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+++ Northwest confirms 787 order +++ Falcon 7X flies +++ EADS shortlists KC-330 sites +++ Embraer announces new business jets +++ Boeing and Lockheed launcher cooperation +++ Brazil signs for C-295 and P-3 upgrade +++ Gulfstream G150 first flight in Israel +++ News in brief +++
Northwest confirms 787 order
Boeing 787 für Northwest
On 5 May, Northwest Airlines announced that it has ordered 18 Boeing 787 twinjet airliners to support the carrier's long-term fleet renewal program. Initial deliveries of the 787 will begin in August 2008. Northwest also holds options and purchase rights for an additional 50 aircraft.
Northwest will be the first North American carrier to put the 787 "Dreamliner" into revenue service. "We believe that the Boeing 787 provides Northwest Airlines with a new- generation, long-range aircraft that will allow us to tailor our growing international route system to best address our customers' travel needs," said Doug Steenland, Northwest Airlines president and chief executive officer.
Northwest's 787s will carry 36 passengers in World Business Class and 185 customers in coach class and will have a non-stop range of up to 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 kilometers).Northwest's current long-haul international fleet includes 31 modern Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The airline was the launch customer of the Boeing 747-400, and today operates a fleet of 16 of the wide-body aircraft. Northwest also operates 15 Airbus A330 aircraft, including eight -300s and seven -200s. Northwest was the first U.S. airline to operate the A330-200. Northwest has an additional 17 A330s on order, including nine from an order for 24 A330s placed by the airline in January of 2001, and eight from a second order placed in January of this year.
The order includes firm purchases of 18 787-8s worth, approximately $2.2 billion at list prices. Northwest becomes a member of the 787 Launch Team that now includes 20 airlines from around the world. Orders and commitments for the 787 since its launch last year total 255.
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Falcon 7X flies
Erstflug des neuen Dassault-Geschäftsreisejets
On 5 May, at Dassault Aviation's facility in Bordeaux Mérignac, France, Falcon 7X s/n 1 took to the skies for the first time. Test pilots Yves "Bill" Kerherve and Philippe Deleume were at the controls when the airplane lifted off at 2:45 pm (GMT+2). The flight lasted an hour and thirty six minutes. "The first flight of the Falcon 7X was a success," said Kerherve who is the Senior Test Pilot for Dassault Aviation. "The aircraft performed beautifully and we're on track to start the rigorous 15 months of flight testing that lay ahead." After departing Bordeaux's International Airport, the aircraft climbed directly to 10,000 feet where various systems checks including hydraulic, fuel, air data systems and landing gear extraction/retraction tests were performed. The airplane then climbed to 25,000 feet where acceleration/deceleration tests were conducted as well as basic autopilot and auto-throttle operations.
The Falcon 7X carried the registration numbers of F-WFBW to remind those watching that this is the first business jet designed with a Fly By Wire flight control system. The test aircraft was fully equipped with instrumentation to allow the measurement of more than 3000 digital and 1000 analog parameters. It touched down at the Bordeaux airport at 4:21 pm. (GMT+2). During the next test flight, the airplane will be relocated to the Dassault Test Center in Istres, France. The second test aircraft will arrive in Istres in the 2rd Quarter and the third test aircraft will arrive this summer. Falcon 7X s/n 3 will be outfitted with a full interior and will be used for long range and endurance tests as well as interior sound level validation. Approximately 1,200 flight test hours have been allotted before final certification by the FAA and EASA before the end of 2006. A static and fatigue test airframe has been undergoing tests at CEAT in Toulouse since March 2005.
Since the announcement of the 5700 nautical mile Falcon 7X at the Paris Air Show in 2001, it has been a very popular aircraft and continues to gather momentum. This is the first Falcon aircraft to generate over 50 firm orders before first flight. With a delivery lead time into early 2009, Dassault will increase production of the Falcon 7X from 2.5 to 3.0 per month.
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EADS shortlists KC-330 sites
Vorauswahl für mögliche A330-Tankerfertigung
EADS North America's competition to select a U.S. industrial site to support the KC-330 advanced tanker program has been narrowed to locations in four states, which have been asked to provide additional information in a Request for Proposal (RFP). The selected site would become the center of industrial activity for the KC-330, which EADS North America is offering to the U.S. Air Force as a replacement for the KC-135 refueling fleet. The facility will begin operations in 2006 with the establishment of an aircraft engineering center. Finalist sites and states receiving RFPs are Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile, Alabama; Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida; Stennis International Airport, Kiln, Mississippi; and, Charleston International Airport, North Charleston, South Carolina.
EADS North America initiated the KC-330 industrial site selection process with a Request for Information (RFI) issued to all 50 states in January 2005. Over 70 candidate locations from 32 states responded to the RFI. Today's RFP release to finalist locations marks the next step in the company's selection process, which is being managed on behalf of EADS North America by The Staubach Company - an international real estate and management firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
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Embraer announces new business jets
Neue Geschäfstreisejets von Embraer
Embraer has announced it is strengthening its position in the business aviation market with new products and services. The first move to expand its product portfolio is to complement the Legacy offering with jets for the Very Light and Light categories. Recently created, the Very Light Jet category is made up of aircraft that carry 6 to 8 people or up to 10,000 pounds. The Light segment, already established, is comprised of jets that commonly transport up to 8 or 9 people. The company will offer a complete range of integrated service solutions that will support the product portfolio expansion. In the near future, Embraer will unveil these solutions that range from sales to full-scale customer support.
Introduction of Embraer in the Very Light and Light categories was approved by Embraer's Board of Directors in April. The investment in the new jets will total US$ 235 million. This program will be funded by the partners, financial institutions and the Company's own cash generation. Based upon in-depth market assessments, Embraer has estimated demand for approximately 3,000 Very Light, Entry and Light jets over the next decade. This figure does not include the air taxi market. "Embraer is committed to making long-term investments in this business to offer revolutionary products and completely integrated solutions to a sophisticated customer base. Our goal is to build a robust business aviation unit and a global infrastructure to support it," said Luis Carlos Affonso, Senior Vice-President for the Corporate Aviation Market.
Embraer's Very Light Jet will carry up to eight people and be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW617F engine, with 1,615 pounds of thrust. Its range will be 1,160 nautical miles (NBAA IFR reserves with 100 nm alternate) with four people onboard and it will have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.7. The airplane is designed for a short takeoff distance and is capable of flying at 41,000 feet. The Very Light Jet is expected to enter service in mid-2008 and will be priced at $2.75 million in 2005 economic conditions.
The Light Jet will be powered by P&WC's PW535E engine, with 3,200 pounds of thrust. Comfortably accommodating up to nine people, the Light Jet's range will be 1,800 nautical miles (NBAA IFR reserves with 100 nm alternate) with six people onboard, and it will have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.78. The airplane is also designed for a short takeoff distance and is capable of flying at 45,000 feet. The Light Jet is expected to enter service in mid-2009 and be priced at US$ 6.65 million in 2005 economic conditions.
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Boeing and Lockheed launcher cooperation
Überrraschende Kooperation bei Satellitenstarts
Boeing and Lockheed Martin have entered into an agreement to create a joint venture that will combine the production, engineering, test and launch operations associated with U.S. government launches of Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin Atlas rockets. The joint venture, named United Launch Alliance, will reduce the cost of meeting the critical national security and NASA expendable launch vehicle needs of the United States. "It has become increasingly clear that an alliance of launch capabilities is essential to meet the space communications, surveillance and reconnaissance needs of the 21st century, and to assure access to space," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Stevens. "This combination will permit our national customers to achieve their mission objectives while reflecting current budget pressures and providing the government with full cost visibility." "Both of our companies have developed versions of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) in collaboration with the Air Force and have flown them successfully," said Boeing President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer James A. Bell. "By joining together we are convinced that we can provide the customer with assured access to space at the lowest possible cost while ensuring enhanced reliability by eliminating duplicate infrastructure and bringing experts from both companies to focus on mission assurance."
United Launch Alliance will be structured as a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin--combining services currently provided separately by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' Expendable Launch Systems division and by Lockheed Martin's Space Systems Company--for launches of each company's respective rockets. Based upon initial estimates, annual savings to the government resulting from the combination are expected to be approximately $100 - $150 million. United Launch Alliance headquarters will be established in Denver with most engineering and administrative activities consolidated at that location's existing Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company facilities. Major assembly and integration operations will be located primarily at Boeing's manufacturing and assembly facility in Decatur, Ala. As part of the joint venture, Boeing's and Lockheed Martin's launch facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California will provide flexibility for meeting the requirements for East and West Coast launches.
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Brazil signs for C-295 and P-3 upgrade
EADS CASA unterzeichnet Verträge
The Brazilian government and EADS CASA have signed two important contracts: one where EADS CASA will supply Brazil with C-295 military transport aircraft, and in the second contract EADS CASA will modernize Brazil's fleet of P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, which will include the installation of the FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System), developed entirely by EADS CASA in Spain. These are the first defence contracts between these two countries and the biggest one ever signed in Latin America. Implementation of these contracts will entail more than two million man-hours for EADS CASA facilities in Getafe and San Pablo. Spanish companies in the Defence Sector, such as INDRA, SAES or Tecnobit will also have an important participation in these programmes, developing and manufacturing advanced technology equipment and sensors which will be installed on the aircraft purchased by the Brazilian government.
The C-295 aircraft will be the core of the CL-X programme dedicated to supply the Brazilian Air Force with medium transport aircraft to support activities related with the Amazon Protection System (SIPAM) and the Calha Norte Project, fundamentally social activities, to support people in remote areas of the Amazon, with difficult access by other means of transportation. The twelve EADS CASA C-295 aircraft will replace the obsolete C-115 Buffalo, and will also support the C-130 Hercules in the Brazilian Air Force. The contract amounts to EUR 238 million.
The programme concerning the maritime patrol aircraft, named P-3BR, consists in the modernization of eight P-3 aircraft, purchased by the Brazilian government from the US Navy. A state-of-the art FITS mission system will be installed on these aircraft. Work will be carried out at EADS CASA facilities by EADS CASA technicians, with the participation of technicians from the Brazilian industry and Air Force personnel. There is an option to modernize a ninth aircraft. This contract will amount to EUR 320 million.
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Gulfstream G150 first flight in Israel
Neuer Geschäftsreisejet fliegt
On May 3, Gulfstream newest business-jet aircraft, the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 successfully completed its first flight. Gulfstream designed and built its first true mid-size business jet in collaboration with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv, Israel. Flown by IAI chief test pilot Ronen Shapira and G150 project test pilot Yoram Geva, the G150 took off from Ben Gurion International Airport today at 10:25 a.m. local time. During the flight, which lasted 4 hours, 13 minutes, the pilots tested the business jet's flight handling qualities and characteristics, performed initial checks of all aircraft systems and cycled the landing gear and flap/slat system. The airplane was flown to 20,000 feet and achieved a maximum speed of 250 knots. Chief Test Pilot Shapira commented that the flight went "very smoothly with no issues noted." IAI's Flight Telemetry System enabled IAI and Gulfstream flight-test engineers on the ground to monitor on a real-time basis all of the G150 aircraft systems during the flight as well as record the data from the first flight test point.
In January of this year, the G150 rolled out of the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv. It remains on schedule for type certification by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority in the first quarter of next year, followed shortly thereafter by validation from the Federal Aviation Administration, and entry into service in the third quarter of 2006. Following certification, the G150 will be flown to Gulfstream's Dallas facility for the final phase of its manufacturing.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Further to the announcement on 28 January 2005, BAE Systems plc announces the completion of the EuroSystems transaction agreed with Finmeccanica. The EuroSystems transaction comprised: The merger of BAE Systems Avionics Limited and Galileo Avionica SpA to form a new Avionics business owned 75 per cent. by Finmeccanica and 25 per cent. by BAE Systems. At completion BAE Systems received the adjusted amount of £374 million in cash and will receive a further adjusted amount of £268 million upon the exercise after May 2007 of BAE Systems' put option or the exercise at any time of Finmeccanica's call option over the 25 per cent. stake. The dissolution of the 50/50 AMS joint venture of BAE Systems and Finmeccanica. At completion BAE Systems paid Finmeccanica an equalising amount of £50.5 million in cash to account for the difference in value between AMS's UK and Italian operations. In addition, Finmeccanica has acquired AMS's UK Air Traffic Management business for £6.5 million cash and the assumption of debt. The sale of BAE Systems's UK Communications business to Selenia Communications Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica, for £25.4 million in cash. The transaction has achieved BAE Systems's and Finmeccanica's mutual goals of securing control and clear management responsibility for these significant European defence industry businesses. BAE Systems will now form an Integrated System Technologies business by combining the capabilities of AMS's UK operations and BAE Systems's C4ISR Networked Systems and Solutions business
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A comprehensive report on U.S. aeronautics research and development is a stark signal that elected officials must invest more money in technical advancements, AIA President and CEO John Douglass said. The alternative is conceding dominance in aerospace to Europe and the rest of the world, a choice the U.S. cannot afford for national defense reasons as well as economics, Douglass said. "This report is a wake-up call that the warnings we have been sounding are not just talk," Douglass said. "Our elected leaders in Congress should heed the conclusions in this report and consider that their constituents are in danger of losing their jobs, if not their security." The National Institute of Aerospace prepared the report, titled "Responding to the Call: Aviation Plan for American Leadership," for NASA to document the consequences of falling aeronautics research funding. The report calls for annual increases of $885.5 million to NASA's budget for the next five years to return research and development to where it was in 1998 in constant dollars. The total aeronautics R&D budget for fiscal 2005 is $906 million, and the administration's proposed budget for next year asks for $54 million less. AIA and other aerospace leaders have been warning Congress that aeronautics research is dangerously underfunded. Douglass acknowledged that Congress is grappling with budget constraints, but he said it is vital the U.S. invest in aerospace now before Europe and others get too far ahead in new technologies. Aerospace has the largest foreign trade surplus in the U.S. economy, exporting $31 billion more than it imports.
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Boullioun Aviation Services announced a medium-term lease with TUI Group for a 1998-vintage Boeing 737-300 aircraft. This lease marks Boullioun's third transaction with TUI Group, a leading European travel group. Boullioun will deliver the aircraft, equipped with CFM56-3C1 engines, later this month. The aircraft will be operated by Thomsonfly, the low-cost carrier of Britannia Airways. Both Britannia and Thomsonfly are part of TUI Group. Thomsonfly began flight operations in March 2004 and currently serves 20 European cities from three airports located on the British Isle.
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The Rolls-Royce Turbomeca (RRTM) RTM322 engine has been selected by the Australian Department of Defence to power its fleet of 12 twin-engine NH90 multi-role helicopters of NHI. Australia becomes the tenth NH90 customer to select the RTM322, joining the family of RTM322 NH90 users whose countries consist of Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal and Sweden.
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Lufthansa is making a public offer to purchase, via the Swiss-domiciled AirTrust company, the shares held by all the minority shareholders of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. at a net price of CHF 8.96 per SWISS registered share. The offer period begins on May 4, 2005 and is currently scheduled to end on June 2, 2005. The offer price is based on the average opening price of the SWISS share over the past 30 market days (i.e. the 28 days during this period on which SWISS shares were traded) starting from March 23, 2005, the day the purchase offer was provisionally announced. The SWISS Board of Directors advises the company's minority shareholders to accept the AirTrust offer. The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the Board of Directors of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. approved the business model jointly devised by the two companies for the acquisition of SWISS by Lufthansa and its integration into the Lufthansa Group when they each met on March 22, 2005. The corresponding contractual agreements were signed the same day. The Swiss Confederation, Canton Zurich and other major SWISS shareholders support the transaction and have already undertaken to transfer their shares to AirTrust. The corresponding contractual commitments have already been obtained from shareholders representing around 85% of SWISS's total share capital. This means that virtually all the SWISS shareholders who have undertaken not to dispose of their shares before a certain date under the present lock-up agreement have agreed to the proposed transaction. The aim of SWISS's integration into the Lufthansa Group is to ensure the maintenance of the best possible network of European and intercontinental air services for Switzerland and its economy, especially through the provision of direct air links. Its assimilation into the global air travel product offered by Lufthansa and the Star Alliance should further enhance SWISS's customer appeal. Key elements of the planned integration are the retention of the quality SWISS brand and SWISS's continuation as a separate Swiss-based airline operating from its efficient and effective Zurich hub. Provided competitive cost structures can be established, Lufthansa will also expand the SWISS long-haul fleet through the addition of two further aircraft. The new business model offers attractive long-term prospects and perspectives to SWISS as a company and to its employees. Lufthansa's aim is to fully acquire SWISS. To comply with the requirements of competition law and ensure that the corresponding traffic rights can be retained, however, the acquisition is being effected in a series of stages. SWISS's shares are being acquired and held by AirTrust, a Swiss-domiciled company. In a first step, Lufthansa has acquired an 11% shareholding in AirTrust. This holding can be increased to 49% once the requisite approval has been obtained from the competition authorities and the present purchase offer has been made. Negotiations are being conducted to secure the relevant traffic rights in parallel to these developments. Once the corresponding agreements have been secured, Lufthansa can fully acquire AirTrust (and thus indirectly the SWISS shares held by AirTrust).
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Volga-Dnepr Airlines is increasing its outsize and heavyweight air cargo services capability to Afghanistan to include the airports at Kandahar and Herat. Since December 2001, Volga-Dnepr has operated more than 570 cargo flights into the Afghan capital of Kabul using its fleet of AN-124-100 and IL-76 freighters. In this time it has successfully transported over 35,000 tonnes of freight. Extending its operating network to Kandahar and Herat follows an extensive assessment project by the airline's flight technicians into the runway capability at the two airports as well as other safety and security issues. Flight simulator training has also been conducted with Volga-Dnepr air crews that will be flying into the area. Dennis Gliznoutsa, Commercial Manager of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, said: "Over the last two and-a-half years, we have established ourselves as the leading provider of outsize and heavyweight cargo services into Kabul and our customers now require Volga-Dnepr to increase its coverage to the other development areas in Afghanistan. We have now completed the necessary analysis of these other airports and provided training for our crews and we are now able to offer these additional destinations to our customers."
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France's SYRACUSE IIIA military telecommunications satellite has arrived at the Spaceport in French Guiana and is being readied for its launch on an upcoming Ariane 5 mission. The spacecraft -- which carries an SHF (super high frequency) and EHF (extremely high frequency) communications payload -- touched down this week at Cayenne's Rochambeau International Airport aboard an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft. Built by Alcatel Space, SYRACUSE IIIA will provide communications that link military users on land, at sea and in the air.
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On 5 May India launched a satellite equipped with two cameras to provide images of natural disasters, map land resources and track environmental changes in South Asia, the country's space agency said. The remote sensing satellite Cartosat 1 will track the impact of natural disasters, deforestation and forest fires, map wasteland and farmland, and help with crop production estimates, an ISRO statement said. The Indian Space Research Organization now operates seven remote sensing satellites including Cartosat-1. The rocket also carried a light satellite called Hamsat, exclusively for amateur radio operators in South Asia. The new satellite, weighing 1,560 kilograms, was put on a pole-to-pole orbit at 10:32 a.m. (0502 GMT) by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
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A lightweight, low cost composite stabilizer manufactured by Fiber Innovations of Walpole, MA using Braiding and RTM processes recently flew on the Bell Helicopter MAPL (Modular Affordable Product Line) demonstrator aircraft. The one-piece, constant section horizontal stabilizer was designed to provide significant cost reduction compared with a conventional composite design by reducing parts count, subassemblies and associated surface preparation, bonding and inspection steps. The RTM composite stabilizer also features simplified attachment to the fuselage, further reducing assembly cost. The 11 square foot horizontal stabilizer is a fixed control surface that passes through the fuselage and is attached by four bolts. The stabilizer also contains provisions for attachment of a leading edge slat and two vertical tip fins. The 17 pound structure was manufactured using a combination of braiding, hand layup of dry woven fabrics and resin transfer molding (RTM). The Graphite/BMI part reduces the weight of the existing composite stabilizer and provides a significant cost reduction through reduced parts count and elimination of secondary bonding.
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated arrival of its first Lockheed Martin F-16E/F aircraft on May 3. The first "Desert Falcon" F-16s to be based in the UAE were received by the Crown Prince, His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The first 10 aircraft were flown by UAE Air Force pilots who recently completed F-16 training in the United States. "This is a proud and significant day for the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense Force and our nation," said Major General Khalid bin Abdullah Al Buainain, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. "These aircraft have the latest capabilities and will help ensure the security of our nation for many years to come. Arrival of the F-16E/Fs is a giant step in the Air Force modernization process that our country's leaders began planning more than a decade ago." The F-16E/F aircraft version, also known as Block 60, is the latest and most advanced of the long lineage of F-16s produced by Lockheed Martin. The UAE has ordered a total of 80 aircraft.
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Nordic Satellite AB announced today that the launch of its SIRIUS 4 satellite will be on a Proton Breeze M booster provided by International Launch Services (ILS). Terms of the contract remain confidential. NSAB is 75 percent owned by SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange:SESG) and 25 percent owned by SSC (Swedish Space Corp.). The SIRIUS 4 procurement and launch mission are being managed by SES ASTRA on behalf of NSAB. The contract calls for a launch on board the Proton vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the second quarter of 2007. The high-powered SIRIUS 4 spacecraft, which will feature 52 Ku-band transponders, as well as a 2-transponder Ka-band payload, is currently under construction with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) for operation at NSAB's orbital position of 5 degrees East. ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md., and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia - the builder of the Proton vehicle.
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Lockheed Martin successfully tested Dual Mode Guided Bombs (DMGB) at the U.S. Navy's China Lake test range. The weapons were released from Navy aircraft and maneuvered through controlled flight and target impact as planned, achieving mission success. The new Lockheed Martin DMGB gives warfighters the versatility of selecting the ideal guidance mode for specific targets without multiple weapons in inventory. This capability was previously only available on very expensive precision guided weapons. "The DMGB brings the warfighter high accuracy and versatility at an unprecedented low price," said Cynthia Sailar, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's facility in Archbald, PA. "Additionally, by utilizing the Paveway II airframe and JDAM aircraft interface, the DMGB introduces advanced capabilities to the services with minimal impact on the logistics infrastructure. These tests, as well as the overall program's success, are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the entire government and contractor team. Our focus will now center on fine tuning the weapon performance and formal qualification efforts."
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On April 29, Osprey No. 24 returned to NAS Patuxent River following its second six-month season of icing tests around Halifax, Nova Scotia. Pilots for the transit were Maj. Frank Conway, USMC, and Maj. Steve Augustine, USMC. Flight test engineer Jason Patterson performed crew chief duties. During this period the V-22 Integrated Test Team explored what effect degraded systems modes had on the airplane's ability to shed ice. The main two test points focused on the loss of a variable-frequency generator, which forces alternate instead of simultaneous de-icing of the prop-rotors, and the loss of the prop-rotor parting strip - the device that continuously prevents ice from forming on the leading edge of the prop-rotor. Test results were satisfactory and after a comprehensive data analysis and PEO/OPTEVFOR review, the program expects to issue the Osprey's initial icing flight clearance.
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The Russian Federal Space Agency has announced that it will support the launch of the European meteorological satellite Metop-A. The satellite is scheduled to be launched by a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in April 2006. The Metop satellite has been procured under a cooperation agreement between ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of European Satellites (EUMETSAT), in which ESA is responsible for satellite development," said Alain Fournier-Sicre, head of ESA's Permanent Mission to Russia. The Soyuz launch vehicle has been procured through a contract between EUMETSAT and the European-Russian joint venture, STARSEM. STARSEM manages the technical interface with the launcher and provides 'state of the art' satellite preparation facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. MetOp-A is the first of a series of three satellites that will be launched at 4.5 year intervals to provide 14 years of operation. They constitute the space segment for the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS), which in conjunction with the US POES satellites provides global meteorological coverage from low Earth orbit.
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The Indian Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee has expressed the hope that the Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), will be able to fulfill the requirements of our Armed Forces for achieving self-reliance in Defence technology. Addressing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence here today Shri Mukherjee referred to the continuing intensive user trials of the LCA to meet quality parameters before induction into the Indian Air Force. He reiterated that that the objective of the ADA, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other agencies involved in the LCA project is to achieve self-reliance for the defence forces. He assured the members that all efforts are being made for induction of the LCA 'Tejas' on the basis of the stringent user requirements projected by the Armed Forces. He however, made it clear that to maintain the high standards of Combat readiness of our defence forces the government will go for procurement of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment from the global market as and when considered necessary as per the security environment and threat perceptions for the country.
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With deployment of Eurofighter 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).
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The E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System reached 10,000 combat hours in Southwest Asia. The aircraft and its operators, maintainers and support people have had a continuous presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility since July 2003 as part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location. "Reaching this milestone is a demonstration of nearly two years of hard work by people who have been deployed here five or six times," said Capt. Jeff Styers, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron officer in charge of the JSTARS aircraft maintenance unit.
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In response to increased demand for Flexjet aircraft, Bombardier is reserving 51 aircraft positions with a value of approximately $829 million for delivery to Flexjet over the next three years. This is in addition to the 16 new aircraft added to the Flexjet fleet since January 1, 2004, and represents both replacement of existing aircraft in the Flexjet fleet and net additional aircraft resulting from new sales of fractional shares. More than 60 per cent of the planned deliveries will be Learjet 40 XR and Challenger 300 aircraft. These new Bombardier aircraft types helped Flexjet to achieve a 67 per cent increase in the number of new owners during 2004 compared with the previous year. Response from current Flexjet owners has also been tremendous and the company expects that many of these future aircraft will be sold to existing customers as their contracts come up for renewal.
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Working in a spirit of unrivalled partnership, the Austrian Airlines Group and Flughafen Wien AG have taken a crucial step towards optimising their flight operations in terms of both punctuality and hub quality. The companies will soon be opening a new joint Hub Control Center (HCC) in the Office Park at Vienna Airport, with help from other partners in every area of flight operations and ground handling. Specialists from the Austrian Airlines Group, Flughafen Wien AG and other partner organisations with responsibility for regular flight handling will work side by side in the HCC to provide real time control over the operational turnaround of aircraft using the airport, and above all to immediately remove any irregularities according to the principle of joint responsibility.
Flight operations specialists in the Hub Control Center will cooperate at both the operational and spatial levels. Following the harmonisation of procedures, process management and hub planning will be directed jointly with the respective centres. By employing closely harmonised processes wherever possible, the Hub Control Center will be designed to exclude disruptions to the handling process and the attendant risk of deviations from the timetable. 'From today onwards, the Hub Control Center becomes a key component of our punctuality management and proactive optimisation of connecting flights. Our aim is to permanently improve reliability and with it levels of service quality and customer satisfaction', explained Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group. He went on to emphasise: 'This is a significant step in the right direction, namely that of optimising control and infrastructure issues associated with the operation of the Vienna hub constructively and together with our partners.'
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Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has been awarded a $100 million IDIQ contract by the U.S. Air Force/Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC Detachment 12) for Responsive Small Spacelift (RSS) launch services. The purpose of this contract will be to provide low cost orbital launch vehicles and responsive (launch 12 months from award of basic contract) launch services, on a recurring basis, using a mature vehicle design and a commercially derived booster to meet mission/payload requirements.
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The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of two joint ventures resulting from the French electronics company Alcatel merging its space activities with those of Alenia Spazio and Telespazio, part of the Italian Defence and engineering company Finmeccanica. The Commission's review highlighted serious concerns for certain satellite subsystems (Telemetry Tracking & Control or "TTC" and radar altimeters), but Alcatel and Alenia were able to address these concerns by offering a license for both subsystems, in addition to agreeing to price monitoring for TTCs. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes stated "These conditions will maintain effective competition in the European space industry, while allowing the parties to structure their businesses more efficiently through the joint ventures."
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The United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin wrote the final chapter in a five-decade history at Cape Canaveral tonight with the final launch of a Titan IV B heavy-lift rocket carrying a critical national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket thundered away from its pad adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean amid the cheers of many who had gathered to watch the historic mission. "With our customers, we share a tremendous pride in this successful flight, tempered only by our sense of sadness as the proud history of Titan here at Cape Canaveral comes to a close for our team," said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "It is always impressive to hear the roar of a Titan IV as it streaks into space, but this rocket got help in getting off the ground by the hard work, prayers and wishes of thousands of employees and retirees whose dedication to mission success is unparalleled." The launch was the second-to-last launch for the venerable heavy-lift workhorse Titan IV. The final vehicle will fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. this summer. In all, 27 Titan IVs have been launched from CCAFS and 11 from Vandenberg. Titan IV is the culmination of a long evolution from the original Titan I intercontinental ballistic missile.
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ARINC Incorporated has been selected to provide advanced passenger check-in systems and related technologies for one of the most ambitious airport projects ever built-the Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. Dubai is the world's fastest-growing airport, with annual traffic of 22 million increasing at a 20% rate. To support this growth, the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation has launched construction of the new Terminal 3 and other major improvements, budgeted at more than $4 billion (US). ARINC is part of a consortium led by Thermo LLC., which was awarded the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) contract for the airport's Expansion Phase II, Terminal 3, Concourse 2, and Car Park.
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Delta Air Lines and Mesa Air Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MESA) have entered into a strategic partnership whereby Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines will become a Delta Connection carrier. The new Delta Connection agreement provides for Freedom Airlines to operate up to 30 CRJ200 aircraft on routes throughout Delta's network for a period of 12 years, with the first aircraft planned to enter Delta Connection service as early as October 2005. The agreement provides Delta with long-term cost savings and efficiencies gained through Mesa's attractive operating costs and its complementary fleet of CRJ aircraft. Delta Connection carriers already operate the world's largest fleet of CRJ aircraft, with nearly 350 in service throughout the U.S. Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition, the economics of the agreement allow Delta to place Freedom Airlines' Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets into Delta Connection service in lieu of 30 Fairchild Dornier aircraft previously operated for Delta by Atlantic Coast Airlines (now FLYi, Inc.). "We are pleased to add another highly cost-effective, customer-focused regional airline to our portfolio of regional carriers," said J.T. Fisher, president, Delta Connection, Inc. "This agreement offers long-term cost savings to Delta and makes it economically attractive to upgrade flying that would have been operated with 32-seat Fairchild Dornier aircraft to 50-seat Bombardier CRJs, an aircraft that is more flexible and effective within our network and existing Delta Connection carrier fleet."
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Since May 2, customers flying on Delta Air Lines can now travel directly between New York City and Berlin, thanks to a new, daily non-stop flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Berlin Tegel Airport. This new service provides Delta customers with a convenient link between the financial capital of the United States and the capital of Germany."We are extremely excited about launching this new flight today and being the only carrier to provide a non-stop link between New York, the key financial center of the United States, and Berlin, the political heart of Germany," said Jim Whitehurst, Delta's Senior Vice President and Chief Network and Planning Officer. "Germany's capital city has a growing population base and prior to Delta's inaugural flight today, it was the largest trans-Atlantic market without non-stop service to the U.S. This new flight to our New York/JFK gateway will now connect local passengers to a large number of destinations worldwide." Delta is operating its JFK-Berlin service with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with the capacity to carry up to 204 passengers in a two-class configuration and featuring Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service.
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