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+++ A380 first flight a success +++ Air Canada orders 777 and 787 +++ ESA astronaut back from ISS +++ TIPS Industries receives NATO AGS study contract +++ E-2D and EA-6B events at Melbourne +++ Heaviest commercial satellite launched +++ South Africa signs for A400M +++ All four Nations operate Batch 2 Eurofighters +++ Last 757 handed over +++ Shuttle flight delayed +++ News in brief ++
A380 first flight a success
Erfolgreicher Erstflug für A380
The first A380 to take to the air landed at Blagnac international airport in Toulouse, France at 14.23 local time (12.23h GMT) on April 27, 2004, after successfully completing a first flight that lasted three hours and 54 minutes. The A380's first flight was jointly captained by Claude Lelaie, Senior Vice President Flight Division, and by Chief Test pilot and Vice President Jacques Rosay. The other crew members were Fernando Alonso, Vice President Flight Division, Flight Test Engineering who led a team of two other flight test engineers, Jacky Joye and Manfred Birnfeld, and test flight engineer Gérard Desbois. Carrying the registration F-WWOW, the aircraft is powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines.
After landing, the crew confirmed that the new aircraft and engines had handled as anticipated. Claude Lelaie commented: "We had a very successful first flight and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. There are of course a lot of things to be done, but after this first experience, we now really sense the potential of this magnificent machine. And even on the ground, as already felt during the initial ground tests, the A380 handles as easily as any other aircraft. Also, the systems and the Rolls Royce engines performed satisfactorily." And Jacques Rosay added: "Within the first minutes of the flight, we were impressed by the ease of handling of the aircraft which was in line with what we had felt in the simulator. We have no doubt any Airbus pilot would feel immediately at home in the A380; it is a true member of the Airbus aircraft family. We could also appreciate that the new features in the cockpit, including interactivity, vertical display, new interfaces that make the work of the crew very easy and efficient and I want to thank the customer airline pilots who have greatly contributed to this design."
For its first flight, the A380 took off at a weight of 421 tonnes / 928.300 lbs, the highest ever of any civil airliner to date. During the flight, which took the aircraft around South West France, the six crew members explored the aircraft's flight envelope as expected. They tested the A380's handling using both direct and normal flight control laws with the landing gear up and down, and with all flaps' and slats' settings during the part of the flight at cruise altitude. They made an initial evaluation of the comfort levels in both the main and upper decks, confirming that the cabin was very quiet and the ride smooth.
This maiden voyage, during which all primary flight test objectives were met, marks the beginning of a rigorous test flight campaign involving five A380s, including one for the certification of the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine on the A380, and some 2,500 flight hours. It will culminate in the aircraft's certification followed by its entry into airline service in the second half of 2006 with first operator Singapore Airlines. The scope and rigour of the A380 ground and flight test programme should also prepare for a smooth entry into service.<>
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Air Canada orders 777 and 787
Großauftrag von Air Canada
On 25 April, Boeing and Air Canada announced an agreement to renew the airline's wide-body fleet with up to 36 Boeing 777s and up to 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Air Canada will use the airplanes to modernize its existing fleet and improve operating efficiencies. The agreement includes firm orders for 18 777s, plus purchase rights for 18 more, in a yet-to-be-determined mix of the newest 777 models: the 777-300ER, the 777-200LR Worldliner (the longest range airplane in the world), and the 777 Freighter. Deliveries of the 777s begin next year. The agreement also includes firm orders for 14 787s, a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s, plus options and purchase rights for an additional 46 airplanes. Air Canada's first 787 will be delivered in 2010. The firm orders are valued at approximately $6 billion at list prices. The order is subject to several conditions including final documentation. The companies expect to finalize the agreement by mid year.
"Our decision to modernize our fleet with the 777 and 787 Dreamliner will move Air Canada into a clear leadership position among North American international carriers with the world's two newest and most efficient twin-engine, long-haul airplanes," said Robert Milton, president and chief executive officer of ACE Aviation Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Air Canada. "The superior customer comfort and operating economics of these aircraft will put us in the company of the leading European, Middle East and Asia Pacific carriers." "Our analysis of these aircraft pointed to overwhelmingly attractive economics. We have estimated the fuel burn and maintenance cost savings alone on the 787 to be approximately 30 percent versus the 767s they will replace," said Milton. "Particularly important in the current high fuel price environment are that the savings on these two line items alone will be more than twice incremental ownership costs in acquiring these aircraft."
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ESA astronaut back from ISS
Soyuz TMA-5 landet sicher
The Eneide mission to the International Space Station (ISS) came to a successful end with the landing of ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori, accompanied by the ISS Expedition 10 crew. The command module of the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft touched down near the town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan at 04:07 local time (00:07 Central European Summer Time) on Monday 25 April. All the major objectives of the mission, which lasted ten days, including eight days on the ISS, were achieved. The experiment programme was successfully completed, and the ISS Expedition crew was exchanged along with the Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft, which has been stationed at the ISS for the past six months, serving as the crew lifeboat.
The hatches between the returning Soyuz TMA-5 and the ISS were closed at 17:34 CEST on Sunday 24 April, and the crew then carried out standard procedures and checks prior to undocking. At 20:44 CEST Soyuz TMA-5 undocked from the ISS, with Vittori, as Flight Engineer, taking an active role in the re-entry, descent and landing operations, alongside Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov, the Soyuz Commander. Sharipov and the Soyuz 2nd Flight Engineer Leroy Chiao (NASA) were the returning Expedition 10 crew, having been stationed on the ISS since 16 October 2004. During the Eneide mission, Roberto Vittori carried out a programme comprising 22 on-orbit experiments in the fields of biology, human physiology, technology and education. Many of these were developed by Italian researchers and built by Italian industry and research institutions. Scientists from Denmark, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, the USA and from ESA were also involved in the programme. Mission control for the Eneide mission was performed by an ESA Operations Team from the new Columbus Control Centre on the premises of the German Aerospace Center DLR at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany, who provided all essential coordination and decision-making functions for the mission in close cooperation with the ISS partner control centres in Moscow, Houston and Huntsville (Alabama), the Lazio User Centre at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy, and ESA's Eneide Mission Management Team in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
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TIPS Industries receives NATO AGS study contract
Gelder für TIPS-Studien
TIPS industries have received a NATO contract in excess of Euro 20 million to move the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme forward. The award came during the Conference of National Armament Directors meeting. The contract will address issues such as interoperability, NATO airborne early warning and control harmonisation and potential cost-saving measures in parallel to the programme's upcoming design and development (D&D) phase. The award follows NATO's selection of the TIPS mixed fleet to meet the NATO requirement for the AGS core capability and the decision of 23 nations to participate in the programme. As part of this study, the TIPS industries will also address integration of the Transatlantic Cooperative AGS Radar (TCAR) into the TIPS mixed fleet. The study will be completed by late 2005 paralleling and paving the way for a smooth transition into the D&D phase.
At the signing ceremony in NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the TIPS Industries, EADS (Germany), Galileo Avionica (Italy), General Dynamics Canada (Canada), Indra (Spain), Northrop Grumman (USA) and Thales (France), were represented by Alan Doshier, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems vice president. Tom Enders, CEO of EADS Defence and Security Systems, served as a witness. "This contract award reaffirms the strong support for the AGS programme and further signals NATO's commitment to get the programme underway," commented Enders. "We expect that this study will provide NATO and the nations with a clear road map towards a successful D&D phase."
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E-2D and EA-6B events at Melbourne
Neue Northrop-Grumman-Modelle für die Navy
On April 26, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy moved closer to realizing the Navy's network-centric war-fighting vision with the joint celebration of the "keel-start" of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye test aircraft and the first deliveries of Improved Capability III EA-6B Prowler electronic-attack aircraft. The ceremony at Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems' manufacturing center recognized both milestones as enabling elements of the broader Navy vision, Sea Power 21. "The first fleet squadron is getting some flight time on this new ICAP III capability and I'm here to tell you they love it," said Adm. Venlet. Separately, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne battle management system and the ICAP III Prowler airborne electronic attack aircraft are unique technological achievements. Together, the two program milestones marked today are a unified step closer to the U.S. Navy's goals in its Sea Power 21 vision. When complete, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will mark a quantum leap in the Navy's ability to protect its fleet from the cruise-missile threat. With all its new capabilities, the aircraft will fulfill the role of carrier-based battle-management command and control. The ICAP III Prowler airborne electronic attack aircraft delivers an order-of-magnitude increase in effectiveness against increasingly sophisticated air defenses faced by the joint force and its capabilities are relevant to the continuing global war on terror.
The ICAP III EA-6B Prowler delivered Monday is the third built under the first low-rate initial production contract to modify 10 fleet Prowlers with the ICAP III system. Northrop Grumman expects imminent approval for full-rate production of the ICAP III system as current Navy plans include modifications to an additional number of fleet Prowlers intended for Navy and U.S. Marine Corps service. Northrop Grumman is further developing ICAP III to be the mission system for the EA-18G, which will begin replacing the Prowlers in Navy service at the end of the decade. The Marine Corps will continue to operate the EA-6B ICAP-III as its only dedicated airborne electronic-attack aircraft well into the next decade.
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Heaviest commercial satellite launched
Schwerster Satellit geht ins All
On April 26, Sea Launch successfully delivered DIRECTV's Spaceway F1 satellite to orbit, completing the launch of the heaviest commercial satellite to date. Early data indicate the spacecraft is in excellent condition. The Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket lifted off at 12:31:30 am PDT (07:31:30 GMT), 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 6,080 kg (13,376 lb) Spaceway satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position of 102.8 degrees West Longitude. A ground station in South Africa acquired the spacecraft's first signal less than an hour after liftoff, as planned.
The Boeing 702 model spacecraft, with a design life of 12 years, was manufactured at Boeing's Satellite Development Center in El Segundo, Calif. It includes a flexible payload with a fully steerable downlink antenna that can be reconfigured on orbit to seamlessly address market conditions. Following acquisition of the spacecraft's signal, Jim Maser, president and general manager of Sea Launch, congratulated Boeing and DIRECTV. "Successfully launching the heaviest commercial satellite to date is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved," Maser said. "It was extremely satisfying for us to provide another great launch for DIRECTV and for Boeing and we look forward to many more in the future. And, once again, our accomplished Sea Launch team has raised the bar -- not only for Sea Launch -- but also for the entire launch industry. We are all especially proud of this latest success. We are the commercial heavy weight champions of the world!"
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South Africa signs for A400M
A400M-Auftrag unterzeichnet
The South African government has signed a contract with Airbus Military making the country a partner in the A400M airlifter programme and confirming the confidence placed in the programme by countries outside the existing group of seven European launch nations.The final contract, signed in Pretoria by South Africa's Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, follows an intention signed by the South African government at the end of 2004. Through its stake in the aircraft programme, South Africa's industry will participate in the design, engineering, industrialisation, manufacture and in-service support of the A400M - the world's most modern military transport aircraft. The partnership agreement coincides with the launch of an initiative to secure and further develop the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and capacities.
In signing-up as a partner in the Airbus Military A400M programme, South Africa is securing a vital role for its industry in this international programme. This initiative will see South Africa joining in at ground-level, delivering sustainable opportunities for export oriented industrial activity over the next 30 to 50 years.
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All four Nations operate Batch 2 Eurofighters
Eurofighter-Einsitzer im Einsatz
With deployment of IS002 from Alenia's facilities in Torino to 4° Stormo "Amadeo d'Aosta" at Grosseto, Italy, all for partner air forces in Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom now operate series production single seaters with Batch 2 standard. These aircraft have PSP2 Capability (Production System Package) with Initial Defensive Aids Subsystem (DASS), Multifunctional Information and Distribution System (MIDS), Initial Direct Voice Input (DVI) and Sensor Fusion. Six Batch 2 aircraft have been accepted by the customer air forces so far, totaling the number of now delivered series production aircraft at 41 (including 5 Instrumented Production Aircraft IPA).
Flight test of the new Phase 4 Standard Flight Control System Software dedicated for Block 2b has begun. Industry and government test pilots comments are enthusiastic: "The Phase 4 software left a very good impression overall. It was like flying a different, much more spirited and agile aircraft." Pilots also praise the new software for air-to-air refueling, reducing workload considerably. Production of Tranche 1 standard aircraft is fully underway with the 100th center fuselage and right wing section already delivered. Production for Tranche 2 aircraft has already begun last year with first frames for the centre fuselage produced.
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Last 757 handed over
Boeing liefert letzte 757 aus
On April 27, Boeing concluded the remarkable 23-year run of the 757 passenger airplane by delivering the final one to Shanghai Airlines. The airplane is the 1,050 th Boeing 757. The 757 is one of seven commercial models that have sold more than 1,000 airplanes, and more than 1,030 of the 757s are still in service. "This is a special day for Boeing. The fact that more than 1,000 757s were selected by 55 customers and remain in service today is a great tribute to the imagination and skill of the Boeing employees who designed and built them," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Alan Mulally. "The 757 holds a special place in aviation history for its efficiency and environmental responsibility, and we continue that heritage of innovation with our current family of airplanes." Continuing the 757's legacy of innovation, the airplane delivered yesterday is the first 757 certified and delivered as a Chapter 4 airplane, meaning it meets noise limits scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2006. The airplane is the 13 th 757-200 delivered to Shanghai Airlines, which took delivery of its first 757 in August 1989.
Boeing in late 2003 decided to end 757 production because the increased capabilities of the newest 737s and the potential of the all-new Boeing 787 fulfill the 757 market's needs. The airplane delivered today rolled off the company's Renton, Wash., assembly line last October. The 757 fleet worldwide has flown more than 35 million hours, which is equivalent to one airplane flying continuously for 4,000 years.
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Shuttle launch pushed back
Startverzögerung für Shuttle
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced the decision to push back the launch date for the Space Shuttle's Return to Flight. Commander Eileen Collins and her STS-114 crewmates are now scheduled to launch no earlier than July 13. Discovery's launch window now extends to July 31. Shuttle managers want to take a closer look at the External Tank attached to the Space Shuttle. They want to analyze the possibility of ice forming on the tank and take a closer look at the risk of debris falling off and hitting the Shuttle. Managers are considering rolling Discovery back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for further work and more tests.
Michael Griffin said in a statement on 29 April: ìOur intent with this effort is to make certain that we are as safe as we know how to be before we launch the Shuttle and its crew. We will return to flight, not rush to flight. As many of you know, we have held several recent meetings regarding Return to Flight, including a Design Certification Review for the Discovery Orbiter at the Kennedy Space Center, and a Delta-Design Verification Review at the Johnson Space Center. As a result of these reviews, our team has come to the conclusion that it is prudent to have additional verification and validation of our extensive engineering work to ensure a safe flight for Discovery and the STS-114 crew. Therefore, we have moved our target launch window for the Shuttle's mission to the July opportunity. Flying this Shuttle brings with it great risk, risk that cannot be eliminated. No decision to launch the Shuttle can be routine. Sending brave men and women into space is not without risk, but we will do everything possible to reduce those risks. If it takes more time to achieve that goal, then so be it.î
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Boeing received a $14.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy for unmanned aerial vehicle services in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror. Boeing will provide ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles, communication links and ground equipment to support the Navy's requirements. The Navy will use the ScanEagle systems during Naval Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) missions to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage and to increase oil platform security in the Persian Gulf. The UAVs supporting ESG will be ship-launched and recovered. "Although this will be ScanEagle's first deployment aboard a Navy vessel, it has already proven its worth with the First Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq," said Peggy Holly, Boeing ScanEagle program manager. "ScanEagle's unique ISR and long-endurance capabilities will provide the Navy with real-time intelligence and situational awareness."
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Saudi Arabian Airlines announced a firm order of 15 EMBRAER 170 aircraft, with first delivery scheduled for December 2005. The airline becomes Embraer's first customer for the type in the Middle East. The final contract has a total value of about US$ 400 million at list price. All aircraft will be configured in a two-class layout with a total of 66 seats, six of which will be assigned to first class. "I am sincerely pleased with our selection, as the Embraer's new jet will provide Saudi Arabian Airlines with the possibility to expand our domestic and regional aviation activity. By right-sizing our fleet with the EMBRAER 170, we are aiming at better serving our domestic and regional markets. The aircraft will offer our valued customers with optimum comfort and a highly reliable service," said H.E. Dr. Khaled A. Ben-Bakr, Director General Saudi Arabian Airlines. "Our choice reflects the level of confidence we have in Embraer as a leading manufacturer of commercial jets."
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Boeing and Copa Airline executives today said the Panamanian airline placed an order for up to 15 additional new Boeing Next-Generation 737 airplanes for its all-Boeing fleet. Five of the airplanes are firm orders. Deliveries begin in 2007 and extend through 2009. Firm orders and purchase rights, if exercised, would represent an approximate investment of $750 million. Copa now operates 21 Next-Generation 737s, with three remaining to be delivered from prior orders. With today's firm order, Copa's fleet of 737-700/800s will increase to 29 -- making it one of the most modern fleets in the Americas.
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NASA has chartered the Exploration Systems Advisory Committee (ESAC). Committee members include leading experts from government, academia and industry who will provide advice and recommendations to NASA's Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems. The committee's input will relate to plans, policies, programs and other matters pertinent to the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate's responsibilities. The committee will meet quarterly to discuss such topics as technology, requirements, systems integration, and capability development. Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles will chair the committee. Lyles served as commander of the Air Force Materiel Command. He has extensive experience managing large, high-technology organizations involving aeronautical and astronautical research, development, acquisition and logistics.
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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract to provide BQM-74E aerial target systems to the U.S. Navy. First introduced in 1966, the BQM-74 series is the mainstay of the Navy's sub-sonic, sub-scale aerial target fleet. The BQM-74E, first fielded by the Navy in 1993, is used to replicate enemy cruise missiles and aircraft for fleet training and to test and evaluate anti-ship and anti-aircraft weapon systems. The company's Integrated Systems sector will provide 60 aerial targets, logistics support and associated hardware in 2006. The $48.2 million fixed-price contract includes an option for 60 more systems in 2007.
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On April 22, the Air Force announced that Boeing was awarded an $18.5 million contract for Low-Rate Initial Production of the Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I)-the DoD's miniature munition designed to kill fixed and stationary targets. The announcement follows a successful Defense Acquisition Board Milestone C decision review chaired by the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. The Milestone decision is the culmination of an aggressive eighteen month development and demonstration program that came in on time, on budget, and met all commitments made to the warfighter. The SDB I weapon system consists of a 250-pound class munition, an AF common 4-place miniature munitions carriage system, and associated mission planning and logistics support. The SDB I, designed to be compatible with fighters, bombers and several UAVs, is capable of significant standoff ranges against fixed and stationary targets. SDB I increases weapon loadout, allowing more kills per sortie than current inventory weapons, decreases collateral damage, and possesses an effective, day/night, adverse weather, stand-off capability. Through planned spiral development, Increment II will step up this capability even further, adding the ability to hit moving target sets. Increment II is poised to begin the competitive bidding process in response to a GAO recommendation.
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During the 15 years NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has orbited the Earth, it has taken more than 750,000 photos of the cosmos; images that have awed, astounded and even confounded astronomers and the public. NASA released new views of two of the most well-known objects Hubble has ever observed: the Eagle Nebula and the Whirlpool Galaxy (spiral galaxy M51). These new images are among the largest and sharpest Hubble has ever taken. They were made with Hubble's newest camera, the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The images are so incredibly sharp, they could be enlarged to billboard size and still retain stunning details. For the 15th anniversary, scientists used the ACS to record a new region of the eerie-looking Eagle Nebula. The Eagle Nebula image reveals a tall, dense tower of gas being sculpted by ultraviolet light from a group of massive, hot stars. The new Whirlpool Galaxy image showcases the spiral galaxy's classic features, from its curving arms, where newborn stars reside, to its yellowish central core that serves as home for older stars. A feature of considerable interest is the companion galaxy located at the end of one of the spiral arms.
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Lufthansa is further extending its route network in the direction of Eastern Europe. As of the beginning of June 2005, Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, the Armenian capital of Yerevan as well as Timisoara in Romanian Transylvania will be added to the Lufthansa timetable. The three destinations will be served from Munich. The introduction of the new services takes into account the above-average market growth in Eastern Europe and the corresponding potential in these markets.
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Sensis Corporation announced that National Air Traffic Services, Ltd. (NATS) has awarded a contract to expand Sensis Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS) at London Heathrow Airport. The expanded multilateration system will provide improved surface surveillance for the area surrounding the new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower scheduled to open in 2006. At London Heathrow Airport, MDS provides surveillance in the runway, taxiway and gate areas to ensure safe, efficient movement of aircraft and airport vehicles. In November 2002, London Heathrow Airport became the world's first airport operational with multilateration using Sensis MDS. To address the airport expansion, NATS is augmenting its Sensis MDS for surveillance of the airport surface. As a part of the expansion, Sensis is also providing a new MDS central processor to be installed in the new ATCT that will include a test system to validate system performance without the need to take the system out of service. Such testing is necessary, for example, when the layout of the sensors has changed; there is an increase in surveillance coverage; or the system is augmented to address architecture changes at the airport.
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Aurora Flight Sciences announced that its GoldenEye-50 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) performed multiple autonomous transitions from vertical to horizontal flight, and back again, during test flights last week. The flights validate Aurora's research, development, test, and evaluation of autonomous, ducted-fan UAVs with vertical take off and landing capabilities. GoldenEye-50, which Aurora announced in 2003 and first flew in July 2004, exhibits helicopter-like hover and vertical takeoff and landing performance as well as fuel efficient, wing-borne flight similar to a conventional airplane. This broad flight envelope provides operational flexibility not available in other small UAVs. During the transition flights, the aircraft accelerated to a forward velocity sufficient to make the aircraft's wings provide primary lift and roll authority. The aircraft exhibited stable forward flight to a pre-determined waypoint where it autonomously returned to a hover, turned 180 degrees and returned to its launching area.
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Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has once again been chosen as the world's "Cargo Airport of the Year 2005" by Air Cargo News, the renowned international trade publication. This is the second year in a row that CargoCity Frankfurt (the name of FRA's airfreight areas) has received the prestigious "Cargo Airport of the Year" award. Serving the global airfreight community, Air Cargo News is based in the U.K and has a total of 100,000 readers on every continent.
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Boullioun Aviation Services, one of the world's premier aircraft operating lessors, today announced a medium-term lease with Ukraine International Airlines (www.ukraine-international.com) for a 1997-vintage Boeing 737-300 aircraft. This lease marks Boullioun's first transaction with Ukraine International. Boullioun delivered the aircraft, equipped with CFM56-3C1 engines, on Friday. With its arrival, Ukraine International's fleet grows to nine modern Boeing 737 aircraft. Ukraine International provides passenger and cargo transportation from its base in Ukraine to 20 international destinations throughout Europe.
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ACROhelipro subsidiary of Vector Aerospace Corporation, has renewed their repair centre agreement with Eurocopter as an approved repair and overhaul provider. The new agreement is effective immediately and will be valid for a period of 5 years. ACROhelipro Global Services Inc.'s President, Peter Tierney commented, "This agreement solidifies our relationship with Eurocopter and we are delighted to have been selected again as their partner in Repair and Overhaul Services".
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Northrop Grumman has completed the first major component of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, demonstrating manufacturing concepts that will become critical once initial production begins in 2007. The center fuselage was delivered on-time to F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin during a ceremony on April 23 and will be shipped to Fort Worth, Texas, on May 2 for the beginning of the aircraft's final assembly. "With the completion of the center fuselage, the first major aircraft component to be assembled, the F-35 team has ushered in a new era for aircraft production that incorporates advanced technologies and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques into what will be a unique continuous moving-line process," said Scott Seymour, corporate vice president and president Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. "Northrop Grumman's F-35 work leverages decades of experience in advanced tactical fighters, long-range strike aircraft and the integration of systems such as the F/A-18, B-2 and Global Hawk."
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The Board of Air-India at its meeting held in Mumbai approved the aircraft acquisition plan after detailed examination of the recommendations of the in-house Techno-economic Committee appointed for examining the bids. The aircraft acquisition plan approved by the Board, subject to the approval of the Government, envisages procurement of : 8 Boeing 777-200LR Medium Capacity Ultra Long Range aircraft in three-class configuration; 15 Boeing 777-300ER Medium Capacity Long Range-350 seater, in three-class configuration, and 27 Boeing 787 Medium Capacity Long Range-250 seater, in two class configuration, at a total cost estimated to be about Rs.30,000 crores, prior to negotiations with the manufacturers of air frame and engines. Referring to reports appearing in a section of the press regarding alleged changes made after the issue of the request for proposal (RFP), Air-India would like to state that no changes whatsoever were made after issue of the request for proposal. The Board took note of the fact that there are spillovers in the delivery schedules proposed by both the manufacturers with respect to one or more aircraft. In any case, the final delivery schedule can be decided only after the necessary Government approvals have been obtained and orders are placed.
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Ryanair announced it has reached agreement with Infratil to base up to 4 new 737 aircraft and deliver up to 2 million passengers per annum to Luebeck airport. This agreement is subject to the successful completion of a conditional purchase agreement between Infratil and the City of Luebeck announced on 14th April. Settlement of the transaction is expected to occur a few months' time. Infratil is an international airport and infrastructure investor which owns Wellington International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The agreement builds on the success of Ryanair's base at Glasgow Prestwick Airport where Ryanair has 5 based aircraft and in the current year the airline will operate 17 international routes and carry 2.4 million passengers. Ryanair would operate a network of low fare scheduled international routes from Luebeck to the UK and Europe and would deliver 2 million passengers in the first year of this base. Ryanair will invest over $250M in 4 new B737 aircraft and create over 200 new jobs in Luebeck. The massive increase in passenger traffic would boost Hamburg Luebeck to the top ten international airports in Germany (nudging Leipzig/Halle off the number 10 spot with 2,026,550 passengers in 2004).
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According to Forecast International's "The Market for Civil and Commercial Remote Sensing Satellites," approximately 123 remote sensing satellites worth an estimated $14 billion are slated for production between 2005 and 2014. "Efforts to protect the Earth's natural resources are propelling the need for remote sensing satellites and the imagery products that they generate," said John Edwards, Forecast International Space Systems Analyst. Underscoring this point was the devastation wreaked by the South Asia tsunami disaster in December 2004. Satellite imagery revealed the hardest hit regions, allowing disaster relief organizations to concentrate their efforts within those areas. "The need for these products is undeniable and is reflected in the state of the market, with nations worldwide busy developing their own systems," Edwards said. To meet this need, production lines will be very active in 2005 and will remain so through 2009 - an average of 17 spacecraft per year are expected to be produced over that five-year period. The vast majority will be low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites, with 12 such systems planned for 2005. The value of annual LEO satellite production within the first half of the forecast period will range between $255 million at the low end and $2.2 billion at the high end. Production of the seven geostationary Earth-orbiting (GEO) spacecraft planned for the same period is valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
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AvCraft Aerospace must reduce its employee numbers from 345 to 190, the company's preliminary Administrator Dr Prager from law firm PLUTA announced. The action is necessary owing to the restructuring and streamlining at the Oberphaffenhofen, Germany-based company. Dr Prager explained that it is impossible to retain the total workforce. "For the foreseeable future, we are able to employ a reduced workforce to keep both the business and the production licence alive," he said. The job cuts will be effective from May. Talks with potential investors continue, he said.
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This July, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter from Germany is about to become the first European to live and work on the International Space Station (ISS) on a long-duration mission. ESA Director of Human Spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration, Daniel Sacotte, recently signed an agreement on the mission with the Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Anatoli Perminov. "The agreement covers the ESA astronaut's flight in a crew position originally planned for a Russian cosmonaut", explained Sacotte, "and he will perform all the tasks originally allocated to the second Russian cosmonaut on board the ISS and, in addition, an ESA experimental programme." The agreement forms part of a set of bilateral understandings between Roscosmos and NASA and between ESA and NASA, enabling the implementation of the mission. Thomas Reiter, the astronaut assigned to the mission, is a member of the European Astronaut Corps, based at ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Léopold Eyharts, from France, a member of the same Corps, will be the back-up for this mission.
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Enstrom Helicopter received purchase orders for two helicopters from Hanseo University in Korea. This announcement was made at an opening ceremony for the new Taean Airfield. The airfield was built by the University and is a modern airfield that will provide aerospace training for fixed wing and rotary wing pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. The University also purchased 5 Cessna aircraft for fixed wing training.
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"First quarter passenger growth of 9.4% combined with a load factor of 73.7% is good news. Carriers are successfully increasing fleet utilisation. This is particularly true in the North America where March load factors topped 81.1%. Nonetheless, with oil in the US$50 per barrel (Brent) range we are a long way from profitability," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA released traffic data to the end of March 2005. Capacity expansion in all regions for the first quarter was below traffic growth, pushing load factors higher. Freight expansion was less impressive at 4.2%. "While it is too early to identify a slowing trend in freight traffic, we need to watch this development closely over the coming months," said Bisignani. "However you look at it, 2005 is shaping up to be another difficult year for the airlines. Intensified cost cutting and better aircraft utilisation are steps in the right direction. But they cannot keep pace with the increases in the industry's fuel bill. From 2003 to 2004 the industry fuel bill rose by US$19 billion from US$44 billion to US$63 billion. At an average fuel bill of US$43 per barrel (Brent), the fuel bill for 2005 will exceed US$76 billionand even that seems conservative given today's prices. Fundamental and large-scale change is absolutely critical," said Bisignani.
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Airport and airline managers from around the world were meeting in Frankfurt to discuss how the new Airbus A380 superjumbo will change global aviation. "Welcoming the A380" is the motto of this unique conference, the first dedicated solely to the A380. Fraport AG is hosting the two-day event. Fraport AG's executive board chairman, Dr. Wilhelm Bender, greeted the approximately 150 conference participants this morning. In his speech, Dr. Bender emphasized that, since the beginning of the 1990s, Fraport AG has firmly believed in this next generation widebody aircraft. Inaugurated in 1994, Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 2 was conceived from the outset for aircraft with the dimension of the A380. Dr. Bender stressed that Frankfurt Airport "is on the path to becoming one of the leading hubs for the A380 superjumbo." This coming jet generation will impact the aviation industry, just as the Boeing "jumbo" did a quarter of a century ago. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) will be prepared well in time. By the middle of this year, FRA's Terminal 2 will have one aircraft parking position available for receiving the first A380 route test-flights. One of the two passenger bridges at this parking position will be able to dock directly with the upper deck of the superjumbo. According to current plans, the first A380 route test-flights to and from FRA are expected to take place already by the end of 2005. Lufthansa, Fraport's main customer, will put its double-decker Airbus jets into service in 2007; Lufthansa has ordered a total of 15 A380s. Thus, Frankfurt Airport will serve as the base for the second largest superjumbo fleet in the world, after Dubai.
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Boeing reported first-quarter 2005 net income of $535 million, or $0.66 per share, on revenues of $13.0 billion. Strong operating results offset charges totaling $0.07 per share related to the disposal of Boeing's venture capital investments and the sale of the Electron Dynamic Devices (EDD) business. First-quarter earnings also benefited from tax adjustments totaling $0.14 per share, which helped offset significant increases in non-cash pension and share-based-plans expense. First-quarter 2004 earnings of $0.77 per share included a $0.12 per share benefit from interest on a tax refund. "First-quarter results reflect continued strong operational and financial performance across our businesses and demonstrate that the 160,000 people of Boeing remain keenly focused on delivering value to customers and shareholders," said Boeing President and CEO James Bell. "Integrated Defense Systems delivered outstanding margins as it continued to execute well on its broad portfolio of defense, space and intelligence programs. Commercial Airplanes generated strong operating performance while capturing over 250 new orders and commitments as the commercial airplane market continues to recover. Our cash flow remains very strong, driven by solid earnings and excellent working capital performance. I am pleased that the entire Boeing team remains focused on business execution, demonstrating our commitment to integrity and growing the business."
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BMED has placed a firm order with Airbus for seven A321s, with the first delivery scheduled for January 2006. The order is the first that the airline, which is a franchise partner of British Airways, has placed directly with Airbus. BMED has been an Airbus operator since its inception in 1994, and currently operates three Airbus A320s and three A321s with a further A320 due to be delivered in May. BMED, based at London Heathrow Airport serves fifteen destinations across the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa and includes some of the longest A321 sectors in the world.
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BAE Systems recently completed its final demonstration of the current phase of the WolfPack program to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and other government officials at the Fallon Range Training Complex in Nevada. WolfPack is a DARPA Advanced Technology Office (ATO) program which is developing technologies to deny enemy use of communications and radars throughout the battlespace. The networked system will be comprised of autonomous, ground-based monitors/jammers cooperatively linked to avoid disruption of friendly military and protected commercial radio communications and radars. The final successful demonstration of Phase IV consisted of three segments, each focusing on operational scenarios that tasked the deployed WolfPack to detect, identify, geolocate and jam both radar and communication emitters.
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Robinson Helicopter continues its success as a leader in the civil rotary wing market with the completion of its 6,000th helicopter. Ship S/N 10699, an R44 Raven II, was presented to John Wadlow of Airborne Energy Solutions and flown back to Alberta, Canada for use in their charter fleet. Delivery of the 6,000th ship marks another milestone for Robinson. After 25 years and 6,000 helicopters, Robinson continues to grow at a remarkable rate. The company now has 1,200 employees and recently added a new 220,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Robinson will be increasing production from 15 to 20 helicopters per week, to meet the growing demand. Last year, sales were at an all time high, with 2005 showing no signs of slowing down. Total production to date is 2,207 R44 and 3,837 R22 helicopters.
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Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh announced that Bell Helicopter is consolidating common aspects of its Customer Service and Support functions; both U.S. military and commercial, into one organization effective immediately. The streamlined organization will be structured under Mike Blake, Sr. Vice President Commercial Business and Chief Service Officer. Carey Bond, Vice President Customer Services will continue to lead the commercial organization and also help Mr. Blake leverage and adapt best in practice processes into the new organizational structure.
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Lockheed Martins board of directors has elected Robert J. Stevens as Chairman of the Board. This action follows an announcement on Nov. 23, 2004 regarding Vance Coffman's intent to retire as Chairman of the Board after 37 years with the company, including seven years as CEO. Stevens assumes his new duties as Chairman of the Board, while retaining his position as President and CEO.
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The governments of the United States and Turkey signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the systems upgrade of Turkish F-16 aircraft at an estimated total value of $1.1 billion. Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor for the program. The upgrade program will create a robust, common avionics configuration for Turkey's fleets of F-16 Block 40 and Block 50 aircraft. The Turkish configuration being integrated consists of the APG-68(V)9 multimode radar (currently being installed on new Advanced Block 50/52 F-16s), color cockpit displays and recorders, new core avionics processors, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, Link 16 data link, advanced interrogator/transponder, integrated precision navigation, a unique electronic warfare system, and compatibility with a number of new weapons and targeting systems.
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Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) announced that it has recently signed a contract with ICO Satellite Management, LLC for the design and construction of a geostationary Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) satellite that, together with an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC), will be capable of providing mobile voice and data communications throughout the United States. "The 2-GHz mobile systems are driving a growing segment of today's satellite manufacturing industry," said Bernard L. Schwartz, chairman and CEO of Loral Space & Communications. "With ICO and other 2-GHz programs under development, SS/L has put a stake in the ground as the leading provider of these next generation mobile satellites." ICO's GEO satellite is based on SS/L's space-proven 1300 platform, which has an excellent record of reliable operation. Its high efficiency solar arrays and lightweight batteries are designed to provide uninterrupted electrical power. In all, SS/L satellites have amassed almost 1,200 years of reliable on-orbit service.
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Boeing has selected General Electric Company's GEnx engine to power the proposed 747 Advanced airplane. "We believe GE would provide the best value for the 747 Advanced if we launch the program," said Boeing's Jeff Peace, vice president - program manager, 747/767 Derivatives. "This is primarily because the GEnx offers the best balanced solution optimized for the 747 Advanced requirements. We look forward to working together with GE in successfully launching and delivering a great new airplane." The 747 Advanced is a 450-passenger airplane with an 8,000 nautical mile range. It will take advantage of breakthrough 787 technologies, including the GEnx engine, to provide even more payload and range than current 747s. Boeing is forecasting a potential market for 250 to 300 airplanes. For the GEnx engine, that represents potential revenues exceeding $10 billion.
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Airbus and China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) have agreed to enter into the third phase of the A320 Family Wing Cooperation Programme, which comprises the production of wing box. This represents significant progress in Airbus' technology transfer to China. The two sides signed today the initial contract to launch the A320 Family Wing Box work package in China. This covers the assembly work of the first batch of wing boxes and the corresponding tooling, involving a contractual value of $ U.S. 70 million. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin attended the signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "The A320 Family Wing Cooperation Programme is a major cooperation programme between Airbus and AVIC I," said AVIC I Executive Vice President Yang Yuzhong. "The wing box contract has enabled the programme to make further progress. We are looking forward to enlarging the scope and improving the levels of our cooperation." Airbus wings are the most advanced and the A320 Family is the best-selling aircraft in the world, with more than 1,000 remaining to be delivered.
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The Austrian Airlines Group welcomes in principle the establishment of Central European Air Traffic Services (CEATS) at Fischamend near Vienna, as the move represents a partial step in the direction of the 'Single European Sky', or the unification and optimisation of air traffic control over Europe that is so urgently necessary. As it strives to achieve this, however, the CEATS project must ensure that the planned harmonisation produces a reduction in costs compared to their current level. In the view of the Austrian Airlines Group, this is not guaranteed by the variant of the project currently on offer. One of the key points is the intended separation under CEATS of our 'lower' and 'upper' airspace. While the upper airspace is to be managed by CEATS from Fischamend in future with a dedicated IT system, management of the lower airspace will remain the responsibility of air traffic control authorities in the eight participant states. Consequently, the number of control centres will rise from its current level of eight centres to nine in future. At the same time, the artificial division of upper and lower airspace has the effect of fundamentally increasing the level of complexity in the system, which will inevitably be reflected in increased costs throughout the joint system of air traffic management.
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The first quarter of 2005 featured weakness in the load factor, overcapacity in the market and extremely high fuel costs (marked by spikes of up to US$ 600 per tonne). These negative conditions led Austrian Airlines to a situation whereby the passenger load factor on scheduled services fell by 2.7 percentage points to 68.0 % compared to the same period the previous year. Transport performance on scheduled and charter services fell by 3.9 % to 1.86 million passengers carried. Compared to last year, the adjusted EBIT fell from EUR -27.7m to EUR -64.0m. The EBIT fell from EUR -40.7m to EUR -73.6m. Profit before tax was EUR -81.0m, compared to EUR -47.6m the previous year (adjusted figure EUR -74.5m, following EUR -34.9m in Q1 2004).
Vagn Soerensen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, issued the following comment on the quarterly result: 'We reacted rapidly to the fall in demand and reduced our planned growth. Although our marketing measures, which have included subsidising transfer charges, introducing the 'silverticket - upgrade to business' to stabilise Business Class load factors and global sales offensives have had a positive impact, it has proved impossible to compensate entirely for external market factors. Consequently, as the situation stands at present, it will not be possible to meet the demands of our annual forecast to date (to improve on the adjusted EBIT for 2004 of EUR 10 million). As a result of the existing framework conditions - fuel prices and overcapacity in particular - we expect to see a negative adjusted EBIT for the full year of 2005.
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