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UPDATE 
Week ending April 25, 1999
+++ New York's "New Air" becomes new Airbus customer +++ NATO operations against Yogoslavia enter second month +++ DaimlerChrysler establishes Aerospace Japan Co +++ German pilots rate airports +++ FAA orders checks of MD-11 cargo hold wiring +++ German satellite Abraxis flies to Russia +++ New structure for AlliedSignal Aerospace +++ News in brief +++

New York's "New Air" becomes new Airbus customer
Airbus erhält Auftrag von New Air

North America's newest low-fare airline has decided to launch its service with an all-new, all-Airbus Industrie fleet. New York-based New Air has signed an agreement for the purchase of up to 75 Airbus Industrie A320 Family aircraft including orders for 25 A320s and 25 options and 25 purchase rights on A320 Family aircraft. In addition, the agreement includes seven leased A320s, which the airline will begin operating in January 2000. The first direct-purchased aircraft will be delivered to the airline in June 2000. If all options and purchase rights are exercised, the contract will be worth more than $4 billion, based on list prices.
Tentatively named "New Air," the airline is expected to announce its permanent identity in the coming months. Headed by airline pioneer and Morris Air founder David Neeleman, New Air will be based at John F. Kennedy airport, operating low-fare routes primarily along the East Coast of the United States. Since the launch of the A320 in 1984, Airbus Industrie's single-aisle family has won more than 1,900 firm orders from 86 customers, making the A320 Family the fastest-selling aircraft family in the world.

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NATO operations against Yugoslavia enter second month
Schon einen Monat NATO-Angriffe auf Jugoslawien

With no political solutions to the conflict in sight, NATO continued its military attacks on Yugoslavia as well as supporting humanitarian organisations in their relief efforts in Mazedonia and Albania. Events of the week included:
  • On March 21, NATO cruise missiles severely damaged the Belgrade headquarters of Serbia's Socialist Party, the political organization led by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. NATO spokesman Jamie Shea described the Socialist Party offices as "the very center of the power structure in Belgrade," containing not only the political party office but parts of Yugoslavia's air defense command, communications and propaganda operations.
  • On March 21, the first wave of AH-64A Apache attack helicopters touched down at Tirana's Rinas airport as heavily armed soldiers stood guard with mobile rocket launch systems. The Pentagon said 24 Apaches, drawn from the Army's 11th Aviation Regiment, were arriving in Tirana Thursday. Officials said 2,615 U.S. troops from bases across Germany will staff the Apaches and other helicopters as well as provide force protection. In addition, 615 troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, including 550 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, are to be in Tirana. About half have arrived, with the rest expected to be on their way this weekend.
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DaimlerChrysler establishes Aerospace Japan Co
Verstärkte Dasa-Präsenz in Japan

With the establishment of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace JapanCo., Ltd., DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa, Munich) wants to strengthen its position in Japan. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler Japan Holding, Ltd. "The transformation of the hitherto existing Dasa Representative Office and Aerospace Division of DaimlerChrysler Japan Holding, Ltd. into one company is a signal for our commitment to the Japanese market and to the Japanese customers. We want to expand our engagement in Japan and fortify our cooperation with the Japanese aerospace industry", says Dr. Stefan Weingartner, President of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Japan Co., Ltd. Today, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace has a number of important partners in the Japanese aerospace industry. ANA (All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.) and JAS (Japan Air Systems Co., Ltd.) have 62 Airbus aircraft flying and another 24 ordered. Helicopters from Eurocopter, a joint venture between Dasa and the French Aerospaciale, are playing an important role in fire fighting and police activities in various regions of the country.

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German pilots rate airports
Die Mängelliste der Pilotenvereinigung Cockpit

As usual, the German pilots association Cockpit has published its rating for German airports. All 16 large international airport are deemed safe, the pilots said on April 22. On the other hand, some criticism was levelled at regional airports, though all of these also of course meet minimum legal standards. According to Vereinigung Cockpit, the worst airports are:
  • Mannheim, which got a "extremely deficient" rating for its very short runway (just 905 to 975 metres), considering it is used for business aviation and regional airline services
  • Kassel, which got a"exremely deficient" rating. Kassel is in hilly terrain.
  • Barth, which got a "deficient" rating
  • Neubrandenburg, which got a "deficient" rating
  • Erfurt, which got a "deficient" rating
  • Hof, which got a "deficient" rating
  • Lübeck, which got a "deficient" rating
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FAA orders checks of MD-11 cargo hold wiring
FAA ordnet Kabel-Überprüfungen im Frachtraum der MD-11 an

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Tuesday it was ordering the urgent inspection of wires in the cargo holds of some MD-11 aircraft after burned insulation was found by mechanics in one plane. The FAA said operators of the three-engine jumbo jet needed to check for the proper installation of a wire harness in the lower center cargo compartment within five days. Evidence of wires chafing and burned insulation was found recently during routine maintenance on an MD-11, FAA said. The agency said the problem did not appear to be related to last September's fiery crash of a SwissAir MD-11 off the east coast of Canada that killed all 229 people on board. Canadian officials are still investigating that crash, which involved an electrical fire that most likely started in or near the cockpit. FAA said operators of 45 U.S.-registered MD-11s with a 72-inch cargo door were affected by its emergency order. MD-11s with the 104-inch cargo door that has a different wiring layout are not affected.

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German satellite Abraxis flies to Russia
Abriaxis-Satellit nach Rußland geflogen

On 21. April, the German X-ray satellite Abraxis, buitl by the OHB-System company, has been flown from Bremen to the Russian launch site of Kapustin Yar. Its launch is planned within the next days, using a Cosmos rocket. Abraxis is the abbreviation for "A Broad-band Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey". It is meant to survey the whole sky and search for black holes. The programme has a value of 50 million DM. It is lead by the DLR, with contributions from AIP in Potstdam,. the Max-Planck-Institute in Garching and the Astrophysics instutute at Tübingen.

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New structure for AlliedSignal Aerospace
AlliedSignal baut Luftfahrtbereich um

AlliedSignal has announced sweeping changes for its Aerospace business to strengthen its market and customer focus, making it easier for customers to benefit from a wide variety of integrated products and systems. The newly aligned U.S. $7.5 billion Aerospace business will be headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. "We've taken a successful aerospace organization, recognized as an industry leader, and made it even better," said Lawrence A. Bossidy, AlliedSignal Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The new structure gives us a solid foundation upon which to continue to broaden the range of products and services we offer, for the ultimate benefit of our customers."
Robert D. Johnson, a 30-year aerospace industry veteran who joined AlliedSignal in 1994, will serve as President and CEO of AlliedSignal Aerospace. Reporting to Johnson are Steven R. Loranger, who will serve as President of Engines & Systems, which includes AlliedSignal's engines, components and accessories businesses; Francis W. Daly, who will serve as President of Avionics & Lighting, which includes AlliedSignal's avionics, defense and space and aircraft lighting businesses; and James D. Taiclet Jr., who will serve as President of Aerospace Services, which includes AlliedSignal's aftermarket, logistics, technical services and consulting. The new organization also features an integrated sales and marketing account team structure that is aligned by market to provide integrated product and systems solutions to customers. Account teams will be aligned around three aerospace industry segments. They are air transport and regional, to be headed by Lynn Brubaker; business and general aviation, to be headed by Robert L. Ruck; and defense and space, to be headed by Thomas M. Culligan.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

The Mildenhall Air Fete at the end of Mai, usually one of the biggest and best European military air shows, has been cancelled. The base on the UK east coast is in full use to support NATO operations against Yugoslavia.
+++
Following the lifting of both UN and E.U. sanctions on Libya, Lufthansa will recommence services between Frankfurt and Tripoli as of 22 April 1999. Flights will operate five times a week, with Lufthansa flight LH 4045 departing Tripoli daily except Tuesdays and Sundays at 03.50 and arriving Frankfurt at 06.55. From Frankfurt Lufthansa flight LH 4044 will operate daily except Mondays and Saturdays, departing at 22.35 and arriving Tripoli at 01.40.
+++
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has a working group of experts devoted to the subject of the ground handling of commercial aircraft. The group now has a new chairman: Gerhard Baumgarten, head of the engineering division at Lufthansa LEOS (Lufthansa Engineering and Operational Services).
+++
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has announced that it will cooperate with two U.S. aircraft manufacturers in developing and producing a tilt-rotor plane capable of vertical take-off and landing. Bell Agusta Aerospace Co. and Aerostructures Corp. will work with Kawasaki Heavy on the BA609, the first civilian tilt-rotor vehicle. Kawasaki Heavy will be involved in the design and manufacture of the passenger doors and tail section.
+++
German financial magazine Capital has reported that Dasa is contemplating a split from DaimlerChrysler and issue shares in its own right. The company was quick to point out that this is just one of the options open to Dasa now that an all-European is not in view for some time. Capital also reported that Dasa has plans to strengthen its position by acquisitions, like a takeover of MAN Technologie, which is involved in space activities like Ariane launcher production.
+++
East Line Aviation has opened scheduled flights from Moscow Domodedovo airport to Germany. Passenger services to Cologne and later Hanover will be flown by Yakowlew Yak-42D, with improved cabins for 12 business and 84 economy class seats. There are also cargo services to Hahn with An-74s.
+++
On April 20, New Jersey-based financial services company, The CIT Group, has signed a firm contract for the acquisition of 30 Airbus Industrie jetliners, including 25 single-aisle A320 Family aircraft and five A330-200s, Airbus Industrie's newest production model. This transaction includes the flexibility to switch its order between the 124-seat A319, the 150-seat A320, and the 185-seat A321. The orders for the long-range, twin-engine A330-200 are also convertible to larger capacity, 335-seat A330-300s. The CIT Group is one of the largest and most experienced aircraft finance and leasing organizations in the world. This is The CIT Group's first direct purchase of new Airbus Industrie aircraft, which augments a fleet of more than 200 aircraft already placed worldwide.
+++
The prime ministers of German states Bremen, hamburg, Mekclenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsenand Schleswig-Holstein have rejected calls by the Bonn government to paticipate in the support of aerospace research efforts in the latest three year programme to 2002. This puts in doubt the new cost sharing scheme advocated by Bonn, in which states and industry would shoulder 20 per cent ot the costs each.
+++
On April 19, Aerolineas Argentinas S.A. signed in Paris a purchase agreement for 12 ultra long-haul A340 aircraft, making it the first carrier in Latin America to select the Airbus Industrie four-engine aircraft family for its intercontinental route network. The contract includes six of Airbus Industrie's newly launched A340-600 aircraft, as well as A340-200s and A340-300s. The Argentine flag carrier will use the A340s on services from Buenos Aires to destinations such as Auckland in New Zealand or Sydney in Australia, while improving direct services to Europe, including Paris and Rome -- all of which can be accomplished with no ETOPS restrictions.
+++
Air Namibia, flag carrier for the southern Africa nation of Namibia, has purchased a new 747-400 Combi. The airplane will be delivered in October 1999. During a press briefing with local Namibian media today, Paul Bride, sales director - Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, said Air Namibia's acquisition is an important milestone in the airline's development. "Air Namibia has formulated a strategy for commercial success that adds large-capacity cargo service to world-class passenger service. Expanded cargo capacity will allow Air Namibia to serve the transportation requirements of the important Namibian fishing industry." The 747-400 Combi for Air Namibia will carry 284 passengers in a three-class configuration and carry up to 40 tonnes of cargo. General Electric engines will power the airplane on its routes to and from Europe, flying primarily between Windhoek and Frankfurt.
+++
Arianespace has scheduled the first commercial flight of the European heavy launcher Ariane 5 for the beginning of July. Flight 119 will carry two satellites: the Telkom-1 communications satellite for PT Telekomunikasi of Indonesia, and the AsiaStar direct radio broadcast satellite for Worldspace. The Ariane 503 mission in October 1998 completed qualification of the Ariane 5 launcher. This new step forward marks the beginning of commercial service for the first operational new-generation heavy launcher. The next Arianespace launch, Flight 118, is now planned for the end of May. The exact date will be announced following results of these tests.
+++
A frequent-flyer program meant to boost passenger loyalty to Latin American airlines, LatinPass, could expand with the return of Lan Chile which dropped out in 1998, according to the administrator of LatinPass. "Getting them back would be good,'' Guy Booth, an executive of Miami-based Aviation Management Services who serves as top administrator of LatinPass, told Reuters late Monday. "Lan Chile basically covered the southern cone of South America,'' he said. "We have a void there now.'' Aviation Management administers the LatinPass program under contract with the ownership, a consortium of Latin American airlines that includes Colombia's ACES and Avianca Venezuela's Aeropostal, Panama's COPA, the Grupo TACA family of Central American carriers, Mexico's Mexicana and Ecuador's Saeta.
+++
Southwest Airlines - the largest customer of the world's fastest-selling commercial jetliner - has converted options for six more Next-Generation 737-700s into orders. The airplanes are scheduled to deliver in 2000. Since entering service more than a year ago, the Next-Generation 737 models are meeting or exceeding airline expectations and living up to the billing of flying "higher, faster and farther."
+++
On April 23, NASA announced a contract award to Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, to launch the Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) satellite on an Athena I rocket. Launch is scheduled for August 2000 from a launch pad located on Kodiak Island, AK. This will be the first launch to low Earth orbit from the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation's new commercial launch facility. The VCL satellite is designed to precisely measure the Earth's vegetation coverage, vegetation depth (or canopy) and topography by using short laser pulses from a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system.
+++
The Swatch beatnik satellite is currently orbiting the earth. Built in cooperation with the Russian Space Program, beatnik was launched from the MIR space station during a space walk on April 16, lasting 250 Beats (6 hours). Following MIR communications problems earlier in the mission, beatnik is now providing emergency support to the MIR communications system. Beatnik is being used by both the Russian Space Program and NASA to measure ballistic movements during the joint mission. The beatnik lifespan is one month (30,000 Beats) during which it will be controlled by the Russians. The beatnik Mission was launched in connection with Swatch Internet Time. Created by Swatch and introduced on planet Earth on October 23, 1998, Internet Time is a way of measuring time in cyberspace with Swiss accuracy.
+++
Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company, has delivered the first six operational Fiber Optic Towed Decoys developed under the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the Integrated Defensive Electronic Counter-measures (IDECM) Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) program. The decoys will be used during Developmental and Operational flight testing scheduled to begin in May. IDECM RFCM is a next-generation, state-of-the-art Electronic Warfare (EW) system. It incorporates avionics, designed and manufactured by teammate ITT Avionics and other suppliers, and off-board countermeasures which include the Fiber Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD) developed by Sanders. The combination of high sensitivity receivers and off-board countermeasures will provide a highly effective EW defense for U.S. tactical aircraft against both current and future RF missile threats. The F/A-18E/F will be the first military aircraft to receive IDECM RFCM, followed by the B-1B bomber. EMD is planned to continue through the year 2000, with initial operating capability of IDECM RFCM occurring in 2003.
+++
On April 22, the launch attempt of the Orion 3 satellite aboard a Delta III rocket resulted in an on-pad abort at the expected liftoff time of 10:05 p.m. EDT. The launch team made four attempts during the launch window that spanned from 9:02 to 10:11 p.m. EDT. A procedural problem caused the first delay. During the second and third attempts, the ground software system indicated potential concerns that were later determined to be unfounded. On the fourth attempt, a software command to ignite the main engine was not issued to the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle's main engine did not ignite. The launch team is assessing the software issue.
+++
The state Government of Northrine-Westfalia will push modification of General Aviation aircraft with more efective exhaust silencers and other means to bring down noise. As a first step, studies should show which models are suitable for upgrades. AOPA Germany, DAeC and ALROUND are supporting the project. Lower noise levels have become necessary as stricter limits have been imposed by the government for airfield noise.
+++

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

*April 18, 1999 *April 11, 1999 *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

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Last updated March 25, 1999
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