FLUG REVUE update: Week ending 6 March 2005

UPDATE - Week ending 6 March 2005

+++ Fossett: Solo round-the world succeeds +++ AirTanker now “preferred bidder for RAF +++ Boeing F-15K flies +++ Galileo contractor not yet choosen +++ Fraport has record year +++ EURISS joint venture formed +++ ISS receives new supply ship +++ News in brief +++

Fossett: Solo round-the world succeeds
Weltumrundung im Alleineinflug erfolgreich

March 3, a warm and bright day in Salina, Kansas will go down in history as the day that Steve Fossett set a great aviation world record for speed around the world solo, non-stop and non-refueled. After 67 hours and 2 minutes of grueling sleep deprivation and 12 unappealing diet milkshakes, Steve finally touched down in front of an excited crowd of public and press at Salina Municipal Airport at 19:50UTC, despite having some very worrying problems earlier in the flight. At the start of the flight, Steve experienced intermittent failures with the Global Positioning System and then, as the flight continued, fuel readings indicated that the aircraft had lost a significant amount of fuel shortly after take-off. Both of these problems were serious threats to the flight's continuation. It was 'touch and go' at times, but Steve seemed to have luck on his side, with good tailwinds pushing him along across the last leg of the Pacific Ocean.
As Steve exited the cockpit and waved to the crowds, he managed to gingerly stand up and walk even though he, as expected, appeared to be weary and tired. His happiness at completing the attempt and getting back on the land to see his wife Peggy, however, was obvious and his smile said it all. When asked how he was feeling, Steve remarked: "That was a difficult trip. I mean it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. To be on duty for three days and night with virtually no sleep." Steve added: "I was in control and I think I was able to make rational decisions and didn't make major errors, which is a great danger when you get this tired." He was very relieved and added, "It happened successfully and on the first attempt."
Although the flight has been recognized as the first solo trip around the world by Guinness World Records, it is still to be sanctioned by the National Aeronautique Association (NAA). When it is, it should be recognized as the fastest non-stop, non-refueled circumnavigation ever.
The flight has been significantly assisted by trailing jetstreams over the Pacific Ocean that were higher than predicted, with tailwind speeds in excess of 130 knots. As Steve headed to the north-east of Hawaii and changed direction, however, these winds dropped significantly to as low as 30 knots.

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AirTanker now “preferred bidder for RAF
FSTA-Programm macht Schritt vorwärts

After long negotiations that were at times on the brink of collapse, the UK MoD confirmed that AirTanker has now been formally selected as the Preferred Bidder to meet the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) requirement for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The £13bn Private Finance Initiative (PFI) programme will provide strategic air refuelling services to the RAF for 27 years.
Considerable time and effort has been expended since the original announcement in January 2004 by the British Government that AirTanker offered the best prospect of providing a value-for-money PFI service for the FSTA programme. Defining in more detail the specification of this very large and unprecedented PFI has enabled agreement to be reached about many of the commercial and contractual aspects of the programme and produced its current advanced state of maturity. Reaching this significant milestone is a testament to the commitment of all those who have worked for AirTanker and its shareholders. Today's announcement means that AirTanker can now begin the final stage of contract negotiations and work on financing for this Private Finance Initiative.

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Boeing F-15K flies
Erstflug der neuen Eagle-Version für Südkorea

On March 3, Boeings newest fighter aircraft, the F-15K Strike Eagle, made its first flight in St. Louis. Flown by Boeing Chief F-15 Test Pilot Joe Felock and Chief Weapons Systems Officer Rick Junkin, the F-15K completed an aggressive speed run easily surpassing Mach 2, accomplished both engine shut-downs and restarts, and breezed through instrument and avionics checks of primary backup systems. "The F-15K flew magnificently," said Felock. "With its new technology and the reliable structure of the Eagle, it will become a dominant multi-role fighter. Korean fighter pilots will love this airplane."
The Republic of Korea (ROKAF) selected the F-15K Strike Eagle for its Next Generation Fighter Program in 2002. Under a $3.6 billion contract, Boeing will deliver 40 aircraft to the ROKAF beginning this year and ending in August 2008. "The F-15K's first flight was a great success, allowing us to move forward with the program," said Steve Winkler, Boeing F-15K program manager. "We couldn't have made this first flight early without tremendous support and teamwork from the ROKAF, the U.S. Air Force, and our suppliers. We're looking forward to the F-15K rollout ceremony on March 16 in St. Louis."

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Galileo contractor not yet choosen
Verhandlungen mit beiden Bietern

The European Commission has noted the Galileo Joint Undertaking's decision to start negotiations with the two remaining candidates on the concession agreement. This new stage in the selection procedure is in line with the established timetable. The Commission is very pleased with the quality of the proposals, which fully comply with the conditions set, especially in financial terms. Jacques Barrot, Commission Vice-President, said “The quality of the proposals shows, if there was still any need for it, the commercial viability of this great European space project”, adding that “Opening simultaneous talks on the concession agreement will also make it possible to improve the two candidates' proposals, to the greater benefit of the Galileo project.”
Right from the start of Galileo the European Union decided to place the management of the deployment and operation phases in the hands of a private concession holder. The choice of concession holder is the sole responsibility of the Galileo Joint Undertaking, established by a Council Regulation on 21 May 2002. The Joint Undertaking has full legal personality and acts independently. The procedure for selecting the Galileo concession holder began on 17 October 2003 with the publication of a concession notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. The two remaining candidates are, respectively, the consortia "Eurely", consisting of Alcatel, Finmecanica, Hispasat and Aena, and "Inavsat", made up of, in particular, EADS, Thales and Inmarsat.
After studying the two proposals in detail, the Galileo Joint Undertaking came to the conclusion that there was very little difference between them. At this stage it was impossible to decide between the two, so now negotiations on the concession agreement have to be opened with the two consortia simultaneously. The talks to be held in parallel with the two candidates will take up to three months at the outside and will concentrate on the most crucial aspects of the future agreement. In the light of the result of these negotiations it will then be possible to choose the better candidate. Not only will there be no delay in the selection procedure, but holding the negotiations with the two candidates simultaneously will mean that the competition between them will allow faster progress in the talks than if they were held with one consortium on its own.
The two consortia still in the run for the Galileo concession are on the one hand Eurely with the core members Aena, Alcatel, Finmeccanica and Hispasat and on the other hand iNavSat with EADS Space, Inmarsat, and Thales. Both consortia have a huge experience in dealing with all fields related to satellite navigation. Their extensive expertise, strong partners, etc. bring an impressive array of experience and skills to the Galileo programme. The evaluation of the first offer was based on business and finance, technical compliance and contractual compliance; the evaluation of the last offers was based on risk allocation and financial matters.

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Fraport has record year
Rekordjahr für Fraport

Fiscal 2004 was a banner year for the Fraport Group, with revenues rising by 8.9 percent to EUR1,998.1 million. Due to stringent cost management, 2004 EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) and Group profit (consolidated net income) increased over-proportionately to revenues. Fraport AG's executive board is recommending to the supervisory board that the dividend payment per share should be increased to 75 euro cents for fiscal 2004, up from 44 euro cents for 2003.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) experienced unprecedented demand in air traffic in 2004, with passenger figures topping the 50 million mark for the first time. FRA recorded 51.1 million passengers for the full year, an increase of 5.7 percent. This represents a new annual passenger record and a milestone in the airport's history. Airfreight tonnage handled at FRA rose 13.1 percent to 1.75 million metric tons. Together, the Fraport Group's airports served some 77 million passengers last year, 9.2 percent more than in 2003. Cargo tonnage for the Group's airports increased at an even higher rate of 11.7 percent, rising to 2.22 million metric tons.
Group revenues grew 8.9 percent to nearly EUR2 billion, while operating expenses increased by only 7.1 percent to EUR1,527.5 million. Personnel costs increased noticeably slower than in proportion to non-personnel costs. Personnel costs rose 4.3 percent to EUR974.5 million, mainly because of the required manpower increase at ICTS Europe. The Fraport Group's work force averaged 24,182 people in 2004, representing an increase of 3.5 percent or 829 people. ICTS Europe alone employed 995 people more than in 2003, due to intensified security procedures at many European airports.
The Group's EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) grew by 11.8 percent to EUR516.2 million, because of successful cost management and improved productivity. With EUR136.4 million, Group profit for 2004 exceeded the previous year's figure by 18.4 percent. "Never before in the history of our company did net income reach such a pleasant level," emphasized Bender. Results per share reached EUR1.51 in 2004, versus EUR1.28 in the previous year. Fraport's executive board is recommending to raise the share dividend payment from 44 euro cents to 75 euro cents for fiscal year 2004. Thus, the payout ratio increases from about 35 to nearly 50 percent.

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EURISS joint venture formed
EADS SPACE und Alenia arbeiten zusammen

EADS SPACE Transportation (Bremen) and Alenia Spazio (Turin), a Finmeccanica company, formed a joint venture on Thursday, March 3. In the presence of ESA representatives, Dr. Michael Menking, Vice President Orbital and Reusable Systems EADS SPACE Transportation, Dr. Stefan Graul, Vice President Business Development EADS SPACE Transportation, and Dr. Carlo Alberto Penazzi, Chief Executive Officer Alenia Spazio, signed the shareholder agreement in Amsterdam. CEO of EURISS N.V. (Amsterdam) will be Dr. Peter Vits (56).
"With the formation of EURISS, we consistently continue down the path towards industrialising operation and utilisation of the International Space Station. We thus assume increased responsibility for Europe's involvement in the space station programme. At the same time, we comply with the demand of the European governments for increased industrial involvement in this sector," said Dr. Menking when signing the contract. EURISS is the name of the new joint company, which acts as "mediator" between the European Space Agency ESA and those industries involved in space station operation and utilisation. The creation of EURISS (EADS SPACE Transportation 75% / Alenia Spazio 25%) will facilitate the execution of the so-called "Exploitation Contract". Instead of concluding individual contracts for individual services with several industrial companies, EURISS will be the only contracting partner of ESA for all industrial operation and utilisation activities regarding the European part of the International Space Station. The "Exploitation Contract" is likely to cover a total volume of 2.6 billion euro and intended to run until 2013. The contract is based on the High Level Commitment of EADS SPACE Transportation and Alenia to ESA made in 2000.

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ISS receives new supply ship
Progress dockt an Raumstation an

On March 2, an unpiloted Russian Progress cargo craft successfully linked up with the International Space Station (ISS). The 17th Progress mission to the ISS automatically docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 2:10 p.m. EST, as the Station flew 225 statute miles over the equator west of Africa. The flawless docking completed a two-day journey for the craft since its liftoff Monday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. As the Progress approached the ISS, Expedition 10 Flight Engineer Salizhan Sharipov was at the controls of a manual docking system. He was ready to take over the final approach if the automated docking system encountered problems. Station Commander and NASA Science Officer Leroy Chiao took video and still photos of the arrival. The crew will open the Progress hatch later today to begin unloading.
The Progress carried 386 pounds of propellant, 242 pounds of oxygen and air, 1,071 pounds of water and more than 2,900 pounds of spare parts, life support system components and experiment hardware. The manifest included 86 containers of food, about a six-month supply, to supplement items already in the Station's pantry. The Progress carried a new heat exchanger device to replace a faulty component in the U.S. airlock needed for the resumption of spacewalks in U.S. space suits this summer. It also carried cameras and lenses for the next Station crew, Expedition 11, to capture digital images of the Thermal Protection System on the Shuttle Discovery during its approach to the ISS during the STS-114 mission in May.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Bombardier Aerospace has significantly enhanced its CRJ Series with the introduction of an upgraded Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, offering important new benefits to operators. The upgraded CRJ900 aircraft combines substantially improved take-off and landing performance and increased range. In addition, the jetliner now provides lower fuel consumption. The enhanced CRJ900 aircraft was developed to provide improved payload range capability from shorter airfields. The improved airfield performance will pay special dividends at airports that are constrained by field length, surrounding obstructions, or hot weather/high-altitude conditions. "CRJ900 aircraft flying from such airports will be able to take-off at a higher aircraft weight and thus carry more revenue-generating payload," said Rod Williams, vice-president, Aircraft Programs, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "That, coupled with lower fuel consumption, can make an important difference to the operator's bottom line," added Mr. Williams. The improved take-off and landing distances are made possible by combining the optimization of wing leading-edge devices and a redesigned wing tip and winglet that results in a lower lift/drag ratio and reduced approach speeds. The winglet also contributes to the lower fuel burn.
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"We are off to a great start for 2005 for international traffic," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as IATA released international traffic data for January. "There is stronger than expected growth in all regions, except for Asia Pacific which suffered from the impact of the Indian Ocean Tsunami." Passenger traffic showed a 7.9% increase over the same period in 2004, while cargo improved by 15.5%. Asia-Pacific growth was stunted at 2.5% in the aftermath of the Tsunami tragedy. Overall passenger capacity rose by 7.8% leaving the global passenger load factor at 73.5% for January. With the exception of Asia Pacific and the Middle East, traffic gains lead capacity expansion. Asia-Pacific, Middle Eastern and European carriers are reporting increasingly better profit numbers while the US industry continues to experience severe difficulties. This is particularly true as US domestic yields suffer severe pressure. Redeployment of US domestic capacity to international routes and the continuing weakness of the US dollar are largely responsible for the 11.8% rise in traffic by North American carriers. "We will likely achieve 5.9% passenger growth this year, the bottom line remains at risk," said Bisignani. "The persistent high price of fuel will be difficult to absorb. While the profitability picture for the industry is increasingly regionalised there is a universal theme for 2005austerity.. There is no panacea for the problems of the industry, but cost control must be firmly at the top of the agenda for all players."
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GKN Aerospace has been selected by General Electric Company (GE) to develop & manufacture the front fan containment case for the new GEnx Engine which will power the Boeing 787 airliner. This will be the first fan containment case for a commercial aircraft programme to be manufactured entirely from composite materials and represents a further advance by GKN into the aero-engine sector. It will benefit from GKN's intensive composite technology development programme, which has led to new material and process developments which bring considerable cost benefits as well as dramatic improvements in product consistency and quality.
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The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $142 million follow-on contract for systems engineering, planning and logistics support for its Airborne Laser boost phase missile defense program. The Airborne Laser system is a high-energy, oxygen-iodine laser and beam control system in a Boeing 747 aircraft that can detect, track and destroy ballistic missiles during boost phase using a high-power laser beam.
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The Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) testing program for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey has now been approved. On February 24, Tom Laux, the Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault, and Special Mission Programs, certified that the V-22 Osprey aircraft is ready for operational testing and evaluation. "This is great news signifying a crucial step forward in reaching our goal of getting this tremendous aircraft to our customers," declared Robert Kenney, Bell Helicopter vice president and director of the V-22 Joint Program Office. The actual start date for OPEVAL will be determined by Marine Corps Col. Glenn Walters, commanding officer of VMX-22, the squadron based at MCAS New River, NC, which has the mission of performing the V-22 OPEVAL. However, OPEVAL is expected to begin within two weeks.
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On February 26, the Japanese H-2A rocket returned to space with its long-awaited mission to launch a multi-purpose satellite to serve pilots and weather forecasters throughout Asia and the Pacific. The crucial resumption of launches came 15 months after a painful failure that added to the woes that country's space program encountered in recent years. Liftoff at the Tanegashima space center was at 6:25 p.m. local time, or 0925 GMT (4:25 a.m. EST) from the Yoshinobu launch complex after a 76-minute delay prompted by a communications glitch between the rocket and ground systems. The MTSAT-1R satellite was delivered into a geosynchronous transfer orbit after a 40-minute ascent. The flight was the first for Japan's heavy-lift vehicle since a launch in November 2003 ended in a failure when one of the rocket's solid boosters did not jettison as expected after completing its burn. An investigation in the months following found that the booster's nozzle suffered a burn-through, which caused the failure of the device responsible for sending the separation signal to explosive bolts.
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Aerojet announced that its ramjet engine once again met all test objectives in a third straight successful flight test conducted by Orbital Sciences Corporation as part of the U.S. Navy GQM-163A "Coyote" Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target missile program. Aerojet developed the world's first variable flow ducted rocket ramjet and is the only company currently flight testing high speed missile propulsion for future U.S. military needs. The successful flight was the third in a series intended to validate the operation of the ramjet engine and target vehicle. Aerojet is responsible for the development and production of the ramjet engine that powers the Coyote missile during the extended high-speed cruise phase. The 108-second flight at Mach 2.5, the equivalent of traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego in under four minutes, included pre-programmed aggressive weaving maneuvers, dives, and climbs that provided valuable engine operating data. Additional flight-testing is planned in 2005 to complete the development program and enter full rate production.
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According to preliminary figures, the Lufthansa Group posted a positive operating result of around EUR 380 million for the 2004 financial year (2003: EUR +36 million). The positive net result for the year amounts to approximately EUR 400 million (2003: EUR -984 million). On this basis the Executive Board will recommend the Supervisory Board to draw up the annual accounts accordingly and to resume dividend payments at a rate of EUR 0.30 per share. No dividend was distributed to the shareholders for the financial year 2003.The Supervisory Board will approve the balance sheet in its meeting on 22 March 2005. Lufthansa will publish detailed information on the 2004 annual financial statements at the annual press conference on 23 March 2005.
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Sanborn, a Colorado Springs-based geographic information system (GIS) and photogrammetry industry leader, and Space Imaging, the premier provider of satellite imagery, today announced that Sanborn has acquired Space Imaging's commercial and civilian value-added solutions business unit. Space Imaging's Federal Civil and Commercial Solutions capabilities span a full range of geospatial services from in-depth imagery analyses to customized software applications. Since 2001 Space Imaging has grown the unit from a small group primarily serving the West Coast to a national business known for its customer-centric approach and technical excellence in cartography, remote sensing, decision support systems, and geographic analysis. Its customers include federal and regional government agencies and Fortune 500 businesses.
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NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). The CEV is the spacecraft that will carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and to the moon by 2020. The nation's Vision for Space Exploration set a goal of developing a new CEV by 2014. The CEV represents one building block in a future exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the moon and form the basis for exploration missions to other destinations. The contract to build the CEV is a full and open competition. The anticipated period of performance is September, 2005 through December, 2008. The CEV acquisition will use a phased approach that anticipates a maximum of two contractors. The two contracts will be Cost-Plus-Award-Fee. As part of the Phase 1 contract, the contractors will conduct a demonstration flight that provides risk reduction for the human-rated CEV to be delivered in 2014. The Phase 1 portion of the contract will end with a planned down select to a single prime contractor in late 2008. The CEV proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. EST, May 2, 2005. A selection will be made in September, 2005.
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On March 2, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announced the successful live-fire of four 2.75" unguided rockets from its Vigilante VTOL UAV (Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) system during flight testing conducted at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground. Conducted on December 13 and 14, 2004, the rocket firing demonstration represents an aviation first as they were executed while the Vigilante(R) system and its payload was under air-to-air control from a control console installed aboard a UH-1N Huey helicopter flying a loose formation on the Vigilante system. Teaming with prime contractor and Vigilante system co-developer Advanced Technologies Incorporated (ATI), SAIC conducted the live-fire rocket tests under the Armed VTOL UAV Testbed Integrator contract for the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), in Fort Eustis, Va. AATD's objectives for this program were to use their Vigilante(R) system platform, developed with AATD as a vehicle for demonstrating UAV technologies, to investigate the platform and manned-unmanned teaming issues associated with weapons engagements from Class III UAVs.
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The contract for the delivery by eight MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer police helicopters for the Netherlands Police Services (KLPD) has been cancelled. This info was given by interior minister Remkes at the Second Chamber of Parliament. The reason: supplier Helifly N. V. appeared not in a position on 1 March to hand over two certified Explorers, as demanded in an amended contract. According to Remkes there also exists large uncertainty over the support after delivery of the helicopter through Helifly N. V. and the manufacturer MD Helicopters Inc. The paid advance is now called back. The preparation for an European tender for delivery of alternative helicopters has been started meanwhile, as the minister writes.
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On March 2, Blue Sky Network announced that Cougar Helicopters, Inc. has joined the growing number of helicopter organizations utilizing the Blue Sky Network SkyRouter Tracking System to manage their helicopter and workboat fleets. Cougar Helicopters and related workboats in the Canadian North Atlantic will be equipped with Blue Sky Network D1000 series Flight Tracking and Messaging Units along with the C1000A Satellite Phone providing global trip tracking, voice communications and messaging services to the entire fleet through the Iridium satellite network. The workboats will be the first customer to receive the new D1000C, Blue Sky Network's latest entry in the tracking solution arena. The Blue Sky Network equipment installed in the helicopters and workboats will hold up to the harshest weather conditions that exist in the North Atlantic. The Iridium constellation of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites ensures seamless uninterrupted coverage throughout the service area.
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Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the first fire-control radar for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. The AN/APG-81 radar, which incorporates an active electronically scanned array, will be used to conduct radome integration testing at Lockheed Martin's Palmdale, Calif., facility. The unmatched multi-mode capability of the radar will support air-to-air, air-to-surface and electronic warfare missions. It will provide the pilot with precision all-weather targeting and advanced air-to-ground automatic target cueing.
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On February 28, Sea Launch successfully delivered XM Satellite Radio's XM-3 satellite to orbit from its ocean-based platform on the Equator, in its first mission of the 2005 manifest. Early data indicate the spacecraft is in excellent condition. The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 7:51 pm PST ( 03:51 GMT , Mar. 1), precisely on schedule, from the Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude. All systems performed nominally throughout the flight. The Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the 4,703 kg (10,346 lb) XM-3 satellite into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit of 2468 km x 35786 km, on its way to an orbital location for routine testing prior to placement in its final orbital position at 85 degrees West Longitude. A ground station in South Africa acquired the spacecraft's first signal an hour after liftoff, as planned. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, International, Inc., the XM-3 satellite is a 702 model spacecraft, one of the most powerful satellites built today, designed to provide 18 kilowatts of total power at beginning of life. Like its sister spacecraft, XM-1 and XM-2 – also launched by Sea Launch - XM-3 will transmit more than 150 channels of digital-quality music, news, sports, talk, comedy and children's programming to subscribers across the continental United States.
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At its official launch during IDEX 2005 in the U.A.E. in late February, Schiebel's S-100 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV impressed attendees with its stated technical specifications and potential capabilities. According to a company, the S-100 represents a vast improvement in overall operational capabilities, boasting a larger payload capacity in addition to longer endurance and a faster dash speed. The system is currently undergoing flight testing in a wide range of environmental conditions and Schiebel expects to start production in the fourth quarter of 2005. 'We are building a new production facility near Vienna in Austria to accommodate production of up to 150 systems per year,' said James E. Rolig, Manager, Service & Support at Schiebel Elektronische Geräte GmbH.
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Just a year after launching Ted out of Denver International Airport, United Airlines announced that the Ted fleet of aircraft will grow by 20% -- from 47 to 56 aircraft. "Ted has met or exceeded all of our expectations as customers respond to low fares, a high quality experience, and all the benefits of the Mileage Plus program and Economy Plus seating," said Sean Donohue, vice president of Ted and United Express. "Financially, Ted delivered strong year-over-year margin improvement driven by an increase in both United elite customers as well as new customers to the airline." Ted plans to expand its fleet of Airbus 320 aircraft by converting nine mainline aircraft to the Ted configuration. The new Ted aircraft will provide additional service out of Ted's hubs in Denver, Washington Dulles and Chicago to markets in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. United will announce specific routes at a later date. In its first year, Ted carried more than seven million passengers, achieving a load factor greater than 80% for 2004. Daily flights have increased as well, from 20 flights per day in February 2004 to 214 daily flights today. Ted carries more than 27,000 customers each day to destinations across United's route network.
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Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated the ability to release a weapon from a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator during flight-testing conducted Feb. 24 over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The drop of the 500-pound inert weapon from Proteus, the manned UAV surrogate developed by Scaled Composites, Mojave, Calif., is the latest in a series of company-funded activities focused on addressing the U.S. Department of Defense's expanding medium-altitude endurance UAV requirements. It also supports an on-going, Northrop Grumman-funded effort to develop a new multi-mission MALE UAV dubbed Model 395. Based on Proteus, Model 395 will be able to perform a variety of missions ranging from traditional intelligence gathering to weapons delivery. "Today's test was flawless," said Steve True, Northrop Grumman's Model 395 test director. "It was the culmination of a rapid prototyping process that allowed us to define and conduct risk reduction, proof-of-concept testing for a new weapons delivery concept in just over 30 days. Exceptional support from the Air Force's UAV Battlelab at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nev., the 98th Range Wing at Nellis, and EDO Corporation, developer of the weapon release system, also proved instrumental in allowing us to meet a very ambitious schedule.
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BizJet International received final approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to become an authorized Rolls-Royce Overhaul Facility for Tay MK 611-8 engines. Previously, BizJet had obtained authorization from Rolls-Royce to be known as an authorized overhaul facility for the Tay engine. “We are pleased to reach another milestone in our history and to enhance our growing list of capabilities,” stated Rodney Shannon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. BizJet's company capabilities include inspection, repair, midlife, overhaul, testing, and calibration of the Tay 611-8 engine. BizJet is now an authorized Rolls-Royce overhaul facility for both Spey MK 511-8 and Tay MK 611-8 engines.
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The F/A-22 and Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)--two of the Department of Defense's (DOD) major tactical aircraft fighter programs--are intended to replace aging tactical fighter aircraft with highly advanced, stealthy aircraft. The two programs combined have a potential future investment of more than $240 billion. Later this month, GAO plans to issue comprehensive reports on the numerous setbacks each of these programs has experienced since they were initiated and their effect on the F/A-22 and JSF business cases. This testimony highlights key concerns in the F/A-22 and JSF programs and discusses the implications of these concerns on DOD's overall investment strategy for modernizing its tactical fixed wing aircraft. Significant changes in the F/A-22 program have severely weakened its original business case. Since the F/A-22 program began in 1986, new threats emerged and mission requirements changed; to keep the F/A-22 viable, the Air Force has planned for large investments in new capabilities. Significant delays and cost increases have affected affordability, reducing planned deliveries from 750 F/A-22 aircraft to fewer than 180. The recent budget decision to terminate procurement of the F/A-22 after fiscal year 2008 and the prospect of additional funding cuts also have significant implications for the program's viability and modernization efforts. JSF's original business case, established when the program began in 1996, is unexecutable. The cost estimate to develop the aircraft has increased 80 percent, operational capability has been pushed out 2 years, and expected acquisition quantities have been cut by 535 aircraft. The JSF program is approaching key investment decisions that will greatly influence the efficiency of the remaining funding--over 90 percent of the $245 billion estimated total program costs. This sizable investment greatly raises the stakes to meet future promises. While DOD has been working to resolve early design and performance problems, continuing program uncertainties suggest DOD could use more time to gain knowledge before it commits to a new business case and moves forward. To reduce the risk of further cost and schedule growth, any new business case must include an acquisition strategy that adopts an evolutionary, knowledge-based approach to product development. Currently, the JSF program plans to make key production decisions before critical knowledge is captured. Taken together, the status and problems in these two programs have broader implications for the DOD tactical fixed wing aircraft modernization program, raising questions as to whether its overarching goals to reduce average aircraft age and ownership costs while maintaining the force structure are now achievable. The 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review provides an opportunity for DOD to assess needs and plans and to weigh options for accomplishing its tactical aircraft goals.
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The 100th fully-equipped Eurofighter fuselage centre section has left the assembly station at EADS Military Aircraft's Manching site. Dietmar Schrick, Head of Programmes at EADS Military Aircraft, officially handed over the centre section to the Spanish partner EADS CASA. This milestone fuselage centre section is destined for the Spanish single-seater bearing the production number SS007 and will be integrated into the aircraft on the final assembly line at Getafe. "Today we have achieved an important preliminary goal in the Eurofighter programme. With the completion of the 100th fuselage centre section, we can look back on an eventful period since the start of the programme. At the same time, we can also confirm that the quality and production standards reached are extremely high," commented Schrick during the handover ceremony. "The customers have also expressed their appreciation of this and it has helped us to acquire the order for the second tranche last year as well as achieve the first export success in the contract with Austria in 2003."
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The U.S. Air Force has authorized International Launch Services (ILS) to proceed with a mission to launch a Global Positioning System satellite in early 2007 on a Lockheed Martin Atlas V vehicle. This launch, of a next-generation GPS-IIF series satellite, will take place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The mission was assigned to ILS in the first round of awards under the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. ILS, a Lockheed Martin Corp. joint venture, now has 16 EELV assignments. This is the seventh to be given the go-ahead for launch. The Atlas V vehicle will inject the GPS satellite directly into its operational circular orbit of 20,200 km (10,900 nm) above Earth and inclined 55 degrees to the equator. The GPS constellation consists of 24 operational satellites in six orbital planes to provide worldwide coverage.
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One of the most heavily used and valued weapons systems of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom has reached initial operating capability, Air Combat Command officials here announced March 1. The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle was officially declared IOC March 1 by Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, ACC's vice commander. The milestone was reached after the MQ-1 completed eleven requirements including supportability, maintainability and aircraft and parts availability. Initially fielded as the RQ-1, an advanced concept technology demonstrator, the Predator was first used in the Balkan theater in the mid-1990s. Over time, the aircraft has undergone various upgrades to improve its combat effectiveness. The MQ-1 version is equipped with advanced sensors and armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
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On 22nd February 2005, MBDA's Vertical Launch (VL) MICA air defence system was put to the test with the firing of a production series MICA missile fitted with an infrared seeker against a small drone flying at low altitude. The test was a complete success with the target destroyed by a direct hit at a range of around 10 kilometers. The successful test took place at 13.00 p.m. (local time), in front of an evaluation team from the Indian Air Force as well as Indian Army officers at the Centre d'Essais de Lancement de Missiles (CELM) missile test centre near Biscarosse on the South West coast of France. MBDA, together with its Indian industrial partner Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), is offering the VL MICA system as the solution to the Indian Air Force's expressed requirement for a Low Level Quick Reaction Missile (LLQRM) air defence system. For the test, MICA was vertically launched in a non-line-of-sight firing from a multi-missile launcher mounted on an ACMAT multi-role vehicle in service with the French Armed Forces. The missile, which is exactly the same as that already in service with several customers in the air-to-air combat theatre, acquired and locked onto the target after launch.
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Officials at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., received their third CV-22 Osprey test aircraft Feb. 26 to join their Integrated Test Team. “The delivery of (the new Osprey) is essential because it helps us to do the necessary testing before operational testing begins in the summer of 2006,” Colonel Eric Garvin, CV-22 Systems Squadron commander, said. Officials said the Osprey will undergo several weeks of modifications to install special instrumentation to meet the needs of Air Force Special Operations Command: night flying, low altitude operations in bad weather, and search and rescue. The test program includes inertial navigation, electronic navigation, multimode radar and integrated system evaluations.
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Saab Training Systems is today giving notice to 80 people at the operation in Huskvarna, Sweden. There are several factors behind this workforce reduction. Due to the sharp fall in the value of the US dollar, Saab Training Systems is forced to reduce its cost mass if it is to remain competitive. Moreover, several customers are devoting extensive resources to live military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has meant fewer available resources for training. "It is very sad to have to take this action. We hope not to have to lose all 80 personnel affected by the notice, but there is great uncertainty on the market at the present time. During my six years as CEO it has never been this difficult to predict the market. The company will of course be doing everything it can to support the people affected by the move," says Johan Ohlson, CEO of Saab Training Systems.
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Embraer delivered its 900th jet of the ERJ 145 family to European customer Luxair today. The handover ceremony of the carrier's second ERJ 135 jet took place at the headquarters of Embraer in Sao Jose dos Campos, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The customer intends to use its two new ERJ 135s to serve London City Airport (LCY) from Luxembourg and on its network for longer routes. The ERJ 135 received LCY certification in October 2003 and today is one of the few jets allowed to operate in that particular airport. "Today we welcome Luxair executives at our headquarters and share with them the pleasure of celebrating another milestone Embraer product delivery. We are particularly pleased that our aircraft are playing such a pivotal role in developing Luxembourg Airport as a hub for regional air traffic in Europe," said Mauricio Botelho, Embraer President and CEO.
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The American space agency NASA has set a May 15 launch date for the first space shuttle launch since the Columbia disaster two years ago. When the space shuttle Discovery lifts off in May, veteran astronaut Eileen Collins will be in command. She and her crew are confident NASA has done everything possible to make this a safe flight. "We know every flight will not be perfect and I'm not going to stand here and say there is still risk in space flight and I think there will always be risk in space flight,” says Eileen Collins. NASA has spent the two years since the space shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry trying to reduce the risk. The external fuel tank has been redesigned to minimize the chance of foam breaking off and punching a hole in the orbiter. That's what doomed Columbia. Flight Director Paul Hill believes this will be the safest shuttle flight ever. "We've gone to great lengths to minimize the risk of debris coming off anywhere of the vehicle during the assent, so we have reduced the risk. Is it zero, No, but it's smaller today than it has ever been,” says Paul Hill.
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Iberia has decided today the acquisition of up to 79 new aircraft of the Airbus A320 family to renew its short and medium haul fleet. The agreement includes 30 firm acquisitions and 49 options. In the first case there will be 15 Airbus A318, nine A320 and six A321. The delivery period of the aircraft, firm and options, will be from 2006 to 2011. These new aircraft will replace 19 MD-87, 13 MD-88, 7 Boeing 757 and the oldest Airbus A320. Total aircraft catalogue price amounts to more than $4,500 million, over which the Company has obtained important discounts. This agreement is the greatest one ever decided by Iberia, overcoming the contract signed in 1998 also for the short and medium haul renewal that included the incorporation of up to 76 aircraft (50 firm and 26 options) of the Airbus A320 family.
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In a decision issued on February 24, 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained protests filed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3 Communications Integrated System, and BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions, Inc. concerning the Department of the Air Force's award of a contract to the Boeing Company for the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program. The protesters alleged that the decision to award to Boeing was the result of improper involvement and influence by Darleen Druyun, then the Air Force's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, who subsequently pled guilty in United States District Court to violating the provisions of 18 U.S.C. section 208(a) regarding conflicts of interest. GAO sustained the three firms' protests because the record showed that Darleen Druyun, who has acknowledged bias in favor of Boeing, was materially involved in the evaluation of proposals, and that, either expressly or implicitly, she directed revisions to ratings of Boeing's proposal and to each of the three protesters' proposals. The record further shows that the Air Force conducted discussions in a manner that favored Boeing. On the basis of the record presented, the Air Force has failed to demonstrate that Druyun's acknowledged bias did not prejudice the three protesters. GAO recommended that the agency recompete the installation portion of the contract requirements. Although GAO would ordinarily recommend that the agency recompete the entire contract effort, GAO recognized that performance of those requirements has been ongoing for more than 3 years.
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Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the world's first stealthy cruise missile, was successfully launched Thursday from an F-16 aircraft and precisely navigated through its first verification flight test at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The missile successfully struck the target as planned. "This JASSM flight test success was especially important for the Air Force," said Col. James Geurts, JASSM program manager and commander of the Long Range Missile Systems Group at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. "Recent military activities have significantly reduced the number of long-range weapons and JASSM provides advanced capabilities to the warfighter. JASSM is a top priority program because of its unmatched ability to deliver precision targeting, with superior effectiveness, over long distances, on multiple aircraft, through the toughest threat environments. JASSM is a key enabler for the Combatant Commanders in our future combat planning and a capability that is sorely needed into today and tomorrow's battlefield."
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On 4 March, the national association of the German airospace industry (BDLI) has elected Dr. Thomas Enders (46) as new president. He follows Rainer Hertrich (55) who has been in the office November 2001 and will hand over to Enders on the 20 April. The reelection became necessary, as Rainer Hertrich leaves as CEO of the EADS. Presidency and adviserory council of the BDLI selected Enders on Friday in a joint session unanimously. Enders is currently leader of the EADS division defenses and security systems and will become co-CEO of EDAS.
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At Austrian Airlines, a dedicated strategy of specialisation in services to Central and Eastern Europe (the 'Focus East' programme) and to the Asia/Pacific region, coupled with the respective global marketing offensives, produced an increase in passenger volume of 10.9 % in 2004 and a rise in the passenger load factor on scheduled services to 72.2 %. By consistently focusing attention on cost savings measures including a further reduction in unit costs of 6.6 %, the company succeeded in achieving an adjusted EBIT in line with its - due to the enormous increase in kerosene prices and the overcapacity that dogged the European aviation sector in the final quarter of last year - revised forecast of November 2004. Compared to the previous year, the adjusted EBIT increased slightly, from EUR 4.2m to EUR 10.5m. The EBIT improved by EUR 16.1m to reach EUR 79.4m. Profit before tax totalled EUR 53.4m, up from EUR 25.7m the previous year (adjusted figure EUR – 20.8m, following EUR –22.4m the preceding year). Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, issued the following statement on the balance sheet for 2004: 'Although the fuel surcharges we gradually introduced from May 2004 onwards did cover the high additional costs to an extent, they were insufficient to compensate fully for those price hikes. We were successful in driving forward our expansion in the market until the 4 th quarter of 2004, when I regret to say our progress slowed considerably due to increased overcapacity in the European market. In an effort to counteract this trend, we brought forward a necessary seasonal adjustment of production starting in November 2004. For 2005 we are planning a balanced overall growth of 5 % of available seat kilometers (ASK). Our strategy of specialisation will continue to move forward, of course, and will not lose any significant momentum in the future, even if operating conditions remain as difficult as they have been in recent months. We will maintain our traffic system in an offensively oriented East-West balance and continue to increase our long-haul services into Asia to make best use of market opportunities. The restructuring of the Austrian Airlines Group is now approaching its third and final leg, which is well known in the industry as being the most problematic. With the commitment and spirit of our workforce, however, I am confident about the challenges ahead.'
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