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UPDATE 
Week ending September 30, 2001
+++ Swissair fights for survival +++ Lufthansa shareholding in Eurowings approved +++ REGA signs for three Challenger 604 +++ RJX-100 flies +++ Deep Space comet flyby succeeds +++ Ariane 4 boosts Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird 2 +++ News in brief +++


Swissair fights for survival
Notmassnahmen bei der Swissair

On 30 August, the Swissair Group announced a series of measures, including the divestiture of Swissport and Nuance Group, designed to ensure a viable future for a Swiss based aviation company. Recent tragic events in the USA, and in particular their severe implications on the world aviation industry as well as on the general economic outlook, imply that more radical measures are now required. As a consequence, the Swissair Group will fundamentally restructure its airline and related activities, this will necessitate a recapitalisation in the near term. The key elements of the restructuring effort are: a completely new business plan based on a new airline; André Dosé appointed chief executive of new entity Swiss Air Lines; Revised network and fleet planning; a full integration of Swissair and Crossair; restructuring of Gate Gourmet; recapitalisation of the Group based on the new business plan; changes in Group management structure
Current Crossair chief executive André Dosé will become chief executive of the new entity called Swiss Air Lines, effective immediately. André Dosé has been charged to develop detailed restructuring measures that will be presented to the Swissair Group board in October. This restructuring will start immediately and will be completed within the next three years. Although Swissair and Crossair will retain their distinctive brands, the new airline concept will entail the integration of Swissair and Crossair's shorthaul network and a reduction of Swissair's longhaul network. There will also be a full-scale combination of the two airlines' fleet planning, sales and marketing activities as well as customer service and all other back office functions. The new airline will build on Crossair's approach of providing a high quality product while implementing a significantly lower cost model than Swissair. It will focus primarily on European point-to-point premium traffic whilst retaining and enhancing service on profitable longhaul routes. These will include destinations in parts of Asia where Swissair is already a very strong carrier, as well as the Middle East and Africa.
The new strategy will imply a downsizing of the combined Swissair and Crossair fleets by 2004, with a 25 per cent reduction of the longhaul fleet. The shorthaul fleet will be adapted to meet revised frequency requirements and projected load factors. This will lead to a further decrease in headcount, the extent of which will be disclosed once discussed with the unions.
Swissair Group met with representatives of the Swiss Federal Council and the Swiss Business Federation [economiesuisse] on Saturday, 22 September 2001, to discuss the Group's situation. The agreement was that a sustainable airline industry remains in the interest of Switzerland. Swissair Group is working closely with the Swiss Government and the business community to find a solution to its current circumstances. The Group welcomes the initiative to assist it in securing a comprehensive recapitalisation and appreciates the appointment of Ulrich Bremi, leading businessman and former member of the Swiss parliament, to successfully formulate this plan before 10 October 2001. The proposed recapitalisation has the full support of the Swissair Group board and its final structure will be presented to the shareholders on 9 November 2001 for approval.

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Lufthansa shareholding in Eurowings approved
Kartellamt genehmigt Lufthansa-Einstieg bei Eurowings

The Federal Cartels Office has today given the go-ahead for Lufthansa to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Eurowings Luftverkehrs AG. Lufthansa welcomes the decision not to block the collaboration between the two airlines. However, the regulatory body has imposed a series of conditions. Since these still require closer financial and legal evaluation, Lufthansa is unable to comment on them at present. On 1 January 2001 Lufthansa took out a 24.9 per cent stake in Eurowings. It additionally has an option, which can be exercised at the earliest in winter 2003/2004, to buy a further 24.1 per cent of the airline's shares. The full transaction has been pending approval by the Federal Cartels Office since November 2000. Lufthansa and Eurowings have been cooperating since the beginning of the summer schedule (March 2001) on a total of 39 domestic German and intra-European routes.

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REGA signs for three Challenger 604
Challenger-Jets für die REGA

On September 26, Bombardier Aerospace announced it has signed a purchase agreement for three Bombardier Challenger 604 widebody business jets with REGA, Swiss Air-Ambulance Ltd., based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company plans to operate its fleet of Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft for air ambulance operations. REGA has previously owned and operated a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A business jet , which was also dedicated to air ambulance services. The Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft in air ambulance configuration will be equipped with two intensive care stations and the latest specialist life support equipment. The aircraft configuration will also include two galleys and a crew rest area that can be converted into additional seating if necessary. Two completed aircraft are scheduled for delivery in June 2002 while the third delivery is expected in November 2002. Aerolite Max Bucher AG, based in Volketswil, Switzerland, will supply the medical equipment for the aircraft. All three jets will feature Bombardier's new PrecisionPlus upgrade avionics suite, which will increase operating efficiency, improve pilot situational awareness, enhance performance capabilities and decrease pilot workload.
"Following a thorough analysis of each aircraft in this category, we have concluded that the Bombardier Challenger 604 is best-suited to meet our specific needs," stated Hannes Goetz, president of REGA, Swiss Air-Ambulance Ltd. "It offers the widest cabin in its class which allows us to attend the needs of our patients in the best way possible. We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality aeromedical services and are confident that the Challenger 604, the latest aircraft in our 20-year association with Bombardier, will enable us to continue this long-standing tradition."

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RJX-100 flies
Erstflug des Regionaljets Avro RJX-100

Avro RJX-100 G-IRJX successfully achieved first flight on Sunday 23rd September. The aircraft took-off from BAE SYSTEMS' airfield at Woodford in Cheshire, UK at 15:20 hrs local time and completed a 3 hour 10 minute flight at altitudes up to 26,000 ft and speeds up to 250 kt. All planned tests were completed successfully. The crew for this flight were Bill Ovel (Captain), Pete Lofts (Pilot), Derek Ferguson and Paul Bayley (Flight Test Engineering) and Glen High (Honeywell).
Meanwhile the Avro RJX-85, which is at Phoenix, has achieved 40 hours of essential ground testing under high ambient temperatures. Flying has been temporarily interrupted by restrictions in the use of US airspace, but total flying for the Avro RJX programme now exceeds 205 hours during 95 flights.

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Deep Space comet flyby succeeds
Kometenfotos von Deep Space 1

In a risky flyby, NASA's ailing Deep Space 1 spacecraft successfully navigated past a comet, giving researchers the best look ever inside the glowing core of icy dust and gas. The space probe's close encounter with comet Borrelly provided the best-resolution pictures of the comet to date. The already-successful Deep Space 1, without protection from the little-known comet environment, whizzed by just 2,200 kilometers (1,400 miles) from the rocky, icy nucleus of the 10-kilometer-long (more than 6-mile-long) comet. Exceeding the team's expectations of how this elderly spacecraft would perform, the intrepid spacefarer sent back black-and-white photos of the inner core of the comet. It also measured the types of gases and infrared waves around the comet, and how the gases interacted with the solar wind. "Deep Space 1 plunged into the heart of comet Borrelly and has lived to tell every detail of its spine-tingling adventure!" said Dr. Marc Rayman, the project manager of Deep Space 1 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif. "The images are even better than the impressive images of comet Halley taken by Europe's Giotto spacecraft in 1986."
"It's mind-boggling and stupendous," said Dr. Laurence Soderblom, the leader of Deep Space 1's imaging team, and a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Ariz. "These pictures have told us that comet nuclei are far more complex than we ever imagined. They have rugged terrain, smooth rolling plains, deep fractures and very, very dark material." Scientists also realized that Borrelly was different than they expected as Deep Space 1 flew through the coma, the cloud of dust and gas surrounding the nucleus. They had expected that the solar wind would flow symmetrically around the cloud, with the nucleus in the center.

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Ariane 4 boosts Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird 2
Eutelsat mit Ariane 4 gestartet

Arianespace successfully conducted its second mission in 25 days, using an Ariane 4 nighttime launch to place Atlantic Bird 2 into geostationary transfer orbit for Eutelsat. Flight 144's liftoff initially was delayedby a telemetry problem at the Spaceport, which was resolved within the 57-minute launch window. Ignition of the Ariane 4's first stage enginesoccurred at 8:21 p.m. local French Guiana time, and the launcher quickly climbed into the night skies over theSpaceport. Separation of the four solid strap-on boosters was clearly visible on the Webcast live carried by www.arianespace.com, as were the first stage's shutdown and the ignition ofthe second stage.
The Alcatel Space-built Atlantic Bird 2 satellite is a key element of Eutelsat's global service expansion, and the spacecraft will provide relay capacity from the Americas to Europe and beyond, utilizing the telecommunication operator's Atlantic Gate orbital slot at 8 deg. West. Flight 144 used an Ariane 44P version of the Ariane 4 family, equipped with the four solid propellant strap-on boosters for augmented thrust during the initial ascent phase. The mission was the 15th - and final - flight of an Ariane 44P in the Ariane 4 family's operational career. It also marked the 106th launch of an Ariane 4 - and the vehicle's 64th consecutive success. Atlantic Bird 2 weighed approximately 3,150 kg. at liftoff and carries 26 transponders. The satellite was built using an Alcatel Space Spacebus 3000B2 spacecraft platform.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

A third Airbus A340-600 has joined the test and certification programme, making its first flight on September 24th. The new aircraft is fully furnished in preparation for testing of the new cabin interior and its associated systems. After initial trials, the aircraft will undertake a series of long-range flights with a full passenger and crew complement. These early flights are in addition to the normal route-proving trials accomplished shortly before entry into service and are designed to provide early validation of the entire cabin. The interior comprises five distinct cabin areas, each furnished to represent a typical airline configuration, ranging from luxurious four-abreast first class to the passenger-preferred 2-2-2 seating arrangement in business class cabins to standard economy class. All seats are equipped with screens linked to the latest generation of in-flight entertainment. A total of more than 500 hours of flight have been completed to date in the A340-600 certification programme.
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NBAA's 54th Annual Meeting & Convention will take place on December 12, 13, 14 in New Orleans and will include Exhibits and a Static Display of Aircraft at Lakefront Airport. In response to the events of September 11, all 78 Informational Session are expected to be presented as previously planned and many will include new safety and security components. The rescheduling of the AM&C for December in New Orleans accommodates the formidable logistics and practical realities of rescheduling and reassembling the Convention, Static Display of Aircraft and a revised Informational Session program for the greatest number of NBAA Members. Many alternate dates and cities were considered in this decision. Due to its importance to the Business Aviation Community, NBAA will make every effort to ensure maximum participation and benefit for both Exhibitors and Attendees.
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The Sikorsky S-92 continues on track toward 2002 certification with a prototype nearing completion in the production configuration. Aircraft 4, the first with the Rockwell Collins cockpit, is being assembled at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's main facility in Stratford, Conn., and is scheduled to join the flight test program later this fall. In all, the program has accumulated 740 hours in flight test through mid-September. Aircraft 2 has flown in excess of 380 hours. Aircraft 3 has accumulated 221 flight hours since first flying in October 1999, including flight evaluations in military mission applications. Aircraft 5, which validated the longer cabin and lower tail, joined the flight program in early 2001 and has logged more than 140 hours in the air. The Ground Test Vehicle, Aircraft 1, completed the 200 hour FAA endurance run to certify the entire drive system including main, intermediate and tail gearboxes in 1999.
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Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) announced today that ADAC Luftrettung GmbH has become the first helicopter operator in Germany to take delivery of the new PW206B2-powered Eurocopter EC135. ADAC Luftrettung, the air rescue service of ADAC, Germany's Auto Club, is one of the largest air rescue organizations in Europe, with a fleet of 32 strategically located helicopters. The EC135 helicopter, delivered to ADAC on September 27, is the seventh P&WC-powered EC135 helicopter operated by the organization. Friedrich Rehkopf, Managing Director, ADAC Luftrettung, explains: "Our experience with the PW206B engine on the EC135 has been very positive. This engine's performance, reliability and the P&WC European-based support network have led us to conclude it is an excellent fit for our operations. We are thus understandably excited to welcome its growth variant - the PW206B2 - into our fleet, as it is expected to improve our operations' performance and efficiency."
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Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation announced that it has delivered the first production S-76C+ aircraft built with a fuselage completed in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody. After installation of the dynamic components and flight certification at Sikorsky Aircraft, the aircraft interior was finished at the company's Completion Center partner, Keystone Helicopter Corporation, in West Chester, Penn. The corporate owner will use the VIP-configured aircraft for executive transport. The delivery of this aircraft marks a milestone in Sikorsky's restructuring of S-76 production and completions - it is the first S-76 incorporating work performed by both Aero Vodochody and Keystone.
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The Sea Launch partners and Boeing Space & Communications officials announced their intention to have a common sales and marketing organization for Sea Launch and Boeing Delta commercial launch services. Gale Schluter, vice president and general manager Boeing Expendable Launch Systems, announced that the new organization and its leadership were outlined in a memo to employees on Friday. The new marketing and sales organization will fall under Boeing Launch Services, Inc. and will be led by former Sea Launch president and general manager, Will Trafton, who will report to Schluter. A separate organization under Schluter and Trafton will handle U.S. government marketing and sales for the Boeing Delta. Dave Schweikle will be responsible for the sales of launch services to the U.S. government and report to the vice president-general manager/vice president-deputy general manager of Expendable Launch Systems. Both marketing and sales organizations will be located in Huntington Beach, Calif.
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The C-27J NC 4115, the first production aircraft of this model, has completed a series of tests in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft took off from Caselle airport on 3rd September piloted by Comm. Gianluca Evangelisti (Alenia Aeronautica's Chief Test Pilot for Transport Aircraft) and by Comm. Richard Schroeder (Test Pilot from Lockheed Martin Aerospace System).As well as the pilots, there were eleven technicians on board for flight support and for the data collection necessary to obtain the Military Certification planned for 2001. The mission, which was carried out in a high temperature environment, represented a very important test bed to check the validity and sturdiness of the C-27J since all the onboard systems, from the engines to the equipment air-conditioning and cooling, were tested in severe conditions. Temperatures of up to 48 deg C were measured during the tests without the occurrence of any faults and the test results were perfectly in line with the design data. These tests are particularly useful for aircraft such as the C-27J which are planned for operation in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions in harsh conditions and without outside assistance. At the end of the tests the aircraft underwent a formal evaluation between 15th and 19th September by the Royal Saudi Air Force, a potential customer for the C-27J. Some of the RSAF pilots carried out test flights and tests alongside Comm. Evangelisti (stalls, climbs with simulation of the critical engine "stall", maximum speed, etc.).
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The F-22 program achieved a major milestone Sept. 21 when Raptor 4005 fired an AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, for the first time against a drone at Point Mugu Naval Test Range, Calif. The missile was guided by avionics software integrated by Boeing. The AMRAAM closed to within optimum range of the target seconds after launch high over the Pacific test range. The guided missile launch demonstrated the F-22's ability to detect and track a long-range target. This is the fourth significant avionics milestone to be accomplished this year as the F-22 weapon system builds up to an initial operational test by the U.S. Air Force in 2003. The aircraft used the Block 3.0 avionics software developed and tested by Boeing. The advanced software incorporates avionics integration including sensor fusion. Sensor fusion occurs when targeting, detection and tracking information is fused from multiple sensors to create a single input to the pilot. "The key to the successful missile shot is the unprecedented level of avionics and weapons integration by Boeing workers here in Seattle and at other F-22 sites," said Henry Brandis, a lead weapon system engineer at Boeing.
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Lockheed Martin has begun the delivery of C-130J aircraft with a new software configuration that brings the aircraft's avionics system to full functionality. Known as Block 5.3, the new software incorporates substantial upgrades and new capabilities and is now the baseline for all production C-130J aircraft. The KC-130J tankers now being delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps all have Block 5.3, and the Royal Australian Air Force is the first operator to accept 5.3 for its existing aircraft. The company has completed all necessary testing to prove the airworthiness of the new software and its operation with aircraft hardware. "Installing Block 5.3 takes the C-130J from being an amazing aircraft, to a true world-beater in terms of capability," said C-130J program vice president Ross Reynolds. "No military transport aircraft in production today has a mission software package as advanced and sophisticated as that on the J. It truly represents the very leading edge of systems technology."Current customers for the C-130J and C-130J-30 include the U.S. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.K. Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force, and the Royal Danish Air Force.
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On September 21, the U.S. Navy accepted its first full-rate production F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from The Boeing Company. The two-seat F model Super Hornet is bound for Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. "Delivery of this Super Hornet further demonstrates the dedication and commitment of the Hornet Industry Team," said Tony Parasida, Boeing F/A-18 vice president. "Our team is not satisfied with performing as expected. Our goal is to perform better than expected, and we've done that by delivering this first multiyear procurement Super Hornet ahead of schedule." To date 63 Super Hornets have been delivered to the U.S. Navy, including 34 to Training Squadron 122 (VFA-122) and 12 to Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115), the first operational Super Hornet squadron.
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On September 26, Textron Inc. announced that John R. Murphey, 59, has been named chairman and chief executive officer of the company's $1.6 billion Bell Helicopter business, effective immediately. Murphey was previously president and chief operating officer of Bell Helicopter and will continue to be based at Bell's Fort Worth, TX, headquarters. He replaces Terry Stinson and will report to Lewis B. Campbell, Textron's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "John has a legacy of success and achievement at Bell, and is ideally suited to provide a crucial link between the past and future of the company," Campbell said. "Bell is facing a number of business challenges, and John and his team have the right focus on both strategy and execution to guide the company through a critical transition where cost controls will be a priority," he added. "Bell has made, and will continue to make, significant changes that build on the core competencies and the strengths of the Bell workforce, and reflect the reality of today's business climate," Murphey said. "Our goal now will be to build on those initiatives and re-position the company for continued growth," he said.
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Lufthansa welcomes the decision by the federal German government to cover German aircraft against "war and terrorism" risks until such time as new policies are agreed with the insurers. The move ensures that commercial airlines will remain insured, even after existing policies are cancelled by the insurers. Lufthansa fully supports the efforts, particularly those of the federal German government, to arrive at a joint solution at a European level as this will avoid any distortion of competition. Lufthansa thanks the German government for ensuring a swift solution in the interests of customers and all those involved in air transport and is confident that any matters still remaining open will soon be resolved.
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The first two prototypes of the BA609, the world's first civil tiltrotor are nearing completion. Prototypes #3 and #4 are scheduled to be completed during 2002. The company will produce a total of four prototype tiltrotor aircraft for flight-testing and certification. Prototype #1, whose wing and fuselage were mated last November, at Bell's Flight Research Center, Arlington, Texas, is scheduled to begin engine run-up by November 2001, with first flight scheduled for late this year. First deliveries are planned for 2004 following the flight test program and certification. Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company (BAAC) is a joint venture between Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and Agusta SpA, an Agusta-Westland company, to design, develop, produce and market the BA 609 civil tiltrotor and the AB139, which is a new, modern twin engine helicopter.
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At the Eurocopter Marignane plant, Jean-François Bigay, President of the Eurocopter Group, officially handed over the keys to Ron Van Den Berg, Chairman of Shell Nigeria, for the first of six EC 155 B helicopters on order. Mr Brian Humphries, Managing Director of Shell Aircraft and Mr.Ogiemwonyi, General Manager of NAPIMS, attended also the ceremony. This contract covering the acquisition of six twin-engine, medium-lift EC 155 B helicopters and sophisticated SAR equipment has been signed earlier this year between Eurocopter and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd. (SPDC) and Joint Venture partners in Lagos. SPDC will operate the EC 155Bs in Nigeria for the transportation of personnel and materials in support of oil & gas exploration and production activities both onshore and deep water locations, offshore. Three other helicopters will be delivered in 2001 and the remaining two in the first quarter of 2002.
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Delta Air Lines said that due to dramatically lower demand for air travel following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and resulting unprecedented financial losses, the company must cut its costs, including employee costs. As a result, Delta will reduce staffing by up to 13,000 jobs across all major work groups over the next few months, with a significant number of these reductions expected to come through voluntary programs. Demand for air travel since September 11 has dropped precipitously. As a result, Delta will reduce capacity by 15% effective November 1, 2001. The new schedule will be in effect indefinitely due to the uncertainty of future demand for travel. "Prior to September 11, any discussion that questioned our airline's capacity for financial survival would have been unthinkable," said Leo F. Mullin, Delta chairman and CEO. "But on that tragic day, war was declared on the United States of America using aviation as the instrument of destruction. As a result, the operational and financial outlook for airlines has changed precipitously and drastic measures are required if we are to avoid becoming the first economic casualty of the war.
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The BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association) has called for Germany's contribution to the European Space Agency to be increased by 15 percent. This emerged from a declaration by the BDLI following constructive discussions held between leading figures from German research, science and industry working in the space sector and Federal research minister Edelgard Bulmahn on Wednesday afternoon (September 19, 2001). The gathering was held to prepare for the ESA's Council meeting at ministerial level in November 2001, to be chaired by Ms Buhlman. Said BDLI Managing Director Dr. Hans Eberhard Birke: "The German ESA contribution merely continues the legal and factual obligations from European decisions passed in 1999, with German ESA funding for 2002 and 2003 amounting in each year to just DM532 million. However, new technological, scientific and defense challenges will have to be overcome. Not more than an additional Euro 80 million is required annually from 2002 to 2005 to match the strategic importance of space research. One initial positive signal was Edelgard Bulmahn's announcement to set aside funds, especially for the further improvement of the Ariane rocket. We hope that Germany will have some additional bargaining resources up its sleeve for the conference in Edinburgh. " The German aerospace industry delegation visiting the research minister was headed by Rainer Hertrich, Chief Executive Officer of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.
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The first stage of the Boeing Delta IV is on its way to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation for its first launch. On Tuesday, the first stage - also referred to as the common booster core (CBC) -- was rolled out of the Delta Launch Vehicle Factory in Decatur, Ala. The Delta IV is heading to Space Launch Complex 37 riding aboard the M/V Delta Mariner. The voyage will take 7-10 days. Upon arrival, the first stage will be taken to the Boeing Horizontal Integration Facility where it will be prepared for the first launch next year.
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From October 1, 2001 the alliance partners Lufthansa Cargo, SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo will be offering their customers harmonised Express products. The announcement was made by Dr. Andreas Otto, member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG, Hwang Teng Aun, President of Singapore Airlines Cargo, and Peter Gr*nlund, President & CEO of the SAS Cargo Group. The three partners laid the foundation stone for their alliance on April 26, 2000. Until now it has been known as "New Global Cargo". Lufthansa Cargo is the largest freight carrier in the world and Singapore Airlines Cargo the third-largest. Both airlines have global networks. SAS Cargo has a strong presence in Scandinavia and a closely meshed network. Together, the alliance opens up new markets - particularly in Asia, Scandinavia, Australia, North America and Northern Europe - to its customers. The three partners operate a network of 493 destinations worldwide in 103 countries on five continents. The alliance has access to a total of 31 all-freighter aircraft and the belly capacities of 612 passenger aircraft, many of which are wide-body aircraft.
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The terrorist attacks of 11 September in the USA are having massive negative consequences for the airline industry and the Austrian Airlines Group. The results of the Austrian Airlines Group for the first half-year were already significantly below expectations, and this negative trend continued in the months of July and August. For this reason, the Austrian Airlines Group has put together a package of measures designed to counter the economic effects of the current fall in demand. On the costs side, these measures include temporary route closures, reduction in frequency, a stop of investment and recruitment, and in particular also the re-negotiation of conditions with key suppliers. In order to adjust personnel levels and costs to the reduced production, measures are currently under discussion with staff representatives designed to avoid layoffs due to the reduction in capacity. On the revenue side, there will be selective price adjustments and an increase in the security fee. The strong fall in demand for the Austrian Airlines Group North Atlantic destinations will require the temporary suspension of certain North American routes. Therefore, from 28 October 2001 - the beginning of the winter schedule - Chicago and Toronto will no longer be served. The continuation of flights to Miami is under review. New York and Washington will continue to be served on a daily basis, as before. On medium-range destinations of the Austrian Airlines Group, the scheduled service to Aleppo will be withdrawn from the timetable as of 1 October 2001.
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SaabTech Systems has received an order from FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) totalling SEK 41 million for modifications of StriC, the Swedish Armed Forces' Command and Control System, used for e.g. mission control of the Gripen. The order includes modifications to changes that have been made in the technical systems interfaced to StriC. SaabTech Systems is the main supplier of the StriC Command and Control System which has been developed in close co-operation with FMV and the Swedish Air Force. It is one of the largest systems integration and software development projects ever conducted in Sweden. StriC has now been operational since 1998 and ongoing development and integration of StriC with interfacing systems is essential in meeting the future technical and tactical requirements of the Swedish Armed Forces.
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NASA and the United Space Alliance have signed a $62 million modification to the Space Flight Operations Contract to provide refurbishment of hydraulic actuators on the space shuttle fleet during the next five years. The work, which is planned during regularly scheduled future shuttle maintenance periods, will involve the complete refurbishment of the 11 hydraulic actuators on each space shuttle orbiter. The actuators move the vehicle's rudder, speed brake, elevons and main engines during flight. In addition to being fully rebuilt, the actuators will be modified with a new one-piece spool stop to correct a problem with the potential unseating of spool stops that was identified during previous shuttle maintenance work. Endeavour will be the first shuttle to have the refurbished actuators installed during its next maintenance period, planned to begin in 2003.The work will be performed at locations including East Aurora, N.Y.; Palmdale and Huntington Beach, Calif.; and the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
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BAE Systems has completed the first phase of a programme to supply modern instrument landing system (ILS) equipment for the Royal Air Force's fleet of transport and associated aircraft. Under an award made in late 2000, the Airborne Communications business of the Avionics Communication & Defence Infrastructure Division was contracted to redesign the AD260 ILS receivers fitted on support aircraft such as Hercules, Nimrod and Canberra. This requirement was prompted by a change in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations applicable to aircraft world-wide using civil airports. In addition, the upgraded equipment will offer higher levels of performance and reliability. The design, development, manufacturing and integration of the new AD260 models was undertaken by the BAE Systems unit from its base at Basildon in Essex, United Kingdom. The programme of deliveries is expected to be completed by the end of 2001.
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Amphitech Communications - Amphitech International Inc. and Canadian Helicopters Limited (CHL) of Les Cedres Quebec, announce today the sale of the first commercial obstacle avoidance radar system for helicopters. The OASYS Radar system will be installed on a Bell 212 in service supporting a CHL customer in Labrador. Jean-Pierre Blais, president of CHL was very pleased to be the lead customer for this important safety system for helicopters. "CHL is proud of its service to its customers. The safety of our operations is a benefit to our customers, our aircrews and the communities in which we operate. The addition of the OASYS Radar is a further commitment to our safety goals."
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Following one year of Racal ownership, the need to accelerate synergies, and the recent loss of the Bowman contract, Thales has adapted its UK structure. Thales confirms its commitment to the UK and, as the second largest defence contractor in the country, the Group remains confident of its ability to deliver major programmes across its three business areas : defence, aerospace and information technologies & services.This commitment has led to recent successes, as confirmed by orders on large and medium programmes, in particular sonars, missile systems, optronics, communications, electronic warfare, and in information technology and services.
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BAE Systems will open a new civil aircraft modification, maintenance, and repair facility at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville, California. The new facility will provide a full range of commercial aviation maintenance, refurbishment, modification and conversion services, and will become a major North American maintenance hub for commercial passenger aircraft. In a long-term contract signed today between BAE Systems and the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (SCLAA), BAE Systems agreed to lease two large hangars and associated office space suitable for a broad base of commercial aircraft applications. The contract also provided options for additional space in the future for growth, development, and expansion. The facility is located on property that used to be part of George Air Force Base, and was subsequently converted to commercial use.
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Orbital Sciences Corporation announced onSeptember 21 that the launch of its Taurus rocket, which was carrying the OrbView-4 satellite for ORBIMAGE and the QuikTOMS satellite for NASA, did not achieve the mission's intended orbit. Approximately one and a half minutes after the Taurus rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, an in-flight anomaly was observed during the rocket's second stage powered flight. As a result, Orbital believes the rocket released the satellites at a lower altitude and velocity than intended and that they did not achieve a stable orbit.
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The Finnish technology Group Patria has been selected to supply wing spoilers to the world's largest civilian aircraft, the Airbus A380. Patria will become responsible for the design, testing and manufacture of wing spoilers to the A380 Super Jumbo embodying the most advanced technologies available. The contract, worth approximately EUR 425 million over a period of the next twenty five (25) years, will be signed shortly. Patria has been actively involved in the A380 program already since 1997 and will act as a risk-sharing strategic partner to Airbus. Manufacturing under the serial production phase will employ about 80 employees, in addition to 160 man-years of design. Patria will deliver the first test pieces in 2003, the serial production will begin in 2004.
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Following a three year program of competitive evaluation for the modernization of the Chinese En-route Air Traffic Control System, Thales ATM has been awarded a contract for the supply and installation of an integrated ATM system by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The contract, with an estimated value of around 100 million Euro, consists of Thales ATM Eurocat systems for the En-Route (ACC) Centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, together with three Approach Centers (TMAs) and four Control Towers which will service China's major air routes. The new systems will include over 200 air traffic control workstations and will provide China with the capacity and advanced functionality's to allow the controllers to safely handle Chinese airspace. Installation of these new systems is planned to be completed by 2004. This project, known as NESACC, is the cornerstone of CAAC's plan to concentrate and upgrade the air traffic management systems covering Chinese airspace to support the nation's economic development into the first half of the new century.
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The midsummer period (May-August) saw a significant improvement in the delay situation in the European Civil Aviation Conference, ECAC, area (comprising 38 States) as compared with the same period in the previous three years. The average Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delay per flight for the period was 4.3 minutes against 4.6 minutes reported in 2000, 7.1 minutes in 1999 and 5.1 minutes in 1998. The month of August saw the lowest average delay per flight (3.4 minutes) since 1997. This reduction in delays is attributable to the joint efforts made by all European air navigation service providers and EUROCONTROL. The EUROCONTROL Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) and the European air traffic control centres work closely together to identify potential bottlenecks throughout Europe well in advance and provide more airspace capacity where needed. The modest 1.0% traffic growth recorded on 2000 traffic figures, representing a total of 3,052,930 flights over the four summer months, also contributed to the reduction in delays. It should be noted that air traffic control is accountable for approximately 32% of the delays. However, it is not the only cause of delays. Delays in air transport can be attributed to multiple causes: airports, air traffic control, airlines' operations and other causes such as weather.
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Jet Aviation at London Biggin Hill recently began remodeling its main hangar to accommodate aircraft maintenance, refurbishment and hangarage services. Simultaneously, construction is underway for a new passenger lounge, workshops and office space. The construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The facility will be fully operational for maintenance and outfitting by the beginning of 2002. London Biggin Hill is one of the closest airports to London's busy financial districts. Jet Aviation's facility provides aircraft maintenance and interior refurbishment to aircraft of all types and sizes, including Gulfstreams, Falcons, Hawkers and Citations. With two hangers totaling 5,188 square meters (55,830 square feet), the location offers complete avionics installations, electronic systems installations, and cabinetry and furniture refurbishment.
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At the FMV office, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration in Stockholm, Brigadier General Mats Westin, of the Swedish Air Force and Mr. Philippe Stuckelberger, General Manager of NH Industries, signed the purchase contract for 25 NH90 helicopters (including 7 in option). After two year's competition, this follows the NSHP committee recommendation and the Swedish Minister of Defence selection of the NH90, announced on 18 September 2001. The 18 helicopter's firm order includes 13 TTT/SAR and 5 ASW variants to be operated by the Swedish Air Force. The TTT/SAR and the ASW, derived from the NAHEMA TTH version, will be equipped with a complete new mission tactical system (MTS) developed by SAAB in collaboration with NH Industries. All the Swedish NH90 are equipped with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RRTM322-01/9 engine. First NH90 TTT helicopter will be delivered to Swedish Air Force early 2005, and the series will be completed within the year 2009.
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Indra, the Spanish information technology company, has been selected by NETMA, a NATO agency entrusted with the development of the future European EF-2000 fighter aircraft, to maintain and ensure the evolution of its computer logistics management system known as the Enhanced Procurement System (EPS). This means that Indra is the first Spanish company to win an internal support contract from of this kind of organisation abroad. The contract, with a 3 year term extendable for 2 further years, includes the supply and putting into operation of a computer logistics management system that will allow the automated exchange of information between the NETMA agency, domestic bodies entrusted with the EF-2000 programme and the industry entrusted with the construction of the fighter aircraft whose first units are expected to come into service with the airforce next year.
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The Executive Committee of Airbus Military Company (AMC) has appointed Alberto Fernández as its CEO to replace Alain Flourens. Alberto Fernández will maintain his current responsibilities as Chairman and CEO of EADS CASA and Head of the EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division. The appointment strengthens the role of the Military Transport AircraftDivision in managing the new A400M European military transport aircraft programme. At the same meeting, the Executive Committee expressed its gratitude to Alain Flourens, Alberto Fernández's predecessor, for his effective and positive work to date; Flourens is transferring to a senior managementposition within the Airbus organization in France.
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