+++ Diehl developes missiles for MEADS +++ TUI Group orders Dreamliners +++ MBDA buys Bayern-Chemie/Protac +++ Spanish Army gets its first Tigers +++ Eurofighter signs new agreement with Norway +++ News in brief +++
Diehl developes missiles for MEADS
IRIS-T wird in MEADS-System integriert
On May 11, 2007, the contract for adaptation development of the IRIS-T SL surface-to-air missile as secondary missile for the MEADS tactical air defence system of the German Bundeswehr was signed by the Federal Office for Military Technology and Procurement (BWB) and Diehl BGT Defence in Koblenz. The contract has a volume of 123 million Euro.
The German MEADS concept plans to complement the American PAC-3 missile with the German missile IRIS-T SL. While the PAC-3 missile has been designed especially for defence against tactical ballistic rockets, the IRIS-T SL missile, which is much more favourably priced, can be employed against manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and low-flying cruise missiles as well as guided weapons (tactical air-to-surface missiles, guided bombs). This weapons mix considerably relieves the burden on the defence budget as compared to equipping exclusively with PAC-3 missiles.
IRIS-T SL is based on the same concept as the IRIS-T air-to-air missile, a European cooperation programme currently in series production and successfully employed in seven European nations as primary armament of the Eurofighter and other combat aircraft. The further development of the missile consists in a rocket-motor upgrade, equipment with a data link as well as a GPS navigation system. The decision in favour of IRIS-T SL helps retain missile system competence in Germany and offers export opportunities in international markets. IRIS-T SL increases Germany's added value in the MEADS portions financed by national budget funds.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
TUI Group orders Dreamliners
Boeing 787 für TUI-Fluggesellschaften
On 16 May, Boeing announced orders for 11 787-8 Dreamliners and 50 Next-Generation 737s with TUI Group, Europe's largest integrated-tourism company. The orders were previously recorded on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site as unidentified. The value of the orders is approximately $4.7 billion at list prices. Two of the airplanes have since been delivered and identified. TUI Group has not announced an engine supplier for its 787s.
TUI Group plans to put the airplanes into service with Arkefly in The Netherlands, Belgium-based Jetairfly, Thomsonfly of the United Kingdom, Germany-based TUIfly and the Scandinavian operator TUIfly Nordic. All TUI Group airlines will leverage the 787's breakthrough economics, passenger appeal and environmental efficiency to continue and expand services within Europe and to Asia and North America.
The Next-Generation 737s will be operated on short- and medium-haul routes by all TUI airlines. All of the 737s will be fitted with advanced Blended Winglets, which reduce aerodynamic drag, thereby increasing fuel efficiency and range while reducing carbon emissions and takeoff noise.
To assist TUI, Boeing is working to create a training program that will allow pilots to transition easily from one airplane type to another, so that cross-training costs are minimized and fleet efficiency is maximized.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
MBDA buys Bayern-Chemie/Protac
Antriebshersteller geht an Lenkwaffenfirma
European missile systems group MBDA has signed an agreement with EADS and Thales to purchase German rocket motor company Bayern-Chemie / Protac. The agreement is subject to the approval by the European Commission and various regulatory approvals. Bayern-Chemie / Protac is a group jointly owned by EADS Deutschland GmbH (50%) and Thales S.A. (50%). MBDA, represented by MBDA Deutschland / LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH (LFK), intends to acquire the shares from EADS and Thales. After the clearance by the authorities, Bayern-Chemie / Protac will be a subsidiary of LFK (100%).
Bayern-Chemie / Protac has an annual turnover of around Euro53m and employs 178 personnel in Bayern-Chemie, Germany (Aschau am Inn) and 89 employees are based in Protac, France (La Ferté Saint Aubin). The company is the design authority for a range of missile propulsion systems including the Meteor ramjet which provides the new six-nation Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile System with the capability to exceed speeds in excess of Mach 3 thereby giving pilots the advantage in any in air combat scenario. MBDA is Bayern-Chemie / Protac's main customer.
Werner Kaltenegger, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland, commented: “The agreement between MBDA, EADS and Thales creates the framework to keep the industrial basis for highly advanced missile propulsion technology in Germany and to fulfil the needs of our German customer in the future. But this agreement also paves the way for a successful continuation of the Meteor programme using Bayern-Chemie's unique ramjet know-how.”
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Spanish Army gets its first Tigers
Eurocopter liefert Kampfhubschrauber nach Spanien aus
The Spanish Army's first three Tiger helicopters have arrived at their final destination, the Coronel Sánchez Bilbao military base in Almagro, where they are to serve the Spanish armed forces. In preparation for the Spanish homecoming, the eight pilots and 16 maintenance technicians of the Spanish military contingent were trained by Eurocopter staff at the Le Luc military base in France. Eurocopter has also been carrying out maintenance on the helicopters, providing engineering support and managing spare parts and ground equipment. Eurocopter will continue support activities for the Spanish Army at the Almagro base for these three HAP Tigers as well as for the three remaining Tigers to be delivered.
The Spanish Army will have 24 HAD Tigers at its disposal in due course; 18 Tigers are to be delivered in HAD configuration, and the other six – which are in HAP version – are to be retrofitted to HAD. In comparison to the original HAP version, the HAD Tiger features a Spike or Hellfire air-to-ground missile, an uprated engine ensuring an increased useful load, IFF system, electronic warfare system, and enhanced ballistic protection. The Spanish HADs will be assembled on the forthcoming final assembly line – operational from 2008 onwards – at the new Eurocopter factory in Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha. Spain is already the exclusive producer of tail booms for the Tiger, manufactured entirely from composite materials.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Eurofighter signs new agreement with Norway
Zusammenarbeit mit Norwegen wird verstärkt
Eurofighter consolidated the close ties to Norway by signature of a further agreement on technological cooperation between the Eurofighter consortium of Alenia Aeronautica (Italy), BAE Systems (United Kingdom), EADS CASA (Spain), EADS Germany and Norway. Eurofighter CEO Aloysius Rauen signed the Letter of Agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (NMOD) in the presence of the German Ambassador to Norway Roland Mauch, who represented the four Eurofighter Nations, and the Norwegian Defence Minister, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.
This Letter of Agreement with the NMOD sets out the principles to be applied to industrial contracts and includes the funding commitment from the NMOD to cover the development contracts between Norwegian and Eurofighter Partner Companies. Aloysius Rauen commented at the signing ceremony, "This new Agreement is a further important element in meeting the demands of Norway's competition for a new combat aircraft. It will allow the Eurofighter Partnership to continue to develop and demonstrate its ability to deliver high technology in partnership with Norwegian industry. This new agreement will also provide vital continuity to Norwegian industry in preparation for the potential NOK 40 Billion which would accrue as part of the industrial package associated with a Norwegian choice of Eurofighter as it's F-16 replacement. This industrial work would form a substantial part of the Eurofighter package for Norway, combining Eurofighter Typhoon's unmatched operational capability with a comprehensive training and through life support package to provide an unbeatable solution to meet Norway's long-term strategic military and industrial requirements.”
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
On 16 May, the European Commission adopted a communication on the state of play of the Galileo programme in response to a request from the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The Commission notes that the Galileo roadmap needs adapting to meet the deadline of 2012 by when Galileo should be fully operable. The public-private partnership set up to implement Galileo needs to be reprofiled to enable Galileo to be brought into service in 2012. "Europe needs a satellite radio navigation system as part of its essential infrastructure for crucial applications such as border control, transport logistics, financial operations and the surveillance of critical energy and communications infrastructures. The Commission is doing everything it can to guarantee its success", said Jacques Barrot, Commission Vice-President responsible for transport. "Galileo will make a major contribution to Community policies, and embodies Europe's ambitions in space, technology and innovation", he added. Satellite radio navigation is a technology which enables users to pinpoint their location anywhere in the world at any moment in time. The European Galileo satellite radio navigation system consists of a constellation of 30 satellites in orbit at an altitude of 24 000 km offering five different services. Work on the European satellite radio navigation programmes, Galileo and Egnos, has reached a crossroads, and a political choice now has to be made on how to implement them. The lack of progress in the negotiations on the concession contract, which provided for the deployment and management of the infrastructure by the private sector, is posing a serious threat to the completion of the project. The Council (Transport Ministers) which met on 22 March 2007 therefore asked the Commission to let it have, before its next meeting in June, a detailed report setting out the progress made in the negotiations with the consortium applying for the concession and alternative scenarios for the rapid deployment of the space infrastructure. The Commission's conclusion is that the present roadmap, which provides for the involvement of the private sector at an early stage, will not enable the project to be completed within the desired timeframe and that this is likely to lead to considerable extra costs for the private sector. The Commission proposes adapting the roadmap to enable the timetable and costs to be monitored more closely and to give the satellite radio navigation applications and services industries a greater sense of security as to when Galileo signals will actually become available. The Commission shows that the most beneficial, the most realistic and, in the long term, the most economic option will be for all the initial infrastructure to be put in place while being piloted and financed by the public sector. In contrast, the operation of the system will be entrusted to a private concession holder.
+++
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Munich Airfreight Center took place on 14 May. In response to the ongoing cargo boom, Munich Airport is again increasing its capacity. With the construction of a new building for freight forwarding companies flanked by a car park right next to the existing freight facilities, FMG (the Munich Airport operating company) is laying the groundwork to retain the ability in the future to cope smoothly with the massive growth in airfreight volume. Between 1992 and 2006 Munich Airport quadrupled the volume of airfreight handled from barely 100,000 to more than 400,000 metric tons. "Compared with our first year of operation, airfreight tonnage has increased in the space of 15 years by a whopping 314 percent,“ said FMG Executive Vice President Walter Vill at the groundbreaking ceremony.
+++
The U.S. government has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for 18 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), a part of the new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft program for Pakistan. Pakistan is the eighth international customer to join the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard flying with Sniper ATP. The contract includes spares and training services. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. With deliveries beginning in 2008, the Pakistan Air Force will benefit from Sniper ATP's exceptional stability and superior imagery, allowing aircrews to perform intelligence, targeting, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from extended standoff ranges.
+++
A Chinese launcher lifted a Nigerian communications satellite into orbit on 14 May, marking an expansion of China's commercial launching services for foreign space hardware. The official Xinhua News Agency said it was the first time a foreign buyer has purchased a Chinese satellite and its launching service. NIGCOMSAT-1, was launched by a Long March 3-B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The launch was part of a $311 million deal signed by China and Nigeria in 2004, and the satellite will be used to expand cell phone and Internet services in central Africa. The satellite, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., will be monitored and tracked by China's Great Wall Industry Corp.
+++
Ryanair announced eight new routes from Dusseldorf to Fuerteventura, Malaga, Marrakesh, Milan, Seville, Trapani (Sicily), Valencia and Vaxjo (Sweden). The new routes start in September, when Ryanair will base two further Boeing 737-800 aircraft in Dusseldorf, bringing its total investment there to $280m. Announcing this route expansion and Ryanair's Price Guarantee, Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said: “Ryanair's Dusseldorf Weeze base starts in just one month's time and our low fares have been selling so well that we are already announcing 8 new routes. This expansion will deliver 2m passengers p.a. at Dusseldorf by 2008, creating 2,000 jobs and a visitor spend of Euro200m in the Niederrhein region.
+++
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved certification of the King Air 200 and 300 Winglet Systems from BLR Aerospace. This clears the way for approximately 150 aircraft operating under an EASA registry to reap the same performance and aesthetic benefits their North American counterparts already enjoy. In 2005, BLR introduced its King Air 200 Winglet System to much acclaim, and 65 systems have been installed on King Air 200s and 300s to date. Winglets deliver a range of benefits, including increased cruise speed (3-6 knots) or reduced fuel consumption (3.5 percent less burn), and increased vertical rate of climb (300-400 fpm). Additional benefits include reduced drag, improved handling qualities, and easy access right up to the aircraft?s service ceiling at flight level 350. It all adds up to a measurable return on investment for operators, Marone said.
+++
Boeing announced that its 777 jetliner fleet has completed its 1 millionth flight under regulations for extended operations (ETOPS). Based on reported and projected 777 fleet data, Boeing estimated the 1 millionth 777 ETOPS flight occurred on May 11. "The 1 millionth 777 ETOPS flight is a result of our point-to-point product strategy to develop airplanes that fly people directly where they want to go," said Larry Loftis, vice president-general manager, 777 Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Early in its development we set out on a deliberate path to make the 777 the first airplane to enter service ready to fly ETOPS routes."
+++
US Air Force officials announced the release of a draft amendment to the Combat Search and Rescue replacement vehicle (CSAR-X) Request for Proposal (RFP). "We're releasing this draft RFP amendment to foster open communications with our partners in industry, the Department of Defense and Congress as we respond to the recommendations made by the GAO," said Sue Payton, the Air Force Service Acquisition Executive. Following discussions and meetings with the offerors, the Air Force expects to release the actual RFP amendment in early June and receive additional proposal information from the original CSAR-X offerors later this summer. The amended RFP will clarify the Air Force's evaluation of Operations and Support (O&S) costs and will also provide the original offerors an opportunity to quantify and substantiate potential manpower efficiencies based on the reliability and maintainability characteristics of their proposed aircraft. Air Force subject matter experts from many career fields will then evaluate the offerors' proposed efficiencies. Air Force officials will then conduct a best value assessment in accordance with the instructions outlined in the amended RFP. The revised best value assessment will integrate the new O&S information with the results of the evaluation done previously included in all other areas where the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found no problems. The best value source selection decision and subsequent contract award is projected for fall 2007.
+++
NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration have joined forces to develop a Web-based flight test safety database that is envisioned as the aviation test-flying community's one-stop reference guide to conducting flight tests safely. Officials of both agencies believe the database, which went on-line in mid-April, will become one of the most significant contributions to aviation safety since development of the flight test hazard analysis used by most flight test pilots and engineers. NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance initially funded the effort as a research initiative but was quickly joined by the FAA, which had started its own comparable effort. Both agencies mutually funded the development of a Web site as the primary means of making the data available to the flight test community and have developed teaming arrangements with industry to compile and populate the actual data.
+++
Airbus will increase its monthly production rate to 40 for its single-aisle A320 Family by the end of 2009. Currently, Airbus produces 32 A320 Family aircraft per month. Airbus' decision to continue to ramp-up its production rate is driven by a continuing strong demand for its aircraft and a record backlog in excess of 2,500 aircraft. "This production increase confirms again that we continue to be an outstanding growth industry," said Louis Gallois, President and CEO of Airbus. "The quick implementation of Power8 will pave the way for securing a bright future with profitable growth for Airbus." The successful A330/A340 Family is currently produced at a rate of seven aircraft per month, due to increase to eight in 2008 and nine in 2009. Airbus is currently considering a further production rate increase for the A330/A340 Family that will be decided in the coming weeks. The A320 Family has already reached the highest jet airliner production rate in the history of aviation. By March 2008, output is set to reach 34, then 36 in December 2008. The new monthly production rate of 40 will be achieved in continuation of this steady ramp-up, first rising to 38 by mid 2009 and reaching 40 by the end of 2009. Currently the A320 Family is assembled in Toulouse and Hamburg.
+++
Cirrus is expanding its business fleet of 15 jets with immediate effect with a Gulfstream G200. This means the German industry head will be operating a Gulfstream for the first time in addition to private jets from the manufacturers Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault Falcon and Embraer. "With this new acquisition we are setting standards throughout the industry, since hardly any rival company is able to offer its clientele as many types of aircraft and we are thus able to satisfy (almost) every customer wish." says the managing director Stefan Buschle.
+++
Thales' TopOwl Helicopter Helmet Mounted Display has been selected to participate in the demonstration of Lockheed Martin's Modernized Pilot Night Vision System to different US military organizations. The tour of US bases to demonstrate the capabilities of the Modernized Pilot Night Vision System, required a helmet system capable of providing high accuracy head tracking and high resolution LCD based displays. TopOwl, already in service with the US Marines, was selected by Lockheed Martin for this important capability demonstrator after a thorough evaluation of other helmet-mounted display systems.
+++
Terra Firma's aircraft leasing platform AWAS has acquired San Francisco-headquartered Pegasus Aviation Finance Company from Oaktree Capital Management and Pegasus management for $5.2bn. Pegasus provides capital to airlines for new deliveries and fleet management solutions. Since 2004 Pegasus has built a business of 82 owned aircraft, 94 managed aircraft, and a pipeline of 37 aircraft on forward orders. The aggregate appraised value of Pegasus' owned fleet and forward order pipeline is over $5bn. Terra Firma acquired Dublin, Ireland-headquartered AWAS in March 2006. The company has been positioned to be Terra Firma's growth platform in the sector. Guy Hands, chief executive of Terra Firma, said, 'The purchase of Pegasus builds on our initial AWAS acquisition, and will significantly strengthen our worldwide position within the aircraft leasing sector, by broadening our customer and supplier base. The acquisition will allow the combined company to take advantage of significant benefits from increased scale as well as to capitalise further on the attractive outlook for the sector.'
+++
Trans Helicopter Service (THS) of Paris, France has recently completed EASA-European Aviation Safety Agency certification on Safe Flight Instrument Corporation's Powerline Detection System (PDS) for the Eurocopter AS 355 series helicopter. The Powerline Detection System will be marketed and distributed in Europe through Trans Helicopter Services of France. THS is in discussions with two major European insurance companies to obtain discounted aircraft insurance for helicopters with PDS installed.
+++
Blue Sky Network, the global satellite logistics solution provider for two-way linking and managing remote transportation assets, in coordination with Nayak Aircraft Service, today announced a new STC from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The STC covers Nayak installation of Blue Sky Network equipment on Hawker 800, Hawker 800XP and Hawker 850XP aircraft. The Blue Sky Network equipment gives operators and passengers access to voice and circuit data connections from as many locations in the aircraft as necessary, providing unlimited versatility for communications in both cockpit and cabin. It also includes an Iridium satellite portable telephone, for use on or off the aircraft. This equipment enables airlines and fleet-operators two-way communications capabilities, to allow for easy management and communications with all their aviation assets.
+++
Space shuttle Atlantis is back at its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Teams are preparing Atlantis for its mission, STS-117, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for June 8.Atlantis rolled out of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at 5:02 a.m. EDT Tuesday on a massive crawler transporter. Traveling less than 1 mph, the journey ended with Atlantis atop the launcher pedestals at Launch Pad 39-A at 11:47 a.m. The total trip time was six hours and 45 minutes. Electrical and mechanical connections of Atlantis to the launch pad are under way. With the refurbishment of Pad 39-A, this launch will be the first from the pad in four years.
+++
The gigantic composite wings for the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner were delivered to Everett at 4:10 a.m. PDT. Manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at its facility in Nagoya, Japan, each wing is 98 feet long. Standing on edge in custom-made tooling, the wings were delivered together to Boeing via the Dreamlifter, a specially modified 747-400 used to transport 787 major assemblies. The 787 is the first commercial aircraft to use composite materials as its primary structure. It is also the first Boeing aircraft featuring an all-composite wing.
+++
Goodrich has delivered its first set of Boeing 787 Dreamliner thrust reversers to be installed on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines used in the 787 flight test program scheduled to begin later this year. Goodrich shipped the thrust reversers from its Chula Vista, Calif. site, which also performed final assembly, to a Rolls-Royce engine facility in Derby, UK. Goodrich's team in Chula Vista is building the thrust reversers and nacelle systems for both engine options offered on the 787, the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and the General Electric GEnx. Goodrich will manufacture nacelles and thrust reversers for six flight test airplanes - three for each engine type - as well as a spare set for each engine variant.
+++
QinetiQ, as prime contractor and systems integrator, has secured a £5.5m contract from the UK MOD to use the Tornado F3 as the alternative test platform to the Typhoon to support trials for the Beyond Visual Range Air-Air Missile (BVRAAM – Meteor) and take development to the systems preliminary design review in September 2007. QinetiQ will provide capability support and undertake the conversion of two Tornado F3 aircraft to a standard that will ensure the safe carriage, control and release of the Meteor missile. Other sub contractors involved in delivering the Meteor development trials programme comprise: BAE Systems Insyte which will handle software modifications to the main computer; modifications to the AI-24 Foxhunter radar will be implemented by SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems; and Flight Refuelling Limited will modify the Tornado eject launcher to integrate the Meteor missile to the Tornado aircraft systems.
+++
The final system qualification firing of the Franco-Italian Aster PAAMS (E) (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) naval air defence weapon was completed on 14 May, at the Centre d'essais de la Méditerranée (CELM) test range in France. The test fulfilled all the objectives set and, as such, was confirmed to be a complete success. The firing was conducted on board the Italian Carabiniere ship with the PAAMS (E) System comprising the Empar radar and associated fire control system, A50 Sylver Vertical Launcher and Aster 30 missile.
+++
UAL Corporation, the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, announced it has reduced 2007 mainline domestic capacity growth by approximately 2.0 percent from previously planned levels. This reduction in domestic capacity enables the company to meet increasing international demand and optimize its revenue performance. On a system basis, the domestic capacity reduction will be partially offset by an increase in international capacity of approximately 0.5 percent. In the fall, United will add service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong and between Washington D.C., and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Consolidated system capacity will be reduced approximately 0.5 percent from previous expectations. "Given the domestic market's slow revenue growth and excess capacity, we believe that removing marginal domestic capacity is the appropriate response," said John Tague, executive vice president and Chief Revenue Officer. "Some capacity will move internationally to meet the service needs of our customers and extend United's market-leading position at Los Angeles International and Washington-Dulles airports."
+++
Midwest Airlines announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Northwest Airlines to form a strategic codeshare partnership between the two carriers. The new partnership will greatly expand the networks of both carriers by adding 250 city pairs and more than 1,000 new flight options for customers. Passengers can book their entire flight on a single ticket, with all segments earning mileage credit in either the Midwest Miles or Northwest WorldPerks frequent flyer programs. The agreement with Northwest is the next step in the continuing roll-out of Midwest's wide-ranging 2007 growth plan. Along with other key elements of the plan, this is expected to enhance the value of the company for shareholders by providing significant revenue impact as a result of offering customers more ways to easily reach their favorite cities.
+++
Construction has started on the Airbus A320 Family Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Tianjin, following recent approval by the State Council of the Feasibility Study Report for the project. A formal ceremony was held on site in the Tianjin Binhai New Coastal District, where the FAL is to be located, in the presence of Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, State Councillor and Fabrice Brégier Airbus Chief Operating Officer. The setting up of the FAL in China includes the construction of dedicated hangars, office buildings, delivery centre and related facilities, including electricity, gas, water and fuel supply systems. The FAL in Tianjin will be identical to the latest state-of-the-art Airbus single aisle final assembly line in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft will be assembled and delivered in China to the same standards as those assembled and delivered in Europe.
+++
Unmanned Air Vehicle systems are an important 'breakthrough technology' which can contribute significantly to meeting the objectives of ESDP operations. A range of aviation companies and research institutes are now investing in the development of UAVs and their related technologies. However, these efforts have been fragmented, with many projects spread across many European countries. The initiative launched today -- the result of extensive consultation between the Agency, the European Commission and the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) -- aims to establish a joint and complementary co-operation agenda. The main target of the joint agenda is to address the challenge of enabling UAVs to operate alongside conventional air traffic. This is the key to expanding the use of UAVs beyond the purely military into the security and ultimately commercial domains and to creating the scale of demand around which European industry can unite. Starting with an EDA-funded roadmap study, the proposed approach aims at progression from the current state of affairs, in which military UAVs can fly in segregated airspace, to a situation in which civilian and government-operated UAVs could operate alongside other manned aircraft in integrated airspace by 2012. This will require innovative technology development and system demonstrations for UAVs to be considered fully airworthy and for the right regulatory framework to be in place for this integration. The initial study for a more detailed road map has a budget of some EUR 500,000. The Agency will work with participating Member States, the Commission and industry on ideas for joint financing and an organisational model for future phases of this initiative.
+++
ARINC Incorporated this week announced it is testing Ku-band satellite coverage of the North Atlantic flight tracks and will soon expand its SKYLink in-flight broadband communications offering. North Atlantic coverage was activated May 14 over a Loral SkyNet satellite, and ARINC is currently verifying the SKYLink signal strength and geographic footprint. The expanded SKYLink service is expected to be available in June, and coverage is projected to include much of northern Canada and south Greenland, in addition to the North Atlantic. The new coverage will allow SKYLink's European and North American customers to enjoy seamless broadband communications in flight all the way from eastern Europe to the U.S. Pacific coast—a distance of more than 8,000 miles.
+++
Lufthansa Cargo and World Airways have signed an expanded 18-month contract to operate three MD-11 freighters between Europe and the United States beginning July 1, 2007. This will supersede the current contract for two MD-11 freighters through October 2007. "World Airways has operated very reliably for Lufthansa between New York JFK and Europe and we are pleased that they have demonstrated their confidence in us by extending and expanding our contract," said Rob Binns, chief marketing officer for World Air Holdings, Inc. "Lufthansa Cargo is a leading international carrier with an impeccable reputation, and World Airways is proud to be one of Lufthansa Cargo's partners in providing excellent service for their customers." Bernhard Kindelbacher, senior vice president, Product and Network Management of Lufthansa Cargo, added, "We very much appreciate the support of World Airways - as they are a very professional and reliable partner for our worldwide network." Lufthansa Cargo operates 19 MD-11 freighters and currently has additional charter agreements for two MD-11 freighters and three Boeing 747 freighters.
+++
Northrop Grumman has delivered the center/aft fuselage section for the first production-configured development model of the EA 18G Growler, the U.S. Navy's next-generation electronic attack aircraft. The fuselage shipset, measuring nearly 30 feet long and 18 feet high at the tip of its twin vertical tails, was completed in April on the company's F/A-18 assembly line in El Segundo. Northrop Grumman operates the only two remaining combat aircraft production lines in Southern California. The EA-18G is a derivative of the combat-proven F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Navy's frontline carrier-based strike fighter. Northrop Grumman has been the principal subcontractor to The Boeing Company on all models of the F/A-18 for nearly 30 years. Northrop Grumman previously delivered shipsets for two Growler flight test aircraft, and the latest delivery is the first of four under the system development and demonstration phase of the program.
+++
Bombardier Aerospace announced that Deutsche Lufthansa AG has signed a firm order for 15 CRJ900 regional jets. In a press release issued on April 17, 2007, Lufthansa confirmed that its Supervisory Board had approved the placement of this order. Lufthansa has also taken purchase rights on 15 additional aircraft. The value of the firm orders, based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, is approximately $584 million US. Lufthansa stated in its April 17, 2007 press release, that the new CRJ900 aircraft will become part of the modern and efficient regional fleet deployed on its European routes and for feeder flights. The airline also stated that the CRJ900 aircraft is highly fuel efficient and has low noise and emission levels, giving it high "environmental compatibility and ecological efficiency."
+++
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and joint venture partner Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) announced today that MSV has contracted with Sea Launch Company, LLC, for the launch in 2010 of one of two high-powered, next-generation satellites, designed to provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous broadband wireless coverage of North and Central America to consumer electronic devices. "This launch will complete the space segment of MSV's new integrated satellite-terrestrial communications network," said Alexander H. Good, MSV Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. "We have teamed with a world-class provider who combined a fair price and program flexibility, allowing us to deliver ahead of our regulatory milestones." "MSV is further demonstrating the industry's confidence in our team and our system," said Rob Peckham, President and General Manager of Sea Launch. "This commitment represents a significant milestone for us."
+++
AerCap has signed a firm contract with Airbus for the purchase of an additional ten A330-200 passenger aircraft, following their order for 20 A330-200s in December 2006. With its proven benefits in terms of economics and a wide customer base, the A330-200 will assist AerCap in the growth of their portfolio. Headquartered in The Netherlands, AerCap is an integrated global aviation company with a leading market position in aircraft and engine leasing, trading and parts sales. AerCap first ordered 32 Airbus A320 Family aircraft in 1999. This was followed by a large follow-up order for 70 A320 Family aircraft in December 2005, through an AerCap joint venture with LoadAir. Then Aercap ordered 20 A330-200s in December 2006.
+++
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) granted final approval for Virgin America, a new low fare U.S. airline, to begin operations. "We are absolutely thrilled to be cleared for take-off and for the opportunity to serve San Francisco, the Bay Area, California, and the American public," said Virgin America CEO Fred Reid. "I applaud the DOT for approving our application and fulfilling their long-standing commitment to competition and new choices for travelers." In its final order, the DOT found that the company fully complied with all requirements regarding fitness, U.S. citizenship requirements and control. The DOT also acknowledged that this final approval had been contingent upon the company's acceptance of several additional conditions that were made public in March when the DOT tentatively approved Virgin America's application. One of these additional conditions included a requirement for Mr. Reid to step down following launch. That condition will remain although he now will be permitted to stay on as CEO for six months following airline certification.
+++
The Expedition 15 crew unpacked new supplies and began preparing for the arrival of the next visiting spacecraft and two upcoming spacewalks at the International Space Station. The ISS Progress 25 docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 12:10 a.m. CDT Tuesday. During the week, the crew began unloading the more than 5,000 pounds of cargo from the supply ship. Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov prepared for their May 30 and June 6 spacewalks by working on the Pirs Airlock. The cosmonauts will wear Russian Orlan spacesuits to install orbital debris protection panels on the Zvezda Service Module and replace experiments on the module's hull. The crew prepared for the arrival of space shuttle Atlantis, which is targeted to launch on June 8. Yurchikhin and Kotov practiced digital photography techniques for their role in the inspection of the shuttle's heat shield as it approaches the station for the joint STS-117 mission. Flight Engineer Suni Williams assembled a spacewalk tool and wrapped it in protective tape to be used if spacewalkers need help with retracting the P6 starboard solar array.
+++
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
 13 May 2007
6 May 2007
29 April 2007
22 April 2007
15 April 2007
8 April 2007
1 April 2007
25 March 2007
18 March 2007
11 March 2007
25 February 2007
18 February 2007
11 February 2007
4 February 2007
28 January 2007
21 January 2007
14 January 2007
7 January 2007
24 December 2006
17 December 2006
10 December 2006
3 December 2006
26 November 2006
19 November 2006
12 November 2006
5 November 2006
29 October 2006
22 October 2006
15 October 2006
8 October 2006
1 October 2006
January - Septemb er 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
|
