+++ Boeing 787 delayed by at least 6 months +++ Airbus implements new organisation +++ Mitsubishi authorizes offer of MRJ with Geared Turbofan +++ Large order from Spanish group +++ Expedition 16 crew docks with Space Station +++ Berlin airport: new competiton for terminal needed +++ News in brief +++
Boeing 787 delayed by at least 6 months
Verzögerung der Dreamliner-Lieferungen angekündigt
Boeing Company today announced a six-month delay in its planned initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner due to continued challenges completing assembly of the first airplanes. Deliveries of the Dreamliner are now slated to begin in late November or December 2008, versus an original target of May 2008. First flight is now anticipated around the end of first quarter 2008. The company said the financial impact of the delay would not be material to earnings and that its earnings guidance for 2007 and 2008 remained unchanged.
"We are disappointed over the schedule changes that we are announcing today," said Boeing Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney. "Notwithstanding the challenges that we are experiencing in bringing forward this game-changing product, we remain confident in the design of the 787, and in the fundamental innovation and technologies that underpin it." "While we have made some progress over the past several weeks completing work on our early production airplanes and improving parts availability across the production system, the pace of that progress has not been sufficient to support our previous plans for first delivery or first flight," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We deeply regret the impact these delays will have on our customers, and we are committed to working with them to minimize any disruption to their plans.
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Airbus implements new organisation
Neue Struktur in Kraft gesetzt
The Airbus top management team completed a series of large management briefing sessions at its major sites Toulouse, Hamburg, Filton and Gefafe and via world-wide video-conferences dedicated to present and explain the details of the fully integrated and trans-national "New Airbus" organization. The new organization went live on 1st October and will be fully implemented before the end of the year. Airbus will now have only one single trans-national leader per function, who will be relying on all talents, wherever they are located. From now on and starting with the A350 programme, it will have truly integrated and harmonised processes, methods and tools throughout the company, based on best practice and expertise. The most significant step in this direction is the reduction of the former seven mostly national Centres of Excellence to only four totally trans-national entities. Furthermore, the new organisation is leaner and allows for the reduction of management layers. This will lead to fewer interfaces, clearer accountability and faster decision-making processes.
"The new leaner and more efficient organisation is a key contributor to the successful implementation of Power 8," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus COO and in charge of the Power8 programme. Work on integrated platforms ensures a high level of collaborative work across all functions within Airbus involving from the start the relevant representatives of the same function from across the company as well as partners and suppliers. This concept is already in implementation for the A350, thus contributing to a more efficient and integrated way of working. Major changes are expected from the creation of a number of new transnational units in Engineering, Manufacturing and Programmes enhancing the company's ability to act as aircraft architect at design, industrialization and supply chain levels.
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Mitsubishi authorizes offer of MRJ with Geared Turbofan
Japan bietet neuen Regionaljet an
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has formally decided to begin offering its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), a next-generation regional aircraft, for sale to potential customer airlines worldwide. MHI has been looking for opportunities to develop commercial airplanes ever since production of the YS-11, Japan's first domestically manufactured airliner after the war, ended in 1973. With its new authorization to offer (ATO), the company will enter an epochmaking and significant business phase toward independent development, manufacture and marketing of commercial aircraft, thereby enabling realization of the long-cherished wish of the Japanese aircraft industry, which for a long time has been held to the level of partnerships with leading global aircraft manufacturers.
As the aircraft industry represents an amalgam of advanced technologies, MHI's new undertaking is expected to have great ripple effects into other industries - an outcome which is indispensable to long-term industrial development in Japan, a technology-oriented nation. By entering into full-scale operation of a commercial aircraft business, MHI aims to play an ongoing important role in Japan's key industries.
The decision on the ATO marks a significant step toward the MRJ program launch tentatively scheduled for next spring. Going forward, MHI will promote commercialization of the aircraft while conducting robust marketing activities. It will simultaneously negotiate details with potential partners, establish a sales finance scheme and develop an operational structure.
To carry out the MRJ project, MHI is in ongoing discussions toward cooperation with Boeing. Meanwhile, in order to realize Japan's first domestically developed jet airliner incorporating the country's collective efforts, MHI is considering establishment of an MHI-centered operational company to handle the MRJ's development, manufacture and marketing.
MHI's MRJ is a 70-90 seat class regional jet currently being developed with cutting-edge technology that will enable dual achievement of top-class operational economy and outstanding cabin comfort. MHI has been conducting research and development of the MRJ as a technology development project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
The MRJ will be powered by Pratt & Whitney's next-generation Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, which will deliver game-changing improvements in fuel efficiency, environmental performance and operating costs. The aircraft will be the first regional jet to adopt composite materials for its airframe on significant scale. In combination with the new engines and advanced aerodynamic design, the MRJ is being planned to substantially reduce fuel consumption and greatly contribute to enhanced competitiveness and lower operating costs for the airline companies. By incorporating today's most advanced design methods, elemental technologies, materials and processing methods, which are obtained by leveraging study results of joint research and development activities with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the MRJ will also provide outstanding cabin comfort while reducing environmental burdens.
MHI expects demand for about 5,000 airplanes of the MRJ class in the global regional jet market in the next 20 years. In June the company exhibited a full-scale mock-up of the MRJ cabin at the 47th International Paris Air Show. The aircraft attracted a great deal of industry-wide attention and has been positively received during individual meetings with potential customers. With the decision of the ATO, MHI will make whole company's efforts together to vigorously promote various activities toward the MRJ program launch.
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Large order from Spanish group
Grupo Marsans kauft bei Airbus ein
Grupo Marsans, the largest tourism and transport group in Spain, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 61 Airbus aircraft including ten A350-900s, four A380s, five A330-200s and 42 A320 Family aircraft (of which 12 A319s, 25 A320s and five A321s). These aircraft will be operated by Grupo Marsans' subsidiary airlines Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet amongst others in the group. At this stage no engine selection has been made. This new order combines with the previous order for 12 A330-200s and will bring Grupo Marsans' total commitment with Airbus to 73 aircraft.
Gonzalo Pascual, President of Grupo Marsans, explained: "This purchase is an important step for us at Grupo Marsans in our development. It demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our group's position on the short and long haul networks by incorporating the most efficient aircraft on the market today. Furthermore with the A380, we will become the first A380 customer and operator in Spain and South America."
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Expedition 16 crew docks with Space Station
Neue Besatzung erreicht Raumstation
Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko of the 16th International Space Station crew docked their Soyuz TMA-11 with the orbiting laboratory at 10:50 a.m. EDT Friday to begin a six-month stay aboard. With them is spaceflight participant Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. He is a Malaysian flying under contract with the Russian Federal Space Agency. He will return to Earth with Expedition 15 crew members, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov, Oct. 21. Expedition 15 launched to the station last April 7. Expedition 16 crew members were welcomed by the Expedition 15 crew, including astronaut Clay Anderson, the third Expedition 15 crew member. He launched to the station aboard the STS-117 mission of Atlantis June 8. He joined Expedition 15 in progress and will provide Expedition 16 with an experienced flight engineer for the first few days of its increment. The Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Wednesday at 9:22 a.m. EDT and entered orbit less than 10 minutes later.
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Berlin airport: new competiton for terminal needed
Neue Ausschreibung des Terminals für BBI notwendig
The Supervisory Board of Flughafen Berlin-Schoenefeld GmbH agreed on the proposal submitted by the company's management to discontinue the awarding procedure for building the BBI Terminal. The reason for the discontinuation is, amongst other things, that all four tenders submitted were uneconomic and well above the expected prices.
The contracts for construction services are now likely to be placed on the market in seven single lots. The next step involves issuing an invitation to tender for the design for the BBI Terminal. The contract for this will be awarded this year. The schedule for BBI remains unaffected by the new tender notification for the terminal: construction work for the airport's new 4,000-metre-long south runway already began in October this year. Starting in mid 2008, structural work will begin as scheduled for the BBI Terminal. The Capital Airport is scheduled to open on 31 October 2011.
Klaus Wowereit, governing mayor of Berlin, Matthias Platzeck, the Minister President of Brandenburg, and Dr. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing comment on behalf of the partners of Berlin Airports on the decision to award the contract: "So far, over 200 individual contracts amounting to over 700 million euros have been successfully awarded for BBI. The discontinuation of the awarding procedure for building the BBI Terminal is a logical step, given the tenders submitted. We are assuming that by taking this approach we will receive sustainable tenders for realising BBI on schedule and within budget."
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
On Friday evening, October 5, Arianespace successfully orbited two communications satellites: Intelsat 11 for the international operator Intelsat, and Optus D2 for the Australian operator Optus. Both satellites were built by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The latest successful launch of an Ariane 5, the fourth in 2007, confirms that Arianespace offers the launch Service & Solutions best matched to operator requirements. Two more Ariane 5 launches are scheduled by the end of the year. Arianespace is particularly proud of its partnership with Intelsat. Since 1983, Arianespace has launched 47 satellites for this leading international operator. This is the second successful launch for Intelsat following last May's launch of its Galaxy 17 satellite. Optus D2 will be the fourth satellite launched by Arianespace for the Australian operator. It launched Optus D1 in October 2006, following Optus & Defence C1 in June 2003 and Aussat K3 in 1987. SingTel, the parent company of Optus, had already chosen Arianespace to launch its ST-1 satellite in 1998. Arianespace has signed 12 new Service & Solutions contracts for launches into geostationary transfer orbit this year, along with four contracts for low Earth orbit (LEO) launches, giving it, following this launch, a record backlog of orders.
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NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, known as SOFIA, began a series of flight tests Thursday of the highly modified Boeing 747SP aircraft. The tests are the first of several phases required to verify the aircraft is structurally sound for future science flights. This phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. After finishing flight testing and modifications, NASA plans to begin using the airborne observatory for "first light" infrared observations of the universe in 2009. The first light flights will enable the mission to begin obtaining results several years before the observatory reaches its full capability in 2014. SOFIA will collect science data using a variety of specialized instruments developed by NASA and its German partners.
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QinetiQ has developed and successfully flight trialled a Day Night All Environment (DNAE) visibility solution that provides helicopter pilots with alternative, complementary sources of imaging information, enabling them to fly safely in low light or adverse weather conditions. When added to a suite of navigational and tactical guidance aids also being developed by QinetiQ, the existing operational envelope of the aircraft can be considerably expanded. Helicopter operations are often constrained by a variety of environmental conditions. Atmospheric obscurants such as fog, cloud, rain and snow can lead to hazardous situations. Low light levels and the need to operate at low altitude or to fly over featureless terrain with low scene contrast present similar operational challenges. Visibility is often further reduced by wind and re-circulated dust when operating at low levels (brown out). These conditions can result in loss of spatial awareness and can adversely affect the precise control of the aircraft, particularly during final approach and landing. The recently completed HawkOwl Trial was conducted by QinetiQ using a Sea King Mk IV-X, and was sponsored by MOD Director of Equipment Capability (DEC) Air Littoral Manoeuvre (ALM) under the Day Night All Weather Helicopter Operations Applied Research Programme.
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With the best quarterly results of all time – and new records for total passengers, aircraft movements and cargo – Munich Airport cemented ist status as a growth engine among Europe's major air transportation hubs. The nearly 10 million passengers in the three holiday months of July, August and September – approximately 1 million more than in the same period one year earlier – set a new record. The 122,000 passengers handled on September 28, 2007, also represent a new single-day passenger record at Munich Airport. And in the period from January to September 2007, nearly 25.6 million passengers passed through the airport – an increase of roughly 11 percent over the same period a year earlier. With this performance, the airport has far exceeded its total figures for the entire year of 2003 after only three quarters of the current operating year. Driving passenger growth in the third quarter was above all the intercontinental segment (where the passenger total was up 19 percent on the previous year) and eastern European routes (up 22 percent). On intercontinental routes it was mainly the USA, Thailand, Brazil, Qatar, South Africa and South Korea that saw above-average growth in passengers. Strong increases were also seen on flights to and from Poland, Romania, Albania and destinations in the Russian Federation.
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On October 3, 2007, AERO Vodochody and Latécoére Toulouse, France, signed a five-year contract on exclusive delivery of hinges and inner structure of doors for the regional transport jet aircraft Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 in a total volume of around CZK one billion (approx. Euro 36 million). In the years 2008 – 2012, AERO should produce 800 doors subassembly units. The production will be launched in 2008. “This new production program will create around 150 new work places in AERO and in our subsidiary company Technometra Radotin, which will secure part fabrication for the Embraer aircraft,“ said Peter Ondro, President of AERO. “The cooperation with Latécoére will help us realize further significant modernization of our machinery in the amount of CZK 100 million (approx. Euro 3,6 million) and upgrade to a higher level in the subcontractor's chain – to more significant and complex deliveries of aircraft technology with high value added. Total investment of AERO on reconstruction and purchase of new technology, including construction of an in-house composite plant, will reach up to more than CZK 500 million (approx. Euro 18 million) in 2007/2008,” added President Ondro.
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Messier-Dowty, a SAFRAN group company, inaugurated its landing gear systems test center for the A400M program. Opened in mid-2006 in close partnership with systems specialist and fellow SAFRAN company, Messier-Bugatti, the A400M landing gear system test center is a brand new 1,200M2 facility based in Vélizy. The objectives of the rig primarily consist in functional and endurance testing for the aircraft's kneeling, extension/retraction and steering systems. The A400M's electrical, avionics and hydraulics systems are represented. This test facility, the first in Vélizy, will be used in conjunction with Messier-Dowty's other existing centers in Gloucester, UK and Toronto, Canada, as well as through the CEAT facilities in Toulouse.
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Boeing delivered the first AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter built under the extended Block II contract to the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the company's Mesa, Ariz., Apache production facility. Boeing is remanufacturing 96 A-model Apaches for the U.S. Army under the extended Block II contract and continues to produce new-build wartime replacement U.S. Army Apaches while working toward delivery of the Block III Apaches beginning in 2011. The AH-64D Apache Longbow features fully integrated avionics and weapons plus a state-of-the-art modem that transmits real-time, secure, digitized battlefield information to air and ground forces. The Apache Longbow has the ability to rapidly detect, classify, prioritize and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges in nearly all weather environments.
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EADS North America marked another milestone for the UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter program by supplying a pair of its rotary-wing aircraft to the U.S. Army in September – the first time two Lakotas have been delivered during a single month. Both UH-72As were accepted at the newly-expanded Lakota production center in Columbus, Mississippi, which is operated by the American Eurocopter business unit of EADS North America.
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From now on the aviation specialists TÜV NORD AVIATION and “airsight” will work together closely. The two companies sealed their strategic partnership in Berlin on 10 September 2007. They will join forces at a trade fair for the first time at the “inter airport 2007” in Munich on stand P 64 in Hall 4A on 9 -12 October 2007. Their future cooperation will be guided by the motto: “Aviation Expertise. Certified. Worldwide.” TÜV NORD AVIATION and “airsight“ are both service companies in the aviation sector with a huge amount of international experience. Using their specialist know-how, global networks and local roots, they can optimise the value added potential for airports, air traffic control organisations, airlines and air cargo companies. TÜV NORD AVIATION provides a wide range of services in the fields of auditing and certification, quality assurance, developing infrastructure, licensing, drawing up surveys and providing initial and further training for specialist personnel. “airsight” primarily integrates its specialist fields of airports and air traffic control in a complete and effective package. “We are providing answers to tomorrow's questions in aviation today. This means that customers are the primary beneficiaries of our joint market presence,” says Stephan Kösling, managing director of TÜV NORD AVIATION in the TÜV NORD Group. “The tools that we make available to the aviation sector are innovative, pragmatic and legally sound.” “This decision shows that we have made the right choice at the right time,” adds Dr. Holger Schulz, one of the managing directors at airsight GmbH. “Together we can provide all kinds of solutions – these include increasing profitability, dealing with the security situation on the ground and in the air, something which is becoming increasingly complex, and facing the challenges of protecting the environment.”
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World Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Aero Logistics Inc., has signed a one-year contract with Etihad Crystal Cargo, a division of Etihad Airways, to provide MD-11 cargo service to and from Frankfurt (Hahn Airport), Germany; Shanghai, China; and Mumbai, India. "Etihad Airways is a successful, rapidly expanding airline, and World Airways is proud to be providing international cargo capacity for them with our wide-body MD-11 freighter fleet," said Rob Binns, chief marketing officer. Etihad Crystal Cargo was launched in 2004 and introduced all-cargo services in February 2005, currently operating a fleet of regional freighter aircraft and two Airbus A300-600RF aircraft. Etihad Crystal Cargo carried more than 130,000 tons of cargo in 2006, a 96 percent tonnage increase compared to 2005.
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Thales announced that it has been selected by Eurocopter España for the supply of 48 TopOwl Helmet Mounted Sight and Displays for use by the Spanish Army Aviation Tiger helicopter crews. This selection comes close on the heels of Spain's recent acquisition of 24 Tiger helicopters. Spain is now the 15th country to have selected the Thales TopOwl Helmet system for use by its armed forces' helicopter crews. Thales expects to commence delivery of the TopOwl Helmet Mounted Sight and Displays in 2008.
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World Airways has selected Goodrich Corporation to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and rotable support for its fleet of MD-11 aircraft. Under the terms of a three-year agreement, Goodrich's Alabama Service Center in Foley, Ala. will refurbish thrust reversers and inlets on World Airways' fleet of MD-11 jetliners, as well as offer rotable support.
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Rockwell Collins announced it has delivered its 500th Head-up Guidance System (HGS) to Southwest Airlines. "In our 15-year relationship with Southwest Airlines, our HGS systems - which are present on the entire fleet - have enabled Cat IIIa landing performance while providing enhanced situational awareness, operational efficiency and touchdown precision," said John Desmond, vice president, HGS for Rockwell Collins. "We are proud that our relationship with Southwest Airlines continues to grow and flourish because of the proven capabilities of our HGS systems on their fleet." The HGS-4000 system, which is installed on the Southwest Airlines newest 737-700 aircraft, continues to gain popularity in the airline segment. Features of the HGS-4000 include runway remaining, tailstrike avoidance and unusual attitude recovery. The HGS-4000 also has an Instrument Landing System (ILS) anomaly detect feature which will filter out ILS disturbances during the final approach phase. It will also aid Southwest Airlines in flying GPS based approaches to lower than standard Cat I minima in the future.
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Vision Systems International (VSI) announced that its F-35 Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) was successfully demonstrated in a series of flights performed by the Royal Air Force Centre for Aviation Medicine (RAF CAM). The test pilots employed the F-35 HMD while flying two specially modified BAE Hawk T Mk1 aircraft. Pilots from the RAF, U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems have taken the helmet from minus 2 to plus 9 Gs in flights designed to simulate air combat. Their objective was to verify comfort, fit and stability under high G conditions. The pilots' assessments were that the HMD shows significant promise given its comfortable fit and the solid, stable symbology provided throughout the flight envelope. RAF CAM offered to evaluate the VSI HMD on the Hawk platform, which is capable of up to 9.5 Gs. "The generous nature of the RAF CAM invitation allows us the opportunity to assess the high G performance of the F-35 HMD and get valuable pilot feedback. We will continue to closely monitor comfort, fit and stability in future flights," said VSI President Drew Brugal.
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Building on technology defined by its active electronically scanned array radar for the F/A-18, Raytheon has launched production of its latest AESA system for another formidable fighter. In a program funded by a $52.2 million Boeing contract, Raytheon will deliver six APG-63(V)3 AESA systems and a spare to the Air National Guard as part of its F-15C upgrade program. Raytheon will deliver an additional system to the U.S. Air Force. A significant part of the contract also includes production start-up costs as well as manufacturing equipment and other spares. Six or more systems are expected to be delivered annually to the Guard in coming years for a planned total of at least 48. Air Force F-15s became operational with the world's first tactical AESA radar systems in December 2000. Raytheon has been a partner on the F-15 for more than 35 years.
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A hypersonic vehicle comprising five innovative payloads accomplished a successful, six-minute flight during its initial mission Sept. 20 here. The hypersonic vehicle was designed and developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Launched on a Navy-supplied rocket, the Re-Entry Structures Experiment, or RESE, reached an altitude of 95,000 feet at Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound, or 3,800 miles per hour), then safely landed in the desert in two pieces more than 21 miles north of its launch point. Experiments flown during the initial RESE mission included a new acoustic protection system, a reconfigurable hardware architecture for responsive satellites, two thermal sensors, a novel high-temperature material structural test, and a flexible circuitry durability trial. The acoustic test involved the Hybrid Acoustically Layered Foil Foam, or HALF-Foam, treatment, which lines the rocket structure interior to decrease noise that could damage the launch vehicle's sensitive instruments. Like the plug-and-play concept featured on desktop computers, the Responsive Space Bus Demonstration, or RSBD, employed a structural design with interfacing processor components for the rapid assembly of satellites to meet evolving mission requirements. The two thermal sensors, provided by NASA, monitored hazardous and elevated heat levels impacting the RESE. These systems will be used on the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the planned successor to the space shuttle.
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BAE Systems has developed new helmet-mounted display technology that addresses a critical warfighter need for enhanced situational awareness. The company unveiled its Q-Sight family of helmet displays and tracking products today at the Association of the U.S. Army's Annual Symposium and Exhibition in Washington. The system features a lightweight, ergonomic design and increased visibility, flexibility, and reliability to maximize pilot safety and comfort. Weighing less than 4 ounces, the miniature display clips to any helmet, allowing the pilot “plug-and-play” ease of use. “The Q-sight family provides pilots with 'heads-up, eyes-out' capability,” said Clark Freise, vice president of defense avionics for BAE Systems. “It delivers mission-critical situational awareness, exactly where and when it's needed.”
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Lockheed Martin recently delivered the first KC-130J Tanker to the United States Marine Corps Squadron based in Japan. Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152), Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, took delivery of its first KC-130J on Sunday, September 30. This delivery is the 27th KC-130J to be delivered to the USMC. The USMC Air Expeditionary Force has had six KC-130Js in theater since February 2005. During this deployment the KC-130J crews have flown 8,854 sorties totaling 17,398 flight hours. In August of this year they set a deployment one month record with 318 sorties, logged 621.9 flying hours, off-loaded 127,014 pounds of cargo, transported 718 personnel, and passed 6,002,600 pounds of fuel.
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SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems (SELEX S&AS), a Finmeccanica Company, has received an important order from Kelowna Flightcraft of Canada to supply Titan 385ES EO Turrets for onward sale to Kazan Helicopters of Russia. These flexible multi-sensor turrets will be installed on Mi-17-V5 helicopters manufactured in Russia for delivery to the Kazakstan Airforce. Titan 385ES is the first Western built Electro-Optic (EO) system to be officially certified by Kazan for the Mi-17 class of helicopter. The sale represents SELEX S&AS first major Russian order and builds on work with Kelowna and Kazan in promoting the Mi-17 fitted with an avionics package.
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Lufthansa remains on the growth path. In the first nine months of the year, around 42.5 million passengers flew with Germany's biggest airline. This is 5.6 per cent more than in the same period in the previous year. Passenger numbers rose significantly in all traffic regions. Capacity utilisation in all regions also improved sharply. The seat load factor on Lufthansa flights was up accordingly by two percentage points to 77.4 per cent. Lufthansa Cargo also improved its traffic performance in the nine-month term. With 1.3 million tonnes, the transported volume increased by 2.5 per cent. The cargo load factor climbed by 1.5 percentage points to 68.4 per cent. In the course of this year, a total of 45.8 million passengers have flown with the airline companies in the Lufthansa Group. Of the total, 3.3 million since July were carried by SWISS. The Swiss carrier was fully integrated in the Lufthansa Group in the third quarter. Its passenger traffic figures since July are accordingly included in the Group results.
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A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM satellite into orbit at 8:22 p.m., EDT, October 10. Blasting off from Space Launch Complex 41, it marked the third Atlas V EELV launch this year and eighth overall launch for ULA in 2007. This launch also comes just three weeks after the service celebrated its 60th anniversary and four months after the Atlas rocket's 50th anniversary of its first launch. The WGS system will significantly increase the communications capabilities for troops in the field. The mission was launched aboard an Atlas V 421 configuration, which uses a single common core booster powered by the RD-180 engine and two solid rocket motors. This Atlas V, designated AV-011, marked the 204th RD-180 firing. The 10 previous Atlas V launches included two missions for NASA, one for the National Reconnaissance Office, one for the United States Air Force and six for commercial customers.
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TF Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, is the first commercial airport in the United States to install and operate the latest Tarsier Foreign Object Debris (FOD) technology. Developed by QinetiQ, an international defence and security technology company, Tarsier is a 24-hour runway debris detection system. The system is currently being tested and evaluated at TF Green Airport on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the University of Illinois Centre of Excellence in Airport Technology (CEAT) under the direction of Professor Edwin Herricks. Checking for runway debris is currently performed manually with visual inspections several times a day. The new, fully automated system provides continuous scanning of the runway area and alerts airport operations specialists about foreign objects that are detected. Operations specialists then recover and keep a record of all debris that is recovered. Foreign Object Debris (FOD) is problematic, dangerous and costly. Debris can be drawn into engines or cause problems from damage of landing gear or control mechanisms.
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Wizz Air, the Central and Eastern Europe based low cost airline, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for an additional 50 A320s, taking the total orders of the airline up to 82 A320 aircraft. The contract represents the largest ever order in the region for a single Airbus type, and will enable Wizz Air to become one of the biggest airlines in Central and Eastern Europe within the next decade. Wizz Air have already ordered 32 new A320s from Airbus, and operate several additional A320s on lease. The aircraft will be configured with 180 seats in a single class layout. The new aircraft will allow Wizz Air to increase frequencies on existing services, as well as to introducing new routes for the region.
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The first modified Boeing 737-800 aircraft is taking flight for transcontinental customers traveling on Delta Air Lines – complete with the next generation of more comfortable Coach Class seating and Delta on Demand, the airline's industry-leading digital entertainment system available at every passenger's seat. The 737 narrow-body aircraft offers 16 First Class seats and 144 Coach Class seats. Delta is the first airline to offer the sleek, new, leading-edge “slim line” seats from Weber Aircraft LP for customers traveling in coach class which boast: up to 1 and 1/2 inches of increased personal space with additional under-seat storage; ergonomically-designed cushions developed using pressure mapping technology for maximum comfort; advanced, lightweight materials.
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Alenia Aermacchi signed a contract with the Italian Ministry of Defence to upgrade to “Batch 2” configuration 14 MB-339CD advanced trainers already in service with the Italian Air Force and built to “Batch 1” configuration under a previous 1995 contract. The new contract has an overall value of 41.2 million Euros. The timing agreed with the Air Force envisions a two-year programme that will see the reconfigured aircraft redelivered within 2009. The upgrade of the 14 MB-339CD trainers centres mainly around the avionics systems, improving them in the areas of electro-avionics, identification and localization, integrating night vision capabilities and every other inspections and planned corrective actions.
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Eurocopter, the helicopter unit of EADS, has won a contract to provide 23 helicopters to the Polish emergency medical services, the health ministry announced Wednesday. The group beat a British-Italian rival AugustaWestland in the tender process, ministry spokesman Pawel Trzcinski, was quoted as saying by the Polish news agency PAP. The financial details of the contract were not revealed. According to a specialised Internet site the cost of a medical helicopter is around five million euros. The Polish emergency helicopter service has one Augusta A109 Power chopper bought in 2005, and several obsolete Soviet-built Mi-2s, whose use will become impossible after 2010 due to European Union rules.
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The US Air Force announced that the service's new hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle is now flying operational missions in Afghanistan. The MQ-9 Reaper has completed 12 missions since its inaugural flight there Sept. 25, averaging about one sortie per day. Capable of striking enemy targets with on-board weapons, the Reaper has conducted close air support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Operational use of Reaper's advanced capabilities marks a tremendous step forward in the evolution of unmanned aerial systems. Air Force quality assurance evaluators gave a "thumbs up" to the aircraft's debut performance and have been pleased with its operation ever since. "The Reaper is a significant evolution in capability for the Air Force," said Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley. "We've taken these aircraft from performing mainly as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to carrying out true hunter-killer missions." Like the MQ-1 Predator, the Reaper is launched, recovered and maintained at deployed locations, while being remotely operated by pilots and sensor operators at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. That's where the resemblance ends. The MQ-9 has nearly nine times the range, can fly twice as high and carries more munitions.
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Copa Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced they have signed a broad code share agreement. Copa Airlines and KLM are alliance partners within the SkyTeam global alliance and KLM recently announced the start of new flights between Amsterdam and Panama City's "Hub of the Americas" as of March 30, 2008. The code share alliance between Copa Airlines and KLM will enable passengers of both carriers to travel more easily between Copa's extensive Latin American network and Europe via two of the world's most convenient hubs: Panama City's "Hub of the Americas" and Amsterdam's Schiphol.
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SAS Scandinavian Airlines announced that it has exercised options for two Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft. The airplanes will strengthen the 737 fleet of SAS Scandinavian Airlines to support growth on domestic and intra-European routes. The airline will equip the airplanes with fuel-saving Blended Winglets.
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The Security Cabinet of the Israel Government decided to invest, starting in 2008, in the development of an innovative system produced by a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. to protect Israel's commercial aircraft fleet from enemy missiles. Called "MUSIC” (Multi Spectral Infrared Countermeasure)," the compact, lightweight (25 kilograms) system provides the fastest response to missile attacks available today and is able to deal with 1,000 enemy missiles simultaneously. The Government announced that the project will commence in the beginning of 2008. "MUSIC" is an advanced, highly effective passive Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system which protects aircraft from ground-and-air missiles. The system can provide a solution for both commercial and military rotary and fixed wing aircraft. The system is a product of Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd., an Elbit Systems Ltd. subsidiary. (Rafael is no longer a member of this project).
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The US Navy established Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Oct. 4. The first MH-60R squadron, HSM 71's aircraft is replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft due to possessing the combined capabilities of the two aircraft. The Navy has been working to implement the MH-60R for more than a decade. HSM 71 is the first of five MH-60R squadrons; other MH-60R squadrons are expected to be established in the future. “Now, we have one aircraft with all the capabilities of every (previous) aircraft,” said Cmdr. Michael K. Nortier, HSM-71's commanding officer. “That's a significant change.”
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The Russian State Commission investigating the unsuccessful launch last month of a Proton vehicle carrying the JCSAT-11 satellite, determined that a damaged pyro firing cable on the interstage truss prevented the activation of the pyro bolts that were to have separated the first and second stages of the rocket. Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) and chairman of the 18-member investigative commission, announced the findings after meeting with government officials in Kazakhstan. Proton launches will resume with a Glonass satellite mission for Roscosmos. Members of the ILS Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) began their review of the commission's findings in Moscow on Monday. The FROB does not conduct its own investigation, but independently reviews the methods, conclusions and corrective action recommendations of the Russian commission. ILS Vice President and CTO Jim Bonner, Chairman of the FROB, said, "I am very confident that the Russian State Commission was able to conclude its investigation thoroughly and in a timely manner. Having not only telemetry, but recovered hardware from the vehicle itself certainly facilitated the investigation and conclusions."
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Rolls-Royce and KLM Cityhopper have signed a new eight-year overhaul and maintenance agreement worth over $100 million for Tay engines powering the airline's fleet of more than 40 Fokker 100 and Fokker 70 aircraft. Michel Coumans, Chief Executive Officer for KLM Cityhopper, said: "We have a long-standing relationship with Rolls-Royce, so we understand the benefits of maintenance services provided by the manufacturer. We get the highest service levels by using the maintenance provider that knows the engine best.” All full and mid-life overhauls will be the responsibility of Rolls-Royce, which will carry out the work at its East Kilbride Aero Repair and Overhaul facility in Scotland, with engineering support being supplied by Rolls-Royce Deutschland in Dahlewitz.
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Tiger Airways has signed a contract for an additional 30 Airbus A320s and 20 options. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Paris Airshow in June 2007.Tiger Airways currently operates a fleet of nine A320s, with 11 more to be delivered by 2010. With the latest order and option package, Tiger Airways' fleet has the ability to grow to 70 A320s. The A320s will be deployed on the airline's Asia Pacific and Australian networks that currently extends to 20 services in seven countries, as well as the new Australian domestic operation scheduled to be launched out of Melbourne on 23rd November 2007 (pending regulatory approval). Tiger Airways' A320s will be configured in a 180-seat, all-economy configuration. No engine choice has been made.
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The Royal Saudi Air Force has selected General Electric Company's F110 fighter engine to begin to re-engine its twin-engine Boeing F-15S aircraft. The agreement calls for the purchase of 65 of GE's F110-GE-129C engines and a logistic support package, with deliveries to begin in 2008, at a total value of more than $300 million. In selecting the GE engine, the Royal Saudi Air Force cited the F110's high performance, safety and reliability, and cost effective operation. The Royal Saudi Air Force decision marks the first time an F-15 operator has switched engine models. The F110-GE-129 engine model to power the Royal Saudi aircraft incorporates GE's Service Life Extension (SLEP) hardware, which includes the core of a successful CFM56 commercial engine, 3D aero technology and upgrades to the combustor and high-pressure turbine. The enhancements can help provide up to a 25 percent improvement in cost-per-flying hour, a significant on-wing increase and elimination of special inspections.
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Frankfurt Airport (FRA) welcomed 5,030,510 passengers in September 2007 – an increase of 0.9 percent on the same month last year. This was the first time the FRA air transportation hub exceeded the five million passenger mark in a September. It was also the first time in FRA's history that the airport topped this record mark in three successive months. Up 2.3 percent, intercontinental traffic continued to be the major growth driver. Destinations in the U.S.A, the Caribbean, and South America picked up noticeably, growing at rates of 4.1 percent, 2.4 percent, and 7.1 percent respectively. Middle East traffic continued to increase at a high level ( up 6.9 percent).
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SWISS has been voted “Europe's Leading Airline” in the 14th World Travel Awards. The distinctions, which are among the most prestigious within the travel industry, were presented in Newcastle, UK on October 9. “We are delighted to receive this award,” says Christoph Beckmann, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at SWISS. “And we are proud and honoured that industry specialists from over 190 countries have named SWISS Europe's top air carrier. This award confirms to us once again that the travel trade values our high service standards, our hospitality and our innovative flair.” This is the second year running that SWISS has collected the prestigious Europe's Leading Airline award. The 2007 distinction was earned in competition with 14 other airlines, and encourages SWISS to further maintain its alignment and commitment to the highest quality standards.
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The ceremony to mark the opening of the new Austrian Airlines Group Head Office took place. In recent weeks, 900 employees of the Group have gradually moved into the newly constructed building, which is sited directly at Vienna Airport. 'In our new Head Office, we are located directly at the Austrian hub, and therefore closer to our customers,' explained Austrian Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Alfred Ötsch. 'We are also creating a bright, modern and friendly working environment for our employees in the new office, which makes both our brand experience and philosophy perceptible.'Several divisions of the company have been brought together in the Head Office which were formerly accommodated at various different locations. As well as the 650 employees who used to be based at Vienna Oberlaa, the Call Center, Lauda Air and a number of other divisions have moved from the World Trade Center into the Group's new Head Office. As Alfred Ötsch went on to explain, 'By merging so many different divisions of the company, we have not only simplified our working processes and channels of communication but also drawn the organisation closer together on a cultural level.'
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The Turkish government recently ordered two XLS aircraft from Cessna. The aircraft will be used by the DHMI (General Directorate of State Airports Authority) to inspect airport navigation aids. DHMI began using two Citation V aircraft for special mission purposes in 1993 which will now be replaced by the new XLS aircraft. Prior to delivery in 2009, the aircraft will be modified to include special flight inspection calibration equipment produced by NSM (Norwegian Special Missions). NSM is a subsidiary of Sundt Air - also a long time Cessna Citation operator.
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The test mission of the OPALE system at the Norwegian training area Rena Range impressively demonstrated that this system that was jointly developed by Diamond Aircraft and Rheinmetall Defence Electronic fulfils challenging requirements even in the initial implementation phase. The DA42 OPALE (Optional Piloted Aircraft Long Endurance) has repeatedly demonstrated its enormous potential as a platform for surveillance and reconnaissance. By its participation in a NATO exercise from September 1 thru 14, 2007 in Norway it achieved another success – the confirmation of its capabilities at a challenging international level. OPALE was deployed in Norway in the framework of a demonstration project “Trial Quest 2007. The intent of this demonstration was to support the NATO exercise “BOLD AVENGER, the largest NATO aviation exercise in 2007, with intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance as well as so called 'Command and Control' elements in a realistic operational environment. A total of 13 nations and the NATO C3 Agency (NC3A – NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency) participated.
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