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UPDATE 
Week ending March 14, 1999
+++ German Border Guard receives first EC 155s +++ ESAs new millenium programmes +++ Boeing delivers first two 757-300s to Condor +++ Cheap fares across the Atlantic +++ Augsburg Airways orders Dash 8 Q-400 +++ Singapore Air Force orders AH-64D Apache +++ Nasa plans early Hubble servicing mission +++ Breitling Orbiter over the Pacific ++ News in brief +++

German Border Guard receives first EC 155s
Erste EC 155 and Grenzschutz-Fliegergruppe übergeben

On March 16, the first three Eurocopter EC 155s of the 13 helicopters of this type ordered were officially handed over to the Bundesgrenzschutz (German Border Guard) at an inaugural ceremony at the Bonn/Hangelar base of the BGS Aviation Group in the presence of invited guests from politics, industry and press. In the coming months, a total of 22 helicopters produced by Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer, will replace the ageing BGS fleet of Bell UH 1D aircraft. In addition to the 13 EC 155 light transport helicopters, the BGS has ordered nine EC 135 twin-engine light helicopters.
The EC 155s presented in Bonn/Hangelar are particularly environment-friendly thanks to their powerful low-emission Arriel 2C1 engines and the additional noise reduction achieved by the new Spheriflex five-blade main rotor as well as a newly designed fan-in-fin "Fenestron" tail rotor. The new BGS helicopters are equipped for all surveillance and pursuit missions, or for mobile missions in conjunction with ground troops, or for air rescue missions, and are not dependent on climatic or light conditions. The fully IFR-capable EC 155 helicopters are equipped with weather radar and a laser radar for obstacle warning, a GPS-based navigation system, additional ferry tanks, a four-axis autopilot, the Eurocopter-developed all-glass cockpit ("avionique nouvelle" concept) designed to allow the additional use of night vision goggles, gyro-stabilised TV and IR cameras, a spotlight/infrared searchlight, a de-icing system, a cargo hook and a rescue winch.

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ESAs new millenium programmes
Neue ESA-Forschungsprogramme

European scientific institutes have been given the go-ahead for the development of instruments for two major ESA missions for the new millennium: Planck, a satellite to study the radiation considered to be the "echo" of the Big Bang and FIRST, an infrared space telescope. ESA's Science Programme Committee (SPC) approved on 17 February the scientific instruments for both missions, which will be built by more than 80 institutes from all around Europe. The go-ahead will also allow ESA and European industry to begin in earnest the development of the Planck and FIRST spacecrafts.
Planck is a cosmology mission, designed to test the models describing the origin and evolution of the early Universe. It will do so by studying the Cosmic Background Radiation, a light emitted shortly after the Big Bang that fills the whole Universe and can be detected today, like an "echo" of that primeval explosion. Astronomers consider it a "fossil" radiation, since it holds a lot of information about both the past and the future of the Universe.
FIRST, the "Far InfraRed and Submillimetre Telescope", is the successor of ESA's Infrared Space Observatory ISO. It will be more powerful than any of its predecessors, with a primary mirror of 3.5 metres in diameter - the largest ever for an infrared space telescope. It will observe at wavelength's range never covered before (from 80 to 670 microns). Like Planck, it will be located about 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth. FIRST will look for planetary systems and study processes like the evolution of galaxies in the early universe. It will provide very detailed information about the coldest objects in the Universe, and those enshrouded by dust. The pre-stellar cores from which the stars hatch at nearly minus 260 degrees C, or the dusty distant galaxies undergoing violent collisions are some examples. Also, FIRST will show the composition, temperature, density and motion of the gas and dust of the clouds in the interstellar space.

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Boeing delivers first two 757-300s to Condor
Erste 757-300 an Condor übergeben

On March 13, Boeing has delivered its first two 757-300s, its newest commercial jetliners, to Condor Flugdienst, the largest holiday charter airline in Germany. "We are pleased that Boeing has kept its commitment to deliver these efficient new airplanes to us in time for the Easter holiday season and the peak summer holiday season, which begins in June," said Dieter Heinen, Condor managing director. Heinen said the first two 757-300s will go into revenue service immediately, joining the 18 Boeing 757-200s and nine 767s in Condor's fleet. The carrier plans to use the 757-300 this year to fly vacationers from 13 German cities to destinations in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Egypt, Cyprus, Tunisia, Morocco, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. "We liked the economics of the 757-200, so we knew we'd have even better economics with the stretched 757," Kirchner said. "The 757-300 has the seat-mile costs of a widebody airplane, without the risk of filling so many seats."

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Cheap fares across the Atlantic
Billigphase bei den Transatlantikflügen

Analysts at Warburg Dillon Read LLC have said that airfares between the US and Europe are at the lowest level ever due to airlines moving services from the depressed Asian market to Europe. The analysts noted that both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have introduced special low fares for the European market. United, for instance, introduced low fares on 9 March for services between Dulles International Airport in Washington DC for travel to European destinations between 4 April and 27 May. Delta meanwhile has introduced similarly low fares for its European routes. Prices at the moment are ranging from US$ 242 to US$ 328 depending on the destination and airline. Despite the current enthusiasm to boost routes to Europe the analysts are warning that overcapacity in the European market could lead to lower profits and they cited the example of UK airline British Airways which reported a rare quarterly loss for February. US airlines do not seem to be deterred however by threats of over capacity and Northwest Airlines Corp, for instance, maintains that transatlantic routes are still profitable.

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Augsburg Airways orders Dash 8 Q-400
Gestreckte Dash 8 für Augsburg Airways

Long-time Bombardier Aerospace customer Augsburg Airways has placed a firm order for three new-generation, high-speed Q400 transports and taken options on an additional two. The sale to the Team Lufthansa affiliate brings to five the number of Q400 airline customers in Europe. Value of Augsburg's firm-ordered Q400 transaction is approximately $65 million U.S. ($99 million Cdn.). Augsburg had previously ordered a total of 10 Dash 8 aircraft, including the 37-seat Q200 and 50-seat Q300. Bombardier's Q Series aircraft feature the ground-breaking Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system which provides the world's quietest and most vibration-free turboprop cabin. "We selected the larger, 70-seat Q400 in order to both enlarge our fleet and meet anticipated demands for greater capacity on our route system," said Olaf Dlugi, managing director of Augsburg Airways. "The Q400 will also ensure family commonality of our fleet which will result in substantial cost savings in crewing, training, maintenance and other areas."
The Augsburg acquisition increases to 33 the number of firm orders for the Q400 from six airlines in Europe and Asia. Those airlines also hold options for 35 Q400 aircraft. The Q400 is scheduled to enter airline service in the fall of 1999.

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Singapore Air Force orders AH-64D Apache
Apache siegt in Singapur

Singapore has agreed to purchase eight multi-mission AH-64D Apache helicopters from The Boeing Company through a foreign military sales contract with the U.S. Army. Singapore is the fourth nation to buy the AH-64D Apache. The eight AH-64Ds requested by Singapore raises total AH-64D orders to 337, including 232 for the U.S. Army, 67 for the United Kingdom and 30 for The Netherlands. The announcement of the purchase was made recently by Dr. Tony Tan, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence.

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NASA plans early Hubble servicing mission
Hubble Teleskop benötigt vorgezogene Reparatur

NASA will launch a Space Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in October so astronauts can replace portions of the spacecraft's pointing system, which has begun to fail. Hubble is operating normally and continuing to conduct its scientific observations, but only three of its six gyroscopes -- which allow the telescope to point at stars, planets and other targets -- are working properly. Two have failed and another is acting abnormally. If fewer than three gyroscopes are operating, Hubble cannot continue its science mission and automatically places itself in a protective "safe mode."
"The Hubble Space Telescope is the crown jewel of NASA's space observatories, and we need to do everything within reason to maintain the scientific output of this national treasure," said Dr. Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC. "We appreciate the rapid response of the Space Shuttle community to this request."

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Breitling Orbiter over the Pacific
Ballonfahrer über dem Pazifik

On its quest to circumnavigate the globe nonstop, the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon is now over the Pacific. The team's mission control centre in Geneva said Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones had traveled 25,800 kilometers (16,030 miles) since setting off from the Swiss Alps two weeks ago. That beats the previous best set by American Steve Fossett early last year of 22,910 kilometers (14,240 miles). But the adventurers will have to wait a while yet for official confirmation. On Monday, Piccard and Jones, in their Breitling Oribiter 3 craft, were at an altitude of 11,000 meters (36,090 ft), southeast of Hawaii and aiming for Mexico, a spokesman for the team said. They were traveling at a speed of around 130 kph (80.78 mph).

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

DaimlerChrysler is now operating its own regular airline services between the company headquarters at Stuttgart and Auburn Hill (Detroit). Since 22. February, an A320 with 52 seats is flying the route four times a week. In November, it will be replaced by an A319 Corporate Jet.
+++
Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik has won a contract for the FPR (Flight Profile Recorder) air combat training and debriefing system from the Italian Air Force. Delivery of 40 airborne instrumentation pods with an option of 18 at a later stage, ten ground stations and an option for a data link including eight RTTP (Real Time Tracking and Positioning) is planned. BGT has already sold the same system to the TLP, a NATO training installation in Belgium funded by the US, Germany and other allies. BGT is producing the FÜR system in cooperation with BVR Systems of Israel, the developer of the EHUD ACMI system.
+++
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that Brazil must eliminate its Proex export financing program to jet maker Embraer within 90 days, Brazil's Foreign Relations Ministry said. The WTO also ruled that Canada will have to withdraw two of its three subsidy programs for rival jet manufacturer Bombardier Inc. , Valdemir Carneiro Leao, the director of the ministry's economic department, said. "The Canadian thesis that these (Proex) payments contain elements that make it incompatible with the WTO rules on subsidies was accepted," Leao said.
+++
Boeing has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to perform work on the Modification/Installation Program for the P-3 Orion and S-3 Viking Maritime Patrol aircraft. Under the 5-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a $50 million threshold, Boeing Aerospace Support will build and install modification kits designed by the Navy depot. This work, which includes electronics/avionics and structural modifications, will take place at the Boeing Shreveport (La.) Aircraft Modification Center and by Boeing field teams at Navy locations.
+++
The T-45 Goshawk fleet at Naval Air Station Kingsville has logged its 200,000th flight hour. U.S. Navy Capt. Scott W. Vance, Commander, Training Air Wing Two, was at the controls of the T-45 during the flight on March 5. Capt. Vance, who has flown more than 3,800 flight hours - including 355 in the Goshawk - was on a training flight when he reached the 200,000 flight hour mark. T-45s have made more than 12,000 arrested landings aboard aircraft carriers since entering service at Naval Air Station Kingsville in 1992. More than 760 aviators have earned their wings in the T-45. The T-45 is the heart of the first totally integrated naval aviator training system developed for and used by the U.S. Navy. Undergraduate jet pilot training first began at Naval Air Station Kingsville in January 1994. In December 1997, Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., took delivery of the first T-45C - the new digital cockpit-equipped T-45. Since arriving on station, the T-45C has logged more than 6,800 flight hours.
+++
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed up to membership of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), underlining the changes occurring in regional operations as more carriers move to larger aircraft to increase capacity. Boeing aircraft have become a larger part of the ERA fleet during recent years, explains ERA Director General, Mike Ambrose. "Six or seven years ago there were 10 737s in the ERA fleet - today there are 66." Although turboprops will always have an important role to play in Europe's regional transport sector, Ambrose predicts that 'aircraft such as the 717 and 737 will become commonplace in regional airlines during the next decade."
+++
Lockheed Martin Vought Systems, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army conducted a successful seeker characterization flight of a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.. Although it was not a primary objective of the test, the PAC-3 Missile intercepted and destroyed the incoming target tactical ballistic missile. Preliminary test data indicate all other test objectives were successfully achieved. "This test was a great achievement for the PAC-3 Missile industry team, and our BMDO and Army partners," said Mike Trotsky, vice president - air defense programs for Lockheed Martin Vought Systems. "We have been developing and successfully demonstrating hit-to-kill technology at Vought Systems for more than 30 years, and this PAC-3 Missile intercept demonstrates once again that hit-to-kill technology is viable. We have overcome significant challenges preparing for the flight test program, and I couldn't be more pleased with the PAC-3 Missile team. We are all looking forward to fielding the PAC-3 system with our soldiers in the very near future."
+++
On March 16, Boeing announced the official launch of Boeing Airplane Services, a new business dedicated to post-delivery modification and engineering services for commercial airplanes. "We're intent on increasing customer satisfaction while finding new opportunities for profitable growth for our company," said Tom Schick, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group executive vice president - Customer Services. "Boeing Airplane Services is a key piece of that strategy." Boeing Airplane Services offers engineering retrofit packages, avionics upgrades, passenger-to-freighter conversions, interior reconfigurations, recovery and repair services, and airplane performance improvements for all Boeing commercial airplanes. It also provides technical consulting and general contracting support for passenger and cargo airlines.
+++
A joint venture involving Rolls-Royce plc and Asia Pacific partners in the repair and overhaul of Trent engines has been officially launched with an agreement signing in Singapore. The new facility, Singapore Aero Engine Services Ltd. (SAESL), is owned by SIA Engineering Company (50 per cent), Rolls-Royce (30 per cent) and Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Ltd. (HAESL) which has a 20 per cent stake. It is scheduled to open in 2002.
+++
Alitalia took delivery of the first of 19 firmly ordered Airbus Industrie A320 single-aisle aircraft on March 11 in Toulouse. The aircraft joins a 22-strong A321 fleet on the domestic, European and Mediterranean routes of the Rome-based carrier. Seating between 131 and 147 passengers in a spacious convertible two- or single-class configuration, Alitalia's A320 is powered by two CFM International CFM56-5 engines. Alitalia, an Airbus operator since 1980, became an A321 launch customer in 1989, for which it currently is the world's largest single operator.
+++
On March 10, Emirates entered a new era in the modernization of its fleet with the acceptance of its first A330-200. The first airline in the Middle East to take delivery of the A330-200, Emirates is also the first to have ordered it with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. The first Emirates A330-200s will seat 34 in business class and 251 in economy, but the majority of the other 16 firm orders will have three-class layouts for 243 passengers.
+++
LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, a Lufthansa Aviation Group, announced today that it has increased its ownership in ONEX Food Services, Inc. (Sky Chefs), the Arlington, Texas-based airline catering company to approx. 48 percent. The increase in ownership places LSG in an equal equity position with Onex Corporation, based in Toronto, which also holds approx. 48 percent of Sky Chefs. It has further been agreed that LSG will acquire the remaining shareholdings of Onex no later than December 31, 2003.
+++
For the second year running, Continental Airlines has won the Gold Award as "Top Airline to North America" in the 1999 European Travel Awards, presented by Travel Trade Gazette Europa.The award was presented to Wolfgang Gehring, Continental's general manager Germany and Switzerland, by TTG Europa publisher Stuart Baker at a ceremony during the ITB travel trade show in Berlin. The award was based on the votes by TTG Europa's 19,000 readers in 21 countries. The Silver Award went to Virgin Atlantic, Continental's codeshare partner on transatlantic routes from the United Kingdom.
+++
European airports have come out in support of the European Union's (EU) decision to ban aircraft fitted with hush kits in an effort to reduce noise and other pollution in the region. The airports are encouraging the EU to resist efforts by the US to amend the proposed regulation stating that the ban is necessary for the growth of the aviation sector. The European branch of the Airports Council International told Reuters that the proposed EU regulations were justified on environmental grounds and would allow for increased capacity at airports in the EU. Under the proposed EU rules aircraft fitted with hushkits registered after 1 April would be banned from EU skies after three years while aircraft already fitted with the kits would be able to continue flying until the end of their lifespan. The US believes the rules will harm its aviation industry.
+++
On March 12, ATR announced that the national carrier of Romania, Tarom, took delivery of four additional new ATR 42-500s. These four aircraft are part of the nine aircraft deal signed in 1997. Two ATR 42-300s and two ATR 42-500s are already operated by Tarom on a domestic and regional network.
+++
On March 9, Alitalia announced a contract with ATR for the acquisition of three ATR 72-500s. These new-generation ATRs will be operated by Alitalia Express the regional carrier of the Alitalia group. Value of the deal is estimated at $50 million. Deliveries of the aircraft will start in July and continue through the rest o 1999. "The introduction in the Alitalia Express fleet of the new-generation ATR regional aircraft will enable the Italian flag carrier to better respond to the passenger requirements in terms of comfort and quality of services offered," said Antoine Bouvier, ATR Chief Executive Officer, said.
+++
On March 15, Starsem has successfully performed the launch of four Globalstar satellites from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The lift-off of the Soyuz launcher took place at 8.06 am Baikonur local time. As scheduled, the four telecommunications satellites were put in a 920 km circular orbit with a 52 degrees inclination. For the mission, the Soyuz launcher was equipped with the re-ignitable IKAR uper-stage developed by the Samara Space Center, as well as a dispenser, developed by Aerospatiale, to enable the separation of teh four satellites.
+++
The president of the Airports Council International- European Region, Dr. Franz Kotrbra, and the Chairman of the Association of European Airlines, Fausto Cereti, have expressed their common concern about the negative consequences for commercial aviation of the intended abolition of the dute free trade inside European Union on 1 July 1999. Air transport is a very important tool for economic growth, employment and teh development of mobility, both for business and leisure purposes, within the EU. The sector therefore deserves the greatest attention from Governments, so as to avoid decisions that would interfere with these essential objectives, they said.
+++
SAS, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the better cooperation in the freight business. At first, there will be a study to evaluate different integrations models, which is to be completed within a year.
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According to the ICAO, in 1998 there were 22 accidents involving passenger fatalities in scheduled airline services worldwide. 990 passengers were killed, compared with 990 fatalities from 27 accidents in 1997. For non-scheduled services in 1998, there were 33 accidents resulting in 282 passenger fatalities. (including 6 all-cargo services with passengers on board), compared with 297 fatalities form 31 accidents in 1997. Regarding security in 1998, six incidents of unlawful interference were officially reported in which there was no loss of life. In 1997, there were 6 such incidents in which one perpetrator was killed.
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Bombardier has now selected Intertechnique (fuel system and ECE) and AlliedSignal (APU) as the latest suppliers for its planned Conitnental business jet.
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Dunlop Aviation has started work on the production phase of the Eurofighter for which it is the main contractor to Dasa for the wheels, brakes and braking system. Dunlop Aviation Braking Systems has received production investment orders which cover design changes to the equipment supplied on the development aircraft. This includes a larger wheel and carbon brake.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*March 7, 1999 *February 21, 1999 *February 14, 1999 *February 7, 1999

*January 31, 1999 *January 24, 1999 *January 17, 1999 *January 10, 1999

*December 20, 1998 *December 13, 1998 *December 6, 1998

*November 29, 1998 *November 22, 1998 *November 15, 1998 *November 8, 1998 *November 1, 1998

*October 25, 1998 *October 18, 1998

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

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