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Week ending December 13, 1998
+++ ISS assembly progresses +++ Airbus restructure hits big problems +++ Eurocopter EC155 certified +++ Boeing 757-300 makes its Eurpean debut +++ TWA announces large Airbus and Boeing order +++ Finnair becomes member of Oneworld alliance +++ Ariane flight 114 orbits Mexican satellite +++ French aerospace companies agree on competences +++ Volcanic ash endangers aviation safety +++ News in brief +++
ISS assembly progresses
Shuttle-Crew montiert erste Teile der Raumstation
Space Shuttle Endeavour's astronauts opened the new International Space Station for business on December 10, entering the Unity and Zarya modules for the first time and establishing an S-band communications system that will enable U.S. flight controllers to monitor the outpost's systems. Reflecting the international cooperation involved in building the largest space complex in history, Commander Bob Cabana and Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev opened the hatch to the U.S.-built Unity connecting module at 1:54 p.m. Central time Thursday and floated into the new station together.Previously, Astronauts finished their second spacewalk assembly job on the International Space Station late on Wednesday after installing communications equipment and fixing a balky antenna. In a seven-hour spacewalk that ended at 0325 GMT Thursday the two astronauts also removed hatch covers from the Unity module so that future modules can be added to the station.
The Zarya and Unity elements were connected the first time on Sunday, December 6. Without direct line of sight, astronaut Nancy Currie and her crew mates had to rely on a computerized vision system and camera views to capture the Russian Zarya and get the two pieces linked. On Monday, two astronauts steped out the space shuttle and began their first of three spacewalks to connect the electrical connectors and cables between the two pieces.
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Airbus restructure hits big problems
Neue Probleme bei der Airbus-Restrukturierung
Europes aerospace companies, pressured to form a single company, are failing the comparatively simple task to reform Airbus. After the recent supervisory board meeting, DaimlerChrysler AG (Dasa) said it was now unlikely the Airbus passenger aircraft consortium would become a limited liability company in 1999, because there was no agreement on the exchange of valuation documents. This information is required as a basis for assessing the component value of each part before they are merged into a single unified company.Another stumbling block was Aerospatiales insistence to get a a minimum stake of 50 percent stake in Airbus. The French company denied this, but Dasa ist "sticking to our statement, that's how it was," spokesman Christian Poppe said.
In the meantime, British Aerospace has admitte for the first time that it "has been in discussions with other major industry participants, with a view to progressing the consolidation of the European aerospace and defence industry," further fuelling speculation that a merger announcement with Dasa is imminent. BAe stock jumped 3 percent to 511 pence ($8.43). The surge reflected market hopes that the log-jam in European consolidation was close to being broken.
On the French side, there were now fears that a partial float of Aerospatiale next spring may get a cool reception in the market because of the row over the Airbus consortium. But most analysts said they nonetheless expect the sale to go ahead because it is a key condition for a merger with Lagardere's Matra High Technology unit -- needed to bolster the strength of France's domestic industry in international talks.
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Eurocopter EC155 certified
Zulassung für neuen Eurocopter EC155
On December 11, the EC155B helicopter has received its inital type certificate simultaneously from the Civil Aviation Authorities in France (DGAC) and Germany (LBA). The 5-ton helicopter is the latest addition to the Eurocopter family, extending the AS 365 line of twin-engined machines. Some twenty orders are in hand, among them an important contract with the German border police authority. Pilots from the Grenzschutz Fliegergruppe are already in training at Marignane in the south of France, but formal handover will only come next spring. The EC155 offers a larger cabin than previous Dauphins and is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C1 with digital control, which enable a maximum take-off weight of 4800 kg. Up to 12 passengers can be carried. Also, the EC155 features the New Avionics suite of cockpit displays.
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Boeing 757-300 makes its Eurpean debut
Condor testet Boeing 757-300 auf Europastrecken
On December 7, the first Boeing 757-300, painted in launch customer Condor Flugdienst's new livery, made its debut in Europe in Frankfurt. The visit marked the first of 17 scheduled flights to 11 destinations on the airplane's four-day, service-ready demonstration tour for Condor. "The purpose of the tour is to introduce the 757-300 to the real world of day-to-day airline operations," said Jack Gucker, vice president - Boeing 737/757 Derivative Programs. The tour allows Boeing and Condor to check 757-300 flight operations, passenger service, and maintenance and operating procedures before the airplane is delivered to Condor in March. In addition to launch customer Condor, the airplane has received orders from Icelandair and Arkia Israeli Airlines. The 757-300 is scheduled for certification in January 1999.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
TWA announces large Airbus and Boeing order
Mega-Order für Airbus und Boeing von TWA
Trans World Airlines announced orders and options for 250 state-of-the-art, new technology aircraft, the largest aircraft order in TWA history. TWA has signed letters of intent to acquire 50 Boeing 717-200 aircraft for delivery beginning in February, 2000; 50 Airbus A318 aircraft for delivery beginning in 2003; and 25 Airbus "A320 Family" aircraft for delivery beginning in 2005. The A320 Family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models; TWA will select the exact mix of A320 family aircraft that will comprise the 25 aircraft in the order at a later date. In addition to the 125 firm orders, TWA has taken options on an additional 50 Boeing 717s and an additional 75 A320 Family aircraft. TWA has secured financing for all of the firm order airframes and engines. "The management of TWA is focused on securing and building this airline's future. One way we do this is by securing for our people the very best tools with which they can do business. Our agreements with Airbus and Boeing will provide those tools and will fashion our narrow-body aircraft acquisition program for the next decade," said Gerald L. Gitner, chairman and chief executive officer. "The aircraft in these orders, when delivered, will complete the revitalization of our narrow-body fleet that began in 1996 with the delivery of our first 757 and continues today. The new orders will continually reduce average aircraft age, to 10.3 years by the start of 2003 and 7.3 years by the start of 2007," Gitner said.
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Finnair becomes member of Oneworld alliance
Finnair wird Mitglied der Oneworld-Allianz
Finnish national carrier Finnair last week became the first new member to join the Oneworld alliance of airlines led by British Airways and American Airlines. Oneworld was formed in September by British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Canadian Airlines and Qantas. It will have a fleet of 1,577 aircraft and capacity to handle 181 million passengers. BA's CEO Bob Ayling told a news conference that while there was speculation about Spain's Iberia and others joining the alliance, it was too early to provide any details. "It is of course a very attractive organisation to join but at the moment we are celebrating the membership of Finnair," he said. "Thanks to this alliance Finnair will stay alive," an analyst was quoted. "It still has the problem of competing with SAS." No strategic investment by British Airways was announced in connection with Finnair's membership of Oneworld. Bob Ayling did not exclude BA acquiring a stake if the Finnish state decided to cut its 60 percent ownership in the future.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Ariane flight 114 orbits Mexican satellite
Mexikanischer Satellit von Ariane gestartet
On December 5, 1998, Arianespace successfully launched the SATMEX 5 satellite for the private sector Mexican company SatMex S.A. de C.V. Liftoff from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana took place on Saturday, December 5, 1998 at 9: 43 pm local time (1: 43 am in Paris (Sunday, December 6). Flight 114 was carried out by an Ariane 42L, the version of the European launcher with two liquid-propellant strap-on boosters. It used the 83rd out of 116 Ariane 4 launchers ordered to date from the European space industry. SatMex 5, Mexico's fifth telecommunications satellite, will take over for Morelos II from its position at 116.8 degrees West. Built by Hughes Space & Communications at El Segundo, California, SatMex 5 weighed 4,144 kg (9,117 lb) at liftoff, and is equipped with 24 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. Offering ten times the power of its predecessor, SatMex 5 will provide a complete range of telecommunications services, direct TV broadcasting, rural telephony, distance learning and telemedicine services to an area ranging from Canada to Tierra del Fuego.
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French aerospace companies agree on competences
Koordinierung der Aufgaben für Aerospatiale, Lagardere und Thomson-CSF
On December 9, Aerospatiale, Alcatel, Lagardère and Thomson-CSF have concluded an agreement, at a meeting attended by the Director of National Armaments, setting out the companies' respective responsibilities and areas of competence in avionics, missile systems and satellites. This agreement is designed to clarify the relations between the two groups formed by Thomson CSF and Alcatel, on the one hand, and the future company Aerospatiale-Matra Hautes Technologies, on the other. - Avionics: Thomson-CSF becomes the sole shareholder (100%) in Sextant Avionique. Furthermore, Aerospatiale and Sextant Avionique are considering a new restructuring of their avionics activites, which would be grouped within Sextant Avionique at Toulouse.
- Missile systems: Aerospatiale and Thomson-CSF, partners with Alenia of Italy within the Eurosam consortium, ave confirmed their commitments to the development and commercialisation of systems and equipment in the future family of FSAF medium range surface-to-air missiles.
- Satellites: Alcatel, Alcatel Space and Thomson-CSF will not require the future Aerospatiale-Matra Hautes Technologies company to comply with previous undertakings not to compete in the satellites business, given the transfer by Lagardère of Matra Hautes Technologies shares.
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Volcanic ash endangers aviation safety
Vulkanasche - eine Gefahr für die Sicherheit im Luftverkehr
Scientists have been examining the threat which volcanic ash poses to flight safety. A meeting of the American Geophysical Union on 9 December was told that nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers have now been established, in order to monitor volcanic activity and alert pilots of the location of volcanic ash clouds. The centres make use of ground-based monitors and satellite information, and in the future hope to introduce new satellites which are specifically designed to detect ash. Pilots have reported problems resulting from erupting volcanoes for many years. Large clouds made up of small rock fragments, ash and corrosive gasses are released, which can cause serious problems such as, in some cases, loss of engine power. As flights over the Pacific increase, it is clearly becoming more and more important to address the problem. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
MAN Technologie officially inaugurated its new high-temperature ceramic composite center at Augsburg-Gersthofen on December 9. Here, vital pieces for the X-38 re-entry vehicle are produced. MT also builds structural parts for the X-38. The high-temperature material research is conducted under the national TETRA programme. During the ceremonies, Jörg Feustel-Büchel, ESAs director manned spaceflight, also signed a contract with MAN Technologie, covering a second tranche of X-38 work.+++
Boeing has installed a unique sensor wing, designed to help test F-22 avionics, on its 757 Flying Test Bed. The sensor wing gives Boeing the capability to test and integrate U. S. Air Force F-22 avionics in parallel with airframe testing currently under way at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and long before avionics testing occurs onboard an F-22 aircraft. Installed on the crown of the modified 757 jet, the sensor wing was designed and built to simulate the same wing sweep and orientation as an F-22 wing. Additionally, communication, navigation and identification (CNI) sensors will be mounted directly on the wing to simulate sensor positioning on the F-22's wings.
+++
Baden-Württemberg conomics minister Walter Döring and the two pilots were badly injured when their Bell 212 helicopter crash landed on approach to Stuttgart airport on December 7. A cause for the accident has not yet been established, but weather conditions were poor, with low visiblity in snowfall.
+++
Cargolux Airlines, has announced an order for two 747-400 freighters at a news conference at the Boeing Delivery Center in Everett, Wash. The value of the order is estimated at $335 million. Counting previous deliveries, the airline has six 747-400 freighters in its fleet. Cargolux also will take delivery of four more 747-400 freighters beginning in March. Boeing will deliver the two 747-400 freighters ordered today in late 1999, and mid-2002 respectively. With the order, Cargolux becomes the largest customer for the 747-400 freighter, with 12 airplanes in operation or on order. Cargolux was the first customer to operate a 747-400 freighter.
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MTU has renamed its maintenance subsidiaries, which now are known as MTU Maintenance Hannover GmbH and MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Ludwigsfelde). This will emphasise the common task of the two companies, it is said.
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On December 8, Boeing was selected by NASA for a four-year cooperative agreement to develop the Future-X Pathfinder flight demonstrator vehicle. Plans are for the Future-X Pathfinder to be an unpiloted, autonomously operated test vehicle capable of traveling up to Mach 25 while demonstrating aircraft-like operations. The reusable vehicle is being developed to serve as a technology test bed that balances both aeronautics and astronautics needs. This is achieved by demonstrating 29 advanced airframe, propulsion and operations technologies that can support multiple space-system architectures. The Future-X Pathfinder cooperative agreement, valued at approximately $150 million, is a cost share by Boeing and NASA. Both parties view the venture as an investment in future space transportation technologies.
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The Dasa subsidiary LFK GmbH has received another contract for the development of key technologies for a new European medium-range air-to-air missile under the Euraam programme. The work will strengthen Germany's position in a possible joint development with the UK, Sweden and other European countries.
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The German LBA (certification authority) has been honoured by the Soaring Society of America for its efforts to simplify the certification of German sailplanes and motorgliders by the US FAA. In talks since 1994, the LBA has achieved a complete takeover by the FAA of the JAR-22 standards for these categories of aircraft, which results in the removal of trade barriers for the small and medium-sized German manufacturers.
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Pipers German distrubutor announced a rise in turnover to 23,16 million DM for its financial year ending September 31. Also, profits were up 20 per cent at 484000 DM. New overhaul and repair facilities at Kassel-Calden should open in January.
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On December 4, ATC at Maastrict Control Centre used SITA's datalink service to exchange messages with the crew of a United flight, enroute from Frankfurt to Chicago. This marks the start of SITA's and FANS-1/A equipped airlines'participation in the PETAL-II trials and activation of the second of three air/ground datalin infrastructures being prepared with Maastrichts multi-stack ground system. The PETAL-II trials are aimed at validating datalink services and procedures as a suplement to voice communications.
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The Star Alliance member airlines have announced formation of a dedicated management structure, which is tasked to implement a five-year business-plan. This plan was approved by the chairman of the six airlines at their meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The new Alliance Management Board is led by Friedel Röding from Lufthansa, with Bruce Harries from United as deputy.
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On December 10, Rolls-Royce announced two new joint ventures to support the company's business strategy of addressing growing, global markets with a broad range of products and services, focused upon its core gas turbine technology. In aero engine leasing, Rolls-Royce will establish a joint venture with GATX Capital, which is becoming a 50 per cent partner in Rolls-Royce and Partners Finance (RRPF). In aircraft leasing, Rolls-Royce is to merge its existing business, Aircraft Finance and Trading, with Pembroke Capital Limited, the Dublin-based aircraft leasing and financial services company.
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The Pentagon has confirmed press reports that a secret Defense Department report concluded Hughes Space and Communications Co. inadvertently aided China's missile and satellite programs. Spokesman Ken Bacon said the report found "that some information provided by Hughes could have allowed the Chinese to increase the reliability of their rapid launches." However, it also was concluded the information "was not likely to have altered the strategic balance between the U.S. and China."
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All Nippon Airways and SAS have signed a long-term cooperation agreement, starting with joint handling activities, frequent-flyer coordination and joint use of airport lounges. ANA is preparing its accession to the Star Alliance.
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Robert Brown, a Bombardier family outsider, will become president and chief executive of the Canadian company, replacing Laurent Beaudoin. "In order to ensure my succession at the helm of Bombardier in an orderly fashion, I have decided, with full approval of the compensation committee of the board, to make the appointment of a president and chief executive officer of Bombardier Inc.," Beaudoin said in a prepared statement.Beaudoin, 60, said Brown's appointment would be effective February 1. Beaudoin, currently chairman, will become executive chairman and president of Bombardier's executive committee, overseeing the company's long-term orientation. Brown, 53, is currently president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace. Michael Graff, 47, head of the company's business jet operations, will become president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace, also on February 1.
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According to press reports, Aerospatiale and Alenia are looking for partners to share a $1.2 billion programme to build a new family of regional jets. Embraer, Fairchild Dornier and Casa were asked to take shares in the project, which could deliver a 70-seater in 2003. Surprisingly, it was said that there were already conditional orders for 60 to 80 of the new aircraft, which would be enough for an industrial launch. A decision could be taken as early as the end of this year or early in 1999. Development costs are estimated at $1.2 billion.
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Midway Airlines has signed an order for three additional Canadair Regional Jet Series 200ER aircraft with Bombardier Aerospace. The $64 million U.S. ($98 million Cdn.) contract value represents the conversion of three existing options to firm orders and calls for aircraft deliveries in December 1999 and February and March 2000. The Raleigh-Durham-based airline initially ordered 10 CRJ Series 200s in the fall of 1997. Since that time, including today's announcement, the airline has converted options and increased its firm orders to 23. To date, nine CRJ Series 200 aircraft have been delivered to Midway Airlines.
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Lufthansa Flight Training (LFT), the training company of Germanies flag carrier, has selected Evans & Sutherland to supply the visual system for its new A340-300 Full Flight Simulator. Known for its exacting standards of excellence in technology and performance, LFT conducted an extensive and thorough evaluation of the very latest visual system technology in the market today. LFT determined in favor of Evans & Sutherland. The visual system will be based on an ESIG(R) image generator and ESCP(TM)-2000 raster calligraphic projector, the highly successful combination that has consistently led the market. LFT is the first commercial customer to select the ESIG-3800GT, the latest ESIG image generator to be added to the E&S product portfolio. The simulator will be installed at LFT's training facility at Frankfurt Rhein Main Airport, where all of the existing simulators operate with E&S products. The A340-300 will be LFT's 27th simulator to use visual systems from Evans & Sutherland.
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A new-look Swissair codeshare product takes took the air on Sunday, December 6: Swissair and Air One of Italy now fly the Zurich-Venice and Zurich-Bologna routes using an aircraft operated by the UK-based airline Debonair and featuring a new "Swissair Express" inflight product. The services will continue to function on a codeshare basis with Air One, but will now be physically operated by Debonair using a BAe 146 aircraft in a special "Swissair Express" livery. In adopting the new concept, Swissair is responding to frequent customer comments by upgrading its codeshare flights to a more Swissair-like product. Passengers on Swissair Express will enjoy an inflight experience that is closely modelled on the Swissair product, including Natural Gourmet catering and the Swissair Gazette inflight magazine. The larger BAe 146 jet aircraft replace the Saab 2000 turboprops currently used on the route.
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The ion propulsion system developed by NASA Lewis Research Center engineers for NASA's Deep Space 1 spacecraft has been thrusting continuously for over 300 hours since it came to life on November 24, 1998. This marks the longest uninterrupted engine thrusting time of a deep space propulsion system. `The system has far exceeded the mission goal for continuous thrusting. We are very pleased with this successful demonstration of ion propulsion technology for planetary missions,'' says Vince Rawlin, Deep Space 1's test coordinator at NASA Lewis. The Deep Space 1 mission team first powered up the engine on November 10, but the system shut itself off after running for 4-1/2 minutes. NASA Lewis engineers believe that the engine shut itself off because of metallic grit or other contamination between the two grids at the rear of the engine.
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December 6, 1998
November 29, 1998
November 22, 1998
November 15, 1998
November 8, 1998
November 1, 1998
October 25, 1998
October 18, 1998
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Last updated December 11, 1998
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