U P D A T E
Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles
Week ending April 11, 1999
+++ NATOs Kosovo operations continue +++ GALILEO satnav system discussed at EU Council +++ Boeing tests Mauser cannon for JSF +++ Lufthansa and Eurowings fly Kosovo refugees +++ Austrian investors take over All Nippon Airways shares in Austrian Airlines +++ ITP completes thrust vector tests with EJ200 +++ Rockwell Collins service for Luthansa Regional Jets +++ News in brief +++
NATOs Kosovo operations continue
Weitere Angriffe auf Jugoslawien
Despite tentative, but unsatisfactory ceasfire offers by Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, NATO aircraft continued their operations over the country unabated. At the same time, many military transport aircraft and helicopters were mobilised to bring in supplies to the refugees in Albania and Mazedonia and fly some of them out to EU countries. Among the events of the last few days were:- The carrier USS Roosevelt has arrived in the Mediterranean, and its aircraft joined the fight on April 7
- The German Luftwaffe used its new Airbus A310 MRT to bring the first refugees to Nuremberg on April 7
- A Hunter recce drone crashed on the night of April 7
- NATO has admitted that during an attack on a telephone facility in Pristina, one bomb missed the target by 300 metres and caused damage to housing
- Humanitarian supply efforts ramped up to 66 flights with 382 tons of supplies to Albania and 79 flights with 1057 tons to Mazedonia on April 9
GALILEO satnav system discussed at EU Council
Beratungen über das GALILEO-Satelliten-Navigationssystem
Neil Kinnock, Member of the European Commission, recently presented the proposal on GALILEO, the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), to the EU Transport Council. The European aerospace industry sees the next Council decision as an important step in the process of committing launch funds for a European GNSS system, the operation of which could be maintained through Public-Private Partnerships. In the view of AECMA, the European Association of Aerospace Industries, GALILEO is of strategic significance for Europe and its aerospace industry and an innovative improvement for air transport operations. It covers a broad range of future core elements of the information society. Aerospace industry companies participating in GALILEO and benefiting from business with it come from the space sector as well as from the aircraft and equipment sectors, working in the fields of aircraft avionics and ground station equipment. In the case of air transport operations the new system would provide a way of coping with the increased demands on Air Traffic Management due to increased air traffic. A system that meets the requirements of air transport operators would let them benefit through higher profitability and enhanced safety, fuel savings, fewer delays and reductions in their direct operating costs.The potential of business associated with GNSS activity is estimated for up to Euro 10 billion a year, with the majority of applications outside of the aerospace sector. GALILEO is estimated to cost about Euro 3 billion by 2008, still less than any of the 12 out of 14 priority projects in the Trans-European Networks of the European Union. As its basic signal would be provided for free, public European funding is needed to develop the GALILEO system.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Boeing tests Mauser cannon for JSF
Deutsche Mauser-Kanone für JSF im Test
Boeing recently demonstrated its proposal for a JSF cannon in its first public firing demonstration. The Advanced 27mm Aircraft Cannon, a single barrel, gas operated, lightweight, revolver, fired 40 rounds in four 10-round bursts of electrically primed 27mm ammunition at the Arizona National Guard range in Florence, Ariz. Since the gun fires 1,800 shots per minute, it took only 1 1/3 seconds to complete the firing. Government, military and industry officials attended. The Boeing Company, Mauser-Werke Oberndorf of Germany, Primex Technologies, Inc. of Florida and Western Design of California will jointly produce the advanced gun system and ammunition. The cannon was fired from a ground-mounted test stand into a cardboard target. High explosive dual purpose (HEDP) rounds also were fired from an Automatic Self-Powered 30mm cannon into a metal target to demonstrate the capabilities and lethality of the HEDP projectile. Primex is developing HEDP rounds for the 27mm cannon. The demonstration also marked the first time the 27mm linear linkless feed and case recovery system was demonstrated in the United States.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Lufthansa and Eurowings fly Kosovo refugees
Kosovo-Flüchtlinge fliegen mit Lufthansa und Eurowings
On April 8 the German carrier Lufthansa started a special flight between the Macedonian capital Skopje and Hamburg, as the company announced. By order of the German government Lufthansa operates a wide-body Airbus A310 with 222 seats to get as many refugees as possible out of the crisis zone. Unfortunately just one carrier can be employed, because of the restricted (closed) airspace above several parts of Yugoslavia and moreover, the daily slot to Skopje is said to be open only between eight a.m. and 18 p.m. Referring to a Lufthansa spokeman the rescue activities were conducted by volunteer cockpit and cabin crew. Besides Lufthansa, Eurowings has also operated an A319 to Skopje last week, with a second mission planned for April 11 to Nuremberg.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Austrian investors take over All Nippon Airways shares in Austrian Airlines
Österreichische Investoren übernehmen All nippon Airways-Anteile an Austrian Airlines
Austrian Investors - Bank Austria AG and SKWB Schoellerbank - acquired 9 percent of Austrian Airlines AG's share capital, formerly possessed by the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA). Consequently, Bank Austria AG now has a stake of nominal ATS 160 million and SKWB Schoellerbank of nominal ATS 74 million. Bank Austria AG owns these shares on behalf of the shareholder-syndicate of Austrian institutions, whereas SKWB Schoellerbank acquired these shares for their bonds. Currently the shares of Austrian Airlines AG are held as follows: ÖIAG (Austrian Privatisation Agency) 51.9 %, Austrian Syndicate 21.2 %, Free Float 15.4 %, SAirGroup 10.0 % and Air France 1.5 %. Due to this transaction the percentage of Austrian Airlines shares owned by Austrian investors has considerably increased. This is a fact of rather great importance, especially with regard to successful air-traffic negotiations and the achievement of traffic rights. Additionally, free float is increased from 12.6 percent to 15.4 percent. As underlined by Austrian Airlines' Presidents, this does not in the least affect the traditionally good and stable co-operation between Austrian Airlines and All Nippon Airways on the routes Vienna - Tokyo Vienna - Osaka v.v.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
ITP completes thrust vector tests with EJ200
Schubvektor-Tests in Spanien abgeschlossen
ITP has announced that it has completed the ground testing phase of their thrust vectoring nozzle, which was initiated in July 1998 and resumed in October after the Farnborough air show, where the nozzle was on display. MTU, partner with ITP for this programme, is responsible for the Thrust Vectoring Control System and has been actively supporting the testing phase. The nozzle has been installed on an EJ200 engien, and has run in a modified testbed at ITP in Ajalvir, near Madrid. A total of 78 running hours have been logged, during which a large quantity of functional as well as endurance test have been performed. The major achievements include 23,5 degrees maximum vector angel and 110 deg/sec maximum slew rate, both achieved with the reheat system on. Current plans for 1999 include stripping and inspection of the nozzle, new design seeking for weight reduction, manufacturing of new prototypes and altitude testing during the second half of the year.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Rockwell Collins service for Luthansa Regional Jets
CityLine wählt Rockwell Collins für Avionikwartung
Lufthansa Technik has selected Rockwell Collins Aviation Services (CAS) to maintain the avionics aboard Lufthansa Cityline's fleet of Canadair Regional Jets. Under a five-year agreement, the aircraft will be serviced at the Collins Service Center in Heusenstamm, Germany, one of a global network of 13 strategically placed major service centers. Collins Aviation Services -- a consolidation of the former Collins Support Services, Technical Publications, Training and Rental/Exchange departments -- recently expanded the scope of services offered to commercial, regional, business and military aircraft operators. "CAS has developed a robust menu of new, value-added options for our customers to choose for their avionics maintenance and support needs," said Harry Gregory. "CAS brings Collins' outstanding reputation for on-time delivery and unparalleled quality to the market to provide consistent, dependable dispatch reliability at the best life-cycle cost."
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
After three months of scheduled ground test activity the F-22 Raptor, America's next generation air superiority fighter, is once again soaring in the skies over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. During a two hour mission on April 8 Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems test pilot Jon Beesley flew Raptor 02 to an altitude of 50,000 feet and performed both flutter and flying quality maneuvers, thus returning the F-22 program to flight test activity. Over the past three months, technicians have validated hundreds of maintenance tasks and completed scores of support equipment validation and human engineering tasks. Data obtained from the tests will help program managers drive down weapon system life cycle cost and improve operational suitability.+++
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hopes Denver's airport - once famous for a computerized baggage system that shredded luggage - will be the scene of a technological triumph when the agency tests its Year 2000 computer fixes.
+++
Boeing has announced first quarter 1999 deliveries as follows: 737 Classic (14), 737 Next-Generation (61), 747 (14), 757 (17), 767 (11), 777 (23), MD-80 (2), MD-90 (5), MD-11 (1), C-17 (2), F-15 (9), F/A-18C/D (6), F/A-18E/F (2), T-45TS (3), 767 AWACS (2), Delta II (2)
+++
A Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor was flown from Patuxent River, Md., to China Lake, Calif., inside a Boeing-built U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane for ballistic survivability testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division recently. The U.S. Navy plans to perform penetration tests on the fuselage using live ordnance. Engineers want to determine the vulnerability of the aircraft in simulated combat conditions.
+++
Russia's Federal Aviation Service (FAS) will hold talks with European air carriers in May to discuss the use of polar routes across Siberia, FAS First Deputy Director Viktor Galkin said on Thursday. ``A second meeting of the joint commission on trans-Siberian routes will be held in May to discuss commercial use of those routes over Russian territory,'' Galkin told Reuters.
+++
The signing of a new aviation pact between the United States and China was postponed on Thursday after a news conference between President Bill Clinton and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji went later than expected, a State Department official said. The pact would double aviation traffic between the two countries Thursday and add new carriers and destinations over the life of the three-year agreement.
+++
The United States intend to offer Russia an additional 100 million dollars to carry on work on the International Space Station (ISS), The Houston Chronicle said citing sources in the National Aerospace Administration. The funds will be spent this year to buy the Russian landing module Soyuz, a three-seat rescue vehicle for use in an emergency. A list of possible further purchases also contains land-based simulation equipment which will help US astronauts to practice extravehicular activities at the Lyndon Johnson manned space missions in Houston, Texas. NASA experts told reporters that the main aim of the planned funds is to help Russia not to fall behind schedule in implementing the ISS project.
+++
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures (ISA) Sector has received an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract with a potential value of $1.2 billion from the U.S. Air Force for upgrade work on the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS). The contract extends until March 2005. This ID/IQ contract is separate from the Radar Technology Insertion Program (RTIP) preplanned product improvement contract, which Northrop Grumman was awarded in December 1998 to develop next-generation advances for Joint STARS. Including production, the total value of RTIP is expected to exceed $1.3 billion. When combined, these two Joint STARS contracts awarded over the past three months have a potential value of $2.5 billion.
+++
After Libya had finally assented to their extradiction to the Netherlands, the two Lockerbie suspects were charged with conspiracy, murder and "contravention of the Aviation Security Act 1982" at a trial that will proceed according to Scottish law. They made no plea or declaration during a five minute hearing before Sheriff Graham Cox in chambers at Camp Zeist near Utrecht, Holland. "The two men were committed for further examination and remanded in custody at HM Prison Zeist. Proceedings are now active within the meaning of the Contempt of Court Act 1981," said Mike Ewart, chief executive of the Scottish Court Service. The two men -- Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamine Khalifa Fhimeh -- appeared separately at the hearing, accompanied by lawyers and interpreters. Each man spoke only once, to say "yes" in Arabic to confirm their identities.
+++
Bombardier has received a follow-on order from Midway Airlines for three additional Canadair Regional Jets valued at approximately 65 Million US-Dollars. This represents a conversion of options.
+++
Ballonists Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones have been honoured for their round-the world flight with a balloon in March. The ceremony was held at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Brewery Anheuser-Busch presented a cheque of one million US-Dollars for the feat. Half of the money will go to benefit organizations while the rest will be shared with the team. The Washington museum will get the Breitling Orbiter 3 ballon to add to its collection of pioneering aircraft.
+++
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:
April 4, 1999
March 28, 1999
March 21, 1999
March 14, 1999
March 7, 1999
February 21, 1999
February 14, 1999
February 7, 1999
January 31, 1999
January 24, 1999
January 17, 1999
January 10, 1999
January to December 1998
January to December 1997
September to December 1996
Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles
Copyright 1999 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated March 10, 1999
FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany