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+++ EC 145 offered for LUH +++ Order for new An-124s +++ MTU assembles PW6000 +++ Bell delivers 3000th helicopter in Mirabel +++ MAKS a success +++ First production MH-60R delivered +++ News in brief +++
EC 145 offered for LUH
Eurocopter im Wettbewerb um US-Army-Hubschrauber
EADS North America and its American Eurocopter business unit will offer the UH-145 advanced rotary-wing aircraft for the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) mission. EADS North America will lead the capture effort and act as the prime contractor for the UH-145 team. The twin-engine UH-145 is a “best value” solution for the Army, providing a U.S.-built helicopter that meets or exceeds all speed, range, endurance and performance requirements. The UH-145 is a version of the highly successful EC145 helicopter, which has been in production since 2002 for law enforcement, paramilitary and security agencies, emergency medical service providers, offshore operators and corporations in America and around the world.
“EADS North America is proud to offer the UH-145 to meet the modernization needs of the US Army. Our UH-145 team combines the No. 1 helicopter in its class, American Eurocopter's extensive rotary-wing market experience and the resources of EADS North America as prime contractor,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., the Chairman and CEO of EADS North America. “We are uniquely positioned to meet the operational and long term support requirements of this key Army aviation program. The UH-145 will offer the Army a modern platform that combines advanced rotary-wing technology and proven commercial capability, and which outperforms other existing or remanufactured solutions.” Production of the UH-145 will be performed in the U.S. by American Eurocopter, which has been building and supporting helicopters in the US for more than 30 years. The company has production and assembly sites in Columbus, Mississippi and Grand Prairie, Texas. The helicopter is outfitted with an advanced avionics suite that includes a glass cockpit for flight and navigation instrument display. It already is FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certified – a requirement in the Army's commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) acquisition strategy for LUH. The UH-145's large open cabin provides maximum flexibility with seating configurations for up to nine passengers, or two stretchers for MEDEVAC missions.
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Order for new An-124s
Neue Bestellungen für Riesenfrachter
Volga-Dnepr Airlines is to acquire five new AN-124-100M-150 freighter aircraft after signing a delivery agreement with the Aviastar SP aviation plant as part of the AN-124-100 Production Recovery Project. Deliveries of the new 150 tonnes capacity aircraft will begin in 2008. “The AN-124-100 'Ruslan' is a unique aircraft. It is in such high demand in the global air cargo market that we are doing our best to relaunch serial production of the aircraft at the Aviastar aviation plant in Ulyanovsk,” said Alexey Isaikin, Aviastar SP Chairman and President of Volga-Dnepr Group.
The AN-124-100Ì-150 is an operationally improved version of the AN-124 outsize and heavyweight cargo aircraft, capable of transporting single or multiple pieces of cargo weighing up to 150 tonnes as well as general cargo. Modification of the aircraft extends the AN-124's freight capacity and involves the use of modernised on-board equipment. The new aircraft will also require fewer crew members, reducing from six currently to four. Aviastar-SP is one of the largest civil aircraft factories in Russia and the CIS and specialises in building modern passenger and freighter aircraft such as the Tupolev ÒU-204,and unique AN-124-100 Ruslan freighters. The factory is capable of producing some 50 aircraft a year. The parties engaged into the AN-124 Project believe that resumed production of this aircraft type will revive the Russian aviation industry, significantly reinforce the leading positions of Russia and Ukraine in the global air cargo market, widen Russian-Ukrainian ties in terms of implementing large-scale industrial projects and create more opportunities for technological breakthroughs in civil aviation.
Resuming production of the AN-124-100 may, along with the Government-supported Quiet IL-76 Modernisation Project currently being implemented, become one of the most ambitious and promising tasks for Russian aviation industry in the years to come.
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MTU assembles PW6000
Produktions des neuen Turbofans in Hannover
For nearly three decades, MTU Maintenance Hannover has been a globally renowned maintenance and repair shop. Now the MTU Aero Engines affiliate has additionally moved up into the international league of manufacturing shops: on Thursday, August 25, the Langenhagen company received its certificate as an approved production organization for the PW6000 engine. Ferdinand Exler, MTU Maintenance Hannover GmbH executive vice president, accepted the document from Benno Schmaljohann . "The production organization status substantially broadens our portfolio, enabling us to provide our customers with still more services," says the pleased executive. Already, his company is a certified maintenance and development organization. Exler is sure that "overall, the three approvals give us a healthy workload and secure our continued commercial viability." When adopting the additional manufacturing role, the Langenhagen staff were challenged to integrate the upcoming manufacturing processes into the existing repair infrastructure and leverage the repair processes and equipment for use in manufacturing. They succeeded: manufacturing and repair processes are pursued strictly independently of each other, as was confirmed after close scrutiny by LBA (German Federal Office of Civil Aeronautics) and Pratt & Whitney, the customer.
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Bell delivers 3000th helicopter in Mirabel
3000. Bell in Kanada gebaut
On August 24, at Bell Helicopter's Mirabel facility, Jacques St-Laurent, President of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, hosted an official ceremony marking a milestone: the delivery of the 3000th helicopter assembled in Mirabel since 1986. Mike Redenbaugh, Chief Executive Officer of Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., proceeded with the presentation of the keys to Air Logistics' officials, Bill Chiles and Mike Suldo. The ceremony was held in the presence of the 1,600 plus employees who joined together and formed the historic number: 3000. "Today's event reflects almost 20 years of excellence and contribution to the economic growth of Quebec and Canada. I wish to thank Bell Helicopter's team here in Mirabel and in Fort Worth, as well as our worldwide suppliers. Congratulations to all on this major achievement", declared Jacques St-Laurent.
The helicopter delivered by BHTCL is a Bell 412, a model BHTCL has been assembling and supporting for 16 years already. Air Logistics, the owner of this 3000th helicopter, will be flying the famous aircraft. The ceremony follows recent announcements made by Bell Helicopter. Firstly, the MAPL project, made public last February, involves the design and assembly of a new family of commercial light helicopters. More recently, on August 1st, Bell Helicopter announced it had landed a major contract with the U.S. government for the delivery of 368 Bell ARH. The impact for the Mirabel facility is estimated at US$700 million. As a result of these announcements and increases in worlwide sales, BHTCL is actively recruting an additional 600 persons. By the end of 2007, this will bring the workforce to a record 2200 employees in Mirabel only. Bell Helicopter anticipates its suppliers will increase accordingly.
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MAKS a success
Erfolgreicher Aerosalon in Shukowskij
According to the organizers, the 7th International Aviation and Space Salon has once again been received with huge interest on the part of both professionals and ordinary lovers of aviation and space engineering. The first three days of the air show were given to the business part of the event, which witnessed over 220 business meetings and resulted in numerous agreements and contracts of intention. Rosoboronexport, the federal state unitary enterprise, and the Indian corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a deal for licensed production of the AL-55I aviation engine on the first day of the show. The contract was signed by S. V. Chemezov, director general of Rosoboronexport, and A. Baweja, chairman of the Indian corporation, in the presence of President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin.
An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and India, which made this contract possible, had been prepared by Russia's Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation and signed during MAKS 2005 by the first deputy director of the FSMTC, Aleksandr Denisov, and the additional secretary (deputy minister) of India's Ministry of Defense, Shilabhadra Banerjee. While the initial contractual documents within this agreement provide for $250 million deals, the complete project may be worth over $700 million.
A deal to supply two new IL-76MF military transport airplanes equipped with Russian-made PS-90A-76 jet engines to Jordan was sealed on August 17 during a meeting between the director general of Rosoboronexport, S. V. Chemezov, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Jordanian armed forces His Majesty King Abdullah II. This is the first export contract for this type of aircraft. Altogether, Rosoboronexport, the general sponsor of the air show, facilitated the work of foreign delegations from over 70 countries.
Ilyushin-Finans signed an agreement with the Cuban airline Cubana for the supply of three Tu-204 planes. The Cuban company will receive two passenger aircraft and a cargo plane. Ilyushin-Finans also reached an agreement on the terms of supplying IL-96-300 planes in 2006.
Grazhdanskie Samolyoty Sukhogo (GSS), American Boeing and Russian Progresstekh signed an agreement on cooperation in designing and building civil aircraft. The agreement was signed by Viktor Subbotin, director general of GSS, Sergei Kravchenko, president of Boeing-Russia/CIS, and Viktor Kulchitsky, director general of Progresstekh. Besides, GSS concluded a preliminary agreement with Dalavia for the purchase of 4 RRJ planes. A major cooperation agreement was concluded between Kamov-Holding and Rolls-Royce. Rosoboronexport, Irkut and the Yakovlev Design Bureau signed a cooperation agreement creating a joint design centre.
On the whole, the air show saw a greater number of exhibiting Russian aviation manufacturers with an increasing number of companies applying for joint stands. Foreign presence has risen dramatically as well. For the first time, a separate pavilion was given to space exploration with big stands of the European Space Agency and the Italian space corporation Finmicanica.
The air show in Zhukovsky welcomed 654 exhibiting companies from 40 countries including 520 participants from Russia and the CIS and 34 from abroad. There were 200 aircraft on static display of the airfield. The total amount of exhibition space in the pavilions and chalet was in excess of 30,000 sq. m., whereas the total space of the exhibition complex covered an expanse of over 850,000 sq. m.
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First production MH-60R delivered
Lieferung des ersten MH-60R
Sikorsky has celebrated the delivery of the first new production MH-60R helicopter in a ceremony held at their Stratford, CT facility. “The MH-60R represents the best, most capable multi-mission Naval helicopter in the world. We at Sikorsky are proud that this aircraft, and its sister ship the MH-60 Sierra, together represent the foundation for the Navy's future multi-mission helicopter fleet. The delivery of the first production MH-60R marks the start of a new era in Naval aviation as it takes its place as a critical combat element of the Navy's Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups,” said Sikorsky President Steve Finger. The first production MH-60R first took to the skies July 28 at Sikorsky Aircraft. The aircraft flew a total of 1.5 hours and performed the entire flight acceptance profile, which included flight control checks, vibration measurements and engine power checks, without incident. The MH-60R is the next generation submarine hunter and surface attack helicopter. It will replace the fleet's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft. The Navy is expected to order as many as 254 MH-60R aircraft through 2015, with production quantities increasing to 30 aircraft per year. After the ceremony the aircraft will be flown to Owego, NY where the mission equipment package will be installed by Lockheed Martin, the mission systems integrator for the MH-60R.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 11 crew members completed a spacewalk just days after the Station commander became the most experienced space traveler. Thursday's 298 minute spacewalk by Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer John Phillips was the 62nd to support Station assembly and maintenance. It was the 34th from the Station and 16th from the Pirs docking compartment. The crew's first job was retrieval of one of three canisters from the Biorisk experiment, a study of the impact of spaceflight on bioorganisms. It was installed on the Pirs module by Expedition 10 in January; other canisters will be retrieved on later spacewalks. The crew moved to the large diameter section of the Zvezda module and prepared two experiment payloads for removal. The Micro-Particles Capturer uses aerogels and foam to collect natural and human-made orbital debris outside the Station. The Space Environment Exposure Device has samples of possible spacecraft materials like paint, insulation and lubricants, exposed to the low Earth orbit environment. Matroshka is a biomedical experiment collecting data on radiation absorption by crew members on long-duration missions, especially when spacewalking. The crew moved aft of Zvezda to install a backup TV camera to assist docking the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle, a new cargo craft set to make its first flight next year. The crew documented the condition of the Kromka experiment, which measures residue from firing nearby jet thrusters. They also exchanged sample containers in the Russian materials' exposure experiment called SKK. By the time the crew transported the experiments and their tools inside Pirs, they were about 45 minutes behind schedule. The estimated two hours necessary to complete the last task, relocation of a Strela cargo crane adapter from Zarya to Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 on the Unity node, caused Russian mission managers to postpone it until a later spacewalk.
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On 25 August, Spirit AeroSystems rolled out the first developmental barrel section for the 787 Dreamliner built in its Wichita, Kan., factory. The barrel, called Section 41, comprises the airplane's forward section and is made of advanced composite materials. The developmental section measures 19 feet in diameter and 24 feet long. The Wichita facility also has the design and manufacturing responsibilities to provide the 787's pylons. The pylon holds the engine to the airplane. The company's Tulsa facility will design and build the airplane wing's leading edges. "Today is a historic day for Spirit AeroSystems," Jeff Turner, President and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, told a gathering of hundreds of employees, airplane partners and media at an on-site roll out ceremony. "The 41 Section on display here today is the first major piece of airplane hardware completed by Spirit AeroSystems. It also is a marvel of modern technology and an example of industry-leading teamwork and innovation on behalf of the employees of Spirit AeroSystems and our entire supply chain. Because of the knowledge and skills of our excellent team, I am confident many more modern marvels will follow." A 787 production forward section is expected to be produced in Wichita next year, complete with flight deck and systems installations. It will ship in 2007 by a special, modified 747 cargo airplane to The Boeing Company's plant in Everett, Wash., for final assembly.
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On 5 August 2005, the ESA/NASA SOHO spacecraft achieved an incredible milestone - the discovery of its 1000th comet! The 1000th comet was a Kreutz-group comet spotted in images from the C3 coronagraph on SOHO's LASCO instrument by Toni Scarmato, from Calabria, Italy. Just five minutes prior to discovering SOHO's 1000th comet, Toni had also spotted SOHO's 999th comet! These comets take Toni's personal number of SOHO discoveries to 15. Many SOHO comet discoveries have been by amateurs using SOHO images on the internet, and SOHO comet hunters come from all over the world. Toni Scarmato, a high school teacher and astrophysics graduate of the University of Bologna, said: “I am very happy for this special experience that is possible thanks to the SOHO satellite and NASA-ESA collaboration. "I want to dedicate the SOHO 1000th comet to my wife Rosy and my son Kevin to compensate for the time that I have taken from them to search for SOHO comets."
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Northrop Grumman has received U.S. Department of Homeland Security approval of its design for the Guardian protection system, a Counter-Man Portable Air Defense System (Counter-MANPADS) intended to protect commercial aircraft from attack by ground-based, shoulder-fired missiles. The company recently passed the last of three critical design reviews for its Guardian protection system, which is based on the proven military directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) technology it currently has in production for the U.S. military and several international customers. Northrop Grumman's commercial DIRCM version is being developed under Phase II of the Department of Homeland Security's Counter-MANPADS program. The first of the design reviews involved hardware development, while the second focused on software. The third, completed in April, called for installing the system on an actual aircraft. Northrop Grumman is now finalizing the fabrication and integration of pre-production prototypes before it begins operational testing and evaluation of its C-MANPADS aboard an MD-11 airliner later this month and a Boeing 747 later this year.
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Northrop Grumman has unveiled its BQM-74F which is the U.S. Navy's next-generation subsonic aerial target that can fly longer distances at much higher speeds and with increased maneuverability than before. Aerial targets are the Navy's most realistic means of training sailors and airmen against airborne threats and testing an array of weapon systems. The BQM-74F is an upgrade over the E version, which has been in production for the Navy since 1966. "The BQM-74F can fly twice as far, 15 percent faster and has a 70 percent increase in endurance over the E model," said Chris Lape, Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems' director of target programs. "This will enable the Navy to simulate modern threats they might encounter in tomorrow's combat environments more realistically."
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On the strength of massive growth in passenger volume of 36.1 % in July and a record load factor of 86 %, Austrian holiday airline Lauda Air has reported an outstanding traffic result. The carrier's absolute passenger volume reached previously unknown heights with 338,000 passengers carried on charter flights. A clearly pleased Thomas Suritsch, Managing Director of Lauda Air, made the following comment: 'Despite the difficult background conditions such as the tsunami at the beginning of the year, we succeeded in building passenger growth of 12.5 % from January to July and saw record growth of 36.1 % in the month of July itself. Thanks to our excellent cooperation with the tour operators, we have been able to manage our capacities highly effectively and achieve a record load factor of 86 % for July. Austrian holidaymakers tend to value product quality very highly, and are consciously deciding to fly with Lauda Air as a result. Lauda Air is picking up points amongst customers for its all-round service, the range of extras and the outstanding catering of Do&Co. After a strong early booker phase, we managed to build on this further still in summer and market our individual and last minute seats more effectively still via the new Lauda Air website www.laudaair.com, which has been bringing in new bookings since the beginning of June.'
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The Thales led Sterling team, which includes the Boeing Company as a key member, submitted its bid for the MoD's Military Flying Training System (UK MFTS). The 25 year programme, which could be worth around £10bn, will provide aircrew training for forces personnel from entry into service until conversion to operational squadrons with the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the Army. The new flying training system will deliver qualified aircrew for the armed forces in 20 disciplines, including fast-jet pilots, Naval Observers, and Weapons Systems Operators (WSO), rotary wing pilots and rear crews, multi-engine pilots and rear crews. The successful consortium will be selected in 2006 to partner the MoD in acquiring, implementing and delivering the new system in accordance with the MoD's incremental acquisition strategy. The training system partner will be fully integrated into the MoD to jointly manage and deliver flying training for 25 years.
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The Boeing 737 fleet of Austrian Flight Operations has just become the first fleet in Europe to receive permission to perform RNP RNAV (Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation) approaches. This new concept of navigation is unique in Europe at the moment and is defined by Eurocontrol as the future of navigation. On 17 June 2005, Europe's first RNP RNAV approach flight was done on Runway 26 in Innsbruck. Using the new procedure in INN significantly increases flight safety and sharply reduces costs. This concept of RNP RNAV navigation is also defined by Eurocontrol as the future of navigation. The approach way is independent of any ground-based radio navigation points, and takeoff can be performed fully automatically. Upon reaching decision height, which has been reduced from 3,500ft to 2,600ft and later to 2,200ft for all B737 at maximum landing weight, the aircraft is situated precisely on the extended runway axis and on the ideal glide path for Runway 26 in Innsbruck. In contrast to original GPS RNAV approaches, the RNP RNAV approach provides a new, linear shelter structure. This enables substantially improved and safer course guidance, especially in valleys and environments with a large number of natural barriers. Due to its comprehensive package of integrity, continuity and precision performance, the process provides a safe missed approach procedure, even in the event that all GPS satellite signals should fail, without the need to connect with any ground-based radio navigation points.
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team completed the initial step in manufacturing all the primary mirrors for the next-generation space observatory's telescope -- an important program milestone. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor, leading the JWST design and development effort. In the first major step, molten beryllium was compressed into 18 hexagonal units called "blanks," weighing 553 pounds and measuring 1.5 meters (nearly five feet) from end-to-end. These blanks are now moving through the second step in the fabrication process, precision machining and etching.
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The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS) will be the most dominant factors within the U.S. airborne communications market over the next 10 years. These programs combined will account for 72.65 percent ($1.994 billion) of the projected $2.743 billion U.S. military airborne communications market, according to Forecast International's “The Market for U.S. Military Airborne Communications Systems.” The MIDS program alone is estimated to be worth $1.168 billion during the period, according to Electronics Systems Analyst Mark Cowell. Since its successful deployment in Afghanistan, demand for MIDS has been high. Able to provide real-time transmission of reconnaissance/targeting data, MIDS has significantly reduced the time required to detect, identify, and engage targets. Several airborne platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), carry or will be fitted with MIDS. In both Afghanistan and Iraq, datalink-equipped UAVs have been widely used as strike vehicles, as well as for surveillance and targeting. Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture between Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems, and ViaSat, Inc. are both major suppliers of MIDS terminals to the U.S. forces. In December 2004, these two contractors were awarded contracts valued at $82 million and $61 million, respectively, for product improvement of the MIDS terminal to a four-channel JTRS software communications compliant architecture. Although these companies compete to supply the U.S. with MIDS terminals, they will cooperate on the development of the MIDS JTRS terminal. Once developed, ViaSat and DLS will compete to sell MIDS JTRS terminals to the U.S. and its allies. Following MIDS, the JTRS program will account for 28.51 percent ($782.1 million) of the 10-year market share. "JTRS is expected to replace all radios presently used by the U.S. military," said Cowell.
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Lockheed Martin announced that the U.S. government has approved the thermobaric HELLFIRE (AGM-114N) missile for an accelerated full-rate production run. A government-industry team conducted a successful Production Readiness Review (PRR) of the metal augmented charge (MAC), also known as a thermobaric warhead, clearing the way for production of the AGM-114N version of the precision-strike semi-active laser-guided HELLFIRE II missile. The MAC warhead will be manufactured at the Alliant Techsystems facility in Rocket Center, WV, and shipped to Lockheed Martin for integration with the missile.
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Teledyne Technologies announced that Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., was one of three companies awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Boeing, the Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, for phase one of the Class III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development and demonstration under the FCS program. The value of Teledyne's phase one contract is $3.7 million. Teledyne Brown's UAV, "Prospector", will be evaluated on Class III critical performance requirements. Prospector is a proven, reliable and flexible UAV system that currently meets most of the Class III requirements. Prospector is a rapidly deployable system that provides advanced tactical reconnaissance and surveillance.
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The Allison Advanced Development Company (AADC) has changed its name to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc. This new name better positions the organization as a Rolls-Royce company providing full-service advanced technology and system solutions. The company will continue to be based in Indianapolis, Indiana. “Our goal is to offer greater value to our customers and to do this, we needed to redefine and reposition ourselves,” said Ron York, Chief Operating Officer, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc. “We want to be known as a storefront for advanced R&D and technology programs, able to provide front-end technical services across all Rolls-Royce businesses. Changing our name is an important step in this mission.”
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Embraer announced that Europe's first Embraer 170 Full Flight Simulator (FFS) has entered service to provide professional cockpit crew instruction for customers based in the region. Fully owned by Embraer, the Embraer 170 FFS enables highly realistic training to be carried out for the Embraer 170/190 aircraft, which count as a single type for rating purposes. The simulator is able to duplicate in full motion all flight conditions for these aircraft, including all-weather flying and even wind shear conditions, as well as emergency situations such as bird strikes and engine failure. The high degree of commonality among the four members of the EMBRAER 170/190 family results in exceptional advantages for airlines including cross crew qualification (CCQ), which allows better utilization of training resources without the restrictions normally associated with mixed-fleet flying. +++
Pratt & Whitney has begun assembly of the first flight test F135 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The F135 will be the exclusive power for the JSF's first flights starting next year. Assembly of the first flight test engine, a Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) variant, began at Pratt & Whitney's Engine Center in Middletown, Conn., as employees started work on the F135's High Pressure Compressor rotor assembly. "The entire F135 team is extremely excited to see this engine come together," said Bill Gostic, vice president of F135 engine programs for Pratt & Whitney. "Pratt & Whitney powered all JSF Concept Demonstration Aircraft flights and accumulated more than 3,600 hours of ground testing before entering into System Development and Demonstration (SDD) in 2001. Now, with more than three years and 3,400 additional hours of SDD testing, the F135 has unprecedented maturity for a development fighter engine. Powering the F-35's first flight next year is a major milestone for Pratt & Whitney and the JSF program."
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Western Europe's largest turboprop test cell was completed at MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg in Ludwigsfelde. The new test facility was built under what currently is Germany's most significant military aviation project: the emerging Airbus A400M military airlifter. The new test facility will accommodate the production acceptance testing of all TP400-D6 engines produced in Europe. "We're all very happy we managed this spot landing," comments André Wall, MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg's chief executive. "This again impresssively demonstrates MTU's reliability and capability." The construction work on a 900-sq.m. area on the northwestern part of the company grounds on Dr.-Ernst-Zimmermann-Straße had begun in June last year. The first stage of the work had been achieved punctually in early December and celebrated with a topping-out ceremony. Wall says the ambitious schedule would have been impossible to achieve if it hadn't been for the competent and reliable partners involved. Alongside the Canadian MDS Aero Support Cooperation, also small- and medium size contractors from the Berlin-Brandenburg region had participated. "The cooperative spirit was outstanding and everything went like clockwork," summarizes Dr. Jörg Suttan, project manager at MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg. The Ludwigsfelde site is assigned a very special role among the partners in the project: This is where development testing, final engine assembly and production acceptance testing is done. The new MTU test facility is Europe's sole TP400-D6 production test cell. It is designed for turboprop engines and industrial gas turbines with ratings up to 15 MW. The Ludwigsfelde test center currently includes test stands for small turboshaft engines, small- tomedium-size turbofans and industrial gas turbines delivering as much as 50 MW.
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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a sole-source contract from the U.S. Special Operations Command to develop Viper Strike as a stand-off precision-guided munition (SOPGM) on the AC-130 gunship. The $22 million contract is an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program with a potential full value of $48.6 million. Viper Strike is a gliding munition capable of stand-off precision attack using GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. It is intended for operations that require a flexible angle of inclination (steep or shallow), particularly in mountainous terrain or built-up areas where strict rules of engagement are in force. Its small size and precision provide for low collateral damage in cluttered urban environments.
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Swiss International Air Lines (Group) generated total income from operating activities of CHF 1 769 million for the first six months of 2005 (first half-year 2004: CHF 1 768 million). The result from operating activities (EBIT) before restructuring costs for the first half-year amounted to minus CHF 9 million, which compares to minus CHF 19 million for the prior-year period. The steep rise in fuel costs eroded an additional CHF 104 million from the EBIT result for the first six months of 2005 compared to the same period a year ago. This has for the most part neutralised the positive results achieved from SWISS's current restructuring process, and substantially hindered progress on its turnaround. SWISS held cash and cash equivalents totalling CHF 497 million on June 30, compared with CHF 481 million at the end of 2004. Swiss International Air Lines (Group) generated total income from operating activities of CHF 1 769 million in the first six months of 2005, compared to CHF 1 768 million for the same period last year. The result from operating activities (EBIT) before restructuring costs amounted to a loss of CHF 9 million, which compares to a loss of CHF 19 million before restructuring costs for the prior-year period. The operating income and EBIT results include non-recurring income of CHF 43 million deriving from the transfer of slots at London Heathrow Airport to British Airways during the first quarter. Results for the prior-year period include CHF 68 million stemming from the settlement of the Holco legal case. The high cost of jet fuel eroded an additional CHF 104 million from the EBIT result for the first six months of 2005 compared to the same period a year ago. In a tough competitive environment, only one third of these additional costs could be recouped through the fuel surcharges levied on passenger air tickets. EBIT for the second quarter of 2005 amounted to CHF 1 million. This compares with an EBIT for the prior-year period (excluding the non-recurring CHF 68 million deriving from the Holco case) of minus CHF 18 million.
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Global Aerial Surveillance, a developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for both commercial and military applications, announced that it has signed an NDA with a well-known developer of laser systems and technologies that can be utilized and incorporated into current flight systems for collision avoidance in UAVs and small aircraft. The company intends to implement collision avoidance on its UAVs designed for military use as well as current plans for civilian and law enforcement and homeland security applications. "In conversations with a division of the US Military, we were informed that there is a current Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for a collision avoidance system for UAVs that has been put out by the USAF UAV Battle Labs," stated Craig Cervantes, CEO of Global Aerial Surveillance. "Details are available, as the BAA has now been released, however we are currently in the evaluation phase on a laser-based system that could potentially be used to satisfy the military's needs." He added, "To the best of our knowledge this will be the first implementation of a collision avoidance system on a UAV platform designed for commercial production. We anticipate high demand for the system, especially from military and governmental agencies that continue to rapidly deploy new drone fleets."
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Swiss International Air Lines will be offering flights to 42 European and 27 intercontinental destinations in its 2005/06 winter schedules. The new timetable sees the further development of SWISS's growing collaboration with Lufthansa and Star Alliance members TAP Portugal and Austrian Airlines. SWISS will operate its winter schedules with a 70-aircraft fleet. In view of market conditions in the Basel region, SWISS will be substantially reducing its services to and from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.
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A Dnepr civilian rocket converted from the Russian RS-20 Voyevoda intercontinental ballistic missile (known as SS-18 or Satan in the West) orbited two Japanese OICETS and INDEX satellites, at 5:25 p.m. EDT (2125 GMT) on 23 August. The Dnepr was launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan 15 minutes before. The Japanese side took over control of the two satellites after their separation from the rocket. The OICETS "is a satellite used to verify key technological elements of 'optical inter-satellite communication' that plays an important role in large volume inter-satellite communication meant for future space activities". It will carry out "verification experiments of acquisition, tracking, and pointing technologies with ARTEMIS, the advanced data relay engineering satellite of the European Space Agency," the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) says on its website.
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On August 25, 2005, AERO Vodochody a.s. handed the last of eight L-39ZOs aircraft with an extended service life to the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF). Within the service-life extension, the aircraft undergoes large-scale checks of the airframe as well as systems. “Supervision over the quality of work, during which all devices had to be dismounted, was very difficult. We completely changed some installations, airframe parts were repaired. In the final stage, periodic works were carried out and the aircraft were test-flown,” said Pavel Ivan, head of the AV team.
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Cubic Defense Applications, the defense segment of Cubic Corporation, and its United Kingdom partner, Ultra Electronics, recently delivered the final unit of Cubic's Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) Narrowband Data Link System to Raytheon Systems Ltd., which will integrate the narrowband data link into ASTOR and deliver fully integrated systems to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Cubic's data link is part of a major new battlefield surveillance platform scheduled to enter service in 2006.
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EADS has equipped two helicopters, deployed by the Royal Thai Air Force for transporting VIPs, with the HELLAS obstacle warning system. As EADS Defence Electronics announced on Thursday, representatives of the Thai State Ministry and the Royal Thai Air Force have signed the acceptance documents at Lop Buri air force base, approximately 150 kilometres north of Bangkok. Prior to the HELLAS-W (Helicopter Laser Radar Warning) being officially handed over to the Royal Thai Air Force, the HELLAS systems were integrated on site into the two Bell 412 EP helicopters. At the same time, pilots and mechanics were trained and test flights carried out. For the first time, an additional LCD screen was installed in the cockpit of the helicopters and a video camera fitted to the sensor. This means the pilots and passengers can also see the obstacles parallel to the warning displays.
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The 100th F-16 wing box, manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) Lahav Division, was delivered on August 17, 2005 to Lockheed Martin Corporation (LM), manufacturer of the F-16 fighter aircraft. IAI's Lahav Division has manufactured F-16 wing boxes valued over $100 million. The first contract awarded by Lockheed Martin to IAI for F-16 wing boxes was signed in 1999. The contract covered 120 pairs of wing and was for $52 million. Earlier this year Lockheed Martin awarded a $5 million subcontract to IAI to supply 78 pairs of leading edges to the F-16 wings.
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Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen joined Bell Helicopter CEO Mike Redenbaugh for a ground-breaking ceremony launching a new five building 37-acre construction project at the Tri-County Industrial Park. The new facilities will be used by Edwards & Associates, a Bell-owned subsidiary specializing in the repair, refurbishment and sales of new and used helicopters. The new buildings will include an office facility, completion center, maintenance hangar, paint shop and a building for the production of the Bell 210 new light utility helicopter. Edwards currently occupies two other buildings in the Industrial Park. When the 14-month, 140,000 sq. Feet construction project is complete, the company will have 300,000 sq. feet at Piney Flats. The company's work force of 330 has increased to 370 and will increase to 430 over the next 24 months.
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More destinations, denser frequencies and better connections: the collaboration between Lufthansa and SWISS continues to make good progress, and will now offer customers many further benefits with the new winter schedules. All services between Switzerland and Germany will be operated as codeshare flights from the start of the new schedules on October 30. The partners are also harmonising their timetables to provide a coordinated and complementary range of services at their three hubs of Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich. SWISS's integration into the Lufthansa Group continues to make good progress – as can be seen, among other things, by the many innovations in the new 2005/06 winter schedules that will offer passengers of both airlines an expanded air travel product and further customer benefits. Those benefits include more destinations, better and coordinated connections, interlinked frequent flyer programmes and enhanced lounge access arrangements.
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On August 17, the Stafford-Covey Return-to-Flight Task Group – co-chaired by retired Air Force Lieutenant General Thomas Stafford and retired Air Force Colonel Richard Covey – issued its final report. The task group is a 26-member panel formed in 2003 to monitor the agency's progress in implementing recommendations made by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) after the Columbia shuttle accident. “Relative to the 15 specific recommendations that the CAIB indicated should be implemented prior to returning to flight,” the report said, “NASA has met or exceeded most of them – the Task Group believes that NASA has fully met the intent of the CAIB for 12 of these recommendations.” Three recommendations that NASA did not implement included eliminating debris shedding from the external tank during launch, strengthening the shuttle against impacts, and developing on-orbit repair procedures for damaged shuttle tiles and panels. But, the panel said, “The inability to fully comply with all of the CAIB recommendations should not imply that the space shuttle is unsafe.” The task group's final report included a “minority report” by seven panel members who wanted observations “not related to the shuttle's safety or operational readiness” made over the group's two-year fact-finding period to be brought to the NASA administrator's attention. The minority report called their criticisms – by a former shuttle astronaut, a former Navy under secretary, a former congressional budget office director, a former aerospace engineer, a retired nuclear engineer and two university professors – “a detailed summary of persistent cultural symptoms we observed throughout the assessment process.” The minority report said NASA had not learned some important lessons cited by the CAIB report. In particular, the minority report said, “leadership and managerial failures to set expectations and requirements and a failure to hold people accountable ... promoted a lack of engineering rigor, discipline and integrated risk assessment.”
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Testing of the first Galileo satellites, which form part of what is called the Galileo System Test Bed (GSTB), is under way. One of the two satellites arrived at the ESA-ESTEC test facilities in late July, while the payload of the other spacecraft is now being tested in Italy. The payload of the GTSB-V2/B satellite, being developed by Galileo Industries, is just completing a first series of tests at the Alenia Spazio facilities in Rome. In particular, the specially developed navigation payload has been subjected to a range of extreme temperatures in vacuum. This simulation of the space environment realistically validates the payload's performance in orbit. The campaign will continue with mechanical testing. The payload's functionality will have to be proven while exposed to strong vibration, high acoustic noise levels and shock, as encountered during launch. Whereas the mechanical investigations can be considered standard satellite testing, the first validation in the thermal vacuum environment had been awaited with special interest, as it has given early feedback on the in-orbit performance of the newly developed payload.
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Rockwell Collins Airshow 4200 moving map system has received a technical offerability recommendation from Boeing, and can be offered on all models of the Boeing 737, 747, 767 and 777 aircraft. Deliveries of Airshow 4200 equipped aircraft will begin in October 2005. Rockwell Collins Airshow 4200 system, introduced in September 2004, offers 3-D broadcast overhead or in-seat moving map and flight information systems for airlines. The full-featured multimedia platform, incorporates a wide variety of capabilities, including 3-D route maps, real-time news feeds, connecting gate information, and points-of-interest media libraries. The system captures real-time flight information from the aircraft's flight management computer, long-range navigation system, and aircraft communication systems. The Airshow 4200 system seamlessly integrates with the leading in-flight entertainment systems to provide content that is highly customizable and tailored to meet the needs of each airline customer.
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Sikorsky Aircraft is being awarded a $43,287,581 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00019-03-G-0003) to perform requirements definition and engineering studies in support of the Marine Corps' Heavy Lift Replacement (HLR) Program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in April 2006.
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A Philippine company has made a preliminary $200 million offer to purchase Fraport AG's shares in PIATCO, the operating company of Manila international airport's Terminal 3, and its shares in the other joint-venture companies: PTI, PTH and PAGS. Fraport AG accepted this offer on August 26. The corresponding shareholding purchase contract now has to be negotiated and completed within 15 working days. The purchase price for Fraport's shareholdings has to be paid in two tranches. The first tranche in the amount of $50 million has to be paid shortly after the purchase contract has been signed. The second tranche in the amount of $150 million has to be paid within six months of the contract signing. The transfer of Fraport's shares and various rights and claims will take place once the second tranche has been received. The transaction is conditional on approval from Fraport AG's supervisory board. Furthermore, the other joint-venture shareholders have to relinquish their buy-first option. A Fraport spokesperson stated that the company has been striving for a long time to exit Manila with as much financial compensation as possible. Now, here is a possibility for achieving a pragmatically acceptable exit from Manila. This opportunity should be utilized.
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SWISS Technical Services is further developing its position as one of the leading maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in the regional aircraft sector. The unit has concluded a comprehensive long-term maintenance agreement with Blue1, the Finnish-based carrier, covering five Saab 2000 aircraft. SWISS Technical Services will also be ramping up its Avro RJ heavy maintenance activities, extending these to the Avro RJ85s of Lufthansa CityLine. In view of the higher work volumes, the Basel-based unit will be recruiting up to 50 new technical personnel. Swiss International Air Lines can draw on many years of experience in providing regional aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services that are closely aligned to customer carrier needs. SWISS currently offers MRO services for Avro RJ, Saab 2000 and Embraer 145 equipment which include aircraft, engine, propeller and component maintenance, repair and overhaul along with total technical care concepts that extend to engineering, planning and spares supplies.
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines took delivery of its first long haul Airbus A330-200 in the course of a ceremony held in Toulouse, France, during which the aircraft was formally handed over to KLM President & CEO, Leo Van Wijk, by Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Gustav Humbert. This A330-200 is the first of eight Airbus long-range aircraft to be delivered to KLM, of which six are purchased directly from Airbus. All aircraft are to be delivered to KLM within the next two years as part of the airline's modernisation plan for its international fleet. The A330-200 will be deployed on non-stop mid-sized routes to North America, Africa and the Middle East. The aircraft is configured to seat 251 passengers in a very comfortable two-class configuration and is powered by General Electric CF6-80E1 engines.
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