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UPDATE 
Week ending October 15, 2000
+++ Austria to purchase Black Hawk helicopters +++ Lufthansa and Air China sign code-sharing agreement +++ AECMA on European security +++ Aviano fighters train with German MiGs +++ 100th Shuttle flight finally underway +++ Lufthansa to complete 30 Boeing 737 Business Jets +++ Ciba to sell majority of Hexcel +++ Raytheon announces Hawker 450 +++ New Falcon 2000EX with PW308C Turbofans ++ Gulfstream launches the GV-SP +++ News in brief +++

Austria to purchase Black Hawk helicopters
Österreich entscheidet sich für Sikorsky

The Austrian Ministry of Defence has announced plans to buy nine Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk helicopters for utility transport and search and rescue missions. The selection took place in a region that customarily favors European manufacturers.Two aircraft could be available for early delivery, with the remainder completed within 14 to 18 months. There is an add-on option for three additional helicopters. The acquisition would be a direct commercial sale; or which Sikorsky will also provide training and customer service and support. "We are pleased to have Austria in our family of international Black Hawk customers," said Sikorsky President Dean C. Borgman. "This was a tough competition, right in the heart of Europe, so winning it has a special significance to us. Austria now has the best helicopter in its class, with our total support commitment. We are looking forward to a long and productive relationship."

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Lufthansa and Air China sign code-sharing agreement
LH kooperiert mit Air China

Lufthansa German Airlines and Air China signed a code-sharing agreement in Beijing that will be implemented with the launch of the airline's winter schedule on October 29 this year. The two airlines will then be offering flights between Frankfurt and Beijing as well as Frankfurt and Shanghai under shared flight numbers. "For Lufthansa, its new cooperation is an important step in its partner strategy." Juergen Weber comments, "We are thrilled to have found in Air China such a strong partner in one of the world's largest growth markets for commercial airline traffic. We would like our next step to be the opening up of inner-Chinese routes from Shanghai and Beijing for Lufthansa in close cooperation with our new partner." For both airlines' customers, the new agreement will mean a significant expansion in services between Frankfurt and two Chinese gateway cities of Beijing and Shanghai. Air China's nine weekly flights (daily Beijing-Frankfurt, two Shanghai-Frankfurt) will be operating under Lufthansa flight numbers. Lufthansa's 13 flights from Frankfurt to the Middle Kingdom every week (seven to Beijing, six to Shanghai) will also carry Air China codes. Air China will also extend its flight services by adding its own flight numbers onto Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt to Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. Frequent Flyer programme members of Lufthansa and Air China will be able to earn miles on all code-share flights.

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AECMA on European security
Luft- und Raumfahrt wichtig für die Sicherheitspolitik

At its Annual Convention in Biarritz on 6 October 2000, AECMA, the European Association of Aerospace Industries, developed the theme of Europe's Security and Defence Policy with participation by high levelrepresentatives from governments and industry. Mr Jean-Pierre Masseret, State Secretary at the French Ministry of Defence, first reviewed on behalf of French Presidency the rapid progress recently made by the European nations in the field of defence. He cited the Framework Agreement signed by six EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), which seeks to facilitate the operation of the aerospace defence industry in such areas as procurement, export controls and information security. This would be followed in November by the 15 EU countries offering commitments on the assets they will put at the disposal of the European Community, to support the capability to deploy a force of 60,000 men within 60days, and maintain it for one year in a foreign territory.
Admiral Guido Venturoni, head of the NATO Military Committee, then emphasised the overall need for increased operational efficiency. In this respect, NATO and the European Union had to work more closely together to improve the DCI outcomes (DCI = NATO's Defence Capability Initiative). This would require first the establishment of a strong ESDI (European Security and Defence Identity), then a close working together process between NATO and the European Union, each organisation preserving its own integrity. Admiral Venturoni considered that the co-operation between Europe and the US should not be discontinued and that the aerospace sector should play a leading role in the achievement of this aim. He also called on the industry to develop the necessary technologies for providing the required stand-off and real-time operational capabilities for European forces.
Also at the occasion of the AECMA Convention Rainer Hertrich, Co-Chief Executive Officer of EADS, was elected as AECMA President for the period 2000-2001, succeeding John Rose, CEO Rolls-Royce plc. Mr Hertrich stated that he was delighted to take on the Presidency at such an important time for the European aerospace industry. He hoped to build on the success of the Association in ensuring that both the contribution aerospace makes to society and the interests of the sector are well understood. Jean-Paul Béchat, Chairman and CEO of SNECMA, has been nominated as President Elect.

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Aviano fighters train with German MiGs
F-16 auf der MiG-29-Basis in Laage

On October 2, US Air Force F-16s and airmen deployed to Laage for two weeks of flying training against MiG-29 Fulcrums, one of NATO's Cold War enemy fighter aircraft. While the German pilots at the controls of the Soviet-built MiGs may be NATO allies, they can play the part of the bad guys better than anyone around. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us," said Lt. Col. Jon Huss, deployment project officer and assistant director of operations for the 555th "Triple Nickel" Fighter Squadron, deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy. "We're getting the opportunity to fly against one of the most capable aircraft out there, and one that we could very well meet in combat." Huss, who was flying against MiGs for the first time in his career, described the MiG-29 as a "worthy opponent" for the F-16 and said the German pilots behind the controls were nothing less than tough and professional sparing partners. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of the German pilots at Laage AB, located about 30 minutes outside Rostock, earned their wings along side U.S. pilots at European Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

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100th Shuttle flight finally underway
Space Shuttle auf dem 100. Flug

Commander Brian Duffy maneuvered the Space Shuttle Discovery to a flawless docking with the 70-ton International Space Station on October 13 as the two craft flew 240 miles above Russia. Discovery latched onto the station at 12:45 p.m. CDT, completing a perfect rendezvous that had been under way since Discovery's launch on October 11. Later, Astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria opened the outermost hatch to the station at about 3:30 p.m. CDT. Soon thereafter, at about 4:15 p.m., Lopez-Alegria opened the hatch into the station's Unity module, and Duffy entered the orbiting outpost, followed closely by Lopez-Alegria and fellow crew members Leroy Chiao and Pilot Pam Melroy. The crew then began transferring equipment and supplies from Discovery to the station, continuing to set up the complex for the arrival of the first resident crew, a mission called Expedition 1 that is planned to launch at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, at the aft controls in Discovery's cockpit, Astronaut Bill McArthur and Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata again powered up the Shuttle's mechanical arm. Wakata and McArthur, the backup arm operator for the mission, maneuvered the robotic arm for a camera survey of the station and the Shuttle's payload bay. Flight controllers have decided to attempt no further troubleshooting of Discovery's Ku-Band communications system which failed yesterday. The failure will reduce the amount of television that can be transmitted to the ground during the mission.

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Lufthansa to complete 30 Boeing 737 Business Jets
Großer Auftrag für Lufthansa Technik

Having captured the largest order in its history of the equipping of business aircraft, Lufthansa Technik AG (LHT) in Hamburg has significantly strengthened its market leadership in the completing of large business jets. Under the terms of the order from Boeing NetJets, a joint venture of Boeing and ExecutiveJet, in the year 2001 LHT will begin completion in Hamburg of ten 737-700 BBJs (Boeing Business Jets). They will be used by the U.S. firm of ExecutiveJet Inc., the world's largest provider of business aircraft on a fractional ownership basis. Boeing NetJets also holds options for completion by LHT of 20 more BBJs of the same type during the period from 2003 through 2008. With its expanded hangar capacity and a contingent of 400 specially trained employees, Lufthansa Technik will be equipping and painting four or five BBJ's for Boeing NetJets annually starting in January 2001. The downtimes involved will be five months each, and the delivery dates are already firmly scheduled. The first BBJ will be delivered to Boeing NetJets no later than 15 August 2001. Within the NetJets program for ExecutiveJet Lufthansa Technik will be completing all the BBJs in a uniform configuration designed for as many as 20 passengers. On their flights of up to 6,200 miles they will have the use of a conference and dining area, a private office, sleeping quarters plus a comfortable lavatory complete with shower. State-of-the-art communication facilities will of course also be provided.
During the present year Lufthansa Technik outpaced the competition to become No. 1 in the art of meeting deadlines by delivering on schedule six XXL Class Executive Jets (based on Boeing 737 Business Jet and Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner). In 2001 LHT will be delivering another six to eight business jets. To keep up with the demand, the company has increased from two to four the number of its production lines in Hamburg for aircraft of this size and has hired additional staff.

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Ciba to sell majority of Hexcel
Ciba verkauft Anteile an Hexcel

Ciba Specialty Chemicals in Basle has announced that it has agreed to sell the majority of its approximately 49 percent stake in Hexcel Corporation to an investor group led by Goldman Sachs. Under terms of the agreement Ciba will sell approximately 14.5 million shares of Hexcel common stock in a transaction valued at $11.00 per share. The total value of the sale is about $160 million. The agreement is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. "We're building a compact portfolio of businesses with synergies in shared technologies and markets, and, are specifically strengthening our high potential areas," said Rolf A. Meyer, Ciba's chairman and chief executive officer. "Today's sale reflects Ciba's ongoing strategy of exiting non-strategic businesses that have little in common with our key operations. This sale completes Ciba's major, planned divestment program."

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Raytheon announces Hawker 450
Neuer Geschäftsreisejet von Raytheon

Raytheon Aircraft is introducing an all-new light mid-size business jet - the Hawker 450 - to its product line.The Hawker 450 will offer a range of 2,000-plus nautical miles; speed in excess of Mach .80; a 5-foot, 11-inch stand-up cabin; and double-club seating. Priced between $7.8 and $9 million, the Hawker 450 will feature the company's signature composite fuselage and swept aluminum wing design used on the new entry-level Raytheon Premier I and Hawker Horizon super mid-size business jets. "The Hawker 450 will fly faster, fly farther, offer a larger cabin and provide a better value than any other aircraft in the light mid-size jet market today," said Hansel Tookes, Raytheon Aircraft's chairman and CEO. "The composite fuselage technology advantage will provide the Hawker 450 with a cabin size of a mid-sized business jet with a price closer to a light jet.The Hawker 450 is the next logical new airplane to join Raytheon Aircraft's growing business jet family."
Honeywell Inc. has been selected as the engine and avionics systems risk-sharing partner. The aircraft will feature Honeywell's Primus Epic avionics and TFE731-40 engine. Raytheon Aircraft will announce the Hawker 450's certification and delivery schedules at a later date. Full-scale development work on the new design will be initiated following Premier I certification later this year. Raytheon Aircraft will also announce the name of Hawker Model 450 at a later date.

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New Falcon 2000EX with PW308C Turbofans
Dassault kündigt neue Falcon-Version an

With the announcement of the new 3800-nm Falcon 2000EX, the Falcon family has suddenly grown from four to five business jet models. In making this announcement at a special press conference on the eve of NBAA, Charles Edelstenne, Chairman of Dassault Aviation, was quick to clarify that the 2000EX was indeed an addition to the Falcon jet family lineup and not a replacement for the original Falcon 2000. "The differences in range, price and availability are such that both versions of the 2000 will coexist -- as has been the case with our 900 series," he explained. "Besides, the original Falcon 2000 is far and away our very best-selling Falcon model today. It will be hard for any competitor to unseat it." First flight of the Falcon 2000EX is set for the fourth quarter of 2001. Certification by the JAA and FAA is planned for the third quarter of 2002, with customer deliveries of completed aircraft scheduled at the start of 2003. Building on the success of the original Falcon 2000, which has been Dassault's best-selling Falcon model virtually since it entered service in 1994, the new 2000EX provides a 25% increase in range. This dramatic improvement is made possible by new PW308C turbofans as well as a 3815-lb increase in the aircraft's fuel capacity. The main benefit is to allow westbound nonstop flights from Paris or London to the east coast of the United States, even into stiff winter headwinds; or eastbound flights to Europe from major Midwestern cities like Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis. Other headwind legs like Dubai to London and São Paulo to Miami will also be achievable nonstop. And, when range is not a factor, shorter legs can be flown at higher speeds.

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Gulfstream launches the GV-SP
Neues Top-Modell von Gulfstream

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has announced the launch of the next-generation Gulfstream, the GV-SP. The GV-SP will further enhance Gulfstream's leadership in the large-cabin, ultra-long- range business aircraft market. The aircraft will offer greater range, the largest cabin area in this class, additional baggage volume, a greater weight allowance and the most advanced avionics suite in the industry. First flight of the GV-SP is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2001, followed by Federal Aviation Administration certification and Joint Aviation Authorities verification a year later. The first customer delivery is planned for 2003. The Gulfstream V-SP cockpit will offer a group of advancements, named PlaneView, to enhance the safety and reliability of the aircraft. The PlaneView cockpit suite is a series of integrated features that include a Honeywell visual guidance system (HUD), Gulfstream's revolutionary Enhanced Vision System (EVS), Gulfstream's signature cursor control device and Honeywell's Primus Epic flight instrumentation suite as standard equipment. The modular design of the avionics also results in a significantly smaller and lighter system. The reduction in the number of avionics boxes increases usable cabin volume for greater outfitting flexibility and adds room for an additional oval window that provides greater natural light in the cabin. The cabin also has been redesigned to provide a 25% increase in baggage area volume.
The Gulfstream V-SP will provide a range of 6,750 nautical miles, a 250- mile improvement over the current GV. The range improvement provides extra margin not only on ultra-long range flights, but also on shorter-range, higher-speed routes. The GV-SP will be capable of flying 5,000 nautical mile trips at a rapid .87 Mach -- a 400-mile advantage -- and 6,000 nautical mile legs at .85 Mach -- a 300-mile enhancement. Performance improvements are the result of greater efficiency of the Rolls-Royce BR-710 engines, airframe drag reduction and a reduction in the aircraft's empty weight.
First customer for the GV-SP is Execitives Jet, which ordered 20 and signed for long-term maintenance at a value of 800 million US-Dollars.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Investors and operators polled by Airfinance Journal have awarded Airbus Industrie top marks for the third consecutive year, with a combined score rating it first aircraft manufacturer overall. "Airbus Wins on Points," titled Airfinance Journal, showing Airbus as: - Number One in the overall manufacturer survey, - Number One rated narrowbody aircraft by investors, with the A320, - Number One rated narrowbody aircraft by operators, with the A320 and awarding it six of the top ten positions in the operators' poll overall. Airbus came first in the poll's narrowbody category, with both investors and operators preferring the A320 over competing aircraft, and with Airbus' in-service A320 Family taking the top three places in the operators' poll. While all the members of Airbus' single-aisle family were ranked among the top ten aircraft by operators, only a single competing aircraft made it into the same segment, in tenth place.
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Toho Air Service, a commercial helicopter operator in Japan, will become the sixth airline worldwide to use the Sikorsky S-76 aircraft in scheduled passenger service. Sikorsky received an order for a S76C+ helicopter, which will allow Toho to provide better service with a larger cabin and baggage compartment. The new aircraft will begin service in the late spring of 2001. Toho carries passengers on 10 flights daily along a route of six islands, from its home base on Hachijo Island. Toho will carry its 100,000th passenger this autumn. Toho Air Service was established as a commercial helicopter operator in 1960, and was selected by Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a helicopter commuter operator for Izu Island in 1992 after a feasibility trial of helicopter commuter service between 1989 and 1991.
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Thomson-CSF has welcomed the decision taken by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to accept the undertakings given by the Group to remedy public security concerns in relation to the acquisition of Racal Electronics plc. This decision by the Department of Trade and Industry concludes all regulatory matters concerning the transaction. Thomson-CSF Racal represents a new force in Britain's defence, aerospace, and IT & services sectors. The company employs 14 500 people in the UK, effectively doubling the Group's size in the UK and boosting the turnover to 2 billion euros (#1.2 bn).
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The CT7-8 turboshaft engine, co-developed and co-produced by GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) and FiatAvio of Italy, has realized a major milestone with the award of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 33 FAR engine type certificate, signifying the engine design meets all relevant federal aviation requirements. Receipt of the certificate culminates 4,000 hours of rigorous component and core engine testing, as well as ground- and flight-testing of the full engine, over a period of four years. The CT7-8 has been selected as the exclusive powerplant for the Sikorsky S-92, a 25,000-pound-class medium helicopter currently undergoing flight testing at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach Flight Test Center. The CT7-8 is the latest growth variant in the T700/CT7 turboshaft engine family, which powers 25 different military and commercial applications worldwide. Rated at 2,520 shaft horsepower at takeoff, the CT7-8 has been certified with special 30-second and 2-minute One Engine Inoperative (OEI) ratings, which will permit Category A operation over a wide range of ambient conditions. The engine incorporates the latest-technology Hamilton Sundstrand full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system and a compressor with sufficient airflow to provide ample margin to meet future S-92 power requirements. GEAE will begin shipping CT7-8 production engines to Sikorsky in mid-2001.
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Boeing Business Jets has sold 71 airplanes since it was launched as a joint venture between The Boeing Company and General Electric in 1996. As of October 2000, cumulative "green" (no interior or paint) BBJ deliveries stand at 46. Of these, 17 are fully completed and in-service. These airplanes have generated 4,487 flight hours to date and 2,094 cycles, with 99.9 percent reliability and no major technical issues reported. The BBJ 2, announced in October 1999, is based on the 737-800. It has 25 percent more interior space and 100 percent more luggage space than the BBJ. Production of the first BBJ 2 began in September, with first "green" delivery scheduled for early 2001.
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Ten years after taking delivery of its first A320, Air Canada has once again decided to boost its A320 Family fleet with the addition of 12 A321s, the first aircraft of the type for the airline, plus two A319s. According to the purchase agreement signed today, deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2001. Air Canada's new A319s will seat 112 people in two classes, with 16 in first class and 96 in economy. The A321s will seat approximately 160 people in two classes. Air Canada is the second North American airline to order the A321, and the first in Canada. With this first firm order for A321s, Air Canada continues its pioneering relationship with Airbus. Just one year ago, Air Canada took delivery of its first A330. In 1990 it became the first airline in Canada to take delivery of an A320.
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Airbus Industrie and International Aero Engines (IAE) have reached a business agreement which makes IAE the reference engine supplier for the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), forging a closer partnership from which customers will benefit. As a result, the IAE powered ACJs will be proposed to private customers and corporations as a global package, making the overall offer even more attractive. The IAE engine already powers about a half the highlysuccessful A320 Family aircraft ordered to-date, which includes the A319, on which the ACJ is based. "This combination will allow us to be even more competitive with a truly outstanding aircraft," says Airbus Corporate Jetliner Vice President, Richard Gaona. "IAE joins with us and our other ACJ business partners in building a first class team around a first class aircraft, that is dedicated to delivering the best."
+++
Airbus Industrie has selected Air France Industries (AFI), the maintenance, repair and overhaul division of Air France, as an approved cabin outfitter for its Corporate Jetliner, making it the fifth to offer this service to customers. In addition, AFI has been chosen to provide European and Middle East coverage to Airbus Industrie business partner United Services, as part of the single-point-of-contact "one call handles all" customer support programme. The six standard layouts on offer seating that ranges from ten to 39 seats, weigh 3.8 tonnes/8,500lb to 4.8 tonnes/10,700 lb, and cost from around $8 million dollars for the simplest and most basic version up to $12 million for a more luxurious one. Typical cabin installation time is from four to eight months.
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Orbital Sciences has launched NASA's High Energy Transient Explorer-2 (HETE-2) satellite aboard the Pegasus rocket on October 9 from Kwajalein Missile Range in the Pacific Ocean. The Pegasus carrier aircraft flew to a predetermined launch point over the Pacific Ocean where the Pegasus rocket was released. Following a 5-second free fall, the rocket ignited its first stage rocket motor. Then, about 11 minutes later, Pegasus deployed the HETE-2 satellite into a 590x650 kilometer orbit inclined to 2 degrees to the equator, Orbital said. HETE-2 carries three scientific instruments that will examine deep space for the powerful explosions known as gamma ray bursts. HETE-2 is a joint program formed by NASA, France and Japan.
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In light of recent disruptions in Concorde services, and with the future serviceability of the supersonic jetliners still in question, the development of a supersonic business jet (SSBJ) may receive renewed emphasis, according to the analysts at Forecast International/DMS. Several airframe and engine manufacturers have teamed in the past to develop a practical SSBJ; most have dropped out, primarily because a viable engine was unavailable. Gulfstream Aerospace is presently linked up with Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin on such a venture, with an eye on the fractional ownership sector for launch orders. Fractional ownership pioneer Executive Jet (EJI) has made no secret of its support of an SSBJ. EJI owner Warren Buffett joined Gulfstream and Lockheed in urging the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to sponsor the new Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) project following the cancellation of NASA's High-Speed Research studies of a 300-seat Mach 2+ commercial transport.
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Hapag-Lloyd and CTT Systems have agreed to perform an In-Service evaluation of the Zonal Drying System in one Boeing 737-800 aircraft. After completed evaluation Hapag-Lloyd will have the option to also install the Zonal Drying TM System in their remaining fleet of twenty-four B737- 800 aircraft. Installation of the trial system is planned for January 2001. The CTT Zonal Drying System is designed to combat problems related to water condensation in the thermal and acoustic insulation of modern passenger aircraft. Airlines encountering "rain-in-the-plane" syndrome and other difficulties related to moisture accumulation in their insulation blankets can use the Zonal Drying TM System to mitigate these problems, reduce maintenance costs by increasing the service life of the insulation and realize significant fuel savings by eliminating the non-revenue weight of the accumulated water condensate. By keeping dry the area between the interior trim panels and the aircraft skin, the Zonal Drying System also reduces corrosion and the risk of failure of electronic systems and wiring.
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A Proton rocket-booster carrying three satellites of the GLONASS navigation system was launched at 18:13, Moscow time, on 13 October from the Baikonur spaceport. The Proton-K (8K82K) rocket with a booster unit 11C861, manufactured by the Khrunichev Aerospace Company, has brought the navigation satellites to the base line orbit, spokesman for the Strategic Missile Troops Col. Ilshat Baichurin has told Itar-Tass. The Strategic Missile Troops are watching the flight of the rocket-booster and controlling the satellites' delivery to the target orbit. Specialists from the Russian Aerospace Agency also took part in the launch. The satellites for the GLONASS global space navigation system were designed and manufactured by the Reshetov scientific-research institute of applied mechanics in Krasnoyarsk.
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On October 13, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Luton announced a pair of new contracts for international launch services leaders N-Star C and Stellat. Orbital Sciences Corporation and Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems of the United States - manufacturers of the N-Star C satellite for Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo - have chosen an Ariane launch for the N-Star C mobile telephony satellite. Alcatel Space has also chosen an Ariane launch for Stellat, a satellite it is building for a new joint venture formed by France Telecom and Europe*Star as part of a turnkey in-orbit delivery contract. N-Star C will be launched by an Ariane in late 2001 or early 2002 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. It will be the 18th Japanese satellite to be launched by Ariane. The Stellat satellite will be orbited by an Ariane launcher during the second half of 2002. The satellite will be built by Alcatel Space using a Spacebus 3000 B3 platform. Weighing approximately 4,100 kilograms at launch, it will be equipped with 35 Ku-band and 10 C-band transponders and positioned at 5 degrees West.
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The first new Cessna Citation Encore, purchased by J.R. Simplot Company of Boise, Idaho, entered service on September 29, 2000. It will be utilized for Cessna customer demonstrations prior to being put into customer operation. The J.R. Simplot Company, a privately held agribusiness corporation, recognized the advantages of business aviation over 50 years ago when they bought their first company airplane. Today the company flight department employs eight pilots, four maintenance and support personnel, and manages a single-engine piston, two turboprops, a business jet and a helicopter. The department typically logs between 1,500 and 1,800 flight hours per year. Upon delivery of their two Citation Encores, Simplot will transition the turboprops from their flight department.
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On October 10, Fairchild Dornier signed a contract making Lufthansa Technik AG of Hamburg, Germany its European center for Envoy business jet completions and support, finalizing an agreement reached in June. Under the contract, Lufthansa Technik will install its XXL Class Executive Jet Product to customer specifications in Envoy 7 aircraft, and provide worldwide aircraft support for all customers outside the U.S. The first aircraft scheduled to enter the completion center will be for Safadi Holdings, a Beirut-based investment firm. The first Envoy 7 from Lufthansa will be delivered in early 2004. The Envoy 7 will accommodate up to 18 passengers for long-range travel in the largest cabin in this price range. The crafted interior offers flexible arrangements with separate areas for a conference room, seating area, workspaces, and stateroom large enough for a queen-size bed. Other features include a full-service galley, large baggage space, lavatory, and stand-up shower in the stateroom.
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With its purchase of Tulsa-based BizJet International, well-known provider of MRO services for business aircraft, Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has strengthened its ability to offer full servicing of its XXL Class Executive Jet in North America as well as Europe. To enable BizJet to perform maintenance on the Boeing 737 Business Jet (BBJ) and Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), an additional hangar is being built there that can accommodate two planes of that size.By the time the new hangar is completed in early 2001, the company will have increased its staff of 300 by 75 to 100 employees. First-class LHT servicing of those aircraft will then be available in North America too, even to customers who had their planes originally equipped by LHT competitors.
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Bombardier Aerospace kicked-off the 53rd NBAA annual convention in grand style by celebrating the delivery of its 500th Challenger business jet aircraft. The 500th aircraft, a Challenger 604, was delivered to Christos Cotsakos, chairman and chief executive officer of E Trade, who will be using the aircraft for both regional and intercontinental travel. The Challenger 604 is the fastest-selling model in the history of the Challenger program and the best selling jet in its class since 1996. The current production model - the Challenger 604 - is the fifth evolution of the original Challenger, providing more range, better performance, higher technology and lower direct operating cost. Since receiving Transport Canada certification in August 1980, variants of the Challenger have been sold to civil operators in more than 50 countries and the aircraft has also received military certification in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Malaysia and the People's Republic of China. Total deliveries of the Challenger business jet include 84 Challenger 600s, 66 Challenger 601-1As, 134 Challenger 601-3As, 59 Challenger 601-3Rs and 165 Challenger 604 business jets. To date, the fleet has accumulated more than 1.8 million hours of operation with a dispatch reliability of 99.7 per cent.
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Deutsche BA, the British Airways subsidiary, has protested against Lufthansa buying into Eurowings, thus increasing its stranglehold on German internal air routes amounting to an alleged 84 per cent. Chief executive Adrian Hunt has written to the German cartel office and to transport minister Reinhard Klimmt.
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European aerospace companies want to improve co-ordination in resarch. To this end, they have set up a working group. Also, the have started lobbying the EU to get a better grip on the still fragmented efforts. This is necessary, they say, to fend off US competition, which has the big support form its government.
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Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik at Friedrichshafen wants to set up its own "Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei" to operate its new NT airships for passenger flights. It claims to have over 5000 reservations for pleasure trips already. Start of the service depends on the certification of the Zeppelin NT, which is now predicted for next spring, after long development delays. Zeppelin has also sold some of the NTs.
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Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH (LFK), an EADS subsidiary, has received a contract for the life extension to the Roland SAM system of the German army. 20 million Euros will be invested to cover development work. Series conversions could start after a contract signature in 2003. It is planned to keep Roland operational until 2015.
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LFK has now delivered the 10000th Stinger SAM built in Europe. Work began in 1994, and a total of 12000 missiles are on order. LFK is leading a European consortium from Germany (37 per cent), Greece (9 per cent), the Netherlands (14 per cent) and Turkey (40 per cent). After Turkey has ordered another 1000 Stingers, production is secure until 2003.
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Previous updates are still available:
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*October 8, 2000 *October 1, 2000

*September 24, 2000 *September 17, 2000 *September 10, 2000 *September 3, 2000

*August 27, 2000 *August 20, 2000 *August 13, 2000 *August 6, 2000

*January to July 2000 *January to December 1999 *January to December 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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