FLUG REVUE update: Week ending January 6, 2002

U
P
D
A
T
E

UPDATE
Week ending January 6, 2002

+++ Australia signs Tiger contract +++ Fairchild Dornier mates 728JET fuselage sections +++ EFW receives approvals for A300-600 conversion +++ Order for 20 Rafale +++ Israel orders more F-16I +++ Swiss Air Force gets Ranger UAV system +++ CAE buys Simuflite +++ News in brief +++

Australia signs Tiger contract
Tiger-Vertrag von Australien unterzeichnet

On behalf of Defence Minister Robert Hill, the Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Fran Bailey MP announced the signing of a $1.3 billion contract with Eurocopter International Pacific for 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters under Project Air 87. "The Tiger will transform Army's ability to conduct tactical reconnaissance by day or night and provide a vital capability to escort and protect the Black Hawk helicopters as they transport troops and supplies," Ms Bailey said. "The project will create up to 180 jobs in Brisbane, including 150 during the assembly phase from mid 2002 to mid 2008 and another 30 jobs from the production line. This will give Australia a new level of industry capability for the maintenance and support of leading edge technology. "As part of the Australian industry involvement initiative, Eurocopter will also establish a production line to produce EC120 civilian helicopters in Australia. The production line will produce between 30-50 helicopters per year for the Australian, New Zealand and Asian markets and have an annual turnover of about $50 million. "Air 87 has been a lead project in the reform of Defence's acquisition processes. The reforms are designed to reduce the cost of tendering and accelerate the introduction of new equipment into service. "In the past, it has typically taken two and a half years to get a major project from tendering to contract signature. Project Air 87 was finalised within 12 months," Ms Bailey said. The first of the 'Tigers' is scheduled to enter service by the end of 2004.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

Fairchild Dornier mates 728JET fuselage sections
728JET: Rumpfmontage beginnt

One year after the official start of assembly, fuselage sections of the Fairchild Dornier 728JET have been mated at the company's production facilities. The 728JET program is on track with first flight scheduled for early spring 2002 and first deliveries in mid-2003. Laser beams are used to generate a horizontal and a vertical reference datum within the forward fuselage, cockpit and aft fuselage sections. These references are then used to precisely align the sections to an accuracy of one-tenth of a millimeter. This production process was developed specifically for Fairchild Dornier and guarantees not only a highly precise and time saving final assembly, but also enables constant measurement of the parts throughout the process. Even the slightest deviations from required dimensions are recognized at an early stage and can be immediately eliminated. "The improved match of the individual sections leads to reduced tensional stresses in the completed fuselage, leading to more cost-effective maintenance," said John Wolf, Fairchild Dornier chief operating officer. "And the more favorable aerodynamics of a perfectly rigged aircraft also help save fuel due to reduced need for trimming."
Although the prototype is still in production, the first functional tests on major aircraft systems are already under way. This is made possible by the so-called "Iron Bird" - a full size model incorporating all major components - where system operation and interaction can be tested under realistic conditions. The fly-by-wire system, for example, has completed some 1,200 hours of operation. Preparations are also being made for full-scale series production of the 728JET. At the Oberpfaffenhofen facility, two new hangars are under construction - one for final assembly and the other for fitting out of the aircraft.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

EFW receives approvals for A300-600 conversion
Zulassung für Frachterumbau

After the successful performance of the maiden flight of the first converted A300-600 freighter aircraft on December 13, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has obtained the necessary approvals for the A300-600 passenger to freighter conversion program. Both the STC (Supplemental Type Certificate), issued by the US-American FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and the EMZ (Ergänzende Musterzulassung), handed out by the German LBA (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt), certify the freighter conversion solution that is incorporated by EFW's Dresden facility. The issue of both approvals took place on schedule. The A300-600 converted freighter carry up to 49 tons over a range of 2670 nm. The excellent performance capabilities of this converted widebody aircraft, in conjunction with economic efficiency and high interlining potential, ideally covers the demands of mid-size cargo operations as well as matching ranges of medium to long haul services worldwide.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

Order for 20 Rafale
Dassault erhält weiteren Rafale-Auftrag

The French ministry of defence has awarded an order for the supply of 20 Dassault Rafale. This new contract includes 12 for the Armée de l´Air and eight for the Aéronavale. It complements the order awarded in 1999, covering 28 aircraft. It brings to 61 the number of production Rafale aircraft ordered to date by France (36 for the air force and 25 for the navy). Of this total, ten aircraft will have been delivered by the end of this year (2001) and an additional 13 will be handed over during the course of 2002. This allowed the first navy squadron to form in May 2001, and two Rafales are currently aboard the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle". The two-seat version, whose procurement was decided in late 2001, will be delivered beginning in 2008. The first air force Rafale squadron will form in 2006. Separately, the ministry of defense is managing the development of the multi-mission F2 performance standard (air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities) while defining the future F3 standard.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

Israel orders more F-16I
2 Mrd. Dollar für weitere Fighting Falcons

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics received a contract for 52 F-16 aircraft for Israel on Dec. 19, 2001, significantly extending the firm F-16 production base. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for Israel officially exercises the option for 52 additional F-16I aircraft under the Peace Marble V program. Lockheed Martin's contract value for the option is $1.3 billion out of a total program value of approximately $2 billion. “This contract is very important to us for a number of reasons,” said Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “It completes the deal for a very important customer, it extends the firm F-16 production base through 2008 and it boosts our firm orders for 2001. This buy provides an excellent base for future F-16 sales and provides a solid bridge to JSF production at our Fort Worth facility.” The aircraft will be the same two-seat F-16I configuration as the original 50 aircraft ordered in the Peace Marble V program, which began in January 2000. This brings the total of F-16Is on order to 102. The first F-16I will deliver in 2003. All aircraft will be assembled at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth, but there will be significant coproduction of airframe and avionics components in Israel. Worldwide F-16 firm orders now number 4,347 aircraft, with a firm backlog of 301 aircraft as of the end of 2001. The F-16 backlog continues to increase. In September of this year, an FMS contract was signed for the Greece III option of 10 Block 52+ aircraft.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

Swiss Air Force gets Ranger UAV system
Schweiz stellt Ranger-System in Dienst

A formal hand over of the Ranger UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) System to the Swiss Air Force has taken place during the inauguration ceremony of the new Swiss Air Force UAV Training Center situated in Emmen, Switzerland. The Ranger UAV System is manufactured by a Swiss / Israeli consortium consisting of Swiss companies Oerlikon Contraves AG and RUAG Aerospace, and Israeli companies Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) / MALAT Division, Tadiran Electronic Systems and Tadiran Spectralink. The Head of the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) of the Swiss MOD handed the Ranger UAV System over to the Swiss Air Force Commander. The Ceremony was attended by Swiss Government and military officials, Swiss industry representatives and Israeli industry representatives headed by Mr. Moshe Keret, IAI's President & CEO. IAI's President & CEO, Mr. Moshe Keret said that: "Israel Aircraft Industries is honored by the fact that the Swiss Air Force has chosen the Ranger UAV System for its missions. The Swiss Air Force is now a part of an exclusive and distinguished list of world-wide customers who are aware to the benefits and capabilities of IAI's family of UAV Systems".
The Swiss Ranger UAV System consists of four systems, which include Ground Control Stations, 28 UAVs, secure communication links, Electro-Optical payloads for day and night vision, Automatic Landing Systems, and Mobile Receiving Units. The system also includes a state-of-the-art mission simulator, which allows training UAV flyers and observers in a shorter period of time and major decrease in operational expenses. The Swiss and Israeli industries have been cooperating in the field of UAVs for the past two decades. Ranger UAV System is considered a third generation of UAV system made by this cooperation.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

CAE buys Simuflite
Simulatorhersteller CAE expandiert weiter

CAE announced that on December 31, 2001, it concluded the purchase of the world's second largest provider of business aviation training, SimuFlite Training International Inc. ("SimuFlite"), having obtained all necessary regulatory approvals. The new company, based in Dallas, Texas, will be part of CAE's Commercial Simulation and Training Division and will be named CAE SimuFlite. CAE announced on December 18, 2001, that it had signed a definitive agreement with GE Capital Commercial Equipment Financing to acquire 100% of the shares of SimuFlite, including its three training facilities in Dallas, Texas, and Marietta, Georgia, for US$247 million (approximately C$390 million). The SimuFlite transaction represents CAE's second major flight training acquisition this fiscal year. In August, CAE concluded the acquisition of Schreiner Aviation Training of the Netherlands. The SimuFlite and Schreiner acquisitions, combined with CAE's own global network of aviation training facilities, will enable CAE to have in operation an installed base in excess of 75 full flight simulators next year.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite

NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Thales Avionics has signed a 210 million euro contract with Eurocopter for the production of avionics and electrical power systems for the NH 90 helicopter. The contract covers a total of 243 helicopters to be deployed by the armed forces of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands (150 tactical transport and 93 naval versions). Delivery of the avionics and electrical generation systems will start in late 2002 and continue through 2017. Thales Avionics and European partners Diehl Avionik Systeme, Teldix, Galileo Avionica and Sirio Panel will supply the basic and mission avionics for this helicopters. The basic avionics suite comprises the following: Four 8x8 inch liquid crystal displays, showing all flight control and systems and mission management information. These LCD panels are designed, developed and produced by Thales Avionics LCD, near Grenoble; the control and display unit (CDU), also featuring a liquid crystal display produced by Thales Avionics LCD; gyroscopic standby horizon.
+++
As the result of the successful legally approved capital increase for Crossair. a total cash inflow of CHF 1,993,563,150 has been achieved in respect of the nominative shares underwritten on Tuesday of last week. This represents 39,871,263 new nominative shares. The capital increase was entered in the register of companies on 21.12.2001. In addition to this, there was a further cash inflow to Crossair of more than CHF 400 million up to Monday, December 24, 2001.The resultant increased amount will be entered in the register of companies in January 2002. This enables the capital increase to be concluded in January 2002. “We extend our warmest thanks to all the investors who have demonstrated their trust in us”, says André Dosé, the Crossair CEO. The paying in of the remaining 70 per cent of the major investors, who, at the same time, undertook not to dispose of these shares for a minimum period of 12 months, following discussions with the Executive Board and in accordance with the stipulations of the Business Plan, anticipated by end-March 2002.
+++
Representatives from Crossair, the GATA and VPOD trade unions and the SKV and PUSH ground staff associations met for talks for the first time on Friday, December 21. The discussions were held in a positive atmosphere, and were firmly focused on finding solutions to the issues currently faced. The parties agreed to initiate formal negotiations with the ambitious aim of concluding a single new Collective Working Agreement for all ground personnel by March 31, 2002. Crossair declared its willingness in the course of the discussions to put certain points of the new Agreement, including salary components, into retroactive effect from January 1, 2002. Crossair also indicated that cases of hardship arising from the recruitment of former Swissair staff would be reviewed again on a case-by-case basis.
+++
To ensure that the amalgamation of the Crossair and Swissair pilot corps is effected as smoothly as possible, the two corps will be managed and administered in parallel for a transitional one-year period. Crossair's Operations Control, which is responsible for managing flight operations 24 hours a day, is to be transferred from Basel to Zurich. Flight operations are the heart of any airline. This is why, in expanding its short, medium and long-haul flight operations, Crossair is committing itself clearly to a “best practice” approach, adopting the best solutions from Crossair and Swissair for its new operating arrangements. The Flight Operations division will be primarily based in Zurich, where it will be headed by Executive Vice President Thomas Brandt. His deputy will be Rainer Hiltebrand, currently Head of Operations at Swissair, who will assume his new duties on April 1, 2002.
+++
The European consortium ATR with head offices in Toulouse (France) and the Italian airline Air Dolomiti based in Verona (Italy), announced the acquisition of 3 ATR 72-500s. The first aircraft of this order will be delivered in September 2002 with the remaining aircraft to be delivered in 2003. With this new order Air Dolomiti brings its ATR fleet up to 18 aircraft (10 ATR 42s and 8 ATR 72s), all operated in co-operation with Lufthansa. In 1994 Air Dolomiti signed a partnership agreement with the German airlines that now holds 20% of its capital. This agreement allowed Air Dolomiti to develop its inter-regional network with the ATR fleet devoted to Lufthansa's code-sharing operations and to become a major player in the European air transport market. These aircraft will be put into service on routes in Northern Italy.
+++
Raytheon Aircraft has been awarded its largest military contract ever -- a one-year contract with four one-year options for the production of more than 230 T-6A Texan II aircraft, associated ground-based training devices and technical support. The one-year contract for 40 aircraft is valued at $193 million and when all options are exercised the total potential value will be approximately $1.22 billion. "This contract is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of good people," said Raytheon Aircraft Chairman & CEO Jim Schuster. "The T-6A Texan II is the best primary training aircraft in the world, and we'll be building it for many years to come." The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program calls for nearly 800 aircraft through the year 2017. To date, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy have ordered 168 aircraft. This most recent contract, with options, covers the production of an additional 234 aircraft and ground-based training devices through the years 2002-2006, with deliveries beginning in 2004. The total value of the acquisition program to date, including options, is $2.1 billion.
+++
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero), the aerospace arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engg) and FR Aviation (FRA), a subsidiary of Cobham plc, are pleased to announce that they have signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) to establish a commercial aircraft heavy maintenance facility in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. ST Aero will have a 60% majority stake of the JV company, to be called Bournemouth Aerospace Engineering Company. The remaining 40% will be held by FRA. It is expected that about £9million of investment will be required over the first 3 years, of which ST Aero will provide £5.4million and FRA £3.6million. The investment is intended for build-up of equipment, tooling and staffing requirements. The JV company will be under ST Aero's management control and the JV will not have any material impact on ST Aero's FY2001 performance.
+++
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC), a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., announced today it will further enhance its aftermarket service capabilities by acquiring Altair Avionics Corporation (Altair) of Norwood, Massachusetts. Altair is a leading manufacturer of advanced diagnostics systems that designs, manufactures, sells and supports aircraft and engine electronic monitoring systems and provides Internet-based data management services for the aerospace industry. The various systems produced will allow P&WC to record aircraft and engine parameters in-flight. Recorded engine trend data is compatible with P&WC's ECTM® (Engine Condition Trend Monitoring) software currently being used by P&WC customers around the world. In addition, Altair's Internet-based data management system provides the operator with the ability to track exceedances, usage and performance information.
+++
Meeting at the Agency's headquarters in Paris on 19/20 December, the ESA Council appointed José Achache, of French nationality, to the post of Director of Earth Observation, for a four-year term. José Achache, 48, obtained his doctorate in geophysics at the Pierre et Marie Curie University in 1979 and his doctorate in physical sciences at the René Descartes University. He started his career in 1978 at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris as a Research assistant, then "Chargé de Recherche" and in 1989 was appointed Professor, Director of the Department of Space Studies and director of the Graduate School of Earth Sciences.
+++
US Undersecretary of Defense Pete Aldridge gave the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile program the go-ahead for low-rate initial production Dec. 21. This decision will give the Air Force combat capability on the F-16 Fighting Falcons and B-52 Stratofortresses by 2003. JASSM is a joint Air Force and Navy program developed and produced by Lockheed-Martin Integrated Systems. JASSM employs stealth, to penetrate enemy air defenses at ranges of more than 200 miles and, GPS coupled with a terminal seeker to precisely attack high-value targets. Unlike current cruise missiles, JASSM can be launched off most types of aircraft in the Air Force inventory. The 2,000-pound class weapon is planned for deployment on the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52, F-16, and the Navy's F/A-18 E/F Hornet.
+++
Boeing has been granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that will enable passengers on airplanes to transmit and receive broadband data in flight, using its revolutionary Connexion by Boeing service. Receipt of the landmark two-way license, the first of its kind in the broadband satellite services industry, will enable operators of commercial airliners and executive jets, such as private and government aircraft, to offer real-time, high-speed Internet and intranet access, television and e-mail above U.S. territory and waters. "This license signals a new era for in-flight connectivity and further strengthens our efforts in the mobile economy," said Scott Carson, president of Connexion by Boeing. "For the first time in history, air travelers will be able to experience real time, in-flight connectivity comparable to the speeds and quality of service they expect on the ground."
+++
Embraer announced that Wexford Capital LLC has exercised 8 options for the 44 seat ERJ 140 regional jet, to be delivered next year. These aircraft will be operated by Chautauqua Airlines and fly under a code share agreement with American Airlines operating under the AmericanConnection program. Wexford's present backlog stands at 53 firm orders and 20 options. Wexford has taken delivery of 41 aircraft (37 ERJ 145's and 4 ERJ 140's), and four more aircraft are to be delivered in the coming weeks. Chautauqua Airlines operates a fleet of Embraer regional jets and turboprop aircraft from other manufacturers, providing 355 daily flights to 43 communities and 20 states in the U.S., and to Ontario, Canada.
+++
The C-27J Spartan, built jointly by Alenia and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, was awarded Military Type Certification today by Italy's Ministry of Defense military certification authority, Direzione Generale Armamenti Aeronautici (DGAA). “This is the most significant milestone in the development program and demonstrates the abilities of our transatlantic team,” said Stan Yackel, Lockheed Martin's C-27J program director. “Military certification is a major step toward a low risk production program so the customer is not burdened with development and can field aircraft quickly.” Military certification is required for aircraft that operate in the military environment. The certification processes focused on tactical performance and included tests for short field operation, paradrop, unprepared runway operation and tactical landing.
+++
The troubled V-22 Osprey aircraft will go through a two-year flight test program, said Pete Aldridge, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics. "I've had some serious doubts about the safety, reliability and operational suitability of the V-22," Aldridge said during a Pentagon press conference Dec. 21. "I personally still have some doubts, but the only way to prove the case is to put the airplane back into flight test, and we're going to do that." Marine Corps plans to buy 360 and Navy and Air Force plans to buy 50 each of the tilt-rotor aircraft were put on hold following two crashes that killed 23 Marines in April and December 2000. Several "blue ribbon" groups that looked into the crashes and the program have recommended a number of changes. The new flight test program will start in April 2002. It will be a comprehensive, two-year look at the aircraft. The tests will further explore the occurrence called vortex ring state, deemed responsible for the first crash of a V-22 in Arizona that killed 19 Marines.
+++
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector has been awarded a $15.7 million contract to continue studies under NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI), a research and development effort to develop technologies for a second-generation reusable launch vehicle (RLV). This competitively awarded contract brings the value of Northrop Grumman's work on the Space Launch Initiative to more than $108.3 million. In May 2001 as part of NASA's first round of SLI contract awards, the company received a four-year, $94.4 million contract to perform program management, systems integration and technology integration studies. Teamed with Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va., on this stage of SLI, Northrop Grumman will provide systems engineering and architecture definition for the second-generation RLV program, which is laying the groundwork for greater access to space for civil exploration as well as potential defense and commercial applications.
+++
The Hispasat Board of Directors meeting on 20 December 2001, has selected Astrium following international competition, to build its most powerful satellite, Amazonas, to be launched in spring 2004. Amazonas will provide a full range of telecommunications services with 51 transponders to Brazil, North and South America, and a transatlantic link for
+++
FMV (The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) has awarded Gripen International, owned jointly by Saab of Sweden and the United Kingdom's BAE Systems, a contract for the adaptation and support of Swedish Air Force Gripen swing-role fighters designated for use by the Hungarian Air Force. Gripen International will manage the contract as prime contractor and award a number of sub-contracts to ensure the Hungarian requirements are met. The main sub-contract will be to Saab AB (approx 1 billion SEK) to adapt the aircraft to Hungarian needs and support the aircraft over the 10 year service period. It follows completion of the 10 year lease contract for 14 Gripen fighters, signed in Budapest, by Mr Ferenc Bese, ASIB in the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and Major General Staffan Näsström, FMV.
+++
Saab Avionics has in international competition received an order from FMV for development and delivery of reconnaissance pods for Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft. The reconnaissance pod is designed in a flexible and modular fashion, with a great potential for future adaptations and upgrades. In this first version the system is equipped with sensors for international peace support operations and safeguarding of territorial integrity. The first systems will be delivered in 2004.
+++
The U.S. Navy's Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) program continued a string of successful test events with the second guided test vehicle missile firing on 19 December at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Weapons Division China Lake, Calif., test range. The missile successfully identified, tracked, and guided to the simulated air defense radar target, passing within lethal radius of the warhead and impacting within the specified missile impact zone. All test objectives were achieved. AARGM is an advanced, multi-mode seeker, combining passive anti-radiation homing and active millimeter wave sensors coupled with a GPS-aided inertial navigation system. The seeker is integrated on the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) airframe. AARGM is designed to greatly improve the U.S. Navy's capability to detect, locate and destroy enemy air defenses.
+++
Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), a unit of The Boeing Co., has received a contract modification authorizing the procurement of launch services for UFO F-11. The satellite currently under construction is the 11th in a series of U.S. Navy UHF Follow-On (UFO) satellites the company has built under a contract originally awarded in July 1988 and now valued at approximately $2.1 billion. Following its receipt of the contract modification, BSS has exercised an option to award the launch of UFO F-11 to International Launch Services (ILS), the selection of which was announced last year. ILS previously launched the first 10 UFO spacecraft. UFO F-11 is scheduled to launch in late 2003 aboard an Atlas IIIB launch vehicle.
+++
Introduced only seven years ago, the Pilatus PC-12 has already surpassed the 300 mark in unit deliveries, Angelo Fiataruolo, CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, announced. "It's no surprise that sales of the PC-12 have taken off," Fiataruolo said. "One look at the aircraft's numbers tells the tale."
+++
Northrop Grumman Corporation said that the U.S. Navy has awarded the company a $49 million Pre-Systems Development and Demonstration (Pre-SD&D) contract for the E-2C Hawkeye Radar Modernization Program (RMP). This contract is the beginning of a more than $1 billion development effort to deliver unprecedented early warning and battle management capabilities by the end of this decade and is expected to lead to a multibillion-dollar program for production of this next-generation Advanced Hawkeye. Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector's Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare (AEW & EW) Systems business unit, headquartered here, is the prime contractor.
+++

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite