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UPDATE
Week ending September 22, 1996
+++ Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH pushes Taurus/KEPD 350 +++ BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 gets FAA ticket +++ Stuttgart airport to exclude noisy aircraft +++ Talks on Fokker future continue +++ Berlin airports reduce losses +++ Lufthansa CityLine headquarter to move to Cologne +++ LITEF clinches GPS/INS for German Tornado upgrade +++ News in Brief ++ +
Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH pushes Taurus/KEPD 350
Taurus/KEPD 350 neuer Favorit der Luftwaffe
Germany "could save billions of DM compared to the current plans" if it goes for the Taurus/KEPD 350 system, says Robert Staudacher, member of the LFK management board. Referring to the current discussions within the government departments concerning a possible switch from the Matra Apache stand-off weapon to Taurus, LFK claims that "price- and performance-wise, Taurus/KEPD 350 is No 1 in Europe". According to Staudacher, "Taurus/KEPD 350 fullfills the technical/operational demands and priorities of our German customer. Rigorous design-to-cost principles and the most modern production techniques make our missiles much cheaper than competing products which were conceived at the beginning of the 80s".
The main technical advantages of Taurus are listed by LFK (Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH, a joint subisidary of Dasa and Aérospatiale) as:
- a modular avionics system
- GPS, INS and Ternav systems in an integrated package
- a new infrared seeker based on Polyphem experience
- a penetrating warhead already tested at Meppen
- Williams engine for a Mach 0.8 speed at low level
- low radar and infrared signatures
"The pending decisions on Taurus/KEPD 350" are of extreme importance, concludes Staudacher. "The future systems capabilities and many high-quality jobs in Germany´s missile industry are at stake".
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BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 gets FAA ticket
FAA-Zulassung für das BR710
For the first time, a German jet engine has been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The BR710, developed by BMW Rolls-Royce, received the important approval on September 18, some weeks after its certification by the European JAA (Joint Aviation Authorities). First users of the new turbofan are the Gulfstream GV and Bombardier Global Express business jets. The GV heads for certification this year, while the Global Express should start its flight test programme this month. Other applications for the BR700 engine family include the BAe Nimrod 2000 MPA and the McDonnell Douglas MD-95-30 airliner.
Meanwhile BMW Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement with MTU for the latter to perform pass-off tests of production engines at its Ludwigsfelde facilities. These are close to BMW R-R´s own factory at Dahlewitz. Both sites are in the state of Brandenburg, whose Government supported the move.
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Stuttgart airport to exclude noisy aircraft
Nur noch Stage 3-Flugzeuge in Stuttgart erlaubt
Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH is seeking approval to exclude all aircraft which do not meet ICAO Chapter 3 noise limits from next May. This, says the Ministry for Environment and Transport of Baden-Württemberg, is a first in Germany. "We will take the lead in noise abatement", said minister Schaufler, who noted that from 2002 Stage 2 aircraft will be banned from German skies anyway. A hearing is scheduled before the end of the year to give interested parties a chance to present their arguments before a final decision is made.
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Talks on Fokker future continue
Weitere Gespräche über die Zukunft von Fokker
South Korean Samsung Aerospace Industries remains the most likely candidate for a resurrection of Fokker NV, which is in the process of building the last regional airliners ordered before the Fokker bankruptcy. Complications could arise, however, after Netherlands Stork has capparently changed its mind and now says it has no interest to sell the Fokker Aviation unit, which is responsible for spares support. Without this profitable entity, which is important for world-wide product support, a new owner of the manufacturing facilities would clearly be at a disadvantage.
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Berlin airports reduce losses
Geringere Verluste der Berliner Flughafenholding
For the first time, the three Berlin airports at Tegel, Tempelhof and Schönefeld have achieved an operating profit. From January to June they netted DM six million. High interest rates and other negative factors conspired to produce an overall loss of DM 11 million, still an improvement over 1995, when full year losses totalled DM 47,8 million (70,6 million in 1994). As before, Tegel is the best performer, with an opertion profit in the first six months up from 35 to 52,2 million DM. Tempelhof lost DM 16,6 million on operations, and Schönefeld 26,3 million DM. According to Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen Holding GmbH, passenger traffic was up 7,3 percent and freight 11,2 percent up to June.
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Lufthansa CityLine headquarter to move to Cologne
CityLine verlegt Verwaltung nach Köln/Bonn
Lufthansa CityLine plans to concentrate its activities on Cologne/Bonn from mid-1998. The move to close down administrative offices at Kriftel/Taunus was approved by the supervisory board on September 18, though it still depends on the positive outcome of ongoing negotiations with Cologne/Bonn airport.CityLines engineering facilities are already at Cologne/Bonn. The regional airline will operate 46 aircraft by the end of the year, including 28 Canadair RegionalJets, 15 Avro RJ85s and three remaining Fokker 50turboprops.
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LITEF clinches GPS/INS for German Tornado upgrade
GPINS von LITEF für Tornado-Modernisierung
LITEF, the German division of Litton, has won the contract for the development of a new combined Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) to be fitted to German Panavia Tornados. It won against bids from GEC and Honeywell. GPIN, as the system is called by the manufacturer, is based on the LN-110G laser-gyro INS as already ordered for aircraft like McDonnell Douglas T-45 and F/A-18, Boeing E-3 AWACS or BAe Sea Harriers. It will sharply improve navigation accuracy and especially lower maintenance hours compared to the current system, which has proven to be very unreliable.LITEF, based in Freiburg, will be responsible for the adaptation and integration of GPIN into the Tornado systems. Flight tests are due to start in 1998, with deliveries to follow in 1999. According to Litton, value of the deal is approximately four million US-Dollars (6 Mio. DM). Should options for up to 700 systems be taken up (including Italy and Great Britain), that could increase to over 50 million US-Dollars.
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NEWS IN BRIEF - KURZMELDUNGEN
Vienna airport reports a profit of 263 million Shillings for the first half of the year, down 15 million on the same period in 1995.+++
On September 16, France has officially decomissioned its remaining land-based medium-range nuclear missiles. The S3-Ds, based on the Plateau d´Albion in southern France, had a range of 3500 km and a one megaton warhead. According to President Chacques Chirac, the country will now rely on its submarine fleet and air-launched missiles for its "ultimate security".
+++
Aérospatiale, heading for a merger with Dassault and ultimate privatisation, has officially reported encouraging financial figures for the first half of 1996. Net income was 273 million Francs, compared to a loss of 105 million in the first six months of 1995. This turnaround came despite slightly decreased sales volume of 23,11 billion Francs (instead of 24,63), mainly due to lower delivery rates of Airbus A340/A330s. By contrast, orders went up from 20,4 to 23,3 billion Francs, with more successes in recent weeks pointing to a very good full-year figure. Net debt came down by 2,9 billion to 3,6 billion Francs.
+++
The European Regional Airlines Association (ERA) will hold its annual general assembly at Hannover Airport from October 2 to 4. More than 400 delegates are expected to participate, and aircraft like the ATR 42, Embraer EMB-145, Fairchild Dornier 328 and Saab 2000 will be on display. ERA has more than 60 airline members. Its web site is at http://www.eraa.org.
+++
Bernd Kessler is new managing director of AlliedSignal Aerospace GmbH at Raunheim. He replaces Willian E. Jacobson, who returns to the States.
+++
Carl F. Schroth GmbH, based at Arnsberg, has been selected by Martin-Baker for the harness restraint system on the seats the UK company is developing for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. For Schroth, this success came after a year of intensive development work. It could lead to sales of mor than 1,3 million US-Dollars, says Carl-Jürgen Schroth.
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Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated September 22, 1996