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+++ A380 hit by further delays +++ Singapore Airlines orders 20 Boeing 787-9s +++ F-22 drops JDAM at supersonic speed +++ Shuttle to fly on 1 July +++ Production CH-47F unveiled +++ Saab acquires Ericsson Microwave Systems +++ News in brief +++
A380 hit by further delays
EADS-Aktie im Sturzflug
Airbus has informed its customers that a review of the A380 programme has shown that the delivery schedule will undergo a shift of six to seven months due to production ramp-up issues. In parallel, Airbus confirmed to its customers the satisfactory progress of the flight test campaign, which is expected to lead to certification and delivery of the first aircraft by the end of the year. The shift in the production ramp-up is likely to limit aircraft delivery to nine in 2007. The new delays are caused by industrial issues only. They are mainly traceable to bottlenecks formed in the definition, manufacturing and installation of electrical systems and resulting harnesses. As testing and development advances, as well as customisation specifications from airlines are integrated, modifications of electrical systems and reworks have been necessary at section level, progressively disturbing the final assembly flow. A new organisation for the equipment of sections and a revised pacing of transfer to the final assembly line have been put in place, to absorb past inventory build-up and to deal with further mitigating factors. As a result, there are currently 15 aircraft already assembled, including the static and fatigue test frames, while production of sections for aircraft serial number 36 has started.
A recent programme review has led Airbus to the conclusion that 2007 deliveries will likely be limited to nine, and that a shortfall of five to nine aircraft deliveries in 2008 and around five aircraft in 2009 could be expected, compared to initial delivery planning. The review also concluded that further actions are required to secure a ramp-up recovery in 2008 and 2009. Airbus President and CEO Gustav Humbert has ordered the immediate setting up and implementation of such a recovery action plan. Airbus also announced to regularly update airlines and all stakeholders on the progress of the recovery action plan.
EADS expects that the revised A380 delivery schedule announced by Airbus will not lead to a change in the Group's 2006 EBIT guidance due to management actions being taken at Airbus and due to the overall performance of the Group. Following a detailed review of the A380 production and delivery programme, Airbus revised the A380 delivery schedule for the period 2006 to 2009. According to this plan one aircraft is to be delivered in 2006. In 2007, A380 deliveries will likely be limited to nine. Compared to the initial delivery target there will be shortfalls of five to nine aircraft deliveries in 2008 and of around five aircraft in 2009. From 2007 to 2010, EADS anticipates annual shortfalls of EBIT contribution from the A380 programme of about EUR 500 million relative to the original baseline plan. The shortfalls result from the shift of margin to later years, excess costs tied to the recovery action and the late delivery charges which are to be negotiated with customers. Possible contract terminations under the new timetable have not been taken into account in this estimate. EADS expects free cash flow shortfalls, relative to the original baseline plan, of less than EUR 300 million in 2006, increasing to more than EUR 1 billion in 2008, and decreasing sharply thereafter. To date 15 A380 have been assembled, while production of sections for aircraft serial number 36 has already started.
BAE Systems notes the announcement by Airbus last night regarding its latest expectations for deliveries of A380 aircraft. While both Airbus shareholders have discussed the possibilities of delays to the schedule in recent months, BAE Systems were only informed of Airbus' planned announcement yesterday afternoon. No assessment of the financial impact of the delays to the A380 was included in Airbus' announcement. In particular, the management of Airbus have yet to present proposals for management actions designed to alleviate the financial implications of the revised A380 deliveries. As a result, BAE Systems does not believe any credible or serious assessment of the likely financial impact of such delays can be made today.
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Singapore Airlines orders 20 Boeing 787-9s
Airbus aus dem Rennen
Singapore Airlines has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 20 Boeing 787-9s, with purchase rights for another 20 of the same aircraft. At current manufacturer catalogue prices, the value of the 20 firm aircraft is US$ 4.52 billion (SGD$ 7.22 billion.) Deliveries will be scheduled between early 2011 and mid 2013, and will be for fleet renewal as well as to cater for growth. The decision to purchase the 787-9 is the culmination of an extensive evaluation of the performance characteristics and operating economics promised for the different versions of Boeing's new 787 aircraft. The -9 is the newest version on offer, and has the largest cabin and longest range. In a standard three-class configuration, it can carry between 250 and 290 passengers. It also has space for about 20 tonnes of cargo, and will have a range of 8,600 to 8,800 nautical miles (15,900 to 16,300 kilometres). Singapore Airlines plans to deploy the aircraft on routes to North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.
"Boeing is delighted that Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced its intention to purchase 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with first delivery anticipated in 2011. Singapore Airlines has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation as one of the world's outstanding carriers.
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F-22 drops JDAM at supersonic speed
Bombenabwurf bei Überschallgeschwindigkeit
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter, flying at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 feet, released a GPS-aided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) from a range of 24 nautical miles, destroying a small ground target in the F-22's fastest and highest JDAM delivery yet. This was another milestone testing event for the Combined Test Force who conducted the joint developmental and operational test in early May at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., using a 1,000-pound Mk-83 JDAM with live warhead supplied by Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The ability to release a munition at supersonic speeds and standoff ranges greatly enhances the aircrew's survivability against heavily defended targets. Success of the standoff delivery is due in part to the Raptor avionics' ability to compute and display an accurate Launch Acceptability Region (LAR), the area in the sky from which the pilot can release a weapon to successfully attack the desired target. The LAR supersonic algorithm, developed by a Boeing collaboration of F-22, Phantom Works and JDAM engineers, factors in navigation, weather, target and weapon information. "The LAR algorithm developed by this interdisciplinary team offers the robust capability of updating to the latest weapon performance without requiring a new software build," said Paul Bay, vice president and F-22 program manager at Boeing. "Our JDAM, Phantom Works and F-22 units each brought a specialized expertise that was essential to making the LAR integration a success."
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Shuttle to fly on 1 July
Nächster Starttermin bestätigt
NASA senior managers on Saturday cleared the Space Shuttle Discovery for a July 1 flight to the International Space Station. The decision was announced after a lengthy Flight Readiness Review, a traditional meeting in which top NASA managers and engineers set launch dates, determine whether the shuttle's complex array of equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight and assess any risks associated with the mission. "We had two full days of an intensive Flight Readiness Review," said Administrator Michael Griffin. "It was spirited and one of the most open, yet non-adversarial meetings I've seen since returning to NASA." Commander Steve Lindsey and his six-crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 3:48 p.m. EDT to begin a 12-day mission, designated STS-121. Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies, make repairs and bring a third crew member to the station.
The ice/frost ramps are structures made of insulation foam that cover 34 brackets on the outside of the shuttle's external fuel tank. The ramps have been cited as a potential source of foam loss, which could cause damage to the shuttle. The Flight Readiness Review board decided the current design does not pose sufficient risk to delay the upcoming mission while design improvements for later flights are under way.
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Production CH-47F unveiled
Roll-out der neuen Chinook-Version
Boeing unveiled the first production CH-47F Chinook helicopter to the U.S. Army during a rollout ceremony in Ridley Park, Pa. The aircraft is the first of 452 new CH-47F heavy-transport helicopters included in the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter modernization program. "The CH-47F is a 21st century aircraft," said Jack Dougherty, director, Boeing Chinook Programs. "It provides the system and the solutions to meet the needs of soldiers today and tomorrow." The aircraft features a newly designed, modernized airframe and a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System advanced digital cockpit to meet the needs of current and future warfighters. The new airframe uses modern manufacturing techniques that replace multiple-piece sheet metal structures with single-piece machined components. The new components will reduce operating and support costs, improve the aircraft's structural integrity and extend the Chinook's service life.
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Saab acquires Ericsson Microwave Systems
Konsolidierung in Schweden
Saab AB is acquiring Ericsson Microwave Systems (EMW) which has approximately 1250 employees in Gothenburg. The acquisition adds world-leading radar and sensor operations to Saab´s already broad and advanced product portfolio in defence, aviation, space and civil security. The purchase sum is SEK 3,8 billion. The purchase also includes the Ericsson 40 percent share in Saab Ericsson Space. "This is a strategically important, long-term deal for Saab. It enhances our opportunities to develop the Gripen´s radar system and enables further new business in areas such as airborne surveillance," says Saab Group President and CEO Åke Svensson. Saab and EMW have been working closely together for a long time. EMW currently delivers the radar for the Gripen fighter. The acquisition enables Saab to create scope of action to secure the Gripen´s long-term development. Moreover, the advanced airborne surveillance system, with EMW´s Erieye radar based on Saab 2000 aircraft, is already established on the international market.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Lockheed Martin announced the successful completion of a four-year program to integrate its precision-strike HELLFIRE II missile system--including the M299 "smart launcher"--with its first international helicopter launch platform, Eurocopter's Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter (ARH) for Australia. HELLFIRE scored seven target hits in seven shots in a test series that spanned more than six months, and demonstrated its capability in multiple flight/launch scenarios against different targets. Based on those successes, an eighth planned flight test was canceled by the customer. The series of tests began in May 2005 under the auspices of Australian Aerospace and with the cooperation of Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), the Australian Army, Eurocopter and Sagem (manufacturer of the sight), and the U.S. Army. It was conducted in two phases at Woomera, South Australia, using multiple launch scenarios and various targets to test approaches, ranges, altitudes and speeds, during daylight and nighttime conditions.
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AgustaWestland has announced that Kaan Air has been selected as an AgustaWestland Sales and Authorised Service Centre in Turkey. The process has already started and it will be completed within the end of 2006. Kaan Air will provide sales, maintenance and repair services as well as maintaining a spare parts inventory for a range of AgustaWestland helicopters including the A119 Koala, A109 Power, Grand and the AW139. Meanwhile, Medair, a subsidiary of the Turkish Esas Holding, will start operations with the new A109 Power. The aircraft displayed at Airex 2006 will enter service after the exhibition providing an air taxi and VIP services as well as EMS activities.
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At the PZL Swidnik factory in Poland the 500th airframe produced for AgustaWestland was handed over, marking 10 years of successful co-operation between the two companies. AgustaWestland has one of its most important and long-lasting industrial collaborations in Poland and the technology challenges faced with this cooperation has allowed the Polish aviation industry to meet the highest international aeronautical quality standards. PZL-Swidnik is a risk-sharing partner on the AgustaWestland AW139 programme, which has established this brand new medium twin helicopter as the benchmark helicopter in the medium-twin market. PZL Swidnik is also responsible for the production of fuselages and tail booms for all A109 Power, A109 LUH, A119 Koala and Grand helicopters. In 2001 PZL started the production of the fuselage for the AW139 medium-twin helicopter. Since then production numbers have increased with over 100 airframes being delivered by PZL Swidnik to AgustaWestland in 2005. Over 650 PZL Swidnik staff are now working on production of AgustaWestland airframes at the Swidnik plant.
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Petter Jansen, Chief Executive Officer of SAS Braathens, the Norwegian company within Scandinavian Airlines Businesses, will leave his position. He and the Board of the company have different views on a number of vital issues concerning the conpany's future strategies. SAS Braathens has produced good earnings, while implementing an arduous restructuring and merger process. "Petter has done a good job at SAS Braathens," says John S. Dueholm, Chairman of the company Board. "However, he and the Board do not share the same views on the desired strategic development. We have consequently agreed to part."
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Test flights of the Navy-built Guardian Griffin unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in May demonstrated a new capability to support U.S. joint forces with missions ranging from convoy escort and port security to combat patrol. Testing of the armed powered paraglider - conducted on both an Army and a naval installation - also confirmed the aeronautical and systems engineering expertise of junior engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, Va., who designed, built and tested the UAV. “Our young scientists and engineers learned that they can directly impact the warfighter through teaming, collaboration and thinking out of the box,” said NSWC Dahlgren Division Commander Capt. Joseph McGettigan. “Their design, construction and testing of this extraordinary combat UAV could provide our warfighters with significant new capabilities and make a difference in our military's ability to fight, win and come home safely.”
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The “Maulers” of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32, currently assigned aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65), are the first squadron to test the first-generation capabilities of the Low Altitude Navigation and targeting Infrared System for Night (LANTIRN) pod on their S-3 Viking aircraft. LANTIRN provides the aircraft with new capabilities, such as Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR), live video feedback to the ship for real-time use, and video recording for later intelligence debriefing. Future models of LANTIRN will include laser designation capabilities. This sophisticated sensor pod mounts on the aircraft's wing station and is operated by the naval flight officer (NFO) in the right front seat of the aircraft. LANTIRN will allow VS-32 to keep a closer eye on vessels near the carrier and its strike group.
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Boeing identified Virgin Blue Airlines as the carrier that last month exercised purchase rights for nine Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The order was previously included on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site, attributed to an unidentified customer. Deliveries of these airplanes to the Brisbane, Queensland, Australia-based low-cost carrier begin in 2008. The order is valued at $634.5 million at average list prices. Virgin Blue operates an all-Boeing fleet of 52 Next-Generation 737s and will use the new aircraft to replace leased planes in its fleet. "The Next-Generation 737 is a reliable and cost-efficient aircraft, which is essential in our competitive low-cost market," said Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue's CEO. "Combined with its passenger comfort and appeal, the Next-Generation 737 is the right choice for Virgin Blue. The Next-Generation 737 is an integral part of our growth strategy."
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Lockheed Martin executives were joined y members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, New York congressional delegation, and state and local elected officials, to formally open the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Integration Facility. "Today puts us one step closer to seeing a new presidential helicopter flying from the White House," said Bob Stevens, chairman president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin. "It is a tangible example of the commitment of the entire Lockheed Martin Corporation to the success of this critical program." The new 176,000-square-foot facility features aircraft integration hangars, program management and engineering office space, systems integration laboratories, aircraft parts storage, and maintenance and helicopter paint facilities. The complex also includes a new helicopter flight operations area.
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Pratt & Whitney Canada has received Transport Canada type certification for its new PW980A auxiliary power unit (APU). The PW980A will provide power for main engine starting, environmental control and electrical systems on the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial passenger jet. The certification enables P&WC to obtain Transport Canada's manufacturing approval and thereby begin delivery of production PW980A engines. “The certification of the newest and largest member of our PW900 family is an important milestone. The PW980A will continue the legacy of the PW900 family as the industry benchmark for APU reliability and durability,” said Alain M. Bellemare, president, P&WC.
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CAE has won orders for four full-flight simulators from Flight Simulation Company and Flight Training Finance. With a list-price value of C$52 million, these contracts bring the total number of full-flight simulator sales that CAE has announced in fiscal 2007 to seven. CAE has been selected to provide two Boeing 737-800 full-flight simulators and one Airbus A320 full-flight simulator to Flight Simulation Company's training facility at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. All three of the full-flight simulators will feature electro-mechanical motion systems and CAE Tropos II Enhanced visual systems. “We are pleased to partner with CAE, a company that is world-renowned for the quality and reliability of its leading-edge simulation technology. Having worked with CAE for many years, I can tell you that this reputation is well deserved,” said Captain Bob van Balen, Managing Director, Flight Simulation Company.
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The board of SAS Technical Services AB (STS) decided to focus its operations for aircraft maintenance around the three main airports in Scandinavia. As a consequence of this, the production base at Sola near Stavanger will be closed as of effect on August 31, 2006. A commission which has analyzed and evaluated STS' future operations gave its recommendation on June 1 this year. The conclusion was clear: Congregate all aircraft maintenance and locate it where the air traffic and customer-base are the highest - at the three main airports in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
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The Boeing EA-18G program test team reached a key milestone May 30 when it flew a modified F/A-18F equipped with wingtip antenna and high- and low-band jamming pods for the first time. The flight was part of ongoing flying qualities and carrier suitability testing to validate the EA-18G's shipboard effectiveness. The EA-18G Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, that has been flying from carriers since 1997. The three-month carrier suitability tests, flown by U.S. Navy pilots, include catapult launches and cable arrestments from test facilities at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Initial tests will measure aircraft loads to verify that the landing gear and airframe meet design specifications. The tests also will monitor the catapult and arrestment systems to assess if the Growler settings are accurate.
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Cessna Aircraft's first production Citation Mustang assembled in Independence, Kan., serial number 0003, took flight. The first flight was two weeks ahead of schedule. The flight lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, and completed all scheduled functional flight checks. Serial number 0003 will enter service this December as Cessna's first Mustang demonstrator aircraft. It is the fourth Mustang produced, and the first one that will not be used for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight testing. Mustangs 0004 through 0015 are currently on the production line at Cessna's manufacturing facility in Independence, Kan.
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The world's largest airborne astronomical observatory has passed a technical and programmatic review that could potentially lead to the continuation of the mission. NASA's Program Management Council concluded that there were no insurmountable technical or programmatic challenges to the continued development of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The agency has developed a technically viable plan to proceed with the development of the SOFIA aircraft, subject to the identification of appropriate funding offsets. Earlier this year, the decision had been made to discontinue funding in fiscal year 2007 as a result of technical, programmatic, and budget challenges affecting the program. The NASA Program Management Council is chaired by NASA Associate Administrator Rex Geveden and comprised of NASA headquarters and center senior management. We placed the program on hold last February because of programmatic nd technical issues," said Geveden. "Since that time, we have thoroughly reviewed the program and now are confident that SOFIA can resolve those issues. However, it is not yet clear whether SOFIA represents the best investment of space science funding, and we will need to consider funding options and sources before we decide to continue the mission." SOFIA has been under development since 1996 as an airborne astronomical observatory consisting of a 2.5-meter aperture telescope permanently installed in a specially-modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The aircraft, fitted with an open-port telescope provided through a partnership with the German Aerospace Center, will provide routine access to space observations in several parts of the spectrum beyond what is visible to the eye.
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Parliamentarians from 10 European countries met earlier this week in Brussels at the 8th European Interparliamentary Space Conference to discuss European space policy. Organised by the 2006 Belgian Presidency, the conference was held at the Belgian Senate in Brussels. Each year this Conference brings together members of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC), the EU and ESA Member States. Representatives of the Space organisations in Russia, China and the Ukraine also attended the three-day Conference which started on Monday 12 June. This year's Conference organised presentations and discussions on: current European space projects – Galileo and GMES; European space policy and international cooperation; space applications; human spaceflight; space and education. The Conference was chaired by Belgian Senator, François Roelants du Viviers, the 2006 EISC Chairman. On 13 June the ESA Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain and Paul Weissenberg, representing the EC Vice-President and Enterprise Commissioner Verheugen, addressed the EISC respectively on ESA's and EC's views on European space policy.
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Capt. Duane E. Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Oberstar-LoBiondo-Poe amendment to the Transportation-Treasury-HUD Appropriations bill. The amendment passed in an overwhelming 291-137 bipartisan vote and moves to block the Department of Transportation (DOT) from attempting to implement any change in the rules prohibiting foreign control of U.S. airlines. "Today's overwhelming bipartisan vote is a victory for the U.S. airline industry and for U.S. workers. Thanks to the leadership of Reps. Oberstar, LoBiondo, and Poe, the U.S. House has clearly spoken in powerful opposition to this reckless proposal. "This action is the latest battle in a campaign of opposition to the DOT proposal from all corners of Capitol Hill. One hundred ninety-three members of the House have co-sponsored H.R. 4542, which would prohibit the DOT from issuing a final rule for one year and would direct the Department to bring the proposal before Congress. "In addition, the House and Senate conference committee passed language in the Supplemental Appropriations conference report which directs the DOT not to issue a final rule for 120 days. With the House on record in overwhelming opposition, the DOT cannot justify proceeding with this rule." ALPA represents 61,000 airline pilots at 39 airlines in the U.S. and Canada.
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At the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, Saab is launching a brand new UAV system called the Skeldar V-150. The system has a wide range of civil and military applications. 13/06/2006 | Hurricane Katrina reaches New Orleans. The flood barrier that has been built to prevent the water from Lake Pontchartrain flowing freely into the city bursts, and large parts of New Orleans are soon under water. Trees are pulled up by their roots. Roads become impassable. Thousands of people are without electricity. An overview of the disaster is needed quickly. A five-year-old boy is reported as missing from home. He was last seen wearing jeans and a knitted red pullover. With the cold autumn air, combined with torrential rain, the boy runs the risk of catching hypothermia very quickly. A major search and rescue operation is initiated. A conflict flares up in southern Afghanistan. Heavy gunfire is reported, and several civilian victims are down. The UN's peacekeeping force has to be on site quickly, but their path is a perilous one with a high risk of ambush. “In all these situations, Saab's new vertical takeoff UAV, the Skeldar V-150, could have been deployed,” says Anders Carp, deputy programme manager for UAV operations at Saab. “An unmanned helicopter would have been able to gain an overall picture of Katrina's progress, could have helped find the missing boy, and could have gone ahead of the UN troops to monitor the road and provide a live status report.” There is virtually no end to the potential applications of the Skeldar V-150. The sensors fitted onto the vehicle largely determine the kind of mission it can best be used for.
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Locusta, a mini-UAV secondary aerial target drone, has received a qualification certificate from the German Ministry of Defence (BWB) for use as an Anti Radiation Missile Simulator (ARMS) for Tactical Firings by the German Airforce using the Patriot Weapon System. Locusta was entirely designed and developed by Galileo Avionica, a Finmeccanica company. The successful qualification programme for Locusta took place in Crete at the NAMFI firing range where the high-subsonic Mirach 100/5 aerial target, also designed and developed by Galileo Avionica, is now operating. A Mirach 100/5, equipped with two Locusta as sub-wing loads, carried out the flying programme. After releasing the first Locusta, intended to verify performance in terms of speed, capacity control, pre-programmed flight profile and radar augmentation, the qualification programme concluded with the release of the second Locusta for the Patriot missile interception and the Mirach 100/5 recovery.
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Raytheon Company's Enhanced Paveway II precision guided weapon demonstrated its continued reliability and unmatched accuracy by successfully hitting intended targets in a recent series of tests by the Royal Danish air force. The Enhanced Paveway II with dual-mode guidance successfully completed three-of-three operation test and evaluation drops, with one using GPS guidance only and two using GPS-to-laser terminal guidance. “We are exceptionally pleased with the high performance demonstrated by Enhanced Paveway II in all phases of flight test and eagerly await the extraordinary operational flexibility that these new dual-mode capabilities will bring to our arsenal,” said Warrant Officer M.H. Buch, Royal Danish air force program manager. The tests were conducted using the Danish EPAF F-16 aircraft, with an interim U.S. Air Force clearance. Full U.S. Air Force clearance for Enhanced Paveway II on the EPAF F-16 is scheduled for September 2006. EPAF F-16 aircraft are also flown by the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Portugal.
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Aurora Flight Sciences announced that Team GoldenEye, an industry team led by Aurora, has won a $23.6 million modification to a previously awarded contract and was selected for Phase III of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Organic Air Vehicle–II program. Team GoldenEye's system will give company commanders a self-contained capability to collect and act on intelligence, surveillance and targeting data in the quickly changing battlefield environment. GoldenEye-OAV is a possible candidate to fill the Class II unmanned aircraft requirement in the Army's Future Combat System by supporting company-sized (100 soldier) units. Team GoldenEye is led by Aurora Flight Sciences and includes General Dynamics Robotic Systems and Northrop Grumman. “By coupling GoldenEye's speed, endurance and low observable characteristics with General Dynamics' proven collision avoidance and command-and-control systems, we crafted the system commanders need today,” said Aurora Flight Sciences President John Langford. “GoldenEye's advanced payloads will increase commanders' situational awareness while the aircraft's low acoustic signature and form factor will prevent detection.”
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Goodrich announced that the Airbus announcement regarding the delivery schedule of A380 aircraft will reduce Goodrich's annual sales slightly during the 2006-2008 period. It is expected to have a negligible impact on net income per diluted share in 2006 and 2007. Cash flow is expected to be slightly reduced in 2006 as the company adjusts its material purchasing and production activities to align with the lower aircraft build rates. The company expects the impact on cash flow to be temporary, as excess inventory in 2006 is expected to be delivered in 2007.
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MTU Maintenance Hannover has secured a new customer when it recently inked a sole-source deal with the U.S.'s Gemini Air Cargo. The nine-year agreement, worth about 52 million euros, is for the repair and overhaul of 13 CF6-80C2 series engines. The first of the CF6-80C2s has already been received in Hannover. Launched 11 years ago, Gemini Air Cargo has a fleet of DC-10s and MD11s in all-cargo configuration, leasing them to numerous major airlines across the world. It expects to expand its present, 11-aircraft fleet in the coming years. During the signing ceremony, Gemini Air Cargo CFO Lawrence Kahn noted: "It was MTU Maintenance Hannover's service package, in conjunction with fair prices and the proverbial outstanding reliability and workmanship of the German company, that cinched the deal."
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his government will purchase 24 new Russian Sukhoi fighter jets this year to replace a fleet of U.S.-made F-16s. President Chavez made the announcement Wednesday in a speech before hundreds of soldiers at a military base in Caracas. Mr. Chavez also presented the troops with new Russian-made AK-103 rifles - part of an order of 100,000 of the weapons scheduled for delivery within the next six months. President Chavez said Venezuela is preparing for what he called the defense of sacred land. He has frequently warned that the United States could invade to seize control of Venezuela's oil reserves.
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The 1709th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle was performed Thursday, June 15, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:00 p.m. Baikonur time (10:00 a.m., in Paris). Starsem, Arianespace and their Russian partners report that the remote sensing spacecraft Resurs-DK was accurately placed on the target orbit. This was the fourth Soyuz family mission in 2006. The next Soyuz flight will launch the Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station, followed by the Starsem mission that will be accomplished for the European Eumetsat Organization, launching MetOp-A, the first European satellite in polar orbit dedicated to meteorology and climate observation.
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Saab AB of Sweden and South Africa's Denel have signed an Agreement regarding the creation of a new aerostructures company in South Africa which will compete on international markets for design, manufacturing, and assembly orders in the civil and defence aerostructures fields. At a ceremony in Stockholm today, South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises, Alec Erwin, Shaun Liebenberg CEO of Denel and Saab's CEO Åke Svensson signed agreements on the establishment, management, and shareholding structure of the new company. The company, which will receive a Saab investment of 66 MRAND and a proportional capital investment by Denel, will initially be 20 percent owned by Saab and 80% by Denel. It will begin operations with about 600 staff from Denel Aviation, will be led through the transformation process by a team of specialists deployed from Saab Aerostructures, and over time will be integrated with the Swedish operations. The turnover will initially be approximately 200 MRAND and is expected to grow significantly over the first years. "This partnership not only represents a very good business opportunity for Saab as we expand our aerostructures design and manufacturing capability while creating synergies in procurement, marketing and other areas. It is also another milestone as we consolidate our relationships and expand our presence in our second home market, South Africa", said Åke Svensson, CEO of Saab.
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Northrop Grumman, working closely with Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN), has begun flight testing a new radar antenna on the B-2 stealth bomber that, combined with other upgrades, will enhance the aircraft's ability to respond to emerging worldwide threats. Testing of the active, electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna on the B-2 represents a milestone for this radar modernization program because it allows engineers to determine, for the first time, how the radar operates under actual flight conditions. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the B-2, which remains the only long-range, large-payload aircraft that can penetrate deep into protected airspace. Combined with superior airspace control to be provided by the F-22 Raptor and global mobility provided by tanker aircraft, the B-2 will ensure an effective U.S. response to threats anywhere in the world. "The radar modernization program is one improvement the Air Force and Northrop Grumman are working on to enhance the B-2's capabilities," said Dave Mazur, vice president of Long Range Strike and B-2 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "The B-2's combination of long range, large payload and survivability makes it a unique strike asset, and the upgrades will ensure the aircraft remains just as effective in the future."
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Embraer convened seasoned pilots and aircraft owners from various regions of the world at its headquarters in Brazil. The advisory board met to evaluate the man-machine interface of the Phenom 300 Prodigy flight deck. Advisory board participants validated the intuitive design and functionality of the Phenom 300 cockpit and avionics suite. “With the positive feedback from the Man-Machine Interface Advisory Board, Embraer is confident that the cuttingedge technology in the Phenom's Prodigy flight deck will deliver superior situational awareness and intuitive singlepilot operation,” said Henrique Langenegger, Senior Program Manager - Phenom 100 e Comercial Phenom 300. Embraer's Phenom 300 program engineering group presented the aircraft systems to the advisory board for feedback on the architecture, functionality and visual representations of the instruments.
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Embraer's offices in Europe have moved to a new building in Villepinte, close to the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, a few miles North of Paris. The new facilities will group Embraer's activities, previously in two separate locations, and will serve Embraer operators located in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Embraer's new European headquarters occupies 67,866 square feet (6,305 square meters), including a state-of-the-art 37,458 square-feet (3,480 square-meter) warehouse. “We see the new building as a strong commitment from Embraer to the European, Middle Eastern and African markets. These new facilities will also play a significant role in the strategy for providing world-class service to our Airline, Defense and Executive aviation customers in the region,” said Luiz F. Fuchs, General Director, Embraer Aviation Europe. Embraer's France office personnel are involved in customer support, administration, information technology, and aircraft and spare parts sales. The opening of this new building represents a significant milestone for Embraer's growth in Europe since the inauguration of the first European facility in Le Bourget in May 1983.
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