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+++ Lufthansa and Swiss talk on take-over +++ Bombardier to offer Cseries +++ OHB awarded contract for ORBCOMM satellite +++ 757 with winglets makes first flight +++ News in brief +++
Lufthansa and Swiss talk on take-over
Swiss bald unter Lufthansa-Regie?
Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Swiss International Air Lines AG are in constructive negotiations about the take-over and integration of SWISS into the Lufthansa group. Both companies jointly developed the business model, which is subject to the approval of the Lufthansa supervisory board, the relevant SWISS-corporate bodies as well as the SWISS core shareholders bound by the lock-up agreement. If the required approvals are obtained, Lufthansa will submit an offer to the free float shareholders based on the average share price of the recent weeks. The jointly developed business model aims at providing a concentration of the strengths of both airlines, while retaining the independence of SWISS to the extent possible. The cornerstones include, inter alia, maintaining the air traffic infrastructure within Switzerland as well as the brand “Swiss”, it was announced on 13 March.
Later in the week, a Swiss government department expressed itself publicly in favour of the deal. In a memo of the finance administration to the parliament, it is said that "the acceptance of the Lufthansa offer opens persistently positive perspectives compared to the status quo: security and development of the Hub in Zurich; retention and possibly expansion of the current long-haul fleet; continuation of Swiss as a strategic company resident in Switzerland - as a decentralized profit center owned by Lufthansa; preservation of the Swiss trademark. All taken together, the offer leads to the optimum involvement of Switzerland in the worldwide air transport and a preservation of the jobs." The Swiss Bundesrat will presumably decide on the acceptance of the specific Lufthansa offer on the 22 March.
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Bombardier to offer Cseries
Neue Flugzeugfamilie im Angebot
On15 March, Bombardier's Board of Directors granted Bombardier Aerospace authority to offer the new CSeries family of aircraft to customers. The authority to offer is an important step in the process that could lead to the aircraft program launch. Prior to launch, Bombardier will seek firm commitments from potential customers, suppliers and government partners. “In the CSeries status report presented to Board members, Bombardier Aerospace demonstrated the significant progress made in the evaluation of the aircraft configuration and performance, the strong market interest for the CSeries family as well as the overall business plan,” said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “We will now offer sales proposals to potential customers and finalize sales and partnership commitments before returning to the Board to request program launch and recommend the final assembly site location.”
The CSeries aircraft is the first family of aircraft specifically designed for the 110- to 130-seat market segment. Designed in two basic five-seat abreast versions, one version, the C110, will carry 110 passengers, while a larger version, the C130, will seat 130 passengers. Each of the two variants may be configured for either short-haul travel with a 1,800 nautical mile range or for transcontinental flights of up to 3,000 nautical miles. The CSeries family of aircraft will provide flexibility and range capability to expand airlines networks beyond current hub-and-spoke operations to point-to-point flying. It will also share an engine, and have commonalities in crew training, operating procedures as well as part and maintenance procedures. To enable greater revenue generation and higher aircraft utilization, the CSeries aircraft is designed for simultaneous servicing points for quicker turn-around.
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OHB awarded contract for ORBCOMM satellite
Satellitenauftrag für OHB-System
Bremen-based space technology company OHB-System AG has been awarded a contract by U.S. satellite operator ORBCOMM Inc. to participate in the development and construction of an ORBCOMM satellite with a secondary U.S. Coast Guard payload. This ORBCOMM satellite will provide standard ORBCOMM service, and will also have a U.S. Coast Guard payload to support their Automatic Identification System (AIS). This satellite will receive signals emitted from vessels, enhancing U.S. Coast Guard monitoring techniques as part of their homeland security initiatives. This satellite is scheduled to be launched in early 2006 on board the Russian COSMOS 3M carrier rocket from the Plesetzk Cosmodrome. OHB will be integrating and function-testing the satellite in Bremen as the system manager with the recently incorporated joint Venture COSMOS Space Systems AG. The Russian partner Polyot from Omsk will be supplying the satellite bus and handling the launching procedures. Orbital Sciences Corporation based in Dulles, Virginia is also under contract with ORBCOMM to develop and manufacture the payload that incorporates ORBCOMM services with reception of AIS signals. ORBCOMM will process and deliver vessel identification and location directly to the U.S. Coast Guard.
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757 with winglets makes first flight
Winglets für die 757
On March 9th a Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200, outfitted with 8 foot 2 inch tall Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets, flew from Everett, WA to Los Angeles with a brief stop en route at Boeing Field Seattle. "The first flight was a complete success," says Aviation Partners Boeing Vice President of Programs Jay Inman. "From an airline perspective, this is our most significant Blended Winglet Program ever. With this technology, Boeing 757-200 operators will experience block fuel improvement of up to 5%, saving as much as 300,000 gallons per aircraft, per year for every Blended Winglet Performance Enhanced 757-200," said Aviation Partners Boeing Vice President Sales and Contracts Patrick LaMoria.
FAA certification of 757-200 Blended Winglets is anticipated in May 2005 with first customer installations beginning in July. Initial launch customers Continental Airlines and Icelandair are the first operators that will take advantage of patented Blended Winglet Technology on their 757-200's. "Market interest in this program has been unprecedented," says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO Mike Marino. "The 757-200 is a very popular aircraft that has been coming up in value lately. More and more airlines are looking to increase the utilization of one of the most efficient aircraft every designed on a cost per seat basis. Blended Winglet Technology, now available for the 757-200, is helping to make this possible."
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Lufthansa announced the expansion of its Washington service with daily non-stop flights to Munich beginning May 2. The new service will feature Lufthansa's new Business Class product, which offers travelers the longest bed in Business Class at 6.5 feet, and FlyNet, the industry's first in-flight wireless Internet service, with high-speed Internet access from Connexion by Boeing. The new flight will complement Lufthansa's twice-daily service from Washington D.C. to Frankfurt and the existing daily service to Munich provided by Star Alliance partner United Airlines.
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On March 11, an Atlas V launch vehicle carried its largest payload to date into orbit, the Inmarsat 4-F1 satellite that weighs nearly 6 metric tons (5,959 kgs/13,138 pounds). This also marked the third launch of the year for International Launch Services (ILS). The Lockheed Martin-built Atlas V vehicle, designated AV-004, lifted off at 4:42 p.m. EST (21:42 GMT). It placed the Inmarsat spacecraft in a supersynchronous transfer orbit 32 minutes later. Satellite controllers have confirmed that the spacecraft is functioning properly. Tonight's vehicle used the Atlas V "431" configuration, meaning it had a 4-meter-diameter fairing, three solid rocket boosters (SRBs) and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Atlas V vehicles have now flown five times, three of them with SRBs. The spacecraft is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS Astrium. It is the first in a generation of satellites that will support Inmarsat's new Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), delivering internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, videoconferencing, fax, e-mail, phone and LAN access at speeds up to 432kbit/s almost anywhere in the world. BGAN will also be compatible with third-generation cellular systems. The operating location for Inmarsat 4-F1 is 65 degrees East longitude.
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Air passenger traffic set a new record of 93,861,671 travellers at JFK International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports in 2004, an increase of more than 12% over the 2003 total. Renewed air traveller confidence, extensive public and private investments, strong demand and low airfares helped the Port Authority - operator of the nation's largest airport system - to reach the new record a year earlier than originally anticipated. The previous annual record of 92,419,554 passengers was set in 2000. Passenger traffic fell sharply following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2004, 37.5 million passengers passed through Kennedy Airport, representing an 18% increase over 2003 and making it the fastest-growing airport in the region and one of the fastest-growing airports in the nation. Newark Airport saw an 8.3% increase, with 31.9 million passengers in 2004. LaGuardia Airport had 24.4 million passengers in 2004, an increase of 8.7%. The 12.2% increase in passengers at JFK, Newark and LaGuardia was nearly two times the average rate of other major airports in the United States. Domestic passenger levels in 2004 were 3.1% higher than pre-9/11 levels. International traffic, which increased 15% in 2004, is expected to exceed pre-9/11 levels in 2005.
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On 11 March, President George W. Bush nominated Michael D. Griffin, of Virginia, to be NASA Administrator. Dr. Griffin currently serves as Space Department Head at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc. He also served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation, including Chief Executive Officer of Magellan Systems, Inc. Earlier in his career, Dr. Griffin served as Chief Engineer at NASA and as Deputy for Technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization.
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According to a report by the German Federal Statistics Office, there were 303 German aviation-businesses offering passenger and freight transportation. That is five less than in the preceding year (– 2%). These companies had 55,000 employees, about 500 more than in the middle of 2002 ( + 1%). Flying personnel increased by 3 % to 28,100 persons, while in the ground personnel had 26,900 employed (less 1%) In the year 2003, the German businesses in the aviation sector obtained a revenue of 18.1 billions Euros ( + 1%). Of these revenues, 15.5 billion Euros came out of passenger transportation and 2.6 billions Euro out of freight services. The companies had 1,693 aircraft (– 5%), among them 500 helicopters, balloons and air ships. The airplane count decreased by around 4% to 1,193 units, above all because lighter machines were donwn around 11%, while the number of the large airplanes (over 20 ton take-off weight) increased by around 4%.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that GoJet Airlines of St. Louis, Missouri has placed a firm order for 10 Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets, and has taken options on an additional 40 CRJ700 aircraft. GoJet is a subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc. and will operate the aircraft under the United Express banner. The firm order is valued at approximately $317 million US. The value could rise to $1.61 billion US if all options are exercised. As of January 31, 2005 Bombardier had delivered 1,224 CRJ aircraft to customers in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
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On 16 March, Scandinavian Airlines Sweden presented Nya Inrikesflyget, its new domestic offering, which will make travel less expensive, with flexible tickets, oneway tickets that can be freely combined, and a new easy-to-use website for booking tickets. "Domestic travel will now be cheaper and simpler with SAS," says President Anders Ehrling. There will be three ticket types on Nya Inrikesflyget: Fix, Flex and Full Flex.
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There are only three years to go until the first launch of a new European launcher – Vega. Last week representatives of over 20 European space industries met at ESA's European Space Research Institute, ESRIN, just outside Rome in Italy, to discuss progress on this new small-scale launcher. “The preliminary project stage is now completed,” said Stefano Bianchi, who is responsible for coordinating ESA's Vega Programme. “We are now moving from the drawing board to the construction of the launchers, by building and testing systems and the motors. This is decidedly the most critical phase of the development.” Vega, comparatively small at only 30 m compared to the 53 m Ariane 5 ECA, will be capable of placing payloads weighing from 300 to 2000 kg into the polar and low-Earth orbits used for many scientific and Earth observation missions. This should enable it to play a significant role in the global market for launching small satellites.
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Boeing revealed the first F-15K Strike Eagle fighter aircraft for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at the Boeing site in St. Louis, Mo. The aircraft unveiled at the event completed its first flight March 3 and is the first of 40 F-15Ks being built for the ROKAF. The ROKAF is investing $4.2 billion for the 40 F-15Ks and deliveries will begin this year and end in August 2008. "Boeing is thankful we can produce this world-class fighter for the Republic of Korea," said Jim Albaugh, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems president and CEO. "It has advanced technologies and weaponry never seen before on any F-15."
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Low-cost carrier Air Berlin has selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics for its fleet of 70 Airbus A320 aircraft. The agreement includes an option for 40 additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September. The WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard Weather Detection System is included in the avionics package. MultiScan is a fully automatic radar that reduces pilot workload and enhances safety and passenger comfort by reducing unexpected turbulence encounters. MultiScan provides optimal weather detection from the nose of the aircraft to 320 nautical miles. Other Rockwell Collins equipment chosen by Air Berlin includes the ADF-900 Automatic Direction Finder, DME-900 Distance Measuring Equipment, HFS-900 High Frequency System, CPL-920D Coupling Unit, VOR-900 VHF Omnidirectional Radio and the AOC-900 Aircraft Operational Communications data link.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that the Bombardier Q300 turboprop has been selected by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) as a new-generation low- and medium-altitude navigation aids inspection and calibration aircraft. Sojitz Corporation of Tokyo, Bombardier's sales agent in Japan, is the prime contractor to the JCAB and will acquire one Q300 turboprop from Bombardier. Field Aviation Company inc. of Toronto will provide the mechanical modifications to the aircraft and install a next-generation UNIFIS 3000 Automatic Flight Inspection System which will be supplied by Norwegian Special Mission (NSM) of Norway. The aircraft is to be delivered to the JCAB in the fourth quarter of 2006.
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Raytheon Aircraft and NetJets have reached a tentative agreement to purchase up to 50 Hawker Horizon aircraft for its expanding fractional market fleet. The tentative agreement includes a 10 year Guaranteed Maintenance Program. The order confirms the confidence NetJets has in Raytheon Aircraft Company and its newest aircraft. Details are expected to be finalized within 30 days. The Hawker Horizon is the newest, most technically advanced super-midsize business aircraft available, and will enter the market with the best overall performance in its class. Conceived in the tradition of Hawker excellence, the Horizon is an amazing blend of technology and heritage. From its luxurious spacious cabin to its high cruise speed and intercontinental range, the Horizon is the aircraft by which all super-midsize business jets will be measured.
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Adam Aircraft announced it will open a manufacturing and assembly operation in Ogden, Utah. The Adam Aircraft facility will be located at the Kemp Ogden Airport Gateway Center. The center is a new, forty-seven acre, state-of-the-art, business park, featuring a highly functional layout offering both air and groundside access. Kemp Development Company has worked closely with Ogden City and the State of Utah to create a business environment that is nationally competitive and supportive of aerospace manufacturing activities. Adam Aircraft is leasing twenty-two thousand square feet in the newly completed Kemp Jet Services terminal to manufacture and assemble A500 and A700 aircraft. To accommodate anticipated growth, Kemp will develop, by phases, new facilities for Adam Aircraft on adjacent sites.
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Bombardier Aerospace has named ExecuJet Aviation Group as the exclusive sales representative for its Challenger 300 and Learjet family of business jets in Germany, effective immediately. "ExecuJet excels at offering business jet customers one of the industry's most comprehensive array of transportation solutions, making them an obvious choice for Bombardier in our goal to provide German customers with integrated services of superior quality," said Jahid Fazal-Karim, senior vice-president, new aircraft sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "ExecuJet has achieved extraordinary success selling Bombardier business jets worldwide, and we are confident that this latest agreement for the important German market will prove to be just as successful."
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"The annual cost that the European Commission (EC) inflicts on aviation is EUR 5.9 billion. This is the legacy of neglect left by the previous Commission and it is an enormous burden on the competitiveness of Europe's airlines," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a speech to the European Aviation Club. "If we don't have urgent action to restore a balanced playing field, the European industry will be damaged, not by competition, but by inefficient European systems," said Bisignani.
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Scandinavian Airlines launched the next generation airline seats on March 17-19, at the yearly travel exhibition in Scandinavia. The modern design and functionality makes the airline seat comparable to - and works like - a proper bed. The new seats will be installed in business class in the beginning of 2006. According to our customer surveys, many of our passengers request greater privacy accompanied with more comfort, says Lars Lindgren, Head of Scandinavian Airlines International. The new seats are a way of increasing the convenience for our passengers on board. The seats are both appealing and comfortable according to the studies we have made, and that is very satisfactory. The new seat permits better comfort and a more private space than traditional seats. The total space for every passenger will increase and when the seat is folded out into sleeping position it will not interfere with passengers in the row behind.
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The second redesigned Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is in place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. It is designated for use on the Shuttle Atlantis Return to Flight mission (STS-121). The ET incorporates several safety improvements, including an improved bipod fitting that connects the tank to the orbiter. In addition, the tank has temperature sensors and accelerometers, used to measure vibration and to collect data about its performance. In the huge KSC Vehicle Assembly Building, the ET will be raised from a horizontal to a vertical position this week and lifted high into a checkout cell. It will undergo mechanical, electrical and thermal protection systems' inspections. New processing activities, resulting from redesign of the tank, include inspection of the bipod heater and ET separation camera.
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Northrop Grumman recently demonstrated, through a series of ground and flight tests here, the capabilities of its new Hunter II unmanned system, the company's proposed system solution for the U.S. Army's Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) program. The company completed the test series, which included more than 50 hours of flight time over 14 separate flights, on February 16 as part of the program's Systems Capabilities Demonstration (SCD) phase.
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The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) team led by Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the System Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with its customer, the U.S. Navy. The System PDR kicks off a key design and development phase for the space and ground segments to ensure the system will meet or exceed the customer's requirements for the next generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system. MUOS will provide significantly improved and assured communications for U.S. mobile warfighters. With the adaptation of state-of-the art 3rd Generation (3G) mobile technology, the Lockheed Martin design will deliver simultaneous voice, data and video services as well as the ability to increase capacity and features over the life of the program. Users of the current Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) system will have improved service and complete interoperability with MUOS to ensure a smooth transition.
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Just twelve years and ten months after it opened, Munich Airport welcomed its 250 millionth passenger on March 16th – a resounding confirmation of the strong growth achieved by this dynamic air transportation hub. Evelyn Hammerström (3rd from left), who arrived with Lufthansa flight LH 831 from Düsseldorf to catch a connecting flight to Los Angeles, was welcomed on the Munich Airport tarmac with a brass band and a bouquet. Dr. Michael Kerkloh (4th from left), Munich Airport's CEO, presented the business traveler with a special gift basket filled with choice delicacies by Eurotrade, a Munich Airport affiliate. Allresto, another airport subsidiary, joined in with its own anniversary treat: a gift certificate for a festive dinner for two at the airport restaurant “Il Mondo.”
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Embraer announced that 2004 was a record year with net sales up 60.5% from 2003 totaling US$ 3.440 billion and net income totaling US$ 380.2 million, equivalent to diluted earnings per ADS of US$2.17. The firm order backlog as of December 31, 2004, totaled US$10.1 billion. The company's operating and financial information is presented, except where otherwise stated, on a consolidated basis in United States dollars (US$) in accordance with US GAAP. The financial data presented in this document for the year ended December 31, 2003 was derived from our financial statements audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. The financial information for the fourth quarter 2003 and 2004, as well as for the year ended December 31, 2004, are unaudited. Despite the continually difficult environment faced by airlines worldwide, including some of our customers, 2004 was a positive year for Embraer, as it celebrated its 35th anniversary. During 2004, deliveries increased by 47% to 148 jets, contributing to an increase in our revenues and income. As a result, 2004 will be recorded in Embraer's 35-year history as a year of record sales and profits. Due to a larger number of aircraft delivered, coupled with a better performance of the defense, corporate and customer support segments, the Company generated net sales of US$ 3,440.5 million, 60% higher than in the previous fiscal year. At the same time, net income more than doubled compared to 2003 figures, totaling US$ 380.2 million.
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Alteon Training, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, has announced its participation in a new training company, CasaAero Training, located in Casablanca, Morocco. The newly formed joint venture with Royal Air Maroc will operate out of the airline's existing training center, which currently is equipped with a 737- 300/400/500 full flight simulator. Alteon will support the venture with the addition of a new 737-600/700/800 full flight simulator scheduled to be in place in the first quarter of 2005.
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Lufthansa said the expansion of its in-flight wireless Internet service, FlyNet, which includes Internet access from Connexion by Boeing, will pass another milestone shortly when half of the airline's North American gateways have the service. Just 11 months since Lufthansa introduced the world's first wireless Internet service on commercial airplanes, flights into and out of Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. are now joining Charlotte, Denver and Los Angeles in offering the service. The unprecedented availability of FlyNet includes a free Lufthansa FlyNet portal containing real-time news, weather, sports and destination information, as well as complete Internet access by Connexion by Boeing for a small fee.
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Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) Summer Timetable 2005 - which goes into effect on March 27 - will offer travelers an even greater choice than last year. The number of scheduled passenger flights at Germany's largest airport will increase by 4.4 percent to 4,404 departures per week, compared to the corresponding schedule in 2004. While the number of domestic flights will decline slightly, European passenger services will grow by 4.9 percent. In intercontinental traffic, where Frankfurt Airport already holds a dominant position, flight offers will jump by 7.6 percent this summer. The total number of airline seats being offered per week at FRA will climb by 2.1 percent to 712,806 for the Summer Timetable 2005. Some 109 scheduled passenger airlines will be flying from Frankfurt Airport to 304 destinations in 110 countries - a truly global network. Lufthansa, in particular, will be offering several new destinations via FRA. Guangzhou (formerly called Canton) in China will get a new daily service from Frankfurt. Hyderabad in India and Port Harcourt in Nigeria (West Africa) will both be served three days per week. The markets showing greatest growth - in terms of airline seats being offered - include South East Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
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The module that will deliver food, clothing, spare parts and research equipment to the International Space Station is being prepared for the Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission. The Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, Raffaello, is filled with cargo at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. It will fly on the Shuttle Discovery (STS-114) mission targeted for launch in May. Raffaello will carry 12 large containers, (racks) to the International Space Station (ISS). Included in the cargo is the Human Research Facility (HRF-2), which will expand the ISS capability to support human life sciences research. A similar facility, HRF-1, has conducted research since it was installed into the Destiny module in May 2001. The research includes using an ultrasound unit measuring bone loss and a gas analyzer system. "This is a significant milestone for the Station," said Bill Gerstenmaier, ISS Program Manager. "With Raffaello's supply transport capabilities, we will be in a better posture onboard Station after this first Shuttle mission. Raffaello will also deliver a unique biomedical research capability with the HRF-2. It will help us learn more about humans living in space."
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Data Link Solutions (DLS), a BAE SYSTEMS/Rockwell Collins company, has received a not-to-exceed contract in the amount of $82M for a product improvement program for the migration of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) to a JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) software communications compliant architecture. The improved product will be called MIDS JTRS. Development of the MIDS JTRS terminal is scheduled to be completed within 29 months and will represent the next generation of MIDS products. The initial product baseline will provide the current MIDS Link 16 and TACAN functions, with three additional programmable channels to run various communications, navigation and command and control waveforms within the form factor of the existing MIDS Low Volume Terminal (LVT).
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) recently completed their Systems Capability Demonstration at Fort Huachuca, AZ as part of Phase I of the U.S. Army Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) program. The Warrior Team, led by GA-ASI, with teammates AAI and SPARTA, completed all required flight test objectives in record time, flying a minimum number of hours to meet program objectives, due to the maturity of the two Warrior demonstrator aircraft that participated. One aircraft, equipped with a heavy fuel engine, flew the majority of the missions in order to demonstrate the maturity of this heavy fuel engine installation, an engine combination that meets a long standing Army requirement.
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Lockheed Martin recently completed a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Advanced Hawkeye radar. Advanced Hawkeye, now in development by Northrop Grumman, is the U.S. Navy's next-generation airborne early warning and battle management system and will be the Navy's airborne node in the service's transformation to warfighting of the future. Lockheed Martin leads the Advanced Hawkeye radar industry team responsible for design and development of the Hawkeye's next-generation radar. In August 2003, the company received a $413.5 million contract from prime contractor Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems to begin the System Development and Demonstration phase. Current production Hawkeye 2000 aircraft use Lockheed Martin's AN/APS-145 airborne radar.
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The supervisory board of Lufthansa Technik AG has reappointed Dr. Peter Jansen, as Chief Executive Finance. He will continue serving in that capacity for another five years until December 2010.
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Eurofighter GmbH announced the success achieved in recent Advanced Medium Range Air-Air Missile (AMRAAM) guided firing trials – a further milestone in proving the maturity of the Weapon System. Typhoon DA4, piloted by BAE Systems Chief Test Pilot Paul Hopkins with Dave Sully in the rear seat, participated in the weapons trials at the QinetiQ Deep Sea Range at Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, and was supported by an RAF flight refuelling tanker, a Nimrod MR2 to check for surface vessels within the danger area, and by the Royal Navy, who provided the unmanned Mirach targets. The profile for this test required the Typhoon aircraft to track two targets by radar, to simulate an attack on one Mirach using a captive AMRAAM missile while simultaneously attacking the second target with an active missile. The active AMRAAM scored a direct hit on the target and destroyed it.
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"Environmental responsibility is a pillar of the air transport industry alongside safety and security," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at the first Aviation and the Environment Summit being held in Geneva, Switzerland 17 and 18 March 2005. The first step is to understand the record of the industry. "Air transport should be proud of our record. Modern aircraft have a fuel efficiency of 3.5 litres per 100 passenger kilometersequivalent to a small compact car, but offering 6 times the speed. In the last 40 years we reduced emissions per passenger kilometer by 70% and aircraft noise at source reduced by 75%," said Bisignani. Technology and operational enhancements are key to further improvements. "The case for investment in more fuel efficient aircraft is compelling. Every new aircraft that enters our fleet is more environmentally friendly than the one it replaces. With a fuel bill over US$60 billion, even a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency would deliver 2% to the bottom line of the industry. But airlines need the funds to invest in the new aircraft that would make this possible. Governments must remember that airlines, unlike other modes of transport, pay for their own infrastructurewhen they land, park or fly. The bill for this is US$40 billion per year. Further taxes and charges will only limit our ability to invest in the very technology that would facilitate further improvements," said Bisignani.
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Boeing and BAE Systems Australia signed a world teaming agreement to work closely together to capture future airborne early warning and control business. “This is a great fit for two world-class companies,” said Patrick Gill, Boeing vice president of 737 AEW&C programs. “Boeing has more than 30 years experience in developing and integrating airborne early warning and control systems, while BAE Systems brings capabilities in engineering and systems integration, support services, electronics and software.” “This agreement confirms the strong working relationship between our companies and builds on the capability partnership developed through the Wedgetail program. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship with Boeing as both our companies strive to capture global market opportunities,” said Jim McDowell, CEO of BAE Systems Australia.
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NATO's Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) Programme has reached a key milestone in Alliance efforts to field an Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence (ALTBMD) capability by 2010. As a practical example of the ongoing transformation of NATO's military capabilities, on 11 March 2005 the North Atlantic Council approved the Charter for the ALTBMD Programme Management Organisation (PMO). This decision launched the Alliance's ALTBMD Programme, which will provide protection against the threat of ballistic missiles to our soldiers deployed on NATO missions. The importance of being able to defend deployed troops against theatre-range ballistic missiles, such as SCUD missiles, was made apparent during the 1990s. As a number of foreign nations continue working on ballistic missile programmes, as well as developing chemical, nuclear, and biological warheads for those missiles, the need for effective defences has increased. To counter this threat, NATO has, for the past several years, worked to design a battle management system for theatre missile defences. The system will be able to integrate different TMD systems (such as PATRIOT, the NATO MEADS system, SAMP-T) into a single coherent, deployable defensive network able to give layered protection against incoming ballistic missiles. The detailed specifications of the NATO system were agreed by Defence Ministers in Istanbul last June. With the approval of the Charter, the NAC has formally established the TMD Programme Office, paving the way for the financing and purchase of the NATO TMD system.
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Acting in close cooperation with the Russian aircraft manufacturer MiG, the Simulation and Training unit of Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) will be supplying the Indian Navy with a full-mission simulator complete with Avior laser system for the carrier variant of its MiG-29 K fighter planes. The result of successful cooperation over several years in the development of high-tech simulators, the Bremen-based company signed a multi-million euro contract with the MiG Russian Aircraft Corporation at the end of last year. The training suite will be equipped with the Avior laser system, which will also be used in the Tornado flight simulator of the German Air Force. Thanks to the latest laser technology, Avior offers a brilliant picture with very high contrast levels. For this particular project, it will ensure an exceptionally high degree of realism in simulating take-offs and landings on an aircraft carrier. In simulating a night landing, for example, the lights of the runway can be simulated extremely vividly. Owing to the enhanced image contrast, the Avior laser projection system depicts the day and night view much more realistically than other systems.
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Northern Sky Research released its newest market survey and forecast report: "Government and Military Demand on Commercial Satellites, 2nd Edition." The report provides an in-depth overview of demand trends for commercial satellite communications services in each region over an eight-year period by tracking government and military needs, as well as trends in governmental program development, to address the apparent shortfall in internal bandwidth capabilities. The report concludes that, from an estimated $580.2 million in satellite communications revenues for 2003, the market is expected to reach over $1.4 billion by 2010 yielding total revenues of close to $7.8 billion over an eight-year period. Satellite communications revenue growth continues to be driven largely by U.S. Military demand as the Pentagon's bandwidth needs have increased substantially and will not be satisfied internally before 2020. Reliance on commercial bandwidth will therefore become an increasing component of military planning to include non-critical and mission-critical needs over time. In addition, continued presence in the Middle East region, as well as homeland security initiatives, should drive demand and sustain the market within the report's forecast period.
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Thales Australia has successfully completed the installation of the last of the three state-of-the-art air traffic management systems (ATM) it has developed for the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The ATM contract, valued at around AU$160 million, is the largest export contract won by Thales' air traffic management business in Melbourne which developed and delivered the three systems. CAAC will sign off the site acceptance of the third of Thales' EUROCAT air traffic management systems, for China's North, East and Southern Area Control Centres (NESACC) at a ceremony in Guangzhou later today. A ceremony at the Avalon Airshow marking the completion of the project was attended by the Victorian Minister for Manufacturing and Export, the Honourable Andre Haermeyer, and Thales Australia Chairman, Mr Paul McClintock.
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Meggitt Safety Systems, a unit of Meggitt Aerospace Equipment Group, has been awarded the contract from EADS CASA -- an industrial partner of prime contractor Airbus Military -- to design, develop, manufacture and support the fire detection system on the A400M military transport aircraft. The A400M fire detection system comprises the control computer and fire detectors for the engines, main landing gear and auxiliary power unit, and is an evolution of Meggitt's Airbus A380 fire detection system. It utilizes state-of-the-art electronics married to proven fire detector technology providing optimum performance, reliability and low risk. The lifetime value of the program to Meggitt is estimated to exceed $50 million.
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The full fleet of 18 upgraded AP-3C Orions has been successfully delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Defence Minister Robert Hill announced. The last of the upgraded AP-3C Orion aircraft have been delivered from the production facility at Avalon airfield in Victoria and will be based at RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia. A ceremony to mark the delivery of the full fleet has been held at Australian International Airshow at Avalon in Victoria.
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The Australian Government, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems Australia on behalf of Australian industry, have signed a Partnering Charter to form a framework for the Joint Strike Fighter Industry Coalition (JIC). Defence Minister Robert Hill said BAE Systems Australia will form, and lead, the Industry Coalition that will work to foster collaboration and long-term relationships between Australian industry and Lockheed Martin for total JSF life-cycle sustainment and follow-on development. Senator Hill said the JIC would build on the work of the industry element of the JSF Regional Support Capability Task Force, established in August 2003, to undertake preliminary analysis of Australia's JSF support requirements. The four founding members of the JIC - BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Australia Limited, Thales Training and Simulation and MINCOM - will work together to represent Australian industry, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to provide 'best value' support and follow-on development capabilities to Australian JSF aircraft and potentially JSF aircraft operated or deployed in the region.
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Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)'s Commercial Aircraft Group has received a multi-year contact, valued at approximately $500 million from Vought Aircraft Industries to manufacture assemblies on the prestigious Boeing 787 passenger aircraft program. The award was sole-source and runs for the lifetime of the 787 program. IAI/Commercial Aircraft Group's Production Division will manufacture assemblies for the door surrounds and passenger and cargo floor. The Group's Engineering Division will design the assemblies. Mr. Moshe Keret, IAI's President & CEO, said: "We are honored to have been awarded this contract by Vought. This demonstrates IAI's credentials and we look forward to participating in the 787 program."
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With a one-year delay, Eurocopter has handed over the first Tiger attack helicopter to the French army. According to the defense ministry in Paris, the helicopter will be used for pilot training at the German-French military training school in Le Luc in the Provence. The French military forces and the German Bundeswehr have each ordered 80 Tigers sor far. The Heeresflieger are expecting their first Tiger “in the spring”.
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The US Air Force plans to expand its current Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle initiative to as many as 15 squadrons. This increase is in response to the escalating demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. The announced plans are intended to ensure the Air Force's capability to sustain an increased number of Predators to be available in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility as well as new opportunities by expanding the Predator UAV initiative. "Combating terrorism requires the Air Force provide worldwide vigilance and awareness through persistent command, control, and surveillance capabilities, ensuring our nations' ability to see first, understand first and act first-our efforts in regards to UAVs is just one more capability that allows us to ensure air dominance for our joint team in any environment we operate," said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Peter Teets.
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The head of Airbus North America has spoken of the need to reach a settlement in current EU-U.S. trade talks aimed at clarifying the rules for government support for aircraft manufacturers. In a hard-hitting speech, Allan McArtor, Chairman of Airbus North America Holdings, said a “successful conclusion to these talks is the best solution for the industry and the flying public.” The alternative was a “dangerous trade dispute” before the World Trade Organisation between Airbus and its competitor which should be “the last action ever considered”. “Airbus favours a negotiated settlement – and a common understanding of permitted government support in all forms and on all sides,” he said. McArtor was speaking to leading industry players – including representatives from Boeing – at the International Aviation Club in Washington, D.C. He dismissed claims that Airbus had received unfair government subsidies. Instead, he said the success of Airbus, which had grown from a company few took seriously more than 30 years ago to the world's leading aircraft manufacturer, was down to its investment in designing and building “great commercial aircraft” which met the needs of customers. The A380, due to enter service in 2006 as the world's first double-deck passenger jet, was further proof of this – as was the long-range A350, due to enter service in 2010. McArtor pointed out that the development support governments have given Airbus has been strictly in line with current international trade agreements – and that Airbus repays such loans, with interest, while also paying royalties on aircraft delivered. In the case of the hugely successful A320, for example, Airbus has finished repaying the development funds it received plus interest and is continuing to pay these governments royalties on the sales of each and every aircraft.
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The traffic statistics of the Austrian Airlines Group for the first two months of 2005, when measured by revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) on scheduled services, increased marginally by 0.5 % and have now returned to their level for last year. Available seat kilometers (ASK) increased by 6.8 % compared to the figure for the same period last year. At 66.5 %, the passenger load factor on scheduled services was 4.1 percentage points down on the comparable figure for the previous year. The Group carried a total of 1,166,303 passengers on scheduled and charter flights, a figure 5.1 % down on the same period in 2004. This fall is due at least in part to the cuts made in the charter and holiday flight programme as a result of the tsunami disaster.
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Swiss International Air Lines will serve 74 destinations around the world in its 2005 summer schedules – four more than in last year's summer timetable period. SWISS will operate to 47 points in Europe and 27 intercontinental destinations. The 2005 summer timetable period runs from March 27 to October 29. SWISS will be offering an attractive network of services to 74 destinations in 41 countries in its 2005 summer schedules. The SWISS European network will extend to 47 points in 22 countries, while intercontinental services will be offered to 27 destinations in 19 countries. Five new destinations will be served in Europe, four of them receiving seasonal service between mid-June and mid-September. Twelve further destinations will enjoy direct services from Switzerland on flights with LX flight numbers operated by partner airlines under codeshare agreements. SWISS and its partners will thus offer an extensive network of air services to all six continents, together with all the benefits of the attractive Swiss TravelClub mileage programme. The intercontinental network remains unchanged: SWISS continues to offer direct services to 27 intercontinental destinations from Zurich and Geneva.
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