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+++ Boeing delivers final 717s +++ Airports depend on shopping malls +++ ILA 2006 with attendance record +++ SOSTAR-X radar flight tests started +++ Lockheed Martin and EADS team on GPS +++ News in brief +++
Boeing delivers final 717s
Letzte Boeing 717 ausgeliefert
On May 23, Boeing delivered its final two 717 airplanes to Midwest Airlines and AirTran Airways in a ceremony before thousands of employees, retirees and dignitaries in Long Beach, Calif. The deliveries conclude commercial airplane production in Southern California that began in the 1920s with the Douglas Aircraft Co. The 717 program, which produced 156 airplanes, pioneered breakthrough business and manufacturing processes for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The program was launched by an order from AirTran Airways in 1995, and the airplane quickly became renowned by customers for its excellent economics, performance and reliability. Based on the Douglas DC-9 and launched as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95, the 100-seater was renamed the Boeing 717 after McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997.
Douglas opened the Long Beach factory in 1941 as part of President Roosevelt's Arsenal of Democracy -- a request to the nation's industries to halt civilian production and assist in making wartime equipment. The facility produced almost 10,000 airplanes for World War II before transitioning to commercial airplane production after the war. Douglas merged with the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1967, forming the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. More than 15,000 airplanes have been produced in the Long Beach factory.
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Airports depend on shopping malls
Neue Einnahmequellen für Flughäfen
Airports are becoming profitable business enterprises based on the increasing revenues generated by non-aeronautical commercial activities, in particular, retailing, car parking and catering. This trend is opening up opportunities for airport management firms and other companies keen on expanding their businesses in the catchment area of airports. Currently, due to the demand from air carriers for the reduction of charges and the unwillingness of governments to offer subsidises, airports can no longer rely solely on aeronautical revenues to generate the resources needed for infrastructural improvements. "Here, commercial revenues from retailers, advertisements, ground transport and property development offer a huge boost to infrastructural investments and even to directly generate profits," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Kamila Zlobinska
The growing diversification of airports' revenue sources reflects their stronger integration into the economies in which they operate. Airports have become attractive business centres and are supporting economic growth in the areas where they are located. "The importance of non-aeronautical revenues is a good indicator of the new model of business-oriented airport operators entering the industry and the growing importance being given to customer service," says Ms. Zlobinska. "As a result, airports are now increasingly seen not only as air-service providers but also as potential providers of multiple commercial opportunities such as shopping and entertainment." However, airport operators eager to succeed in the marketplace will have to demonstrate competencies in core airport operations, such as technical operations, facility management or safety, besides the management of traditional airport activities such as airport planning. Ultimately, the challenge will be to build an organisation able to achieve better economic returns. Success in a globalised and highly competitive airport industry will require marketing and new business development skills beyond those that currently exist in the industry.
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ILA 2006 with attendance record
Erflogreiche Luftfahrtmesse in Berlin
By the time the International Aerospace Exhibition ended, all previous attendance records had been broken. More than 250,000 visitors (2004: 201,500, +25%) were recorded at the ILA2006 between 16 and 21 May, including 115,000 trade visitors (2004: 105,000). Events on the southern section of Berlin-Schonefeld airport were dominated by the signing of sales contracts and joint venture agreements worth billions, a display featuring some 340 aircraft, many of them making their first public appearance, and the largest number of delegations and conferences ever. 1,014 exhibitors from 42 countries (2004: 987 from 42 countries) presented products, systems and processes from every area of the aerospace industry. Several thousand experts from all over Europe and from overseas attended the more than 90 accompanying conferences in search of information. The ILA2006 emphasised the importance of this sector for Germany in its role as a centre for the aerospace industry. Hans-Joachim Gante, Chief Executive of the BDLI, stated: "We have become one of the few sectors with sustainable growth in Germany, due above all to our innovative strengths."
This was clearly demonstrated at the ILA2006, which is acquiring an increasingly international dimension, thereby strengthening its role as one of the world's major meeting places for the industry. This was an ideal opportunity for the German aerospace industry to demonstrate that it is among the world leaders.Exhibitors expressed their satisfaction with the discussions and contacts and with the business deals that were finalised at this event. "In particular the decision to make Russia the partner country proved highly effective. Russia was very strongly represented and was able to establish numerous contacts and business links." At the close of the event Stefan Grave, Project Director for Messe Berlin GmbH, summed up: "The ILA2006 underlined its major importance as a European marketing platform for this sector as well as again demonstrating its many attractions for the public. Trade visitors and the general public alike were fascinated by the high-tech products on display. Unprecedented numbers of people attended to see the Airbus A380, an outstanding international flying display and the Space Hall.”
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SOSTAR-X radar flight tests started
Neues europäisches High-Tech-Radar im Test
The European SOSTAR-X programme for the development and demonstration of an advanced airborne ground surveillance radar system has started flight testing. After conclusion of the SOSTAR-X mission system ground integration being performed in Friedrichshafen, Germany, aircraft installation and ground testing were completed in Woensdrecht, NL. On 28 th April 2006, the Fokker 100 "SX" received its "Release to Service" after having passed successfully performance and EMI/EMC flight tests. On 04th May, 2006, the Fokker SX 100 went airborne in Woensdrecht and landed after a four hours test flight. In parallel The Netherlands Army were simultaneously controlling the requested fixed and moving targets. During the flight all sensor modes were tested and the collected raw data were stored. The data were afterwards disseminated to industry for analysis and evaluation. First evaluation of test results showed that the mission test flight was very successful and all expectations were exceeded. “We are pleased to announce that SOSTAR-X has started the flight test campaign with an extremely succesful first flight”, says Dr. Enno Littmann, leaving General Manager of the European company SOSTAR GmbH. His successor, Peter Angenoorth, added: “These very convincing first flight results suggest that the overall SOSTAR-X system requirement will be met. Our companies are now able to intensively test and optimize the functionalities of this ultra-modern airborne ground surveillance demonstrator. Mission flight tests have just started and we will perform a wide spectrum of industry flights in three campaigns during the next twelve month conducted in The Netherlands and Germany.”
At the beginning of 2007, SOSTAR-X will prove the contractual performance in a customer flight campaign in France. An operational demonstration with a live military scenario will reveal to a selected audience the capabilities of the SOSTAR-X system. This demonstrator system must be considered to be the best performing European ISR aircraft ever. The campaign will feature capabilities like Wide Area GMTI Scanning and Tracking of Ground Movers and Helicopters, High Resolution Spotlight SAR and Swath SAR Imaging. Target Classification by Spectral Classification, High Range Resolution Length Measurements and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging of Ground Moving Targets will also be presented. Most of the mission and sensor planning will occur on-board by means of two operations & control stations. A wide-band data link will allow imagery to be down-linked in real time to a German and a French Ground Station for further analysis.
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Lockheed Martin and EADS team on GPS
Zusammenarbeit beim GPS-Satellitensystem vereinbart
Lockheed Martin and EADS Astrium announced that they have signed a teaming agreement to ensure interoperability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) III and the European Galileo Satellite Navigation programs – the world's two most important upcoming satellite navigation systems. As two of the world's leading space system suppliers, the companies will perform systems engineering and technical assistance tasks for each other in the areas of interoperability, integrity and optimisation of joint constellation performance. Additionally, the companies will offer reciprocal bids on operational hardware and software within the policy and export constraints of both programs.
“This opens a new dimension of cooperation between two of the world's leading technology companies in systems that will benefit consumers for decades as the Galileo and GPS III systems come on line,” said Reinhold Lutz, EADS Senior Vice President for Earth Observation, Navigation & Science. “We look forward to making our 30 years of GPS experience available to the Galileo program to maximize performance and utility for all users of satellite navigation when both Galileo and GPS III are in operation,” added Marshall Keith, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems & Solutions Vice President for International Programs.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Bombardier Aerospace announced that Lufthansa Technik AG (LHT) has been selected to provide a Total Support Program (TSP) for worldwide operators of the Bombardier CRJ family of 50- to 90-seat regional jets. LHT, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is the world's largest provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and is also an approved overhaul facility for Bombardier CRJ aircraft components. Lufthansa Technik will offer a comprehensive maintenance support package including auxiliary power unit, landing gear, wheels, tires, brakes and rotables. LHT will also maintain an exchange pool of components to support dispatch of the aircraft. The TSP can be organized to meet an operator's specific requirements. The operator may also opt for a repair and overhaul program on the CF34 engine from Lufthansa Technik Aero Alzey.
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Dassault Aviation and its partners Alenia, SAAB, EADS CASA, HAI and RUAG have delivered - ahead of the contractual timetable - the first nEUROn study to the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement, the programme's executive agency. This first step is the preliminary technical definition of the project. The nEUROn programme was notified on February 8 by the French Délégation Générale pour l'Armement to Dassault Aviation, Prime Contractor of the programme.
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Since the process of national consolidation of missile capacities is currently not progressing, Diehl has bought back the minority share (13.3%) held by MATRA/EADS France in Diehl BGT Defence. Diehl thus increases its share in Diehl BGT Defence to 100%. Following this move, Diehl remains interested in consolidation in Germany and will continue its respective efforts.
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Lockheed Martin's extended-range JASSM system has successfully performed its first development flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico recently. The JASSM air-to-surface standoff missile system is the world's first stealthy conventional cruise missile. Launched from a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer flying at Mach 0.80 and 20,000 feet above the desert, the extended range JASSM (JASSM-ER) inert cruise missile successfully separated from the B-1B, deployed its wings and tail, and started its engine. After weapon release, the missile climbed to the designated cruise altitude, navigated via predetermined waypoints and descended to a selected altitude above ground level for target ingress. The missile performed a terminal maneuver that enabled the missile to demonstrate the desired impact angle and accuracy.
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At a joint ceremony held in Beijing, Air China and Star Alliance announced that the Chinese carrier has decided to join Star Alliance. Commenting on the event, Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO said: " We are delighted that Air China has elected to join Star Alliance. This is the decisive step in implementing our strategy for the Chinese market and lays a foundation for the future pace in Chinese Aviation" Mr. Li Jiaxiang, President of China National Aviation Holding Company and Chairman of Air China Limited , said: " With economic globalization and open skies, competition in the airline industry will intensify. In order to survive and grow, airlines need to build international alliances. Cooperation between Air China and Star Alliance will lead to multiple advantages for all parties. China's civil aviation market is one of the fastest growing in the world, and has enormous potential". Star Alliance recently also extended an invitation to Shanghai Airlines to join the alliance. This dual-hub approach will allow the alliance to offer unique network from the two most important airports in China, Beijing and Shanghai.
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Lockheed Martin has received two production contracts from the U.S. Navy to complete the integration of sensor and avionics systems on 12 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and to begin integration work on 25 others. "These production awards were based on a favorable review of the aircraft's acquisition strategy and a highly successful operational evaluation," said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Multi-Mission Solutions for Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. "During operational evaluation, this weapons system passed all of its performance requirements and demonstrated significant improvements over current helicopters to detect and track submarines and surface vessels."
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The 400th Eurocopter to be delivered into the Canadian market was turned over to Great Slave Helicopters in a ceremony held at Eurocopter Canada's Fort Erie, ON facility. With 64 rotorcraft in its fleet Yellowknife, NT based Great Slave Helicopters is one of Northern Canada's largest commercial helicopter operators. It has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC130B4 for use by its group of companies across Canada. Great Slave Helicopters serves the oil & gas exploration, diamond mining, forestry, fire fighting, and construction industries in Canada's Western Arctic.
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The Space Shuttle Discovery stands at its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The shuttle arrived at 8:30 p.m. EDT Friday on top of a giant vehicle known as the crawler transporter. "Rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery signifies the last major processing milestone in preparation for our next mission, STS-121," said Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale. "The entire team has worked tremendously hard to ensure we were prepared to move to the pad, and we are excited to continue moving toward a July launch." The crawler transporter began carrying Discovery out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 12:45 p.m. Friday. The crawler's maximum speed during the 4.2-mile journey was less than 1 mph. While at the pad, the shuttle will undergo final testing and hardware integration prior to launch, as well as a "hot fire" test of the auxiliary power units to ensure they are properly functioning. The rotating service structure then will be moved back around the vehicle to protect it from potential damage and the elements. Discovery's launch to the International Space Station is targeted for July 1, with a launch window that extends until July 19. During the 12-day mission, Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the station.
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Raytheon recently completed production and delivery of its 20,000th ALE-50 towed decoy for the U.S. Air Force Electronic Warfare Product Group, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga. The ALE-50 decoy system significantly enhances aircraft survivability. It protects aircraft and crew from radar-guided missiles by acting as a more attractive target that lures the missiles away from the aircraft and toward the decoy. Operational on F-16, F/A-18 and B-1B aircraft, Raytheon's towed decoys are combat-proven and have performed successfully in several military conflicts. Production of the ALE-50 began in December 1996. Work on the towed decoy system is being done at Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business by its Electronic Warfare Systems organization, Goleta, Calif.
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A new U.S. airline, Baltia Air Lines, based at the JFK Airport in New York at Terminal 4, is getting ready to start nonstop service to St. Petersburg, Russia with a Boeing 747. Currently, the only other US airline operating to Russia is Delta Air Lines which flies nonstop to Moscow. The startup airline is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Bulletin Board under the symbol BLTA, and is also listed on Xetra and Frankfurt exchanges under the symbol B3A. Baltia Air Lines will provide high quality First, Business and Coach passenger service. It will also provide reliable express cargo services under the Baltia name, as well as carry containers for major overnight shippers. After starting the JFK-St. Petersburg nonstop service, Baltia plans to develop its initial route network, flying nonstop from JFK to Riga, Kiev and Minsk. Baltia Air Lines' goal is to become the leader in full-service passenger, cargo and mail transportation between the major U.S. cities and the capital cities of Eastern Europe.
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Boeing and JAL International celebrated completion and certification of the second 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter at a redelivery ceremony held in Xiamen, People's Republic of China, May 21. JAL International has orders for eight of the passenger to freighter conversions and four options. The first 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter was redelivered to Cathay Pacific in December 2005. The 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter is designed, engineered, managed and certified by Boeing. The program benefits from the expertise of Boeing's global network of supplier partners, such as Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (TAECO), which performs the hands-on modification work
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Helicopter Association International (HAI) President Matthew S. Zuccaro joined Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials and industry officials, representing platform and helicopter owners in the Gulf of Mexico, in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Thursday, May 18, 2006, in Lafayette, Louisiana, to formally establish a cooperative government/industry business relationship to enhance communications, weather, and surveillance capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico. The FAA has requested $80 million in the fiscal year 2007 budget to begin initial implementation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), and offshore helicopter operations in the Gulf will directly benefit when the first segment of ADS-B is deployed in 2007 to provide communications, navigation, and surveillance as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS). Mr. Zuccaro has emphasized that the MOA is a work in progress and that other companies and operators will continue to sign onto the agreement as the initial layout and deployment of equipment begins. Zuccaro believes that “due to the very nature of helicopter operations, which involve low altitude, off-airport, remote location, all-weather situations, our segment of the aviation community stands to reap the greatest regards from ADS-B technology.”
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Elbit Systems announced the successful test flight of the Skylark Mini UAV at 15,000 feet altitude. The high altitude flight demonstration was part of a larger evaluation conducted by a potential customer. The Skylark was launched from a mountaintop at an altitude of 13,785 feet (4.5 Kilometers) and operating in autonomous flight mode climbed to a cruising altitude exceeding 15,000 feet. At the end of the test flight the Skylark performed a perfect automatic landing at the designated point of recovery on the rocky mountain. The flawless take-off, cruise and landing in an altitude where the air density is less than 60% of the sea level atmosphere and the wind gusts are known to be dangerous for any airborne platform were testament to Skylark's ruggedness and reliability. The high altitude test was part of a successful series of evaluation flights which included performance in day and night operational scenarios. Previously, in other system evaluations, Skylark demonstrated flawless performance in extreme temperatures ranging from –17 to +50 degrees and under cloudy and rainy conditions.
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ESA has announced the shortlist of new Earth Explorer mission proposals within its Living Planet Programme. This is part of the selection procedure that will eventually lead to the launch of the fourth Earth Explorer Core mission during the first half of the next decade. The six missions cover a range of environmental issues with the aim of furthering our understanding of the Earth system and changing climate: BIOMASS – to take global measurements of forest biomass; TRAQ (TRopospheric composition and Air Quality) - to monitor air quality and long-range transport of air pollutants; PREMIER (PRocess Exploration through Measurements of Infrared and millimetre-wave Emitted Radiation) – to understand processes that link trace gases, radiation, chemistry and climate in the atmosphere; FLEX (FLuorescence EXplorer) – to observe global photosynthesis through the measurement of fluorescence; A-SCOPE (Advanced Space Carbon and Climate Observation of Planet Earth) – to improve our understanding of the global carbon cycle and regional carbon dioxide fluxes; CoReH2O (Cold Regions Hydrology High-resolution Observatory – to make detailed observations of key snow, ice and water cycle characteristics. The selection of these six mission proposals follows the release of the Call for Earth Explorer Core mission ideas in March 2005. ESA received 24 responses, which covered a broad range of Earth science disciplines, and in particular responded well to the priorities set by the Agency's Earth Science Advisory Committee (ESAC). These priorities focused on the global carbon and water cycles, atmospheric chemistry and climate, as well as the human element as a cross cutting issue.
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Boeing delivered the first production Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) System to the U.S Air Force during a rollout ceremony at the Boeing Weapons facility in St. Charles, Mo. The SDB I weapon system, which includes a four-bomb capacity carriage, is the first of a new generation of weapons whose small size and robust performance greatly increase the mission capability of current and future platforms. It also is the first of more than 24,000 such weapons and 2,000 carriages the Boeing SDB team will manufacture for the Air Force. The Air Force is investing $1.2 billion for production of the system, with deliveries planned beyond 2015. The all-weather SDB I weapon system is compatible with every U.S. fighter and bomber aircraft. It has a standoff range of 60 nautical miles. At 71 inches long, this 250-pound class weapon quadruples the number of weapons each aircraft can carry. The system will be deployed first on the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle later this year.
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At two separate press conferences – one in Oslo on 15 May and one in Copenhagen on 16 May, Gripen International presented details of its formal offers to Norway and Denmark for a new version of the Gripen fighter to replace these countries ageing F-16 aircraft. An enhanced standard of the Gripen new generation fighter, dubbed Gripen N for Norway and Gripen DK for Denmark respectively, with longer range and greater payload, have been offered in response to these countries' respective requirements to deliver up to 48 aircraft from 2016. Industrial co-operation and development on several levels has been offered, including the aerospace and defence industries and state level co-operation for instance, with the Swedish Air Force and Swedish defence procurement agency, FMV. For both Norway and Denmark, participation in the development of this new version of the Gripen fighter in co-operation with Sweden, provides a unique opportunity to develop a tailored Nordic solution to meet national, international and regional defence needs.
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NSR released its newest market survey and forecast report: "Government and Military Demand on Commercial Satellites, 3rd Edition." The report provides an in-depth overview of demand trends for commercial satellite communications services in the globe over a 10-year period by tracking government and military needs, as well as trends in governmental program development to address the shortfall in internal bandwidth communications capabilities. The report concludes that, from close to $1 billion in satellite communications revenues for 2003, the market is expected to exceed $4.8 billion by 2012 yielding total revenues of $25.0 billion over a 10-year period. Revenue growth continues to be driven largely by U.S. military demand as the Pentagon's bandwidth needs have increased substantially. Reliance on commercial bandwidth will remain a core component of military planning to include non-critical and mission-critical needs over time. In addition, the growing complexity of the Middle East region, as well as terrorism, homeland security and public safety initiatives that address natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, should drive demand and sustain the market within the report's forecast period. The War in Iraq and the ongoing peacekeeping efforts have provided a surge in bandwidth demand. "Although U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq are inevitable, military and policing activities will likely not diminish in the Middle East," stated Jose del Rosario, senior analyst of NSR and author of the report.
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Stork Aerospace has signed a contract with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to supply the electrical wiring for the Cockpit Instrument Panel for the A380 aircraft program. The first deliveries to Airbus are scheduled to start in October of this year. The majority of the manufacturing operations will take place at the Chinese subsidiary of Fokker Elmo, the involved operating company of Stork Aerospace. President of Fokker Elmo, Mr. Jan Lagasse stated: "We are very excited about this new contract and are delighted about growing our co-operation with Airbus. At Fokker Elmo we are particularly pleased to be selected for the A380 Cockpit Wiring System, since this area of the aircraft traditionally is complex and configuration sensitive and therefore shows the Airbus confidence and recognition for the Fokker Elmo ability to manage and supply such high profile electrics package."
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Boeing announced the successful launch of the first of three Boeing-built next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-N) for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Boeing Delta IV rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. at 6:11 p.m. EDT carrying the GOES-N meteorological satellite. Following a nominal four hour, 21-minute flight, the rocket deployed the spacecraft, and approximately 20 minutes later, controllers received the first signals from the satellite at a ground station in Diego Garcia. "The successful launch and satellite acquisition of GOES-N represents the culmination of tremendous efforts and great work from our partners, NASA and NOAA," said Roger Krone, president of Boeing Network and Space Systems. "GOES-N will provide continuous real-time weather and environmental data that will aid in severe storm warnings, resource management and emergency search and rescue operations throughout the United States." The multi-mission GOES series of satellites will provide NOAA and NASA scientists with data to support weather, solar and space operations, and will enable future science improvements with weather prediction and remote sensing. GOES-N also will provide data on global climate changes. The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) configuration launch vehicle uses a single Boeing common booster core with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine, two Alliant Techsystems GEM 60 solid rocket motors, a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10B-2 upper stage engine and a Boeing four-meter diameter upper stage and composite payload fairing.
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The U.S. Coast Guard announced the continuation to January 2011 of its Integrated Deepwater System program which is being implemented by Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS). ICGS, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, is currently performing in the base term. "The course has been set for the future and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the Coast Guard into the next decade," said Leo Mackay, ICGS president. "Much has been accomplished during the base term. This second award recognizes a successful acquisition strategy, acknowledges this team's sound performance and is a mandate to continue delivering operational capability to the men and women of the Coast Guard. We are very pleased and proud that the Coast Guard has shown its confidence in the ICGS team."
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CAE has been awarded contracts for three full-flight simulators, visual systems, training devices, updates, and pilot provisioning services by Cathay Pacific, ATR, and Ryanair. With a combined list-price value of C$48 million, these orders represent CAE's first three full-flight simulator announcements for fiscal year 2007.
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The first Boeing KC-767A tanker, scheduled for delivery to the Italian air force in mid-2007 (a delay of mor than a year), recently completed ground vibration testing at the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Structural Dynamics Laboratory in Everett, Wash. "These tests determined the structural interaction between the aircraft and the aerial-refueling boom, and now we're one step closer to testing the tanker's refueling systems during flight," said Keith Branch, KC-767 flight test manager. "Boeing will deliver integrated avionics and advanced communications, a high-tech boom operator station enabled by cameras and a combination passenger and cargo transport capability to the Italian air force." While undergoing modification at the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems facility in Wichita, Kan., the Global Tanker Team equipped the commercial derivative airplane with a boom, a Remote Aerial Refueling Operators (RARO II) station, centerline hose-and-drogue refueling systems and a refueling receptacle.
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Boeing and partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), functioning as the Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program, today awarded a contract, valued at approximately $61 million, to Honeywell Defense & Space Electronic Systems to develop the Class I Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAVS). The Class I UAVS, a platoon-level asset and the smallest of four FCS unmanned aerial vehicle classes, will provide dismounted soldiers with unprecedented reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition capabilities on the battlefield. "We have evaluated Honeywell's engineering design approach and success in the area of micro air vehicle technology, and we are confident that their design solution for the FCS Class I UAVS is a superior fit that will meet both current and future warfighter requirements," said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing vice president, general manager and FCS program manager. "We are excited to have Honeywell as a key partner on the FCS best-of-industry team and look forward to maintaining our critical path forward on FCS UAV development." The FCS program will leverage Honeywell's work on the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), a prototype vehicle developed under a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration. Recently used by the Army's 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii for soldier testing and experimentation, the MAV has successfully demonstrated ducted fan technology, a key to meeting FCS Class I UAV requirements for a small, back-packable UAV that provides "hover and stare" capability.
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Boeing announced that it has reached a major milestone in the design of the all-new 787 Dreamliner. The team has completed 25 percent of the releases required for the program. This means that one quarter of the pieces of information to build parts and tools for assembly have been completed and released to manufacturing organizations for fabrication or procurement. Releases are the formal documents -- digital models in the case of the 787 program -- that allow purchases to be made, tools to be developed and parts to be built. "We have seen tremendous progress by our international partners and the Boeing team working on the detailed design of this airplane," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "Twenty-five percent release signifies that the largest elements - like fuselage and wing skins - are defined from the tooling requirements to the specific raw material elements."
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Gulfstream Aerospace officially opened its new Research and Development Center in Savannah with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Among the local dignitaries joining Bryan Moss, Gulfstream president, and Pres Henne, Gulfstream senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, on stage were dignitaries including Georgia State Senator Regina Thomas, 2 nd District; Pete Liakakis, chairman of the Chatham County Commission; Edna Jackson, Savannah City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem; Brian Foster, vice chairman of the Savannah Economic Development Authority board of directors, chairman of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce board of directors and president of First Chatham Bank. On March 6, Gulfstream announced a 7-year, $300 million long-range expansion plan for its Savannah headquarters and business-jet manufacturing and maintenance facilities that is expected to generate 1,100 additional jobs. To meet an immediate need for office space, Gulfstream is leasing the Research and Development Center at 135 Crossroads Parkway in Savannah.
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The Chinese Ministry of Communications (MOC) and Eurocopter have signed a contract for the acquisition of two 10/11 ton class EC 225. These aircrafts, the most up-to-date helicopters in their category, will be operated by the Rescue and Salvage Bureau to ensure Search and Rescue missions. Present at the China Police 2006 Exhibition, Mr. Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter Executive Vice President proudly declared:" They will be fully operational by end 2007, joining the reknown MOC helicopter fleet, ready to bring an outstanding contribution in the frame of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games." The EC 225, the latest addition to the Super Puma family of twin-engine aircraft in the 10/11ton class performed its maiden flight in November 2000. This versatile helicopter has been developed to perform a variety of missions such as Search And Rescue (SAR), police and anti-terrorism as well as Offshore and VIP transportation.
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K & F Industries Holdings, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation (ABSC), has been chosen by Embraer to supply the wheels, brakes and brake control system for its new Phenom 100 very light category business jet. Over the life of the program, the contract value is estimated to approach $250 million. Embraer selected ABSC's durable yet lightweight aluminum alloy wheels and long-life steel brakes to provide the most cost effective solution and achieve Embraer's design objectives of long cycle life and low operating cost. Together, ABSC and Embraer will be the first to introduce brake-by-wire technology into the very light business jet market segment, capitalizing on ABSC's demonstrated ability to provide smooth braking modulation with high performance stopping efficiency. Such exceptional performance is a direct result of ABSC's industry leading system integration capabilities and related braking technologies, which has become the industry standard for high performance business aircraft.
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The residents of the International Space Station turned their attention to spacewalk preparations this week as they gear up for a six-hour excursion outside the complex June 1. During the spacewalk, the crew will repair and retrieve U.S. and Russian hardware. Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Flight Engineer and Science Officer Jeff Williams gathered equipment for the spacewalk, charged batteries for the Russian Orlan suits they will wear and checked out systems in the Pirs Docking Compartment airlock. The spacewalk will be staged from Pirs. This will be the 65th spacewalk in support of station assembly and maintenance and the 18th conducted from this airlock. This will be the sixth spacewalk in Vinogradov's career and the second for Williams.
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EMP Global LLC announced that the Islamic Development Bank Infrastructure Fund (the "Fund") has invested US$73 million in TAV Hava Limanlari Isletme A.S., the holding company for Turkey's leading airport development, management and operating group ("TAV Airports Group"). TAV Airports Group is the largest and the only fully-integrated airport- operating and aviation services group in Turkey. The Group was established in 1997 by a consortium led by two leading Turkish construction groups: Tepe Construction and Akfen Construction, after it was awarded the BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) contract for the New Istanbul Ataturk Airport International Terminal Complex. Following the successful commissioning of this maiden undertaking, TAV Airports went on to win a number of other domestic and overseas projects.
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Rockwell Collins has extended its current Preferred Supplier Agreement (PSA) with Air France through 2010, and has signed a new five year PSA with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are subsidiaries of Air France-KLM. Under the terms of the PSA agreements, both Air France and KLM will purchase Rockwell Collins' communication, navigation and surveillance avionics for their forward fit aircraft and retrofit activities. The Air France agreement also covers data link avionics, while a separate KLM agreement covers MultiScan weather radar on KLM's Boeing 777 aircraft.
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The ESA Concurrent Design Facility has completed fifty design studies and reviews since its opening as an experimental facility in 1999. Work is now under way to make the software developed for this facility available to European space industry and space organisations. Many candidate space missions now take advantage of the concurrent engineering capabilities offered by the Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) at ESA-ESTEC to reduce the duration of their preliminary design study from the several months required by traditional methods to just a few weeks. Real-time interaction between engineering disciplines in the CDF not only shortens the design cycle, it also increases design quality, offering better decision making and risk management and providing improved specifications for use in subsequent project phases. The CDF transitioned from an experimental facility to an operational unit in 2000, a year after its inception. Since its foundation, the CDF has performed design studies on space missions, systems and instruments for various ESA directorates. The studies have covered space science, astronomy and planetary exploration missions, Earth observation satellites, International Space Station and human spaceflight activities, as well as launch and (re-)entry vehicles. The CDF has also hosted design sessions for European academic institutions, targeted at both student space projects and more general training in concurrent engineering.
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New funding, to extend the mission of ESA's venerable solar watchdog SOHO, will ensure it plays a leading part in the fleet of solar spacecraft scheduled to be launched over the next few years. Since its launch on 2 December 1995, The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has provided an unprecedented view of the Sun – and not just the side facing the Earth. Two teams have now developed techniques for using SOHO to recreate the conditions on the far side of the Sun. The new funding will allow its mission to be extended from April 2007 to December 2009. Despite being over ten years old now, SOHO just keeps on working, monitoring the activity on the Sun and allowing scientists to see inside the Sun by recording the seismic waves that ripple across the surface of our nearest star.
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The shareholders of Finmeccanica SpA have approved the company's annual results for 2005 and viewed a presentation of the consolidated figures. The results were positive and up sharply on the previous year, leading to a solid level of ROI and creating good value for shareholders. This performance has enabled the company to increase its dividend by 92% compared with 2004. In 2005 the group generated a consolidated net profit of EUR 396 million, versus EUR 585 million in 2004. Note however that the 2004 figure benefited from income of EUR 270 million, which was the net result of capital gains from the sale of 93 million STMicroelectronics shares (EUR 702 million), and non-recurring write-downs and provisions (EUR 432 million). Moreover, 2004 also benefited from EUR 107 million in profit from STM, which in 2005 made no contribution as it was then recorded under assets held for sale, and thus valued at fair value in accordance with IFRS/IAS 39 (which came into effect from 1 January 2005). The positive performance for 2005 is confirmed by the growth in EBIT, up from EUR 465 million in 2004 to EUR 735 million last year. Value of production jumped by 25%, from EUR 9.16 billion in 2004 to EUR 11.47 billion. ROI rose to 17.5%, from 15.5% in 2004, while ROE stood at 9.6%, from 17.2% the previous year. New orders acquired were up by EUR 4.84 billion on 2004 (EUR 15.38 billion, versus EUR 10.54 billion the previous year). Over 52% of the orders related to the defence market, in line with 2004. The order backlog rose by EUR 7.8 billion to EUR 32.11 billion, from EUR 24.32 billion in 2004. This is equivalent to around three years' production. Net debt stood at EUR 1.1 billion, from EUR 701 million at end-2004. The 2005 figure (equivalent to 24% of consolidated shareholders' equity) is lower than the sector average and within the limits of a conservative financial management policy.
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