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UPDATE 
Week ending November 12, 2000
+++ "Wise Men" report on ESA unveiled +++ First IRIS-T launches form F-16 +++ EADS delivers Obstacle Warning Systems for helicopters +++ Lufthansa CityLine welcomes five millionth passenger +++ CIT places major Airbus order +++ Northrop Grumman to study Quiet Supersonic Platform +++ ISS crew settles in +++ News in brief +++

"Wise Men" report on ESA unveiled
Empfehlungen für eine europäishe Raumfahrtpolitik

On November 9 the committee of three "wise men" published their independent advice on the evolution of ESA. The committee was made up of Carl Bildt, former Swedish Prime Minister and UN envoy to the Balkans, Jean Peyrelevade, President of Crédit Lyonnais, and Lothar Späth, CEO of Jenoptik, together representing a combination of high-level political, economic and industrial expertise. The recommendations made in this report are focussed on the new steps to meet the strategic goals of Europe. These recommendations rely upon the assumptions that the fundamentals of current space activities in Europe: independent access to space, leading edge of science, are continued, and that the proposals made in the joint ESA/EC document on a European Strategy for Space are implemented, especially for what concerns Galileo and Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. Decisions on the development of a European Navigation Satellite System (Galileo) are urgently needed - since Galileo can achieve the status of a global system only if calendar and performance provide a credible alternative to the American system (GPS).
Science and manned spaceflights are and will remain important parts of space activities, contributing to the public awareness of space programmes as a whole. We must thus integrate space fully in our over-all policy efforts. This is the difference between a Europe willing also to lead and a Europe only capable of following.
Cencerning institutions, there is a need for changes, especially in the relationship between ESA and the EU. With space no longer being a separate and exclusive issue, it makes sense to aim for a closer institutional integration, thus ensuring the place of space issues in the overall evolution of European policies. Space belongs on the agenda of the European Council at least as much as many of the other issues where policy is now set for Europe on this level.
Space systems constitute the principal means for collecting, transmitting and distributing information at a global scale and are the only non-intrusive means. Europe has an ambitious policy concerning global environmental issues, which will be increasingly dependent on space-based earth observation assets. It is also evident, that without a clear space component, the evolution towards the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) will be incomplete. Observation from satellites will play a crucial role in environmental security as well as the evolution of the ESDP. Increasingly, we are seeing the interrelationship between changes to man's environment in different respects and global political and security developments. Environmental monitoring is thus not only a question of environmental security, but also has broader dimensions.
Embarking on development of a European defence system including also a space component will also provide a significant part of European public investment that is missing today compared with the US. This in turn will place Europe firmly in the number two spot in space and establish its credentials both as a credible alternative to the US for the world and as a credible partner for co-operation with the US. Increasingly, we see the space infrastructure necessary for commercial and other public sector applications moving together with those necessary for different security needs. This is obvious both in earth observation, telecommunications and in navigation. We thus see it as logical to use the capabilities of ESA also for the development of the more security-oriented aspects of the European Space Policy.

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First IRIS-T launches form F-16
Erster Test der IRIS-T Lenkwaffe

The IRIS-T short range air to-air missile has successfully completed its first air lanuches from a F-16. The firing trials were performed on October 17, 20 and 23 froman F-16 of the Hellenic Air Force aht the NAMFI range inCrete. The IRIS-T separation test lanch focuses on evaluating the missile separation characteristics from the aircrat under predetermined flight conditions. The test objectives were achieved, leading to clearance for the follow-up trials being given immediately. The development of IRIS-T is on scheudle and will last until the middle of 2002. Deliveries of pilot production missiles will start in 2002, first sereis production missiles will follow in 2002/2003. IRIS-T is developed jointly by a six-nation consortium under the leadership of the Gemen BWB (Procurement Agency), with BGT acting as prime contractor.

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EADS delivers Obstacle Warning Systems for helicopters
Hinderniswarnsystem für BGS-Hubschrauber

More safety for the helicopter pilots of the Federal Border Guard, BGS: their new Eurocopter helicopters EC 135 and EC 155 will be equipped with the obstacle warning system "Hellas" developed by the EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (Hellas: Helicopter Laser Radar). As part of the delivery of the first three EC 135 helicopters to the flying unit of the Federal Border Guard in Donauwörth, the Hellas system was also flight-tested on an EC 135 for the first time. In January 1999, Dornier GmbH, an EADS group company, had won the contract for the delivery of 25 Hellas systems for the new BGS helicopters.
In view of the increasing number of helicopters and helicopter flights, active warning systems become increasingly important. For several years, Dornier has been working on the development of obstacle warning systems on the basis of an eye-safe laser radar. The Hellas warning system was successfully tested on different helicopter models (CH53, UH1D, Bk 117, EC 145) under diverse approach and visibility conditions until production standard was achieved. Optical and acoustic signals inform the pilot of en-route obstacles. In addition, the copilot has the possibility of obtaining more specific information from an integrated display in the cockpit. These digital map devices, also a Dornier development, show the obstacle information on a colour map.

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Lufthansa CityLine welcomes five millionth passenger
Rekordzahlen für Lufthansa CityLine

For the first time in the space of a year, the CityLine fleet has notched up more than five million passengers. The passenger count reached the new record peak on the November 9 Lufthansa CityLine flight LH 5897 from Brussels to Munich. "This sustained upward trend slots seamlessly into our future-oriented activities at our southern base," said Lufthansa CityLine Managing Director Karl-Heinz Köpfle greeting the regional airline's five millionth passenger at Munich airport. "Munich is already one of the major ports of call in the CityLine network and accounts for 36 per cent of our passenger traffic."
Klaus Brendlin, Technical General Manager of the Munich airport company, paid tribute to the longstanding cooperation between the two companies. Construction of a second terminal at Munich airport has given rise to "glittering prospects" for that cooperation in the long term. In Munich's evolution into a second Lufthansa hub alongside Frankfurt, Lufthansa CityLine is assuming a key role in strengthening and expanding the southern route network. In the present winter flight schedules for 2000/2001, the regional carrier has raised by 40 per cent the number of its nonstop connections ex Munich to a total of 421 flights weekly to 35 European destinations. The routes out of Munich to Nice and Toulouse, to Copenhagen and Gothenburg as well as Budapest, Zagreb and Skopje have profited notably from the winter timetable additions. A newcomer in the 2000/2001 winter schedules is Belgrade.

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CIT places major Airbus order
Großer Auftrag vonCIT

CIT Aerospace, a company of the CIT Group, has signed a firm order for 35 A320 family aircraft and 15 A330s, confirming an intent announced in July. The deal is valued at about $3.5 billion. The order includes A318s, as well as flexibility among A330/A340 family members. It thus gives CIT the ability to offer airlines a wide range ofaircraft sizes and ranges to meet different needs. CIT's latest deal takes total firm orders for the A320 family to over 2,500 aircraft from some 130 customers and operators, highlighting its leading role as the most modern and successful airliner family. Its selection of the A330 takes A330/A340 sales to more than 625 from over 60 customers and operators, reinforcing its leadership of the 250-380 seat market.
CIT Aerospace has more than 90 airline customers worldwide and a portfolio of more than 250 commercial aircraft from all major aircraft manufacturers. CIT Aerospace, a unit of Capital Finance, a CIT operating group, offers customized leasing and financing packages for new and used aircraft with a special focus on operating leases for commercial airlines worldwide.

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Northrop Grumman to study Quiet Supersonic Platform
Überschall-Forschungsauftrag für Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems Sector (ISS) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase I system integration studies and technology development for the Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) program. The one-year contract is worth up to $2.5 million. The DARPA QSP program is designed to lay the foundation for efficient and capable long-range supersonic cruise aircraft that will operate with a less intense sonic boom. Northrop Grumman will work with government laboratories, universities and other industry participants to explore breakthrough technologies, unconventional design approaches and unique systems solutions. "This win builds upon the results of the future strike aircraft study we completed earlier this year for the Air Force and, more broadly, reflects favorably on our advanced design and development capabilities to identify preferred solutions for future combat systems," said Scott Seymour, sector vice president for the Air Combat Systems business area of ISS. The future strike aircraft study helped refine requirements for the type of aircraft platform, weapons and technologies for future strike capability.

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ISS crew settles in
Raumstationsbesatzung richtet sich ein

The Expedition One crew has activated the last of its critical life support systems aboard the International Space Station and looked ahead to the launch of a resupply vehicle to the new outpost. ISS Commander Bill Shepherd, Soyuz Commander Yuri Gidzenko and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev reported that the Elektron oxygen-generation system was turned on late Wednesday night at the start of their workday. The Elektron uses the process ofelectrolysis to produce oxygen for the crew, while venting hydrogen overboard. Up to now, per the preflight plan, Shepherd, Gidzenko and Krikalev have been burning solid fuel oxygen-producing canisters to maintain the proper level of oxygen in the ISS modules. The Elektron may be turned off from time to time to conserve electricity on board the ISS if the Station has to be maneuvered into an orientation, which reduces the electrical charge to Station systems through the solar arrays on the Zvezda and Zarya modules.
Once the large U.S. photovoltaic solar arrays are installed next month on the STS-97 mission, the Elektron can run continuously. In addition to the Elektron, other Station life support systems, including a carbon dioxide removal system and an air conditioner are performing normally. Russian flight controllers continue to prepare for the launch of the second Progress resupply vehicle next week from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Progress is loaded with supplies and spare parts for the Expedition One crew. Launch is set for November 15 at 7:32 p.m. CST (1:32 GMT November 16).

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Bangkok Airways' first Boeing 717-200 began its journey home on November 9 following a special delivery ceremony in Long Beach, Calif. This event marks another milestone for Bangkok Airways, as it becomes the first Asian carrier to take delivery of the717-200. The new airplane, featuring Bangkok Airways' new and distinctive tropical livery, is the first of two 717 airplanes to be delivered to Bangkok Airways, under lease from Pembroke Capital Ltd. Bangkok Airways' second 717 is scheduled for delivery in April 2001. Bangkok Airways is known throughout Southeast Asia as the first privatized airline in Thailand. It is also the first carrier in Thailand to construct and operate its own airports at two of the country's most spectacular tourist destinations, the pristine island of Samui and the culturally historic city of Sukhothai.
+++
On November 9, the U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin Space Systems one of two industry contracts valued at $16 million each to start a 12-month System Architecture and Requirements Definition (SARD) study for the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) program referred to as GPS III. The Lockheed Martin GPS III team comprises a broad range of industrial partners including ITT Industries as the navigation payload provider, Rockwell Collins as provider of user equipment for both military and civil needs, and the Ball Aerospace Systems Group for technical expertise in space and ground components. The objective of the SARD study will be to evolve military and civilian needs into performance and architectural concepts that optimize cost, schedule, performance and risk for the future system. Upon the completion of this study, the Air Force will conduct an open competition and award two contracts for the subsequent 26-month Program Definition/Risk Reduction (PDRR) phase. The single winner of the PDRR phase will be awarded responsibility for the GPS III Engineering, Manufacturing and Development of the program, as well as the sustainment of all existing GPS space and ground elements.
+++
Boeing has confirmed an order from the Italian air carrier Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane, S.p.A. - for six 777-200ER passenger airplanes, with options for six Longer-Range 777-300s. The 777s will replace a previous order by the airline for 747-400s. "Alitalia is the latest major airline in a growing list who recognize that passengers want frequent, non-stop flights that avoid congested hubs," said Toby Bright, senior vice president-Europe and Russia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group. "The award-winning 777 will suit their needs perfectly in this growing market." "The 777 is emerging as the big winner in 2000," said Seddik Belyamani, executive vice president, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group. "We now have 62 orders so far, with 43 previously announced intents to order in the final stages of processing."
+++
Bombardier Aerospace delivered the first of five CRJ200 regional jet aircraft recently to Shandong Airlines in The People's Republic of China. The delivery represents the first to a regularly scheduled regional airline in the country. Shandong will take delivery of its second aircraft later this month while its remaining aircraft are to be delivered in 2001.
+++
Bombardier Aerospace announced that Japan Airlines (JAL) has placed a firm order for two more 50-seat CRJ200 Series regional jets on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary J-Air. The order is valued at $44 million U.S. ($61.6 million Cdn.). The transaction announced today represents the conversion of two of three options taken by JAL when it ordered two CRJ200 aircraft in January 2000. Under today's agreement, JAL will take options on an additional two CRJ200 aircraft. Deliveries of the firm-ordered aircraft are scheduled to take place between the fourth quarter of 2000 and the second quarter of 2002.
+++
Dragonair has signed a contract with Singapore Airlines to purchase two 747-300 Comb airplanes. Both airplanes will be converted to full freighters at Take (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (TAECO) in Xiamen, China, with parts kits supplied by Boeing Airplane Services. While Dragonair currently operates one wet-leased 747-200F, these 747-300 Special Freighters will be the first freighters the airline will own. The converted 747-300s will be capable of carrying the same volume as 747-200 modified freighters (approximately 235,000 pounds). Additionally, the airplane will have 26,600 cubic feet of cargo-carrying space, 20,550 cubic feet of which will be on the main deck. The airplane's range will be approximately 4,200 nautical miles with a full payload.
+++
The SAirGroup companies SR Technics and Flightlease AG are jointly taking a 15-per-cent stake in the Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC), an aircraft engine leasing company. SR Technics is also acquiring Willis Aeronautical Inc., and taking a 50-per-cent equity holding in Pacific Gas Turbine Center LLC. The investment in WLFC allows Flightlease to optimally expand its catalogue of services and strengthen its component purchasing power while SR Technics will underpin its position in the engine overhaul market and grow its potential customer base. The Willis Lease Finance Corporation is active in the leasing of aircraft engines and other aircraft components and also provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft engines. Willis and the two SAirGroup companies will be able to optimally coordinate their business activities. Hans-Ulrich Beyeler, President and CEO of SR Technics comments on the move: "The alliance with Willis allows us to meet a growing market demand to link engine maintenance and reserve engine services to the same provider. In addition to our large aircraft check and modification center in Palmdale, California, this move allows us to further expand our presence and range of services in the USA, the largest MRO market in the world."
+++
CAE has announced the expansion of its global flight training business to Europe with a new flight training centre in Spain. The new training facility will be located at Madrid/Barajas International Airport near Madrid to meet the growing needs of European and North African airlines, with Spanish regional carrier Air Nostrum as the initial, anchor customer. This is the third flight training centre being built by CAE, following announcements earlier this year for similar centres in Sao Paolo, Brazil and Toronto, Canada. "The European market represents a substantial part of the $13-billion (Cdn) global pilot training market," said Derek H. Burney, CAE's President and CEO. "This is another important step in our strategy to build and operate a network of flight training centres globally."
+++
The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) X-35A successfully executed a series of airborne refuelings during its 10th flight on Tuesday, Nov. 7, paving the way for extended test flights and demonstrating the aircraft's flying qualities.United States Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Paul Smith climbed to 23,000 feet and rendezvoused with a USAF KC-135 tanker, performing a series of qualification tests to verify the X-35's compatibility with the KC-135's flow-field wake and refueling boom. The X-35 uses an F-16-based universal aerial refueling receptacle. Lt. Col. Smith and the KC-135 crew accomplished four refuelings during the mission, enabling the JSF to continue airborne testing for two hours and 50 minutes. The extended flight included several handling-quality tests and an auxiliary power unit air-restart.
+++
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Russian TsAGI (Tsentralny Aerogidrodynamichesky Institut - Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute).Aside being one of the world's foremost aviation research centers, the TsAGI has played an important role in the development of innovative aerospace technologies. Embraer has been making use of that institute's facilities since last June, employing TsAGI's wind tunnel to fine-tune the ERJ 170/190 regional jetliner family. Furthermore, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer has also made extensive use of that research center's computer-based aerodynamic and aeroelastic laboratories. According to Satoshi Yokota, Embraer's Industrial Vice-President, "This agreement covers the entire scope of all the work we intend to perform alongside TsAGI to fully utilize their enormous technologic capabilities."
+++
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with AVIC I of China to shift more Airbus work to the country. The shift would ease pressure BAE's plants are feeling from Airbus's surging output and development programmes, BAE's general manager for China, Christopher Wright, said. Thanks to AVIC I's lower labour costs, the deal to transfer some work on A320 wings would also create savings for BAE and Airbus co-owner European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co (EADS), Wright told Reuters, without saying how much that might be.
+++
China will continue its rapid aviation development in the 21st century and will eclipse all other aviation markets except the United States, Gordon McHenry, Jr., Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group Marketing director has said. China's growing aviation industry will require 1,790 airplanes, or $137 billion in delivery dollars - including freighters - in the next 20 years. "The largest requirement, nearly 70 percent, will be for single-aisle airplanes (including regional jets), such as 757s, 737s, and 717s, that will serve domestic and short-range international markets from China regional gateway cities," McHenry said. "Twenty-six percent will be for intermediate twin-aisle airplanes such as 777s and 767s, that will provide most of China's international service and serve large domestic markets. Only about six percent will be for the 747 and larger airplanes that will serve the largest transpacific and Asia-Europe markets and the most congested intra-Asia routes." "While world air travel is forecast to average 4.8 percent growth per year, China's domestic market will grow at an average rate over the 20-year period that will exceed nine percent, which is higher than any other nation," McHenry said. "Nearly 80 percent of China's total, or 1,400 airplanes, will serve the Chinese domestic market." McHenry said as network development leads to more service among existing cities. As new cities are added to the network, more airlines will serve more cities. In addition, increased flight frequencies will enhance service levels in existing city pairs. By 2019, weekly flights in the China-North America market are forecast to grow more than five times. Larger intermediate twin-aisle, or 777-size, airplanes will be the favored airplane to accommodate the rapid growth in this market.
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The Eurocopter Cougar Mk.II has successflully completed a second series of inflight refuelling tests with a KC-130 Hercules. These tests concentrated on fuel transfers and in particular on the validation of the mechanical aptitiude of the helicopter, the operation of the fuel system and the definition of piloting reference points and of the refuling envelope. The tests were conducted from the left wing and then from the right wing of the KC-130, with various helicopter configurations, including full external stores.
+++
In the course of a recent meeting attended by the Ministry of Defence officials from Spain, USA and Germany, it was agreed to carry out a flight programme featuring ITP vectoring nozzles fitted to the X-31 demonstration plane propelled by the EJ200 engine.
+++
The infighting over the privatisation of Berlin Brandenburg International airport has now ostensibly ceased with all parties reaching a compromise and promising to refrain from further court action. Negotiatons on the way forward continue.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*November 5, 2000

*October 29, 2000 *October 15, 2000 *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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