U P D A T E
Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Inside | Datafiles
Week ending July 8, 2001
+++ EU Commission prohibits GE's acquisition of Honeywell +++ EADS and Russian Aerospace Agency seek cooperation +++ Swissair problems with Sabena +++ RAF tanker competition down to two +++ Boeing CH-47F flies +++ MEADS programme approved in Germany +++ News in brief +++
EU Commission prohibits GE's acquisition of Honeywell
GE/Honeywell gescheitert
The European Commission has decided to prohibit the proposed acquisition by General Electric Co. of Honeywell Inc. This follows an in-depth investigation in the markets for aero-engines, avionics and other aircraft components and systems. In adopting this decision, the Commission concluded that the merger would create or strengthen dominant positions on several markets and that the remedies proposed by GE were insufficient to resolve the competition concerns resulting from the proposed acquisition of Honeywell. The merger between GE and Honeywell, as it was notified, would have severely reduced competition in the aerospace industry and resulted ultimately in higher prices for customers, particularly airlines. However, there were ways of eliminating these concerns and allowing the merger to proceed, European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said, adding : "I regret that the companies were not able to agree on a solution that would have met the Commission's competition concerns."
GE and Honeywell notified their merger agreement for regulatory clearance in Europe on 5 February this year. On March 1, the Commission started an in-depth investigation which demonstrated that GE alone already had a dominant position in the markets for jet engines for large commercial and large regional aircraft. Its strong market position combined with its financial strength and vertical integration into aircraft leasing were among the factors that led to the finding of GE's dominance in these markets. The investigation also showed that Honeywell is the leading supplier of avionics and non-avionics products, as well as of engines for corporate jets and of engine starters (i.e., a key input in the manufacturing of engines).
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
EADS and Russian Aerospace Agency seek cooperation
Europäisch-Russische Zusammenarbeit intensiviert
The partnership package between EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency Rosaviakosmos is finalised. EADS will now start direct negotiations with Russian industrial partners in order to launch the process to organise investment in favour of the Russian aerospace industry by the partners. This was announced by Philippe Camus, Chief Executive Officer of EADS and Yuri Koptev, General Director of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency at a joint press conference on Monday in Moscow. EADS and Russia will set up joint companies to manage the co-operation programmes. "This long term partnership will create some thousands of highly qualified jobs in the Russian aerospace industry and is worth some EUR 2.1 bn in revenues over the first ten years," said Yuri Koptev. "There will be a real work load for Russian engineers," added Philippe Camus. "The production flow anticipated in the civil aviation sector for example shall be in the range of one panel for the A320 per week, one fuselage section for the A330/A340 per month and 150 fuselage sections for the A320 per year. And these figures can be increased if the programmes run successfully." European partners have conquered the world market by joining forces and opening their own markets to each other, explained Camus. "This new partnership will allow both Europe and Russia to be even more successful on the world market by joining their experience, know-how and markets." The partnership package embraces the fields of civil aviation, military transport aircraft, helicopters, fighter aircraft and space technology. "This is not about vague hopes for the future," said Camus. In the A400M programme, Russia will be offered the opportunity to design and manufacture landing gears, fuselage components, engine mounts and metal parts of the horizontal stabilizer. In the field of fighter aircraft, the co-operation in the MiG-29 upgrade will be continued. The EADS subsidiary Eurocopter will start a pre-feasibility study of payload and a market study for the heavy helicopter Mi 38. A prototype will be jointly developed. The space sector includes the existing launch companies Starsem and Eurockot, research and development of re-entry technologies, Russian participation in the European satellite navigation system Galileo and propulsion technology. EADS supports the Russian idea to launch the proven Soyuz rocket from Kourou, French Guyana.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Swissair problems with Sabena
Große Probleme für die Swissair
The Swissair Group problems with Belgian carrier Sabena escalated recently. On July 3Swissair Group was surprised and dismayed to have received this morning an immediate rejection of its revised proposal to resolve the pressing Sabena situation, which it submitted to the Belgian Government yesterday (July 2). The new proposal - which involves Swissair Group and the Belgian Government jointly contributing Euro 305 million to Sabena - would guarantee Sabena's future based on the operational objectives agreed by Sabena's management in its proposed business plan. Commenting on the situation, Swissair Group's Chairman and CEO Mario A. Corti said "It is with astonishment that I have received from the Belgian Government this morning a summary rejection of the one proposal on the table which will ensure Sabena's future without even discussing the matter with the parties concerned. Swissair Group is not willing to finance loss-making airlines indefinitely. Without our plan being accepted, the future of Sabena now looks increasingly in doubt." The new proposal provided for the two shareholders, Swissair Group and the Belgian Government, to jointly contribute Euro 275 million to Sabena, which would be immediately available to the company. In addition, Swissair Group would provide a Euro 30 million subordinated term-loan to Sabena. The Euro 305 million should allow Sabena to continue operating provided the Sabena management meets the operational objectives of their proposed business plan. In return for the Swissair Group's offer, the 2001 agreement would be reversed and, accordingly, the Swissair Group no longer obliged to increase its stake in Sabena to 85 per cent and would also discharge the Swissair Group from any further financial engagement towards Sabena or the Belgian Government.
Meanwhile, in the French mess the Swissair Group and Marc Dufour have reached an agreement on the future of Air Littoral. Marc Dufour will acquire Swissair Group's entire shareholding in Air Littoral. The agreement was signed by Marc Dufour and the Swissair Group on Friday evening. "We are pleased to have come to this agreement, which provides a solid future for a large part of the Air Littoral workforce," said Mario A. Corti, Chairman & CEO of the Swissair Group. "It is in line with the Group's strategy to focus on itscore-airlines Swissair and Crossair, and our objective of orderly withdrawal from our loss-making foreign airline participations." The agreement was reached with the valuable support of Marc Rochet, President of Air Littoral, and of the french officials ("conciliateurs"). Swissair Group currently holds 49% of Air Littoral's shares. Both parties agreed not to disclose the details of the agreement.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
RAF tanker competition down to two
Zwei Anbieter für RAF Tanker
Two strong consortia are bidding for a ground-breaking Private Finance Initiative deal to provide an air to air refuelling service to the Royal Air Force, Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach announced. With an estimated through-life cost of around 13bn pounds, the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme is MOD's largest potential PFI deal. The two consortia are: AirTanker, comprising FRA Cobham, EADS, Thales, Halliburton Brown and Root and Rolls Royce. They are expected to offer a service using Airbus A330 aircraft, and Tanker & Transport Service Company Ltd, a consortium made up of BAE Systems, Boeing, Serco and Spectrum Capital. They will offer a service using Boeing 767 aircraft. Lord Bach said: "Air to air refuelling is a key military capability that has proved its worth repeatedly in military operations over the last two decades. However, our current fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft will need to be replaced by the end of the decade. I am delighted to say that we have received PFI bids today from two consortia whose members have a wide range of expertise in this field. We believe that offering a contractor to provide a complete air to air refuelling service, rather than buying new aircraft ourselves, could offer best value for money while maintaining the RAF's operational effectiveness - which is, of course, our paramount consideration. Industry's proposals will go through a detailed assessment and negotiation phase before a final decision on the programme is taken in 2002. If at that time PFI remains the best procurement route a preferred bidder will be selected, leading to contract award in 2003. A contract lasting around 27 years is anticipated. The first aircraft are currently expected to enter service between 2007 and 2009.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Boeing CH-47F flies
Erstflug der CH-47F in Philadelphia
The new CH-47F Chinook prototype heavy-lift helicopter, the sixth Chinook type designed for the U.S. Army, recently completed its first flight at the Boeing Philadelphia manufacturing facility. The June 25 flight, which involved hover and basic maneuvers, capped a series of comprehensive system checks leading to takeoff precisely as scheduled in the CH-47F program agreement completed three years ago. "The first flight was flawless," said Roger A. Krone, vice president and general manager, Boeing Army Programs/Rotorcraft. "Our Chinook Team demonstrated not only technical excellence, but also a total commitment to our U.S. Army customer. The entire first-flight crew-pilots, engineers, technicians and support personnel-accomplished our program-schedule goals with consistently good performance and solid teamwork. They set a high standard for all our production programs." A Boeing Philadelphia flight crew consisting of Erik Kocher, Chinook program chief test pilot; Randy Wells, test pilot; Joe Schluck, flight test engineer; and John Rose, crew chief, lifted off shortly before 7 p.m., EDT, and remained airborne for about five minutes to validate aircraft handling qualities.The CH-47F modernization program will sustain the U.S. Army's Chinook fleet to provide rotary-wing heavy-lift capabilities well into the 21st century. Modernization will include aircraft remanufacturing, vibration reduction, improved avionics with integrated digital mission management systems and a digital map, and installation of more powerful Honeywell T55-GA-14A-714 engines. These core elements of the program will reduce operational and support costs to below those of the original CH-47D and provide at least another 20 years of economical and effective service. That means Chinooks will wind up serving in the Army's inventory for more than 70 years, an unprecedented record of service for military aircraft.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
MEADS programme approved in Germany
Bundestag genehmigt Fortsetzung vonMEADS
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company welcomes the decision of the German Bundestag to embark on a three-year risk reducing phase and to continue the definition phase for its tactical air defence system, which is internationally known as MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defence System). The decision was made on Wednesday, 27 June 2001. On the same day, Germany signed the trilateral Memorandum of Understanding to continue the programme. In this way, together with Italy and the USA, Germany is taking the next step in the exploration of options for a system which defends against all types of aerial targets, above all cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. "The German decision to push ahead with the risk reducing phase of MEADS strengthens EADS/LFK, European missile industry and transatlantic cooperation. We have been able to break new ground with the resolution of difficult technology and knowledge transfer issues so that we can now further develop this high technology field on an equal footing with our American partners and close the gap in extended air defence capabilities. The contract with the companies involved can now be concluded as the next step," states Thomas Enders, Head of the EADS Defence and Civil Systems division. The aim is to integrate the PAC 3 missile into the MEADS concept, to investigate whether the concept is technologically achievable in a realistic timeframe, and to verify the system performance by means of prototypes which are to be developed for central functions and simulations. On the request of the Germans, investigations of critical fields of technology - which have resulted from the current revisions of the air defence concept were recently included in the work. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZNACHRICHTEN
Venetica Corporation, the leading provider of software solutions for e-business content integration, announced that MTU Aero Engines, a leading multinational manufacturer of civil and military aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines headquartered in Germany, has selected Venetica's VeniceBridge solution to integrate enterprise content into their corporate portal solutions to enable employee access to documents throughout its global offices. MTU's selection is a strong indicator of the initial adoption of VeniceBridge technology by large global organizations in Europe. Venetica's VeniceBridge will provide MTU a single, consistent method for access, exchange and collaboration of unstructured content from multiple sources across the extended enterprise. VeniceBridge makes unstructured information, such as documents, images, reports, product diagrams and video, accessible to e-business applications and enables real-time exchange of content over the Internet in standardized XML formats. MTU Aero Engines' enterprise content corporate portal is being implemented by CENIT AG Systemhaus, a leading German IT services provider for e-business and CAD/CAM solutions, and one of Venetica's international partners.+++
EADS Military Aircraft / Dornier Flugzeugwerft (DFW) has signed teaming agreements with Northrop Grumman (Integrated Systems Sector), Pratt & Whitney (P&W), and Seven Q Seven Inc. (SQS) to jointly pursue a re-engining program for NATO's E-3A Airborne Early Warning And Control System (AWACS). The re-engining requirement for the NATO AWACS fleet, consisting of 17 E-3A and three Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA), is currently in development by the Alliance's 13-nation Board of Directors through its executive agency NAPMA, which issued a Request for Information (RfI) in May 2001. The team members are proposing the P&W JT8D-219 engine to replace the currently used P&W TF33 and JT3D-7 propulsion system. Under the term of the agreement, EADS as the prime contractor with total system performance responsibility will offer the P&W and SQS commercial off-the-shelf certified JT8D-219 package to NATO. P&W (East Hartford) will manufacture and deliver the complete new engine. SQS (San Antonio) will be responsible for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) certification of the entire propulsion package on the B707-300, which represents the platform for the E-3A AWACS. Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems Sector (Dallas) will provide engineering support and conduct the military qualification of the re-engined AWACS aircraft. Engine replacement will be conducted at EADS Manching plant, where all German military maintenance, repair and overhaul activities are centered.
+++
On July 3, Maj. Jeff Karnes became the first U.S. government test pilot to complete a vertical landing in the Boeing Joint Strike Fighter X-32B aircraft. Karnes, an experienced U.S. Marine Corps short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) pilot with more than 1,200 hours flown in the AV-8B Harrier, performed the landing after transitioning the aircraft to a hover from conventional flight. "In a word, it was impressive," Karnes said. "I was very comfortable throughout all of the STOVL maneuvers, and the workload was much reduced compared to similar tasks in a Harrier. I was able to perform a short takeoff, transition to conventional flight then back to semi-jetborne flight, and decelerate to vertical landing well within plus or minus one foot of landing accuracy. Amazingly, all this was possible during my first attempt at a short takeoff and vertical landing in the X-32B."
+++
Squadron Leader Justin Paines has become the first Royal Air Force pilot to evaluate the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing performance of the supersonic Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter, the X-35B. Justin carried out three hovers for a total of eight and a half minutes at the Lockheed Martin plant in Palmdale, Calif., on June 30. "It was awesome. The aircraft performed flawlessly," Sqn Ldr Paines said. "The system produces an incredible amount of thrust, fifteen or twenty tons of thrust, even here in the high desert in summer, and yet we can control that thrust with the precision required to manoeuvre the aircraft in the hover. Apart from having to adhere to the upcoming flight-test phase, there was nothing that would have stopped me accelerating away to supersonic speed with the same aircraft."
+++
Embraer's ERJ 145 XR bearing Brazilian register PT-ZJB left the hangar and leapt into air late Friday (June 29) at 4h40 p.m. Captains Clodoaldo Matias de Oliveira and Daniel Chun Hyung Cho, and Flight Test engineer Roberto Becker stayed 60 minutes aloft and everything went exactly as planned. "We performed all kind of fuel system operation, tested the flying abilities in view of the inclusion of winglets and the results were more than satisfactory", said Capt. Clodoaldo when stepping out of the jet. The ERJ 145 XR incorporates a number of features that distinguish it from other versions of the 145 family. Range was extended by 450 nautical miles to 2,000 nm. The ERJ 145 XR features reinforced fuselage and wings for a higher take-off weight - 52,911 lb., an increase of 9 percent -, as well as increased fuel capacity, winglets and 8,110 lbs.-thrust, Rolls-Royce AE 3007 A1E engines, a 7percent increase. The ERJ 145 XR was launched in July of 2000 and will undergo a 400-hour evaluation and test program over a period of nearly one year. Certification is due to occur in June of 2002 and flight trials are to be performed by two aircraft. First delivery to launch customer US-based Continental Express is expected soon after certification. The airline signed a firm purchase contract for 75 ERJ 145 XRs, with a further 100 units on option.
+++
A Boeing Delta II rocket successfully launched NASA's Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) into space today on a quest for the origins of the universe. Liftoff occurred at 3:46 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 17B. Approximately one hour and 26 minutes later, the Boeing Delta II deployed the MAP spacecraft. "Our job is to give MAP a safe ride into space," said Joy Bryant, director of NASA Expendable Launch Programs for Boeing. "The launch is a highly crucial part of the mission and we have put enormous time and effort into ensuring its success. Today all of that hard work paid off." The MAP mission is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. and was built in partnership with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. The mission's goal is to determine the history, content, shape, and fate of the universe. Since light from distant stars can take millions of years to reach earth, the pictures that MAP takes will represent the universe from just after the time of the Big Bang.
+++
The last of 45 B-1B aircraft soared through the B-1 Fly-in Program recently, ending a two-year Block D program designed to upgrade the aircraft's global positioning and weapons delivery systems. The Fly-In Program, based on a congressional mandate, upgraded the aircraft with an advanced technology during a restricted timeframe. Program experts accomplished the majority of the maintenance on the aircraft ramp here. Through Block D GPS modification, maintainers installed or handled more than 37,000 wires and removed 200 aircraft components. "The modification installation itself went as we had planned," said Ben Doherty, avionics unit chief of the B-1B aircraft production section. "However, the avionic and electrical checkout and preparation for functional check flight was much more in-depth than previously planned, based on the number of disturbed systems involved and ... nonprogrammed defects found during the latter stages before flight."
+++
Boeing Business Jets announced the delivery of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to the South African Air Force. Armaments Corporation of South Africa Ltd. (ARMSCOR), acting on behalf of the military, purchased the BBJ, which will be used for intercontinental VIP transport in the South African Air Force fleet. This will be the first BBJ based in South Africa. With recent deliveries to Latin America and now South Africa, BBJs are based on six continents.
+++
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems Sector (ISS) took delivery Monday of a second unmanned prototype of the Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) from Schweizer Aircraft Company, the airframe manufacturer. The company-procured vehicle will be used in Fire Scout VTUAV system risk-reduction testing. Dubbed P-3, the vehicle will include a dual-redundant avionics system similar to the one designed for the production Fire Scout system. Joining a manned VTUAV system in the company-funded, two-vehicle test fleet, P-3 will begin flight tests at the end of the year. The first engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) vehicle, E-1, is expected to be delivered in July, while the EMD flight test program is scheduled to begin in February 2002.
+++
A new mission scenario has been identified in order to solve the Huygens radio communications problem and fully recover the scientific return from the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its giant moon Titan. After six months of investigations and analysis by a joint ESA/NASA Huygens Recovery Task Force (HRTF), senior management from the two space agencies and members of the Cassini-Huygens scientific community have endorsed several modifications to the mission. These will ensure a return close to 100% of the Huygens science data, with no impact on the nominal prime Cassini tour after the third Titan encounter. The modifications have been introduced because of a design flaw in the Huygens communication system. This problem meant that the Huygens receiver was unable to compensate for the frequency shift between the signal emitted by the Probe and the one received by the Orbiter, due to the Doppler shift. This would have resulted in the loss of most of the unique data returned from the Probe during its descent through Titan's dense atmosphere. To ensure that as much data as possible is returned from the pioneering Probe, the HRTF proposed a new schedule for Cassini's first orbits around Saturn. The agreed scenario involves shortening Cassini's first two orbits around the ringed planet and adding a third which provides the required new geometry for the Huygens mission to Titan.
+++
Airbus and its customers throughout North America reached a new milestone as the 500th A320 family aircraft destined for the North American market was delivered to United Airlines. The airline took delivery of the A319 at Airbus' Hamburg, Germany facilities. This addition brings United's fleet to 115 aircraft out of a total of nearly 200 A319s and A320s ordered by the U.S. carrier. The A320 Family serves a wide range of airlines in both the United States and Canada, including Air Canada, America West, Canada 3000, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Northwest Airlines, Skyservice and US Airways. In 1996, Airbus delivered approximately one aircraft per month to its North American customers. In 2000, that number increased to about two aircraft per week.
+++
The Integral satellite, designed and built by Alenia Spazio, is leaving Italy to carry out the environmental test campaign at the ESA-Estec laboratories in The Netherlands before launch from Kazakhstan. Alenia Spazio, a Finmeccanica company, and the European Space Agency presented to the scientific and industrial community involved and to representatives of the press the status of the programme and the planning of the test campaign that will bring INTEGRAL (INTErnational Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory), the biggest satellite ever built in Europe), to its launch next year from the Baikonur base in Kazakhstan. The INTEGRAL satellite, designed and built by Alenia Spazio in Turin, acting as prime contractor to the European Space Agency, is therefore leaving Italy and next July 16 it will be sent in a special container to the European laboratories at ESTEC in The Netherlands.
+++
The International Air Transport Association has chosen ProfitLine, a revenue management solution developed and supported by Lufthansa Systems Berlin, to be an IATA Preferred Product. An IATA Preferred Product is a product or service that IATA believes represents value to the industry. Through third-party agreement, IATA promotes Preferred Products in order to increase their exposure - in response to a demand expressed by IATA Member airlines to receive timely information on products that may have a positive effect on their profitability. "IATA Preferred Products will enhance our service to the industry," said Joel Blumenthal, Director, Corporate Marketing, IATA. "In the field of revenue management, Lufthansa Systems Berlin presented us with the right solution, meeting our Members' requirements in terms of quality, affordability and accessibility ProfitLine is the result of many years of experience in the field of revenue management and pricing, and we are very pleased that IATA has chosen our product to assist airlines in optimising their revenues," said Thomas Büermann, Head of Division, Revenue Management, of Lufthansa Systems Berlin. "More than a dozen fast-growing companies such as ACES, British European, Crossair and SkyWest currently rely on ProfitLine when making their revenue management decisions."
+++
Space Shuttle Atlantis will launch July 12 to carry a new airlock to the International Space Station. The mission will bring the orbiting outpost an unprecedented degree of self-reliance, providing it with a new doorway to space for maintenance and construction. Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff at 5:04 a.m. EDT July 12 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, FL, at the beginning of an approximately five-minute launch window. Atlantis' mission, designated STS-104, will be the fourth shuttle flight this year and the 10th shuttle mission dedicated to assembly of the International Space Station.
+++
Bombardier Aerospace announced the purchase of three Bombardier Q400 high-speed turboprop airliners by Wideroe Flyveselskap A/S of Norway. Wideroe has also secured five Bombardier Q400 options. The contract calls for Bombardier Q400 aircraft deliveries in October 2001, and July and August 2002. "We are pleased that Wideroe has ordered the Bombardier Q400 to serve the needs of its passengers," said Steven Ridolfi, president Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "Wideroe has been a showcase for our airliners for almost 50 years. The Bombardier Q400 will be the sixth aircraft model produced at our Toronto factory to serve in their fleet." "The Bombardier Q400 offers the speed, comfort, and operating economics we require to expand our route network in Europe," said Per Arne Watle, Wideroe president and CEO. "We evaluated the Bombardier Q400 against other products and concluded that the Bombardier Q400 would be the right choice for us." Wideroe is the fifth airline to order the Bombardier Q400 for service in Europe. Initially, Wideroe plans to deploy its first new Bombardier Q400 turboprops between Torp in southern Norway and Copenhagen, Denmark replacing Dash 8 Series 300 aircraft which will be operated elsewhere on the company's route network. The newly ordered Bombardier Q400s will be used to further expand their network to more distant cities in Europe.
+++
On July 2, UAL Corporation, the company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, and US Airways Group, Inc (NYSE:U) today issued the following statement regarding their proposed merger: "UAL Corporation and US Airways Group, Inc have confirmed that they are in discussions regarding the possibility of terminating the proposed merger between the two companies prior to the August 1 termination date."
+++
EADS Sogerma Services and Thales Avionics have signed a contract to upgrade six C-130 military transport aircraft for a South American Air Force. EADS Sogerma Services will be the prime contractor for the upgrade and the maintenance, and Thales Avionics will provide the advanced-technology Topdeck avionics suite. For more than twenty years, Sogerma has gathered a large experience in the maintenance and repair of C130/L100 Hercules military and commercial aircraft and is, together with its subsidiary Maroc Aviation, a "Lockheed Hercules Authorized Service Center".
+++
The Sikorsky CYPHER II Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) reached a major milestone here on June 15 with its first tethered flight. This marked the first time the experimental aircraft has taken to the air. CYPHER II has since maintained a rigorous, almost daily test flight schedule. The aircraft is being built for the U.S. Army Night Vision Labs in Fort Belvoir, Va., and will be used for testing small sensors next year. "Sikorsky has performed admirably to achieve first tethered flight on the CYPHER II UAV despite the significant technical challenges typically faced with developmental aircraft," said Gary F. Meyering, Small Unmanned Air Vehicle Project Leader at the Night Vision Lab's Air Systems Division. "This was a considerable milestone and we would like to thank the entire CYPHER II team for its selfless hard work and dedication."
+++
Iberworld, a subsidiary of major Spanish tourist group IBEROSTAR, has selected the A330-200 for the development of its long range network from Madrid to the Caribbean islands. The Palma de Mallorca-based charter carrier's decision was driven by the cost-efficiency and comfort of the A330-200, together with the high level of commonality Airbus' latest widebody twin shares with the popular A320 Family. Iberworld, which already operates a fleet of five A320s on holiday routes to the Balearic and Canary Islands, from Northern and Central Europe, will receive an A330-200 on lease from CIT Aerospace in Spring 2002, thus becoming the first Spanish operator of the type. Powered by two Trent 700 engines from Rolls Royce, the aircraft in Iberworld's two-class configuration will seat 338 passengers.
+++
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:
July 1, 2001
June 24, 2001
June 17, 2001
June 10, 2001
June 3, 2001
May 27, 2001
May 20, 2001
May 13, 2001
May 6, 2001
April 29, 2001
April 22, 2001
April 15, 2001
April 8, 2001
April 1, 2001
January to December 2000
January to December 1999
January to December 1998
January to December 1997
September to December 1996
Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Inside | Datafiles
Copyright 2001 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated 6 July 2001
FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany