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Week ending March 28, 1999
+++ NATO attacks Yugoslavia in attemt to stop violence +++ Spanair to become new Airbus customer +++ First A310 MRT handed over to the Luftwaffe +++ Lufthansa increases group revenue in 1998 +++ Lockheed helps Hubble repair mission +++ AIM-9X completes first live launch +++ News in brief +++
NATO attacks Yugoslavia in attemt to stop violence
Angriffe der NATO sollen Gewalt im Kosovo stoppen
After last-minute efforts by US special envoy Holbrooke in Belgrade had failed on Monday, NATO has started its first ever offensive operations "No alternative is open but to take military action ... I have directed the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Clark, to initate teh air operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.... Our objective is to prevent more human suffering, more repression, more violence against the civilian population of Kosovo", Secretary-General Javier Solana said on March 23. Operation Allied Force then started on March 24 at around 8 pm local, with the launch of dozens of cruise missiles from ships and submarines in the Adriatic as well as US B-52 bombers operating from Fairford (UK). Waves of allied aircraft stationed in Italy followed, with the usual pattern of evening/night operations continung the next few days. On Sunday evening, no end to the war was in sight, as conditions on the ground in Kosovo worsened. Main topics of the air operations so far are:- Germany was involved with Tornado ECRs from Piacenza. The aircraft were using their HARM anti-radiation missiles for the first time.
- Two B-2 Spirit performed the first combat mission of the stealth bomber, flying direct form their base ath Whiteman in Missouri. They successfully dropped 32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions.
- Three Yugoslav MiG-29s were shot down in air combat, one presumably by a Danish F-16, the others by USAF F-15s
- On March 26, two MiG-29s tried to enter Bosnian air space at around 1.15 pm and were shot down by two F-16s patrolling the no-fly zone there
- The first air loss of the Allies came on the evening of March 27 at around 20.45, when a F-117A stealth fighter went down some 28 miles northwest of Belgrade. The pilot ejected and was picked up by a rescue team the next morning before 4 pm.
- Apparently under pressure of the events in Kosovo, NATO declared phase 2 of the operations on Saturday evening, braodening the targeting spectrum to tanks and artillery in the field. This was dismissed by the military even a few hours earlier as they probably felt that more attention was necessary on the air defence systems to ensure further save operations.
Spanair to become new Airbus customer
45 Airbus A320 für Spanair
On March 23, Spanair, a joint venture between Spanish tour operator group Viajes Marsans and Scandinavian carrier SAS, announced in Madrid its intention to acquire up to 45 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The announcement follows the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding for 21 firm aircraft, 12 reconfirmable and 12 options. The 33 firm and reconfirmable aircraft involve seven A319s, 17 A320s and nine A321s. With this deal, Spanair becomes a new Airbus Industrie customer and launch customer of the new 93-metric ton version of the A321. An A321 will be the first aircraft delivered in Spanair in September 2000, and is scheduled to enter service on the airline's Canary Islands-Scandinavia routes. Deliveries will continue through to 2005. The Palma de Mallorca-based airline plans to use the Airbus Industrie single-aisle aircraft on its scheduled and charter routes linking the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and other Spanish airports to more than 100 airports in Europe. The new aircraft will replace MD80 aircraft and fulfill Spanair's requirements for growth. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
First A310 MRT handed over to the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe erhält ersten A310 MRT
On March 25, Dasa group company Elbe Flugzeugwerke has handed over the first Airbus A310 MRT (Multi Role Tranporter) to the Luftwaffe. The aircraft had undergone a nine month modification process at Dresden, receiving a 3,5 by 2,5 metres cargo door in the forward fuselage. The A310 MRT, operated by the Flugbereitschaft at Cologne/Bonn, is thus able to take 12 freight palettes on the main deck. In the rear of the cabin, 57 passenger seats remain for mixed operations.Elbe Flugzeugwerke has much experience in freighter conversions, as it modifies Airbusses for DHL and Federal Express. The MRT model was designed and certified in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik. A second A310 of the Luftwaffe is currently at Lufthansas Hamburg base for rework to MRT standard and will be delivered in the autumn. After conversion, all A310s get a new grey paint scheme. The Flugbereitschaft (VIP transport squadron) operates six A310s and will get a seventh soon, so that the Boeing 707 can finally be retired.
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Lufthansa increases group revenue in 1998
Lufthansa steigert Konzernumsatz 1998 um 4,6 Prozent
The Lufthansa Group returned its best-ever results in the 1998 business year. Pre-tax profits rose on the comparable IAS (International Accounting Standards) pre-tax results of the previous year by 700 m DM to more than 2.4 bn D-Marks. Included in the total are book pro-fits of 377 m DM from the sale of the Lufthansa stake in Hapag Lloyd. In a worldwide market, troubled by currency and economic crises, the Lufthansa Group lifted revenues by 4.6 per cent to 22.6 bn DM. The improvement in the operating results stems largely from a further increase in capacity utilisation allied with sustained cost-cutting.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Lockheed helps Hubble repair mission
Hubble-Reparatur mit Lockheed-Unterstützung
A team led by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space will provide support to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the planning, training and implementation of SM-3A, a servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), scheduled for launch in October 1999. The SM-3A principal objective is the replacement of all six gyroscopes that comprise three Rate Sensor Units. Three functioning gyroscopes are required for astronomical observations to continue on HST. Only four of the gyros are currently operating, and one of these is only working intermittently and could fail in the next few months. If one of the three remaining fully functioning gyros were to fail, the telescope would enter an automatic safemode that would command the telescope to align itself so that sunlight falling on the arrays would keep its batteries charged. The observatory would safely await the Shuttle's arrival, but science operations would cease. In addition to replacements of the Rate Sensor Units, spacewalking astronauts on SM-3A will install a new HST 486 class computer that will dramatically increase the computing power, speed and storage capability of HST. They will change out one of the Fine Guidance Sensors, and replace a tape recorder with a new Solid-State Recorder. The Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) crew will also install a new S-band transmitter, and install voltage improvement kits for the telescope's nickel-hydrogen batteries. Finally, they will undertake repairs on the multi-layer insulation on the outer surface of the telescope. Three spacewalks are planned to complete the repairs, with a fourth contingency EVA available. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
AIM-9X completes first live launch
Raytheon testet neue Luft-Luft-Lenkwaffe
The AIM-9X Sidewinder short range air-to-air missile successfully completed its first air launch March 18 at the Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif. The launch was the first in a series of separation and control test vehicle launches off an F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft. The AIM-9X is under development by Raytheon Company. The launch marked a significant milestone for the AIM-9X program as it was the first launch of the missile's advanced airframe, incorporating jet vane control, from an aircraft. "The agile AIM-9X airframe coupled with other AIM-9X advanced features will give U.S. fighter pilots a significant tactical advantage in the dog fight arena," said Rear Admiral Jeffrey Cook, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Subsequent separation and control test vehicle launches off the U.S. Navy F/A-18 and U.S. Air Force F-15 aircraft are scheduled throughout 1999. The AIM-9X separation and control test vehicle launch focuses on evaluating both the missile separation characteristics from the aircraft, and the missile controllability through pre-programmed maneuvers in the free-flight regime.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Dasa's military aircraft sector is trying to strengthen its international competitiveness and garnering new business to be ready for an eventual European tie-up. Formation of the European Aerospace and Defence Company (EADC) is put off for the moment, and Dasa is still hurt by the failed merger with BAe, but according to managing director Aloysius Rauen it needs to put bad feelings behind it and improve its position for any dealings which may come up.+++
Aircraft in the Lufthansa Group required 4.9 litres of fuel to transport one passenger one hundred kilometres (100 PKT) in 1998. The Group maintained fuel burn at the same level as in the previous year thanks to investment in modern aircraft and increased efficiency. The average age of the 322 aircraft in the Group was 6.6 years at year-end.
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Singapore Airlines confirmed it will pay A$ 500m ($ 320m) to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Ansett Holdings, which owns Australia's second largest airline, from News Ltd, a subsidiary of News Corporation. The other half of Ansett is owned by Air New Zealand. Both airlines - Ansett as well as Air New Zealand - are going to join the Star Alliance in 1999. For SIA, this deal is just the first in a new strategy of looking for growth through acquisition, in particular the acquisition of other airlines. That is in recognition of the limited potential for organic growth. The deal is expected to boost Ansett's ability to compete in the Australian market against stronger rival Qantas Airways.
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In a bid to smooth relations with the USA, the European Union (EU) has signalled that it will not go hardline about commencing the ban on hushkitted aircraft on 1 April as previously proposed. According to Dow Jones, the backdown comes as members of the EU are set to meet with the US Transportation Secretary who is hoping to discuss the options available, including the US's most recent threat to take the issue to the World Trade Organisation due to the ban's alleged discriminatory nature. The US has already voted to ban the supersonic Concorde aircraft operated by British Airways and Air France if the ban goes ahead as planned.
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Eurocontrol has taken possession of a Boeing 737 flown by Russian airline Transaero at London-Gatwick Airport.The aircraft is being held until debts for the provision of ATC services owed to several countries represented by Eurocontrol are repaid. Transaero's regular services between London and Moscow continue to operate using other aircraft.
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Junior Defence Minister John Spellar has finally confirmed that the replacement for the RAF's Nimrod maritime surveillance aircraft is two years behind schedule. The next generation of Nimrod MRA4, was due to be in service by 2003 but is now not expected to be available until early 2005, Mr Spellar said in a written reply to the Commons. The Government was now locked in negotiations with British Aerospace, over "revisions to the Nimrod MRA4 contract which will include recovery of liquidated damages for late delivery". In the meantime the Nimrod MR2 would continue to fly from RAF Kinloss and Mr Spellar said the delay was "not therefore expected to have a significant effect on the current operations of RAF Kinloss".
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From 1 April 1999, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo will launch a joint program that will offer more destinations in their respective route networks for the transport of each other's express products. This will allow their customers to ship cargo to even more destinations between Asia and Europe more efficiently and with shorter transit times. Though only an interline arrangement, express cargo carried on each other's aircraft will be given prioritised handling at the respective hubs.
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Luxair, the official airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, introduces non-stop passenger service between New York (Newark) and Luxembourg beginning March 30. The four-time weekly flights will operate every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Luxair will offer business and economy class service aboard a Boeing 767-300ER wide-body aircraft wet-leased from CityBird. The business class cabin features 24 comfortable seats in a 2-2-2 configuration with individual power ports and Sony video screens. Economy class seats 222 passengers in a 2-3-2 configuration.
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Panavia, the management company for the trinational Tornado programme, celebrated its 30th anniversary on March 26. It was set up by British Aerospace, Dasa (then MBB) and Alenia (then Aeritalia) in Munich to handle development and production of the controversial multi-role combat aircraft. It thus was the first trans-national European company to manage a large military programme. In the end 974 Tornados were built, serving the air forces of Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
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On March 19, Boeing rolled out the first MD-10 freighter during ceremonies held at the company's Long Beach facility. FedEx is the launch customer for the MD-10 conversion program. "MD-10" is the designation given to modified DC-10s that incorporate the Boeing Advanced Common Flightdeck (ACF). The MD-10 instrument panel layout is identical to the Boeing MD-11. Additionally, pilots can receive a single certification to operate both airplanes. FedEx launched the MD-10 program in September 1996 with an order for 60 MD-10 conversions. FedEx later increased its commitment to the program and currently has 79 orders, with options for up to 40 more MD-10s.
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Fairchild Aerospace Corporation has announced the appointment of Daniel G. Kirkpatrick as vice president, technical support. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Kirkpatrick is responsible for building a worldwide technical and engineering support organization to assist operators of Fairchild and Dornier airplanes. This organization will help customers achieve the highest reliability and lowestmaintenance costs possible.
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The NATO operatins over Yugoslavia has disrupted civilian air traffic in the region. Numerous airlines have stopped flying to Belgrade and other Balkan capitals. Also, Adriatic airports in Italy were closed. Closure of north-south air routes led to heavy delays at many aircport throughout Europe.
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Eurowings is optimising its schedules for the summer season, mainly to boost connections to Amsterdam Schiphol, the hub of its partner KLM. For example, some direct flights are now offered from Paderborn/Lippstadt. It also takes over KLM flights from Bremen to Amsterdam. In other developments, four-times daily rountrips are introduced between Münster/Osnabrück and Stuttgart.
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March 21, 1999
March 14, 1999
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December 20, 1998
December 13, 1998
December 6, 1998
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