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UPDATE 
Week ending July 11, 1999

+++ Fairchild Aerospace 328JET gets JAA Type Certificate +++ Dasa signs ATV development contract with Aerospatiale Matra +++ Astrium start hampered by Dornier objections +++ Boeing 727 of Lunfthansa Cargo India crashes +++ First production Rafale M flies +++ Boeing selects GE to power potential new 777s +++ News in brief +++

Fairchild Aerospace 328JET gets JAA Type Certificate
328JET erhält europäische Zulassung

On July 8, the Fairchild Aerospace 328JET was awarded type certification by the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA). The German Luftfahrt Bundesamt (LBA) delivered the certificate to Dornier Luftfahrt, a division of Fairchild Aerospace and the company's primary production facility in Oberpfaffenhofen. The four 328JETs used during certification and flight test accumulated a total of 1,560 flight hours since first flight on Jan. 20, 1998. Of these, 1,100 flighthours were actual test hours, the remainder being ferry and demonstration flights. Altogether, 950 flights were made and more than 200 tests were run with the aircraft on the ground. Type certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is expected to follow soon.
A few days later, Atlantic Coast Airlines, which operates in the Eastern and Midwestern United States as United Express, announced it has reached a conditional agreement with Fairchild Aerospace Corporation to acquire as many as 110 of its 328JET and 428JET aircraft. The contract has been designed so that it will remain conditional until United Airlines provides its approval for ACA to operate feeder jet aircraft with fewer than 50 seats as United Express, or until ACA waives the condition itself. However, United's approval process is now underway. The agreement calls for firm orders of 55 jets, with options for 55 additional aircraft. The initial order consists of a combination of 25 328JETs and 30 428JETs. The first of the new Fairchild aircraft could be delivered as early as the first quarter of 2000 -- but the exact schedule remains subject to finalization of the entire transaction.
Also, Ozark Air Lines, Inc. of Columbia, Missouri has ordered two Fairchild Aerospace 328JETs to begin non-stop service to Dallas and Chicago. The value of the initial contract is more than $25 million Ozark will take delivery of the 328JETs beginning in September with introduction into service soon after.

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Dasa signs ATV development contract with Aerospatiale Matra
ATV-Auftrag für Dasa

On July 9, the Space Infrastructure Business Unit of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG and the French aerospace company Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs have signed the contract for the development of the automated transfer vehicle ATV. The ATV will be the most important European contribution to the International Space Station and will ensure the transport of re-supplies to and waste disposal from the station. Within the German-French alliance Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs will be responsible for the development and Dasa for the production phase of the orbital transport system in their function as prime-contractors to the European Space Agency ESA. At the same time, both companies will be involved in the partner's tasks as subcontractors.
Under contract to Aerospatiale Matra Lanceurs, Dasa will be in charge of the development of the propulsion system of the automated orbital transport vehicle including integration and testing. In addition, Dasa will be responsible for integration and testing of the Spacecraft (propulsion and avionics unit). The order will cover a volume of DM 163 million. The first ATV mission to the International Space Station is scheduled for June 2003.

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Astrium start hampered by Dornier objections
Astrium nimmt Formen an

"We can now announce: astrium will be the name of the new space company that we will soon be founding," declared Philippe Camus, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the French Aerospatiale Matra (Paris), Dr. Manfred Bischoff, President and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (Dasa, Munich), and Peter Gershon, Managing Director of Marconi Electronic Systems Ltd. (London) in a common statement. The name astrium emphasizes the strong committment to space technology and supports the idea of European industrial integration. For the time being, however, on the German side only those space activities which do not belong to Dornier GmbH can be contributed to the trinational company. At the shareholders' meeting of Dornier GmbH held last Tuesday, a majority of 96.7 percent approved the merger of the Dornier space activities with the Franco-British company Matra Marconi Space (MMS). Dornier Electronic + Software GmbH, holding a share of 0.0001 percent of Dornier GmbH and represented by sole shareholder and managing director Claudius Dornier, had raised objections. The Ravensburg district court accepted an application filed by Dornier Elektronik + Software GmbH forbidding the inclusion of the Dornier activities in the new Franco-German-British space company.

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Boeing 727 of Lunfthansa Cargo India crashes
Absturz einer 727 der LH Cargo India

On 7 July at 16.30 hours (CET) a Lufthansa Cargo India Boeing 727 freighter aircraft crashed about twelve kilometres south-west of the airport of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. The aircraft, with the registration VT-LCI, was operating under flight number LH 8533 and was en route to Delhi. The accident occurred a few minutes after take-off near the city of Machhegoon and south of Mount Bhasmasoor at an altitude of about 2,300 metres. A crew consisting of four Indians and one American was one board. Nepalese army rescue teams and the civil aviation authority responsible had great difficulty reaching the very inaccessible mountain region. The bodies of all five crew members have now been
recovered. The cause of the accident is still unknown.
Lufthansa Cargo India Private Ltd. is a subsidiary of Hinduja Lufthansa Cargo Holding B.V., Amsterdam, a joint venture between Machen Holdings U.K. (60% stake) and Lufthansa Cargo AG (40% stake). It operates a further three Boeing 727-200 aircraft in freight traffic to and from India. They are operated on behalf of Lufthansa Cargo AG and fly in the livery of Hinduja Cargo Services.

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First production Rafale M flies
Erste Rafale M aus der Serie fliegt

On July 7, the Dassault Rafale M1 made its first flight, with Philippe Deleume, chief pilot of the Bordeaux plant, at the controls. At the same time, the M02 prototype was carrying out its first deck-landing campaign on the new Charled de Gaulle aircraft carrier. Equipped with an F1-standard weapon system, the Rafale M1 ist the first in a series that will make up the 12F squadron for the Charles de Gaulle by mid-2001. These aircraft will be assigned to the air defence mission, replacing the Crusaders and operating alongside the modernized Super Etendard and the Hawkeye. Out of a total of 294 Rafale to be ordered by France, 60 Rafale M models will be delivered to the French navy. Of these, 25 are already ordered.

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Boeing selects GE to power potential new 777s
General Electric GE90 für neue 777-Versionen

On July 6, Boeing Company said it has reached an agreement with General Electric for the development of a 115,000-pound-thrust engine to power longer-range 777 airplanes. Boeing projects the market for the 777-200X and 777-300X to be about 500 airplanes. The size of this market would not support development of more than one engine. "All three commercial engine companies offered good solutions for the new longer-range 777 airplanes," said Alan Mulally, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group. "GE was chosen to develop a GE90 derivative engine because it best met the overall evaluation criteria, including technical, schedule, customer service, and business requirements." Boeing currently is in discussions with airlines that are considering the longer-range 777 models to provide more frequent, non-stop flights between more cities. The 777-300X airplane also would provide an efficient replacement airplane for early 747s. "Program go-ahead for the 777-200X and 777-300X will depend on customer timing requirements," said John Roundhill, vice-president of Commercial Airplanes' Product Strategy and Development. "For planning purposes, we are currently assuming entry into service in 2003."

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

AlliedSignal has announced that is has begun initial shipments of the new Airsat 1 airborne satellite communications system, which uses the Iridium low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. "The real beauty of Airsat 1 is that it is reasonably priced, yet it is the first satellite communications system for aircraft that provides reliable, continuous communications for aircraft flying anywhere in the world," said Frank Daly, president, AlliedSignal Aerospace Avionics & Lighting. Suggested retail price of the Airsat 1 is $29,500. Usage rates vary from $3.50 per minute for in-country calls to a maximum of $7 for international calls. AlliedSignal Aerospace has appointed 380 Airsat 1 dealers worldwide.
+++
The Boeing 717, showcased recently at the Paris Air Show, has returned to its base in Yuma, Ariz., following 27 days of flying exhibitions and customer demonstrations in seven European countries. The airplane made 24 flights in 14 cities. Following the Paris Air Show, the airplane embarked on a six-country tour beginning in Helsinki, Finland. The airplane performed demonstration flights and was on static display in Berlin, Germany; Seville, Madrid and Palma, Spain; Athens, Santorini, Mikonos and Thessaloniki, Greece; Bergamo and Rome, Italy; and London and East Midlands, England. On its return to the U.S., the 717 made a stop in St. Louis where TWA executives and employees at the airline's headquarters had an opportunity to view the airplane up close. Boeing expects to receive certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities in September.
+++
On July 7, EUTELSAT and France Telecom have reached a partnership agreement whereby the Telecom 2 satellite currently operated by the latter at the 8 degrees West position will be incorporated into EUTELSAT's fleet. According to the agreement EUTELSAT will take over the 11 Ku-band transponders on France Telecom's Telecom 2 satellite at 8 degrees West until the end of its nominal lifetime which is anticipated in the course of 2004. By this time a new satellite will be deployed at 7/8 degrees West. The agreement will enable EUTELSAT to satisfy increasing demand for intra-European capacity for business networks, notably the fast growth area of IP-based traffic. The incorporation into the fleet of the Telecom 2 satellite at 8 degrees West will also contribute to the development of EUTELSAT's Atlantic Gate mission at the neighbouring 12.5 degrees West position, both slots offering comparable earth visibility.
+++
The JSF-F120 engine team has signed a $440 million Phase III contract with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Office to test product fighter engines for JSF aircraft under development for the 21st century. The Phase III effort consists of a firm requirement for $115 million and an option for $325 million and is a follow-on to the four-year Phase II contract awarded to the JSF-F120 engine team in 1996. Phase III firm and option efforts will cover engine development activities for the period of October 2000 to September 2004. The JSF-F120 engine team consists of: GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) in Cincinnati, Ohio; Allison Advanced Development Company (AADC) in Indianapolis, Indiana; Rolls-Royce plc (R-R) in Bristol, England; and Philips Machinefabriek (PMF) in The Netherlands.
+++
Boeing delivered 313 commercial jetliners in the first half of 1999, putting the company well on track to deliver a record 620 commercial jetliners this year. The 165 deliveries in the second quarter marked an 11.5 percent increase over the first quarter, and a 20.4 percent increase over the second quarter of 1998.
+++
The first comprehensive mission to map pockmarked Mercury and a radical mission to excavate the interior of a comet have been selected as the next flights in NASA's Discovery Program. The Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging mission, or Messenger, will carry seven instruments into orbit around the closest planet to the Sun. It will send back the first global images of Mercury and study its shape, interior and magnetic field. The Deep Impact mission will send a 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) copper projectile into comet P/Tempel 1, creating a crater as big as a football field and as deep as a seven-story building. A camera and infrared spectrometer on the spacecraft, along with ground-based observatories, will study the resulting icy debris and pristine interior material.
+++
Boeing has completed installation of electronic support measures (ESM) on the first of four French Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft. ESM is a passive surveillance system, which enables AWACS to detect, identify and track electronic transmissions from ground, airborne and maritime sources. Using the ESM system, mission operators can determine radar and weapons system type. Installing ESM on the French fleet will improve interoperability with other AWACS fleets like those in the U.S, NATO and the United Kingdom, which have ESM installed. This system also was used extensively by AWACS aircraft during the air campaign in Kosovo.
+++
A team led by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space has been awarded a phase one design contract by NASA for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), a key mission in NASA's Origins Program. The new space observatory, targeted for launch in 2008, will help NASA observe the first stars and galaxies formed in the Universe. The Lockheed Martin team, which includes Raytheon, Honeywell and Jackson and Tull, will deliver innovative technical and management approaches to NASA for NGST. The team's design for the observatory will include a lightweight 8-meter-class deployable mirror. The NGST will be a space observatory optimized for infrared imaging andspectroscopy of astronomical targets. It will be launched to a location about a million miles from Earth opposite the Sun where it will conduct its observations in the cold of deep space. To accomplish the ambitious science goals outlined for it, the NGST will have an eight-meter primary mirror and will be equipped with extremely sensitive infrared detectors.
+++
Charles P. "Pete" Conrad, the third human to walk on the moon, died on July 8 in a hospital in Ojai, CA, of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was 69. Conrad was on a trip to Monterey, CA with his wife, Nancy, and friends when his motorcycle crashed on a turn, according to the California Highway Patrol. Conrad made history on Nov. 19, 1969, when, as commander of the Apollo 12 mission, he and Astronaut Alan Bean set their lunar module "Intrepid" down on the moon's Ocean of Storms, the second of six Apollo landings. Conrad was selected in the second class of NASA astronauts in 1962 following a distinguished career as a Navy test pilot and instructor. Following his graduation from Princeton University in 1953, Conrad entered the Navy and attended test pilot school at Patuxent River, MD, where he was assigned as a Project Test Pilot.
+++
On July 12, Bombardier Aerospace marked the delivery of the first completed high-speed, ultra long-range Bombardier Global Express business jet aircraft. The 6,500-nautical-mile (12,038-km) jet was officially delivered to senior executives from AirFlite of Long Beach, Calif., during a brief private ceremony at Bombardier's new completion center in Montreal. Orders to date, including this delivery, have grown to 105 units.
+++
A joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Finmeccanica, the Italian aerospace and advanced technology industrial group, was inaugurated by the Italian Minister for Scientific Research, Ortensio Zecchino. Europea Microfusioni Aerospaziali spa (EMA) at Morra de Sanctis, in the province of Avellino, will initially will make turbine blades for the Rolls-Royce RB211 and Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour engines. EMA, in which Finmeccanica has a 66.6 per cent shareholding and Rolls-Royce has 33.3 per cent, uses state-of-the-art technologies and equipment to manufacture high precision turbine blades for aero engines. It becomes one of small group of less than 12 companies in this advanced technology manufacturing sector.
+++
BFGoodrich and Coltec Industries have announced that they have completed their merger and created a major multi-industry company with $6 billion in annual revenues and strong market positions in aerospace systems, performance materials and industrial products. The transaction was completed after a preliminary injunction imposed by a U.S. District Court judge in South Bend was lifted. The new company will be headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and have 27,000 employees.
+++
The question on launching the Russian cargo-ship Progress M-42 to the Mir space station on July 14 has not been positively resolved, said Kazakhstan Vice Premier Alexander Pavlov who is chairman of the interdepartmental commission on investigation into the crash of a Proton-K launch vehicle. He and head of the Russian Aerospace Agency Yuri Koptev, now on a visit to Kazakhstan, reported on Sunday Kazakh Prime Minister Nurlan Balgimbayev what is being done to overcome consequences of the Proton crash.
+++
On July 10, Globalstar announced the successful launch of an additional four low-earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites into space, bringing the total number of Globalstar satellites that have been successfully launched to 28. Globalstar's satellites, manufactured by prime contractor Space Systems/Loral, were launched today at 4:45 a.m. EDT aboard a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida. The Globalstar satellites were separated in pairs from the upper stage of the Delta II rocket at an altitude of 1370 kilometers (851 miles) above the Earth. Flight engineers at Globalstar's ground control center in San Jose, Calif., subsequently acquired the satellites using the six Globalstar telemetry command unit gateways located in Aussaguel, France; Yeoju, South Korea; Dubbo, Australia; Bosque Allegre, Argentina; Delareyville, South Africa; and Clifton, Texas. During the next two weeks, Globalstar engineering teams will raise these satellites to their operational altitude of 1,414 kilometers (877 miles).
+++
Lufthansa Cargo AG will increase its prices for air freight in autumn 1999. Primarily beginning on 1 September, the air freight company in the Lufthansa Group plans a
worldwide increase of its air freight prices by around 10 percent. The price increase will be differentiated in all markets in which Lufthansa Cargo is active. For a few regions the new prices will already take effect from mid-July, for some other markets the price increase will come into effect only from 1 October. These measures are an attempt to combat the fall in average yields that has been persisting for years and was particularly prevalent in the last few months of this year
+++

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

*July 4, 1999

*June 27, 1999 *June 20, 1999 *June 13, 1999 *June 6, 1999

*May 30, 1999 *May 23, 1999 *May 16, 1999 *May 9, 1999 *May 2, 1999

*April 25, 1999 *April 18, 1999 *April 11, 1999 *April 4, 1999

*January to March 1999 *January to December 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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