will provide greater cost transparency, as it will show the services of the airline separately from those of the travel agent. The commission SWISS currently pays to travel agencies will be eliminated. In future, travel agencies will charge their customers directly for their services. The Swiss Federation of Travel Agencies was consulted in the development of the new distribution model. SWISS has informed the travel agencies in writing of this change. As far back as the summer of 2003 SWISS first announced its intention to introduce a new distribution model as of January 1, 2005, in keeping with changes taking place throughout the air transport industry. The combination of over-capacity and the emergence of low-cost carriers have altered the competitive environment and compelled airlines to reduce costs, especially on the distribution front. At the same time, fares on many routes have fallen sharply, while the percentage commissions travel agencies receive from airlines make a constantly declining contribution to agency profitability.
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Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) welcomed its newest heavy maintenance customer in Manila. The Air Mauritius A340-300 aircraft arrived at the maintenance facility of LTP for its scheduled ten year check. The aircraft has been docked in LTP's hangar next to an A340-300 of Philippine Airlines currently undergoing a five-year check. LTP operates two production lines dedicated to A330/A340 base and heavy maintenance in Manila. Air Mauritius operates a fleet of five A340-300, two A319, two B767ER, one ATR 72 and two ATR 42 from its home base in Mauritius. The carrier maintains an extensive worldwide network. Most frequently served intercontinental destinations are Paris and London.
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On June 29, Cessna achieved a significant milestone with the first deliveries of four Skylanes equipped with the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system. During the ceremony in Independence, Kansas, Cessna's single engine team members cheered as Cessna's President and CEO Jack Pelton proudly presented the new Skylane owners their keys. “These deliveries mark the beginning of a new era in general aviation. Providing the world's safest single engine airplanes with a fully-integrated, all-glass cockpit is one of the biggest developments since the restart of our single engine production line and revitalization of general aviation,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna's President and CEO. “We are extremely proud to deliver these first all-glass G1000 equipped Skylanes, and we look forward to many more deliveries.”
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Singapore Airlines has flown into the commercial flight distance record books for the second time this year, with an A340-500 successfully inaugurating the carrier's latest non-stop round trip commercial air service between Singapore and New York (Newark). The A340-500 departed at 12.25 Singapore local time on 28th June and completed the 16,600 km / 9,000 nm sector to New York in 18 hours 18 minutes. The airline beat its own previous record distance for a non-stop round trip commercial service, when it introduced the A340-500 on the service between Singapore and Los Angeles on 3rd February 2004. On that occasion, the A340-500 completed the 14,093 km / 7,609 nm sector to Los Angeles in 14 hours 42 minutes. Singapore Airlines' fleet of five A340-500s are all configured with 64 enhanced Raffles Business Class and 117 Executive Economy Class seats. The cabins for both classes feature special areas and amenities for passengers to stretch their legs, socialise and relax on ultra long haul services.
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The legend flies again! A successful test flight of the rebuilt Messerschmitt Me 262 “White 1” was completed on June 29th. This was flight #3 and everything went as planned. The wheels were left down for this flight. Afterwards, White 1 was parked next to the Collings Foundation B-17 for photos.
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