|
|
+++ REGA orders eight Grand helicopters +++ EADS SIDM UAV flies in France +++ 400 th EC120 delivered +++ ISS gets new solar arrays +++ NATO nations want to buy C-17s +++ News in brief +++
REGA orders eight Grand helicopters
Neue Hubschrauber für die Schweizer REGA
AgustaWestland announced that eight Grand helicopters will equip the Swiss Air-Rescue, REGA, mountain rescue bases located throughout Switzerland. The Grand has been selected as the best helicopter capable of carrying out high altitude and high temperature rescue missions, following a rigorous evaluation process including test flight activities undertaken by REGA experts. The Grand will also carry out missions such as the rapid transfer of severe injured patients from hospital to hospital providing them with specialised medical treatment in flight. Speaking after the announcement, Renzo Lunardi, AgustaWestland's Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing said “We are delighted by the REGA decision to buy the AgustaWestland Grand, which will extend the long and successful collaboration between REGA and ourselves. The Grand is the best performing helicopter in the light twin engine class and will provide REGA an exceptional aircraft.” The selection of the Grand fits into the legacy established in 1989 when the prestigious Swiss Air-Rescue organisation selected the model A109K2 to perform its demanding mountain rescue missions. While, after twenty years, the A109K2 model remains unmatched by any competitor helicopter in the specific hot/high rescue role, today with the new Grand AgustaWestland provides the marketplace with its worthy, more capable and technologically advanced successor. The Grand configuration for REGA will be specifically equipped to satisfy their demanding requirements as it was for the REGA A109K2s.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
EADS SIDM UAV flies in France
Erstflug der neuen EADS-Drohne
EADS, in association with Israel Aircraft Industry (IAI), has successfully completed the first flight of a MALE UAV System in France. The drone SIDM (Système Intérimaire de Drone Male) flew from the Istres air base, the DGA (French armaments procurement agency) fly test centre with full communication package including satellite communication and line-of-sight data links. This flight, operated from the operational SIDM ground station, demonstrated the integrity of the UAV system, in particular the Automatic Take-Off and Landing (ATOL), satellite communication and the integral command and control functions. Hervé Guillou, as Head of Defence & Security Systems France, said: "The first flight of the SIDM in France is a great success for our highly qualified project team and another convincing proof of our capabilities in the area of UAV technologies."
The SIDM Programme is led by the French armaments directorate DGA (Délégation Générale pour l'Armement). SIDM is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System of the latest generation. Designed for carrying out surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence missions as well as target acquisition and missions over long distance, by day and night as well as in all weather conditions with integrated anti icing system, SIDM can be used as an independent ISTAR system or as a key component of a full C4ISR system.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
400 th EC120 delivered
Eurocopter liefert weiter EC120 in USA
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department (SCSD) has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC120. It is the 400th EC120 to be received by a customer since the first EC120 was delivered in 1998. Able to carry a pilot and four passengers, the single-engine EC120 is a highly versatile, rugged, and tough helicopter. Equipped with a Turbomeca ARRIUS 2F turbine engine, the EC120 can achieve a fast cruise speed of 122 kts, and operate in a wide range of temperature and weather conditions. Today, EC120s are performing important air support duties for police departments around the world. With four helicopters in its roster, the SCSD Air Support Bureau is now fully equipped to conduct patrols in concert with local police and Homeland Defense personnel, and to provide fast response in time-critical missions such as locating missing children. Thanks to the mobility of this unit, the average response time for the Air Support Unit is an impressive 2 minutes.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
ISS gets new solar arrays
Astronauten montieren Sonnensegel
The second of four pairs of massive solar arrays and a Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ), built by Lockheed Martin at its Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale, have been installed on the International Space Station by the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis. The two new solar arrays have been deployed and are generating electricity. When brought on line during the STS-116 mission in December, they will nearly double the power available to the Space Station. A second rotary joint and a third pair of solar arrays will be delivered to ISS on STS-117 in early 2007. The Space Systems ISS solar arrays are the largest deployable space structure ever built and are by far, the most powerful electricity-producing arrays ever put into orbit. When the Station is completed a total of eight flexible, deployable solar array wings will generate the reliable, continuous power for the on-orbit operation of the ISS systems. The eight array wings were designed and built under a $450 million contract from the Boeing-Rocketdyne Division in Canoga Park, Calif., for delivery to the Boeing Company and NASA.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis crew entered the International Space Station complex on 11 September at 7:35 a.m. CDT giving a wave and smiles to Mission Control operators on the ground in Houston. The shuttle and space station docked this morning at 5:48 a.m. CDT to begin seven days of joint operations. Hatch opening between the two spacecraft occurred at 7:30 a.m. CDT with a joyful welcome of hugs and smiles. Prior to docking, Commander Brent Jett flew Atlantis through an orbital back flip while stationed about 600 feet below the space station. The maneuver allowed the Expedition 13 crew to take a series of high-resolution photographs of the orbiter's heat shield. Following docking, Pilot Chris Ferguson and Mission Specialist Dan Burbank attached the shuttle's robotic arm to the 17.5-ton P3/P4 truss, lifted it from its berth in the payload bay, and maneuvered it for handover to the station's Canadarm2.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NATO nations want to buy C-17s
C-17-Transporter für die NATO?
On 12 September, a Letter of Intent (LOI) has been publicly released by 13 NATO Allies to launch contract negotiations for the purchase of C-17 transport aircraft. On behalf of these nations, the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) has begun negotiations with Boeing and the development of a formal Weapons System Partnership among the nations. This follows six months of intense negotiations among Allies. In addition to the LOI, the 13 nations have developed a plan to create “NATO Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC)” based at Ramstein Air Force Base. Initially comprised of 3 to 4 C-17s, the SAC will be flown by multinational aircrews (pilots and loadmasters) and a multinational military structure will be created to command and control the aircraft. Discussions are underway with NATO's NAEW&C Force Command, the unit which flies the NATO AWACS, to determine the appropriate military organizational structure. Because of the urgent operational need for strategic airlift, the SAC nations intend to conclude contract negotiations this year, and have the goal of receiving the first C-17 by the middle or end of next year. Plans are already underway to identify pilots for training at US Air Force facilities. Additional planes are called for to be delivered every six months. Thus the initial operating capability is planned for 3rd Quarter, 2007 with full operating capability in 2009.
The concept behind the SAC is similar to the SALIS (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution) arrangement, which involves the chartering of An-124 aircraft. The 13 NATO nations will fly the planes based on sovereign national requirements. While these national requirements will often be related to NATO operations, they may also be exclusively of a national character, or for UN, EU, or other international purposes (e.g., humanitarian airlift and disaster relief). The SAC planes will be configured in the same way as the C-17s flown by the US Air Force and the UK Royal Air Force. The air crews will be trained to the same basic standards, including air-to-air refueling and night vision operations.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Pending approval by the relevant court, Lufthansa reached a settlement agreement with plaintiffs' representatives according to which it will pay US$85 million to settle class action lawsuits pending in the US. Lufthansa and numerous other airlines are alleged to have been involved in price fixing activities in the air cargo industry. Following court approval, Lufthansa – including Lufthansa Cargo AG and Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. – would be released from the pending US civil class actions. Lufthansa has applied for leniency to the US Department of Justice, the EU Commission and other cartel authorities in other countries and received conditional immunity.
+++
During the EU/South Korea summit held in Helsinki, the two parties formally signed an agreement on co-operation on the European satellite radio navigation programme GALILEO. The agreement provides for numerous areas of co-operation, including cooperative activities in the areas of scientific research and training, industrial cooperation, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures. Welcoming the outcome of the negotiations, European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot declared: “We are particularly pleased to count the Republic of Korea as an important partner in satellite navigation. The country has the know-how to exploit Galileo's state-of-the art technology, particularly in mass markets, and we plan to jointly develop activities for advanced applications which will not only benefit citizens but also increase safety and efficiency in many sectors”. The agreement, which paves the way for the Republic of Korea's active participation in the GALILEO programme, was signed by Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner, representing the European Commission, Mr Erkki Tuomioja, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the Finnish Presidency, and Mr Ban ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, representing the Republic of Korea.
+++
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that Tadiran Spectralink Ltd. (Spectralink), a member of the Elisra Group, won a contract for the supply of the advanced PCR-434G/SV Personal Survival Radio (PSR) to the German Air Force. The current order, for approximately US$8 million, is anticipated to result in follow-on orders for additional quantities of the PSR, intended for other branches of the German military, plus a comprehensive Integrated Logistics Support package. Other European countries are expected to follow suit. The PCR-434G/SV was developed by Spectralink to meet the needs and requirements of the German Armed Forces and according to specifications established by the German Air Force. With its exclusive features, plus reduced weight and volume, this is the smartest and smallest PSR currently available in its class.
+++
The six-nation Meteor air dominance missile was successfully fired again at the FMV missile test range at Vidsel in northern Sweden on 5th September as part of the ongoing Air-Launched Demonstration (ALD) campaign. The firing, the third in the campaign, follows shortly on from firings conducted on 9 May 2006 and 20 June 2006. As with the first two firings, this third missile firing was rail-launched from a SAAB Aerosystems Gripen combat aircraft flying at an altitude of 23,000ft. The flight profile of the missile was, however, different to the previous two firings in order to gather data about Meteor's operating capability under these specific conditions. The data gathered from this firing will be utilised in the further development of the missile. The purpose of the ALD campaign is to demonstrate the maturity of the missile development programme, gather data on the missile's performance and its characteristics during launch and free flight, and provide an opportunity to identify issues which may affect the missile's development such that these can then be resolved at an early stage.
+++
On September 10, 2006, EADS was notified by the Russian Vneshtorgbank (VTB) that VTB had acquired 5.02 % of the EADS capital. In the last days public statements by interested parties were made that this shareholding position in the free float could be extended to a blocking minority. As Chairmen of the Board of EADS we want to clarify the position of the Company. We welcome any investment in our share base as a manifestation of interest and confidence in the long run success of EADS as an important player in the global aerospace industry. We have expressed in the past and would like to restate our great interest in extending the cooperation between EADS and the excellent Russian aerospace industry. We are confident in the promising future of existing cooperations, and we are interested to further extend their scope and enrich their content in major fields of technology. While Russian aircraft industry is progressing rapidly, we see a great potential for strategic partnerships including joint investments into new aeronautical programs on either side. EADS is already fully engaged in high level industrial discussions with Russian aerospace industry to define further steps and details of this cooperation. At the same time we have to emphasize that EADS has a strictly defined corporate governance structure and is organized under a set of rules that clearly stipulate the rights and powers of shareholders as related to Company oversight and management. These rules, which were established at the foundation of the Company when the today controlling industrial shareholders, DaimlerChrysler, Sogeade and Sepi, merged all their aerospace assets into EADS, clearly described in the EADS registration document and therefore transparent to the public, are such that the majority rights held by the contractual partnership of the controlling shareholders may not be circumvented by individual ownership positions within the free float of EADS. The existing corporate governance rules and structure have proved their efficiency for all shareholders. It would not be in the interest of the Company to change corporate governance or enlarge the group of industrial shareholders. On this basis, EADS and its shareholders welcome the perspective of a stronger cooperation between EADS and the Russian industry.
+++
NASA will fund a dozen new research proposals to better understand and reduce the risks that crews of future moon and Mars missions could face from space radiation. The total potential value of the selected proposals is approximately $14 million. The health risks of radiation during space travel may include cancer, degenerative tissue damage -- including damage to the central nervous system -- and acute radiation sickness. The new research may help in the development of effective shielding or biological countermeasures for radiation exposure. The research is part of NASA's Space Radiation Program. The goal of the program is to assure astronauts can safely live and work in the space radiation environment, anywhere, anytime. Space radiation is different from forms of radiation encountered on Earth. Radiation in space consists of high-energy protons, heavy ions and secondary byproducts created when the protons and heavy ions pass through spacecraft shielding and human tissue. Since the data available on human exposure to these radiation types are limited, the risks of exposure are derived from an understanding based on radiation physics and radiation biology. The more research data collected, the more confident NASA can be that astronauts will be protected.
+++
The European Commission, acting under the state aid rules of the EC Treaty, has approved a EUR 100 million R&D support measure proposed by the French authorities for Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS. It is a cash advance to be reimbursed if the project is commercially successful. The aim of the project is to develop a new medium-size helicopter known as EC175 under a Franco-Chinese cooperation scheme. The Commission considers that the project complies with the criteria of the Community Framework for state aid for research and development and can therefore be declared compatible with the EC Treaty (Article 87). Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes stated: “I am happy to be able to approve an aid project which promotes research in a leading-edge technology sector”. The project for developing a new medium-size (6 to 8 tonnes) civilian helicopter will cover the period 2006 – 2011. The EC175 will be developed and built by Eurocopter, a firm wholly owned by EADS, jointly with Chinese partners. It will include a number of innovations offering better environmental performances and enhanced safety. The EC175 will also be able to fly in more difficult weather conditions than today's helicopters. Delivery is not scheduled to begin before 2011. State support would cover 29% of Eurocopter's research and development expenditure. Public-sector involvement would aim to reduce the technological risk and encourage the firm to undertake more extensive and more ambitious research. Eurocopter would increase its ratio of research and development expenditure in relation to turnover by 2 points.
+++
Rockwell Collins introduced dPAVES, a digital upgrade to its PAVES programmable audio video entertainment system. The new system will be available in early 2008 as a retrofit solution for Airbus and Boeing narrow body aircraft. Discussions to finalize line-fit offerability are on-going with both aircraft manufactures. Rockwell Collins is also enhancing PAVES by offering a new 10-inch retractable LCD display for Airbus customers. The new display joins a 10.4-inch display currently offered for Boeing aircraft and an 8.4-inch display available for Airbus aircraft. The new 10-inch retractable LCD will begin deliveries in early 2007. "The introduction of dPAVES represents a significant technological enhancement in in-flight entertainment, as well as size, weight and power reductions over our already popular PAVES product which is in place at more than 100 airlines around the world," said Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. "For many of our current customers, dPaves provides the ability to upgrade from analog to digital technology, without the cost of installing a completely new system."
+++
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin named William (Bill) W. Parsons the new director of the agency's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., effective in January 2007. Parsons succeeds James W. Kennedy, who is retiring. Parsons currently serves as deputy director of NASA Kennedy Space Center, a position he has held since February. As space shuttle program manager, Parsons led the return-to-flight activities for the agency and played a major role in the success of the Discovery STS-114 mission. His first stint as NASA's Stennis Space Center director, Stennis, Miss., came in August 2002. He was first assigned to Stennis in 1997 as the chief of operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate. Parsons relocated to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to become the director of the Center Operations Directorate. He later served as the deputy director of Johnson. He returned to Stennis in 2001 and served as director of the Center Operations and Support Directorate.
+++
On Sunday, September 17, SAS, Scandinavian Airlines System, celebrated its 60th anniversary as an airline. Sixty years ago, the airline undertook its first scheduled transatlantic flight, from Stockholm-Bromma to New York. Since then, SAS has written aviation history on several occasions. SAS was formed in 1946 through the merger of three Nordic airlines. The contract for a joint Scandinavian airline was signed in the early hours of August 1 and a short time later the first flight to New York was operated. The two American pilots who were on board the inaugural flight are now in Scandinavia to celebrate the anniversary at the ages of 86 and 82.
+++
Air Methods, the largest air medical transportation provider in the United States, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with American Eurocopter to purchase ten AS350 B2/B3 “AStar” helicopters annually, on an indefinite basis. The AStars will join Air Methods' current fleet of approximately 200 rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, which includes Eurocopter, Bell, MD and Sikorsky helicopters. “We need additional aircraft because of the forecasted requirements for single engineplatforms in the medical field, and to replace older aircraft which are more costly to operate and maintain” says Archie Gray, Air Methods' Vice President of Technical Services. “We like the A-Star because of the open cabin, the economical cost of operation and commonality within our fleet.” By adding B2s and B3s to its fleet on a continuing basis, Air Methods is achieving a fine balance between price, performance, and power.
+++
Boeing and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings today announced the carrier has ordered 12 747-8 Freighters, making Atlas the North American launch customer for the airplane. At list prices, the order is valued at about $3.4 billion. Atlas will begin taking delivery of the airplanes in 2010 and expects all 12 aircraft to be in service by the end of 2011. "With this order, Atlas Air remains the leader in providing the capacity and operational flexibility required by our air cargo customers using the state-of-the art freighter platform," said William J. Flynn, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Atlas operates the world's largest fleet of Boeing 747 Freighters, with 20 747-400 and 15 747-200 Freighters in service with operators throughout the world. The 747-8F, which has a common pilot type rating and more than 70 percent parts commonality with the 747-400F, assures Atlas a seamless and low-cost introduction of the new airplane into its fleet.
+++
Boeing has been selected by the U.S. Army as one of six contractors to provide satellite communications systems and services for the World-Wide Satellite Systems program under a five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract valued at up to $5 billion. The contract calls for six satellite terminal types, operating on a variety of military and commercial satellite bands, including C, Ku, X and Ka, and services for satellite operation and sustainment. The six types include combat support service very small aperture terminal (VSAT); fixed station satellite terminal; flyaway VSAT satellite terminal; military certified satellite terminal; prime mover/trailer mounted satellite terminal; and deployable satellite earth terminal.
+++
The first intermediate synthesis review of the nEUROn programme (Europe's UCAV Demonstrator) took place on September 6th and 7th, 2006 at Dassault Aviation facilities - Saint-Cloud. This review allowed the industrial partners - Dassault Aviation, Alenia Aeronautica, SAAB, EADS CASA, HAI and RUAG Aerospace - to present to the French Executive Agency (DGA), and to the government representatives participating to the programme - Segredifesa, FMV, DGAM, GDA and Armasuisse - the results obtained after 6 months of feasibility studies. The synthesis addressed in particular the definition of the external shape of the vehicle and systems resulting from the necessary trade offs to fulfill the performance and low observability targets of the project, as well as to allow the flight of a large vehicle without pilot supervised from a ground station. The results are satisfactory and allow to consider optimistically the next steps of the programme.
+++
Wind tunnel testing for the Bell Boeing Quad Tiltrotor model (QTR) was completed at the NASA Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). Installation of the 1/5th scale model into the sophisticated and unique TDT facility began June 27, 2006, with test operations conducted by Bell, NASA and U.S. Army Research Laboratory personnel. The QTR tiltrotor concept is a four-engine C-130-sized aircraft with the capability of taking off, hovering and landing like a conventional helicopter as well as flying with the high speed and range of a fixed-wing turboprop airplane by rotating its outboard nacelles from the vertical to
the horizontal position.
+++
Delta Air Lines this winter will continue its historic expansion between Los Angeles and Mexico and Central America with new nonstop service between the City of Angels and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Managua, Nicaragua, effective Dec. 15 and 16, respectively. Delta's new service to Managua will operate two-times weekly while flights to the vacation hotspot of Puerto Vallarta will operate daily. Both routes are subject to foreign government approvals.
+++
Air China has chosen Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to power its new fleet of 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The deal, which marks the Trent 1000's first selection by a Chinese carrier, is valued at $800 million, including a long-term TotalCare maintenance agreement. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in June 2008. Mr Li Jiaxiang, Chairman of Air China, said: “The decision to select the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 was taken after a careful evaluation and successful negotiation. It meets the operational requirements of our Boeing 787 fleet, and the choice will be beneficial to Air China's development. Air China and Rolls-Royce have a well established collaborative relationship, and we believe that this relationship will broaden in future.”
+++
Boeing said that world air cargo growth is expected to expand at an average annual rate of 6.1 percent during the next two decades, with a three-fold increase in worldwide air freight. The information is included in Boeing's World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/2007, released today at the International Air Cargo Forum and Exposition 2006. Boeing has published the World Air Cargo Forecast, widely acknowledged as the definitive industry forecast of worldwide air cargo traffic growth and freighter aircraft demand, as an individual report since 1986. The new forecast is available here. "Air cargo markets linked to Asia will continue to lead other markets through 2025, led by the highest growth in intra-Asia and domestic China traffic," said Nicole Piasecki, vice president, Business Strategy & Marketing - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "International air cargo traffic growth will be driven by increased international trade, increased liberalization of air services and the improving technologies that our industry continues to incorporate: increases in lower hold capacity and more fuel-efficient freighters. Cargo tends to lead liberalization, which is a driver of economic growth." Boeing expects that the growth of Asian air cargo markets will exceed the expectations of the forecast from two years ago, with the domestic Chinese and intra-Asian markets expanding 10.8 percent and 8.6 percent per year, respectively. In addition, Asia- North America will average 7.1 percent and Europe-Asia will average 6.9 percent. More mature markets, such as North America and intra-Europe, will grow more slowly than the world average, as will routes involving Latin America and the Middle East. Europe-Southwest Asia will experience slightly higher than average growth, at 6.2 percent. "Although 2005 traffic growth was a bit subdued, due to fuel prices, the long-term outlook is for historical trends to prevail," said Tom Crabtree, regional director, Marketing - Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and a primary forecast author. "Spot jet fuel prices increased 42 percent in 2005 and have continued to increase in 2006, but in spite of these increases, traffic is continuing to grow, experiencing a 3.1 percent increase for the first six months of 2006, compared with 2005." Overall, Boeing predicts the world freighter fleet will increase to 3,563 airplanes from 1,789 during the 20-year forecast period, with the greatest growth in wide body freighters such as the Boeing 747, 777 and 767. This category ultimately will represent 64 percent of the fleet, compared to 50 percent today, eventually constituting more than 90 percent of total freighter capacity.
+++
The Air Force Chief of Staff announced "Reaper" has been chosen as the name for the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle. The Air Force is the Department of Defense's executive agent for designating and naming military aerospace vehicles. In the case of the Reaper, Gen. T. Michael Moseley made the final decision after an extensive nomination and review process, coordinated with the other Services. "The name Reaper is one of the suggestions that came from our Airmen in the field. It's fitting as it captures the lethal nature of this new weapon system," Moseley said.
+++
Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne announced that they have teamed together in preparation for NASA's Ares I Upper Stage procurement, planned for early 2007. The three companies have developed a complementary relationship, leveraging their strong experience and capabilities on NASA Human Space Flight programs to provide the Ares I project a springboard to minimize program costs, maintain aggressive development and test schedules, and reduce the technical risk going forward. As a team, the three companies are natural partners for this upper stage effort because of the Ares I work already under way - and the interrelationships between those efforts. ATK is responsible for the Ares I first stage hardware, which includes the interface and separation with the upper stage. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is responsible for the liquid-fuel J-2x engine and related interfaces with the main propulsion system of the Ares I upper stage. And Lockheed Martin is providing the avionics for the early Ares I -1 test flight - and is a recognized industry expert on large cryogenic tanks that are essential to Ares I success.
+++
China has launched the telecommunications satellite Zhongxing-22A to further boost the nation's communications facilities ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in southwest Chinese province of Sichuan. The Xi'an Satellite Monitoring and Controlling Centre reported that Zhongxing-22A successfully entered onto the preset orbit, at a perigee of 207 kilometres and an apogee of 42,000 kilometres. Zhongxing-22A, an earth-synchronous telecommunications satellite is designed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology which is scheduled to operate for eight years under the China Aerospace Technology Group Company. It has been the 10th successful launch in succession of the Long March-3A and the 91st launch of the Long March rocket carriers.
+++
For the first time in its 52-year history, the Japan Air Self Defense Force began its first United Nations mission over the skies of Iraq Sept. 6. The first flight of the new mission landed safely at Baghdad International Airport before returning to its forward deployed location in Southwest Asia later that day. The mission, transporting U.N. members and cargo for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, adds to Japan's already established role of air transporting coalition troops and cargo. While the JASDF C-130s will continue the majority of their flights in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the planes now have a dedicated mission solely for personnel and cargo on U.N. flights. “Although the Japan Self Defense Force has experienced this kind of extended period in operations abroad, such as PKO (Peace Keeping Operations) in Cambodia, this is the first time the Air Self Defense Force has taken on a U.N. mission in Iraq ,” said Col. Shunji Izutsu, Japanese liaison officer to U.S. Central Command Air Forces.
+++
MD Helicopters announced it has reduced AOGs aircraft (Aircraft-On-Ground) by 90 percent since the company's July 2005 acquisition by Patriarch Partners, LLC, a $5 billion private investment firm which holds a controlling interest in MDHI. MDHI has reached another significant milestone in that it now able to provide both routine and higher priority parts on the same day the order is received in over 80 percent of the cases. The company has also been able to fill 90 percent of customer AOG orders in less than 72 hours.
+++
NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will extend its Checkout, Assembly, and Payload Processing Services contract for three years with Boeing Space Operations Company of Titusville, Fla., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, Chicago. The contract extension and modification, valued at $278.5 million, covers Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2009. The total contract value including exercised and unexercised options is approximately $846
million.
+++
Raytheon has been awarded a $950,000 U.S. Air Force contract to demonstrate improvements to space situational awareness. The program will significantly contribute to determining the approach for accomplishing the Air Force's mission of being able to identify, track and determine the behavior of all space objects in earth orbit. Under the contract, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will conduct simulations to assess the information fusion technology and architecture and study the integration of this capability with available space surveillance and intelligence systems. "This contract is an important step toward supporting our customer's need for greatly expanded tracking and identification of payloads launched by other countries," said Mary Petryszyn, vice president of Joint Battlespace Integration for IDS. "This is a mission area that is increasingly becoming more critical to the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Congress. For our proposed solution we will be the systems integrators of core technologies needed to improve space situational awareness.”
+++
AgustaWestland announced that the 11 and final A109 LOH helicopter for the Malaysian Army Aviation was handed over 12 September at AgustaWestland's Vergiate factory in Italy. Accepting the last LOH, on behalf of the Malaysian Army Aviation, were Lt. Gen. Datuk Muhammad Ismail bin Hj. Jamaluddin – Deputy Chief of Malaysian Army, and Col. Mohd Amin bin Mohd Razi – Director of Army Aviation. The aircraft, will now join the other 10 aircraft. This event marks the conclusion of a successful delivery programme which started in December 2005 with the handover of the first aircraft at the LIMA 2005 air show.
+++
Boeing confirmed Hainan Airlines' order for 15 Boeing Next-Generation 737 airplanes, completing a 150-airplane order by the China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Xiamen Airlines earlier this year placed orders for 65 Boeing Next-Generation 737s that were identified on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site in August. China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group originally announced its intentions to order 150 airplanes in November 2005. The first 50 of those Next-Generation 737 airplanes were booked in December 2005 with an additional 20 booked in January 2006. The orders signed between the eight carriers and Boeing are valued at about $10 billion, based on average list prices. These airplanes are scheduled for delivery between 2006 and 2010.
+++
NASA has awarded a potential five-year, $448.86 million contract extension to Lockheed Martin Space Operations Co., Houston, for space shuttle and International Space Station mission operations support work. This action extends the original Mission Support Operations Contract awarded Sept. 30, 2003, that expires in October 2006. The two-year extension, valued at $179,217,545, begins October 2006 and continues through September 2008. Three pre-priced, one-year options could continue the contract to September 2011, amounting to $448,863,617 for the full five-year extension.
+++
A new contract was signed in Rome by Hellenic Aerospace Industry's (HAI) CEO Tassos Philippakos and Alenia Aeronautica's CEO Giovanni Bertolone. The Euro 27,5-million contract - that will expand the industrial co-operation between the two companies already launched through previous Euro 97 million contracts signed - concerns the manufacturing and assembly of structural panels of the new C-130J transport aircraft and has a time span of six years (2007-2013). The agreement is the outcome of enduring efforts by HAI and Alenia Aeronautica as well as Finmeccanica, Alenia Aeronautica's parent company, to establish a long-lasting strategic international partnership between Italian and Greek aerospace, defence and security industries.
+++
The 1712th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle was performed Thursday, September 14, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:41 p.m. Baikonur time (3:41 p.m., in Paris). Starsem, Arianespace and their Russian partners report that the governmental spacecraft was accurately placed on the target orbit. This was the seventh Soyuz family mission in 2006.
+++
Even as rising fuel costs and turbulent airline profits have decreased demand for ground-based flight simulation solutions, the entry of very light jets (VLJs) and wide and narrow- body aircraft such as Boeing 787 and Airbus 380 in North America will regenerate opportunities for comprehensive, integrated flight simulators and simulation solutions for airlines and operators. Over 70 orders to date of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Air Canada, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines, and 20 orders of Airbus 380 freighters for air cargo services FedEx and UPS will significantly add to the market's growth potential. The introduction of approximately 2,000 VLJs into the commercial aviation market during the forecast period is likely to open another new aircraft segment for flight simulation training solutions (FSTSs) providers. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, North American Commercial & Military Ground-Based Flight Simulation Markets, reveals that revenues in this market totaled $2.01 billion in 2005 and can reach $2.78 billion in 2012.
+++
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Previous UPDATES are still available:
10 September 2006
3 September 2006
27 August 2006
20 August 2006
13 August 2006
6 August 2006
30 July 2006
23 July 2006
16 July 2006
25 June 2006
18 June 2006
11 June 2006
4 June 2006
28 May 2006
21 May 2006
14 May 2006
7 May 2006
30 April 2006
23 April 2006
16 April 2006
9 April 2006
2 April 2006
26 March 2006
19 March 2006
12 March 2006
5 March 2006
26 February 2006
19 February 2006
12 February 2006
5 February 2006
29 January 2006
22 January 2006
15 January 2006
8 January 2006
January - December 2005
January - December 2004
January - December 2003
January - December 2002
January - December 2001
January to December 2000
January to December 1999
January to December 1998
January to December 1997
September to December 1996
|
|
