+++ Airbus records 425 orders at Paris +++ Predator B marketed in Germany +++ Germany and France cooperate on large helicopter +++ Alenia Sky-Y flies +++ Sweden gets its first NH90 as Germany orders more +++ Trent 1000 flies +++ 787 order from ILFC +++ Shuttle lands at Edwards AFB +++ Cessna books 1 billion Dollar order from NetJets +++ EU launches big "Green Aviation" push +++ Lufthansa takes full ownership of SWISS +++ News in brief +++
Airbus records 425 orders at Paris
Auftragsflut für Airbus
Airbus ended the Paris Air Show with new momentum for its product range, the A380, the A350 XWB, the A330/A340 Family, as well as the A320 Family. During the Show the manufacturer received a total of 425 firm orders from 19 customers. In addition, Airbus received commitments for a total of 303 additional aircraft.
Orders received at the Show have validated Airbus' new A350 XWB programme, which received a total of 141 firm orders from five customers during the week. The customers include Qatar, Aeroflot, Singapore Airlines and lessors Alafco and CIT. In addition the new A350 received commitments for 52 aircraft from four additional customers (US Airways, Kingfisher, Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah). This brings the total orders and commitments received so far for the all new A350 XWB, which was launched in December last year, to 232 aircraft, including 154 firm orders and 78 commitments.
The A330/A340 Family continued to sell, receiving a total of 132 orders and commitments, of which 83 are firm and 49 are commitments. The A330-200 Freighter won as many as 46 firm orders from five different customers around the world. Altogether the family gained four new customers, which is also another indication of the success of this Family in the market place.
Finally, the demand for Airbus' Single aisle product Family was again confirmed, with the addition of 390 orders and commitments (198 firm orders and 192 commitments). Airbus increased its A320 Family customer base, also welcoming four new customers as well as two new ACJ customers.
“This Airshow has confirmed that Airbus is very much back on the market, continuing to satisfy customers with the right products. Especially the A380 and A350 XWB have been the highlight of the show, receiving tremendous customer endorsement. They will lead the way in the future in terms of aircraft technology, passenger comfort and environment friendliness. Also, the A330/A340 Family continues to be very much in demand, as is our single-aisle Family,” said Airbus President and CEO Louis Gallois. ”This should give us further incentive to pursue our efforts to turn the company around in order to be able to deliver on our promises”.
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Predator B marketed in Germany
Diehl BGT Defence bietet Predator für Luftwaffe an
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Diehl BGT Defence, a leading German defence contractor, signed a teaming agreement for marketing the Predator B UAS in Germany. The German Government has launched a program called SAATEG (System fuer die abbildende Aufklaerung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes; In-Theatre Reconnaissance) which has identified a requirement for a MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) UAS capable of providing imaging intelligence for its armed forces in international missions. The German requirement is an immediate one, i.e. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is scheduled as early as 2010.
“The multi-mission Predator B has long demonstrated superior reliability, affordability, and surveillance capabilities,” said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “We are convinced it will exceed German expectations and are very pleased to team with Diehl BGT Defence in this important initiative. Diehl will assist GA-ASI in the execution of the program in Germany.” “Cooperation with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems puts Diehl BGT Defence into a position of entering the future market of unmanned aerial systems,” remarked Claus Günther, executive board member, responsible for Diehl Defence business. “Moreover, this collaboration reflects a proven tradition of Diehl which possesses many years of experience in transatlantic cooperation.”
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Germany and France cooperate on large helicopter
Neuer schwerer Transporthubschrauber bis 2020?
The French and German Armament Directorates have signed a declaration of interest during the Air Show that lays out the objectives to [jointly] consider the acquisition of a future transport helicopter capability in the 2020 time frame. The diversification in tactical mobility missions, as well as lessons learned from recent operations, confirmed the need to provide armed forces with efficient and highly capable transport helicopters for personnel, light armoured vehicles and cargo. Based on its flexibility, this capability will also address personnel evacuation or emergency logistics transport, within a wide range of operational, geographical and meteorological conditions. Both Nations are commonly working to harmonise their requirements for operational and tactical airlift and air manoeuvrability in order to fill the gap beyond the capabilities provided by the NH90 systems then already in service in France and Germany (next to their CH-53 assets) on one side and the A400M on the other side. After having coordinated their national preliminary analysis studies, both Nations have decided to further extend their activities and to prepare jointly the framework conditions for a potential common project. Based on their system requirements and planning guidelines, France and Germany intend to open their potential common project to other European partner nations, in the framework of the European Defence Agency (EDA). Both Nations are also open to consider other non-EDA partner nations for participation.
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Alenia Sky-Y flies
Neues unbemanntes Fluggerät aus Italien
The Sky-Y made its first flight at Vidsel Base in Sweden, on 21 June 2007, successfully completing a series of three take-off runs and then, in flight, tests for stability, manoeuvrability, acceleration, engine and propeller performance, reaching a maximum altitude of 3000 feet and a speed of 110 ktas. During the flight, no faults were registered and the performances were better than expected. The experimental data recorded during the flight will be the basis for the operational envelope expansion of the aircraft, which will be able to carry out surveillance missions of over 12 hours at an altitude of 8000 m.
The Sky-Y is the first unmanned surveillance vehicle, in the Medium Altitude Long Endurance class been conceived, designed and produced – in less than a year – by Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company. The flight marked the happy outcome of twelve months of strong efforts of Alenia Aeronautica team that had already followed the development and testing of another unmanned aerial vehicle technological demonstrator, the Sky-X, the first aircraft in the over-one-ton weight class to fly in Europe.
The Sky-Y weighs about one ton and is powered by a diesel engine of automotive derivation. It will be able to experiment all critical technologies, propulsion, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors, datalinks and systems for next generation MALE unmanned aircraft, among which, in particular, the Molynx, an aerial vehicle for land surveillance and protection, under development at Alenia Aeronautica, and an innovative system, also under development, with military aims, in a class comparable or superior to the most advanced systems available on the market today.
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Sweden gets its first NH90 as Germany orders more
NH90 an Schweden übergeben / Neue Bestellung aus Deutschland
Germany has signed a formal order for 42 additional NH90 helicopters. 30 of these helicopters will be operated by the German Army Aviation and 12 by the German Air Force. These aircraft are in addition to the initial batch of 80 NH90 ordered in June 2000. The ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at the Cercle Militaire Saint-Augustin in Paris, during Paris Air Show 2007.
The German Army is the first customer to have taken delivery of NH90 in December 2006 and further deliveries in May 2007. The aircraft identified under the Industry designation TGEA02, TGEA03 and TGEA04 are used for flight training at the German Army Air Corps Weapons School in Bückeburg, while serial number TGEA05 is dedicated as a ground trainer at the Army base in Fassberg.
The additional 30 NH90 for the Army Aviation will keep the variant features and characteristics of the 50 TTH previously ordered. The 12 for the Air Force will feature the Rear Ramp, provisions for armor protection and machine gun, in the frame of the harmonization process among the Air Force variant; following this additional order, the total NH90 for German Air Force will amount to 42.
Meanwhile, NHIndustries and its consortium partners, Eurocopter, AgustaWestland and Stork Fokker, handed over the first NH90 to the Swedish Air Force on June 20 at 11:00 in its Static Display. Accepting the aircraft on behalf of the Swedish Ministry of Defence was Brigadier General Arne Heden, Director of Air and Space of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.
Sweden is the launch customer of the High Cabin Version (HCV) of the NH90 which features an increased usable cabin height by 24 centimeters, from 1.58 meters in the standard version to 1.82 meters. This variant allows operators and passengers to stand upright in the cabin. Sweden had signed the contract for 25 NH90 in September 2001, covering 18 firm orders for 13 TTT / SAR helicopters and five ASW variants, plus seven options.
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Trent 1000 flies
Neues Rolls-Royce-Triebwerk in der Luft
Rolls-Royce reported a flawless performance by its Trent 1000 engine during its first flight on the company's Boeing 747 flying test bed. The first phase of the flight test programme for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's launch engine is taking place at Waco, Texas. Rolls-Royce Chief Test pilot Phill O'Dell said: “We gave the engine a hard time for its first flight, but it did everything we asked. It was very stable and predictable. “Normally at this stage we would have expected to leave the engine at fixed thrust, but we gained confidence so quickly that we used it to manoeuvre the aircraft. We will now move quickly to aggressive operability testing.”
The Trent 1000 has completed its altitude test phase at the Arnold Engineering Development Centre (AEDC) in Tullahoma, Tennessee. This has included complete icing compliance, engine operability and in-flight restarts across the flight envelope. The engine has performed excellently throughout altitude testing and the quality of data from the controlled environment at AEDC has met altitude certification requirements.
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787 order from ILFC
Großauftrag von Leasingfirma für Boeing 787
Boeing and International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) announced that the two companies have finalized orders for 63 airplanes worth approximately $8.8 billion at current list prices. ILFC will expand its fleet with a new order for 50 additional 787 Dreamliners. ILFC will take delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner in 2010, with additional airplanes arriving through 2017. Today's order also includes 10 Next-Generation 737s, which extends ILFC's delivery stream through 2012. In addition, Boeing and ILFC disclosed an order booked earlier this year exercising options for two 787-8 Dreamliners and one 777-300ER (Extended Range) for delivery in early 2009, which was previously listed on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site and attributed to an unidentified customer. With the announcement, ILFC becomes the largest customer of the 787 Dreamliner to date, with 74 airplanes on order -- 73 787-8s and one 787-9.
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Shuttle lands at Edwards AFB
Rückkehr von verlängerter Mission
The space shuttle Atlantis and its crew are home after completing a 14-day journey of more than 5.8 million miles in space. Atlantis' STS-117 mission successfully increased the power capability of the International Space Station, preparing for the future delivery of European and Japanese laboratories.
Atlantis' Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John "Danny" Olivas and Sunita Williams landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Friday at 3:49 p.m. EDT.
Atlantis' crew attached the new S3/S4 solar array truss segment on the right side of the station's backbone, deployed a new set of solar arrays, and retracted the Port 6 starboard solar array back into its box. The station has a new look with two symmetrical solar panels mounted on each end of the station's truss.
Several inspections in orbit revealed no critical damage, and Atlantis' thermal protection system was declared safe for re-entry on flight day 13. Weather concerns prevented the crew from returning to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., the primary end-of-mission landing site. In 7-10 days, Atlantis will be transported approximately 2,500 miles from California to Florida on the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet. Once at Kennedy, Atlantis will be separated from the aircraft to begin immediate processing for its next flight, targeted for December 2007.
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Cessna books 1 billion Dollar order from NetJets
Großauftrag für Cessna Geschäftsreisejets
Cessna announced at the Paris Air Show that NetJets – Cessna's largest Citation customer – has ordered 96 Citation business jets. The order includes 50 Encore+, 37 XLS+ and 9 Citation X aircraft and totals more than $1 billion. “Cessna's Citation line provides our customers a wide variety of options for fractional ownership,” said NetJets Chairman and CEO, Richard Santulli. “The dispatch reliability and quality of service provided by Cessna Citations have helped make our business successful. We currently have 304 Citation business jets under management with NetJets and NetJets Europe.
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EU launches big "Green Aviation" push
Umweltinitiative der EU gestartet
On 21 June at the Paris Air Show, European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik presented plans for a major public/private partnership for a greener air transport system. Dubbed the "Clean Sky" Joint Technology Initiative, its objectives are to reduce CO2 emissions by around 40%, NOx emissions by 60% and noise by 50%. Technology breakthroughs are hoped for in time for major fleet renewal in 2015 and will apply to three main aircraft categories (long range, regional, rotorcraft) and overall to engines and "systems". The EU will contribute €800 million from its Seventh Research Framework Programme, a sum that will be matched by industry. Industry participation comes from across the aviation and aeronautics sector, with companies taking leading roles in the 6 areas identified for research: SMART fixed wing aircraft; green regional aircraft; green rotorcraft; sustainable and green engines; systems for green operations; eco-design.
Commissioner Potocnik said "The EU is not just talking about tackling climate change. It is also making the necessary investment in technological development. European Commission studies show that the aviation industry accounts for 4% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. So, I warmly welcome industry's commitment to the Clean Sky initiative. Clean Sky will make the best use of both public and private resources to develop cleaner and quieter aircraft, with spill-over benefits in many other areas of science like materials, computer simulations, and energy management."
Clean Sky aims to develop advanced technologies for the next generation of aircraft in order to establish an innovative and competitive Air Transport System. Through the development of full scale demonstrators, Clean Sky will perform an overall assessment of individual technologies at the fleet level, thus ensuring earliest possible deployment of its research results. The activity will cover all main flying segments of the Air Transport System and the associated underlying technologies identified in the Strategic Research Agenda for Aeronautics developed by the Aeronautics Technology Platform ACARE.
Clean Sky will be built upon 6 different technical areas called Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs), where preliminary studies and down-selection of work will be performed, followed by large-scale demonstrations on ground or in-flight, in order to bring innovative technologies to a maturity level where they can be applicable to new generation “green aircraft”. Multiple links for coherence and data exchange will be ensured between the various ITDs. Most of the test benches will be used in common by several ITDs.
Clean Sky will also have a Technology Evaluator, whose role is to assess the contribution that the research results in the 6 areas will make to the environmental objectives of the programme. The research activities will be conducted by the JTI members and additional partners selected via open Calls for Proposals. These will be complemented by support activities conducted by organisations selected via Calls for Tender, open to any legal entity eligible to participate in Framework Programme activities. Beyond the initial participants, other members may be selected in the future, which would mean participation of a few hundred organisations during the initial activity period of seven years (2007-2013).
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Lufthansa takes full ownership of SWISS
Übernahme der Schweizer Airline abgeschossen
After securing the necessary traffic rights, Deutsche Lufthansa AG will acquire all the remaining shares in Swiss International Air Lines AG. Effective 1st July 2007 Lufthansa will then own all the equity in Swiss International Air Lines AG through the Swiss-domiciled AirTrust company.
The integration of SWISS into the Lufthansa Group has been realised quicker and more successfully than expected. Synergies generated by the merger, totalling more than 200 million euros (around 300 million Swiss francs) during 2006, are far higher than initially planned. Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said: “The result underlines the added value of our partnership, it underpins the sustainability of team oriented strategy and is the reward for excellent work by the SWISS management and its dedicated staff.”
Mayrhuber emphasised: “The SWISS business model is a success. The airline is still heading for growth and progressing extremely well. Also in future, SWISS with its own brand identity will further develop its strengths and expand its locational advantage in the Swiss market. SWISS will stay SWISS – also in partnership with Lufthansa“.
This successful business model also ensures that, within the framework of the Lufthansa Group´s strategy, SWISS will remain an autonomous carrier with an own business management and headquarters based in Switzerland as well as with its own crew and fleet. The development of the Zurich hub will continue alongside the hubs in Frankfurt and Munich as integral part of Lufthansa's multi-hub strategy. In addition, the SWISS fleet will further expand thanks to the high capacity utilisation in its long-haul traffic and ongoing market growth.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC I) and Bombardier Aerospace announced an agreement for a new, long-term strategic cooperation in the five-abreast, 90- to 149-seat commercial aircraft market. Founded on a well-established history, the two parties have reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will further develop the relationship. With this long-term strategic cooperation agreement, Bombardier intends to participate in the development of AVIC I's five-abreast ARJ21-900 aircraft - a further development of the ARJ21 series of airplanes - by helping to enhance the competitiveness of the ARJ21-900, and exploring potential commonality between the ARJ21-900 and Bombardier CSeries aircraft programs. Both parties expect the outcome of this collaboration to result in mutually beneficial cost reductions and increased production efficiencies for these aircraft programs.
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Boeing successfully completed the first flight of the A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft June 15 from an airfield near Victorville, Calif. The A160T, a turbine-powered version of the innovative piston-powered A160 helicopter, features unmatched range, endurance, payload and altitude for an unmanned rotorcraft. "Today's Hover-In-Ground Effect flight is our first step in providing the warfighter the key element of our approach to providing persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage that only an unmanned helicopter of this type can provide," said Jim Martin, Boeing Advanced Systems A160 program manager, after the flight. During the 12-minute hover flight to verify vehicle and subsystem operation, the A160T met all test objectives and collected extensive flight control, propulsion and subsystem operation data.
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EADS and DRS Technologies announced they have signed a cooperation agreement that establishes an industrial framework for helicopter avionics production in the United States, coupled with joint sales and marketing initiatives. The agreement signed during the Paris Airshow in Le Bourget pertains to EADS Defence Electronics' HELLAS obstacle warning system currently being used by the German Federal Police and the Royal Thai Air Force and foreseen for the installment on the NH90 helicopter. The HELLAS system was developed to be used in helicopters and is a laser-based system, which reliably detects obstacles even if the pilot has difficulties seeing them during flights. It scans the area in front of a helicopter with a laser beam, which is not harmful to the human eye, and detects even thin wire at distances of up to 1,000 meters and with high precision. “HELLAS is the only certified operational system worldwide which is able to protect helicopters against the collision with almost invisible obstacles,” said Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of EADS Defence Electronics. “Together with DRS we will be well positioned to offer U.S. military forces a proven system that could reduce the risk of dangerous flight missions considerably.” With the latest version of HELLAS, the pilot sees a depth and grey-scale image of the terrain in front of the helicopter. Potential obstacles are displayed in a red signal color in such a way that they can be recognized by the helicopter crew in good time and safely circumnavigated. It has been successfully evaluated by the U.S. Army's Foreign Comparative Testing program.
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Eurocopter has been awarded by the UK's Ministry of Defence an Assessment Phase (AP) contract for the Life Extension Programme for the RAF's fleet of Puma Mk1 helicopters. The programme will be based on a comprehensive upgrades, including new Turbomeca Makila engines, a 'glass' cockpits, and new communications, navigation and defensive systems for up to 35 of the RAF Puma Mk1 helicopters. The new Pumas, which will be designated Puma HC Mk2, will consequently be capable of remaining in service until around 2022. Their performance and payload will be significantly enhanced, particularly in hot and high conditions. The Assessment Phase, scheduled for the next 12 months, will consider the detailed technical, operational and cost implications of the upgrade. Successful completion of the AP will lead to a full Development and Manufacture contract for delivery of the main programme.
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Tiger Airways, Singapore's fast growing low-fare carrier, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an additional 30 Airbus A320s and 20 options. Tiger Airways currently operates a fleet of nine A320s, with 11 more to be delivered by 2010. With the latest order, Tiger Airways' fleet has the ability to grow to 70 Airbus aircraft. The MoU was signed at the 47 th International Paris Air Show. The A320s will be deployed on the airline's regional network in South East Asia that currently extends to 15 cities in seven countries, and will include its new operations within Australia starting later in 2007. Tiger Airways' A320s will be configured in a 180-seat, all-economy configuration. No engine choice has been made.
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Thales Alenia Space is proud to announce that it has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide the first Sentinel Earth observation satellite dedicated to the GMES program. Paris Air Show Le Bourget, June 18, 2007 - Thales Alenia Space is proud to announce that it has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide the first Sentinel Earth observation satellite dedicated to the GMES program. The contract, worth 229 million euros, has been signed today at the International Paris Air Show Le Bourget by Volker Liebig, ESA's Director of Earth Observation and Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space Italy is responsible for the design, development and integration of the satellite that will carry a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The radar will be based on Thales Alenia Space's key technologies such as the Transmit-Receive modules inside the active antenna. The Sentinel-1 satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2011, is part of the GMES program - Global Monitoring for Environment and Security - a set of Earth observation missions co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. GMES represents the European answer to the ever-increasing requirements of environmental control, and thus provides an important contribution to environmental policies at a global level.
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Spain's Ministry of Defense has selected GE engines to power 45 NH90 helicopters with its advanced CT7-8F5 engine and related services. These aircraft are included in the Armed Forces Modernization Program (procurement approved by the Minister Council in May 2005.) The combined value of the competitive performance of the CT7-8F5 engine and the related GE industrial commitment were key to this contract award. GE will implement an industrial plan that will focus on the development and diversification of the Spanish aeronautical industry. CT7-8F5 engine end-users, the Army, Navy and Air Force, will benefit from its advanced performances. The engine generates more power than the standard version installed in existing NH90 helicopters, allowing the Spanish Armed Forces to perform a variety of missions, and includes built-in growth to meet future demands of the helicopter system. The CT7-8F5 engine also significantly improves performance in hot and high conditions, which is becoming increasingly important in combat and humanitarian-relief missions.
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From 21 May to 7 June 2007, under the supervision of Eurocopter and the French General Delegation for Armaments (DGA), a Tiger helicopter took part in navalization trials on two French Navy vessels, the Amphibious Landing Dock (ALD) Siroco. and the Lafayette-type frigate Guépratte. The capability of the Tiger to operate on a ship was put to the test in extremely severe weather conditions, with 6-meter swells, winds close to 100 km/h, and deck angles up to 12 degrees. The aim of the sea trials was to evaluate deck landing capability and to define the operations for helicopter tie-down after landing, blade folding, and handling on the deck, hangar and well deck of the ALD. In the 13 days at sea, the Tiger accomplished 300 deck landings and 80 logistic operations, confirming its outstanding suitability for ship-based operations. The trials were part of the standard 1 qualification of the HAP Tiger to determine its capability to operate from French Navy ships. The navalization trials were a major challenge for the French Army and an important milestone in the program schedule. From late 2008 on, the Tiger must be able to operate from deployment & command ships, aircraft carriers and ALDs.
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NATO Allies agreed to set up a new NATO agency to acquire and manage C-17 strategic transport aircraft on behalf of a group of 15 NATO nations and two Partnership for Peace countries. Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the decision. “The Strategic Airlift Capability initiative will help address NATO's -- and Europe's -- critical shortfall in strategic airlift. This capability will support our current operations, including in Afghanistan, and will be a pillar of the Alliance's long-term transformation.” The Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) initiative was first announced in September 2006, and hailed at the November 2006 NATO Summit in Riga. Strategic airlift has been a long-standing critical shortfall for the NATO Alliance. At the Riga summit, NATO Heads of State and Governments noted the need for “forces that are fully deployable, sustainable and interoperable and the means to deploy them.” They also endorsed several initiatives to increase strategic airlift, including the SAC, the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS), and offers to coordinate support structures for A-400M strategic airlift, which 7 Allies are planning to acquire beginning in 2010.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that its Predator UAS series has passed the milestone of 300,000 flight hours, with over 80-percent of that time spent in combat. The milestone was achieved by P-135 on June 15 while it performed an armed reconnaissance mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This particular aircraft has flown over 125 combat missions in just the one year it has been deployed. Predator series aircraft have flown an average of 8,200 hours per month over the past six months while maintaining the highest operational readiness rates in the U.S. military aircraft inventory. Over the past five-and-a-half years, monthly flight hours have increased 93-percent, growing from approximately 800 hours per month since 9/11 to over 11,000 hours last month.
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Thales Alenia Space and Arianespace announced the signature of the launch Service & Solutions contract for the first pan-African communications satellite, RASCOM 1, dedicated to the African continent. The satellite is scheduled for launch into a geostationary transfer orbit in the last quarter of 2007 by an Ariane 5 launcher from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. RASCOM 1, built by Thales Alenia Space as part of a turnkey contract with RascomStar-QAF, will provide telecommunication services in rural areas of Africa, as well as domestic and international connections, direct TV broadcast services and Internet access during 15 years. Based on a Spacebus 4000B3 platform, RASCOM 1 is equipped with 12 Ku-band transponders and eight C-band transponders. It will weigh about 3,200 kg at launch, will have a 6.4 kW power end of life and will be positioned at 2.85 degrees East. In the scope of the RASCOM program, Thales Alenia Space supplies both the in-orbit satellite delivery and its associated ground infrastructure including the mission, business, and ground control segments.
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On June 19, 2007 within the Le Bourget -2007 International air show the Supplement to the Type Certificate on AN-124-100M-150 modification issued by Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (AR IAC) was handed. Giving it to D.S.Kiva, General Designer, V.V.Bespalov, Chairman of the AR IAC, said in particular: “This document confirms that AN-124 meets international requirements for 10 years ahead. It gives us confidence that Ruslan will have great future”. D.G.Babiichuk, Deputy Chairman of State Aviation Administration of Ukraine, handed to D.Kiva the renewed Type Certificate on AN-124-100, issued by State Aviation Administration of Ukraine. D.S.Kiva, speaking at the ceremony told about essence of the Ruslan modernization, importance of installation of new equipment and providing the compliance of the aircraft with the modern and perspective requirements. Also Mr. Kiva told about tests process of the AN-124-100M-150. He said: “Collective of ANTONOV ASTC does everything required in order to provide our customers with the most modern airplanes capable to fly without limitations in all regions of the world and to have the high level of economy in operation”.
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Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that its subsidiary Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd. and Elettronica S.p.A. have agreed to cooperate and complete the joint development of advanced DIRCM (Direct Infra-Red Counter-Measures) systems intended to protect helicopters and wide-bodied aircraft from low altitude attack by shoulder-mounted heat-seeking missiles. The agreement builds on the abundant experience of both companies in infra-red countermeasures. Elettronica was an early pioneer in the field, which it explored beginning in the 1980s. Serving as the Israel Government's Center for Excellence for Electro-Optics Applications, Elop provides advanced electro-optic digital technologies for both military and space applications. DIRCM systems are intended primarily to protect helicopters, and larger fixed-wing aircraft during their take-off and landing phases, against the so-called portable heat-seeking missiles. These arms, beyond their combat applications, are considered to pose a potential terrorist risk for civilian aviation as well.
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Sikorsky announced the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance by the government of Colombia to acquire 15 Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. Army. The Foreign Military Sale is valued at approximately $225 million and includes spares, support, and training. Colombia intends to use the aircraft to battle narcotics trafficking and for national defense. Black Hawk helicopter derivatives today are serving 26 governments around the world in a diverse range of missions, from combat assault and peacekeeping to disaster relief and medical evacuation. Sikorsky also plans to introduce a Black Hawk model specifically for the international market, with production taking place in Mielec, Poland, and deliveries from there starting in 2010-2011.
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Hong Kong Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Hong Kong, has become Airbus' latest customer by signing a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 51 Airbus aircraft, including 30 A320 Family aircraft, 20 A330s as well as an Airbus Corporate Jet. An engine choice will be made at a later date. Since the company was established in 2001, Hong Kong Airlines has grown rapidly and built an extensive full service network serving Asian and Chinese mainland destinations.
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Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems (S&AS) UK displayed its unique Enhanced Vision System (EVS) at Paris 2007. Customers will be able to both view a core component of the EVS system and, see a demonstration for themselves of the image processing capability of the EVS system which offers the latest and most advanced enhanced situational awareness available to aircrew today. The EVS is operationally proven with UK forces, is extremely adaptable and greatly improves mission effectiveness. Aircrew can view data either through a conventional head-down tactical display or by means of a suitable Helmet Mounted Display or Digital Night Vision Goggle incorporating a head tracking system where the imagery presented is registered and aligned to the user's direct view of the outside world. EVS is available for both fixed and rotary wing applications. EVS is a modular, scalable and flexible integrated system. It brings together data from multi-waveband electro-optical sensors with optional navigation and terrain data. This provides pilots and other aircrew with a visual picture of the environment within which they are operating. It is an Open System architecture that may be configured to meet specific customer requirements.
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Qatar Airways has signed a contract for the purchase of 80 of the all-new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and also placed an order for a further three A380s, bringing their total order for the type to five. The agreement was signed at the 47th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget between Akbar Al-Baker, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer and Louis Gallois Airbus President and CEO. This follows on an initial agreement announced in May. The 80 A350 XWBs include 20 A350 XWB-800s, 40 A350 XWB-900s and 20 of the largest in the family, the A350 XWB-1000. Deliveries will begin from 2013. Qatar Airways will use the A350 XWBs to complement and subsequently replace its A330s on regional and long haul routes.
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The SES group and Arianespace announced the signature of a framework contract that will guarantee launch services for several satellites deployed by the global operator SES. The agreement covers launches planned between 2009 and 2013. Arianespace will give the world's leading satellite operator exceptional flexibility and capacity, based on the unrivalled availability of its launcher family. The Ariane 5 and Soyuz launchers deliver the reliability and performance needed to guarantee innovative launch services that meet the future deployment needs of the SES satellite fleet.
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Saab Aerotech has signed a new long term service agreement with Austria regarding the logistics and technical support for aircraft Saab 105OE. Saab 105OE is an export version of the SK60 that was adapted for the Austrian Armed Forces and was supplied in the beginning of the 1970s. According to the current plans it will remain in operation with the Austrian Armed Forces for a further 10-15 years. This means that this faithful servant will have been in operational service for nearly 50 years. In order to achieve this, and to ensure continued support from the manufacturer Saab, the Austrian Armed Forces have signed a long term service agreement with Saab Aerotech. The agreement includes operations regarding technical support, spares, publications, information exchange etc.
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With the successful first flight of the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Sharc, EADS Defence & Security (DS) has launched the flight test campaign for this innovative unmanned helicopter. During the first flight, the unmanned coaxial dual-rotor 200 kg class helicopter – which is being tested by the Military Air Systems unit of DS – demonstrated stability and impressive flight characteristics. Through this UAV demonstrator – roughly 250 cm long, 70 cm wide and 120 cm high – EADS has extended its range of high-performance UAVs. With a maximum take-off weight of 190 kg, the system can accommodate 60 kg of mission equipment in its payload compartments. Sharc is equipped with a redundant flight control unit, a laser altimeter and also control and data links. Sharc has been designed as an unmanned aerial vehicle without hydraulic components, the rotors being controlled by means of electrical actuators. "The innovativeness of this demonstrator in all its details provides emphatic evidence of the leading position that EADS Defence & Security occupies in the field of high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles within Europe," stated Stefan Zoller, member of the EADS Executive Committee for Defence & Security, in reaction to the successful first flight.
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BAE Systems has begun production of the head equipment assembly (HEA) for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The Typhoon HEA is the first binocular, visor-projected, night-vision-capable helmet-mounted display developed for a fighter aircraft. The helmet's fully integrated design ensures compatibility of the electro-optics with head protection and life support, and also incorporates a respirator for protection in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare environments. "The Typhoon HEA is the most technologically advanced helmet in the defense avionics market," said Clark Freise, vice president Defense Avionics for BAE Systems. "We believe, it is the safest, most sustainable, and most accurate helmet-mounted display developed to date. It significantly enhances the weapons system by integrating the pilot more completely into the aircraft and reducing his or her burden during the mission."
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Bell Helicopter and its partner Agusta Aerospace recently confirmed the 609 civilian tiltrotor has reached the 200 hour mark in the flight test program. Michael Cuppernull, BAAC managing director said that the program currently has two aircraft in flight test, with two more in the plans. "The third prototype is tentatively scheduled to fly next year and the fourth sometime later in 2008," Cuppernull stated. To date the first 609, based at Bell's XworX facility in Texas, has flown to all corners of the flight envelope, including speeds up to 304 KTAS in full airplane mode, as well as rearward and sideward flight in 35 kt. in helicopter mode. Pilots are also probing handling qualities at altitudes up to 25,000 ft. Also recently a third generation software package has been installed which will help further refine operations of the flight control system. The 609 is on track to achieve both FAA and European certification in 2010, with initial customer deliveries in 2011.
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International Launch Services (ILS) announced it has been selected to launch a fifth-generation satellite for Arabsat. ILS will launch the satellite, either Arabsat-5A or BADR-5, in the 2009-2010 timeframe on a Proton Breeze M vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. ILS partner Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center builds the Proton in Russia. A consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space is building the satellites and is responsible for delivering the satellites in orbit. EADS Astrium will supply the Eurostar E3000 platforms and integrate the satellites. Thales Alenia Space will design and build the communications payloads. "With the successful launch of Arabsat's BADR-4 satellite on a Proton last November, ILS is again honored to be selected to provide Arabsat launch capability to fuel continued growth in this exciting region," said ILS President Frank McKenna.
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Arabsat, the 30-year old leading Arab communications satellite operator based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has selected a consortium of European companies Astrium and Thales Alenia Space to build their 5 th Generation satellites. A firm contract for the two first satellites, Arabsat-5A and BADR-5, was signed in Riyadh on 16 June 2007. These 5 th Generation satellites will make it possible for Arabsat to execute their aggressive deployment strategy over the Middle East and North Africa region markets, and beyond, for the forthcoming 20 years. Arabsat-5A and BADR-5 will be built and delivered in orbit by a joint team of Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Astrium, as the leading partner, will supply the platforms and integrate the satellites. Thales Alenia Space will design and build the communications payloads. The team will also upgrade the ground control segment for the extended Arabsat satellite fleet. Arabsat has chosen Arianespace and ILS/Proton to launch the satellites in 2009-2010.
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Dubai based Emirates Airline has signed an agreement to buy eight additional A380 aircraft, taking their total order for the aircraft to 55. The letter of Intent was signed at the 47 th International Paris Air show at le Bourget between Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Emirates Group and Louis Gallois, Airbus President and CEO. Emirates was a launch customer for the A380 and already had the largest number of aircraft on order. The A380 fleet will start deliveries in the third quarter of 2008.
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The Board of BAE Systems has announced the creation of an external, expert committee to review and evaluate the Company's policies and processes - and their application - relating to ethics and business conduct. The Independent Committee will be chaired by Lord Woolf, the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. Lord Woolf will be joined by three other members: Philippa Foster Back OBE, Director of the Institute of Business Ethics; Sir David Walker, Senior Adviser and formerly Chairman of Morgan Stanley International Ltd; and a final member who will be confirmed by Lord Woolf in due course. The Committee will report to the Board of BAE Systems. BAE Systems Chairman Dick Olver said: “BAE Systems is committed to the highest standards and this is yet another demonstration that we will take every practical measure to ensure that our policies and procedures, relating to ethics and business conduct, are world class, as is our adherence to them. The Committee's conclusions and recommendations will be published in full and the BAE Systems' Board has committed to abide by the findings of the Independent Committee.”
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Air Methods has further boosted the number of AS350s ordered from American Eurocopter this year, adding a new batch of 10 helicopters to the 20 already purchased so far in 2007. These AS350 B2s are to be delivered next year, and will be used in Air Methods' expanding operations as the largest air medical transportation provider in the United States. The latest order, which was signed today at the 2007 Paris Air Show, underscores the AS350's value in the medical services marketplace – combining its single-engine efficiency with a spacious, open cabin.
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Northrop Grumman has been selected to outfit U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters with the company's Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) systems. The $19.7 million inaugural contract with the U.S. Marine Corps represents the first application of Northrop Grumman's Two-Color Infrared Missile Warning Sensor system with the company's Mini Pointer/Tracker Assembly jam head to form a DIRCM suite for protection of the Marines' CH-53E helicopter. The new system will detect threat missiles in the same spectrum that the missile uses to track the aircraft. "The U.S. Marine Corps becomes the latest military service to benefit from our DIRCM aircraft protection system with the newest generation of infrared countermeasures technology, providing the warfighters protection against man-portable missile threats," said Robert Del Boca, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. "This contract demonstrates the versatility of DIRCM in protecting both transport and rotary-wing platforms, and we are confident that it will provide a solid foundation for deploying DIRCM systems on additional Marine Corps assets."
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The Boeing Company's new CH-47F Chinook helicopter has successfully completed U.S. Army operational testing at Ft. Campbell, Ky., one of the aircraft's final performance evaluations before it is fielded in July. "This technologically advanced aircraft will meet the needs of our warfighters today and well into the future," said Jack Dougherty, director, Boeing H-47 programs. "Fielding the CH-47F will begin the next great chapter in Army aviation." Completed ahead of schedule by Bravo Company (Varsity), 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the tests simulated numerous mission scenarios, including air assault, combat re-supply and transport operations, over more than 60 flight test hours.
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Sikorsky announced the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) by the Kingdom of Bahrain to procure nine Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters from the U.S. Army through the Foreign Military Sales process. With the sale, valued at $204 million, Bahrain becomes the international launch customer for the newest and most advanced Black Hawk helicopter. Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., made the announcement from the Paris Air Show. The new aircraft will provide the Royal Bahraini Air Force with multi-mission capability including combat search and rescue. The UH-60M is the next generation model of the Black Hawk and features new and upgraded technology that improves lift capability, engine power, protection and survivability.
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Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney announced that they have submitted a joint proposal to the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate to develop an advanced turboshaft engine for the Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine (AATE) technology demonstrator program. "We are thrilled to team with Honeywell to build the next generation turboshaft engine for the U.S. Army. We are confident that our collective experience in advanced military engine technology will secure our place as the engine provider of choice for the Army's Future Force needs," said Tom Farmer, president, Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. Goals for the 3000 SHP-class AATE program include a 25 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption as well as a 65 percent increase in shaft horsepower to weight ratio. The program will validate technologies needed to achieve aggressive performance improvements and could lead to a follow-on program to develop a replacement engine for the U.S. Army's UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters.
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CFM International has received orders for a total of more than 1,100 CFM56-3 and CFM56-5C/P upgrade kits at a value of more than $1.5 billion at list price. To date, more than 500 CFM56 engines have bee upgraded. CFM56 engines are produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma and General Electric Company. CFM has received orders for more than 150 kits to date in 2007. Southwest Airlines ordered for up to 92 additional CFM56-3 Advanced Upgrade kits at a value of approximately $145 million, bringing its total order to 447 kits. Mexico's new low-fare carrier, vivaAerobus, ordered Advanced Upgrade kits for its entire fleet of 10 CFM56-3 engines. Japan Transocean Air (JTA), a part of the JAL Group, ordered 10 firm, 20 option CFM56-3 Advanced Upgrade kits at a value of approximately $15 million for the firm order, which will enable the airline to upgrade the majority of its entire fleet of CFM56-3 engines by 2010. Continental Airlines ordered 42 Enhanced Performance Kits for its CFM56-3 engine fleet. Other upgrade customers include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, who ordered 31 Advanced Upgrade kits and has taken delivery of 17; Alaska Airlines, which ordered 88 Enhanced Performance upgrade kits and has 40 in service; Air China, which is operating two upgraded CFM56-3 engine; and LAN, which ordered 18 CFM56-5C/P kits and has taken delivery of 10 upgraded engines to date.
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Embraer has signed a contract with Germany's Lufthansa for 30 firm orders of the EMBRAER 190 jet, with the option to take any member of the E-Jets family. The contract value of the E-Jets firm orders is over one billion dollars, at list price, based on January 2007 economic conditions and could come to US$ 2.76 billion, if all options and purchase rights are exercised to acquire EMBRAER 190 jets. The existing firm orders for 15 EMBRAER 170 and 15 EMBRAER 195 jets placed by SWISS have been cancelled. The first Lufthansa EMBRAER 190 is scheduled for delivery in January 2009. This reflects the airline's plan to modernize its fleet of regional aircraft.
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Boeing and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) announced an order for six Boeing 777 Freighters worth approximately $1.42 billion at list prices. Today's announcement increases the number of 777s GECAS has ordered directly from Boeing to 39, which includes 14 777 Freighters. To date, GECAS has taken delivery of 15 777s. The agreement allows GECAS the right to substitute other 777 passenger models, if necessary, in the future.
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Boeing and Jakarta-based Lion Air announced that the airline has ordered an additional 40 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes. Valued at more than $3 billion at list prices, today's announcement brings Lion Air's combined orders for the 737-900ER to 100. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson, Lion Air founder and President Director Rusdi Kirana, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President, Sales, Dinesh Keskar announced the order at a special event at the Paris Air Show. The order was recently included on the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Orders and Deliveries Web site, attributed to an unidentified customer.
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Air France has signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) for the purchase of two additional A380s and 18 A320 Family aircraft. The two A380s come in addition to the ten it already has on order, confirming the airline's commitment for Airbus' all new very high capacity double deck airliner, as well as to Airbus' single aisle product range. With this additional order, the French carrier is pursuing its ambitious fleet modernisation and its network development programme, while eventually operating an all Airbus single-aisle fleet. The first European carrier to operate the A380, Air France will fly the A380s from its Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub to Asian and North American destinations, starting in spring 2009. Air France will configure the A380s in a comfortable three class layout. The aircraft will be powered by Engine Alliance engines.
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S7 Group, the managing company of S7 Airlines, has announced the purchase of 25 Airbus A320 aircraft. This deal marks the first time S7 Group has purchased aircraft directly from Airbus. The aircrafts will be operated by S7 Airlines, the largest Russian domestic carrier. The purchase marks S7 Airlines' next major step towards the strategic goal on replacing its fleet of ageing airplanes and rising operation efficiency. Currently S7 operates eight leased A310s and seven leased A319s. Four leased A320 are planned be put into operation during the first half of 2008.
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Boeing and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Republic of Korea's E-X 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program. Under the agreement, KAI will modify three AEW&C aircraft, install the mission system equipment, and test and deliver the aircraft at its facility in Sacheon, Korea. Boeing will modify a fourth AEW&C aircraft at one of its manufacturing facilities. Boeing signed a $1.59 billion contract with South Korea in 2006 to provide four AEW&C systems along with ground support segments for flight and mission crew training, mission support, and aircraft and system modification support. Boeing will deliver Korea's first 737 AEW&C aircraft in 2011 and the remaining three aircraft in 2012. In addition to the Republic of Korea, Boeing has sold 10 AEW&C aircraft to date: six for Australia's Project Wedgetail and four for Turkey's Peace Eagle program.
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On the International Air Show Le Bourget, the JSC KLIMOV made a world announcement of VK-800, the first 100% Russian turboshaft helicopter engine after the Soviet Era. JSC KLIMOV, one of Russian aviation industry leaders, present its latest creation – the turboshaft VK-800 range 600-1000 Hp power class. This turboshaft engine is entirely designed in CAD system, associated to the KLIMOV know how, confirms the high initial characteristics. Actually this is the most modern Russian engine during last 20 years. The unique VK-800 characteristics as well as the active marketing policy will allow it to take the important place on the market of this power class engines. The demand is estimated by experts as 2500 engines till 2016. With its competitive price of EUR 210,000 and low maintenance costs, the engine will be the best seller in its class. VK-800 can be used in the Russian and Foreign helicopters in any climatic conditions. The first helicopter which will use this engine will be the ANSAT helicopter.
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GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), a unit of GE and a leading aircraft financier has signed a firm contract with Airbus for 60 additional A320 Family aircraft. “There is significant demand for efficient narrow-body aircraft in both traditional, and developing markets around the world”, said Henry Hubschman, President and CEO of GECAS, “We are therefore pleased to expand our portfolio of A320 Family aircraft.”
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A powerful partnership between Saab and some of the world's leading aerospace companies has been established to prepare the launch of the Gripen Demonstrator programme. At the Paris Air Show, Saab launched its plans for a new Gripen Demonstrator programme, aimed at demonstrating a range of future technologies and capabilities to ensure that Gripen remains at the leading edge of fighter aircraft performance and capability well into the future. The demonstrator programme will include the development of a new Gripen test flying platform, Gripen Demo, and the Gripen Avionics Rig. Gripen Demo will include new features such as a new engine with increased thrust, an AESA radar, increased range, new landing gear, increased weapons and stores capabilities and enhanced avionics structures. The Gripen Demonstration programme involves new partnerships with some of the world's leading aerospace companies like General Electric together with Volvo, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, APPH, Martin-Baker and Terma, which has been established for the Gripen Demonstration programme. “We are very pleased that these highly respected companies have chosen to invest in the Gripen Demonstrator programme and are looking forward to start the co-operation”, says Åke Svensson, President and CEO for Saab. The programme is driven by the future needs of current and potential customers, and incorporates state-of-the-art technology. The programme complements and enhances Gripen's ongoing technology insertion programme with the Gripen C/D version now being delivered to customers worldwide.
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ALAFCO, the Kuwait-based international Aviation Lease and Finance Company, has signed a firm contract for 12 A350 XWBs. In addition, ALAFCO has also ordered seven A320s. ALAFCO's main shareholder is Kuwait Finance House. ALAFCO specialises in Sharia-based commercial aircraft leasing. “We believe in investing for the future, and that is exactly what the A350 XWB represents, a good investment with a bright future,” says ALAFCO Chairman and CEO Ahmed Al Zabin. “Our customers in the Middle East and around the world need the improved economy and range that the Airbus A350 XWB offers and, when they do, we will be ready to supply it.”
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Colombia's national flag carrier Avianca has signed a firm contract for 19 additional Airbus aircraft of which 14 A320 Family aircraft and five A330-200s. This additional order converts options. It brings the total of firm orders from Avianca up to 57 Airbus aircraft. “With this addition to our initial order, Avianca is consolidating its fleet expansion programme. The first order was mainly for our current fleet renewal, whereas this second one is to deal with growth opportunities,” said German Efromovich, President of the Synergy Group which owns Avianca. “The A319s, A320s and A330s will offer our passengers the highest levels of travel comfort whilst allowing us to benefit from their unbeatable economics. On top of that thanks to the high level of commonality between the Airbus products, our pilots will be able to simultaneously fly the different aircraft which will further contribute to our efficiency.”
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Afriqiyah Airways has placed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of five A320s. In addition, this young and dynamic airline from Libya has selected the A350 XWB for its long-term expansion plan, signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of six A350 XWBs. This follows a first order placed with Airbus in 2006 for six A320s, three A319s and three A330-200s.
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At a ceremony that took place at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin signed the official agreements that define the terms of the cooperation on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and on the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission. JWST is a mission involving international cooperation between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to investigate the origin and evolution of galaxies, stars and planetary systems. Although optimised to operate over a different range of wavelengths, JWST is considered to be the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is due for launch in 2013 and will operate for at least five years. At the heart of the JWST observatory is a large telescope whose primary mirror measures 6.5 metres in diameter (compared to 2.4 metres for Hubble), providing a relatively large field of view. A set of four sophisticated instruments (including a fine guidance sensor for precision pointing) will combine a superb imaging capability at visible and infrared wavelengths together with various spectroscopic modes to learn more about the chemistry and evolution of the objects populating our universe. JWST will be operated well outside the Earth's atmosphere at a point in deep space called the 'second Lagrangian point' (L2), located at 1.5 million kilometres in the direction opposite to the sun. From that location, this powerful space observatory promises to revolutionise our view of the cosmos yet again - just as Hubble did. Under the agreement, NASA - responsible for the overall management and operations of the JWST mission - builds the spacecraft, the telescope and the platform that will host the instruments. ESA will provide the launch with an Ariane 5 ECA rocket.
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Kingfisher Airlines, the carrier headquartered in Mumbai, India has agreed to purchase up to 50 aircraft from Airbus. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr Vijay Mallya, UB Group Chairman, the parent company of Kingfisher Airlines and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, at a ceremony at the 47th International Paris Air show at Le Bourget. The agreement is for 15 A350-800 XWBs in addition to the five converted from their original order for the A350, 10 A330-200s, five A340-500s and 20 A320 Family aircraft.
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The Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has placed a firm order for 22 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, confirming its initial commitment signed last March. In addition, Aeroflot has signed a contract for the purchase of five additional A321s. Aeroflot will also operate a further ten new A330-200s, which will be acquired on operating lease. The A350 XWBs, equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, will be used by Aeroflot to expand its long haul network, and introduce new routes. Aeroflot's passengers will enjoy outstanding comfort and amenities in a highly advanced and spacious cabin. The A350 XWB will have the widest fuselage in its category.
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Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 12 Airbus wide-body aircraft including the newest model in its freighter product range, the A330-200F. The order is for five A330-200s, four A340-600s and three A330-200Fs. The agreement was signed by James Hogan, Etihad Chief Executive and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers at a ceremony at the 47th International Paris Air show at Le Bourget. Dr Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Airways, and Louis Gallois, Airbus President and CEO also attended the ceremony.
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CIT Aerospace, a business unit of CIT Group Inc., a leading global provider of commercial and consumer finance solutions, has signed a firm contract for seven A350 XWBs, firming up on its prior commitment for five A350s and simultaneously increasing its order. CIT has also signed a firm contract for 25 additional A320 Family aircraft. “There is continued high market demand for the A320 Family. Adding these 25 aircraft to our fleet further expands our product offering, enabling us to meet the needs of our customers,” says Jeffrey Knittel, President CIT Transportation Finance. “Additionally, the A350 XWB will offer our customers attractive operating economics in this high growth segment.” Including the order announced today, CIT has ordered a total of 164 Airbus aircraft (132 A320 Family aircraft, 25 A330s and seven A350 XWBs) of which 79 aircraft have been delivered so far.
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Libyan Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for the purchase of four A350s, four A330-200s and seven A320s, thus modernising its fleet with the newest technology aircraft. The Libyan flag carrier will use the new aircraft to replace and expand its existing fleet. With deliveries commencing in 2017, the A350 XWBs will allow the Libyan carrier to further develop its long haul operations in the longer term. The A330-200s respond to mid term fleet requirements for new international routes to Asian destinations. The new A320s will be put into service on Libyan Airlines' growing network, both domestically and in Europe and the Middle East.
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A subsidiary of Aircastle Limited has signed a contract to acquire 15 A330-200F aircraft, the newest freighter from Airbus and the latest member of the highly successful A330/A340 family. With this order Aircastle is one of the launch customers for the new Airbus freighter, with deliveries expected to commence in 2010. Aircastle is a global company that acquires and leases high utility commercial jet aircraft to passenger and cargo airlines throughout the world. “Aircastle is excited about the market potential for the A330-200F, given its payload/ range profile, operating efficiency and flexibility,” said Ron Wainshal, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer. “This is Aircastle's first new order contract and we are pleased to be working together with Airbus.”
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Embraer and Brazilian airline BRA Transportes Aéreos have signed a preliminary commercial agreement for 20 firm orders of the EMBRAER 195 jet, plus 20 options. The final contract for this transaction should be finalized, shortly, by both companies. The value of the deal, at list price, is US$ 730 million, based on January 2007 economic conditions (not including optional equipment ordered by BRA), and could reach US$ 1.46 billion, if all the options are confirmed.
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AgustaWestland announced the sale of twelve helicopters to Aero Toy Store. This US company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has ordered four AW119 Ke single engine, four Grand light twin and four AW139 medium twin helicopters. Aero Toy Store took delivery of a Grand helicopter in 2006 and this order further confirms the US Company's confidence in the AgustaWestland range of modern high performance commercial helicopters.
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Alenia Aeronautica and Xian Aircraft Company (XAC) of China announced an agreement for the production of the Section 18 of the ATR aircraft -a rear section of the fuselage- in China. This deal was unveiled on the occasion of the Paris Air Show. The Xian Aircraft Company, which will supply the Section 18 to Alenia for the ATR aircraft, is part of AVIC I, the China Aviation Industry Corporation Consortium. The manufacturing of the Section 18 in China will start in 2007 and reinforces the ties between ATR and the Chinese aeronautical industry, which started in 1985 with the supply, also by XAC, of the ATR 42 outer wing boxes. Since 1997, another part of the rear fuselage of the ATRs – the Section 16 – is also manufactured in China by XAC. According to this new contract, sections 16 and 18 will be directly joined in Xian (China) before being assembled with the rest of the fuselage in Naples (Italy). Therefore, a significant part of the structure of the ATR aircraft (around 15 to 20%) will be directly manufactured in China. Over a four-year period from 2005 to 2009, the additional activity generated by this agreement, coupled with the dramatic increase in the production rate of the ATR aircraft will multiply by ten-fold the Chinese Aeronautics Industry labour volume dedicated to ATR production.
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Malaysian-based Berjaya Air (an indirect subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation) signed a US $74 million agreement with ATR for 4 new ATR 72-500 aircraft. The deal was announced today at the Paris Air Show by Tan Sri Dato' Seri Vincent Tan, Berjaya Corporation Chairman and CEO and Stéphane Mayer, who on 1st June succeeded Filippo Bagnato as ATR CEO. With this order Berjaya Corporation becomes a new ATR customer. These 4 new ATR 72-500s will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 in a 72-seat configuration and equipped with the new “Elegance Cabin” and with the newest technological innovations in the field of communications and navigation aid tools.
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Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first phase of system-level flight testing for its Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Head Start risk reduction effort. The program used Northrop Grumman's Gulfstream II (G-II) test bed aircraft to validate how an Internet Protocol (IP)-based wireless network can be used effectively to transfer data from an unmanned aircraft to a prototype Mission Control Station (MCS) located in Hollywood, Md. The testing validated the addressed network management of IP-based publish-and-subscribe architecture using multiple narrow-band communications links. The Advanced Mission Management System (AMMS), central to the Northrop Grumman BAMS offer, demonstrated the open architecture of the hardware and software by being able to quickly incorporate the functions necessary to support these test flights. “The team successfully exercised the open nature of the AMMS to host new and pre-existing software by effectively using an IP-based communications solution to link payloads with the Navy's information network as represented by our prototype ground segment in Maryland,'' said Bill Beck, Northrop Grumman BAMS Head Start program manager. “This validates the benefits of the Navy's mandate to use open system architecture principles to reduce system development costs.''
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AgustaWestland announced the delivery of the 100th AW139 medium-twin helicopter during a ceremony at the Paris Air Show today. The aircraft was handed over to Synergy Aerospace, a division of Synergy Group. The aircraft will be delivered to Brazil after the Air Show to commence offshore operations with Senior Táxi Aéreo, one of the largest helicopter operators in the country. By June 2007 more than 260 orders had been placed by around 80 customers from over 30 countries, making it the best selling helicopter in the medium twin category.
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Thai Airways International has placed a firm order for eight additional A330-300s, taking another significant step in its long-term Airbus fleet development plan. The new A330-300s will provide extra capacity on Thai Airways International's extensive regional network from 2008 onwards. Thai Airways International currently operates a fleet of 12 A330-300s and 21 A300-600s on its regional network across Asia, as well as four A340-500s and five A340-600s on the airline's long haul network from Bangkok to destinations in Australia, Europe and North America. Non-stop “New York Express” and “LA Express” services have been operated by A340-500 since 2005. Thai Airways International is also a customer for the A380, with the first of six ordered aircraft scheduled for delivery in late 2010.
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Fly Asian Express (FAX) has signed a contract for the purchase of 15 A330-300s, increasing its initial commitment by five aircraft. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for 10 A330s in April 2007. The first new A330 will be delivered to FAX, the operating company for AirAsiaX, the world's newest long haul, low cost airline during the third quarter of 2008.
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Northrop Grumman recently completed its first test flight of an enhanced targeting capability for the U.S. Air Force's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) from its facility here. The flight of the Joint STARS test aircraft demonstrated the next generation tracking capability offered by Northrop Grumman-developed Data Fusion System(tm) (DFS) and related system improvements to the Joint STARS radar and navigation subsystems. The flight was conducted under the Enhanced Land Maritime Mode/Affordable Moving Surface Target Engagement/Advanced Radar Modes (ELMM/AMSTE/ARM) upgrade contract awarded to Northrop Grumman late last year. During the ELMM first flight, crews demonstrated precision and long-term tracking of maritime targets, maintaining an automated track of a maritime target for over two hours during one segment of the flight. “The DFS lets the system track multiple targets within the radar's field of view,'' said Dave Nagy, Northrop Grumman vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems. “It automatically tasks the radar or other sensors to collect data required to maintain track quality of all selected tracks. The system provides automated target re-acquisition.''
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AgustaWestland announced that the AW119 Ke (Koala enhanced) has been awarded EASA certification during a ceremony held at the Paris Air Show. The certification process was performed by ENAC (Italian Airworthiness Authority) under EASA task allocation. Since the AW119 Ke was launched at the end of February, this evolution of the well known A119 Koala single turbine helicopter has found immediate success in the marketplace. Orders have been placed by several customers worldwide for roles such as offshore transport, VIP/corporate transport, fire fighting and EMS. The seven-seat A119 Koala single engine helicopter is already providing operators with unmatched payload, range and performance capabilities in its class and the new AW119 Ke further improves these characteristics offering customers even greater operational capability, especially in demanding hot and high conditions at high gross weights.
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Boeing recently delivered the first new-build AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter to the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the company's Mesa, Ariz., Apache production facility. "This new-build Apache is a milestone achievement," said Col. Mark Hayes, Training and Doctrine Command Systems manager of reconnaissance and attack, during the event. "Apache helicopters are a critical asset for soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Battlefield commanders depend on the capabilities Apache attack helicopters bring to troops on the ground." This is the first new-build AH-64D Apache Longbow purchased by the U.S. Army. The 501 AH-64Ds in the U.S. Army inventory were remanufactured AH-64A models delivered from 1997-2006 under two five-year, multi-year contracts. Boeing is currently contracted to deliver 45 new-build Apaches to the U.S. Army.
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Eurocopter and the helicopter operator from Andorra, Helitrans, represented by Mr. Bonaventura Mora Sagués, General Manager of the company, have signed today during the Le Bourget Airshow, a contract for 10 helicopters. The contract covers the acquisition of five EC 130 B4s and five AS 350 B3, both belonging to the Ecureuil family. The contract has a value of more than EUR 18.5 million, one of the biggest contracts signed in Spain in the private market so far. The aircraft will be delivered over a five year period.
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Boeing announced that the Orbital Express system, a program to validate spacecraft servicing capability led by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has performed a fully-autonomous "fly-around and capture" of its NextSat client spacecraft, marking another industry first for the innovative program. During the five-hour test on June 16, Boeing's Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations (ASTRO) servicing spacecraft used its onboard cameras and advanced video guidance system to separate from, circle and re-mate with the Ball Aerospace NextSat client spacecraft. The test primarily used passive sensors with no active exchange of relative navigation information or involvement by ground controllers. Positioned in orbit 60 meters above NextSat, ASTRO followed an imaginary line called the "Rbar," which extends from the Earth's center to a satellite and beyond, to capture the spacecraft. The maneuver simulated the direction of approach needed to effectively service a satellite without interfering with its cameras or antennas.
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Visualization specialist Barco has announced a new version of its CHDD-268 primary flight and mission display, featuring brand-new touch screen technology. The new technology overcomes the typical drawbacks of conventional touch screen devices, such as limited viewing angles, low reliability and disturbing reflections. By adopting this innovative technique, Barco's CHDD-268 succeeds in offering a very flexible and efficient man machine interface, while keeping optical quality at the highest level. Barco's CHDD-268 is a DO-178B and DO-254 level A certified avionics display optimized for a variety of video applications, including FLIR, mission display, weather display, enhanced vision systems, moving map applications and primary flight applications (EFIS). For the latter, Barco presents its PU-2000 as a symbol generator source and its MOSArt platform for third party software development. Accepting a multitude of digital and analog video inputs, the CHDD-268 integrates easily into a host of new and retrofit cockpit environments. The advanced CHDD-268 has a sunlight-readable, NVG compliant 6 x 8 inch, AMLCD screen featuring unique LED backlight technology. It presents pilots with ultra-bright images full of contrast, while ensuring maximum reliability over the entire lifetime of the display. The CHDD-268 also offers a viewing angle of 80° in all directions, which facilitates cross-cockpit scanning by either pilot.
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The Pratt & Whitney F100 engine family -- which includes the PW-100, -200, -220 and -229 engines -- recently exceeded 21 million operational flight hours. The F100 engine powers the F-16 and F-15 military fighter jets operated by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and air forces in 21 nations. The F100 engine, still in production, entered service in 1974 and is expected to remain operational through 2035. Pratt & Whitney currently has firm orders for more than a hundred F100 engines.
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Continental Airlines and China Southern Airlines, the largest airline in the People's Republic of China, announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership for frequent flyer and airport lounge access reciprocity and extensive codesharing, providing better service to customers who travel between the U.S. and China and transfer between the two carriers. "As we look to build upon our successful service to China, we are honored to partner with China Southern. Our customers will appreciate the benefits of this new agreement," said Larry Kellner, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines. "China Southern is the right partner for us in China and we look forward to welcoming them into the SkyTeam alliance in the very near future." Beginning in September, members of the two airlines' frequent flyer programs, Continental's OnePass and China Southern's Sky Pearl Club, will be able to earn and redeem miles on all flights marketed and operated by the other carrier. Reciprocal airport lounge access for eligible customers will also begin when China Southern joins SkyTeam.
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Embraer has signed with Japan Airlines (JAL) to deliver ten EMBRAER 170 jets, with options to acquire another five aircraft, as part of the Japanese airline's restructuring plan and rightsizing strategy. The contract value, if all options are exercised, could come to US$ 435 million, at list price, based on January 2007 economic conditions. The aircraft will be fitted with a single-class interior and the first delivery is scheduled in 2008. The EMBRAER 170 E-Jet will fly for J-AIR, a wholly-owned JAL subsidiary, serving the airline's regional network routes throughout Japan.
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Delta Air Lines will continue to build on its international expansion by installing Blended Winglets on more than 60 Boeing 737-NG, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft types. The improvement will provide greater flexibility to serve more markets with existing aircraft, further enhancing the largest international expansion in Delta's history. Blended winglets are wing tip devices that reduce drag thanks to improved aerodynamics, resulting in a reduction in fuel usage. “Blended Winglets create an opportunity for us to improve both our operating and fuel efficiency simultaneously,” said Jim Whitehurst, Delta's Chief Operating Officer. “We expect to see a minimum of 3.5 percent improvements in our fuel consumption and a minimum of 5 percent in our range thanks to this added technology. Our customers will benefit from Delta's ability to offer more destinations, and Delta benefits from new efficiencies that will improve our operations and better the environment.” Delta will have the winglets installed on 38 737-NGs, 10 757-200 and 15 767-300ER aircraft by Aviation Partners Boeing, with options to install on all aircraft in the three fleets. As a result, the 737-NG type aircraft, which is currently receiving 10 additional seats and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system, will easily operate coast-to-coast. The 10 757-200 aircraft are being retrofitted with Delta's award-winning Business Elite product as well as other international requirements and will be ideal aircraft for service between the Northeast region of the U.S. and Western Europe. The 767-300ER aircraft will realize both extended range and expanded payload capability which will open up new market possibilities for Delta's customers and increase cargo sales opportunities.
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For Germany's leading engine manufacturer, the air show in France's Le Bourget is paying dividends. MTU CEO Udo Stark was pleased to announce orders worth a total of 400 million euros. "The size of these orders underscores the significance the world's largest air show has for MTU," he said. Among the orders received, MTU benefits from engine sales as well as maintenance contracts. The lion's share of the order intake in the amount of about 270 million euros goes to V2500 orders from Hainan Airlines, China Eastern and Blue Wings, as well as from the aircraft leasing companies ILFC and CIT. MTU is a partner in the V2500 consortium IAE, holding an eleven-percent stake in the engine. From new A380-orders from Emirates and Air France, both GP7000 customers, MTU expects sales of another 90 million euros. The engine maker holds a 22.5 percent stake in the engine developed by the Engine Alliance between Pratt & Whitney and GE. A couple of maintenance contracts from international airlines are valued at approximately 40 million euros.
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International Communications Group (ICG) announced that Thrane & Thrane, a leading manufacturer of global mobile satellite terminals and earth stations, has integrated ICG's ICS-200 dual-channel satellite communication terminal with its Aero-HSD+ system. The new compact, lightweight solution expands the total number of voice channels and increases the flexibility of channel types available to users. The ICS-200 Iridium interface, in concert with the built-in PBX in the Aero-HSD, permits the use of the same communications devices over both the Iridium and Inmarsat satellite networks. “The incorporation of the ICS-200 into existing Aero-HSD+ mobile office SatCom systems will provide users with an increased level of redundancy and global coverage,” said Armin Jabs, president of ICG. “This fulfills a demand within the market for an airborne office communication package that provides users with the option of high-speed broadband communications while at the same time offering economical, voice services via the Iridium network.”
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Through three new Space Act agreements, NASA is expanding cooperation with companies interested in commercializing access to space. The companies are developing capabilities to transport goods and people to low Earth orbit. NASA signed nonreimbursable Space Act agreements, which do not provide any government funding to the companies, with SpaceDev of Poway, Calif., SPACEHAB of Houston, and Constellation Services International (CSI) of Laguna Woods, Calif. The pacts establish milestones and objective criteria by which the companies can gauge their progress in developing orbital cargo transportation capabilities. Under the agreements, NASA will share information that will help the companies understand projected requirements for International Space Station crew and cargo transportation launch vehicles, as well as spacecraft and NASA human rating criteria.
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Honeywell announced that its Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) is being deployed in Iraq to keep American troops safer by identifying improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the sky. The deployment marks the first time a ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will be used during combat missions. Each MAV is small enough to carry in a backpack and is equipped with video cameras that relay information back to foot soldiers using a portable handheld terminal. The circular vehicle, just 16 pounds and 13 inches in diameter, operates like a small remote-controlled helicopter and can easily fly down to inspect hazardous areas for threats without exposing soldiers to enemy fire. Honeywell's MAV also has the unique ability to take off and land vertically from complex desert and urban terrains without using runways or helipads.
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Rostvertol Plc has become a winner in The best Russian exporter of 2006 Contest, as the best exporter nominee in aircraft building. In MOD leisure centre a grand ceremony took place on June 18. Mr. Vadim V. Barannikov, Deputy Director General, attended that event. He was receiving the award and Diploma as the best exporter nominee in aircraft building. The VI th Contest was held by Russian Ministry of economic development and commerce. Rostvertol Plc was nominated thrice at once: the best industry exporter, the best exporter to CIS countries and the most dynamically developing Russian exporter. It has become a winner as The best industry exporter in aircraft building. Such an honorary award has become a result of the enterprise work on keeping a mutually beneficial cooperation with the existing Partners and development of new contracts contributing to the market of the manufactured products. For more than forty years the helicopters designed by Mil MHP PLC and manufactured at Rostvertol in Rostov-on-Don are being operated on four continents.
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Honeywell announced that it has delivered 1,000 T55-GA-714A gas turbine engines to the U.S. Army for the CH-47D Chinook helicopter without missing a delivery date over the past five years. The upgraded T55 model is designed to provide more power, increased performance in hot and high environments and improved weight lift capability. The highly durability engine has enabled the Chinook to operate more effectively in the difficult conditions of the Middle East. “Honeywell employees work hard to ensure these engines - often called the unsung heroes of Afghanistan - are delivered on time, every time,” said Vicki Panhuise, Vice President, Commercial and Military Helicopters, Honeywell Defense and Space. “The superior performance and cost-efficient operation of our T55 helps keep the Chinook mission ready around the world.” In 2002, Honeywell was awarded a contract with an estimated value of $1.1 billion to replace 1,200 of its T55-L-712 engines with the T55-GA-714A to increased the helicopter's reliability and reduce fuel consumption.
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Honeywell announced that it has been selected by Sikorsky to develop and integrate synthetic vision technology to improve helicopter landings in brownout conditions as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Sandblaster program. Under the terms of the $6.9 million, 18-month contract, Honeywell will design and demonstrate a synthetic vision system for the Black Hawk helicopter cockpit that enhances situational awareness and reduces the workload for pilots operating aircraft in degraded visual environments. "Taking-off and landing in arid desert terrain during brownouts can lead to obscured vision, disorientation and accidents," said Vicki Panhuise, Vice President, Commercial and Military Helicopters, Honeywell Defense and Space. "This technology development program addresses vital warfighter needs to help ensure safer helicopter missions." Honeywell's technology will integrate radar-based sensor information with terrain and obstacle data to provide a highly detailed three-dimensional graphic view of the landing environment on a primary flight display, regardless of outside conditions. The synthetic screen, overlaid with advanced symbology indicating current and predicted flight conditions, will help pilots land the aircraft without using outside visual reference points.
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During a test, Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System intercepted and destroyed a separating ballistic missile target during its midcourse phase of flight. The test represents the Aegis BMD system's ninth successful ballistic missile intercept in 11 attempts and is the first ballistic missile intercept conducted by an Aegis BMD destroyer. This also marks the third time the Aegis BMD system has demonstrated its target discrimination capabilities by intercepting a ballistic missile with a separating reentry vehicle. In addition to its record of intercepts, Aegis BMD has successfully supported more than 15 ballistic missile defense system tracking tests since June 2004. In today's test, USS Decatur (DDG 73), an Aegis BMD destroyer equipped with the latest U.S. Navy certified version of the Aegis BMD Weapon System (Aegis BMD 3.6), successfully guided a Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IA missile to intercept a medium range, separating ballistic missile target outside the Earth's atmosphere. In addition to USS Decatur, the Aegis BMD Cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) and the Spanish Navy Aegis-equipped frigate Mendez Nunez (F-104) participated in the test as a training event to assess the future capabilities of the F-100 Class.
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Bell Helicopter announced this week at the Paris Air Show that Jet Transfer is the company's new sales representative in Russia. Immediately after the announcement, Jet Transfer committed to sales valued at over $10 million. Mr. Alexander Yevdokimov, General Director of Jet Transfer stated, "the demand for Bell helicopters in Russia is expected to be high and Jet Transfer is very excited to be associated with Bell and its parent company, Textron." Mr. Danny Maldonado, vice president commercial business development at Bell said, "Mr. Yevdokimov and his company, Jet Transfer, has continually demonstrated the ethical business qualities that we at Bell look for when signing up our global partners and this first sale is a good indication of the great things we anticipate will result from this association."
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On Tuesday at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, ESA and the French National Space Agency (Centre National d'Études Spatiales – CNES) signed two contracts covering the provision of assistance to ESA by CNES for parts of the Ariane launcher programme. The new organisation of the European launcher sector, decided at the ESA Ministerial Conference in 2003, implied changes for the Ariane Programme in both the industrial and institutional areas. For the industrial part of the programme, Astrium Space Transportation became the sole Prime Contractor for both development and production of Ariane launch vehicles. The institutional part of the programme changed with the introduction of direct ESA management of all new ESA-funded Ariane programmes while making use of the existing knowledge and experience within CNES. Prior to this change, ESA delegated the management of the Ariane Programme to CNES.
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Helibras, Eurocopter subsidiary in Brazil, and ATE have just signed a technical cooperation agreement concerning their helicopter program activities. Both companies have decided to take advantage of their complementarities to develop their cooperation in Brazil, in the field of military helicopter modernization and acquisition programs requiring specific and complex system development and integration. Thanks to this agreement, both companies will develop conditions to offer Brazilian customers and operators more flexible and adapted solutions, with a significant local content. Several cooperation projects are already considered by Helibras and ATE. ATE - Advanced Technology and Engineering is a South African company with an extensive record in integrated mission systems development, aircraft upgrade, retrofit and modernization and integration of advanced technologies equipment and components into military vehicles.
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The £124m Taranis Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) technology demonstrator programme, with BAE Systems as the industry lead and prime contractor, and other industry partners comprising QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Aerospace, has reached a major milestone with the design of the autonomous systems now finalised. Taranis will be the largest UAV yet built in the UK, and as part of the UK MOD's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experiment) (SUAV(E)) programme will explore and demonstrate how emerging technologies and systems can deliver battle-winning capabilities for the UK armed forces. “This milestone was reached ahead of schedule, and a team effort had gone into achieving it,” said Chris Allam, BAE Systems' Taranis project director. “For this part of the programme, we were working together with QinetiQ and the MOD, and we created a genuine team ethos. We have drawn on QinetiQ's background in areas such as reasoning algorithms, while we had expertise in areas such as system architecture, and we were able to combine those skills and experience under our overall control.”
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Cessna announced at the Paris Air Show it has put into operation the 5,000th Citation business jet – a Citation X – accounting for nearly half of all jets delivered by US manufacturers. To celebrate this milestone, Cessna will display the aircraft at various air shows and events this year, including the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting September 25-27th. The 5,000th Citation will be delivered to one of Cessna's largest customers - XOJet - later this year, adding to their growing fleet of Citation X aircraft. There are currently eight Citation models in production: the Mustang, CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, Encore+, XLS, Sovereign and Citation X. Two Citations are in the development process: the CJ4 and the XLS+.
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Singapore Airlines has signed a contract for the purchase of 20 A350-900 XWBs to meet its requirements on medium to long-range routes across the Asia-Pacific region from 2013 onwards. This order, which firms up the Letter of Intent placed in July 2006, represents another major commitment to the expansion of the airline's Airbus fleet, which is already destined to include 19 A380s and 19 A330s. The A350 XWB (extra wide-body) is Airbus' response to market demand for a medium capacity long range wide-body family. Available from 2013, it will have an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st Century design with a new and wider fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort. It will also be extra efficient, extra environmentally friendly and quiet, as it will feature all the advanced technologies available in the first part of the 21st Century, bringing the A380 experience to a new level.
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LFK GmbH / MBDA Deutschland and Alliant Techsystems have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assess potential workshare opportunities with the German Ministry of Defense (MoD) on the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). Under the MOU, opportunities for Germany to carry out production and undertake work under the product improvement phase of the AARGM programme are identified. In addition, the MOU details opportunities for derivatives of the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). In 2005, MBDA Italy became ATK's first international partner for the AARGM programme together with the US Department of Defense when the Italian Ministry of Defense signed a workshare agreement. If the German Ministry of Defense joins the AARGM cooperative team, LFK GmbH would be integrated into this industry team. Werner Kaltenegger, CEO of LFK GmbH and Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland, said: “An integration into this industry team would create the framework to fulfil the needs of our German customer for future HARM requirements and pave the way for the company to participate in this high-tech programme. It would also strengthen our long-standing successful transatlantic cooperation. LFK GmbH is proud to have this opportunity to join forces with ATK.”
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With the production of the 300 th Taurus missile in Schrobenhausen, the TAURUS KEPD 350 programme has reached a significant milestone. On 23 May, the 300th operational Taurus missile left the final production line at MBDA Deutschland's Schrobenhausen facility. The Taurus team has thus achieved the punctual handover to the German customer of half the 600 standoff guided missiles ordered. Werner Kaltenegger, Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland, said: “The Taurus team has worked hard to ensure the timely delivery of this high performance strike weapon to the German customer. The team deserves the highest praise for its achievements to date. It is now the right time to start further development of a very successful TAURUS system in order to fulfil the requirements of our customers in the future”.
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This winter, Lufthansa customers will benefit from additional services to South America. From 28 October 2007, when the winter timetable goes into effect, Lufthansa will operate five non-stop flights per week from Frankfurt to Buenos Aires and will thus once again be offering a direct connection to Argentina, without a stopover. “Our customers have expressed a wish for this connection and I am delighted that we are able to offer it again. Overall, South America is showing strong, dynamic growth and many large German and European companies have branches there, particularly in Buenos Aires,” says Karl Ulrich Garnadt, a member of the Board of Lufthansa Passenger Airlines. “At the same time, this is a clear sign that we aim to further expand our operations also from our Frankfurt hub.”
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Leaders of top companies in the European aerospace and defense industry publicly backed plans to modernize the U.S. export control system, saying it was vital to boost security and trade between them and American companies. The officials spoke during an annual meeting of top industry executives on both sides of the Atlantic known as the CEO Dialogue during the International Paris Air Show. The European leaders endorsed modernization efforts pushed by AIA and other members of the Coalition for Security and Competitiveness to improve the system. William H. Swanson of Raytheon and Charles Edelstenne of Dassault Aviation led their respective groups during the dialogue. Also taking part were Thomas Enders of EADS and Åke Svensson of Saab Aerospace on the European side and Northrop Grumman's Ronald D. Sugar, Rockwell Collins' Clay Jones, and BAE Systems Inc.'s Walt Havenstein on the U.S. side. The leaders also agreed that improving the ecological impact of aviation is an important goal for the global aerospace industry. Increased cooperation between the U.S. and Europe is vital to success. Future meetings are planned to coordinate plans and policy on the environment.
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MTU Aero Engines is preparing to offer an upgrade program to Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) engine control units. At the 2007 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, the company signed a cooperation agreement with Diehl Aerospace GmbH and Saudi Arabia's Advanced Electronics Company Ltd. (AEC) to the effect that should the RSAF accept the MTU offer for the RSAF engines to be equipped with the new DECU2020 digital engine control unit, AEC will be a co-production partner to produce and assemble major electronic components, repair them and provide customer services to the RSAF. MTU is the prime contractor for the DECU2020, including its software, while Diehl is responsible for the design of the hardware, including production and repair. "Should MTU be successful in its offer, this cooperative venture will be the first time MTU and Diehl place directly contracts in Saudi Arabia, transfering the necessary know-how, help creating jobs and establishing in Saudi Arabia a full in-country support infrastructure for the DECU2020", explained Dr. Stefan Weingartner, MTU Senior Vice President, defense programs, who signed the agreement on behalf of his company. Signing for Diehl were Dr. Gerardo Walle, Vice President Business Segment Commercial Aircraft, and for AEC, Dr. Ghassan A. Al-Shibl, President & CEO.
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On the occasion of the Paris Air Show, ATR unveiled orders for 13 new ATR 72-500 aircraft that will be operated by the Indian carrier Jet Airways. Agreement for six of these ATR72-500s has been concluded directly with the Irish-based leasing company AIR (Aircraft International Renting), a subsidiary of TAT leasing. In order to reserve aircraft delivery positions, Jet Airways has concluded purchase agreements for the remaining seven aircraft. Prior to delivery, Jet Airways intends to conclude lease agreements for these aircraft also. The total value of the two contracts is approximately US $ 238 million. The inductions of all these 13 new aircraft are subject to the requisite approvals. These 13 aircraft will be equipped with the newest technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation aid tools. Deliveries will start in 2007 and will continue through 2010.
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After weeks of manoeuvres, Samba and Tango, two of ESA's four Cluster satellites are now orbiting in formation, separated by only 17 km. This is the closest two ESA satellites have ever been in routine operations and will enable new scientific discoveries. Cluster, ESA's mission comprising four identical satellites, relays the most detailed information ever about how the solar wind affects our planet, and is the first mission to study the Sun-Earth connection in 3D. This is done by studying the behaviour of near-Earth plasma, an extremely variable state of matter, composed of ions and electrons but electrically neutral, spread over large distances. A key to understanding it and studying complex geophysical processes in different regions is to have space-based, multi-point observations and to be able to vary the distances between spacecraft, as these processes operate at different scales in nature.
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Teams from Aerospace Valley, based in Toulouse (France), FAC of Farnborough (UK) and Hanse Aerospace of Hamburg (Germany) met today at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget to agree a collaborative venture to respond to the current and future global demand for composite design and manufacturing capacity. Every new civil and military aircraft programme increases the use of composite materials. Not only in the airframe and flying surfaces but increasingly as components within the propulsion systems. The drive to reduce weight and increase the aircraft life, coupled with environmental considerations, will continue to demand new innovative uses of advanced composite materials. As a consequence increased capacity to meet the global demand is essential. Together with new technologies in design tooling, manufacturing, logistics and disposal are urgently required. The objectives of the collaboration between the three bodies are: To identify and define the available capacity in France, Germany and the UK; Pursue funding opportunities to develop composite technologies, specifically in the areas of new design approaches, low cost tooling, manufacturing processes and environmentally compliant disposal technologies; Through the mechanisms available to us to develop the skills and processes that would be essential to exploit the investment in technology and to meet the demands of the Global aerospace industry. By September 2007 the initial plan will be implemented.
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Embraer informs that Italy's Alpi Eagles has confirmed five options for the EMBRAER 195 jet from its original order for five aircraft of this model, announced last March. The value of the confirmed options, at list price, comes to US$ 182.5 million. Alpi Eagles now has ten jets in its backlog, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in April 2008. "Alpi Eagles has a history of making good strategic decisions. The confirmation of the company's five options further establishes the fact that the E-Jets family is right for the market," said Mauro Kern, Embraer Executive Vice President, Airline Market. "The EMBRAER 195 will provide them with a unique combination of operational flexibility, distinctive passenger comfort and highly attractive economics."
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