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UPDATE
Week ending April 28, 2002
+++ Lufthansa confirms loss and is cautious +++ Lift-off for Italian on first mission into space +++ Reusable Volga engine project starts +++ First EC 145s delivered +++ ECGD export guarantees improve +++ EADS delivers advanced avionics for Tiger +++ News in brief +++

Lufthansa confirms loss and is cautious
Vorsichtiger Ausblick von Lufthansa

"Despite the recessional trend and the impact of terrorist attacks, Lufthansa has turned in a respectable result with an operating profit of Euro28 million. We are in a better position than most of our competitors," Lufthansa's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jürgen Weber said at the press conference where he presented the Company's results for 2001. "Air traffic was subjected to unprecedented trials and tribulations in the business year in 2001, some of our competitors failed to survive the test, others stayed afloat but only by being drip-fed by the state." Weber said that the liberal system which air travel should aspire to be was far from being reality. "Although our firm objective is to return again to the old growth path as quickly as possible, we want to attain that objective but not under the old conditions governing the airline business," Jürgen Weber emphasised. He firmly rejected state subsidies and measures, that distort competition, and called for stable insurance policies for airlines, uniform air traffic security standards worldwide, and the elimination of structural deficiences on the ground and in the air.
Given the still uncertain cyclical picture and world political situation, it is too early at the moment to give a reliable estimate of the likely result for the year 2002. However, Lufthansa anticipates that, thanks to capacity adjustments in line with market requirements and stringent cost controls, the operating result for the first quarter will not be disappointing. "We are on the way up," Weber said. For 2002 as a whole Lufthansa expects a markedly improved operating result compared with 2001.
Amid an extremely difficult operating climate, Lufthansa generated traffic revenue of Euro 12.3 billion, which was 2.4 per cent less than in 2000. Lufthansa managed to limit the decline in traffic revenue in the Passenger Business segment to 1.5 per cent by virtue of network optimisation measures and stable average yields. In the Group's freight business, which is highly sensitive to changes in the overall economic setting, average yields were actually improved. Consequently, freight traffic revenue was only 5.8 per cent down on the year. Other revenue climbed sharply by 67.4 per cent to Euro 4.4 billion, mainly because of the first-time consolidation of the new companies in the Catering and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul segments. The Lufthansa Group thus generated total revenue of Euro 16.7 billion in 2001, which was 9.8 per cent more than in the previous year. Other operating income decreased by 10.4 per cent or Euro 0.2 billion. This was chiefly due to lower book profits.

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Lift-off for Italian on first mission into space
Sojus-Flug zur Raumsation mit Italiener und Raumtourist

The latest European astronaut was launched to the International Space Station today when the Marco Polo flight and its three-strong crew thundered into the midday skies in a perfect lift-off from the wide open plains of Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 12:26 local time (06:26 GMT) on April 25. Italian ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori, a former Italian Air Force test pilot, and his fellow crew members Yuri Gidzenko, the mission commander, and flight participant Mark Shuttleworth, South Africa's first person in space and the second space tourist, were due to dock with the Space Station on Saturday, 27 April at 09:52 (CEST); 07:52 (GMT). When the cosmopolitan crew arrive at the giant orbiting complex, some 400 km above the Earth's surface, they will have already completed the mission's prime task of delivering to the Space Station a new Soyuz spacecraft.
It is essential for the resident crew that the Soyuz 'lifeboat' remains in top condition in case of an emergency evacuation and so the regular 'taxi' missions, such as Marco Polo, are used to swap an older Soyuz spacecraft with a newer craft every six months. Vittori, the first Italian astronaut to fly on a Russian Soyuz, is the third European astronaut to visit the Space Station and during his eight-day stay will work alongside the resident crew - Expedition Four commander Yuri Onufrienko and flight engineers Dan Bursch and Carl Walz - and oversee four European experiments.

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Reusable Volga engine project starts
Snecma und Russland entwickeln neues Triebwerk

Imagine the unimaginable: changing your car engine after each trip. This is, however, a reality in space travel: the stages of launchers, once emptied of their propellant, fall back into the earth's atmosphere along with their engines. This is why the reuse of engines and launchers after each space mission is at the center of cost-effective objectives of current space policies. The Volga project, for reusable rocket engines, brings together three Russian research centers and four European manufacturers, which includes Snecma Moteurs from France and Techspace Aero from Belgium. Its aim is to deliver a reusable demonstrator rocket engine by 2006-2008, which, in itself, is an enormous technological and economic challenge. Technologically, it is enough to say that the Volga project is about an actually reusable engine. As the person in-charge of international space-based business development for Snecma Moteurs said, "today, the three large SSME engines of the American shuttle, which said to be the first reusable launcher, can only be used about a dozen times. After each mission, they have to be removed and subjected to careful examination". This explains, to a certain extent, the astronomical cost of the shuttle, amounting to 500 million dollars per mission (whereas an Ariane 5 launch costs around 140 million). With the Volga project, we want to succeed in creating an engine that will enable us to reuse it more than 50 times without requiring removal.

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First EC 145s delivered
Lieferungen der EC 145 begonnen

After many months of delay, Eurocopter Group President Mr. François Bigay symbolically presented Mr. Michel Sapin, the Director of the French Civil Defense & Emergency Preparedness Organization, with the keys of its first EC 145. The organization is the launch customer for the helicopter and has ordered a total of 32. The EC 145 is a totally new generation helicopter. Like its predecessor the BK 117 C-1, the new 4 metric ton twin has been produced cooperatively with the Japanese firm, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).
The EC 145 made its first flight in June 1999, and the first Japanese KB 117 C-2 on 15 March 2000. Since then, the new helicopter has chalked up an impressive sales record: 40 sold before the helicopter's market launch, with 32 orders from the French Civil Defense, and 8 more from the French Gendarmerie. And that's not all, as well-known air rescue operators - such as ADAC and DRF in Germany, REGA in Switzerland, and the German Hesse State Police - have boosted the total sales to 48. Hesse Police was the first recipient of the EC 145 just a week before the French handover. The EC 145 was certified for VFR flight by the German Civil Aviation Authority (LBA) in late 2000 and by the French DGAC in June 2001. IFR certfication for single- and two-pilot operations followed in October 2001, and its US civil certification (FAA) in February 2002.

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ECGD export guarantees improve
Bessere Exportkredite für Europas Industrie

Europe's aerospace industry will be more competitive in the global marketplace with the help of a new scheme announced today by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) in association with French and German Export Credit Agencies (ECAs). Under the new arrangements, spearheaded by ECGD, French ECA Coface and German ECA Hermes will provide support on a pure cover basis - offering an unconditional 100 per cent export credit guarantee to aircraft and aero engine manufacturers, such as Rolls Royce and Airbus. Previously, Coface and Hermes only offered 95 per cent conditional cover against ECGD's unconditional 100 per cent guarantee. This enhanced form of support, which will allow aircraft to be financed through the capital markets as well as by traditional bank lending, replaces previous fixed rate arrangements under the sector understanding on export credits for civil aircraft - commonly known as LASU. However, following discussions with aerospace manufacturers, a revised form of the LASU fixed rate interest support scheme will remain in place for a further twelve months until 31 March 2003.
Under the revised form of ECGD fixed rate interest support, airlines can only select a fixed interest rate on the loan to buy aircraft up to four months prior to delivery. Airlines will have to pay ECGD breakage costs if they do not take up the option given. The new arrangement will allow ECGD to operate this scheme on a break-even basis. The actual fixed rates are determined by a mechanism contained in the OECD Agreement on Aircraft terms (this is commonly called the Large Aircraft Sector Understanding Agreement - the LASU). Previously under the LASU arrangements, ECGD allowed an airline to opt for a fixed loan interest rate up to three years before delivery. The airlines were not committed to use this rate and would not do so if they found it unattractive by the time the aircraft was delivered.

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EADS delivers advanced avionics for Tiger
EuroGrid für Tiger geliefert

EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company will equip the Franco-German combat helicopter “Tiger“ with state-of-the-art avionics. Dornier GmbH, a group company of EADS, has received the order to equip the 160 helicopters of the first lot with the digital map system “EuroGrid” by 2003. This contract with an order volume of EUR50 million has been awarded by the international procurement agency OCCAR in Bonn. This was reported by the company on Thursday in Friedrichshafen. In total, Germany and France intend to procure approx. 400 helicopters of this type. EuroGrid is scheduled for use on all “Tigers” and on the transport helicopter NH90 to be procured by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
“Avionics systems such as EuroGrid, which have been developed within our Operating Unit Airborne Systems, offer sustained economic potential to our company. They meet the demand for increased responsiveness and security of the rapid reaction forces,” explained Dr. Stefan Zoller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Dornier GmbH and President of the EADS Business Unit Systems & Defence Electronics. EuroGrid is a digital map system for the display of coloured topographic terrain maps. On the display, these electronic maps move simultaneously with the flight movement of the helicopter.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Mr Antonio Rodotà, ESA Director General, Mr Charles Picqué, Belgian Minister for Scientific Research, Mr Yvan Ylieff, Belgian Commissioner in charge of Scientific Policy, Mr Yuri Koptev of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos), and Mr Yuri Semonov of the Korolev Rocket Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia), signed the contract for implementation of a flight to the International Space Station for ESA astronaut, Frank De Winne, of Belgian nationality. Frank De Winne will be flight engineer on a Soyuz "taxi flight" in October this year, an 8 to 10-day mission to the Space Station funded by the Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs (OSTC). The main purposes of the mission will be to exchange the Station's Soyuz vehicle, which serves as the main emergency rescue craft for the Station's crew, and to carry out an important scientific experiment programme and promote valuable international cooperation.
+++
Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter unit announced that Glenn E. Hess has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Hess, who joins the company after a 23-year career with McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, will be responsible for managing Bell's engineering, manufacturing, procurement and material management operations, filling a critical post that has been vacant since John Murphey was promoted to chairman and CEO last September. "Glenn brings a strong background in operations and engineering management," said Murphey. "He fully understands the priorities for our company and our focus on delivering reliable, high quality products, on schedule and with exceptional value to our customers."
+++
John F. Kennedy International Airport has been named North America's best cargo airport in a prestigious competition judged by industry leaders. JFK finished first in a survey of thousands of air cargo industry officials across Asia – including top executives from major export hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. The airport beat competitors in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and other cities. Industry leaders praised JFK for excellence in cargo handling in the 16th annual Asian Freight Industry Awards survey, conducted by Cargonews Asia, the region's leading freight industry publication.
+++
Raytheon Aircraft has been awarded a contract for seven T-6A Texan II primary trainer aircraft that will be delivered to the U.S. Navy. The one-year contract for seven aircraft is valued at $30 million. "These seven aircraft are significant because they enhance the Navy's participation in the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program," said David Riemer, vice president – Government Business for Raytheon Aircraft. "The T-6A offers a significant upgrade in safety, performance and operational capability for the Navy." The U.S. Navy has ordered 43 aircraft to date. The first T-6A is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy late this year.
+++
A mission proposal from NASA Ames Research Center to measure the pre-biological chemical building blocks of life in deep space has been selected as a next-mission candidate under NASA'S Explorer Program -- a roster of low-cost, focused next-generation spacecraft. The Astrobiology Explorer, known as ABE, has a hydrogen ice-chilled telescope that will search for interstellar organic compounds, such as carbon-containing ices, dust and molecules, throughout the universe. If chosen, the $180 million mission will fly as early as 2007. The ABE spacecraft will be put into an orbit around the sun, gradually drifting 14 million miles away from Earth during its 18-month mission lifetime.
+++
Mongolian Airlines, the flag carrier of Mongolia, will receive its first Boeing 737-800 under an agreement between the airline and GATX Financial Corporation, Boeing announced. "We are making a tremendous step forward with this acquisition, and the 737-800 is the ideal replacement for Mongolian Airlines' 727-200s," said J. Bayarsaikhan, president of Mongolian Airlines. "We believe our passengers will enjoy the comfort and the reliable service, and we look forward to realizing the benefits of the 737-800's advanced technology and high operating efficiency.
+++
In a major breakthrough which met a NASA performance requirement, engineers from AeroVironment, Inc., and NASA have successfully completed functional tests of a prototype regenerative Energy Storage System for the Helios Prototype solar-powered aircraft. The prototype system, housed within a pod that is designed to replace one of the existing landing gear pods, contains a hydrogen-oxygen regenerative fuel cell system that could be used to power the Helios aircraft through the night in future flight demonstrations. The energy storage system is the crucial element required to enable a solar-powered aircraft to fly longer than a single day and potentially for unlimited duration. The energy storage system is based on proton exchange membrane (also known as polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell technology now rapidly emerging in automotive applications. The system is designed to capture excess electric power produced by the Helios Prototype's solar arrays during daytime flight and use it to electrolyze water into its constituent gases, hydrogen and oxygen. These gases would be stored under pressure and recombined in a fuel cell, producing electricity as a byproduct to enable night flight.
+++
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected six contractor teams for the first phase of the Responsive Access, Small Cargo, and Affordable Launch (RASCAL) Demonstration program. Each team is expected to receive between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 for the nine-month phase one study. The selected teams are: Coleman Research Corp., Orlando, Fla., teamed with Vela, Pan Aero, and XCOR Aerospace; Northrop Grumman Corp., Rancho Barnardo, Calif., teamed with Orbital Sciences Corp., NASA, and Spath Engineering; Pioneer Rocketplane Corp., Solvang, Calif., teamed with Scale Composite, Microcosm, Orbitec, and HMX; Space Launch Corp., Costa Mesa, Calif., teamed with Scale Composite; Space Access-LLC, Palmdale, Calif., teamed with APRI, Honeywell, and Microcosm; and Delta Velocity, Leesburg, Va., teamed with A 2 I 2 , ATK, and Athena. Preston H. Carter, DARPA's RASCAL program manager, explained, “DARPA's vision for the RASCAL program is to design and develop a dedicated and responsive orbital insertion capability for military and commercial small satellites. The program will develop a rapid, routine, small payload delivery system capable of providing flexible access to space using a combination of reusable and low cost expendable vehicle elements.”
+++
The Italian Air Force has selected GE Aircraft Engines' (GEAE) CF6-80C2 engine to power four Boeing 767 Global Tanker Transports. The value of the engine order, based on the manufacturer's list price, is approximately $80 million. The Italian Air Force will take delivery of its first 767 Global Tanker Transport in 2005. "This represents another milestone for the CF6-80C2 engine in the military aircraft market," said Andy Solem, general manager of Turbofan and Turbojet Programs at GEAE's Military Engine Operations. "The Boeing 767 Global Tanker Transport is a new and very important program and we look forward to supporting the aircraft for many decades to come."
+++
BAE Systems/Rockwell Collins Data Link Solutions LLC (DLS) has delivered the first Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT) to the NATO Eurofighter-2000 and Tornado Development, Production and Logistics Management Agency (NETMA). This on-time delivery helps to support crucial aircraft integration and delivery schedules. Under its contract with NETMA, DLS will provide 12 MIDS LVTs for the early integration of Link 16 capability on Eurofighter aircraft at the EADS-CASA facility near Madrid, Spain, and other integration sites in Europe. Sixteen additional terminals will be provided by DLS to support production testing of Eurofighter at four sites in Europe. The incorporation of Link 16 capabilities represents a significant step in making the Eurofighter one of the most capable new generation swing-role fighters, and ensures interoperability with NATO forces.
+++
Boeing confirmed a firm order from Cathay Pacific Airways for three Boeing 777-300s. Cathay Pacific has selected Rolls Royce Trent 800 series engines to power the new airplanes. The new jetliners, to be used primarily for routes within the Asia Pacific region, will be configured with 382 seats -- 59 business class and 323 economy class. The value of the order, at Boeing list prices, is estimated to be $600 million.
+++
Namibia president Sam Nujoma maintained there is nothing wrong with Government's plans to buy two new helicopters. In fact, Nujoma said, a country like Namibia should have helicopters for the smooth running of Government affairs. Government plans to buy two Bell Agusta AB139 helicopters. The one to transport VIPs will cost US$8,383 million (N$93 million), while the multi-purpose model is set to cost US$8,021 million (N$89 million).
+++
Discussions on the Airbus A400M order continued in Germany, with the Parliament budget committee slamming defence minister Scharping for guaranteeng extensive damages to the partners if the Luftwaffe will not take 73 airlifters as planned. Some weeks ago, the committee had insisted that no such damages should be awarded now, as only 40 aicraft are ordered with the money available. Earlier in the week it had emerged that Germany, France and Britain had all signed a final deal. Those countries were now awaiting approval from five other partners for the Airbus Military A400M transporter, said a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defence.
+++
Boeing successful completion of the critical design review of the state-of- the-art radar and identification friend or foe subsystems for Australia's Project Wedgetail clears the way to build the systems' parts and components. The review was completed on schedule and confirmed that the detailed design developed by Boeing S&C teammate Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is producible, supportable, maintainable and will yield the required performance characteristics. Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, under subcontract to Boeing, is building the radar parts at its facility in Baltimore, Md. Testing of the first Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar will begin in August this year. "The design is maturing according to our predictions. We're confident we'll be able to deliver a system meeting the performance features that give the 737 AEW&C system its full military utility," said Henry Gratrix, Boeing Wedgetail Airborne Mission System manager.
+++
A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, the sixth to be produced for Northrop Grumman Corporation's high-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance system, successfully completed its first flight Tuesday, April 23, 2002. The air vehicle took off from Northrop Grumman's final assembly facility in Palmdale, Calif., and landed four hours and 27 minutes later at the Birk Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The UAV reached an altitude of approximately 61,000 feet during the flight.
+++
Boeing, the winning bidder of South Korea's F-X fighter project, on Tuesday (April 23) showed a willingness to engage in re-negotiations for the price and the offset program with the Defense Ministry. But the U.S. aerospace company cautioned that re-negotiations for a price cut would likely result in less scope of options for South Korea, emphasizing that it would meet or exceed the 70 percent requirement for local manufacturing and technology transfer. “We will meet or exceed the offset requirement,” said Douglas J. Kennett, Boeing's vice president for communications and community relations. “Nothing is fixed yet.” From Wednesday, the ministry and the U.S. company will work out the details for the contract, including re-negotiations for the price and the offset program. Currently, Boeing's offset commitment accounts for only 64.6 percent of its final bidding price of $4.46 billion.
+++
On behalf of and support to AERO Vodochody's pursuit of overseas markets, the Boeing Company, minority shareholder of Aero, has successfully obtained an export authorization in the form of a data marketing license for the L-159 aircraft to India under US export licensing regulations for marketing and sales of military equipment. The license allows Aero to provide sufficient technical data to the Ministry of Defense of India to make a decision to purchase L-159 aircraft.
+++
TRW Inc. has been selected by the Missile Defense Agency to move forward with a program to design a new liquid booster target under a $29 million, five-year development contract. The new target booster program will enhance the testing of current and future U.S. missile defense systems. “This is a major opportunity for TRW as we continue to grow our presence in the area of defensive countermeasures for the U.S. military,” said Jerry Agee, vice president and general manager, TRW Missile Defense Division. “TRW is drawing on its broad experience in rocket engine development and missile system integration to engineer a booster that will better represent the threat.” In this new role, TRW will build on its prior work and manage the design and development of the liquid booster, build and test the rocket on the ground, and build actuators for the booster. The booster design principles have been intentionally selected so that the booster could grow to support the full range of missile defense programs.
+++
Just as the airline industry was digesting the news that the Austrian Airlines Group is expanding its Austria-Japan services in its 2002 summer schedule, the company has produced another winning combination! Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer and spokesman for the Austrian Airlines Group Board of Management, announced in Tokyo that the Group was to expand its services between Vienna and Osaka. Now, Mr. Soerensen has notified journalists that the Group will not only be expanding its connections between Austria and Japan further still, but that it will also be increasing Group service frequencies to mainland Asia. “From 21 July 2002, the beginning of the holidays in Japan, our direct Vienna-Osaka-Vienna service, which currently operates five times a week, will be increased further still to seven flights a week. This increase to a daily service will be made as part of the Joint Operation Agreement with our Star Alliance Partner All Nippon Airways (ANA). We are doing this after thorough investigation with our travel industry partners in order to further develop this promising market,” explained Mr. Soerensen as he outlined the details of the expansion. “We will now operate a total of twelve direct services between the two countries for the second half of the summer schedule.
+++
Airbus has selected Smiths Aerospace to supply the landing gear deployment system for the A380 aircraft in a contract expected to be worth over $300 million. Smiths Aerospace's first system delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2003 and the A380 Superjumbo will enter into service in 2006. This is the fourth contract awarded to Smiths Aerospace on the new 555 seat aircraft. Previous awards include subcontracts for operation of wing flaps & slats, landing gear actuation, and fabricated assemblies for the wing structure. Starting in 2006, these contracts are expected to generate revenues approaching $1 billion for Smiths over the lifetime of the aircraft.
+++
By mutual consent and with immediate effect, SWISS is separating itself from Heinz Kupferschmid, until now Head of the Cargo Division. A decisive factor leading to this separation was a difference in views on the strategic direction of SWISS cargo business. Heinz Kupferschmid will continue to be available to the Management for special projects. In the interim, his post will be filled by a management team from SWISS WorldCargo.
+++
The Department of Transportation, (DOT), the American aviation authority, has approved the agreement between American Airlines which was signed in March. The two companies plan to introduce their code-sharing agreement to the first 35 destinations in the USA and Europe on May 15. SWISS and American airlines plan a wide-reaching code-sharing arrangement over their hubs in the USA and Zurich. This will apply to 128 SWISS and 234 American Airlines destinations. In addition, the two companies will collaborate on their frequent flyer programmes. This will enable members of the “Aadvantage Program”, which has the largest clientele around the world, and those of the SWISS Qualiflyer programme to collect miles on the route networks of both airlines and then redeem them. SWISS and American Airlines plan to intensify their collaboration in all fields of activity.
+++
In its last quarter, from January to March 2002, before the start-up of SWISS, Crossair carried 1,9 million passengers. Compared with last year's figure of 1,1 million for the same period, this represented an increase of 67%. The increase was largely due to the expansion of European business. The seat-load factor also showed a continuing improvement in this quarter, rising from 46.2% to 50.9%. Starting on January 15, Crossair expanded its European network to several destinations. This concerned mainly services from Zurich and Geneva, which were served by the Airbus 320 family. This led to a marked broadening of business activity and the traffic results achieved. The seat-load factor also developed in a satisfactory manner compared to last year and in the quarter under review: this important figure was increased month by month and, in March, reached 56,3%.
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The way US Air Force wings are organized will undergo major changes beginning Oct. 1. Those changes include creation of a new maintenance group, restructuring support groups and reducing the tasking of operations groups. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper directed April 22 that all Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard wings adopt the new standard wing structure to enhance the service's warfighting capabilities. “After careful deliberations with major command commanders, we reached a decision on a new wing organizational structure that will standardize operations across the Air Force and enhance our expeditionary capabilities,” Jumper said.
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Saab Ericsson Space is giving notice to 60 employees at its Gothenburg plant. The measures being taken now are the result of a decreasing international telecommunications market and a shrinking Swedish space budget. Saab Ericsson Space has operations in Gothenburg, Linköping and Austria, employing a total of 680 personnel. There are 490 employees in Gothenburg and the notice applies especially to those involved in international telecommunications projects and state-financed space projects in all service categories and product areas.
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Throughout this week, the European Space Agency (ESA) is playing host to a group of forty young engineers and scientists from all over Europe, who will co-design a satellite. The workshop is taking place at ESA's sophisticated Concurrent Design Facility (CDF). This is the third workshop organised by the Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative (SSETI) of the ESA Education Office. Students from 20 European universities are in the process of designing the European Student Earth Orbiting satellite (ESEO). The students' design passed its feasibility phase review at ESTEC, and now the teams are working on a more detailed design of the satellite. The workshop is expected to be a very productive week, which will bring students one step closer to being able to "launch their dream".
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An Air Force and aerospace industry team successfully launched a quick reaction launch vehicle here on April 24. The rocket launched at 2 p.m. ADT and flew a sub-orbital flight for a little more than seven minutes before hitting the ocean as scheduled in the Gulf of Alaska about 375 miles downrange. The QRLV-2 was a 30-foot long single-stage vehicle weighing about 14,000 pounds. The primary objective of the $13.5 million QRLV-2 mission was to provide a theater ballistic missile scenario in support of the Alaskan Command Northern Edge 2002 exercise. This is an annual joint-service arctic-weather training exercise involving more than 7,500 troops from all branches of the U.S. armed forces and Alaska-region Canadian forces.
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In “The World Market for Large Commercial Jet Transports,” Forecast International/DMS projects that 6,895 large commercial jet transports, worth some $550 billion, will be produced from 2002 to 2011. “We expect annual production of these aircraft to decrease this year (2002) and next (2003), but to begin gradually increasing in 2004,” said Raymond Jaworowski, Senior Aerospace Analyst and author of the study. According to the Forecast International/DMS study, a total of 667 large commercial jet transports will be produced in 2002, followed by 614 aircraft in 2003. The peak production year of the forecast timeframe is expected to be 2010, with production that year of an estimated 771 aircraft. The Forecast International/DMS study also predicts that Boeing will manufacture 3,587 large commercial jets, worth $316 billion, over the next 10 years. This represents 52 percent of total unit deliveries and 57.4 percent of total market value. During the same time period, Airbus is projected to produce 3,163 aircraft (45.9 percent) worth $229.5 billion (41.7 percent). These totals do not include the Airbus A318 or the Boeing 717, as Forecast International/DMS considers these two aircraft to be regional airliners.
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Pratt & Whitney Engine Services, Inc. (PWES) has significantly upgraded and expanded its fly-in engine repair and service capabilities through the construction of a new, 17,000-sq.-ft. hangar at Harrison Marion Regional Airport (CKB). The hangar, leased from the Benedum Airport Authority, was custom built for PWES and more than triples its current hangar space. The new hangar represents the fourth major expansion of PWES' Bridgeport facility since it was established in 1971. PWES overhauls and repairs turboprop and turbofan engines and components manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC).
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The Algerian airline Khalifa Airways has entrusted the maintenance of its Airbus A340 fleet and one A320 to Lufthansa Technik under a Total Technical Support TTS contract. Over the next five years the two Airbus A340-300 long-haul jetliners it has leased from Boeing Aircraft Trading and the Airbus A320-200 medium-haul aircraft leased from Lufthansa German Airlines will be serviced at the Khalifa facility under a flexible customized arrangement exemplifying the "closer to the customer" policy. To ensure a reliable logistic framework, 13 mechanics and other personnel will be stationed in Algiers. Already in June 2000 Lufthansa Technik took over the Total Technical Support TTS for three A319-100, also leased from Lufthansa.
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With its complete takeover of California-based Hawker Pacific Aerospace, Lufthansa Technik AG (LHT) has strengthened its worldwide involvement in the business of servicing landing gears, hydraulic components, brakes and wheels. In addition to its own shops in Hamburg, through Hawker Pacific it has shops in Amsterdam, London and Sun Valley, California. In December 2000 Lufthansa Technik had acquired a majority interest in the company, a leader in the overhaul of landing gears. It subsequently made a tender offer followed by a freeze-out-merger for the remaining shares and has now acquired those also. With nearly 500 employees at three locations, Hawker Pacific Aerospace commands 20% of the market for overhauling the landing gears of large commercial aircraft. Even before being taken over by LHT, it was the world's second-largest provider of that service. Its London facility services mainly the landing gears of all Boeing aircraft types.
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Czech cabinet ministers have approved a 1,54 million Dollar deal for 24 JAS 39 Gripen fighters that includes a 15-year financing package and a 150 per cent offset package. The plan must still be voted in parliament.
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Boeing leaders have denied any plans to invest in insolvent regional aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier. In interviews they said it is difficult to make money in that market. CEO Phil Condit was less definite on the companies position.
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Team DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht e.V.) has taken delivery of two EC 135 in EMS configuration. This is the start of a fleet renewal plan, which foresees the introductionof eleven machines to 2009, as replacement for the Bo 105s.
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