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+++ Record year for Airbus +++ Stardust returns comet samples +++ Spectrum 33 twinjet flies +++ Eurocopter has excellent year +++ NASA's Pluto mission launched +++ Galileo contract hailed by industry +++ News in brief +++
Record year for Airbus
Airbus verkauft wieder mehr Flugzeuge als Boeing
Speaking to the international media in Paris, Gustav Humbert, Airbus President and Chief Operating Officer, declared 2005 a record year for the company. "The year 2005 was a record year for the industry as a whole and for Airbus in particular. It was a record year in terms of deliveries and production rates, profitability, order intake, both gross and net, backlog and last but not least for our programmes, as the A380 has become a reality and the A350 has been launched," he said. In 2005, Airbus delivered 378 aircraft, more than our competitor for the third year in a row. These deliveries include 289 A320 Family aircraft, and 89 wide body long range aircraft, essentially A330s and A340s. Airbus achieved a turnover of about 22.3 billion euros, its highest ever and about 12 percent higher than last year. Airbus' orders also reached a new record level with 1,111 firm gross orders valued at some US$ 95.9 billion at catalogues prices, and net orders standing at 1,055. "This figure is both the best ever in our 35 year history and in the overall history of aviation," said Gustav Humbert. The best year for Airbus so far was 1998 with 556 new firm orders. In addition, Airbus has a record backlog of 2,177 aircraft valued at US $ 220.3 billion, which ensures work for the next four to five years, at record production rates.
"As a result of this success, we will continue to increase our production rates to reach eight long range and 30 single aisle aircraft per month this year and 32 single aisle per month in 2007," said Gustav Humbert. Airbus also achieved profitability above 10 per cent. The Route 06 programme largely contributed to this performance with cost savings reaching 1.5 billion euros. In terms of programmes, the success of the A320 Family was confirmed again with 918 orders in 2005 while the A380 gained 20 new orders. But the highlight of last year was the first flight of the A380 in April. Since then, three test aircraft have accumulated some 800 flight hours in 220 flights.
Gustav Humbert concluded: "Airbus' goal for this year is to continue to improve in quality, productivity, innovation and services to customers, as customer satisfaction is our prime concern and objective. My goal is to bring the whole system to the top level including not only Airbus but the whole supply chain so we can deliver the best to our customers, in the best interest of all involved and of our shareholders."
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Stardust returns comet samples
Kometenstaub-Sonde zurück zur Erde
On January 15, a capsule containing comet particles and interstellar dust samples collected in space by NASA's Stardust spacecraft -- designed and built by Lockheed Martin-- landed gently under parachute early this morning, in northwest Utah. The Stardust mission, managed by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), will provide scientists with the first comet samples and interstellar dust grains ever returned to Earth. In addition to building the Stardust spacecraft, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company built the sample return capsule (SRC) under contract to NASA, provided joint spacecraft operations working in concert with JPL, and designed and implemented the capsule's recovery this morning. "We are absolutely delighted by the successful recovery of the Stardust samples," said Jim Crocker, vice president, Civil Space, at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Years of planning, preparation and teamwork paid off handsomely this morning. We're very proud to have played a role in another of NASA's exciting voyages of exploration and look forward to learning what Stardust will tell us about the origins of our solar system."
Stardust was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Feb. 7, 1999. Between February and May of 2000, the first interstellar dust collection was performed successfully. Nearly two years after launch, on Jan. 15, 2001, Stardust flew by Earth, receiving a gravity assist that would speed it on its way to intercept Comet Wild 2. Between August and December of 2002, Stardust completed successfully its second collection of interstellar dust. During this period, on Nov. 2, Stardust flew within 3100 kilometers (1927 miles) of asteroid Annefrank. The encounter was used to test ground and spacecraft operations that would later be put into practice during its upcoming comet encounter.
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Spectrum 33 twinjet flies
Erstflug für neuen Geschäftsreisejet
The new Spectrum 33 twinjet made its first flight on Saturday, January 7, 2006. The Spectrum 33 is a new light business jet that's built using an next-generation, carbon-graphite construction process that gives it virtually the same size cabin as the most popular, current-production, eight to nine seat light business jets, but at a substantially lighter weight. The Spectrum 33 is designed to cruise at up to 415 knots [477 mph] and fly as far as 2,000 nautical miles. Notably, it will consume half as much fuel as current-production aircraft having the same cabin, range and speed.
Spectrum 33 soared off Spanish Fork's relatively short, 4,500 ft elevation runway in about 750 ft on its first flight, even though it was using greatly reduced takeoff thrust. It was then repositioned to the Provo, Utah airport, a landing facility with a considerably longer runway. William “Bill” Davies, Spectrum's Chief of Flight Test and Ian Hollingsworth, another veteran test pilot, were at the controls. “The acceleration and climb performance of the 33 is remarkable,” Davies said. “It has excellent takeoff and landing characteristics.” He commented that the aircraft performed as expected, but that pitch control was not optimum. Spectrum's engineers, as a result, will modify the aircraft's flight control system to increase pitch control authority at higher speeds. In about a week, Davies and Hollingsworth will resume testing the aircraft. Davies also noted that “Provo's longer runway will let us explore handling characteristics beyond what's possible at Spanish Fork.” Once comprehensive testing of the current proof-of-concept aircraft is complete, Spectrum Aeronautical will freeze the design and build production conforming flight test aircraft to be used for certification testing. FAA Type Certification of the Spectrum 33 is slated for late 2007 or in 2008.
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Eurocopter has excellent year
Über 400 Aufträge für Eurocopter
In 2005, Eurocopter successfully secured its position as the world's No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a total of 401 orders for new military and civil helicopters. Compared to 2004, the company's consolidated turnover increased by 15 % to a total of 3.21 billion euros, proving Eurocopter's successful strategy of expanding its activities to emerging markets of the future. Orders could be placed for production helicopters as follows: 44 units of EC120 Colibri, 193 aircraft of the Ecureuil/Fennec/EC130 family, 87 EC135s, 20 EC145s, 25 aircraft of the Dauphin/Panther/EC155 family, 14 from the Super Puma/CougarEC225/EC725 family, 6 Tiger helicopters and 12 NH90s. The number of consolidated orders taken (including Tiger and NH90), customer support services and R & D activities was valued at 3.52 billion euros. Eurocopter's current backlog amounts up to 9.97 billion euros. Order breakdown by value states a 42% share for serial helicopters, a 42% contribution of customer services and a 16% contribution of R&D activities in 2005. The turnover increased by 15 % in 2005, representing a total of 3.21 billion euros. In terms of sales value, main contributors were serial helicopters (55 %), Customer Support activities (31 %), as well as R & D and miscellaneous activities 14 %).
In his New Year's greetings to the Press, Eurocopter President Fabrice Brégier stated that "the number of helicopters and services sold throughout 2005 prove the success of our strategy to focus on emerging markets of the future by means of excellent products and fruitful industrial cooperation, combined with our efforts to constantly optimize our service network and customer orientation. Once again, we have shown that Eurocopter remains the benchmark in global helicopter business”.
Eurocopter and Chinese AVIC II Corporation launched the joint development and industrialization of the EC175, a civil helicopter in the 6 ton category that will round off either partner's product ranges. The five-year development phase will be kicked off early in 2006. The new civil helicopter is due to make its first flight in 2009, with European and Chinese certification set for 2011, the year in which production is due to start. Each of the two companies will invest 300 million euros to develop the new helicopter. Production will be shared on a 50/50 basis and each country will have its own assembly line. Sales forecasts for this latest-generation helicopter call for 800 to be sold worldwide over the next 20 years.
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NASA's Pluto mission launched
New Horizons hebt ab
The first mission to distant planet Pluto is under way after the successful launch on 19 January of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. New Horizons roared into the afternoon sky aboard a powerful Atlas V rocket at 2 p.m. EST. It separated from its solid-fuel kick motor 44 minutes, 53 seconds after launch, and mission controllers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., where the spacecraft was designed and built, received the first radio signals from New Horizons a little more than five minutes later. The radio communications, sent through NASA's Deep Space Network antennas in Canberra, Australia, confirmed to controllers that the spacecraft was healthy and ready to begin initial operations.
"Today, NASA began an unprecedented journey of exploration to the ninth planet in the solar system," says Dr. Colleen Hartman, Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. "Right now, what we know about Pluto could be written on the back of a postage stamp. After this mission, we'll be able to fill textbooks with new information." The 1,054-pound, piano-sized spacecraft is the fastest ever launched, speeding away from Earth at approximately 36,000 miles per hour, on a trajectory that will take it more than 3 billion miles toward its primary science target. New Horizons will zip past Jupiter for a gravity assist and science studies in February 2007, and conduct the first close-up, in-depth study of Pluto and its moons in summer 2015. As part of a potential extended mission, the spacecraft would then examine one or more additional objects in the Kuiper Belt, the region of ancient, icy, rocky bodies (including Pluto) far beyond Neptune's orbit.
New Horizons is the first mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program of medium-class spacecraft exploration projects. Stern leads the mission and science team as principal investigator. APL manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate and is operating the spacecraft in flight. The mission team also includes Ball Aerospace Corporation, the Boeing Company, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Stanford University, KinetX, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, University of Colorado, the U.S. Department of Energy, and number of other firms, NASA centers, and university partners. NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center was responsible for the launch.
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Galileo contract hailed by industry
Verträge für Galileo GPS unterzeichnet
EADS SPACE is to play a central role in the test phase for the new European satellite navigation system Galileo, following the contract signature in Berlin between Galileo Industries, as the prime contractor, and the European Space Agency ESA. The contract is worth Euro 1 billion with almost one fifth to be handled by the space units of EADS. The contract between ESA and Galileo Industries covers the development and construction of the first four Galileo constellation satellites and part of the ground infrastructure for Galileo, including the full testing of the subsystem.
The In Orbit Validation (IOV) phase is designed to test the new European satellite navigation system under real mission conditions. Between now and 2008, four satellites will be delivered - this is the minimum number required to verify the accuracy of the positioning signals. In operation, this subsystem will demonstrate the system's capabilities ahead of the full 30 satellite constellation which should be fully operational before the end of the decade. During this IOV phase, EADS Astrium in Ottobrunn near Munich will assume system leadership for the space segment and take overall responsibility for the construction of the first four satellites. In Ottobrunn, important components such as the attitude control system will be designed and manufactured. Together with Dutch Space, a future subsidiary of EADS SPACE based in the Netherlands, EADS Astrium in Ottobrunn will also provide the solar arrays for the four satellites. The propulsion units for the four satellites will come from EADS SPACE Transportation in Lampoldshausen.
As a shareholder and a founding member of Galileo Industries, Alcatel also applauded the contract signature of the first industrial phase of Galileo. This contract marks one of the most important and strategic milestones for Europe and the beginning of the implementation of the Galileo program with the In-Orbit-Validation phase. Alcatel Alenia Space is a leading contributor and is in charge of developing the ground mission segment, the satellite and system integration as well as critical equipment provisioning. The key elements provided by Alcatel Alenia Space will ensure the outstanding and guaranteed performance of services delivered to the end-users. Galileo Industries is a joint company of Alcatel Alenia Space, EADS Astrium GmbH and EADS Astrium Ltd, Thales and Galileo Sistemas y Servicios (GSS), a consortium of 7 Spanish companies.
"With this contract,we are translating a great European project into a mini-constellation of four satellites backed by an extensive network of ground stations providing solid grounds upon which the concessionaire will develop the full operational Galileo constellation", says ESA's Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain. The four satellites are the minimum required to guarantee precision positioning and synchronisation over the selected show-case sites. Günter Stamerjohanns, Chief Executive Officer of Galileo Industries, added that "with the signature of this contract a very important milestone in view of the completion of this unique European Technology programme will be reached". Following the preliminary authorisation to proceed with Euro 150 million of work signed on 21 December 2004, it is now the overall IOV phase contract that is going ahead, drawing on ESA and EU funds accessible under the GalileoSat programme. The launch contracts will be negotiated during the course of 2006.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
On the 19th of January SK007, a SAS B737 aircraft, departed from Luleå bound for Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden. The aircraft performed the first Four Dimensional (4DT) managed revenue flight ever made. It was also the first Advanced Continuous Descent Approach (A-CDA) to Arlanda. During the flight the Approach Controller and the Tactical Supervisor at Stockholm Arlanda interacted with the aircraft over data link in order to set up the approach procedure and enable the aircraft to calculate its optimum trajectory. The ground system also assigned a Required Time of Arrival (RTA) for the runway threshold. After the pilots entered the data in the Flight Management System (FMS) the aircraft 4D FMS Trajectory was down linked to the ground system including precise altitudes and times at all waypoints ahead to touchdown. The aircraft then executed an optimized approach procedure and accomplished the previously given RTA constraint within 2 seconds. "We have very precise FMS on board the aircraft and we have been looking forward to this first flight, where ground systems interact with the aircraft FMS in order to offer optimized operations. The initial results look very promising" says Captain Peter Larsson, Project Leader for SAS Sweden. The new A-CDA procedures are also called "Green Approaches" as they are aimed to reduce emissions through less fuel burned and noise. The 4DT operations will start in low traffic with SAS Sweden B737 aircraft and dedicated personnel on the ground. During the spring, as confidence and experience increase, these flights will become more common and will be performed on a more regular basis. 4DT operations at Stockholm Arlanda is a part of a partner project called NUP2+. It is funded partly by the EU and its focus is to validate applications to increase the efficiency and safety in the Air Traffic Management system including reducing aircraft fuel burn, emissions and noise. A large-scale demonstration is planned in Stockholm in April 2006 and the system elements on the air and the groundside will be demonstrated during the ATC Maastricht fair, 14-16th of February.
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From January to December 2005, the Austrian Airlines Group welcomed more passengers onto its scheduled and charter flights than ever before, with 10,119,773 passengers carried. This represented an increase of 7.6 % compared to 2004. This record performance enabled the Austrian Airlines Group to achieve a traffic result – measured in revenue passenger kilometers on scheduled services (RPK) – which was up by 7.9 % on the comparable figure for the previous year, while the figure for available seat kilometers (ASK) rose by 5.5 % compared to the previous year. The resulting cumulative passenger load factor on scheduled services, at 73,8 %, was 1.7 percentage points above the previous year's figure. A historic “all-time-high” overall load factor for scheduled and charter services was achieved by an increase of 1.3 percentage points to 74.1 %. The Austrian Airlines Group also continued to register robust traffic growth for the month of December itself, continuing the uninterrupted trend towards strong growth since May 2005. The figure for the number of passenger kilometers sold and therefore productive on scheduled services, which is used to define revenue (RPK) – increased by 16.7 % compared to last year, while available seat kilometers rose by 7.5 %. The load factor on scheduled services in December 2005 was 5.8 percentage points up on December 2004, reaching 73.1 %. With an overall rise in the number of passengers carried of 11.8 % compared to the same period in 2004, the Austrian Airlines Group also produced a dynamic increase in December, transporting a total of 693,471 passengers on scheduled charter flights.
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EADS Astrium has been selected by Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite operators, to build the company's new Nimiq 4 satellite. This is the third consecutive order for a Eurostar E3000 satellite from the Canadian-based operator following Anik F1R and Anik F3. Planned to enter service in 2008, Nimiq 4 will broadcast direct-to-home TV from its orbital location of 82º West. Nimiq 4 will continue to enhance digital television services in Canada. It will feature 32 active high-power transponders in Ku-band and 8 in Ka-band. The multi-spot Ka-band payload will provide coverage of the most densely populated regions of Canada. Nimiq 4 is the third satellite awarded by Telesat to EADS Astrium in three years. Anik F1R entered operational service in orbit in October 2005, and Anik F3 is planned for launch later this year. EADS Astrium, as prime contractor for Nimiq 4, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. EADS Astrium's facilities in the UK Germany, Spain and France and will contribute to the design and manufacture of the spacecraft. Canadian industry will supply a significant part of the spacecraft equipment and technologies.
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After 90 years of manufacturing aircraft products primarily for the European military and aircraft transport market segments, Revue Thommen has made the strategic decision to develop business in the U. S. business aviation marketplace. This decision comes after and in large part as the result of an ownership change at Revue Thommen. Since 1905 Revue Thommen had been a joint stock company with the shares passed through generations of local Waldenburg families over the years. About a year ago it became obvious to company management that the ownership and the board were contemplating the sale of the company, and with the help of the Swiss financial community the six key managers at Thommen accomplished a buyout, finalized in April of last year. While Thommen has been selling to both the U. S. OEM's and the aftermarket for about three years, sales have been the result of the U. S. market needing Thommen products. Thommen's core competence is pressure measurement aircraft instrumentation. Its product line includes a complete line of electromechanical altimeters, airspeed indicators and vertical speed indicators, products that have been discontinued by many American manufacturers. These products serve as the primary and/or standby instruments in turbine aircraft. Thommen also builds a complete line of electronic instruments and air data computers for today's digital cockpits. The American market will welcome Thommen because from the outset Thommen will be a superior supplier. Quality and reliability started with the design process at Thommen and are prevalent in every discipline, as they are cultural in Switzerland. To quote the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry website, "'Swiss made' embodies a concept of quality that has been forged over centuries." To this day Thommen electromechnical instruments are hand crafted by graduate Swiss watchmakers.
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The next chapter of Project Wedgetail began with the delivery of a 737-700 aircraft to Boeing [NYSE: BA) Australia for modifications that will provide a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability for the Australian Defence Force. Project Wedgetail is the largest and most complex commercial-to-military aircraft modification program ever undertaken in Australia. Six 737 AEW&C aircraft have been acquired with the first two being modified at a Boeing facility in Seattle. The other four will be modified at the Boeing Australia facility in Amberley, Queensland. Delivery of the six AEW&C aircraft is scheduled for 2008.
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SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company operating in command and control systems, has signed a contract with the Austrian defence ministry to supply two RAT 31 DL long range radar systems. Worth around EUR 50 million, the agreement includes logistics activities (some 20% of the total value of the contract), and is a follow-up to the supply of the first RAT 31 DL system, delivered to Austria in 2002. The two new radar will be operated for long-range air surveillance and will replace two S-band radar systems supplied to Austria by the company in the 1970s. The new RAT 31 DL radar systems are similar to the systems previously supplied to NATO countries. This contract brings the total number of RAT 31 DL radar systems sold to NATO and non-NATO countries to 21.
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The SkyTeam Governing Board announced that Middle East Airlines, Air Liban (MEA), Lebanon's national carrier, has taken the first steps toward becoming a SkyTeam Associate Airline. Air France will serve as the airline's sponsor during the joining process, with completion expected within the next 15 months. “We are pleased that MEA, with an established presence in the Middle East region and in the Arabic world, is interested in affiliating itself with SkyTeam,” said Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air France KLM. “The alliance looks forward to working with the airline and providing all passengers with additional opportunities in this high-growth market.”
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Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland and the Libyan Company for Aviation Industry have signed an agreement to form a joint venture called the Libyan Italian Advanced Technology Company (L.I.A.TE.C.). LIATEC will be 50%-owned by the Libyan Company for Aviation Industry, with Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland holding 25% each. The two Italian shareholders will provide know-how, training, technology and equipment, while the Libyan shareholder will mainly invest in infrastructure, plant and local marketing activities. Together, they will provide the financial resources necessary to start up operations. LIATEC's headquarters have been set up in Tripoli. The company will invest in the aeronautics technology and electronics systems of most interest to the country. According to the company's development plan, the first task will be to develop the capacity necessary to make more efficient and modernise Libya's existing fleets of helicopters and aircraft, and to ensure that future fleets are maintained. A training centre open to all Libyan flight and maintenance personnel will also be set up.
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Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor, the world's only 5th generation fighter aircraft flying today, marked its certification for combat January 13, 2005 at a ceremony at Langley AFB, Virginia. Langley is home to the 27th Fighter Squadron, which flies the Raptor aircraft. The Air Force certification for the Raptor is called its Initial Operating Capability. The Air Force is now capable of deploying and supporting 12 F-22 Raptors anywhere in the world to execute air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The Raptor is also qualified to perform homeland defense missions when required. General Ronald E. Keys, Commander of Air Combat Command, made the historic announcement about the Raptor. "The F-22 fulfills a long quest to bring 5th generation capabilities of stealth, supercruise, and precision to the warfighter today and for decades to come," said General Keys in an Air Force news release. "If we go to war tomorrow, the Raptor will go with us."
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The squeeze-out procedure begun in August 2005 has been brought to a successful conclusion. Through Air Trust AG, Lufthansa and the Almea Foundation now hold 100 per cent of the shares of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. The delisting of the SWISS shares from the SWX Swiss Stock Exchange is set to take place January 27. The final day of trading will be January 26. The Basel-Stadt Civil Court has formally approved the submission by AirTrust AG to declare invalid any SWISS shares. The concerned public shareholders of SWISS receive the same compensation for the SWISS shares they held as that received by those shareholders who offered their SWISS shares for sale to AirTrust AG during the public purchase offer period. Shareholders who keep their SWISS shares in bank safe-custody accounts will automatically have the compensation amount of CHF 8.96 per share credited to their accounts. Lufthansa currently holds 49% of AirTrust AG; the remaining 51% is held by the Almea Foundation, whose object is to retain this holding until Lufthansa can acquire a controlling interest in SWISS. Once negotiations to secure traffic rights have been concluded and the relevant agreements are in place, Lufthansa will acquire 100 per cent of SWISS (end of 2006 at the earliest). Once the shares held by Almea can be transferred to Lufthansa ownership, the foundation, having served its purpose, will be dissolved.
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XTAR, LLC announced that it has been awarded a multi-year contract from HISDESAT Servicios Estratégicos, S.A. (HISDESAT) to provide the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) with X-band communications services throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. XTAR is a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and HISDESAT. The initial five-year agreement will provide the RDN with capacity either in right- or left-hand circular polarization on the XTAR-EUR satellite, ideally located at 29 degrees East longitude. "By taking advantage of XTAR's right- or left-hand polarization, the Royal Danish Navy will be able to use its new, state-of-the-art dual-polarization terminals," said Miguel Angel Primo, chief operating officer, HISDESAT. "The use of both polarizations on the XTAR satellite essentially doubles throughput compared to older, single-polarization satellites, making available much needed X-band capacity." In addition to being Loral Space & Communications' joint venture partner in XTAR, HISDESAT acts as XTAR's exclusive sales agent to certain Western European ministries of defense.
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With initial deliveries under its belt, aviation equipment manufacturer Simplex Manufacturing is poised to unleash its new Model 328 Fire Attack System on the world. The Model 328 Fire Attack System is a new water tank developed by Simplex for the Kamov Ka-32. The first systems were delivered to LG International of Seoul, South Korea, in December, for the Daego Fire Department. The Model 328 features a new-generation, computer-controlled door system and a single six-inch AC electric hover pumps with a refill rate of 1,000 gallons (3,800 liter) per minute. In addition to these improvements, the new, more capable system delivers multiple flow rates.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced hat France's Sécurité Civile has placed a firm order for another Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft. This order brings the French fleet to eleven Bombardier 415 aircraft. "We are very pleased that France has again entrusted the Bombardier 415, also known as 'Canadair', with the crucial task of helping to protect its resources and people from damaging fires," said Michel Bourgeois, President, Bombardier Amphibious Aircraft. This aircraft will incorporate recently introduced optional equipment to enhance the Bombardier 415 efficiency and safety.
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The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman wrote a new chapter in naval aviation history Jan. 16-17, when two RQ-8A Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) completed nine autonomous shipboard landings on board USS Nashville (LPD 13) off the coast of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. This test marks the first time a Navy UAV has performed vertical landings on a moving ship without a pilot controlling the aircraft. The RQ-8A is a test version of the newer MQ-8B Fire Scout being developed by Northrop Grumman for the Navy and the U.S. Army. The MQ-8B Fire Scout is the aircraft element of a complete system called the Vertical takeoff and landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) system. "This event is significant for the Navy because it continues to move the Fire Scout program forward - scheduled to arrive in the fleet in 2008," said Cmdr. Rob Murphy, the Navy's VTUAV integrated product team leader. "The Nashville's crew and Northrop Grumman's test team did a marvelous job, and the outcome of the test fulfilled our expectations about the vehicle's ability to land on and take off from a moving ship."
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Boeing announced the team of suppliers that will provide propulsion systems for the 747-8 airplane family, which was launched last Nov. 14. The external team includes General Electric (GE) for engines, Middle River Aircraft Systems for the thrust reverser system, and Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., for the nacelle and strut. The internal supplier team includes Boeing Winnipeg for the aft pylon fairing, Boeing Portland for the engine mounts, and Boeing Propulsion Systems Division for the engine build-up and strut build-up. The 747-8 family includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger model and the 747-8 Freighter. GE will supply the GEnx-2B67 engine for the airplane, which is scheduled to enter service in September 2009 for freighter operator Cargolux of Luxembourg. Based on the GEnx engine launched on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the engine designed for the 747-8 will be rated at 66,500 pounds of thrust. Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS) will develop, certify and produce the thrust-reverser system for the 747-8. The company will become a new direct supplier to Boeing, supplying the thrust-reverser system directly to Boeing rather than through engine manufacturer GE. MRAS will begin the design phase immediately and expects to deliver first production hardware in 2008. The supplier will develop an all-composite thrust reverser for the 747-8.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that Australia's Qantas Airways has taken delivery of the first of seven Bombardier Q400 high-speed turboprop airliners. The Q400 airliner arrived in Brisbane on January 11 and will undergo route proving and pilot training before making its first revenue flight from Brisbane to Rockhampton, scheduled for February 26. The 72-seat Q400 aircraft will also operate twice-daily frequencies on the 431-nm (798 km) Brisbane to Mackay route from April, replacing a single daily flight operated by a Boeing 737. Qantas flights from Sydney and Melbourne will offer direct connections to Mackay by QantasLink's new Q400 Brisbane services.
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XCOR Aerospace announced that it has successfully fired its 3M9 LOX/methane engine in short, rapid bursts. These tests are part of a contract with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). "We are very pleased with this second series of test results," said XCOR president Jeff Greason. "This test demonstrates the rapid stop and restart pulse mode, and minimum impulse bit that are required for reaction control system (RCS) applications. This system has potential for a variety of space applications." The engine test took place at XCOR's facilities at Mojave Spaceport on 23 November 2005. The test consisted of four short pulses (see video). These series of tests were done with self-pressurizing propellants. Previous engine tests conducted in April 2005, consisted of 22 engine firings totaling 65 seconds. The longest engine firing was seven seconds. Pressure-fed and pump-fed versions are currently in development. Additional technical performance information is available upon request.
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The new board of directors of China Eastern Airlines Wuhan Ltd has approved the acquisition of five 50-seat ERJ 145 LR aircraft from Harbin Embraer, fulfilling the last required formality for the sales contract to take effect. Deliveries of these aircraft will occur between November 2006 and June 2007. The deal will add to the five ERJ 145s previously acquired by China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu Ltd, and bring to ten the total number of ERJ 145 jets in China Eastern's regional fleet. Harbin Embraer is a joint venture established between Embraer (NYSE:ERJ) and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) in 2002. With 180 employees, this facility is capable of producing up to 24 50-seat aircraft per year.
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Northwest Airlines' David M. Davis, senior vice president - finance and controller, said the airline's financial problems can be overcome only if a competitive cost structure can be implemented that will permit significant labor savings. Davis' remarks were prepared for presentation at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York hearing today regarding Northwest's motions, filed under Sections 1113(c) and 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code, asking the court to reject the company's collective bargaining agreements with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Professional Flight Attendants Association (PFAA). Yesterday, the hearing began on the company's motions under Section 1113(c), as well as Section 1114 to modify its retiree employee benefits. "We cannot continue to lose $4 to $5 million per day on top of the $14 billion debt and declining cash balance that we have. Northwest's cash and debt position is unacceptable and among the worst in the industry. We have sold $1.6 billion in assets since 2001, yet have added $2.3 billion in debt. At this rate, by the end of 2006, our cash balance will be less than $700 million without labor cost relief," said Davis. "Northwest's pay per employee is the highest in the industry. We must address our payroll of $3.6 billion along with work rule issues to make Northwest competitive. The low-cost carriers (LCCs) represented only 8 percent of the market in 1990, today they represent 28 percent, and are forecast to control at least 37 percent of the domestic market by as soon as 2010. The LCCs have 1,025 aircraft on order or option. With these aircraft they are aggressively moving into Northwest markets and dropping fares, putting pressure on yields that have continued to decline for more than a decade," Davis commented. "Our competitors are rapidly deploying 70-100 seat aircraft in more than 100 of our markets. No other legacy carrier has a lower percentage of regional departures in their operation and this too must change if we are going to be viable. Work rules must not bind Northwest's 34,000 employees from being competitive in the current environment." In summarizing his presentation, Davis said, "We believe our business plan is the correct path forward. We need to reduce our fleet by 15 percent, reducing unprofitable flying and exit unprofitable markets which will save Northwest $400 million annually." "On our domestic network we must match the narrow-body fleet with demand. Internationally, we must optimize our Atlantic schedule and add new routes in the Pacific as our Boeing 787s are delivered. The introduction of the new technology Boeing 787 aircraft and expansion of the Airbus 330 fleet are estimated to improve profitability in excess of $150 million annually."
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Spirit AeroSystems announced that it has won its first contract since becoming a new company last June. The contract calls for Spirit to design and build engine pylons and nacelle components for the Boeing 747-8 airplane. The 747-8 family includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter. "We are excited and extremely pleased to have been selected by Boeing as a partner on the 747-8 Program," said Mike King, vice president/general manager Propulsion Structures & Systems Business Unit. "The experience and technical capabilities of our people, and our cost-competitiveness were keys to us winning this new business.
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Berlin Airports inaugurated a new and innovative platform, www.viaberlin.com, which is a repository of information on efficient and convenient low-cost European flight connections via Berlin. The available routes include Cracow to Reykjavik, Tallinn to Cologne and many more - in all instances via the ever fascinating cosmopolitan city of Berlin. Viaberlin.com provides "intelligent" route information for all possible connections via Berlin within a defined time period. The viaberlin.com Web site is currently available in German and English. Russian and Polish will be added next month, and Spanish and French versions are in the works. "Viaberlin.com will open a new market for us. The market demand exists - and it promises to generate appreciable revenue," said Berlin Airports spokesperson Dieter Johannsen-Roth. "This service will also play a major role for other airports in the future." Passengers have the option to take out low cost flight connection insurance via Elvia Travel Insurance. If a passenger misses their connection because their inbound flight is late, the insurance covers the cost of a new ticket, as well as accommodations near the airport in the event the passenger has to spend the night in a hotel. Our partner German Transfer provides optimally convenient transfer services between the three German airports, thus allowing for stress-free transfers. The shuttle bus charges a fixed rate, irrespective of the number of persons involved.
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Southwest Airlines reported its fourth quarter and full year 2005 results. Net income for fourth quarter 2005 was $86 million, or $.10 per diluted share, compared to $56 million, or $.07 per diluted share, for fourth quarter 2004. The Company's fourth quarter 2005 and 2004 results included unrealized losses, recorded in "Other gains/losses," associated with derivative instruments that will settle in future accounting periods recorded as a result of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 133 (SFAS 133), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," as amended. Excluding SFAS 133 items in fourth quarter 2005 and 2004, respectively, net income was $98 million, or $.12 per diluted share, compared to $68 million, or $.08 per diluted share. See the attached reconciliation for further information on these items. For the full year 2005, net income was $548 million, or $.67 per diluted share, compared to 2004 net income of $313 million, or $.38 per diluted share. Excluding SFAS 133 items in both years, 2005 net income was $489 million, or $.60 per diluted share, compared to 2004 net income of $324 million, or $.40 per diluted share. Gary C. Kelly, CEO, stated: "I am pleased to report a significantly improved earnings performance for the fourth quarter and full year 2005, which represented our 33rd consecutive year of profitability. Despite the totally unexpected TSA security fee assessment and the 38.8 percent increase in our hedged fuel costs per gallon, our fourth quarter 2005 earnings were up over 40 percent.
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According to its initial earnings projection, the Lufthansa Group expects to post an operating result of about 550 million euros for the 2005 financial year. Earlier, it had forecast that its operating result would be significantly above 400 million euros. The increase is due to the good performance of the Passenger Business segment at the end of last year.
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Singapore Airlines has selected Rockwell Collins to provide a comprehensive eFlight information management solution that will streamline air-to-ground communications for the airline. eFlight will replace paper-intensive manual processes with electronic database and document management services. "By implementing this solution across their fleet, Singapore Airlines is elevating operational efficiency to a new level," said Mark Harris, vice president, eFlight for Rockwell Collins. "The eFlight advanced solution that we're delivering to Singapore Airlines will provide enhanced electronic information between the aircraft and ground operations, which translates into faster turn times and meaningful cost savings."
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The ability to distinguish between friend and foe, an overarching concept known as blue force tracking, is a critical aspect of conducting effective network centric military operations. The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems Group recently made its first steps toward that goal with an initial installation of an existing system called Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below in what the program calls, “a rapid response effort for a Global War On Terror requirement.” “Combat ID is a persistent problem that we are endeavoring to improve,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Beaudoin, chief of the Battle Management Command and Control Systems Division. “FBCB2 gets us one-step closer to solving that problem on Joint STARS.” The Army has employed FBCB2 for years. Army units use the system to stay updated on the location of friendly troops in near real time by continually transmitting their actual locations over the FBCB2 network. FBCB2 then actively monitors the location and progress of friendly forces and sends those specific coordinates to a central location called the Army Tactical Operations Center, where the data is consolidated into a common picture and sent back out to units, the colonel said. “This near real-time process gives war fighters an integrated picture of the location of friendly troops,” Colonel Beaudoin said. “Now, Joint STARS can access that powerful information as well.” With minimal development, the Joint STARS Systems Group completed a development effort and five initial installations of hardware and software designed to tap into that blue force information directly from the Army TOC and display it on the Joint STARS Operator Work Stations, the colonel said. Each plane is equipped with a laptop which will receive regular updates from the FBCB2 system. Using specifically designed software, the Joint STARS system sends the blue force data to each of the work stations, where the information is overlayed on existing displays, giving operators the opportunity to associate FBCB2 data with real-time GMTI data, the colonel said.
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News from China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) said that ARJ21 passenger plane, the feeder plane developed by AVIC I has received 41 orders from several domestic airlines, and is expected to be put into market in 2009. It is reported that ARJ21 passenger plane has set a precedent in civil planes manufacturing in accordance to international practice and market principal. So far manufacturing of the plane is underway. The technical preparation and manufacturing of components, all the parts as well as radar cover, nose and fuselage will be completed in 2006
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The world's most advanced helicopter simulator arrived at Brisbane airport this Sunday (15 January 2006) at noon aboard the world's largest air cargo transport, the Russian built Antonov. This event marks a major milestone in the Australian Army's armed reconnaissance helicopter program. The simulator is being built by the Thales Group for the project's prime contractor, Australian Aerospace, a subsidiary of Eurocopter, the world's premier helicopter supplier. Initial production was conducted by a combined Australian/French team at a Thales facility near Paris. The arrival of the simulator in Australia marks the transition from the production, to the integration and testing phase at Army's aviation training base at Oakey, west of Brisbane. The giant simulator will be the only device in Australia with dual cockpits mounted on separate, synchronised motion platforms. The cockpits, occupied by the pilot and the battle captain, provide the complete flight and battlefield mission experience required to train the two man Tiger crews.
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Volvo Aero has agreed with General Electric Company (GE) to increase Volvo Aero's participation in GE's new engine, the GEnx. Volvo Aero will manufacture additional components in the engine. The new agreement is estimated to generate an additional SEK 6 billion in sales over a 30-year period. In its first year on the market, more than 525 GEnx engines have been selected to power the Boeing 787and 747-8 as well as the Airbus A350. The GEnx engine is the best selling engine on the 787 and A350 aircraft and was selected by Boeing as the sole powerplant for the recently launched 747-8 aircraft.
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A 22-year production run transitioned recently when a mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100 business jet rolled off the production line. Taking its place is Gulfstream's newest business jet, the wider-cabin, longer-range G150. The G100 was manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in Tel Aviv. On receipt of its certificate of airworthiness, it was flown to Gulfstream's Appleton, Wis., facility for interior outfitting and paint. The last G100 is scheduled for customer delivery later this year. The new G150, which was certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 7, 2005 - 10 weeks ahead of schedule - also will be manufactured in Tel Aviv. It will then be flown to Gulfstream's Dallas completion center for interior outfitting and paint.
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