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UPDATE

Week ending November 24, 1996

Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier sign agreement for new service-center +++ Bell and Boeing to build civil tiltrotor +++ Boeing and Lockheed Martin choosen for JSF +++ Aviation Project between China and Europe Launched +++ CAE Elektronik demonstrates networked simulation +++ Northrop Grumman E-8Cs return to Bosnian operation +++ Air France changes orders for ist long-haul fleet aircraft +++ Luftwaffe to build CRC at Berlin +++ Lufthansa Technik to maintain V2500 for SAS +++ News in brief +++

Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier sign agreement for new service-center
Neues Service-Center von Lufthansa Technik und Bombardier für Geschäftsreise-Jets

Bombardier Aviation Services and Lufthansa Technik are going to build a European service-center for Bombardier business aircraft in Berlin. Both companies signed a MoU on November 19. The joint-venture will be based at the Schönefeld airport.
In the new service-center, which will start ist operation mid of next year, maintenance for Lear 31A, 45, 60, Canadair Challenger as well as the brand-new Global Express aircraft will be carried out. So up to 100 additional jobs will be created, a Lufthansa technik spokesman said.. A total of 185 Learjet and Challenger aircraft are currently based in Europe.

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Bell and Boeing to build civil tiltrotor
Ziviler Kipprotor für Geschäftsreisende geplant

Bell and Boeing on November 18 announced that they will set up a joint venture for the development of a six-to-nine passenger civilian tiltrotor aircraft, named the BellBoeing 609. This official decision follows two years of extensive customer surveys conducted by both companies. Customer segments for the small tiltrotor are expected to initially include US and foreign governments, corporate, emergency medical service and offshore oilfield support.
"Civil and commercial tiltrotors will provide a much-needed cpability to improve world transportation systems", said Jim Morris, Boeing Helicopters vice president and general manager. "This new tiltrotor fulfills the technologiy 's dual use potential", Bell chairman Webb Joiner added. The BellBoeing 609 is expected to be available form 2001 at an estimated price of eight to ten million US-Dollars. The first of three prototypes is to fly in 1999.

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Boeing and Lockheed Martin choosen for JSF
Joint Strike Fighter: Prototypen von Boeing and Lockheed Martin

McDonnell Douglas was eliminated from the JSF competition on November 16, when the Pentagon announced that Boeing and Lockheed Martin will continue with the prototype phase of the future US fighter aircraft. The two aerospace giants got contracts worth 661 million and 718 million Dollars respectively to build two aircraft each for the flight tests which will start before the year 2000. The final winner will get the potentially huge market of over 3000 JSFs for the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and Royal Navy alone, meaning 170 billion Dollars of business in the first decades of the next century.

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Aviation Project between China and Europe Launched
Europa unterstützt Chinesische Luftfahrtindustrie

A long-term co-operation program between European and Chinese aerospace industries has been announced November 20 at a symposium taking place in Tianjin's China Civil Aviation Institute. It marks for the first time that European aerospace industries have been grouped under one program to work with Chinese counterparts.
Organized by Airbus Industrie, the symposium marks the first of a series of actions to be jointly undertaken by the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA), the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), and the Aviation Industries of China (AVIC), said a press liaison official with Airbus Industries China.
Experts from Europe's Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA), Airbus Industrie, and other European aerospace companies, made presentations on topics ranging from the organization of the JAA, its regulations and work procedures, to ways of reaching safety levels through technology, industrial handling, support to operators and safety management, he added.
The two-and-a-half-year program, co-financed by the European Commission, the European Aerospace industries and the Chinese government, will provide Chinese aviation personnel with training courses, seminars and visits to European facilities, according to a memorandum on aeronautical co-operation signed last week in China by Wu Yi, China's Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, and Sir Leon Brittan, vice-president of the European Commission. The program will focus on the four themes of airworthiness, certification and regulations, product support and maintenance, product management, and air traffic management.

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CAE Elektronik demonstrates networked simulation
Vernetzung von Simulatoren in verschiedenen Ländern vorgeführt

In mid-November, CAE Elektronik at Stolberg near Aachen has successfully demonstrated the networking of various simulation facilities in Europe. Using ISDN-services of the participating nations, a Tornado simulator and a multi-function trainer at Stolberg, two F-16 simulators in the UK, a Spanish and a Netherlands ground-control centre plus simulated target inputs from Italy and Turkey were hooked together to provide a realistic intercept scenario. Different aircraft were vectored together to identify a maneuvering target and return home to base.
This sort of exercise could be helpful to improve preparations for crisis reaction forces composed of various national assets. The demonstration, attended by delegates of European defence ministries and research establishments, is part of a four year project coordinated by CAE Elektronik. Contributing are also the Tübitak/Marmara Research Centre, Agusta Sistemi, Indra (formerly Ceselsa), Thomson Training & Simulation (formerly Link-Miles) and TNO Defence Research, Den Haag.

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Northrop Grumman E-8Cs return to Bosnian operation
JointSTARS wieder in Rhein-Main

In mid-November, two E-8C JointSTARS aircraft from the 93rd Air control Wing at Robins Air Force Base (Georgia) have deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base for an estimated 60 to 90 days. They will fly operational missions over Bosnia to monitor the withdrawal of Implementation Force personnel and insertion of covering forces in the Bosnia-Herzegovina region. Airborne Air Force crews will forward collected surveillance information to Army ground station modules that in turn pass the information to field commanders.
The deployment includes 350 Air force and Army people fron the 93rd ACW and teh Joint Test Force, Melbourne, als well as contractor people from Northrop Grumman and E-Systems. The JointSTARS was in action over Bosnia already last year, as the Implementation Force moved in after the Dayton peace agreement.

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Air France changes orders for ist long-haul fleet aircraft
Neue Langstreckenflotten-Politik bei Air France

On November 20, Air France, the ailing French national carrier, announced ist new long-haul fleet policy. Due to its precarious financial situation at the end of 1994, Air France was forced to freeze ist existing aircraft orders, particularly a large contract with Boeing dating back to 1989, and, in the following months, to renegotiate interim agreements with ist two suppliers, Airbus and Boeing.
Now, following a strict fleet rationalization program in which the number of aircraft types has been reduced, Air France raises its firm orders for the Airbus A340-300E from five to ten. The carrier, currently operating eleven A340s, has also taken out options on five more A340-300Es, which, when converted into firm orders, would increase the A340 fleet to over 20 aircraft in total. In addition, Air France managed to come to a new agreement with Boeing. The existing orders for seven 767-300s and eight 737-500s will be replaced by firm orders for ten B777-200 plus ten options.
At the same time as it announced the new orders, Air France said it is expecting a net profit for the six months to September 30 of 802 million FF, the best half year result since 1989. This compares with a loss of 335 million FF for the corresponding period in 1995. The improvement was in spite of an increase infuel costs of about 500 million FF.

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Luftwaffe to build CRC at Berlin
Dornier baut Luftverteidigungszentrum in Berlin

On November 18, Dorniers Information- and Communications Division at Friedrichshafen has received a contract to establich a new Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) for the German Luftwaffe. It will be located at Berlin an should be ready in three-years time. Partners in the 40 million DM project are Hughes Aircraft co., the SEMA Group GmbH (Ismaning) and Hewlett-Packard (Ulm).
The new CRC will be linked to various radar sites and AWACS aircraft to establisch a complete picture of the airborne situation over Germany. To this end, complete integration in the NATO networks is achieved.

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Lufthansa Technik to maintain V2500 for SAS
SAS läßt V2500-Triebwerke bei Lufthansa warten

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) will be having its V2500-D5 engines built by International Aero Engines (IAE) maintained and overhauled by Lufthansa Technik (LHT). A contract to that effect was signed today on November 22 in Hamburg. The Scandinavian carrier is using the V2500-D5 on MD90 aircraft from McDonnell Douglas. SAS introduced its first aircraft of this type into service earlier this month and has seven more on order. "LHT was a natural choice for us for the maintenance and overhaul of our V2500-D5 engines," said Christer Toememo, SAS director of business development and contracts.

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NEWS IN BRIEF - KURZMELDUNGEN

A Rheinmetall-led consortium has been choosen as the new owner of STN Atlas Electronik part of the bankrupt Vulcan company. Partners in the deal, which could be consummated before year-end, are Badenwerk AG in Karlsruhe with 25 percent and British Aerospace with 49 per cent . Offers are on the table to include Mannesmann and Wegman, which lost out in the bidding.
+++
In mid-November, MAN Technologie has delivered the 100th thrust frame for the Ariane launcher. This aluminium frame distributes the 535 tons of thrust of the first-stage engines during launch. 60 employees are producing 12 frames per year at the Augsburg plant.
+++
McDonnell Douglas has reduced the purchase price for its newest helicopter products, it was announced on November 19. establishing them in a more competitive position in their market segments. "Our products are superior but our prices have been too high," said Erv Hunter, vice president of McDonnell Douglas' light helicopter division..m "This step, and others we will take, will make us a much stronger competitor." The twin-turbine, eight place MD 902 Explorer, which will be certified to the very strict Federal Aviation Administration Category A safety standards, now sells for $3.6 million, a $500,000 reduction. The new lower price includes the helicopter's preferred option package, which was previously priced at about $500,000. The new single-turbine, eight-place MD 600N, which is expected to receive Federal Aviation Administration type certification within three weeks, sells for $1.25 million, down from $1.36 million.
+++
Kamov has rolled out the prototype of its new Ka-52 attack helicopter on November 19. The two-seat development of the Ka-50 is intended for all-weather recce, target allocation and as command helicopter of a squadron in action. According to Kamov, the price of the Ka-52 will be reasonable as many parts of the Ka-50 are used. The pilots sit side-by-side. Up to now, a dozen Ka-50 have been produced. Meanwhile, the first flight of the Mil Mi-28N attack helicopter with night capabilities is expected before the end of November.
+++
On November 20, Lufthansa CityLine and Bombardier have announced the creation of an executive charter service for Europe. The new joint venture, to be based at Lufthansa facilities at Berlin-Schönefled Airport, will be operational in the spring of 1997. It will have al link to Lufthansa's Amadeus computer reservation system to provide customers with seamles service. "Customers will benefit from rapid resposnse times, competitive hourly charter rates, and Lufthansa's recognized service. They will be offered the right aircraft for their mission", stated Michael Graff, president, Bombardier business aircraft.
+++
On November 21, Debonair has started new services from Rome to Munich and Munich to Copenhagen. Also, the UK low-cost carrier announced that it will introduce state of the art interactive inflight enterteinment systems to its BAe 146 jets from early next year. "We are particularly delighted to be pioneering a new approach to inflight entertainment for short haul airlines", said Franco Mancassola, Debonair Chariman and Chief Executive. The systems will be built by Interactive Flight Technologies.
+++
Lufthansa is intensifying its electronic interactive marketing. Under the name of "Lufthansa InfoFlyway", there is a CD-ROM with schedule information and more. Also, Lufthansa is present at AOL, CompuServe and T-Online. The World Wide Web site (www.lufthansa.com) will allow online flight bookings from mid-November.
+++
NH Industries is perparing the second NH90 prototype for its first flight, planned to take place just before Christmas. The helicopter will be fitted with a fly-by-wire system, so vigorous tests are necessary before take-off to ensure safety. PT1 meanwhile was in the air for around 60 hours, clearing the complete flight envelope, NH Industry claims.
+++
A Lockheed Martin Astronautics Atlas IIA rocket successfully launched the Hot Bird 2 television broadcast satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit on November 21, from Complex 36, Pad B at Cape Canaveral. It was the sixth successful Atlas launch of 1996 from Cape Canaveral Air Station and the 26th consecutive successful flight. Hot Bird 2 will be operated by EUTELSAT, the Paris-based consortium of 45 member nations and signatories, which is a leading provider of satellite- based communication and broadcast services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Hot Bird 2 was built by Matra Marconi Space in Toulouse, France. Once in final orbit at 13 degrees East, Hot Bird 2 will be operated in the frequency band reserved specifically for direct television broadcasts.

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Previous updates are still available:

LRI Fakten - News from the BDLI

The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI, Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie e.V.) is publishing a monthly newsletter, which we are pleased to offer to our international readership online. Just klick here for the September/October issue of LRI Fakten.

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Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated November 23, 1996