+++ Kayser-Threde to build EnMAP +++ Netherlands first to sign on for next phase of F-35 +++ US Airways proposes to merge with Delta +++ easyJet buys another 52 Airbus A319 +++ Tyrolean uses Head-up Guidance System +++ NASA completes first review of Orion +++ News in brief +++
Kayser-Threde to build EnMAP
Satellitenauftrag für Kayser-Threde
With the German satellite EnMAP's (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) launch in 2011 a revolutionary satellite for optical earth observation will be put into orbit. The environment scout EnMAP is based on hyper spectral technology and was primarily designed for the characterization of the Earth's state and the further monitoring of our planet. It is a future-oriented system ideally suited for a variety of new applications and has potential for military utilization, too. Owing to EnMAP, Germany comes into position for claiming a leading role in Europe's optical remote sensing arena. The contract places Kayser-Threde in a prime role both for the development of the optical system and for the satellite. The project has entered into development phase B which shall lead in 2008 to the manufacture of the satellite and the optical instrument. The industrial core team comprises OHB System AG of Bremen as sub-contractor for the satellite bus. The scientific lead is with the GeoForschungszentrum Potsdam (GFZ) acting as prime investigator (PI). Consequently, GFZ defined the requirements of the optical hyper spectral instrument and will coordinate the respective data evaluation. EnMAP is expected to initiate the commercialization of hyper spectral data in close cooperation with the value adding industry.
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Netherlands first to sign on for next phase of F-35
F-35-Serienphase mit den Niederlanden
On 14 November, the Netherlands became the first of the F-35 partner nations to extend its participation into the production and support phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Netherlands Deputy Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England signed the Production, Sustainment and Follow-On Development Memorandum of Understanding (PSFD MOU), which extends cooperation in the program beyond the current System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. "Because of the extremely hard work of a very dedicated team over a couple of years, the Netherlands and the United States were able to take this very historic step toward building a powerful international coalition," said Brig. Gen. C.R. Davis, F-35 Lightning II program executive officer.
Once the PSFD MOU signing process is complete, the partners will cooperatively develop, produce, test, train and operate the F-35 Lightning II. The Netherlands joined as an SDD partner in June 2002 and has been involved in the JSF program since 1997. The other F-35 partner nations -- the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway -- are expected to sign the PSFD MOU by the end of December.
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US Airways proposes to merge with Delta
Riesen-Fusion vorgeschlagen
On 15 November, US Airways Group announced that it has made a merger proposal to Delta Air Lines under which both companies would combine upon Delta's emergence from bankruptcy. The proposal would provide approximately $8.0 billion of value in cash and stock to Delta's unsecured creditors. Delta creditors would receive $4.0 billion in cash and 78.5 million shares of US Airways stock with an aggregate value of approximately $4.0 billion based on the closing price of US Airways' stock as of Nov. 14, 2006. The combination of US Airways and Delta would create one of the world's largest airlines and would operate under the Delta name. Customers would benefit from expanded choice as well as the reach and services of a large-scale provider within the cost structure of a low-fare carrier. As a combined company, the "New" Delta would be the number one airline across the Atlantic and the second largest airline to the Caribbean. The New Delta would reach more than 350 destinations across five continents, including North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. In the U.S., the combination would create a leading competitor in the Eastern U.S. and an enhanced position in the Western U.S. The combined company would be the number one airline at 155 airports. The New Delta would also be uniquely positioned to compete with low cost and legacy carriers.
US Airways' proposal represents a 25 percent premium over the current trading price of Delta's prepetition unsecured claims as of Nov. 14, 2006 (40 cents/dollar), assuming that there will ultimately be $16.0 billion of unsecured claims. The proposal also represents a 40 percent premium over the average trading price for Delta unsecured claims over the last thirty days. US Airways believes that the combination will generate at least $1.65 billion in annual synergies, including $935 million in network synergies, predominantly from optimization of the airlines' complementary networks, including rationalization of network overlap, which will result in a 10 percent reduction of the combined airlines' capacity, reducing unprofitable flying and improving the mix of traffic. In addition, $710 million in net cost synergies will be achieved by combining facilities in overlap airports and eliminating redundant systems and overhead. Significantly, the opportunity to generate more than half of these synergies could be lost if a merger is delayed until after Delta emerges from bankruptcy. The merger is expected to be accretive to US Airways' earnings in the first full year after completion of the merger.
US Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker stated, "We believe that the combination of US Airways and Delta, like the US Airways / America West merger we completed in September 2005, is extremely compelling and will create significant value for each of our stakeholders. The combined company will be a more effective and profitable competitor in the current fragmented marketplace, with the ability to better meet the continuing evolution of the airline industry. We will be flying under the Delta brand name, which is recognized around the world. "Even with a 10 percent reduction in capacity, all existing U.S. destinations served today by US Airways and Delta will remain part of the new, improved network. Consumers will have the advantages of a larger, full-service airline with the cost structure of a low-fare carrier, and the communities we serve, as well as those Delta serves, will have access to a wider range of network options. More than ever, the New Delta will be able to connect our customers to the people and places they want to visit.
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easyJet buys another 52 Airbus A319
Billigflieger bestätigt optionen
easyJet announces that it has reached agreement with the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, to exercise existing options (“Additional Purchase Rights”) over 52 Airbus A319 aircraft for delivery between 2008 and 2010 and to secure new options over a further 75 A320 family aircraft. This will underpin easyJet's growth over the coming years and ensures that the airline continues to operate some of the cleanest, quietest aircraft available. It will also help to secure thousands of European manufacturing jobs. The announcement means that easyJet now has 104 aircraft on firm order with Airbus, with a list price of over $4 billion, and holds purchase rights over a further 123 aircraft. The total size of easyJet's order of Airbus aircraft (including options), first announced in October 2002, is 315. Of these, 88 have already been delivered. The exercise of the 52 options is subject to shareholder approval.
Under the agreement, dated 30 December 2002, and made between easyJet plc and Airbus G.I.E. (the “Airbus Contract”), the Company agreed to purchase 120 new Airbus A319 aircraft and was granted the right to purchase, at the same basic price, up to 120 additional Airbus A319 aircraft “Additional Purchase Rights”. The agreement was conditional upon shareholder approval which was obtained at an Extraordinary General Meeting on 12 March 2003. easyJet announced that it had exercised Additional Purchase Rights over 20 Airbus A319 aircraft on 22 December 2005. The terms of purchase of these 52 aircraft, including the basic price, certain purchase incentives and credits made available and the terms of payment are substantially the same as those for the purchase of the first 120 aircraft under the Airbus Contract, which were described in the circular to shareholders dated 24 February 2003 (the “Circular”). However, in recognition of the exercise of the Additional Purchase Rights and the release of the undertaking referred to above, Airbus has granted price concessions under the agreement amending the Airbus Contract in relation to these 52 aircraft and the other 68 aircraft subject to the Additional Purchase Rights. As confirmed in the Circular, under the Airbus Contract the aircraft basic price of each A319 aircraft, as at January 2001 being the date by reference to which the contractual base price is quoted, was approximately US$44.2 million. Thus the total list price for 52 new A319 aircraft would be approximately US$2.3 billion. However, under the Airbus Contract (as to be amended) easyJet has been granted substantial price concessions by Airbus and the selected engine manufacturer - all prices above are subject to price escalation which reflects inflation. Of the 240 A319 aircraft covered by the original Airbus Contract, 192 have now been ordered of which 88 have been delivered with 32 scheduled for delivery by the end of September 2008.
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Tyrolean uses Head-up Guidance System
Erstmals neue Technolgie in Europa genutzt
Just in time for the beginning of the adverse weather season, the newly installed Head-up Guidance System or HGS was unveiled in Innsbruck today. Tyrolean Airways, which operates under the brand name of Austrian arrows, becomes the first airline in Europe to use this revolutionary precision approach system on board the Bombardier Dash-8/300 and Dash-8/400. Tyrolean Airways has already played a pioneering role in European aviation, back in 1996, when the Innsbruck-based carrier became the world's first airline to receive the necessary authorization to operate HGS on Canadair Regional Jets. Now, thanks to close cooperation with American manufacturer Rockwell Collins, Tyrolean has also succeeded in gaining this authorization to use the system in Europe on both the above-mentioned types of turboprop aircraft. Tyrolean is currently the only client using the system on the Dash-8/300, and has played a leading part throughout the development and authorization process. Some 1,100 metres of cable per aircraft had to be used to physically install the system, while some 2,000 employee hours of work were invested in the installation and check-out of the new system during 20 days of idle time.
Although the Head-up Guidance System (HGS) is up to six times more precise than previous flight management systems during the approach, it is simpler in structure and less maintenance-intensive than standard 'precision approach equipment' currently authorized for all-weather flight operations. The system makes safe landings possible even under adverse weather conditions, for example during landings under so-called 'Cat IIIa' conditions (200 metres minimum runway visual range, 15 metres decision height), while minimum runway visual range of just 75 metres is needed for take-off from suitable airports. As a result, Tyrolean will be able to improve its impressive levels of reliability and punctuality furthermore. Unlike adverse weather approaches with automatic landing, the approach using HGS is manually operated. With head-up guidance, the pilot no longer looks at the primary flight display on the instrument panel during the approach, but at a holographic screen located at eye-level instead. The virtual image of the flight data relevant to the approach and the reality of the surroundings are superimposed on this screen. This enables the pilot to follow the displays of the system whilst maintaining the outside world, and later the runway, within his field of vision at the same time.
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NASA completes first review of Orion
Erste Überprüfung des neuen Raumfahrtprogramms
NASA has completed a milestone first review of all systems for the Orion spacecraft and the Ares I and Ares V rockets. The review brings the agency a step closer to launching the nation's next human space vehicle. NASA completed the thorough systems requirements review of the Constellation Program this week. Review results provide the foundation for design, development, construction and operation of the rockets and spacecraft necessary to take explorers to Earth orbit, the moon, and eventually to Mars. This is the first system requirements review NASA has completed for a human spacecraft system since a review of the space shuttle's development held in October 1972. The Constellation Program system requirements are the product of 12 months of work by a NASA-wide team.
"We are confident these first requirements provide an exceptional framework for the vehicle system," said Chris Hardcastle, Constellation Program systems engineering and integration manager at Johnson. An example of the activity was a review and analysis that confirmed the planned Ares I launch system has sufficient thrust to put the Orion spacecraft in orbit. In fact, the Ares I thrust provides a 15 percent margin of performance in addition to the energy needed to put the fully crewed and supplied Orion into orbit for a lunar mission. Engineers established Orion's take off weight for lunar missions at over 61,000 pounds.
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Boeing and Air China celebrated the delivery of the 150th Boeing airplane to Air China. The new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 is the first airplane in China to feature the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games livery highlighting the official mascots -- the five "Fuwa" animal cartoon characters. Air China, China's national flag air carrier, is the official airline partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The airline is the largest air carrier based in mainland China in terms of its international traffic and size of its wide-body fleet.
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Airports across the world are gearing up to accommodate the entry of the Airbus A380 in 2007 by investing billions of dollars in facilities enlargement. However, the investments related to the A380 comprise only a small part of the total master plan spending aimed at meeting the requirements of increasing air traffic. Nearly 60 airports in the world will be able to accommodate the jet by 2010, although the actual operations of the A380 will itself be limited to between 40 - 50 airports. The impact of the A380 super jumbo - the largest airplane to enter the air transportation market - will be enormous. By 2015, airports around the world will have invested over US$8 billion to prepare their facilities to handle the new aircraft. "Customers of the A380 will carefully plan their future international air operations based on the hub and spoke system to ensure the most effective use of the aircraft and to gain competitive advantage," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Kamila Zlobinska in a recent study on World Airports Markets - Impact of the A380. "Airports will need certification from civil aviation authorities on their ability to support the operations of these super-jumbo aircrafts." Costs incurred to prepare airport facilities to handle the A380 derive from the anticipation of the multiple advantages that its future operations will confer. The most important driver will be the enhanced efficiency of airport operations and the prospect of boosting the number of passengers, even while maintaining the same number of aircraft movements. This will be particularly important considering the restricted number of slots at airports and the rapidly expanding volume of air passenger traffic. "Airlines can, in turn, take advantage of the A380 to not only increase their cost efficiency but also to differentiate their services from their competitors", adds Ms. Zlobinska. "Such differentiation could be achieved through enlarged seat space per passenger, impressive jet configuration as well as additional services and entertainment during the flight." Although the A380 brings high expectations for the future, it represents a considerable challenge for the industry today, particularly for airports. For instance, airports willing to accommodate the A380 will need to adjust their facilities to meet the required standards for operations of an airplane code F, such as the A380. As most existing international airports have facilities to handle only aircraft code E, the total market investment needed to prepare for the super jumbo will be very high. Currently, the total cost of airfield-related work is twice as high as investments in terminals. Airports will have to install A380-compliant gates to handle the jet. However, due to high costs, many major airports are likely to have only two, instead of the ideal three, passenger-boarding bridges.
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Saab Microwave Systems AB, Selex Sistemi Integrati S.p.A and Elettronica S.p.A. have been awarded the second phase of a three phase Research and Development Program supporting the development of the next generation of microwave multi-function, multi-role systems called M-AESA (Multi-role Active Electronically Scanned Antenna). On behalf of the armed forces of Italy and Sweden, FMV, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, has signed contracts with the three companies Selex Sistemi Integrati S.p.A., Elettronica S.p.A. and Saab Microwave Systems AB relating to the second phase of the three phase long-term strategic research and development cooperation regarding radar and electronic warfare (EW). The program will be fully financed by the two countries. The participating companies, Saab Microwave Systems, Selex SI and Elettronica will together exploit the potential of AESA technologies in future defense electronic systems. "This development cooperation with Italy´s two leading industries in the provisioning of integrated defence systems, will greatly enhance our joint possibilities to achieve the product vision of a true multi-role electronics package capable of active and passive sensing, jamming and special communications " says Erik Löwenadler, President, Saab Microwave Systems AB.
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After decades of secrecy, the Air Force today acknowledged that it flew Communist-built fighters at the Tonopah Test Range northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. From 1977 through 1988, the program, known as CONSTANT PEG, saw U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine aircrews flying against Soviet-designed MiG fighters as part of a training program where American pilots could better learn how to defeat or evade the Communist bloc's fighters of the day. Brigadier General Hawk Carlisle, 3rd Wing commander at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, is a former member of the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron who remembers the valuable training the unit provided. "CONSTANT PEG afforded pilots an opportunity to learn how to fight enemy aircraft in a controlled, safe environment, without having to endure the risks of actual air combat," said Brig. Gen. Carlisle. "Typically a pilot would start with a basic familiarization flight to observe the enemy airplane and study its characteristics, practicing "one-on-one" defensive and offensive maneuvers against it, and finally, experience multi-bogey engagements high over the desert scrubland of the Nellis Air Force Base ranges. As a result of marginal performance of American fighter forces in the skies over North Vietnam, CONSTANT PEG complemented other revolutionary training programs such as Red Flag, Top Gun and the Air Force and Navy-Marine aggressor squadrons. The program was also intended to eliminate the "buck fever" or nervous excitement many pilots experience on their first few combat missions. Historical experience indicated that pilots who survived their first ten missions were much more likely to survive a complete combat tour, and CONTSTANT PEG was intended to teach them the right "moves" to enable them to come out on top of any engagement. The end of the CONSTANT PEG nearly coincided with the end of the Cold War, by which time some of its "graduates" had already proven themselves in actual air combat. Threat aircraft flown by the Red Eagles spanned several decades and technical generations of capability. There was the MiG-17 Fresco, a small, agile single-seat transonic fighter placed in service just after the Korean War and used extensively over Vietnam and the Middle East; the MiG-21 Fishbed, a high supersonic fighter used world-wide in large numbers, and the swing-wing MiG-23 Flogger, likewise in global service, an attempt by the Soviets to match the sophisticated capabilities of the F-4 Phantom.
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Airblue, Pakistan's fastest-growing airline has signed a firm contract for two Airbus A320 aircraft and is currently in negotiations for four more. The Aircraft will be dual configured with 157 seats in a dual class. Airblue currently operates six A320 family aircraft and has already carried over a million passengers since operations began two and a half years ago. Airblue hopes to expand routes to international destinations and offer long haul services to the UK in the near future.
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ALAFCO, the Kuwait-based international Aviation Lease and Finance Company, has signed a firm contract for six Airbus A320s. The contract comes on top of an order for 12 Airbus A350s with options on a further six A350s that were booked in 2005. ALAFCO's main shareholder is Kuwait Finance House. ALAFCO specialises in Sharia-based commercial aircraft leasing.
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Boeing Company confirmed that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, part of the Air France/KLM Group, placed several orders this year for a total of six Boeing Next-Generation 737s. These orders have been accounted for on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site under the unidentified customer category. The order is valued at approximately $423 million at list prices. KLM converted six options for Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s to be delivered before mid-2008. The airplanes, which are equipped with fuel-efficient, emissions-reducing Blended Winglets, will replace several Classic 737s in KLM's fleet and allow for further growth. KLM currently operates a mixed fleet of Boeing Classic and Next-Generation 737 airplanes for its short-to-medium-haul operations.
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Eurocopter has automated the generation of engineering Bills of Materials (BOM) for Airbus A380 doors with Pacelab ADT, the knowledge-based Automated Drawing Tool by Berlin software provider PACE. The two companies are currently investigating opportunities of commercially exploiting the tool's wide applicability and flexibility. Pacelab ADT allows the automatic transfer of design data from product data management to configuration data management systems. Configurable rules add production-relevant information and parts to the engineering BOMs and check their consistency, eliminating a major source of error in the design process. In addition, a Eurocopter-internal benchmark revealed that Pacelab ADT expedites the generation of BOMs by more than 90 percent.
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Pratt & Whitney signed a three-year Global Service Partners agreement to provide EcoPower engine wash services on the Netherlands airline Martinair's fleet of PW4000, CF6 and V2500 engines. The engine washing will take place at Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam. The fleet-wide engine wash program will improve engine performance and could save Martinair as much as $2.3 million in annual fuel savings. "Earlier this year we completed an EcoPower engine wash pilot program that resulted in engine performance improvements, operating cost reductions and emission reductions," said Paul Horstink, vice president maintenance & engineering at Martinair. "Results showed substantial take-off exhaust gas temperature (EGT) improvements as well as cruise fuel flow improvements. We now plan to wash our entire fleet of 55 engines regularly and expect to achieve an annual carbon dioxide emissions reduction of 23.7 million pounds."
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UK airline Thomsonfly has awarded a US$3 million contract to Air New Zealand's engineering services division, ANZES, for the installation of a new in-flight entertainment system and heavy maintenance checks on nine B767-300 aircraft. "We are delighted with the outcome of what has been a demanding selection process," says Thomsonfly Managing Director Colin Mitchell. "We needed to be comfortable that our maintenance provider had the technical and organisational skills to complete the programme to the high standards we expect in the timeframe required. We found that provider in ANZES." The work will be carried out in ANZES' Auckland facility from November 2006 to May 2007 in preparation for Thomsonfly's summer schedule. The first Thomsonfly Boeing 767 arrives at the Auckland base tomorrow (Saturday). The programme covers seven heavy maintenance checks and installation of the latest Panasonic eFX Audio Visual on Demand (AVOD) in-flight entertainment system on five aircraft.
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Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, called for faster progress on plans to increase runway capacity at Heathrow airport. He urged the Government to set out a step-by-step timetable for the introduction of mixed mode operations and a short third runway, with clear deadlines for the necessary preparatory work by airport owner BAA and the Civil Aviation Authority. Mr Walsh said the recent Stern report on climate change had made clear that action to tackle global warming could go hand-in-hand with continued economic growth. He called on the Government to lay down a framework for progress at that would lead to mixed mode take-offs and landings by 2009 and a third runway opening in 2015. The timetable would involve a public consultation early next year, followed in 2008 by the CAA beginning work on airspace redesigns and BAA submitting its first planning application. He warned that failure to expand the UK's national hub would lead to worsening congestion, longer delays, fewer routes served, lower economic prospects and businesses relocating to countries with better air links. Heathrow had already slipped to fifth place among Europe's main hubs, and would struggle to stay in the top ten without more runway capacity. Allowing more flights at Heathrow would involve a tiny increase in carbon emissions that would be easily offset by reductions achieved through emissions trading, more fuel efficient aircraft and improved air traffic routings.
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British Airways unveiled its next generation business class flat bed. The new Club World bed is 25 per cent wider and offers more privacy, greater comfort, with more storage. The £100 million overhaul of Club World is part of an investment programme in the airline's products and services that includes enhancements to its First Class cabin and the introduction of an on-demand in-flight entertainment system in every cabin across the longhaul fleet. Advances in design, technology and materials have been harnessed to take British Airways' flat bed concept to the next level, complemented by a new cabin interior.
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On 31 October 2006, Teseo MK2/A, the latest evolution of MBDA's Teseo anti-ship missile, met a major programme development milestone with the fully successful launch of an instrumented MT1 missile from a ground launcher at the Salto di Quirra (Sardinia) Inter-Services test firing range. The MT1 missile was a fully configured missile fitted with a seeker but no warhead. The objective of the test was to verify the ability of the launching system to follow the firing sequence from launch preparation through to verification that the missile had carried out its planned flight. This included the missile's final attack phase on a real target and its subsequent remote destruction ordered from the launching system. The results met all requirements, with the Teseo missile perfectly completing the planned mission, including launch, flight over the target at the designated position and altitude, target interception and final remote self-destruct. Total flight time was 300 seconds and the total distance flown was approximately 80km.
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Boeing and Aeromexico, Mexico's largest airline, today announced the carrier ordered two more 787-8 Dreamliners and 10 more Next-Generation 737- 700s. This Dreamliner order brings to five the number of 787s Aeromexico plans to acquire. In June the airline announced plans to lease three 787-8s from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2010, making it the first Latin American airline to incorporate the mostly composite airplane into its fleet. The two new 787s are scheduled for delivery in 2011 while the 10 new 737- 700s are scheduled to deliver in 2010. The 787 carries a list price of $148 million to $158 million; 737-700s have list prices of $54 million to $64 million. Both orders previously were attributed to an unidentified customer on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Orders and Deliveries Web site.
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Boeing announced that Mike Cave has been named vice president of Business Strategy & Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Cave will be responsible for leading strategic business planning and marketing for the organization's products and services. The position reports to BCA President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Carson. Cave replaces Nicole Piasecki, who has been named vice president of Boeing International and president of Boeing Japan.
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Mechtronix Systems Inc. (MSI), a fast-growing global provider of flight training equipment, has signed a contract with Gözen Group to provide them with two full flight simulators Zero Flight Time with an option for two Non Zero Flight Time full flight simulators. These will be configured as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG. Gözen Group, a leading Turkish-based aviation service group, is setting up a new training centre in Turkey where these two simulators will reside. The Turkish service group's new Ascent FFS X ZFT will allow them to offer to pilots the ability to perform 100% of their initial and recurrent training. The ZFT(TM) benefits their operators such as it reduces operations costs by having close to 100% of replicated parts and also it reduces wiring and interface requirements by using simulated displays and avionics. This is MSI's first Airbus aircraft Full Flight Simulator, which once again demonstrates that Mechtronix capabilities as a whole to offer high quality products using different aircraft types is an unbeatable reality. "We are honoured to become a key part of the future of the Gözen Group, a fast moving and dynamic organisation. And also the Airbus part of the aviation world is a great success story and we are proud to become a small part of it. It has been many years we have been preparing and investing for this with our Toulouse based partner SOGELAIRE," commented Mechtronix President Xavier Hervé.
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CAE launched the latest addition to its CAE Tropos family of image generators at the European Aviation Training Symposium (EATS). The new CAE Tropos-6000 series combines CAE's industry-leading image quality and true fidelity with the latest commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) graphics hardware. In addition, the CAE Tropos-6000 image generator will leverage new Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projector technology to deliver unprecedented realism in a visual solution. CAE Tropos-6000 utilizes the latest-generation graphics processors from ATI and is available in three configurations: Tropos-6100, Tropos-6200, and Tropos-6400. The high-end CAE Tropos-6400 is designed to meet the demanding requirements of Level D training by employing four graphics processing units (GPUs) per LCoS projector covering a field-of-view of 200° x 43° for a 3-channel configuration. The CAE Tropos-6200 is designed for full-flight simulators and flight training devices not requiring Level D certification and uses two GPUs per projector. The CAE Tropos-6100 is ideal for laptop or desktop applications such as airport familiarization and uses a single GPU. “The ever-increasing performance of commercial graphics hardware combined with CAE's unmatched experience with real-time simulation software and database development will make the Tropos-6000 the new visual standard for pilot training,” said Marc Parent, CAE's Group President, Simulation Products and Military Training & Services.
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Boeing has been awarded a $108 million contract to deliver Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kits to Japan's fleet of four E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. The Foreign Military Sale was contracted through the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. The sale also includes spare and repair parts, support equipment and technical documentation. Installation of the kits will occur during a follow-on contract. "RSIP increases the AWACS aircraft's radar sensitivity, allowing it to detect and track smaller targets. It also improves the radar's existing computer with a new high-reliability multi-processor and rewrites the software to facilitate future maintenance and enhancements," said Anthony Williams, Boeing Japan AWACS program manager.
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Lockheed Martin will supply United Airlines with advanced flight planning technology designed to optimize flight routes, increase efficiency and generate cost savings. The systems integrator will provide two key technologies through its partner, Flugwerkzuege Aviation Software. Lockheed Martin will supply United with Flugwerkzuege's Flight-planning System and the OPUS Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) system. Together, these tools will enable United Airlines to design optimal flight paths by incorporating integrated weather, NOTAM and navigation data. The systems factor in variables such as upper air temperatures, wind speeds, aircraft performance, airway and airspace restrictions, connection rules and cost constraints in order to design the most efficient, logical flight plans. "Improving our overall operational efficiency is a priority for United," said Alexandria Marren, vice president of Operational Services for United Express and Ted at United. "We are pleased with this agreement with Lockheed and Flugwerkzuege, as it enables us to use the most efficient routing on our flights."
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Lockheed Martin was awarded a $20 million contract by the Royal Denmark Air Force (RDAF) for LANTIRN Extended Range (ER) targeting pods. The direct commercial sales contract is for three new LANTIRN ER pods and upgrades to the RDAF's 13 existing LANTIRN pods. The contract includes organizational-level spares, maintenance training and pilot familiarization training.
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On 14 November 2006, the third and final qualification firing of the Franco-Italian Aster SAMP/T ground-based air defence system was successfully completed at the French DGA's CELM (Centre d'Essai de Lancement des Missiles) test facility. The firing paves the way for the system's operational evaluation by the French and Italian Armed Forces. For the firing, all components of the Aster SAMP/T weapon system were tested: the Engagement Module, the ARABEL Radar and Identification Module, a Vertical Launch Unit and the ASTER 30 Missile.
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Sikorsky celebrated a milestone by PHI, Inc., as the Louisiana-based company became the first operator in the world to achieve 10,000 fleet hours with the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. Since the 1950s, PHI has flown Sikorsky helicopters, offering services to the offshore oil and gas, onshore mining, international, air medical and technical services industries. Sikorsky delivered the first two production S-92s to PHI in late 2004 to provide service to BP in early 2005. PHI currently flies six S-92 helicopters, with two more scheduled to be delivered before year-end. PHI also flies S-92 helicopters for BHP Billiton, an Australian petroleum and mining company. PHI uses the S-92s to service deep water production platforms off the coast of Louisiana, primarily in the Mississippi Canyon region.
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The Lockheed Martin GPS III team announced the successful completion of a System Requirements Review (SRR) for the U.S. Air Force's next generation Global Positioning System Space Segment program, known as GPS Block III. GPS Block III will enhance space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for positioning and timing services. The program will address the challenging military transformational and civil needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities and improved system security, accuracy and reliability.
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SAS Sweden continues to expand and during the spring will open five additional non-stop routes from Stockholm to European cities. The first new route to open is between Stockholm and Munich, and this will be followed by Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Glasgow and Reykjavik.
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EFW Inc. (EFW), an Elbit Systems of America company, has been chosen to supply the Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS) for the U.S. Army's new Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter designed and manufactured by Bell Helicopter. The HDTS will be based on EFW's ANVIS/HUD (Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System / Head Up Display) with a Tracking System for pilot targeting and cueing. The program is valued at $51 million through 2012. The HDTS provides a significant increase in situational awareness and safety by allowing the pilot to fly "head out of the cockpit" during both day and night operations by projecting critical flight information into the day display and night vision goggles' view. The system will also provide Line of Sight (LOS) cueing between pilots or display the LOS of an electro-optic payload (EOP).
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Japan Airlines (JAL) took delivery of its first Boeing Next-Generation 737, a 737-800 that will seat 165 passengers in a two-class configuration. The airplane, which features stylish and energy-saving Blended Winglets, is one of 30 737-800s that JAL ordered in May 2005.
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Earlier this month, ESA's Science Programme Committee (SPC) unanimously approved a nine-month extension of ESA's involvement in the China/ESA Double Star mission. Double Star is currently studying the Earth's magnetosphere - the natural protective shield surrounding our planet - and its interaction with the solar wind. The two Double Star satellites were launched in December 2003 and July 2004 respectively – a schedule that enabled them to operate alongside ESA's Cluster mission. Since then, Double Star and the four Cluster satellites have been working together, making an unprecedented study of the Sun-Earth connection from six different viewpoints in space. After a nominal mission of one year, Double Star had already been extended for further 17 months, following an SPC decision in May 2005. Double Star has helped to provide many new insights concerning the boundaries of the magnetosphere and the processes that play a role in the transportation of mass and energy.
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More than 1,600 Gulfstream business jets are in service throughout the world as of Oct. 31, 2006 . This figure does not include the turboprop-powered Gulfstream I (GI), the first purpose-built business aircraft. Included in the in-service fleet count are some 240 large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream IIs (GIIs) – manufactured from 1966 to 1979; 190 large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream IIIs (GIIIs) – manufactured from 1980 to 1987; 535 large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream IV/IV-SPs (GIVs/GIV-SPs) – manufactured from 1988 to 2005; and some 190 large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream Vs (GVs) – manufactured from 1997 to 2003. Not included in the calculations are the 200 turboprop-powered GIs produced between 1958 and 1969, of which 98 are still flying today. Gulfstream's in-service fleet also includes 149 mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100s and 137 large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200s. The new wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 and the in-production, large-cabin Gulfstream fleet – the G350, G450, G500 and G550 – together total some 160 aircraft.
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During the 7 th Embraer Day held November 16 and 17 in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, Embraer presented its 20-year forecast for world demand of 30- to 120-seat commercial jets, as well as for the business jet market. At the same event, Embraer announced its airline and business jet delivery forecast for 2007 and 2008. Embraer foresees a global demand for 7,500 jets in the 30- to 120-seat capacity segment over the next 20 years. The Company estimates that 3,050 aircraft will be delivered between 2007 and 2016, with the remaining 4,450 units to be delivered between 2017 and 2026. The total market value is estimated at US$ 220 billion. The forecast indicates that the 30 to 60-seat market segment has reached maturity, but will continue to play an important role in the North American and European air transportation systems and will develop markets such as China, Mexico and Russia that have strong needs for regional aviation. The 61-90 seat segment will continue providing natural growth to regional airlines on high demand 50-seat regional jet routes, sustaining revenue growth and market share. In addition, it will help airlines to replace ageing aircraft and will right-size aircraft capacity to market demand with improved service levels. The 91-120 seat segment will expand to help airlines to match aircraft capacity to market demand, through ageing aircraft replacement, right-sizing of narrowbody routes with excess capacity and low-cost-carrier expansion into mid-size markets. Embraer estimates an overall demand for 11,115 business jets over the next ten years, valued at approximately US$ 169 billion. The new air taxi market may add another 2,500 to 3,000 aircraft to the Very Light Jet (VLJ) segment. Embraer entered the Very Light and Light Jet segments with the launch of the Phenom jets, in May 2005, and introduced the Lineage 1000, an ultra-large executive jet based on the EMBRAER 190 commercial jet platform, in May 2006.
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The A380, successfully completed crosswind tests in extreme wind conditions at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, on Friday 10th November. A minimum of 23 knots (42 km/h) crosswind must be demonstrated at take off and landing for its Type Certification that is expected in mid-December. MSN004, one of the five developmental A380 aircraft, carried out a series of six landings and five take-offs with crosswinds above 40 knots (74 km/h), gusting up to 56 knots (104 km/h), which is considerably higher than the value required for Type Certification. During the tests, the A380 was put through its paces, and it showed that it will be able to operate easily with very strong crosswinds during normal operations. This is the first time an Airbus aircraft has performed tests in such crosswind conditions. During this series of tests, three test pilots flew the A380 developmental aircraft MSN004, Claude Lelaie, Senior Vice President of Airbus' Flight Division, Jacques Rosay, Chief Test Pilot and Vice President, and a pilot from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The other members of the crew were Fernando Alonso, Vice President Flight Division, Flight Test Engineering, Pascal Verneau, Test Flight Engineer and Eric Isorce, Flight Test Engineer.
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On 17 November, the joint ESA-NASA Ulysses mission reached another important milestone on its epic out-of-ecliptic journey: the start of the third passage over the Sun's south pole. Launched in 1990, the European-built spacecraft is engaged in the exploration of the heliosphere, the bubble in space blown out by the solar wind. Given the capricious nature of the Sun, this third visit will undoubtedly reveal new and unexpected features of our star's environment. The first polar passes in 1994 (south) and 1995 (north) took place near solar minimum, whereas the second set occurred at the height of solar activity in 2000 and 2001. "During the first polar passes, Ulysses found a well-ordered heliosphere, with clear differences between the solar wind at the poles and equator", says Richard Marsden, ESA's Ulysses Project Scientist and Mission Manager. "At solar maximum things were more complex, making it hard to distinguish any particular region from another."
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Brazil's largest airline, TAM has signed a firm contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 37 additional Airbus aircraft and 12 options (12 A319s, 16 A320s, three A321s and six A330s). With this new order TAM's fleet, directly acquired from Airbus, will reach 115 aircraft. Since 1998, TAM has consistently increased its Airbus fleet to match the growth in demand in the Brazilian domestic market and to expand on its international network. TAM is the largest Airbus operator in Latin America, and currently operates a fleet of 72 Airbus aircraft (including 14 A319s, 48 A320s and ten A330-200s).
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All systems are operating as expected on the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) payload following a successful on-orbit checkout by a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team. This national defense payload introduces new and vital capabilities for the warfighter. The HEO payload detects ballistic missile launches from northern polar regions as it operates in a highly inclined elliptical orbit. The first of a new generation of SBIRS sensors, this payload has improved sensitivity to detect dim theater missiles and can be tasked to scan off pole areas of military interest. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., the SBIRS prime contractor, and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., the payload subcontractor, are developing SBIRS for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system. The test team completed the deployment and checkout of the HEO payload and demonstrated that its performance meets or exceeds specifications.
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A U.S. Air Force modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin was launched successfully from this seaside launch complex aboard a Delta II launch vehicle. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-16M, is the third in a series of eight Block IIR-M spacecraft that Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems is developing for its customer, the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. The Block IIR-M series includes new features that enhance operations and navigation signal performance for military and civilian GPS users around the globe. Each IIR-M satellite includes a modernized antenna panel that provides increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals for improved accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, and a second civil signal that will provide users with an open access signal on a different frequency.
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NASA's Space Shuttle Program successfully fired a reusable solid rocket motor Thursday, Nov. 16, at a Utah facility. The two-minute test provided important information for nighttime shuttle launches and for the development of the rocket that will carry the next human spacecraft to the moon. The static firing of the full-scale, full-duration flight support motor was performed at 6 p.m. MST at ATK Launch Systems Group, a unit of Alliant Techsystems Inc. in Promontory, Utah, where the shuttle's solid rocket motors are manufactured. The flight support motor, or FSM-13, burned for approximately 123 seconds, the same time each reusable solid rocket motor burns during an actual space shuttle launch. The Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages these tests to qualify any proposed changes to the rocket motor and to determine whether new materials perform as well as those now in use.
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The U.S. Air Force is developing an Orbital Test Vehicle, based on the design of a NASA X-37 technology demonstrator, to continue full-scale development and on-orbit testing of an unmanned long-duration, reusable space vehicle. The new OTV effort takes advantage of industry and government investments by Air Force, NASA, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office will lead the initiative with continued participation of NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Boeing is the prime contractor for the OTV program. Following transfer from NASA to DARPA in October 2004, the X-37 technology demonstrator, the Approach and Landing Test Vehicle, recently completed a series of captive carry and free flight tests from a commercial aircraft. The ALTV validated the X-37 program flight dynamics and extended the flight envelope beyond the earlier low speed/low altitude tests conducted by NASA. The ALTV, in its current configuration, is not capable of space flight. The OTV program will focus on risk reduction, experimentation, and operational concept development for reusable space vehicle technologies, in support of long term developmental space objectives. The first orbital test flight of the OTV is planned for FY08, with a launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V launch vehicle. Key objectives of the first flight include demonstration and validation of guidance, navigation and control systems to include fault tolerant, autonomous reentry and landing as well as lightweight high temperature structures and landing gear. Either Vandenberg Air Force Base or Edwards AFB will conduct reentry and recovery activities.
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easyJet reported a record profit before tax of £129 million, up 56% from £83 million in 2005, a passenger numbers rise by 11.5% to 33 million. Ancillary revenues improved significantly in all areas rising by 34% or £0.86 per seat. Unit costs excluding fuel fell by 1.5% or £0.42 per seat from £28.78 to £28.36. Unit fuel costs increased by 33% or £2.48 per seat. 58 new routes and 11 new destinations were launched, expanding the network to 262 routes and 74 airports in 21 countries. Fleet grown to 122 aircraft with an average age of 2.2 years, making it one of the most modern and environmentally friendly fleets in Europe. Commenting on the results, Andy Harrison, easyJet Chief Executive said: "2006 was another year of successful growth with 33 million passengers choosing to fly easyJet, attracted by our winning combination of low cost, with care and convenience. We have continued to expand our range of destinations with 58 new routes launched during the year and the successful opening of our new base in Milan Malpensa. “Our profits increased by 56% to a record £129 million, despite the big increase in fuel costs. Our profit growth was driven by a 34% increase in ancillary revenues per seat, significant improvements in passenger yields and a continuing reduction in our non fuel unit costs.
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Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg has appointed new Senior Vice Presidents for two of its six product divisions. As of January 2007, management of the division Aircraft Component Services will be taken over by Dr. Johannes Bussmann. He succeeds Uwe Mukrasch, who joins the Board of Lufthansa Technik as Chief Executive Human Resources and Information Management. Likewise, Dr. Andreas Heizner (51), will head the product division Aircraft Overhaul as of January 2007. Heizner, former President and CEO of Lufthansa Technik Philippines in Manila, takes over responsibility from Andreas Meisel, who becomes General Manager of Ameco Beijing at that point in time.
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Boeing and industry partner Bell Helicopter began support services on the CV-22 Osprey aircraft for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla., after a Nov. 16 ceremony commemorating the first delivery. Under an interim contractor support contract, awarded in October 2003, the Bell-Boeing team provides performance-based support for the first nine production aircraft in key areas such as: aircraft maintenance, reliability, supply and repairs; technical data and interactive electronic technical manuals; and engineering, information technology, field service and logistics support.
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EADS, on behalf of the Eurofighter Consortium, is pleased with the statement by the Danish Defence Minister that Denmark wishes to develop closer relations with Eurofighter as part of the on-going fighter replacement competition. Over the past year, since the issue of a Request for Information (RFI), there has been a very intense and productive exchange of information between Eurofighter and the Danish Authorities. This includes a highly successful week at the EADS Flight Test Facility at Manching, Germany, where a Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) test pilot and flight test engineer both flew the Eurofighter and spent five full working days being briefed and inspecting all of the high-technology systems within the aircraft. In parallel with this operational-orientated activity, EADS has also been discussing industrial cooperation projects with Danish industry. This could lead to up to some DKK 40 Billion of high technology work should Denmark choose the Eurofighter as its F-16 replacement fighter aircraft. Following the Minister's statement in Parliament, EADS and the Eurofighter Consortium look forward to participating in an open competition and to continuing and developing a close relationship with the Danish Authorities, RDAF and Industry.
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Airbus A318 models fitted with CFM International engines were approved for 180 minute Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations (ETOPS), on Monday 6th November. The approval was granted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) validation of this approval is targeted for the first half of 2007. The first A318 with 180 minutes ETOPS capability, an A318 Elite, will be delivered to Comlux Aviation AG of Switzerland towards the end of the year, prior to having its cabin fitted. This means that all A320 Family members and all Airbus twin-engined aircraft are now approved for 180 minutes ETOPS, except for the early A300 aircraft and the A318 powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. The 180 minutes ETOPS approval of the latter is currently planned for the first quarter of 2007, before entry into service of the first aircraft with LAN Airlines, headquartered in Chile, in early 2007.
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The US took the procedural step of making the first submissions to its WTO panel on supports to Airbus. EU Trade spokesman Peter Power said: "The EU has always sought to resolve the aircraft dispute through negotiation rather than litigation, but regrettably, we have been frustrated in this by the US and Boeing. The EU will strongly defend this case and pursue its own case against the WTO illegal subsidies granted by the US government to Boeing. We are confident of success." The EU's parallel WTO panel on illegal subsidies to Boeing will hear its first submissions in the weeks to come.
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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a planning contract from the U.S. Navy valued at $558 million for the refueling and complex overhaul of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The company's Newport News sector will perform the work, which includes planning, design, documentation, engineering, material procurement, shipboard inspections, fabrication and preliminary shipyard or support facility work. The carrier is scheduled to arrive at the Newport News shipyard in 2009 for its first and only refueling during a service life expected to span approximately 50 years.
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The A160 Hummingbird unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has returned to the skies as Boeing resumed test flight operations near Victorville, Calif. on Nov. 8. A team of test engineers from Boeing and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) put the A160 through its paces in a 45-minute test that included both hover and forward flight. "The success of this latest flight is a tribute to the hard work of the Boeing and DARPA A160 team," said Jim Martin, Boeing A160 program manager. "This innovative unmanned aerial system continues to prove its versatility through a rigorous flight test program."
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) indends to purchase 80 Mi-17-1V medium transport utility helicopters, the Indo-Asian News Service reports. The news agency quoted Chief of IAF Air Staff S.P. Tyagi as saying that the procedural formalities will be over within a few months and the deliveries are to commence in 2007 and will be over within a year. Mr. Tyagi did not mention the Mi-171V helicopters costs but according to market sources, these could be around Rs.30 billion ($662 mln). The Chief of IAF Air Staff also said that the IAF intended to buy 126 multi-purpose fighters. At the same time the Indian Land Force plans to acquire 197 helicopters. The Mi-17-1V is a derivative of the Mi-17 helicopter. It gained a good reputation operating in hot, high and humid conditions. It is intended for troops and cargos transportation, fire-fighting, medical evacuation and search and rescue operations, and can also be quickly converted into a combat vehicle.
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Embraer announces that the ERJ 145 platform has reached an historical ten million flight-hour milestone after a decade in service. The total number of cycles (take-off and landing procedures) is around 8.5 million. The first aircraft delivered have already achieved 20,000 flight cycles and continue to operate with sound structural integrity. The ERJ 145 family, in operation since 1996, has represented a completely new market offering, with jets tailored to the specific needs of the regional airline customer. As a result of efficient product design and effective customer support, the worldwide fleet has experienced excellent dispatch reliability levels, plus the low operational and maintenance costs valued by operators.
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Based on the unanimous resolutions passed by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Austrian Airlines Österreichische Luftverkehrs AG on 2 November 2006, the company intends to launch a capital increase by issuing up to 51,680,000 bearer shares with no par value. Austrian Chief Executive Officer Alfred Ötsch made the following statement on the intended launch of the capital increase: 'The fresh capital will enable us to strengthen both our earning power and capital structure in the long term, and consistently accelerate the restructuring of the Austrian Airlines Group in order to return the organisation to a successful course by means of profitable growth. As a specialist in Eastern Europe and market leader in the region, we are extremely well positioned vis-à-vis our European competitors in strategic terms and will do everything necessary to ensure that our customers, shareholders and employees have every reason to be pleased with our performance.' Based on the resolution of the General Meeting of Shareholders, a simplified capital reduction was implemented as a financial-technical measure on 8 November 2006 under sections 182 et seq. of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) and as a result, the calculated notional amount per share of EUR 7.27 was reduced to EUR 3.00. By this measure the nominal share capital was reduced by EUR 145,180,000, from its previous figure of EUR 247,180,000 to EUR 102,000,000.
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China Eastern Airlines has chosen Messier-Bugatti (SAFRAN group) to supply the wheels and electric brakes for its entire fleet of 15 Boeing 787-8 jetliners. The first two aircraft in this order are slated for delivery in June 2008, and the last in August 2010. China Eastern is one of the launch customers for the 787 Dreamliner, the first commercial jetliner equipped with electrically-driven brakes. This innovative technology was developed by two companies in the SAFRAN group, Messier-Bugatti, a world-renowned specialist in aircraft carbon brakes, and Sagem Défense Sécurité, a European defense electronics and security leader.
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Boeing has flown the second EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft for the first time, and like the first aircraft, the flight took place ahead of schedule. The second EA-18G, known as aircraft EA-2, successfully completed its maiden flight from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on Nov. 10. With Boeing pilot Gregory Bigalk and weapons system operator Dana Perkins on board, the aircraft flew for 1.4 hours before returning safely to the airport. EA-2 is the second of two test aircraft built under a System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract Boeing signed with the U.S. Navy on Dec. 29, 2003.
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Airbus has completed its 3,000th set of wings for an A320 Family aircraft. The wing set left Airbus' Broughton, North Wales, U.K. site today, loaded onboard the A300-600ST Beluga, bound for the A320 final assembly line in Toulouse, France. The 3000th Airbus single aisle aircraft will be delivered to the customer airline, Air Asia, in January 2007. The very first set of A320 family wings was delivered from the U.K. on 30 April 1986. It was eight years later, in December 1994, that the delivery of the 500th set of wings for the variant was celebrated. In less than five years a further 500 wing sets were produced, with the 1,000th set being delivered in April 1999. In under one third of the time, four years, the next 1,000 sets were produced, with the 2000th delivery taking place in April 2003. Now, the next 1,000 wing sets have followed in just 31 months.
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SWISS continues to climb and to follow its course towards profitable and sustainable growth. In addition to the two further Airbus A330s whose acquisition has already been communicated, Switzerland's airline should be adding three more Airbus A340 aircraft to its long-haul fleet within the next two years. With the arrival of all five transports, SWISS will operate a fleet of 23 long-haul aircraft. In the last few months, the airline has already announced gradual fleet expansions through the addition of the two A330s and three more short-haul transports. SWISS has created the scope for these investments, and for the sustainable growth they should help achieve, by successfully conducting its corporate restructuring over the past two years. The fleet expansion planned will also create 550 new jobs among SWISS's flying personnel. SWISS has been pursuing a comprehensive corporate restructuring programme since the beginning of 2005. The programme has seen cost structures substantially improved by standardising the regional aircraft fleet, renegotiating contracts with suppliers, realigning terms of employment to the current competitive environment and raising productivity in all areas of activity. The company's business performance has received additional lift from its fruitful collaboration with Lufthansa, from its new membership of Star Alliance and through the generally favourable overall economic climate. These actions and developments have now given SWISS the scope to invest in its future with a view to achieving profitable growth and to taking optimum advantage of the market opportunities available. With the three additional Airbus A340s which it now plans to acquire and the two Airbus A330s that will enter revenue service on November 14 and mid-December respectively, SWISS will operate a fleet of 23 long-haul aircraft from the 2008 summer schedules. As announced in September, the SWISS Airbus short-haul fleet will also be growing from 25 to 28 aircraft over the next few months. So for the 2007 summer schedules, SWISS will operate a fleet of 72 aircraft serving 70 destinations worldwide.
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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth £5.4 million to combine scheduled maintenance of Typhoon aircraft with the current upgrade programme already underway at BAE Systems in Warton. By combining both the scheduled maintenance and the upgrade programme into one, six additional aircraft can potentially be made available for front line duties, delivering both increased efficiency and effectiveness to the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF). The Whole Aircraft Scheduled Maintenance and Upgrade programme, named WASMU for ease, represents the first contractual step of the Typhoon Partnered Support programme and paves the way for BAE Systems to deploy further support capability to the RAF's front line Typhoon Unit. The contract supports the underlying principles behind the Government's Defence Industrial Strategy by strengthening through-life support and ensuring continued sovereign capability. WASMU builds on the proven principles of the Harrier Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme and Tornado Combined Maintenance Upgrade contracts and is part of the overall Defence Logistics Transformation Programme. The MoD Typhoon Integrated Project Team Leader, Air Commodore Alex Deytrikh, stated: “This is an important step forward in the introduction of Typhoon to operational service with the RAF. This contract offers real operational benefits to the front-line, and helps lay the foundations for the Typhoon's future support solution through closer links with BAE Systems in the delivery of support output.”
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At the ILA2008 the focus will be on the aerospace equipment industry and aerospace suppliers. The International Suppliers Center ISC will expand, becoming a “trade fair within the trade fair“. As a trade exhibition and communication platform the ISC's aim is to stimulate restructuring efforts within the aerospace equipment industry and to promote dialogue between suppliers and systems manufacturers. Companies such as EADS and other leading aerospace companies have already declared their support for the ISC. The aim is to establish the ISC firmly as part of the ILA in the future and to offer second and third-tier suppliers a platform for establishing and maintaining relations with their business associates. The advantage is that systems manufacturers, the aerospace suppliers' core target group, are also exhibiting at the ILA, so they will already be there. As at the ILA2006, heads of procurement divisions will be on hand to meet suppliers' representatives and to provide information about all the latest product ranges and requirements. The International Aerospace Exhibition ILA2008 Berlin/Brandenburg will be taking place from 27 May to 1 June 2008 on the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. The ISC will be taking place on the three trade visitor days of the ILA, from 27 to 29 May 2008. Cost-cutting measures, demand for higher quality, fluctuating periods of production, new technologies and product ranges are the big challenges confronting international suppliers. Against the backdrop of a vastly expanding aerospace market, pressure is mounting on the entire production chain within the aerospace suppliers industry. More and more, aircraft, helicopter and other systems manufacturers are outsourcing areas of development and with it are passing a risk factor on to equipment and material suppliers. However, this also gives what are generally small and medium-sized enterprises an opportunity to set up their own market for developing innovative products. Thus suppliers are making the transition from being merely contractors to becoming the customer's business associate in developing products. The question as to how these companies can successfully meet the challenges of the global market will be the main issue at the ISC International Suppliers Center at the ILA2008.
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