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UPDATE 
Week ending April 16, 2000
+++ Alenia and EADS in European alliance +++ Columbus flight structure handover in Turin +++ Takeover of Fairchild completed +++ SAS orders Airbus long-range and single-aisle models +++ K-MAX orders from Germany and Austria +++ SAirGroup responds to the Swiss Federal Council decision on noise levels +++ News in brief +++

Alenia and EADS in European alliance
Italiener geben EADS den Vorzug vor BAE

On April 14, Finmeccanica and the partners of the future group EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), have signed a Heads of Agreement for the creation of a joint venture company in the field of military and civil aircraft, which shall be implemented by the end of this year. This agreement is a natural step in the long-standing co-operation among Finmeccanica, Dasa and CASA in combat aircraft (Tornado, Eurofighter) and between Finmeccanica and Aerospatiale Matra in regional planes (ATR), it was claimed at the signing ceremony in Rome.
The joint venture company will have 17.000 employees and pro-forma revenues of over 2,5 billion Euros. It will be an equal partnership on a 50:50 basis by Finmeccanica and EADS with a corporate governance based on equal rights between the partners. It will encompass all the military and civil activities of Alenia Aeronautica/ Finmeccanica, the combat aircraft activities of Dasa and CASA as well as aerostructures activities of Dasa's military aircraft division. Relevant industrial and technological improvements are expected for the industrial activities of all the companies concerned. The new company will have a leading position in the military aircraft business in Europe and outstanding aerostructures activities. It will hold the majority share in the Eurofighter programme, the largest European military aircraft procurement in history. The company will also have a leading position in various future aeronautical programmes. EADS intends to further link Finmeccanica with the Airbus system: Finmeccanica has been invited to join the Airbus Integrated Company as a shareholder, with an option for five percent stake, and will have a participation of up to ten percent in the future A3XX programme.
BAE Systems commented that a partnership with Finmeccanica, which controls Alenia, would have been "nice" but was was not strategically vital to BAe Systems. The company was quick to point out that the offer of a five per cent stake inAirbus "cannott be delivered without our agreement".

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Columbus flight structure handover in Turin
Übergabe der Columbus-Modulstruktur in Turin

At a ceremony to be held at Alenia Spazio in Turin, Italy, on Friday 14 April, in the presence of the ESA Director General Antonio Rodota and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Sergio de Julio, the Columbus flight structure has been handed over to ESA by ASI. On the same occasion, the Environmental Control and Life Support Subsystem (ECLSS) ownership transfer from ESA to ASI was formalised. Columbus, the cornerstone of ESA's contribution to the International Space Station, which is currently being assembled in orbit, is a scientific laboratory scheduled for launch in 2004. Astronauts from Europe and elsewhere will be able to use it to conduct material sciences, medicine, biology and technology experiments, many eventually leading to benefits in commercial processes or everyday life on Earth. The Environmental Control and Life Support Subsystem, composed of fans, heat exchangers, sensors, and motorised and pneumatic valves, all operated and monitored via the onboard computer, provides comfortable working conditions inside the space laboratories. In particular the system controls temperature, humidity and ventilation, regulates atmospheric pressure, detects fire and monitors contamination of the living environment.
In mid-1994, ESA had embarked on a serious "design-to-cost" exercise to revive a European participation in the International Space Station ISS. The main thrust of this effort was to make Columbus a four-rack module, similar in length to the ASI Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), in order to radically reduce the programme`s design and operational costs. In the second half of 1994, and into 1995, ESA and ASI reached an agreement that ESA would design and verify an Environmental Control and Life Support Subsystem which would satisfy the requirements of both the MPLM and the Columbus laboratory, and would deliver to ASI engineering models, three sets of flight hardware, some spares and the ground support equipment for the MPLM. ESA would then use this equipment for its Columbus module.

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Takeover of Fairchild completed
Investoren schließen Übernahme von Fairchild ab

On April 13, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. ("CD&R"), a leading private equity investor, announced that an investment fund managed by CD&R, in conjunction with Allianz Capital Partners ("ACP"), an affiliate of Allianz Group, completed the acquisition of Fairchild Aerospace Corp. ("Fairchild/Dornier"). Fairchild is the parent company of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH and is based near Munich. The total amount of available funds is approximately (US)$1.2 billion and includes an injection of $400 million in growth capital from CD&R and ACP and debt financing of nearly $800 million from a consortium of German commercial banks and other institutions. Fairchild/Dornier will use the proceeds for the development and production of its newest generation of aircraft. "This transaction demonstrates the constructive role private equity can play in the world economy by supporting promising corporate expansion programs with needed growth capital," said Charles P. Pieper, a principal of CD&R who is Chairman of Fairchild/Dornier. CD&R and ACP acquired Fairchild/Dornier from a group of investors led by Carl Albert, who stepped down from the position of Chairman and CEO but will remain a director of the Company. Prior to joining CD&R, Mr. Pieper was a senior operating executive at The General Electric Company. During his 16 years with GE, he served as CEO of several international businesses.

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SAS orders Airbus long-range and single-aisle models
Airbus erhält Auftrag von SAS

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has signed a contract with Airbus Industrie for the purchase of six A330-300 widebody twins and four A340-300 four-engined long-range aircraft as well as for twelve A321 single-aisle jetliners. These orders follow earlier announcements by the airline. With the introduction of the A330/A340 Family, SAS will increase the number of seats available on intercontinental flights by up to 50 per cent, while cargo capacity will increase by 40 per cent. At the same time SAS purchased twelve Airbus Industrie A321 single-aisle aircraft, making a very significant switch from its existing aircraft supplier for European operations. To date over 560 A330s and A340s have been ordered by 54 customers, while 2,345 A320 Family aircraft have been sold to 98 customers worldwide. A total of 1,500 aircraft from both families are currently in operation around the world.

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K-MAX orders from Germany and Austria
Neue Aufträge für den K-MAX von Kaman

Kaman Aerospace has announced the first sale this year of a K-MAX "aerial truck" helicopter with the recent aircraft delivery to Heli-Air Zagel Lufttransport AG of Hersburck, Germany. Heli-Air Zagel, which is a cooperative venture with Helog AG of Kussnacht, Switzerland, plans to use the K-MAX in forest logging operations, aerial applications and general construction. Also, Wucher Helicopters, GmbH, of Ludesh, Austria has ordered a K-MAX. Wucher, which has been involved in the external lift market in Austria for some time with various smaller aircraft, purchased the K-MAX helicopter to take advantage of the aircraft's performance in general construction and logging operations in Austria and other European Union countries. On March 28, 2000, Kaman received Type Validation for K-MAX from Austria's civil aviation authority. In addition to Austria and the U. S., K-MAX has previously been certified in Canada, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

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SAirGroup responds to the Swiss Federal Council decision on noise levels
Streit um Lärmbegrenzungen

The permissible noise levels that have been set for Swiss national airports by the Swiss Federal Council establish clear limits on Swiss civilian aviation, particularly in regard to night-time flight operations. As the primary client of Swiss national airports, the SAirGroup will be subject to the added costs associated with these noise levels more than any other entity. The extent of the additional costs cannot currently be estimated. Permissible noise levels that have balance between justified claims of people residing near airports and the overall financial and economic interests of the country are also in the long-term interest of the airports and the airlines that use them. The noise levels established by the Swiss Federal Council take a more comprehensive view of the issue than did earlier suggested levels. The fixing of sensitivity levels II and III at a uniform 65 dB(A) is a welcome decision that is also based on scientific studies. This decision takes into consideration the fact that airport regions are going to be more noisy than other regions in a given country. These levels also ensure that zones subject to mild-to-significant aviation noise will not develop into pure residential areas, a fact that will prevent additional people from being exposed to significant aviation-related noises. Conversely, the permissible noise levels allow communities located near airports to further develop in zones that are subjected to lower levels of aviation-related noise.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

The Cryogenics Testbed Facility, a new venture in technology and research collaboration, were unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 14. NASA, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and the University of Florida partnered with Dynacs Engineering Co. to set in motion the development of the Cryogenics Testbed. The State of Florida invested $750,000 for facility design and construction. NASA contributed $1.56 million for test support equipment. Dynacs invested $20,000 for start-up and marketing. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and the University of Florida offered consulting support and analysis to Dynacs as they created a business model for customers desiring such services. NASA and Dynacs Engineering Co. will jointly manage the facility. KSC's Cryogenics Testbed facilities include the Cryogenics Test Laboratory, Liquid Nitrogen Flow Test Area, Hazardous Test Area and the Launch Equipment Test Facility. There are four technology focus areas, or core lines of work, that are linked to key targets of the long-range strategic initiatives of NASA. They include thermal insulation systems, cryogenic components, propellant process systems, and low temperature applications.
+++
The Boeing Joint Strike Fighter One Team has installed the engine that will power the Boeing JSF X-32A concept demonstrator through flight testing. Designated the YF004, the engine has successfully completed 45 hours of acceptance testing at engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney's (UTX) facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. "We projected a day to install the exhaust system into the airframe, but we did it in less than two hours," said Steve Kyle, Boeing JSF propulsion manager. "We also planned a day to install and pin the engine, and that took only four hours.
+++
The Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche program has won approval to begin its $3.1 billion engineering and manufacturing development phase. The new U.S. Army Aviation Modernization Plan also has recommended acquisition of more than 1,200 Comanche helicopters valued at nearly $34 billion over the production cycle of the program. A Department of Defense Acquisition Board Milestone II assessment, an important step in a complex series of program reviews, certified that the Comanche program is properly planned and administered, has successfully completed all demonstration/validation phase program requirements, and may start EMD immediately after contract formalization. "The Milestone II review and the Aviation Modernization Plan both are affirmations of Comanche's tremendous potential for enhancing the Army's future war-fighting capabilities," said Comanche Team Director Arthur Linden. "The program has met or exceeded every customer requirement, and we're now ready to establish a firm foundation for production, on schedule and on cost."
+++
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, a member of Team Airborne Laser (ABL), has begun fabrication of the revolutionary, high-energy laser weapon system's turret assembly at its Sunnyvale, Calif., facility. The turret assembly, located on the nose of the system's modified 747-400 Freighter aircraft, houses a rotating 1.5-meter telescope designed to locate hostile missiles while in their boost phase. The turret assembly is one part of Lockheed Martin's overall Beam Control/Fire Control (BC/FC) system that ensures the laser is accurately aligned and pointed at its target. The turret assembly is housed in a "roll shell" that allows it to rotate 150 degrees in order to track the moving missile. The complete Roll Shell is to be delivered to Boeing for integration into the modified 747 in the spring of 2001.
+++
The next mission of the Ariane 5 heavy-lift launcher has been postponed due to the unavailability of the Astra 2B satellite - one of the two payloads planned for this mission. Originally scheduled for May 23, Flight 130 was slated to have lofted Astra 2B for the Société Européenne de Satellites (SES) and the GE-7 satellite for U.S. operator GE Americom. The lift-off of Arianespace's next mission, Flight 129, is on schedule for April 18. This launch will carry the Galaxy IVR satellite for PanAmSat Corporation of the U.S., and will use an Ariane 4 equipped with two liquid-propellant strap-on boosters. Arianespace is now planning Flight 130 for July, with the choice of launch vehicle to be based on the availability of customer satellite payloads. Arianespace is working with its clients to revise the launch manifest over the near- and medium term, with mission timing and choice of launcher versions depending on the delivery of its customer satellites in French Guiana.
+++
In its first year of revenue service with Condor Flugdienst, the new Boeing 757-300 has achieved a reliability rate of 99.64 percent -- the highest rate ever by any commercial airplane model in its first year of operation. This means that during the year, 99.64 percent of 757-300 flights departed as scheduled. The single-aisle twinjet, a derivative of the Boeing 757-200, went into revenue service with Condor on March19, 1999. During the past year, the German holiday carrier has flown its fleet of seven 757-300s on routes from German cities to southern Europe and northern Africa. Condor has used each 757-300 an average of 8.7 hours per day.
+++
Boeing has announced that Impulse Airlines will take delivery of five new Boeing 717-200s, becoming the first operator in Australia to fly the 717-200s. Impulse, a New South Wales-based regional airline, will lease three airplanes from Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing Co., and two from Pembroke Capital Ltd. They will be the first 717s in the South Pacific region. The first of the new 717s is due in Australia at the end of this month. The fleet quickly will increase to five airplanes by the end of the year.
+++
Aerolineas Baleares (AB) has selected the Boeing 717-200. AB, a subsidiary of Spanair in Spain has announced its intention to purchase three Boeing 717-200 airplanes with options for up to another 17 airplanes. Deliveries of the airplanes are scheduled to begin in June this year. "We are pleased to welcome AB to the growing family of 717 operators. The 717-200 is a truly global jetliner, with many European suppliers," said Stonecipher during a visit to Rolls-Royce Deutschland, the exclusive manufacturer of the 717 engine.Earlier this month, Spanair announced its launch of AB and its plans to connect the Balearic Islands with the mainland. Future plans include key domestic routes in Spain, and international flights.
+++
Agusta has been awarded a contract by the United States Coast Guard calling for the supply of Agusta A109 Powers for the USCG's HITRON TEN program. (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron TEN). The USCG's contract calls for 2 A109 Powers with an option for an additional 6 A109 Powers next year. Initial deliveries are scheduled for September 2000. Following a one-year trial validating the interdiction and neutralisation of high-speed marine smuggling operations concept, HITRON has now become a permanent USCG mission. The armed A109 Powers will be equipped with advanced FLIR, a state-of-the-art mission equipment package, and will be powered by FADEC controlled Pratt & Whitney 206C engines. The aircraft will be embarked on USCG cutters, operating in US and international waters.
+++
In a meeting of Dr. Klaus Nittinger, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Deutschland GmbH (former BMW Rolls-Royce), with the Minister of Economy for the state of Brandenburg, Dr. Fürniss, and Harry Stonecipher, President and COO of the Boeing Company, the excellent potential for the region Berlin-Brandenburg in the area of aviation was highlighted. In the frame of the Engine 3E research program, focusing on new technologies for environmental friendlier engines, which is supported by the German government as well as the state government of Brandenburg, Rolls-Royce Deutschland is cooperating with research organizations in the region, in Germany and in China. In Berlin-Brandenburg, Rolls-Royce Deutschland is working closely with the Technical University of Berlin, the BTU Cottbus, the University of Potsdam and the German Research Center DLR.
+++
The Swiss airline Crossair is adopting a new image and is therefore having its entire fleet repainted. For this it is placing its trust in the quality, speed and, above all, flexible turnaround times of Lufthansa Technik (LHT). The contract for the job was signed in mid-February, but the first aircraft started receiving their "new look" in Hamburg in January. Here, they are first washed, the old paint is removed, and they undergo a corrosion inspection. After they have been repainted, they are weighed. The entire process takes between six and nine days. By the year 2002 a total of some 70 aircraft will be displaying the new corporate design: an elegant classic typeface with a dynamic symbol of Switzerland.
+++
Catherine Stalker has been named CEO of Balair/CTA Leisure AG. Stalker, 38, replaces Klaus Lichtenstein as the head of the SAirGroup's charter airline and becomes the first woman to head an SAirGroup company. The change is effective June 1. Within the SAirGroup Catherine Stalker, a Zurich native, most recently held the position of Executive Vice President Commercial and Legal for Flightlease AG. The trained lawyer also has extensive experience in finance and marketing, collected mainly in the USA and UK. She becomes the first Swiss woman to head an airline.
+++
The US National Transportation Safety Board has highlighted the need for recording images of the cockpit environment. The Safety Board believes that the availability of electronic cockpit imagery would help resolve issues surrounding flight crew actions in the cockpit. It is thus recommending that the FAA require Part 121, 125, or 135 aircraft currently equipped with a CVR and a FDR to also be equipped with a crash-protected cockpit image recording system. We should not further delay the implementation of available technology that may help us more quickly determine the probable cause of accidents - and, therefore, prevent future accidents.
+++
On Saturday, 9 April, A MV-22 Osprey crashed at Marana Northwest Regional Airport in Arizona, will attempting a vertical landing during an operational test flight which had started at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. All 19 Occupants were killed. No cause for the accident has been established yet, bit with a flight recorder recovered, the investigators are optimistic.
+++
In Norway, rumours have surfaced that a study by the armed forces has recommended to delay the planned buy of new fighter aircraft for ten years and thus save 1,4 billion US-Dollars in the near term. Until now it was thought that the country would choose between the F-16 and the Eurofighter soon. Parliament has already approved the purchase of 20 jets, with options for up to ten more. Eurofighter has reacted by saying that it was exploring a "buy now, pay later strategy".
+++
AlliedSignal Aerospace GmbH at Raunheim near Frankfurt has been renamed Honeywell Aerospace GmbH. This is in line with the recent merger of AlliedSignal and Honeywell. 680 employees are engaged in APU overhauls and turbofan maintenance work as well as repairs for systems and insturments. Also the APU 331-350 for the A330/A340 and the APU 36-300 and 131-9(A) for the A320 are built in Raunheim.
+++
On Friday, 14. April, the Marinefliegergeschwader 3 "Graf Zeppelin" at Nordholz has officially put its new Westland Sea Lynx Mk.88As into service. Seven of the new built ship-based helicopters were delivered from last autumn. Altogether, there are now 22 Sea Lynx in service with the German Navy. They are operated from the Type F122 and F123 frigates.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*April 9, 2000 *April 2, 2000

*March 26, 2000 *March 19, 2000 *March 12, 2000 *March 5, 2000

*February 27, 2000 *February 20, 2000 *February 13, 2000 *February 6, 2000

*January 30, 2000 *January 23, 2000 *January 16, 2000 *January 9, 2000

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

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