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UPDATE
Week ending 3 October 2004
+++ SpaceShipOne chases X-Prize +++ MEADS development phase contracted +++ A310 MRTT tanker handed over +++ Network centric consortium formed +++ Air Canada signs for regional jets +++ Next Rafale order in view +++ Farnborough Air Show to go forward under SBAC control +++ News in brief +++
SpaceShipOne chases X-Prize
Erster X-Prize-Flug erreicht 100 km
On 29 September, Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne reached an unofficial altitude of 358,000 feet. That's 67.8 miles (109.1 kilometers). An earlier report put the altitude at 330,000 feet. Thus, it completed the first of two qualifying flights for the $10 million X Prize. There were some nervous moments for spectators as the craft was on its way up, but it glided safely to a landing. The ship went into an unexpected roll on the way up, and Melvill shut down its main engine sooner than expected. The spinning "does not appear to be scripted maneuver," according to the official narration of the flight released after the SpaceShipOne had landed. The craft started spinning a minute after burn started, officials said. It is not yet clear what the problem was, however. Melvill did indeed turn the spaceship into an airplane, as planned, and then glided down. "Now that was fun," Melvill said afterward. "I shut the engine down at 11 seconds before it would have shut down automatically. So we would have gone a long way higher than we really did. At the top, we got a little bit of a rolling motion going, but I think it looks good for the crowd if you can roll at the top of the climb," he added. "I think we did about 20 turns in roll, and there were some pretty high rates there, but Burt's designed a system that allowed me to stop the rates. I turned on the reaction jets and I stopped the rates. I brought it to a complete standstill in space."
Despite the control issues, Rutan said the ship is ready to go for the next X Prize flight. "We will be analyzing why we got the roll near the end," Rutan said. "Will it delay whether we fly on Monday or not, I don't know that … we have to look at the data." If there's no needed delay, the ship can easily be turned around for a Sunday or Monday flight, Rutan said. The X Prize is named for Iranian American high tech entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari, who made a multimillion-dollar contribution to spur private investment in space travel.
The White Knight, which carried SpaceShipOne aloft for the mission, was paihnted with the logo of Virgin Galactic, which earlier in the week announced it would contract for a variant of SpaceShipOne to carry paying tourists into space.
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MEADS development phase contracted
US/Europa entwickeln Luftabwehrsystem
MEADS International (MI) received a $3 billion Design and Development letter contract to design and develop the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The contract award follows a series of successful system demonstrations and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Italy to develop the advanced ground-mobile air and missile defense system. Germany is expected to sign the agreement following parliamentary action later this year.
MEADS is being developed in accordance with International Common Operational Requirements that call for capabilities not met by current systems. MEADS incorporates the proven hit-to-kill PAC-3 missile in a system that includes 360-degree surveillance and fire control sensors, netted-distributed battle management/communication centers and high-firepower launchers. The system combines superior battlefield protection with unprecedented flexibility, allowing it to protect maneuver forces and to provide homeland defense against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft. A key capability is MEADS' ability to kill weapons of mass destruction carried on stressing tactical ballistic missiles.
MI Executive Vice-President Axel Widera noted, "This contract marks an exciting new program phase and a new level of cooperation among our nations. We are proud of the trust that Germany, Italy and the United States have placed in us to put a significantly advanced air and missile defense system into the hands of each nation's air defenders. Under the D&D program, MI will finalize designs for equipment and complete integration into the 21st century air and missile defense system. The system's six major equipment items are: Multifunction Fire Control Radar; Surveillance Radar; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (BMC4I); Certified Missile Round (PAC-3 Missile and canister); Launcher and Reloader. After extensive system simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing, the system will begin flight tests in the fourth year with 10 developmental test/operational test missions that include planned intercepts. Half of these tests include multiple intercepts. The comprehensive series of flight and ground system development tests will run through the sixth year. Operational testing, including three flight missions, will be conducted by the customer during the last six months of the program.
MEADS is a mobile air defense system designed to replace Patriot systems in the United States and Germany and Nike Hercules systems in Italy. It also meets the requirements of Germany's "capabilities oriented" air defense concept. MEADS will provide capabilities beyond any other fielded or planned air and missile defense system. It will be easily deployed to a theater of operations and once there, will keep pace with fast-moving maneuver forces. When completed, MEADS will be the only air defense system able to roll off tactical transports with the troops and immediately begin operations. More importantly, its open architecture will provide for 21st century air defense system-of-system integration capabilities that allow operational mission-tailoring for homeland defense or defense of maneuver forces. MEADS will also provide greater firepower with less manpower than current systems, producing dramatic operation and support cost savings.
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A310 MRTT tanker handed over
Airbus-Tanker geht an die Luftwaffe
On 29 September, the first two Airbus aircraft with air-to-air refueling capabilities, A310 Multi-Role Transport Tanker (MRTT) aircraft, were handed over to the German Air Force and the Canadian Air Force, during a ceremony in Dresden, Germany. A total of six A310 MRTTs, to be used both for passenger and cargo transport as well as for in-flight refueling, are scheduled to be delivered to the German Air Force, which will receive four aircraft, and the Canadian Air Force, which will receive two. The A310 MRTT, currently the most modern tanker aircraft, is based on the A310 passenger aircraft, which was first converted to combine passenger and cargo carrying capabilities in the Multi-Role Transport (MRT) version. A310 MRT aircraft have been flying with the German and Canadian Air Forces for a number of years and have proven to be very reliable and flexible passenger and cargo transport aircraft. Following a second modification, the MRT has become an MRTT version of the A310, now including in-flight refueling capabilities for all military aircraft that can connect to hose/drogue refueling systems, such as the Tornado, the Eurofighter or and F-18s. The A310 MRTT is a conversion package offered by a consortium of Airbus and Lufthansa Technik (LHT). The work on three aircraft will be done at Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in Dresden, while another three will be converted at LHT facilities in Hamburg.
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Network centric consortium formed
Neue Organisation will Standards für Vernetzung schaffen
On 28 September, the Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium, (NCOIC), a major international, industry-wide consortium, was announced, combining the experience and expertise of 28 major companies to recommend a unified approach that would enable sensors, communications and information systems to interact within a global network centric environment. Founding members are BAE Systems, Boeing, CACI, Carrillo Business Technologies, Cisco Systems, EADS, EMC Corporation, Ericsson, Factiva-a Dow Jones and Reuters Company, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, HP, Honeywell, IBM, Innerwall, L-3 Communications (Integrated Systems), Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Oracle, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, SAAB, SAIC, Smiths Aerospace, Sun Microsystems, Thales, and Themis with The Open Group acting as the management company. The NCOIC brings the best of industry together in a collaborative forum. The consortium will recommend and provide input on the underlying standards and architectural approach that systems and platform developers may follow to enable each platform, system or application to participate in a global network environment.
"Today marks the beginning of an unprecedented collaboration," said Carl O'Berry, newly elected chairman of the Executive Council of the NCOIC. "We've assembled the brightest minds from some of the most innovative companies in the world to bring their insight, technology, and customer requirements forward. I believe that we are on the cusp of profoundly changing the way we use network technology today, in both the military and commercial marketplaces. I am extremely proud to be associated with this powerhouse of knowledge. We understand the Network Centric Operations (NCO) vision, and we are committed to helping our customers achieve that vision." NCOIC was created in response to customer requests that industry assume a more prominent role in achieving network centric capability. The unique charter of the NCOIC makes it complementary to, not competitive with, those other consortia, industry associations, and government bodies that are also working toward the same goal of enabling customers to move rapidly to network centric operations. Details of the basic infrastructure to enable network centric operations will be the substance of NCOIC collaboration, while still enabling robust and healthy competition across the industry.
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Air Canada signs for regional jets
Großaufträge von Air Canada für Canadair und Embraer
Bombardier Aerospace announced that it has signed a contract with Air Canada for the sale of up to 90 Bombardier CRJ aircraft, as follows: 45 orders of which 30 are firm orders (15 Bombardier CRJ700 Series 705 and 15 Bombardier CRJ200) and fifteen conditional orders (Bombardier CRJ200); 45 options. Air Canada has ordered the Bombardier CRJ regional jets for its wholly owned regional airline, Air Canada Jazz. The contract is contingent upon Air Canada's emergence from bankruptcy protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). This contract has a potential value of approximately $2.45 billion US. The firm order portion of the agreement has a value of approximately $821.2 million US. Deliveries of the CRJ200 model are scheduled to commence in 2004, with deliveries of the CRJ700 Series 705 model commencing in 2005. The CRJ200 aircraft ordered for Air Canada Jazz feature 50 seats in Hospitality Class Service. The CRJ700 Series 705 aircraft feature a dual-class configuration of ten Executive Class seats at an ample 38-inch (96.5 cm) pitch and 65 Hospitality Class Service seats at a comfortable 34-inch (86.5 cm) pitch. Air Canada Jazz will be the first operator of the Bombardier CRJ700 Series 705 LR aircraft. Powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines, the Series 705 LR has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 84,500 pounds (38,330 kg) with a range capability of over 2,200 miles (3,500 km) and cruising speed of 547 mph (880 km/h).
On 29 September, Embraer announced that Air Canada has signed a purchase agreement for 45 Embraer 190 aircraft. The purchase agreement, contingent upon Air Canada's emergence from the Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA), also contains options for up to 45 additional aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft, configured for dual class seating, are scheduled to begin in November 2005. This announcement confirms the commercial proposal signed by Air Canada in December 2003 and allows Embraer to add 45 new firm orders and 45 options to its order book. The firm order is valued at US$ 1.35 billion, at list price, with a potential value of more than US$ 2.7 billion if all options are exercised. Air Canada will configure the Embraer 190 aircraft in two classes of service with a First Class, three-abreast seating configuration, and an Economy class with four-abreast seating offering 33 inches of legroom.
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Next Rafale order in view
Grünes Licht für weitere Rafale
The French Minister of Defence has announced that the ministry and the manufacturers involved in the Rafale programme have successfully concluded negotiations for a further order of 59 aircraft. This order is valued at about 3.1 billion euros. This agreement covers the acquisition of 11 Rafale B two-seater aircraft, 36 Rafale C single-seat air force aircraft and 12 Rafale M naval single-seat aircraft. All of these aircraft will be delivered to the F 3 multirole standard, whose development contract was awarded in February 2004. The new order will bring to 120 the total number of production Rafale aircraft ordered to date by France, 82 for the air force and 38 for the navy. It includes remedial action for some electronic components which have become obsolescent, for which an equitable cost-sharing agreement has been concluded. The new order will be translated into several contract awards to industry, the main contracts going to Dassault Aviation (1.5 billion euros), SNECMA (600 million euros) and Thales (500 million euros). MBDA and SAGEM are also included. These contracts will be awarded before the end of 2004, at the completion of the review process. Delivery of the newly-ordered aircraft will take place between June 2008 and January 2012.
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Farnborough Air Show to go forward under SBAC control
Nächste Messe in Farnborough angekündigt
As part of a wide ranging review of its activities and services, the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) is pleased to announce the creation of a new company, Farnborough International Ltd, which has been formed to assume the responsibility for the running of Farnborough International. This Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the SBAC. This announcement is in line with the SBAC's strategic review and will allow a dedicated team to focus on Farnborough International as a stand alone business while at the same time ensuring that the SBAC retains overall control of the Farnborough International air show. The Director of Farnborough International is Colin Way who was previously with Marshall Aerospace and seconded to the SBAC for Farnborough International 2004. Commenting on the announcement, Mr Way said: “Farnborough International Ltd will deliver a cost effective show for 2006 that the aerospace community will be truly proud of.” Farnborough International will be preceded by a conference of senior aerospace executives and government representatives on the afternoon of 17 July2006, to be followed by the Farnborough International Dinner, which will be the official opening event of the 2006 show. Details of these and other operational aspects of the events planned for 2006 will be announced early in 2005. The Show will run from 18- 23 July, a cut of one day. The weekend will be public days.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
"After US$30 billion in losses, the need for change in the airlines industry is critical and the role of Governments essential," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at a conference on the eve of the triennial Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). As the air transport industry struggles to recover from an unprecedented onslaught of crises beginning with the tragic events of 11 September 2001, fuel is now the main blocker to industry profitability. "It is not a question of finding a solution to any particular crisis. The industry needs new structures to allow it to deal with cycles and shocks effectively. And all partnersairlines, airports, air navigations service providers and governmentshave a role to play," said Bisignani. Bisignani called for change by ICAO member states in five critical areas: Fuel Efficiency: The inefficient use of the industry's supporting infrastructure, particularly air traffic control, adds unnecessary cost to operations and to the environment. "IATA's fuel action plan targets US$1.5 billion in savings from greater route efficiency and optimised operational procedures. We cannot achieve this without the cooperation of governments. The crisis in the price of fuel exaggerates these inefficiencies and government action is required," said Bisignani. Security: Overall security has improved since 2001. However "governments have failed miserably at coordinating and harmonising measures. We are left to battle bureaucracy when we should be helping to fight terrorism. And the cost to industry and the flying public is tremendousUS$5 billion a year. Along with urgent government action to harmonise measures, governments must also stop passing the buck to the airlines and accept their responsibility to pay for national security," said Bisignani. Insurance: Bisignani said that the industry faces a massive problem with insurance as underwriters move to exclude coverage for dirty bombs, electromagnetic pulse devices and biochemical materials. "Airlines cannot face this exposure alone. And governments cannot afford to have us stop flying. The urgent need for a stable solution is obvious," said Bisignani. IATA challenged member states at the Assembly to provide individual or collective guarantees to cover these deficiencies, and on a longer-term basis, agree to a limitation of liability regime for war and terrorism losses. Liberalisation: "The industry cannot wait any longer for the basic freedoms that other businesses take for granted. Airlines desperately need the freedom to run their businesses as businesses," said Bisignani. ICAO set out a vision for a liberalised industry at Air Transport Conference Five (March 2003). "But the lack of follow-up and change to national legislation is disappointing. We need a significant change, like an agreement on an open aviation area between the US and Europe, to kick start progress on the vision that was agreed to 18 months ago," said Bisignani. Regulation of Monopoly Suppliers: "Cost reduction has been a matter of survival for airlines while many airports and air navigation service providers continue a happy existence based on cost-plus pricing. This needs dramatic change. The value chain is broken. Airlines do the flying and everybody else is making money," said Bisignani. IATA's approach is to challenge our partnersairports and air navigation service providersto match best-in-class efficiency targets. At the same time, governments must ensure effective economic regulation of monopolies. "Airlines can no longer pay for their inefficiency. A competitive industry cannot accept their abuse of monopoly positions," said Bisignani. Bisignani noted that the agenda is not one-sided. "Airlines have dramatically reduced their costs and gained efficiency. IATA's Simplifying the Business initiative leveraging technology to reduce the cost of complex industry processes is a good example. The initiative is headlined with a commitment to save US$3 billion annually by eliminating 300 million paper tickets. "To guide this fundamental change in the way we do business, we have set a target of eliminating all paper tickets by 2007. As governments grapple with change at the 35th ICAO Assembly, I hope that they will act with the same speed. ICAO leadership is essential for industry change and our effective partnership with ICAO is strongly appreciated. The need for change is urgent and the results must be quick," said Bisignani.
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Saab has acquired a 49 percent holding in Finnish defence corporation Elesco with an opportunity to purchase the remaining shares. The sellers are Start Fund of Kera, Finland and Terma, Denmark. The move strengthens Saab's position on the Finnish defence market. "The Finnish market is important to us, and, thanks to Saab's acquisition of Elesco, we'll be able to strengthen and develop our local presence," says Dan-Åke Enstedt, President of the Saab Systems business unit. Elesco's main focus is systems integration for the Finnish armed forces. The company has 35 employees and a turnover of approximately MSEK 35.
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Members of Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron- 22 are currently testing the Osprey in similar environments to Iraq. The squadron, with four aircraft, traveled to Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas to assess operations in the austere environment and develop tactics, techniques and procedures as well as conduct pilot and aircrew proficiency training for their Operation Evaluation, which begins in January. "The goal is not only to develop tactics, techniques and procedures but also to deploy as a unit," said Marine Lt. Col. Christopher C. Seymour, Chief Operational Test Director for VMX-22. Seymour, a native of Houston, Texas, and the officer in charge of the detachment said this deployment is a great orientation for Marines and Airmen who are junior to aviation and to the service to perform in an environment they do not work in on a daily basis. “This deployment is a chance for our squadron to prepare for our OPEVAL, where we will have twice the amount of aircraft and spend up to five months testing in every clime and place," said Seymour, "Over the next two weeks, our pilots will train and become competent in flying the Osprey in an austere environment, which is nothing but goodness." Airmen from Patuxent River, Md. and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. are also training in this austere environment with the Marines.
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The Genesis team is preparing to ship its samples of the sun from the mission's temporary clean room at the U.S. Army Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah, to NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. "We have essentially completed the recovery and documentation process and now are in the business of preparing everything for transport," said Eileen Stansbery, JSC assistant director of astromaterials research and exploration science. "We still have a way to go before we can quantify our recovery of the solar sample. I can tell you we have come a long way from September 8, and things are looking very, very good," she said. A major milestone in the process was the recovery of the Genesis mission's four separate segments of the concentrator target. Designed to measure the isotopic ratios of oxygen and nitrogen, the segments contain, within their structure, the samples that are the mission's most important science goal. "Retrieving the concentrator target was our number one priority," Stansbery said. "When I first saw three of the four target segments were intact, and the fourth was mostly intact, my heart leapt. Inside those segments are three years of the solar samples, which to the scientific community, means eons worth of history of the birth of our solar system. I saw those, and I knew we had just overcome a major hurdle," she said.
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EADS North America has announced the restructuring of its defense business into EADS North America Defense Company. The newly-announced company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS North America, Inc., operating under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) to regulate and ease the management of classified information through a set of institutionalized corporate procedures establishing industrial security and export control measures. James Mulato will serve as CEO and the company will be located in Arlington, Virginia. “EADS North America Defense is an important milestone in our long-term strategy of increasing our presence in the U.S. Defense Sector and earning our citizenship,” stated Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO, EADS North America and member of the EADS N.V. Executive Committee. “It will facilitate our discussions and dealings with other U.S. corporations and permit us to provide EADS capabilities in a broad array of defense products and services to the U.S. government. This places EADS North America in a position to bid directly for U.S. defense business or partner with another U.S. industry leader as prime or as a subcontractor.”
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Adam Aircraft announced receipt of Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) by the FAA on its A500 Centerline Twin. As of September 30, 2004, Adam Aircraft has successfully demonstrated to the FAA that the A500 is conformed, has passed structural, system, and company flight testing for Type Inspection Authorization. FAA test pilots are now authorized to evaluate the aircraft for their flight test review for final Type Certification. TIA is issued when the examination of technical data required for type certification is complete and demonstrates the aircraft has, or will, meet pertinent regulations for issuance of the Type Certificate. The FAA considers TIA as the most important milestone in the type certification process. With very few historical exceptions, aircraft that achieve the TIA milestone will progress to Type Certification.
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Schweizer Aircraft received a grant for workforce training from the New York State Workforce Investment Board at a presentation at Schweizer's facility. Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, Labor Commissioner Linda Angello, State Assemblyman George Winner and other elected officials were at the Schweizer facility for the presentation of a check from New York State. The $153,000 award will allow the company to train workers employed at its aircraft manufacturing facility at the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport, where it employs approximately 400 workers. The training will focus on Lean Manufacturing, which will help Schweizer integrate its manufacturing processes with those of its new parent company, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
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On 30 September, US Trade Representative Zoellick and EU Commissioner Lamy met for approximately two hours. “The US and the EU share a strong and vibrant trillion dollar economic relationship that offers many opportunities and some challenges. Both men have a successful track record in managing disputes while continuing to work together to advance a shared agenda. They discussed a broad range of global and bilateral issues, from Doha to China to IPR to the new Commission and EU enlargement. “With regards to the Boeing and Airbus issue, they discussed their respective positions on this important issue. USTR Zoellick reiterated the United States' point of view that the status quo is unacceptable. We believe a new agreement is needed that creates a level playing field and ends the unfair support that Airbus receives from launch aid. “As the President has said, we think these subsidies are unfair and we will pursue all options to end these subsidies -- including bringing a WTO case, if need be. We will continue to consult with domestic stakeholders and the Congress, along with officials in Europe, and we will soon make a determination as to next steps.”
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On 29th September 2004, an operational firing of MBDA's SAAM (Surface to Air Anti-Missile) naval point and local self-defence system was successfully carried out from the Royal Saudi Naval Force's (RSNF) frigate, HMS Makkah. With the announcement, "target destroyed", made from on board the SAWARI II class frigate, the SAAM system achieved its third consecutive firing success and marked the completion of the RSNF frigate crews' firing training campaign. The firing, conducted by Saudi operators at the Mediterranean Test Centre - the Centre d'Essais de la Méditerranée (located in Hyères, near Toulon on the south coast of France), resulted in the target being destroyed by a direct hit.
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A mission to study solar influences on space weather will ride into orbit on an Atlas V launch vehicle, under a contract announced on 30 September between NASA and International Launch Services (ILS). ILS is scheduled to launch the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in April 2008 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., using the Atlas V 401 configuration. The space agency's Kennedy Space Center is managing the launch services contract, while Goddard Space Flight Center manages the SDO project. Financial terms were not disclosed. This also is ILS' sixth award of the year for an Atlas V launch, which is complemented by an equal number of new Proton launch orders. The Solar Dynamics Observatory is the first spacecraft in Goddard's Living with a Star Program, under NASA's Sun-Earth Connection theme. Among the SDO study topics are solar magnetic fields and the dynamic processes that influence space weather.
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On 28 Sepbemer, Russian space officials revealed that technical glitches would further delay the launch of a spacecraft to carry a replacement crew to the international space station. The launch was scheduled for 11 October, but would be delayed for several days because of a "malfunction in one of the spacecraft's systems," said Federal Space Agency spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko. The Soyuz TMA-5 is to take off from Baikonur with Russian cosmonauts Salizhan Sharipov and Yuri Shargin and U.S. astronaut Leroy Chiao.
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The South African Police Service, operator of the biggest Eurocopter fleet in Southern Africa, has signed a contract for an additional AS 350 B3 helicopter at the Africa Aerospace and Defence show. This will be their 7 th aircraft of this type, complementing their twin-engined fleet of 16 BO 105s and two BK 117s. Eurocopter is proud to be serving this prestigious customer, and of its continued confidence in Eurocopter products.
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Tyrolean Airways announced their intent to order the Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics Head-up Guidance System (HGS) for installation on its fleet of Bombardier Q400 regional aircraft. The HGS-4100 presents flight symbology on a glass combiner in the pilot's forward field of view. The system will expand the operational capability of the Q400, allowing Category III approach and landing down to 200 meters runway visual range (RVR), low-visibility takeoff down to 75 meters RVR and lower-than-standard Category I approach minima down to 450 meters RVR. Tyrolean Airways pioneered the use of HGS in Europe with the installation of the system on their Bombardier CRJ-200 fleet in 1997. They now fly with HGS on their entire fleet of CRJs and have installed the system on their Q300s as well.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce plc to participate in joint development of the Trent 1000, a new aero-engine for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner, an all-new commercial aircraft. Under the agreement, MHI will be responsible for the design and manufacture of the combustor module and others, core parts of the engine. MHI will share 7% of the program. The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 is one of two engines selected by Boeing for the 7E7. Both engine types will use the same standard interface with the aircraft. The Trent 1000, a new variant of Rolls-Royce's successful high-thrust Trent engine series, will have ratings across a range of 53,000 to 70,000 lb thrust. The new engine, incorporating Rolls-Royce's proprietary three-shaft design configuration, will achieve remarkably higher combustion efficiency and also contribute to environmental compatibility by reducing gas emissions by 20%. For MHI, its participation in the Trent 1000 development program is an ideal opportunity not only to secure its commercial aero-engine business, following Pratt & Whitney's PW4000 series engine program, but to strengthen its international competitiveness of core technology for aero- engines, by joining in its development from initial designing stage.
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On September 29, Boeing and Turkish Airlines said they've finalized a previously-announced order for 15 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 passenger airplanes, an agreement worth $982.5 million at current list prices. The Istanbul-based airline, Turkey's flag carrier, will use the airplanes to expand service and accommodate traffic growth. The airline already operates 26 Boeing Next-Generation 737s, the world's best-selling airplane family. “We are adding new destinations at the same time as we are seeing rapid growth in passenger traffic on our current routes,” said Turkish Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer Abdurrahman Gundogdu. “Our Next-Generation 737s have been economical to operate and shown excellent performance. These airplanes will help us to meet this market growth.” Deliveries of the new airplanes begin next year. The 737-800s will replace earlier 737 models and other airplanes in the carrier's fleet.
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Researchers at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio flew a 7 percent scaled Joined-Wing Technology Demonstrator for the first time Sept. 22, putting the future of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft design through its initial paces. Air Force Research Laboratory experts designed and are developing the SensorCraft which will use sophisticated, emerging technologies to merge space, air and ground-based sensors to provide warfighters a “God's-eye” view of the joint battlespace, said Dr. Max Blair, flight director. Lab experts said throughout the remainder of this decade, they will use the SensorCraft to investigate a wide variety of the latest sensors, communications links, air vehicle components and propulsion systems. They will consider how these tools can be incorporated into the concept of a next-generation, long-range, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle. When and if it finally enters service, this cutting-edge vehicle will carry an integrated mix of radar, cameras, equipment and data links, while orbiting a battlefield at 65,000 feet for 60 to 80 hours at around 350 knots; it will gather intelligence information and pass it on to supporting elements in near real-time. Experts said as technology advances, this next generation Global Hawk could have a combined air and ground moving target indicator built into an active electronically scanned array, giving it the air-to-air capability of an E-3 Sentry AWACS together with the air-to-ground function of the E-8 Joint Stars. The SensorCraft concept will allow AFRL experts to establish how evolving technologies develop and allow them to determine if they can eventually mature the program into a viable UAV. Officials said the aim is to launch an aircraft program in about 2010, and the eventual system could enter service around 2020.
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On 29 September, the U.S. Navy formally welcomed Raytheon Company's Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile into the Navy's arsenal at a fleet introduction ceremony at the Pentagon. The Block IV officially achieved initial operating capability (IOC) on May 27, 2004, with the loading of the first missile onboard USS Stethem (DDG-63), a guided missile destroyer. "The Block IV Tomahawk provides a substantial battlefield edge to our warfighters," said Navy Capt. Bob Novak, Tomahawk All-Up-Round program manager. "It is a great day for the Navy to formally celebrate the hard work of the Navy-Raytheon team that enabled the fleet introduction of this revolutionary weapon, whose flexible targeting and loitering capabilities build on the tremendous 32-year tradition and success of the legacy Tomahawk program." Block IV Tomahawk is the centerpiece of the Navy's new Tomahawk Baseline IV Weapons System. The system integrates the Block IV missile with improved mission planning and platform weapons control capabilities. This latest version of the Navy's surface- and submarine-launched precision strike standoff weapon incorporates innovative technologies to provide unprecedented operational capabilities while dramatically reducing acquisition, operations and support costs. The Block IV costs less than half the price of a newly built Block III missile.
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Orbimage, Dulles, Va., is being awarded a four-year agreement to assure the availability of high-resolution imagery from the next series of U.S. commercial imagery satellites. The period of performance goes through the end of fiscal year 2008 and has the potential to award about $500 million through the life of the agreement. The agreement was competitively procured. Work will be performed at ORBIMAGE, Dulles, Va. Known as NextView ORBIMAGE, the agreement is similar to the fiscal year 2003 NextView DigitalGlobe agreement. It gives the U.S. government improved access to and priority for commercial images. The agreement also strengthens the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) alliance with the industry. Simultaneously, NGA is continuing the first NextView agreement with DigitalGlobe Inc., Longmont, Colo.
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The first phase of the Affordable Adaptable Conformal Electronic Scanning Antenna Radar (AACER) program began this summer when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded funding to Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, Md.), and Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (El Segundo, Calif.). Raytheon was awarded $6,057,431 and Northrop Grumman received $5,781,583. The AACER program will develop extended range ground moving target indication (GMTI) radar combined with a high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and integrated communications to be used on tactical-level unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the U.S. Army's Class IV UAV or the A-160 Hummingbird. The radar will provide unprecedented, high update rates for tracked targets, and persistent stare over large areas with high update rates. The affordable, adaptive and conformal electronic scanning antenna developed under the AACER program will provide the U.S. Army with enhanced GMTI/SAR systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and tracking missions.
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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory of Laurel, Md., a $26,941,808 other transaction to act as the integrator/broker of the Common Operating System (COS) development for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) demonstration program over the next five years. The objective of DARPA's J-UCAS program is to develop, demonstrate and transition an affordable, lethal, survivable, and supportable unmanned combat air system to meet the operational needs of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. To achieve this, J-UCAS is developing a COS that will enable interoperability among multiple air vehicles and control elements, facilitating the integration of other subsystems such as sensors, weapons, and communications. The COS will encompass applications and services that provide command and control, communications management, mission planning, interactive autonomy and the human systems interface. “J-UCAS is a collection of platforms, both aircraft and control elements, that are integrated by the Common Operating System,” said Michael S. Francis, director of the J-UCAS program. “The integrator/broker plays a key role in overseeing the collaboration of all technology contributors towards the successful development of the COS.”
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BAE Systems Regional Aircraft and Emerald Airways of Liverpool, UK have signed contracts under which the airline will take delivery of three ATP aircraft converted to freighters and equipped with the Large Freight Door (LFD). All three aircraft are currently being converted at the Romaero facility at Baneasa, Bucharest and will be delivered to the airline during the fourth quarter of 2004. The first aircraft to be delivered (msn 2015) has been obtained on long-term lease from Regional Aircraft. The two other aircraft are owned by Emerald Airways, having been acquired from Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Regional Aircraft has signed contracts for the conversion of these aircraft and has slotted them into the Romaero conversion line.
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Sikorsky announced that the acquisition of Schweizer Aircraft Corporation is complete. Schweizer, based in Elmira, N.Y, is a U.S. company specializing in the light helicopter, reconnaissance aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) markets. Effective immediately, Schweizer will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The purchase of Schweizer strengthens Sikorsky's capabilities in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market, a key component in the Pentagon's System-of-Systems concept, which integrates surveillance, information, battle management and precision strike systems. It also broadens Sikorsky's portfolio to include light rotorcraft and fixed-wing reconnaissance product lines.
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Earlier this month the Pratt & Whitney led F135 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) team completed the program's 1,000th test hour. This testing milestone represents the cumulative hours of F135 SDD Testing and includes both the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL/CV) engine tests, as well as the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) system test runs. “The achievement of this testing milestone is positive proof of the overall health and maturity of the F135 Program,” said Bill Gostic, F135 Program Vice President at P&W. “Accumulating 1,000 test hours only 15 months after completing Critical Design Review has put us in a great position to reach our testing goals for 2004 and beyond. I thank the entire F135 Team, without whose tireless efforts this accomplishment would not have been possible.” Since testing began in October of 2003 both the CTOL/CV and STOVL configured F135 systems have achieved some very impressive testing milestones. The F135 program has seen FX631 - the first CTOL/CV configured system to test - complete several test runs to full afterburner power during which it demonstrated over 39,000lbs of thrust, meeting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter performance requirements. And earlier this year the F135 Team celebrated as FX641 performed sustained runs to “hover thrust” demonstrating over 39,000lbs of thrust in the vertical take off mode; satisfying a very important STOVL performance requirement.
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The Austrian Airlines Group is already co-operating with Slovak Airlines on the basis of code-sharing. Vagn Soerensen Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group with regards to the Group´s interest in Slovak Airlines: “The Slovakian Ministry of Transport, Slovak Airlines and our Group have agreed to intensify our co-operation with Slovak Airlines and are therefore jointly looking forward towards a positive development of the corporation. We are interested in a future shareholding in Slovak Airlines as our local strategic partner in order to further dynamically develop the Slovakian airline market with regards to both business and leisure travel. Our strong interest in the Slovakian market is also proved by the successful implementation of our daily nonstop-services from Bratislava to London, Paris and Brussels!” Weeks ago the Austrian Airlines Group showed its interest in a financial stake in Slovak Airlines as a consequence of an invitation published by the Slovakian Ministry of Transport in public Slovakian media. The Slovakian Ministry of Transport is responsible for the design and schedule of a possible privatization of Slovak Airlines. The airline is currently operating two Boeing 737-400 and employs about 200 skilled airline personnel. As the Austrian Airlines Group got aware, that Slovak Airlines found itself in a financially difficult situation, the Group is discussing with the Slovakian Ministry of Transport possible and efficient ways in order to stabilize the economic condition of Slovak Airlines. The Austrian Airlines Group will presently not disclose the possible mode of a future stabilization of the corporation as bilateral talks on this matter are ongoing.
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Minebea Co. Ltd., Showa Aircraft Co. Ltd. and Komy Co. Ltd. announced that they are joining the group of Japanese manufacturers already on board the A380 program. These companies will supply equipment and materials for the next-generation super jumbo program. Moreover, Yokohama Rubber Corporation will expand its contribution to the A380 with the supply of new materials. Airbus President and CEO Noel Forgeard said, “We welcome Minebea, Showa Aircraft and Komy to the A380 program. Their support is important to ensure the most advanced technologies are on board our best selling A380. The additional contribution of Yokohama Rubber is a proof of the strong confidence of our Japanese suppliers in the success of the A380.” These additions will raise the estimated revenue of Japanese suppliers in the A380 program to well over US $4.6 billion in the years to come. The three new participants bring to 21 the total of Japanese companies collaborating in the A380.
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Boeing mechanics began assembling the first 777-200LR (Longer Range) passenger airplane, which will fly farther than any commercial jetliner. The world's longest-range passenger airplane, the 777-200LR can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,446 kilometers), and is capable of serving routes such as London-Sydney and New York-Singapore with a full passenger payload. Workers took the first step in the major assembly process for the new 777 model by loading its 97-foot-long wing spar into a tool that automatically drills, measures and installs more than 5,000 fasteners into the spar. The spar is the internal support structure that runs the full length of the wings and provides support to the wing. The first 777-200LR is scheduled to roll out of the factory in February, and begin flight-testing in March. First delivery is scheduled during the first quarter of 2006.
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BAE Systems announced that its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, BAE Systems North America, has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Alphatech for a cash consideration of $88.4 million. Alphatech's capabilities will complement BAE Systems North America's significant presence in the system and subsystem levels in the C4ISR market, and enhance BAE Systems' position as a major provider of information-based systems, emphasizing horizontal integration and fusion. The integration of Alphatech's technologies with BAE Systems North America's enterprise engineering and systems integration expertise will result in expanded capabilities to address the network centric warfare requirements of the national security and intelligence communities, particularly in the areas of Precision Engagement and Tasking, Processing, Exploitation & Dissemination (TPED).
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IRKUT Corporation is completing flight tests of the first production Yak-130 training and light combat aircraft. In November 2004, a second production aircraft will take-off, and next year, a third flying sample of the aircraft will join the trials. Besides, two more aircraft are used in the static ground tests. The whole cycle of the static and flight trials will be accomplished by the end of 2005. In the course of the tests, take-off and landing performance, stability and controllability, aircraft systems and power plant operation have already been checked. The auxiliary power unit and the main engines were successfully started in flight at 6,000m and 8,000m correspondingly. During the trials, the aircraft achieved speed of 750km/h, 5G overload and flight altitude of 10,000m. In 2002, the Yak-130 won a tender of the Russian Defence Ministry to deliver a training and light combat aircraft for the Russian Air Force.
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Bell, a key member of the Lockheed Martin Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) team, has successfully completed preliminary design of a novel air vehicle to conduct reconnaissance and combat missions without sending aircrews into harm's way. During a two-year, multimillion dollar effort funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the U.S. Army, Bell analyzed 13 concepts from advanced, slowed rotor helicopters through very high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fan-in-wing configurations. Bell chose a heavy fuel advanced compound helicopter concept to obtain efficient vertical lift and speed capabilities in excess of 170 knots. The 5,500 pound gross weight aircraft is designed to meet emerging Army hot-day performance requirements of 6,000 feet altitude on a 95 degree-day Fahrenheit and still maintain a capability to climb at 500 feet per minute and an altitude ceiling of 18,600 feet. This was accomplished while staying inside the structural limits normally associated with all types of rotorcraft and using turbine engine fuel available on the battlefield such as JP-5, JP-8 and diesel.
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Kaman announced that it intends to take a non-cash sales and pre-tax earnings charge in the third quarter of approximately $21.0 million, eliminating its investment (principally billed receivables and recoverable costs-not billed) in contracts with MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI). These contracts provide for the production of helicopter fuselages and rotor blades but, because of payment issues, Kaman stopped work under this program in 2003. The charge is not expected to result in any future cash expenditures.
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VITROCISET and EADS SPACE announced the signature in Paris of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the study of future initiatives and collaborations in the aerospace sector. Major field of cooperation have been identified in navigation, launchers activities and telecommunications. One of the first examples of this cooperation is the incorporation of VITROCISET to the iNavSat consortium. Initially formed by Inmarsat Ventures Ltd, EADS SPACE and Thales Group, iNavSat is one of the two last bidders to become the Galileo concessionaire for deploying the Galileo satellite constellation and operating all subsequent services. Galileo is a European Union project to develop a new advanced satellite navigation system, more advanced than existing systems. Further potential collaboration areas between the two companies next to Galileo are Vega, Soyuz, Ariane 5 as well as telecommunications. Moreover, new business opportunities will be identified.
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Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $2,110,886,703 cost-plus-incentive-fee-and-award-fee contract for the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). MUOS is the next generation narrowband military satellite communications system that will replace the operational UHF follow-on system. MUOS consists of: a multi-beam geostationary constellation, with an on-orbit spare; the ground system supporting the satellite and network control; and a common air interface waveform. When combined with the user terminals and the Department of Defense (DoD) Teleport, MUOS comprises an end-to-end system that will provide DoD narrowband (64 kilobits per second and below) beyond line of sight communication services. This seven-year contract includes options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $3,265,835,630. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (31 percent); Newtown, Pa. (29 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (12 percent); Scottsdale, Ariz. (27 percent); Aurora, Colo. (1 percent) and is expected to be completed by March 2011. If all options are exercised, efforts will continue through 2015.
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As part of its drive to expand its business in the global market, Snecma has just acquired the assets of Gespac Integration, a Moroccan company specialised in the manufacturing of electric wiring, via its Labinal subsidiary. The company is located in Temara, close to Rabat, and currently employs a workforce of 200. This acquisition will enable Labinal to meet the significant increase in requirements expected by its aircraft manufacturer clients as early as 2005, by drawing on Gespac Integration's personnel that is already trained.
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Ryanair announced it is to expand its base at Milan Orio al Serio airport from 3 to 5 based aircraft, representing a further investment of $120M, and also announced 7 new European routes from Milan to Oslo (Norway), Eindhoven (Holland), Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza (Spain) and Liverpool & Newcastle(UK). In addition, Ryanair also announced its 22 nd route from its Frankfurt (Hahn) base to Klagenfurt in Austria. Ryanair , which is already Italy's favourite airline for Europe, began flying from Milan Orio al Serio in April 2002, and already operates 9 low fare international routes from Milan. This year Milan Orio al Serio will have almost 2.0M Ryanair passengers, saving Euro 200M over the high fares charged by Alitalia. Announcing the new routes in Milan today, Ryanair's Head of Marketing for Europe, Sinead Finn said: “We opened our 1 st Italian base in Milan Orio al Serio in February 03, and today we are significantly increasing the size of our base with 2 brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and 7 new routes, bringing a total investment by Ryanair at Milan to over $300M.
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It is actually possible for everyone to know their coordinates to within an accuracy of 1-2 metres using the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). EGNOS is based on a network of reference stations all over Europe, and a new step towards implementing this network was the recent inauguration of facilities in Poland. A new Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Station (RIMS) that forms part of the ground element of this navigation system is located in Warsaw, in the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science. This station is crucial for the EGNOS service over the East of Europe. For Poland, this cooperation and the resulting performances of EGNOS in this country, marks a major step in the development of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. This includes benefits for different GNSS users such as the aviation industry and other business sectors.
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Boeing is increasing Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd's (TAECO) participation in the 747-400 Special Freighter program by contracting with the China-based company to modify 20 additional airplanes. Earlier this year Boeing contracted with TAECO for the first 13 airplanes in this program, through which 747-400 passenger and combi airplanes are converted into freighters.
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IATA announced increases of 18.7% for international passenger traffic and 14.2% for international cargo traffic for the first eight months of 2004 over 2003. "The increase in traffic is well beyond our expectations. It will not mitigate the high cost of fuel, but it is certainly a much needed shot in the arm for a beleaguered industry," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and CEO. The high growth figures for the January to August period are partially exaggerated by the comparison to a period in 2003 which was severely depressed due to the SARS crisis. Nonetheless indications of healthy traffic growth are clearly evident in the August performance. Year-on-year for August, passenger traffic grew by 10.8% while freight was up 13.6%. More capacity is now entering all major markets but the passenger load factor globally remained at a relatively high level of 78.3% for the month of August. Comparisons to the year 2000, the last year not marked by a crisis in the airline industry, continue to indicate several years of lost growth. January to August 2004 passenger traffic was 8.4% above 2000 levels for the same period. Cargo traffic showed growth of 15.1 % over 2000 levels.
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NASA's three Space Shuttles, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, Shuttle launch pads, critical flight hardware for the orbiters and the International Space Station were undamaged by Hurricane Jeanne. On Tuesday workers began the process of taking the orbiters out of a hurricane preparedness status and returning to regular processing activities. Discovery was powered up Tuesday, and the payload bay doors were opened. Atlantis and Endeavour also returned to pre-hurricane processing activities. In the Orbiter Processing Facility, work is under way to install the new wing leading edge instrumentation on Discovery. The sensors are being placed on the backside of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels as impact detection devices. They will relay information about acceleration and temperature. On Sept. 17 a fit check was performed of the new External Tank (ET) digital still camera. NASA is pursuing use of the camera, beginning with the Shuttle's Return to Flight, to obtain and downlink high-resolution images of the ET after separation after orbiter launch. Atlantis is in a power-down period, during which all of the critical path wiring inspections and Return to Flight electrical modifications will be completed. Right-hand radiators No. 1, 2 and 3 are installed. The final right-hand RCC spar fitting, a series of floating joints that attach the RCC to the wing leading edge, was installed.
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NASA aeronautics researchers are looking forward to flying the X-43A research aircraft at speeds up to 10 times the speed of sound later this fall, following a successful "captive carry" dress rehearsal flight from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center Sept. 27. According to X-43A lead operations engineer David McAllister, who served as test director for the mission, the captive carry flight duplicated all operational functions of the planned 7,000-mph - or Mach 10 - flight and served as a training exercise for staff, except that the X-43A and its modified Pegasus booster were not released from NASA's B-52B launch aircraft and their engines were not ignited.
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