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UPDATE 
Week ending November 1, 1998
+++ Ariane: Third flight in a month succeeds +++ Glenn back in Space with Shuttle +++ Daimler-Benz Aerospace becomes DaimlerChrysler Aerospace +++ Fairchild Aerospace unveils Envoy 7 project +++ Dasa promotes Sky Buzzer towed decoy +++ Boeing expects air cargo fleet to double by 2017 +++ News in brief +++

Ariane: Third flight in a month succeeds
Dritter Ariane-Flug im Oktober erflogreich

Logging its third successful flight in a month, Arianespace launched two satellites on October 28, 1998: the AfriStar satellite, providing digital radio broadcasting services for Africa, and the GE-5 telecommunications satellite for the United States. Flight 113 was carried out by an Ariane 44L, the version of the European launcher with four liquid-propellant strap-on boosters. It used the 82nd Ariane 4 launcher out of 116 ordered to date from the European space industry. It boosted a payload of 4,946 kg (10,881 lb) into orbit, setting the all-time record for an Ariane 44L. Liftoff from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, took place on Wednesday, October 28, 1998 at 7:16 pm local time.
AfriStar is the first of three WorldSpace digital radio broadcast satellites launched by Ariane rockets within the scope of a contract with Alcatel Space Industries, prime contractor and industrial architect for the WorldSpace system. Weighing 2,739 kg (6,026 lb) at liftoff and located at 21* East, AfriStar will provide digital audio, text and image transmission services for Africa and the Middle East. Design life is over 15 years.
The GE-5 satellite was launched under a turnkey contract signed by Dornier Satellitensysteme of the German Daimler-Benz Aerospace group (DASA) with GE American Communications of the United States. Construction was handled by a European team led by Alcatel Space Industries of Cannes, France. Weighing 1,719 kg (3,782 lb) at liftoff, this satellite will be located at 79* West, and will complete GE Americom's comprehensive coverage of the U.S.

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Glenn back in Space with Shuttle
Shuttle mission includes first US astronaut Glenn

On October 29 at 2.20 pm EST, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center for a nine-day mission, carrying seven astronaut. Among them is John Glenn (now 77), the first US citizen to circle the earth in a spacecraft more than 30 years ago. Discovery's liftoff was delayed 20 minutes, first by a minor problem with a pressure vent valve and then by a stray aircraft that had flown in the shuttle's restricted air space.
The 77-year-old Glenn, who is the oldest person to attempt a spaceflight, won scientific approval for his desire to personally test how weightlessness affects an older person's body. In space, a younger person may experience some of the health problems normally associated with aging: bone, muscle and immune system changes; dizziness and balance problems; slower metabolic functions and sleeplessness. Glenn will participate in medical experiments and serve as a lab technician for his crew: commander Curt Brown, co-pilot Steve Lindsey, flight engineer Scott Parazynski, payload commander Stephen Robinson, European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque and heart surgeon Chiaki Mukai of the Japanese Space Agency.
The crew also plans to release a solar physics satellite for two days of research and test new equipment for the Hubble Space Telescope. Discovery's mission will be the last science flight before NASA begins construction of the International Space Station in December.

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Daimler-Benz Aerospace becomes DaimlerChrysler Aerospace
Dasa ist jetzt DaimlerChrysler Aerospace

With the merger of Daimler-Benz AG with the Chrysler Corporation, Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG (Dasa, Munich) is changing its name to DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG. This was announced on October26 after a meeting of the Supervisory Board in Munich. Through the DaimlerChrysler merger, Dasa becomes the first aerospace and defense company to form part of a corporation with a genuinely global shareholder structure. Under the name DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, the company expects considerably improved chances in the world's markets, especially in the USA.
Looking to major future projects, Dasa sees in particular the increased financial strength provided by the company that is in the process of becoming the world's greatest producer of automobiles and transportation products as a clear advantage. The name change will also help all employees to identify with the new company from the very beginning.

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Fairchild Aerospace unveils Envoy 7 project
Dornier 728 als Geschäftsreisejet

Fairchild will offer its projected Dornier 728 regional airliner for business users as well. This was announced at the NBAA by Carl Albert, Chairman and CEO. The Envoy 7 will offer immense cabin volume as well as coast-to-coast and transatlantic range for a price significantly less than other aircraft in its class, he claimed. "The Envoy 7 offers $40-million-dollar accommodations - such as a cabin fully 6'11" high and 55'5" long - for less than $30 million," Albert said. "The Envoy 7's spacious cabin offers ample room for a large conference area, business-class seating for 10 and a stateroom with en suite lavatory, shower and dressing room." He added that almost 200 cubic feet of baggage space also will be accessible in flight. "We see the Envoy 7 as a powerful and successful competitor in the class populated today by the G-IV, the Falcon 900EX and the Challenger 604," Albert said. First deliveries will take place in early 2002.

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Dasa promotes Sky Buzzer towed decoy
Schleppstörer der Dasa wird als Sky Buzzer vermaktet

Dasa has christened its towed decoy the Sky Buzzer as part of a marketing push started at the Association of Old Crows convention in Virginia Beach. The Sky Buzzer is a high power radar jamming and decoying system, optimes for the protection of both large body aircraft and fighters. It introduces angular errors in the tracking loops of airborne and ground-based target tracking radars and missile seaker heads. Demonstration systems were tested aboard various aircraft. At the test aircraft speed limit of Mach 1.4, th tension of the tow cable reached onyl 18 per cent of its specified value. 5g-turns induced 30 per cent of maximum tension.

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Boeing expects air cargo fleet to double by 2017
Weiteres Wachstum im Frachtermarkt

The projected average, long-term annual growth of 6.4 percent in the world's air cargo fleet will result in more than 1,000 additional jet freighter airplanes in the next 20 years, according to The Boeing Company's latest forecast. The biennial Boeing World Air Cargo Forecast predicts a near-doubling of the world's jet freighter fleet by 2017, although about 70 percent of the growth will be through conversions of passenger aircraft. Boeing currently counts 1,434 jet freighters in the world's fleet.
In addition, the report noted that although growth in the Asia-related market will slow from current levels, growth in the region still leads the industry. Intra-Asia freight markets are projected to have the fastest long-term air cargo growth, estimated at 8.2 percent per year. In addition, all markets with respect to Asia are forecast to exceed world average 6.4 percent annual growth.
The forecast further indicates that the international express market, following the U.S. model, is projected to grow at about 18 percent per year moving toward a 40 percent share of the international market by 2017. The international and U.S. express markets are similar as they are both time-definite; however the international portion may include a wider range of services, such as customs; break-bulk shipping and repackaging.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

On October 26, the second Boeing 717-200 entered the company's flight test and certification program after taking off for the first time from the Long Beach Municipal Airport. Filled with flight test equipment, the 717-200 lifted off the runway at 11:43 a.m. and landed one hour and 20 minutes later at the Boeing facility in Yuma, Ariz. At the controls were pilots Capts. Randy Wyatt and Lee Johnson, assisted by test conductor Patrick Nightingale. Duncan Steele of BMW Rolls-Royce, the 717-200 engine manufacturer, also was on board. The crew performed production flight procedures and assorted avionics tests. The airplane will be used to develop and certify the 717-200's avionics systems.
+++
On October 26, British Aerospace announced a Financial Risk Insurance Programme which will isolate the performance of its existing portfolio from any future risk and volatility in the regional aircraft market. British Aerospace has actual and contingent liabilities against a number of the regional aircraft it has sold over past years as set out in Note 20 to its Accounts. These liabilities are offset by income from the leasing and sale of these aircraft and, where the income is not expected fully to match the liabilities, provisions have been made. The income assumptions are a combination of contracted sub-lease income, expected sub-lease income and residual value assumptions in respect of cash sales of aircraft. The Financial Risk Insurance Programme underpins these income assumptions. Under the terms of this Insurance Programme, British Aerospace has paid a one-off premium to underpin the income shown in Note 20 by effectively transferring approximately #2.4 billion of the risk to a consortium of highly rated domestic and international insurers.
+++
Lockheed Martin has again warned against a "Fortress Europe" in the defence industry, while acknowledgig the need of European aerospace companies to rationalise. At the same time, chairman Vance Coffman has admitted that the US Congress is largely insisting on a "buy American" policy. The way forward would be co-operation on programmes like JSF and radars, he suggested in a lecture at London.
+++
Lufthansa CityLine has commemorated its 40th anniversary by taking delivery of its 50th aircraft, a Canadair Regional Jet. The company celebrated at its new management facilities at Cologne/Bonn airport. According to Lufthansa chairman Jürgen Weber, CityLine will reach four million passengers for the first time this year, with be best growth performance of all units in the holding. CityLine currently has 1601 employees.
+++
On Tuesday, October 27, the Progress M40 cargo ship has docked automatically to the Mir space station, delivering eagerly awaited water and food supplies. Due to the financial crisis in Russia, the launch had been postponed a few times since the original date planned for August. Among the equipment supplies on board M40 there was a big expandable mirror and sensors to register meteorite swarms expected soon.
+++
In the run-up to state elections, the discussion on a further runway for Frankfurt airport has intensified. The SPD local party organization in Frankfurt is speaking out against the plans, though Governor Hans Eichel (SPD as well), tries to resolve the issue through mediation talks.
+++
All Nippon Airways has formally announced its intention to become a member of the Star Alliance. It is expected that formal accesion to the eight-airlines strong global alliance will be completed next year.
+++
Sextant Avionique has signed an agreement with Swissair, Sabena and Austrian Airlines to equip the Airbus A330-200s of the carriers with a full renge of avionicx, including a multi mode reciever, angle of attack sensors, pitot probe, standby horizon, DDRMI indicator and ATC/TCAS control panel.
+++
FTi/Frosch Touristik GmbH has revealed more details of its planned new charter airline. According to the company, the as yet unnamed carrier will start its operation on 1. Mai next year with three Airbus A320s. Plans call for 225000 passengers in the first season, with destinations in the Meditteranean and West Africa dominating. German cities served include Munich, Nuremberg, Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, hannover, hamburg, Stuttgart and Cologne/Bonn. Dietmar Gunz and Turan Jenei will be joint managing directors, with Herbert F. Kracker as flight operations manager.
+++
The 27 major scheduled carriers which collectively make up the Association of European Airlines reported a passenger load factor on ther international services of 78,1 per cent in September, the highes figure ever. It was achieved after an 8,8 per cent growth in passenger traffic, while capacity grew only 7,2 per cent. In contrast to the passenger market, September was a poor month for air freight, with an overall traffic 3,3 per cent lower than a year ago, the decrease being recorded in virtually all operating regions.
+++
On October 28, Lockheed Martin Missile and Space has deliverd the first solar array flight wing and mast canister for the International Space Station to Boeing. The 108 by 38 foot solar array wing, the largest ever built for spaceflight, is the first of eight.
+++
German astronaut Dr. Gerhard Thiele has been nominated by ESA for the Shuttle mission STS-99, which is due to lift of in September 1999. He will be responsible for the X-SAR/SRTM radar operations to cartograph large swathes of the earth with high-resoluton radar.
+++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*October 25, 1998 *October 18, 1998

*September 27, 1998 *September 20, 1998 *September 13, 1998 *September 6, 1998

*August 30, 1998 *August 23, 1998 *August 16, 1998 *August 9, 1998 *August 2, 1998

*July 26, 1998 *July 19, 1998 *July 12, 1998

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

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Last updated November 1, 1998
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