FLUG REVUE update: Week ending 15 August 2004

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UPDATE
Week ending 15 August 2004

+++ Two X-45A fly together for first time +++ Court halts Airbus extension at Hamburg +++ Lockheed Martin wins ACS +++ Freighter market to double +++ Messenger on way to Mercury +++ EADS sells MILDS for CH-53s +++ News in brief +++

Two X-45A fly together for first time
Premiere: UCAVs im gemeinsamen Flugtest

The Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program again made aviation history during an August 1, 2004, flight test that demonstrated the first-ever control of two unmanned aircraft by a single operator/pilot. At 10:40 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the first Boeing X-45A J-UCAS technology demonstrator took off from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Four minutes later, the second X-45A followed. Both vehicles flew simultaneously under the supervision of a single operator.
Upon the X-45A operator's command, the two unmanned aircraft joined up in a preset formation using the same mission plan. Both aircraft maintained their position relative to a simulated third aircraft that was considered the “virtual lead.” This unprecedented demonstration was enabled by the X-45A's four-dimensional navigation capability, the ability to position a vehicle at a particular location in space at a designated time. The two aircraft flew at approximately 15,000 feet and at Mach 0.6 (about 390 mph). For this initial demonstration, lateral separation of more than a mile was maintained as the test team explored coordinated flight. Various maneuvers were demonstrated, with the two X-45A vehicles maintaining precise position relative to the virtual lead. Aircraft state information was shared between the aircraft using an inter-vehicle data link (Link-16).
“Sunday's first-ever control of two unmanned aircraft by a single operator/pilot was a significant step in the demonstration of multi-vehicle operational capabilities,” said Captain Ralph N. Alderson, USN, X-45 Program Manager. “This is an important step toward the collaborative mission execution that is essential to the success of J-UCAS.”

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Court halts Airbus extension at Hamburg
Keine Verlängerung der Bahn in Finkenwerder

A German court has ordered Airbus to halt construction of a runway at its assembly plant in Hamburg. The company says the decision could jeopardize its 11.7 billion euros ($14.3 billion) A380 super jumbo jet project. In the weeks leading up to the ruling by Hamburg's upper administrative court, Airbus argued that a major extension of its existing runway is necessary for the testing of the cargo version of its ambitious new A380 super jumbo jet program, which is expected to hit the market in 2006. Airbus officials fear the decision could harm the company's future in Germany and comes at a sensitive time for the program, which is expected to increase company revenues by 6 billion euros annually.
Both Airbus and representatives of the Hamburg government said they regretted the decision, but residents and environmental activists said they were relieved by the ruling. A spokesperson for the European company said Wednesday the runway expansion was "urgently needed" in order for Hamburg to hold its position as a major base for the cargo plane (photo) and other further developments of the A380 line. Airbus CEO Gerhard Puttfarcken said a ruling against Airbus in the case could bring "considerable" negative consequences for the aviation industry in Hamburg and Germany. The company said it would now pursue legal and political avenues to reverse the injunction. Hamburg officials fear the decision could lead Airbus to focus more on its second major manufacturing base in Toulouse, France, which is already responsible for the assembly of its current line of long-haul jets. A final ruling in the case is not expected for several years.

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Lockheed Martin wins ACS
Aufklärungsflugzeug-Auftrag für Lockheed Martin

The U.S. Army has awarded a Lockheed Martin team an $879 million defense contract to develop the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS), a next generation airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and target identification system. ACS will replace current ISR aircraft, including the Army's Guardrail Common Sensor, the Airborne Reconnaissance Low aircraft and the Navy's fleet of E-P3 aircraft. Under the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract awarded today, the Lockheed Martin team will combine and enhance the capabilities of the current systems on these platforms into a single ISR mission package on an Embraer ERJ-145 platform. The contract has a potential value of over $7 billion over the life of the expected 20-year program.
Specifically, under the SDD phase of the contract the team will deliver five certified, mission ready airborne ISR systems, with initial testing planned for 2006. The balance of the effort would be performed under a follow-on low rate initial production contract anticipated in 2007, followed by a full rate production contract in 2009. Lockheed Martin's ACS design features an unprecedented sensor-computer integration that will pinpoint threats in real-time. ACS will provide instantaneous access to decision-quality intelligence from manned, unmanned and space-based ISR systems. It will provide U.S. Army and U.S. Navy commanders with persistent surveillance, allowing them to “see” a complete representation of the battlespace. The ACS sensor suite will fly onboard a militarized Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. This platform is well suited to the demanding, high duty cycle environment for ACS, and as a commercial platform offers a worldwide support infrastructure and low life cycle costs. In addition to Embraer, Lockheed Martin's team includes Argon Engineering, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Harris, L-3 Communications and Raytheon.

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Freighter market to double
Boeing-Prognose für Frachtflugzeuge

The world freighter airplane fleet will nearly double during the next 20 years, from 1,766 to 3,456 airplanes, The Boeing Company says in its latest market forecast. According to the Current Market Outlook 2004, produced annually by Boeing Commercial Airplanes and recently released at the Farnborough Air Show, 2,950 freighters will enter the fleet by 2023 and 1,260 cargo airplanes will be retired, for a net gain of 1,690 airplanes. Freighters as a percentage of the total world airplane fleet will decrease from 11 percent to 10 percent, due to an increase in size of the average freighter.
The world share of widebody freighters is expected to increase to 60 percent of the fleet, compared to 44 percent currently. More than half of the freighters that will be added to the fleet will be widebody airplanes. By 2023, 724 new production freighters will enter the fleet, with the remainder -- approximately 75 percent of the total growth -- being conversions of existing passenger and combi airplanes. Nearly half of the converted airplanes will be in the large freighter category (greater than 65 tons). The value of the new production freighters entering the market over the 20-year period is US$139 billion.

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Messenger on way to Mercury
Neue Planetensonde nach 36 Jahren

The first mission to explore the planet Mercury in more than 36 years began successfully on 3 August with the launch of NASA's MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space, ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II Heavy launch vehicle. The launch occurred at 2:15:56.537 a.m EDT from Space Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Following a 57-minute flight, the spacecraft was deployed to an Earth-escape trajectory. Upon arriving at Mercury in 2008, MESSENGER will make three passes of the planet before entering orbit around it in March 2011 to become the first spacecraft to visit Mercury since Mariner 10 in 1974-75.
During its orbital lifetime, MESSENGER's onboard cameras and sensors will image the planet and collect data on Mercury's geological and atmospheric composition, enabling scientists better to understand how Mercury was formed, how it evolved, and how it interacts with the Sun. MESSENGER will stay in orbit around Mercury for one Earth year, finishing its data collection in March 2012. “The launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II continues our long-standing partnership with NASA,” said Will Trafton, vice president and general manager, Boeing Expendable Launch Systems. “The dependable Delta II has carried aloft a wide variety of interplanetary and planetary explorers for the space agency that are helping us better to understand the Earth and our solar system. Our continued launch success is testament to the reliability of this versatile launch system and the Delta team's commitment to excellence.” MESSENGER is the seventh mission selected for NASA's Discovery Program, which focuses on planetary exploration. The spacecraft was developed by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

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EADS sells MILDS for CH-53s
Neue EloKa-Systeme für Bundeswehr-Hubschrauber

EADS will be equipping the CH-53 helicopters of the German Armed Forces intended for operations in Afghanistan with missile warning systems incorporating the most modern technology. As the company announced, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement has placed an order to replace the missile warning system currently installed with the AN/AAR-60 MILDS (Missile Launch Detection System), initially in six helicopters. The decision whether further CH-53s earmarked for crisis management scenarios will also be equipped with MILDS, is expected in the near future. “More than 4,000 units of the MILDS are being successfully used throughout the world in helicopters and transport aircraft,” Bernhard Gerwert, Head of EADS Defence Electronics, explained. “Its high degree of reliability and precision makes it possible to initiate protective countermeasures against missiles in the few seconds remaining. This means it makes a decisive contribution to the safety of our soldiers in dangerous operations.”
MILDS is a passive, mapping sensor system that detects the ultraviolet emissions of the approaching missile. The extremely high resolution and the fast data processing make it possible to reliably emit warning signals at an early stage. The system, consisting of several sensors and a signal processor, ensures all-round protection and a short response time. MILDS is also in use as part of the self-protection system of the NH90 and Tiger helicopters.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Virgin Atlantic Airways has committed to take delivery of another 13 new Airbus A340-600s and taken options on 13 more, in its largest ever aircraft deal. Deliveries to the airline will start in the first half of 2006. The A340-600, like the smaller capacity A340-500, is powered by four high-bypass ratio Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, burning up to 20 per cent less fuel than older generation jet aircraft, while providing the aircraft with outstanding range and payload performance that is unmatched by any competing aircraft. Virgin Atlantic had previously committed to 12 A340-600s, of which seven have already been delivered to serve the carrier's routes to the USA, Asia and Africa. A further five will be delivered by 2006. The latest commitment will take Virgin Atlantic's A340-600 fleet to 25 aircraft, and to 38 with the exercise of the options.
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German military officials have transferred nine MiG-29 fighter jets to Poland, completing the handover of 22 planes that started last fall. Germany had sold the jets to the Polish air force for a symbolic price of 1 euro ($1.20). But Poland has to spend about 43 million euros to modernize the planes, which will replace its own MiG-21 jets. Warsaw has also ordered F-16 fighter jets from the US, but they are not expected to arrive until 2006. The German military, the Bundeswehr, had acquired the planes from the East German military after reunification.
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A Proton rocket launched by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully carried the Amazonas satellite into orbit. The 191-foot-tall (58.2-meters) vehicle lifted off at 4:32 a.m. from Baikonur (6:32 p.m. EDT Wednesday, 6 August). The rocket's Breeze M upper stage placed the satellite into a transfer orbit 9 hours and 11 minutes later. The launch vehicle was built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, a partner in the ILS joint venture along with Lockheed Martin Corp. This was the third Proton launch of the year for ILS, and the seventh mission overall for the company in 2004. The satellite was built for Hispasat of Spain, and will be used by its subsidiaries Hispamar of Brazil and Hispasat Canarias to provide a multitude of communications services at both C- and Ku-band on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. When it reaches its operating position of 61 degrees West longitude, the Amazonas satellite will be the largest in the Hispasat fleet. The high-power satellite is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS Astrium of Europe, the third E3000 spacecraft launched by ILS this year.
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America West has placed a new order for ten A320s and seven A319s. This firms up a commitment announced by the airline in May 2004. America West will lease an additional four A320 Family aircraft from various lessons. One more A320 Family aircraft will be either purchased or leased – a decision by the airline is pending - bringing the total transaction to 22 aircraft. Deliveries of the purchased aircraft begin in late 2005 and will run through 2006. IAE V2500 engines will power all the America West A320 Family aircraft.
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Over the next decade it is estimated that the market for military helicopter upgrades and retrofits will remain strong. Up to 1,500 major modification programmes for military helicopters are expected to be worth around US$12.6 billion worldwide. The upgrades will be necessary chiefly because of the age of a large number of military helicopters in service such as the UH-1 'Huey', U-60 'Black Hawk', Puma, Lynx and Mi-17 'Hip' utility helicopters; AH-1 'HueyCobra', Mi-24/35 'Hind' and AH-64 'Apache' attack helicopters, CH-47 'Chinook' and CH-53 'Stallion' transport helicopters together with the SH-2G 'Seasprite' and Sea King Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft. A major segment of the upgrades market is expected to be engine retrofits which could be worth up to US$7 billion alone. The importance of powerplant upgrades will increase as military operators around the world improve their helicopter fleets to be more powerful and to travel further and faster. It is expected that by 2009 helicopter engine deliveries could reach 1,200 units per year. The United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force all operate large helicopter fleets and in terms of size and value, the military helicopter upgrade and retrofit market is expected to be at its strongest in the US where several aircraft need life cycle and capability improvements. Furthermore, the cancellation of the Comanche attack and reconnaissance helicopter in Spring 2004 has released substantial funds (up to US$14.6 billion), which would have been spent on purchasing this helicopter, for expenditure on upgrade programmes for the US Army helicopter fleet. A total of 1,400 helicopters across the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve are expected to receive some sort of upgrade over the next decade.
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Fraport AG – Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide – increased its sales during the first six months of 2004 by 7.5 percent to Euro 943.1 million. The Group recorded an EBITDA of Euro 237 million marking an 11.8 percent increase in comparison to the first half-year 2003. The increase of sales was mainly the result of air traffic growth and higher earnings from security services.34.9 million passengers passed through airports of the Fraport Group during the first half-year 2004, a 13.0 percent increase in comparison to the first six months of 2003. Frankfurt Airport, the most important location of the Fraport Group, recorded 24.3 million passengers – 8.2 percent more than during the first half-year 2003. The increase of tourism traffic to the Mediterranean coast of Turkey generated 4.4 million passengers at Antalya Airport (+ 53.2 percent). Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, with its focus on low cost airlines, reported a growth of 20.8 percent. Improved utilization of the limited slot capacities was noticed at Frankfurt Airport: The maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) – an indicator of the size of deployed aircraft – increased by 5.6 percent. Frankfurt Airport handled 878,738 metric tons of airfreight (airfreight and airmail) during the first six months of 2004 (+ 10 percent). In addition to higher airport charges, Fraport's increased earnings were based on security services due to the additional security requirements established in the latest EU aviation security regulations. Furthermore, ICTS (the specialist for security services) was able to successfully expand its business by concluding new contracts and gaining additional customers.
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Lockheed Martin has received a $33.9 million foreign military sales contract for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile-related support equipment for The Netherlands. A follow-on contract for PAC-3 Missiles is anticipated by the end of the year. This is the first international sale of PAC-3 Missile-related equipment. The contract, awarded by the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command in Huntsville, AL, calls for Lockheed Martin to produce PAC-3 Missile Segment ground equipment, including Enhanced Launcher Electronics Systems (ELES) and Fire Solution Computers, for The Netherlands. This equipment will enable The Netherlands' existing Patriot ground equipment to accept the new PAC-3 Missiles.
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A courageous strategy of expanding services into Central and Eastern Europe (Focus East) and long-haul routes to Asia, combined with a range of efficient marketing offensives, produced a 15 % increase in passenger volume in the first half-year of 2004 and a rise in the passenger load factor on scheduled services to 71.2 %. Austrian made further cost reductions by cutting its unit costs once again, significantly increasing its result compared to the same period in 2003 and compensating in part for the reduction in yields on European medium-haul traffic. Compared to last year, the adjusted EBIT was improved significantly, rising from EUR –52.5m to EUR –8.5m. The EBIT improved by EUR 4.4m to EUR –18.9m. Profit before tax was EUR –27.5m, after EUR –28.6m in the comparable period in 2003 (adjusted: EUR –18.3m, compared to EUR –60.0m the previous year). Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, made the following comment in his summary of the half-year report: “The beginning of our specialisation and expansion offensive has been a success, introducing 112 additional flights to Central and Eastern Europe every week (bringing the total to 471 weekly flights to the region) and inaugurating services to Shanghai and Singapore. In addition to this, we have not only begun to compensate for reduced yields by means of increased load factors and further cost reductions, but also succeeded in expanding our market share – both in the traditional network segment and in the low cost segment ('Redticket - return flight included').
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A significant milestone was achieved on July 26th 2004 when the first Super Lynx 300 helicopter for the Royal Thai Navy undertook a successful maiden flight from AgustaWestland's Yeovil plant in the UK. Alan Johnston, Chief Operating Officer in the UK, said the maiden flight marked a further chapter in the Lynx success story. “With the Super Lynx 300 already in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Air Force of Oman, we are delighted that Thailand will be the next customer to receive the best aircraft in its class. We developed the Super Lynx 300 to meet customers' changing requirements, providing greatly increased performance, new cockpit display system and an all new avionics suite, to maintain Super Lynx as the leader in its market.” The Royal Thai Navy ordered new generation Super Lynx 300 naval helicopters in late 2001 and they will be operated from their frigates performing anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, SAR and maritime surveillance roles.
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US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft are receiving a substantial performance upgrade from a new flight and fire control computer and software upgrade designed and developed by BAE Systems. BAE Systems Platform Solutions received a contract from Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego, the A-10 prime contractor and Prime Team lead. The team also includes Southwest Research Institute and Northrop Grumman. The effort to equip the entire Thunderbolt fleet with an Integrated Flight and Fire Control Computer (IFFCC) is valued at $30 million. Accompanied by an updated Suite 2 software package, the new control is significantly improving aircraft and weapon-system safety, accuracy, and maintainability.
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Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO John W. Douglass today urged Congress to support the Bush Administration's proposed FY 2005 budget for NASA. He expressed concern that reductions to the $16.2 billion agency plan will jeopardize the nation's new Vision for Space Exploration announced on January 14, 2004, as well as aeronautics research and development. As a result of recent action by the House Appropriations Committee, NASA faces a reduction of approximately $1.1 billion below the President's request. Furthermore, additional safety improvements to the Shuttle fleet will require expenditures between $350 million and $650 million beyond the FY05 level of recommended funding. Because NASA plans to close this shortfall through internal budget re-allocations, the agency will have approximately $2 billion less for space and aeronautics programs than proposed by the President. In urging the Congress to support the President's 2005 budget request, Douglass said, "There is no question that America must adequately fund both aeronautics and the nation's new Vision for Space Exploration." Recalling that in its five-year R&D plan AIA called for NASA to receive an additional $34 billion, Douglass added, "The bottom line is that the U.S. space program is already under funded in its first year of implementing the new national space vision. If the money requested by the President is not restored, NASA will be forced once again into an internal financial crisis that will undermine our national goals."
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AgustaWestland has further strengthened its Integrated Operational Support (IOS) capability for helicopter fleets by teaming with leading defence company Serco as a strategic sub-contractor. Serco, one of the key players in defence markets worldwide, was recently awarded a multi million pound Multi-Activity Contract (MAC) by the UK Naval Air Command to provide a range of support services at Naval Air Stations. This contract success prompted AgustaWestland and Serco to offer a joint approach to future rotary wing support for the UK Ministry of Defence. Designed and developed by AgustaWestland, IOS represents a step change in the way the performance of military helicopter fleets can be enhanced. It provides a focused, comprehensive 'cradle to grave' integrated support service which also delivers significant savings. IOS involves the transfer of risk and responsibility for key support services to industry from the customer and provides continuously improving fleet availability and reduced cost of through-life ownership. Originally pioneered for the UK fleet of Sea King helicopters, IOS is also being applied to the fleet of Merlin Mk.1 and Mk.3 helicopters operated by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
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Amid stiff international competition, public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has bagged the biggest-ever export contract from aircraft manufacturer Airbus Industrie for the supply of 1000 doors for its planes. The contract, worth Rs 380 crore, envisages supply of 1,000 ship sets of forward passenger doors for A319s, A320s and A321s of the Airbus aircraft family, an official spokesman said here. The deal was signed at the company headquarters in the French city of Toulouse recently by HAL Managing Director A Saxena, Airbus Senior Vice President Allain Flourens and Vice President Eric Gillard, he said. Significantly, Indian Airlines has decided to acquire 43 aircraft of these three categories. The spokesman said HAL has plans to increase its production volume to meet the required delivery schedules.
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Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that Vision Systems International, (VSI), Elbit Systems' joint venture with Rockwell Collins, has been awarded a $75.6 million contract for over 300 JHMCS systems from Boeing, St. Louis. This award is the first Full Rate Production (FRP) of JHMCS following four Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot deliveries. Under the contract, VSI will provide JHMCS display systems, spares, technical support and support equipment for the Full Rate Production (FRP) lot 1 acquisition. This procurement fills additional U.S. government domestic requirements for the USAF and Air National Guard F-15, F-16 and USN
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Rolls-Royce, one of the world's leading aero-engine companies, announced that its Aero Repair and Overhaul (AR&O) facility in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, is to be replaced by a new state-of-the-art factory. The announcement, which will secure over 1000 highly skilled jobs in East Kilbride, was taken despite other attractive competing options. These included relocation to Eastern Europe. The skill of the workforce and their commitment to introducing new working practices was key to choosing East Kilbride for the £45m investment. Support from the Scottish Executive, which is providing a regional grant of some £8 million, was also key to the decision to stay in the UK. Graeme Waddell Business Director at East Kilbride commented: “Throughout the review process a number of significant, competing options were examined in great detail. We are now in a position to move forward with detailed examination of the site that will best suit our needs. We will be consulting widely with external stakeholders and planning applications will be submitted shortly.” The investment in East Kilbride further demonstrates the company's commitment to the UK and to Scotland. Rolls-Royce has invested £85m in updating and relocating its Compression Systems manufacturing facility at Inchinnan, near Glasgow Airport, replacing the current site at Hillington.
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BAE Systems has been awarded a ten-year contract worth approximately £76m to support the Tornado Secondary Power System (SPS). The contract, signed on 30 July, provides a full support service for Tornado GR4 and ADV hydraulic and electrical power generation systems for the next decade and is inclusive of spares, technical support and obsolescence. The Secondary Power System allows the aircraft's hydraulic and mechanical systems to be operated and tested without the need to run the engines. Under the contract, BAE Systems Customer Support & Solutions (CS&S) will take responsibility for the entire system, including managing the supply of assets, ensuring the availability of serviceable items to maintain the SPS at the Tornado operating bases.
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Boeing has selected Thales of France to supply the Integrated Standby Flight Display (ISFD) for the 7E7 Dreamliner. Last month, Boeing tapped Thales to supply the Electrical Power Conversion System for the airplane. "After our recent first selection onboard the 7E7 Dreamliner for the Electrical Power Conversion System, our company is very proud of this new success and to be part of the 7E7 Program. The confidence expressed by Boeing through this selection will enhance our companies' relationship and represents another important milestone in our partnership," said Gil Michielin, vice president, Avionics for Air Transport, Thales Aerospace Division. The ISFD is a liquid crystal display located in the center section of the forward flight deck panel. It provides an integrated display of airspeed, altitude, and airplane pitch and roll attitude. In addition, the ISFD demonstrates heading and landing approach deviation data in a format similar to primary flight displays.
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Lockheed Martin today announced the delivery of the first space payload for the Space-Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High) program. The payload was delivered for integration with a host satellite and eventual launch into a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) around the earth. The HEO payload's primary mission is to scan for ballistic missile launches; adjunct missions include detecting and reporting other infrared events of military interest. In addition to serving as the nation's next-generation missile warning system, SBIRS provides greatly expanded capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. SBIRS High will enable combat commanders the flexibility to gain valuable insight into an adversary's battle space and provide both tactical and strategic missile warning around the globe. “SBIRS represents a program of unprecedented capabilities and complexity and we cannot overstate the importance of this payload delivery. When deployed, the SBIRS HEO payload will be invaluable to our warfighters, contributing to our nation's missile defense infrastructure and affording multi-mission features that are unparalleled,” said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.
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Switzerland's space industry has renewed calls for the government to increase its involvement in the European Space Agency (ESA). Firms say their potential is not being fully tapped – a view endorsed by the Swiss Space Office. Swiss companies have been involved in space programmes for more than 30 years, a fact often overlooked when missions blast off to the Moon or Mars. They have built cameras, motors and sensitive instruments which measure the dust and gas in a comet's vapour. When Envisat, the earth observation satellite was launched in 2002, 86 Swiss firms from 17 cantons supplied parts and components. Around 800 people in Switzerland are directly involved in the space industry. When sub-contracting is taken into account, the figure rises to 2,000-3,000 jobs. “We have tremendous potential here in Switzerland,” Daniel Fürst, deputy head of the Swiss Space Office, told swissinfo. “It would benefit our industry and science community to increase our contribution to the European Space Agency.” Switzerland is a founding member of the ESA and finances 3.64 per cent of the overall budget. Under the principle of “geographical returns”, the percentage of budget paid is proportionate to the share of contracts handed out to each country. Out of a total ESA budget of 2.5 billion euros (SFr3.94 billion), the Swiss contribution this year is SFr125 million. About 80 per cent of this sum is ploughed back into Swiss industry and the Swiss science community.
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Space Imaging has signed an exclusive agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), of Montreal, Canada, to sell a new family of aviation geospatial products derived from Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite, and the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) and Landsat satellites. The agreement was signed July 23, 2004. These new products, marketed and sold through IATA, will increase air transport safety and efficiency for airlines and airports. Space Imaging will manufacture the products by utilizing the company's multi-source satellite imagery, imagery-derived products, IATA's proprietary geospatial information and other public domain sources. The agreement allows for four categories of products to be sold under the IATA brand: Satellite imagery of airports that include visual representations of ground obstacles. Aeronautical terrain and obstacle databases, manufactured from IATA's obstacle information and terrain data derived from Space Imaging's IKONOS Stereo imagery. Airport Mapping Databases (AMDB) that conform to the aviation industry's international standard (DO-272/ED-99). Space Imaging was the first commercial remote sensing provider to directly manufacture AMDBs starting in 2002. Aviation visual simulation databases for desktop, flight training devices (FTD) and full-motion simulators.
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With the beginning of operational flights by AWACS aircraft, NATO completed today the preparations for the assistance to security during the Olympics and Paralympics games. The components of the requested support are already operational and ready to assist, upon the Hellenic authorities request in ensuring the safe conduct of the 2004 Olympic and Paralympics Games. The AWACS are special aircraft, equipped with radar capable of detecting air traffic over long distances and at low levels. Their mission is to provide surveillance and early warning for defensive purposes. The AWACS are provided by the E3A Component at Geilenkirchen, Germany, the Airborne Early Warning Squadron of the British Royal Air Force and the French E3F stationed at Istres, France. An AWACS provides a wide range of coverage of over 310,000 square km.
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The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) selected Northrop Grumman as the preferred bidder for a potential £650 million contract to support the RAF's Sentry aircraft. The Sentry is the UK's principal airborne early warning and control aircraft, which gives vital strategic support to our Armed Forces in theatres of operation around the world. Under the upcoming Sentry future support programme, the costs of supporting Sentry will be reduced and more aircraft will be ready to fly, more of the time. Subject to final contract award, Northrop Grumman is positioned to undertake contractual maintenance and repair of the Sentry fleet, and ensure that the aircraft's operational availability is increased.
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Thales and Honeywell have announced a settlement to their TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) patent infringement dispute. The settlement follows the submission to arbitration of Honeywell's claims of infringement by the T2CAS product manufactured by ACSS (a joint venture of Thales and L-3 Communications) and Thales' claims that Honeywell's EGPWS product infringes the Thales patents. The settlement covers all Honeywell claims and Thales claims, and is based on a cross license of each party's TAWS patents. Other settlement terms are confidential. Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS), an L-3 Communications and Thales Company, is a leader in safety avionics systems that increase safety and situational awareness for aircraft operators and the flying public.
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Lockheed Martin's Sniper XR advanced targeting pod is now flying on U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft at the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center in California. The flight tests are in support of ongoing targeting pod competitions in Australia and Canada, and potential future requirements of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Sniper XR's full capabilities are currently being demonstrated on the left shoulder station of the F/A-18 A-D aircraft via the legacy NITE Hawk interfaces. In day and night operations, Sniper XR's extended range target acquisition, target identification, combat laser, training laser and electro- optic and IR sensors are being tested in both air-to-ground and air-to-air scenarios. Software integration and safety of flight certification were completed at China Lake prior to flight test.
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NASA has exercised an option to extend for two years the Space Flight Operations Contract (SFOC), which supports the Space Shuttle Program. This two-year option, valued at $3.6 billion, extends the contract period of performance with United Space Alliance (USA), LLC, of Houston through Sept. 30, 2006. Efforts under this contract include continuation of Return to Flight work and support for mission design and planning; software development and integration; astronaut and flight controller training; system integration; flight operations; vehicle processing, launch and recovery; vehicle sustaining engineering; and flight crew equipment processing. The SFOC is a cost reimbursement contract, with provisions for award fee and performance fees. This option is the final extension under the SFOC awarded in 1996. NASA also has begun proceedings to establish a new contract with USA covering Space Shuttle operations from Oct. 1, 2006, through the planned retirement of the Shuttle fleet.
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With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) comprising the most dynamic sector of the aerospace industry, a new Teal Group market study estimates that this market will more than double over the next decade, from current worldwide UAV expenditures of about $2 billion in 2005 to $4.5 billion in 2014. Teal Group analysts released details of their new UAV study during the AUVSI Unmanned Systems Symposium and Exhibition taking place this week at the Anaheim Convention Center. "The most significant catalyst to this market has been the enormous growth of UAV funding by the US military, tied to the general trend towards information warfare and net-centric systems," said Steve Zaloga, a Teal Group senior analyst and one of the study authors. "UAVs are a key element in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance portion of this revolution, and they are expanding into other missions as well with the advent of hunter-killer UAVs." The study suggests that the US will account for about 90% of the worldwide RDT&E spending on UAV technology over the next decade, and about 70% of the procurement. These represent higher shares of the aerospace market than for defense spending in general.
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Ryanair announced record profits for Q1 ended 30 June 2004 of Euro53.1m. Passenger volumes grew by a record 28% to 6.6m passengers whilst yields declined by 6% during the quarter and, as a result, total revenues rose by 23% to Euro302.8m. Unit costs fell by 4% and in turn the net margin after tax remains stable at an industry leading 18%. Announcing these results, Ryanair's Chief Executive, Michael O'Leary said: “These record quarterly results reflect the continued disciplined roll out of Ryanair's low fares model. Passenger volumes grew by 28% to 6.6m in the quarter and we carried more passengers in 3 months than the total traffic carried by Aer Lingus in a full year. Our two new bases at Rome Ciampino and Barcelona Girona have performed particularly well. Ryanair's strong performance is also reflected in the recent increases in monthly traffic and load factors. “Yields were 6% lower than last year, a decline that was towards the lower end of our -5% to -10% guidance. Our forward yield guidance remains unchanged. In Quarter 2 we anticipate a yield decline of between –5% to -10%. Next winter, we expect the yield decline to be in the –10% to – 20% range as chronically loss making competitors will continue to dump prices, resulting in even more airline casualties this winter. “The higher oil prices have continued through the summer and unlike many high fare flag competitors, we have not imposed fuel surcharges. We remain almost fully hedged until the end of Quarter 2 but largely unhedged thereafter. We believe that over the medium term prices will fall and therefore it would be unwise to lock-in at the current high rates. We anticipate that we will be able to largely offset these higher oil prices in this fiscal year by making cost savings in other areas.
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The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter team is expanding leadership responsibility to focus on the program's two major elements: program-requirements integration and contract execution. With the completion of the first 1,000 days of the program at the end of July, the JSF management team is repositioning to address the challenges of the next 1,000 days. Tom Burbage will lead a new organization as F-35 JSF executive vice president and general manager of Program Integration, responsible for the fulfillment of program requirements. Concurrent with Burbage's focused role on domestic and international customer requirements, Bob Elrod, formerly executive vice president for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Programs, joins the team as F-35 JSF executive vice president and general manager. In this role, Elrod will be responsible for contract execution. Elrod and Burbage assumed their new duties on Aug. 2. “The JSF program is always looking to strengthen the team with the addition of 'best athletes'. The addition of Bob, with very senior management skills, brings the opportunity to markedly improve the vertical and horizontal integration at the Air System level,” said Rear Admiral Steven Enewold, JSF Program Director. “Because of its size and complexity, the JSF program needs the organizational agility to keep pace as the program transitions from one phase to the next. Bob clearly brings new insights and deep understanding of aircraft development which will be invaluable as we build and fly our first F-35 and transition to low-rate production.”
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Eurofighter GmbH welcomes the statement by The Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, MP, Secretary of State for Defence, and the encouragement it gives to the International Governments and Industry partners of the Eurofighter programme. Typhoon fully satisfies the demand expressed by the Secretary of State for a flexible, deployable multi role platform at the heart of netcentric operations, which delivers better target acquisition, more precise weapons and a more rapid response than previous generations of air platform. Eurofighter GmbH also appreciates the Minister's comments regarding the “excellent performance and reliability” of the Typhoon aircraft now in service with the partner nations Our customers and partners recognize the Minister's need to conclude negotiations which deliver a price and capability agreement that is satisfactory to the Partner Governments and to Industry. In this respect we are pleased to note the great progress that has been made in recent weeks. We hope that this endorsement by the Minister allows us to proceed with the firm commitment we all need, before the end of July, to allow us to avoid a damaging, production gap, and to meet the demands of our international customers and partners.
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Honeywell has announced that it has successfully completed developmental flight testing of a new organic air vehicle (OAV) designed to gather and transmit surveillance data. Developed for DARPA, the aircraft is a 29-inch-diameter ducted fan vehicle controlled with Honeywell's micro-electric mechanical systems (MEMS) technology.Flight tests were conducted at the U.S. Army McKenna Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site located at the Soldier Battle Lab, Fort Benning, Georgia, and Honeywell's Defense & Space Electronic Systems operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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In the first half of 2004, OHB Technology AG continued its successful course, with margins in particular substantially improved. In spite of a small decline in total revenues, OHB posted EBITDA of EUR 4.9 million between January and June 2004, up from EUR 3.5 million in the year-ago period. As a result, the EBITDA margin widened sharply from 7.8% to 11.3%. At the same time, EBIT rose by a good 26% from EUR 2.7 million to EUR 3.4 million, leading to a substantial improvement in the EBIT margin from 5.9% in the previous year to 7.8% in the first half of 2004. Consolidated net income was largely unchanged over the previous year at EUR 2.3 million, equivalent to earnings of EUR 0.16 per share. In the first half of the year, the OHB Technology Group generated total revenues of EUR 43.0 million. The small decline of 5% over the same period one year earlier is due solely to the milestone-based billing system of individual services and thus caused by shifts within the fiscal year. The Space Technology + Security business unit posted unconsolidated total revenues of EUR 38.7 million unchanged over the previous year (EUR 39.4 million). With unconsolidated total revenues of EUR 5.8 million, the Telematics and Satellite Services business unit was down a good 13% on the previous year (EUR 6.7 million). However, for the first time the margin in this business unit exceeded that achieved by the Space Technology + Security business unit. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first half stood at EUR 79.6 million, up EUR 47.8 million on the year-ago period (EUR 31.8 million). Turning to the SAR-Lupe project, all the milestones set for the first half of 2004 were reached again, with the customer, the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, stating at the scheduled 7th management review at the end of July that it was very satisfied with the technical progress being made on the project.
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The Expedition 9 crew aboard the International Space Station prepared this week to receive another shipment of supplies. The crew also worked on several science experiments and routine maintenance of Station systems. A Russian Progress cargo craft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:03 a.m. EDT Wednesday and was due to dock to the aft docking port of the Zvezda module at 1:02 a.m. EDT Saturday.Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer and NASA Science Officer Mike Fincke prepared for the arrival of the craft by clearing room for the new supplies and setting up video cameras to monitor its arrival. Padalka also trained on the use of the Russian telerobotically operated docking system he would use to manually dock the Progress in the unlikely event the automated system is not available. During the Station's orbits above the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea the crewmembers took photographs of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley, while video cameras on the exterior of the Destiny laboratory module documented the storms' development. Crew Earth Observations began onboard the Space Station in November 2000 to record Earth surface changes over time, as well as more fleeting events such as storms, floods, fires and volcanic eruptions. So far, the Expedition 9 crew has taken more than 10,000 photographs for researchers worldwide.
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Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation (SSAC) announced that the company has achieved the high speed dive test results for the Mmo Mach .83 by reaching required testing speeds of Mach .90 in a series of high speed dive tests. The dive speed testing to Mach .90 is required to confirm the Mmo (Maximum Mach operating speed) of Mach .83 and to confirm that the aircraft does not encounter flutter at any operating speeds or safety margin speeds to Mach .90. The speed tests to Mach .90 were flown by SSAC Project Test Pilot, John Siemens as left seat command pilot with second control pilots Erick Kinney and Tim Fitzgerald alternating flights and flight control as well as engineering duties in the right seat. The aircraft used is SSAC's FAA conformed SJ30-2 twinjet S/N 0004, using Williams Rolls FJ44-2A engines with thrust output of 2,300 lbs each engine. On board were a number of sensing and recording devices including three airspeed indicators and three pitot airspeed sensors, one mounted on a boom on the nose of the aircraft. In addition, a state-of-the-art telemetry system was in place on the aircraft with real-time display in the mobile ground station of over 20 critical flight parameters on both strip chart records and computer workstations.
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On August 5, 2004, Kaman issued a Notice to Employees stating that Joseph H. Lubenstein, President of Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation, is terminating his employment with Kaman Aerospace Corporation. Effective immediately and until further notice, all employees formerly reporting to Mr. Lubenstein will report directly to Mr. Paul R. Kuhn, Chairman, President and CEO of Kaman Corporation.
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Lufthansa is back on a successful track: after the first six months of 2004 the company returned to profit with an operating result of 33 million euro. Following a loss of 116 million euro in the first three months of the year, the Group earned an operating profit of 149 million euro in the second quarter. The revenue total at the half-way stage reached the record level of 8.3 billion euro. "We used the opportunities presented by the market systematically, we successfully offloaded our expanded capacity, and our customers appreciate our high quality," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Lufthansa's Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, said during the presentation of the half-year results. Following the crisis-ridden year 2003 the Lufthansa Group again achieved growth in the first six months of this year. Selective capacity expansion led to a marked increase in passenger numbers. Mr. Mayrhuber identified the four pillars of Lufthansa's successful development in the first six months as "the extension of the network through new destinations and partners in the Star Alliance, the honouring of Lufthansa's quality promise, high innovative capability and absolute cost discipline." Since 2003 the Star Alliance has found seven additional partners on four continents. The new Business Class concepts have met with great acclaim in customer surveys, and Lufthansa is the first airline worldwide to offer in-flight broadband internet access. "We are excellently positioned in the growth markets. The new code-sharing agreement with Air India reinforces Lufthansa's position on the Indian traffic routes," Mr. Mayrhuber added, "and our partnerships in China are bearing fruit." In both markets Lufthansa is the foremost European carrier. Cost discipline remains at the focus of attention for both the top management and the workforce. The restructuring of the Group companies LSG and Thomas Cook progressed further in the first six months. In particular, the recent collective labour agreements at Thomas Cook show that the Group is on the right track. "The prolongation of Lufthansa Technik's joint venture with Air China in the form of Ameco Beijing is of great strategic importance for the growth market China."
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NASA will extend operation of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) through the end of 2004, in light of a recent request from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The extension, to be undertaken jointly with NASA's TRMM partner, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will provide data during another storm season in the U.S. and Asia. TRMM has yielded significant scientific research data over the last seven years to users around the globe. In addition, TRMM data has aided NOAA, other government agencies, and other users in their operational work of monitoring and predicting rainfall and storms, as well as in storm research. Launched in 1997, TRMM was originally designed as a three-year research mission. Following four years of extending TRMM, NASA and JAXA recently announced a decision to decommission TRMM, and proceed with a safe, controlled deorbit. Options for safe re-entry become increasingly limited the longer TRMM is operated, as it is already more than 3 years beyond design life.
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SWISS has reached an out-of-court agreement in its legal dispute with Société Holco and Société d'exploitation AOM Air Liberté. As a consequence, SWISS obtains CHF 68.7 million in liquid funds. The lengthy dispute between SWISS and Société Holco and Société d'exploitation AOM Air Liberté has concluded with a mutually satisfactory out-of-court settlement. Funds that were tied up in France and Belgium in connection with the case have now been released and a transfer in the amount of CHF 68.7 million has been made to SWISS. The full amount will positively affect both SWISS's cash flow and income statements. The income statement gain will be posted in the second quarter of 2004. SWISS will release no further details about the terms of the agreement.
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Stork has taken notice of the bankruptcy of SP Aerospace, located in Geldrop, the Netherlands. SP Aerospace is a partner of Stork in the NH90 helicopter program in which Stork is a participant for 5,5 %. SP Aerospace produces the landing gear. The involved contracts date back to the early nineties and have some years ago been supplemented with clauses that enable Stork, in situations like this, to start up operations as quickly as possible. Stork is in consultation with the receiver to continue the supply of landing gears on acceptable terms for Stork, in order to minimize the potential delay in the delivery of the landing gears.
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EADS Astrium GmbH is to build the NIRSpec super-eye for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded the Euro69million contract to EADS SPACE's satellite specialists. The 200kg spectrograph is able to detect the faintest radiation from the most distant galaxies and can observe more than 100 objects simultaneously. In order to do this, the instrument must be able to operate at a temperature of -238°C. EADS Astrium will develop and build the instrument at its Friedrichshafen and Ottobrunn facilities and is to complete the instrument, in a flight-ready configuration, by spring 2009. The launch of the JWST telescope is scheduled for mid-2011 on board an Ariane 5 launcher. The James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to Hubble (launched in 1990), which is currently operational in space, providing spectacular results and images from the earliest phases of our universe. In fact EADS Astrium's predecessor companies supplied Hubble's Faint Object Camera (FOC), which operated perfectly on board Hubble until 1997 – the only remaining first-generation instrument. The "final" size of the new universal telescope, covering the visible to mid-infrared range, greatly exceeds the loading dimensions of all existing launchers. The telescope with its 6.6 metre, three-segment primary mirror and a tennis-court-sized sunshield will therefore only be deployed in orbit.
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Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics received a Type Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its new large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450 business-jet aircraft. With this certification, Gulfstream remains on schedule to begin customer deliveries in the second quarter next year. Gulfstream introduced the G450 less than a year ago at the 2003 National Business Aviation Association's Annual Meeting and Convention, held in Orlando, Fla. At that time, the G450 was expected to receive FAA certification in the third quarter of 2004. "We made the commitment to our customers that we would have the G450 certified before October 1, and here we are - August 12 - and we've accomplished that goal with time to spare," said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. The long-range G450, like its ultra-long-range sister ships, the G500 and G550, and the new mid-range G350, features Gulfstream's exclusive PlaneView cockpit.
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