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Week ending September 20, 1998
+++ First production contract for Eurofighter is signed +++ European defence ministers sign treaty on OCCAR +++ Lufthansa orders 70seat regional jet from Bombardier +++ Engineers regain control of SOHO +++ New homes for RAF Tornado squadrons +++ EuroGrid contract for Tiger +++ Systems suppliers for 728JET family announced +++ Evans & Sutherland to deliver Luftwaffe training centre +++ News in Brief +++
First production contract for Eurofighter is signed
148 Eurofighter fest bestellt
On September 18, the four-European-nation Eurofighter consortium has signed a contract on the production of a first batch of the Eurofighter jets valued at 14 billion German marks (8.25 billion U.S. dollars), German defense contractor Daimler-Benz Aerospace confirmed Friday. The order placed by four European governments is for 148 Eurofighter jets along with 363 engines. Delivery of the first warplanes will be made between 2002 and 2005 with 55 jets going to Britain, 44 to Germany, 29 to Italy and 20 to Spain. The basic agreement on the Eurofighter project was formally approved in the four European nations in January this year. Britain has ordered a total of 232 Eurofighters, Germany 180, Italy 121 and Spain 87.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
European defence ministers sign treaty on OCCAR
Gemeinsame Beschaffungsorganisation wird aufgebaut
Defence Secretary George Robertson and colleagues from France, Germany and Italy signed a treaty at the Farnborough Air Show paving the way for more effective management of joint defence equipment programmes. The treaty will establish the four countries' joint procurement organisation, OCCAR, as a legal entity, allowing the organisation to place and manage its own contracts and employ its own staff. Mr Robertson said: "An increasing proportion of the United Kingdom's equipment requirements are likely to be met by collaborative projects in future, and OCCAR was created with the specific aim of improving the way these projects are managed. This treaty, once ratified, will give OCCAR the scope to develop its own procurement procedures, contract rules and regulations, helping it deliver joint programmes faster, cheaper and better - which is what our Smart Procurement initiative is all about. The four OCCAR nations do not view the organisation as an exclusive club. We expect to extend membership in due course to other nations who accept the organisation's underlying principles and are participants in future projects. OCCAR thus has the potential to act as a building block towards an eventual European Armaments Agency. It will also support the major European defence equipment producers in their determination to maintain a strong and competitive defence industrial base."OCCAR (Organisme Conjointe de Co-operation en matiere d'ARmament) was formed in November 1996. It employs some 20 staff in its central Headquarters in Bonn, has, since the beginning of the year, integrated the Tigre, Hot, Roland and Milan programmes. The FSAF, MRAV, Cobra, Trigat and PZH2000 programmes are in the course of integration.
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Lufthansa orders 70seat regional jet from Bombardier
CRJ Series 700 für Lufthansa
Bombardier Aerospace has completed negotiations with Lufthansa for the sale of 10 70-seat CRJ Series 700 aircraft plus 10 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jet aircraft. The airline has also secured options for an additional 10 CRJ Series 700 models. Value of the contract on the firm aircraft is approximately $475 million U.S. The contract is the first for the 70-seat version of the Canadair Regional Jet family with Lufthansa, making the airline the fourth customer for the new aircraft. Deliveries for Lufthansa's 50-seat CRJ Series 100 aircraft are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of the year 2000 and be completed in the second quarter of 2001 while deliveries of the 10 firm 70-seat CRJ Series 700 aircraft will begin in the first quarter of 2001 and be completed in the second quarter of 2002. Lufthansa's 10 firm orders for the CRJ Series 700 brings total firm orders for the aircraft to 51.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Engineers regain control of SOHO
SOHO-Sonde wieder unter Kontrolle
Spacecraft controllers successfully regained control of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft on September 17, after sending a series of commands directing the spacecraft to fire thrusters and turn its face and solar power panels fully towards the Sun. The SOHO flight operations team reported success in the maneuver, which is called attitude recovery, at 2:29 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the first time the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA spacecraft has been controlled from the ground since SOHO spun out of control and communication was lost on June 24. "It's a big step forward in our recovery plan for SOHO," says Dr. John Credland, ESA's head of scientific projects. "We were never quite sure that we would manage to make the spacecraft point back towards the Sun, which is essential for its proper operation.""Now we start a comprehensive check of all the spacecraft's systems and scientific instruments," said Dr. Bernhard Fleck, ESA's project scientist for SOHO. "We shall take our time and go step by step, in consultation with the 12 scientific teams in Europe and the United States, who provided the instruments. In some cases the instruments have been through an ordeal of heat or cold, with temperatures approaching plus or minus 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). But I'm cautiously optimistic that SOHO can win back much of its scientific capacity for observing the Sun."
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New homes for RAF Tornado Squadrons
RAF Tornados verlassen Deutschland
Three squadrons of RAF Tornados, due to leave Germany at the beginning of the next century, will be based at Lossiemouth and Marham, Armed Forces Minister Doug Henderson has announced. About 40 Tornado aircraft will leave Bruggen before it ceases operations in late 2001 when 14 Squadron will join 12 and 617 Squadrons at Lossiemouth, and 9 and 31 Squadrons will form the Tornado Wing at Marham alongside 2 and 13 Squadrons. To create space at Lossiemouth, 16(R) Squadron, the operational conversion unit, will join the rest of the Jaguar force at Coltishall. The move will result in an increase of almost 1,000 service posts across the three stations, providing a boost to local economies, and savings to the taxpayer of approximately 2 million Pounds a month.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
EuroGrid contract for Tiger
Tiger-Kampfhubschrauber erhält EuroGrid-Kartensystem
On 14. September, the Dornier GmbH sector of Dasa has signed a contract worth 30 million DM for the production investment phase of the EuroGrid digital map system, which will be fitted to the Tiger attack helicopters of the German and French army. Development is shared with Sextant Avionique. Besides Tiger, the NH90 is also planned to get EuroGrid.The system, which uses the two displays in the Tigers cockpit, is generating both vector and raster maps to aid the crew in navigation and tactics. The terrain features can be overlaid with graphics to show routes, frontlines etc. EuroGrid will be connected to a data-modem, which will allow the latest information to be uploaded from the ground station both prior to and during a mission. EuroGrid is part of a whole family of digital map systems which Dornier is offering for helicopters and aircraft.
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Systems suppliers for 728JET family announced
728JET Systemlieferanten ausgewählt
Fairchild Aerospace has announced the selection of systems suppliers for the company's 728JET family of regional airliners:- General Electric CF34-8D Engines
- Honeywell Primus Epic Avionics
- AlliedSignal APU and Environmental Control System
- BFGoodrich Landing Gear, Wheels, Tires, Brakes and Fuel System
- Lucas Aerospace Flight Controls
- Sundstrand Aerospace Electric System
- Parker Aerospace Hydraulics
Evans & Sutherland to deliver Luftwaffe training centre
Fluglotsen-Trainer von Evans & Sutherland
Evans & Sutherland has announced that its German subsidiary has been selected to serve as the prime contractor for materials procurement, systems integration, and construction management for a complete air traffic control (ATC) training facility. The Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik (BWB), Division FE I, selected Evans & Sutherland GmbH in Munich to build a new ATC tower simulator in Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, as the core element of the German airforce's new training center for military air traffic control.To be housed in an existing Airforce hanger, the training center will be outfitted with a 14-meter diameter, 360-degree, high resolution visual system; instructor and student training consoles; networked computers; a database and scenario generation system; pseudo pilot stations; a debriefing center, and associated equipment. The simulator will feature one of the largest display systems ever designed for an ATC training application. Completion of the training center is expected in September 1999. While specific financial details were not disclosed, total contract value including options is approximately US$5 million.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
German inclusive-tour carrier Hapag-Lloyd has exercised an option to purchase five additional Next-Generation 737-800s. The launch customer for the Next-Generation 737-800, placed the initial order in 1994 for 16 airplanes, with options for eight more. Including today's announcement, the airline has made firm commitments to purchase 21 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. Hapag-Lloyd operates tour charters to the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and the Caribbean. The airline said the 737-800 models eventually will replace the 737-400s and -500s currently in its fleet. Hapag-Lloyd has already taken delivery of five 737-800s.+++
Lauda Air will suspend its daily Paris - Salzburg service by the end of October. The route was not profitable enough in view of the hight operating costs. A Canadair Regional Jet 100ER was used.
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On September 15, Boeing has announced that the Next-Generation 737-600 has received type certification from Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). Delivery of the first 737-600 to launch customer Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) is scheduled for later this month. Next-Generation 737 models are powered by CFM56-7 engines, which are available with an environmentally-friendly dual annular combustor (DAC). With 1,057 orders for Next-Generation 737 models and more than 4,000 total orders, the 737 is the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time.
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The air forces of Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have completed integration and flight testing of Northrop Grumman Corporation's AN/AAR-54(V) imaging ultraviolet passive missile approach warning system (PMAWS) on their F-16 midlife update (MLU) aircraft. The Belgian Air Force also participated in an observer role. The test program achieved many performance measurement activities during the one-year project to validate the feasibility of passive missile warning for fighter aircraft. With these activities successfully completed, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have expressed confidence they can move forward with their respective missile-warning acquisition plans.
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Fairchild Aerospace and Newcourt Capital have established Millennium Leasing Company ILLC (Millennium), an independent aircraft leasing company to provide operating and finance leases for Fairchild Aerospace customers. Millennium is designed to increase the sale of new and used Fairchild Aerospace turboprop and regional jet aircraft, and to provide a means for the re-marketing of used aircraft taken in on trade from Fairchild Aerospace customers. The leasing company, the first of its kind established for a regional aircraft manufacturer, to begin with will purchase Fairchild Aerospace's existing portfolio of leases valued at approximately US$140 million and will acquire and offer for lease additional aircraft each year. Millennium's aircraft lease portfolio is expected to reach US$400 million within two years.
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Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH is the first German manufacturer of commercial aircraft to receive permission to build and certify aircraft, as well as aircraft components, according to JAR 21 (Joint Aviation Requirement 21). Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH thereby ensures that all its products already conform to future regulations required of all European aerospace companies. With all legal requirements met, the official JAR 21 certificate was handed over to Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH on September, 11, 1998, in Braunschweig, Germany.
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Heller Financial, a Chicago-based company that manages a portfolio of airplanes, has acquired two new 737-300s, Boeing has announced. Heller will take delivery of the 737s during the fourth quarter of 1998. The airplanes were acquired through Boeing Commercial Airplane Group Aircraft Trading, which markets new and used Boeing-owned aircraft acquired through trades, lease returns and other mechanisms to customers worldwide.
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On September 16, 1998, Arianespace successfully launched PAS-7, a telecommunications satellite operated by PanAmSat Corp. of the United States. Flight 110 was carried out by an Ariane 44LP, the version of the European launcher with two solid-propellant and two liquid-propellant strap-on boosters. It used the 80th out of 116 Ariane 4 launchers ordered to date from the European space: industry. Liftoff from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, took place at: 03:31 am, local time in Kourou, Wednesday 16 September 1998 07:31 am, London BST time, Wednesday 16 September 1998 08:31 am, Paris time, Wednesday 16 September 1998. PAS-7, built by Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California, is the twelfth satellite Arianespace has lofted into orbit for PanAmSat Corp. (seven international PanAmSat satellites plus five Galaxy satellites for the US market). Weighing 3,838 kg (8,444 lb) at liftoff, it is equipped with 40 Ku-band and 14 C-band transponders and will provide live television broadcast services covering Europe, Africa, Saudi Arabia and Asia, from its orbital position at 68.5 deg East.
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The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has signed a contract with Arianespace for the launch of the Insat 3B telecommunications satellite. The craft is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 1999. Insat 3B is being built by the ISRO in Bangalore and will carry a cargo of seventeen C-band, six Ku-band and three S-band transponders. It will carry telecommunications, broadcasting and data services and has a footprint that
covers the entire Indian sub-continent. The contract represents the eighth launch of an Indian satellite on board an Ariane rocket.
+++
On September 18, Qantas and Swissair announced that they will enter a codeshare agreement covering each other's services between Australia and Switzerland via Singapore. From 27 October, Swissair will codeshare on three Qantas flights a week between Sydney and Singapore, departing Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Qantas will codeshare on the three nonstop Swissair flights each week between Singapore and Zurich. Qantas Executive General Manager Commercial, Geoff Dixon, said the agreement with Swissair would provide the airline's customers with greater options when travelling to continental Europe.
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Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. will resume their involvement with Boeing Co. to develop an upgraded version of the B747-400 jumbo jet, company sources said. A wind tunnel test on the plane is due to begin next spring at the earliest. At the moment, the U.S. and Japanese companies are considering developing either the B747-400X model which retains the basic design of the current B747-400 plane but will feature an extended flight range or the B747-400Y plane with a new main wing design and 100 more seats than the current model. The Japanese companies are expected to build parts of the fuselage and wings, the sources said. It's not yet known when the new aircraft will go into service.
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Philippine Airlines will close effective midnight of September 23, 1998, following the breakdown of negotiations between management and PAL's labor unions aimed at forging an acceptable arrangement that will ensure industrial peace at the troubled flag carrier. The closure of PAL was recommended by the Interim Receivership Committee to the airline's board of directors, which then approved the measure during an emergency closed-door session. Management exhausted all efforts to keep the company operational pending the outcome of its negotiations with the unions. But the burden of cumulative losses many years running into the billions of pesos, became too heavy for PAL to bear.
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Singapore Airlines has announced its biggest-ever product launch, with brand-new product and service features being introduced in all three classes on its MEGATOP 747s. The launch also includes new features on its CELESTAR A340s and JUBILEE 777s. Costing over S$500 million (about US$300 million), and the end result of more than two years of research and meticulous planning, the new product strengthens SIA's leadership in the air travel market. "Although our current product continues to rank among the best in the industry, it was time to make a bold and exciting change," said SIA Deputy Chairman and CEO Choong Kong Cheong. "We wanted to send a very clear message to the industry: our customers expect the best of SIA, and the best is what they will get".
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British Aerospace has announced a 24 % half-year rise in profit before tax and exceptional items to 344 million Pounds. Earnings per share excluding exceptional items increased 25 % to 14.2 pence with a 20 % increase in the net dividend to 2.35 p per share. Chairman, Sir Richard Evans, said: "The business continues to perform well against our planning assumptions and we are making progress in our wider objectives to participate fully in a more integrated international industry." Following record order book levels over the last two years, the Company further increased the total to 23.8 billion Pounds at 30th June 1998 (1997 19.5 billion Pounds).
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The Lufthansa supervisory board has approved the further expansion of the fleet. From the year 2000, a total of 42 additional aircraft will be bought for 2,3 billion US-Dollars. Besided the first order for a 70-seat Bombardier regional jet (see above), there will be ten more A340-300s and six addtitional A321-200s from Airbus as well as six more MD-11F freighters from Boeing for the Cargo airline. The latter will compensate the planned use of the 747-400 Combis as pure passenger aircraft.
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Luthansa will take a 40 per cent stake in the financing and operation of the Terminal 2 at Munich airport. It will be ready in 2002/2003 to add capacity as Terminal 1 nears saturation. Terminal 2 will be able to handle 15 to 18 million passengers a year. After Frankfurt, Lufthansa will then have an exclusive terminal at Munich as well.
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September 13, 1998
September 6, 1998
August 30, 1998
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August 16, 1998
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August 2, 1998
July 26, 1998
July 19, 1998
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Last updated September 20, 1998
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