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UPDATE 
Week ending May 24, 1998
+++ Fairchild Dornier now officially launches jet-airliner programs +++ Tiger production MoU signed +++ Airbus rejects An-70, but more studies in view +++ Arianespace is facing the space transportation challenge +++ EU Commission proposes 900 million ECU for aeronautics +++ ILA 98 sees vigorous growth +++ ESA switches off its infrared telescope +++ Bombardier sells six Dash 8Q to Augsburg Airways +++ Boeing delivers first Netherlands AH-64D +++ Motorola completes deployment phase of Iridium +++ News in brief +++

Fairchild Dornier now officially launches jet-airliner programs
Offizieller Programmstart der Fairchild Dornier Jet-Airlinerfamilie

At the ILA in Berlin, US-German aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier launched several pending airliner programs. First, the Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, based company launched the 428JET, a 44-seat stretch version of the 328JET. Entry into service will occur in December 2000. The 428JET has a high commonality with the 32 to 34-seat 328JET. Along with an 11-foot fuselage stretch, the most significant change lies in the wing dimensions. The wing area is increased in direct proportion to the fuselage size and weight. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308 turbofan engines with a take-off power rating of 35 kN (7900 lbs).
Fairchild Dornier also launched an all-new jet-airliner family. The first model and basis will be the 728JET with 70 to 75 seats. The development of this aircraft supposedly began in July 1997. After certification in mid-2000, Fairchild plans to also develop a 55-seat 528JET which will be on line 14 months later, and a 90 to 95-seat 928JET another 14 months later. The new aircraft family will have a fuselage inner cross section of 3,4 meters, allowing for a five-abreast configuration. Germany's Lufthansa CityLine and Crossair have already expressed their desire to become the launch customers. An initial order for a total of 120 aircraft and options for additional aircraft are being envisaged by both companies. Furthermore, Eurowings has announced to order 30 aircraft of the new model. The decision still has to be approved by the airline's board of directors.

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Tiger production MoU signed
Verträge über die Tiger-Serienproduktion unterzeichnet

The Secretary of State in the Federal German Ministry of Defence, Gunnar Simon, and the Délégué Général pour l'Armement in the French Ministry of Defence, Jean-Yves Helmer, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering serial production of the Franco-German combat and support helicopter Tiger, on May 20, 1998, during the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) at Berlin. Jean-François Bigay, President and Dr. Siegfried Sobotta, Co-President of Eurocopter, welcomed this decisive step towards production of the Tiger, one of the most important military programmes ever launched in Europe.
The MoU signals clearance for Tiger production. An initial batch of 160 helicopters, 80 for Germany and 80 for France, will be procured. The German Army's total requirement of 212 and the French Army's requirement of a total of 215 Tiger helicopters remains unchanged. Production and final assembly of the machines will be at the Eurocopter plants in Donauwörth (Germany) and Marignane (France). Cost and work shares are divided between the two partner countries on a 50:50 per cent basis. Deliveries will commence as of 2001.

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Airbus rejects An-70, but more studies in view
An-70 bleibt Konkurrenz für FLA

After a meeting of the Policy Group during the ILA show at Berlin, Airbus Industrie has confirmed that it has definitely rejected any idea of it acting as prime contractor for an An-70-based programme to meet the FLA military transport requirement, unde the current conditions which foresee a commercial approach. It is understood, however, that Germany in particular, but some other nations as well, continiue to be interested in receiving an proposal based on the Ukrainian/Russion propfan airlifter, which was shown to advantage in the flying display at Schönefeld airport. The German defence ministry will therefore commission further parallel industrial activities, with Dasa in the spotlight as a contributor and possible western western prime contractor on An-70 as well as a partner in FLA. It is now expected that proposals will be prepared by January 31, 1999 - not only for the FLA and the An-70, but also for the US Boeing C-17 and Lockheed Martin C-130J.

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Arianespace is facing the space transportation challenge
Arianespace und die Herausforderungen des Raumtransportmarktes

On the occasion of the ILA in Berlin, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Luton has outlined the way the company intends to meet the challenge of a market which is undergoing a profound quantitative and qualitative transformation, while competition is fiercer and more diversified than ever. The development of new space applications, in particular telecommunications via satellite, is driving a significant increase in demand, along with its diversification. Luton projects 60 to 90 launches per year for the period 2001-2005, including 40 to 70 commercial launch contracts accessible to Arianespace. Satellites continue to grow in size. Satellites weighing 5 tons will appear starting in 2000, and by 2005 most telecommunications satellites will weigh over 4 tons. Due to this, the performance of the European launcher will be significantly improved to lower the cost per kilo into orbit. Accordilng to Luton, the various stages in the adaptation of Ariane 5 to evolving market requirements are now clearly defined: a restartable upper stage, to support orbital injection of new-generation constellation satellites starting in 2001; GTO launch capacity increased to 9 metric tons (19,800 lb.) in 2001, and to 11 metric tons (24,200 lb.) in 2005, to keep pace with the growth in satellite mass and maintain the competitive advantage of dual launch capability. At the same time, launcher production and launch rate will be increased to 12 per year as early as in 2002 and even higher subsequently.

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EU Commission proposes 900 million ECU for aeronautics
Europäische Luftfahrtforschung soll 900 Mio. ECU erhalten

Within the Fith Framework Programme for Resarch, the European Commission has proposed a 900 million ECU budget for the action plan "New perspectives for aeronautics, which falls within the so called theme 3 (promoting competitive and sustainable growth). The aerospace research efforts will focus on
  • acquisition of critical technologies: innovative approaches and evolutionary advances in aerodynamics, structures and application of new materials, propulsion, noise, equipment and systems, advanced sensors and avionics; development of multi-disciplinary technologies, such as eroelasticity, flight mechanics and airframe-propulsion integration; methods and processes for aircraft design and maintenance
  • technology integration for new generation aircraft: adavanced design tools and concurrent engineering for reconfigurable, flexible, distributed and multi-site production systems; advanced developments in propulsion, structural and erodynamic efficiency and systems performance and integration; airframe, engine and systems technologies and operational procedures to reduce significantly emissions and engine noise, ind improve cabin environment
  • operational efficiency and safety: validation and integration of on-board systems for improving the operational capabilities of aircraft and supporting their integration within the future ATM system; maintenance techniques and condition monitoring for improved aircraft reliability and despatch availability; technologies and methodologies, including the study of human-factor aspects and flight simulation, for more effective accident prevention and improved aircraft design for passenger survivability.
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ILA 98 sees vigorous growth
Mehr Aussteller auf der ILA

The ILA 98 show at Schönefeld airport got off to a promising start on May 18 with more than 800 exhibitors form 32 countris present - an increase of 42 per cent. Also, over 250 aircraft were to bee seen in the static park, among them premieres like the 328JET, the MiG-29SMT and the western debut of the An-70. This turnout boosted the confidence of the organizers to fight of the re-timed Farnborough event in 2000, an "unfriendly act" by the Brits, as Dr. Manfred Bischoff, in his capacity as chairman of the BDLI put it.

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ESA switches off its infrared telescope
ISO wurde ausgeschaltet

The European Space Agency's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was switched off on May 16 at 14:00 h (CEST), thereby bringing to a close the highly-successful in-orbit operations of the ISO mission. Prior to that, ISO's orbit was changed to force the satellite to burn up in the atmosphere in some 20-30 years from now. Controllers at the ESA ground station at Villafranca (Madrid, Spain) witnessed the definitive end for the telescope but they didn't have to press any 'red button' or the like. The instructions for the switch off had already been introduced into ISO's computers earlier.
ISO's last month of life was used to gather as much technical data as possible. Various software and hardware systems that, due to the superb performance of the spacecraft, did not have to be used during the operational phase were subjected to detailed tests. Results from these tests will benefit future ESA missions, such as XMM and Integral, which use some of the same components, such as the Star Trackers guiding the spacecraft.

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Bombardier sells six Dash 8Q to Augsburg Airways
Augsburg Airways bestellt sechs Dash 8

Team Lufthansa member Augsburg Airways of Augsburg, Germany, has announced a firm order for four 50-seat Dash 8Q Series 300 and two 37-seat Dash 8Q Series 200 aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace. The contract was originally signed in November 1997 for three firm aircraft, has since been increased to six aircraft and was previously undisclosed. Augsburg also has options on seven additional Dash 8Q aircraft. The contract for the six aircraft is valued at approximately $78 million U.S. ($112.2 million Cdn.).
In order to provide Augsburg with greater flexibility in its future fleet planning, the seven optioned aircraft can include the Series 200, 300 or new 70-seat Dash 8Q Series 400 models. The Series 400, currently in certification flight test, is scheduled to enter airline service in the first quarter of 1999. Augsburg Airways, a long-term Dash 8 operator formerly known as Interot, serves several cities in Germany and neighboring European countries.

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Boeing delivers first Netherlands AH-64D
Erster AH-64D Apache an Holland geliefert

On May 18, Boeing Company rolled out the first AH-64D Apache multi-mission combat helicopter for the Royal Netherlands Air Force in a ceremony at the company's Mesa, Ariz., production center. The Royal Netherlands Air Force is the first international customer to take delivery of an AH-64D Apache. The ceremony was attended by key government and military officials from The Netherlands and the United States. Keynote speaker was Jon C. Gmelich Meijling, the State Secretary of Defense for The Netherlands.
In all, Boeing will produce 30 new AH-64Ds for the Royal Netherlands Air Force over the next several years. Later this year, the United Kingdom will become the second international defense force to accept the next-generation Apache. Boeing will build 67 new WAH-64s for Great Britain as a teammate to GKN Westland Helicopters Ltd. The first WAH-64 entered final production late last month.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force will assign its first 15 AH-64Ds to its 302 Squadron, which will be formed at Gilze-Rijen Airbase in The Netherlands. The squadron will be operational around the turn of the century. While waiting for its AH-64Ds, Royal Netherlands Air Force pilots have been flying 12 AH-64A Apaches leased from the U.S. Army.

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Motorola completes deployment phase of Iridium
Alle Iridiums im Orbit

On May 15, Motorola set another industry record by completing its 15th and final launch of the initial satellite deployment campaign for the Iridium system in just 12 months. A Boeing Delta II lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 2:28 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, carrying another five Motorola satellites into orbit for the Iridium system. "The Iridium system will be first to market and the market definer for global wireless communications," said Christopher Galvin, chief executive officer of Motorola, the innovator, designer, manufacturer, and prime contractor for this $5 billion venture.
"Motorola launched the concept of the Iridium system a decade ago, and today, we have accomplished what many said could not be done," said Durrell Hillis, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola Space and Systems Technology Group (SSTG). "We have built one of the largest digital networks ever, and have already demonstrated the voice and paging capabilities which we designed for the Iridium system." A total of 72 satellites have been launched for the Iridium system, 67 of which are operational. The performance level of these spacecraft is within the company's expectations and the parameters required for commercial service later this year. Iridium LLC has contracted with Motorola to operate and maintain the constellation for a five-year term commencing at commercial activation, with an option to extend the contract beyond the five years.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

French engine manufactuere Turboméca is launching two new variants of its Arrius 2 helicopter powerplant. The 2B2 will have its ratings increased by six per cent. A first flight is expected by early 1999 and certification by the end of that year. This new model is for the Eurocopter EC 135. For the Agusta A 109 Power, Turboméca is working oa the Arrius 2K1, which will fly in July this year and is due to be certified by February 1999.
+++
Tyrolean Airways has announced a new route from Vienna to Bremen on the North Sea, starting on June 15. Eleven flights will be offered per week, with morning and evening scheduled during working days allowing business travellers plenty of time in the city.
+++
Teledesic LLC and Motorola Inc. have announced they will become partners in the further development and deployment of Teledesic's global, broadband "Internet-in-the-Sky" satellite communications system. Boeing, the world's leading aerospace company, and Matra Marconi Space, Europe's leading satellite manufacturer, will round out the team of founding industrial partners. Motorola will be the prime contractor for the global technology team that will spearhead the engineering and construction of the world's first advanced telecommunications network to provide high-speed data connections to businesses, institutions and individuals everywhere on Earth - regardless of location. The team will combine the technical efforts now under way on the "Internet-in-the-Sky" system pioneered by Teledesic and the Celestri broadband satellite system conceived by Motorola.
+++
Fifteen newts and about 80 snails arrived with a Progress cargo spaceship at the Mir station and are to stay in space until mid- August, a biologist of the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems has said. The previous experiment involving newts, which began late last year, unfortunately ended in a failure. Eight animals died during the landing in late February when the rescue workers gave all their attention to the cosmonauts because of the bad weather conditions and failed to take out the containers with newts from the landing capsule.
+++
Russian Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko has signed a government resolution allowing the Russian Space Agency to use decomissioned defence missile complexes. The resolution assigns the agency to carry out works together with the Defence Ministry for using as space boosters strategic missile complexes decommissioned as a result of the expired age or in connection with international agreements. The document also presents a list of state-run enterprises and organisations of the Economy Ministry, which are transferred to the jurisdiction of the Space Agency. The list includes the Khrunichev space centre, the Impuls organisation as well as other scientific and production enterprises in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk and the Chelyabinsk region.
+++
Air Berlin, a German inclusive-tour charter operator, has converted a pair of options placed earlier into a firm order for two 737-800s, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group has confirmed. Air Berlin also secured two additional 737-800 options. The estimated value of the two orders, as well as the options, is $200 million, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2000. This brings Air Berlin's total 737-800 purchases to 10 firm orders and four options. Air Berlin has operated Boeing airplanes since 1979. The airline flies routes between Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Munster/Osnabruck, Nurnberg and Paderborn, the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
+++
Russia presented its new MiG- 29SMT, an upgraded version of the MiG-29 fighter, for the first time abroad at the air show in Berlin. It will be offered to all potential customers, but foremost to the countries whose armies have MiG-29s. The upgraded Mig-29SMT boasts better fighting effectiveness compared with the other MiG-29 versions. Two extra fuel tanks mounted in the upper part of the fuselage extend its flight range to 2,200 kilometers from 1,850 km, while three outboard tanks expand the range up to 3,500 km. A refueling system, if installed, stretches the flight range to 6,500 km and increasers the fighter's combat load from three to five tonnes. But the pep of the new fighter is its cabin design, as well as on-board avionics of the so-called "open architecture," Novikov said.
+++
Leisure International Airways has signed a contract to purchase two Airbus Industrie A330-200 twin-engine widebody aircraft. Deliveries will take place in early 2000. Leisure International chose Airbus Industrie's A330-200 to replace its existing long-haul fleet because of its better economics and higher passenger comfort standards compared to other aircraft currently available in this category. The A330- 200s for the British charter carrier will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4168A engines.To date, the A330/A340 aircraft family has booked around 470 orders from some 50 customers. More than 200 A330s and A340s have been delivered and are
+++
On May 21, Boeing delivered its first 777-300, the world's longest commercial jet, to an Asian carrier. Cathay Pacific, based in Hong kong, took delivery of the huge airplane, which is more than 10 feet longer than a 747-400 jumbo jet and 33 feet longer than the 777-200 that entered service three years ago.
+++
In a delivery ceremony on May 18, Boeing celebrated the 2,000th widebody airplane to be built at the company's assembly plant in Everett, Wash. Boeing builds all three 7-series widebodies - the 747, 767 and 777 - at the Everett factory. The milestone jet - a 747-400 - was delivered to British Airways. In 1966, Boeing broke ground in Everett to build the factory for 747 manufacturing. During the next three decades, the factory more than doubled in size - from 42.8 acres (17.1 hectares) to 98.3 acres (39.8 hectares) - to accommodate all three models. Nearly 120 customers worldwide have ordered more than 2,500 of the 7-series widebody jets, of which Boeing now has delivered nearly 2,000. Widebodies are jetliners with twin aisles in the passenger cabin.
+++
On May 15, American Airlines announced it will purchase 25 more Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered over a 24-month period, starting in January 2000. The move brings to 100 the total number of firm orders for the 737. American said recent inspection orders from the Federal Aviation Administration for older 737s will not affect the newer version of the plane being purchased by American. American President Donald J. Carty said, "This order of 25 additional 737s allows us to continue the retirement of our 727-200 fleet that we began earlier this decade, as well as provide for modest growth. We have previously said that we intend to retire the last of our 727-200s by 2004..."
+++
The first Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter jet--Raptor O1--resumed its flight test program on May 17, with a successful flight test at Edwards AFB, Calif. During the one-hour and 20-minute subsonic flight, the F-22's flight dynamics, speed-brake handling and formation flying characteristics were successfully tested and evaluated against a complex computer model
+++
BMW Rolls-Royce is optimistic that rising production rates of its BR700 turbofan family will push turnover in 1998 from 500 to 800 million DM. This will also reduce losses from 662 million in 1997 to under 500 million DM this year, managing director Klaus Nittinger said at the Berlin air show.
+++
Lufthansa and its project partners Air France, Korean air and Japan Airlines have opened the new "Terminal 1" at New York John F. Kennedy airport. It was financed by a 434 million US-Dollar loan and is part of a wide-ranging overhaul of the US gateway. The new terminal can cope with 3,6 million passengers a year.
+++
New rumours concerning the relocation of USAF operations from Frankfurt Rhein-Main airport to Spangdahlem and Ramstein have surfaced. It is said that the transfer, which would free valuable space for the further expansion of Germanies leading airport, will take place until 2004. But the move seems dependent on Germany contributing some 300 million DM to the costs of the relocation.
+++
Rafael and Lockheed Martin have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential cooperation in the production and marketing of air-to-air missiles developed and manufactured by Rafael. Initial focus will be on the Python 4 short-range AAM.
+++
Thomson Training & Simulation and United Airlines have broken new ground in the simulation industry with the signing of a "revenue shae" agreement for two full flight simulators. The Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 devices will be built by TTS and operated by United at its Denver training centre.
+++
The 67th Bell Boeing 609 civil tiltrotor aircraft has been sold to the first customer from Germany, Bell announced at the ILA show in Berlin. Aero-Dienst GmbH of Nurnberg, placed a deposit and signed a purchase agreement. They plan to use the aircraft for charter services and medical tansport in Europe.
+++
A two-year contract has been concluded between Cyprus Nuthsell group and engineering bureau Jörg Mazana to transport wooden dwelling hosues on the sling of an Mi-26T, the largest helicopter in the world. Each hose consists of two blocks, lower and upper. The dimensions of each block are 10 x 8 x 3 metres, and masses are 16 to 19 tons, which need to be moved at distances of up to 150 km.
+++
Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing has confirmed an order for two 737-700s, for delivery in the third quarter of 2001. Altogether, the company has now six -700s on order, complementing 15 earlier-generation 737s
+++
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules started off a European sales tour at the ILA air show in Berlin, arriving from Marietta (Georgie) via Gander. Countries to be visited include Switherland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, France and Spain. In the meantime, a C-130 is to be dispatched to South America in pursuit of suitable natural icing conditions which are needed for FAA tests to complete the long-delayed certification process of the new airlifter.
+++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen ist nach wie vor abrufbar:

*May 17, 1998 *May 10, 1998 *May 3, 1998

*April 26, 1998 *April 19, 1998 *April 5, 1998

*January to March 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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