FLUG REVUE update: Week ending 23 January 2005

UPDATE - Week ending 23 January 2005

+++ A380 unveiled +++ NH90 simulator training goes PFI +++ Bombardier Global Express XRS flies +++ Eurocopter's civil helicopter dominance to continue +++ Aermacchi M-346 interest in Greece +++ Closer ties between ESA and Russia +++ Bombardier celebrates 1,000th CRJ200 +++ News in brief +++

A380 unveiled
Vorstellung des Megaliners A380

On 18 January, heads of state from the four traditional Airbus partner countries came together to help celebrate the unveiling of the first A380, paying tribute to the vision and dedication of Airbus and the spirit of co-operation that had made this day possible. For French President Jacques Chirac, the unveiling of the A380 was a moment of pride and emotion. He hailed the A380 as a great European success story and said the huge technological feat was matched by the environmental challenge, with the A380 being one of the cleanest aircraft in the world. President Chirac also thanked more than 200,000 workers in Europe and around the world whose efforts made the aircraft possible and the airlines for enabling the A380 to 'spread its wings and fly'. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "The A380 is the most exciting aircraft in the world and is a symbol of economic strength, technological innovation and a dedicated workforce." German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the occasion was "a great day for Europe and the aviation industry and a triumph of engineering in the best traditions of our four countries". The four heads of state then joined Airbus President and CEO Noël Forgeard and the heads of airlines and Airbus shareholders in pressing the button which floodlit the A380 to a rapturous round of applause from the assembled guests and media.
The A380 reveal also marked the launch of Airbus' new livery. The change in livery, the first since the A310, further materialises the entry of Airbus into a new era. The A380 is the first aircraft to display the company's new colours that reflect not only Airbus' current market position but also its ambitions to pursue aviation excellence long into the future. The new design embodies beautifully the Airbus brand values of creative flair, technological prowess, relationship building and team spirit.
Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard predicted Airbus would sell 700 to 750 of the planes, which cost $260 million and boast a 15 percent gain in costs per seat-mile compared to the Boeing 747-400. It already has 149 orders or commitments from 14 airlines for the aircraft which is due to take its first test flight in early April. It is due to enter service in 2006. Forgeard confirmed talks to sell A380 planes to China and said he was confident of a deal by Easter, or late March.

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NH90 simulator training goes PFI
Schulung für NH90 geht an Privatfirma

The German government has approved a major private finance initiative (PFI) program for the German Armed Forces by awarding a contract to Helicopter Flight Training Services GmbH (HFTS) to provide NH90 helicopter training in industry-owned training centres. HFTS, based in Hallbergmoos, Germany, was founded by an industrial consortium consisting of CAE, Eurocopter, Rheinmetall Defence Electronics and Thales, each owning a 25 percent share. The industry consortium will design, build, and operate three NH90 training centres.
The contract is valued at a total of (euro) 488 million. An initial phase, which will begin this month, covers the design, development and manufacturing of four NH90 full-mission simulators and three training centres located in Buckeburg, Fassberg and Holzdorf. This will be followed by a 14.5- year operational phase beginning in mid-2008 once the first training centre is 'ready for training' and extending through 2022. During the operational phase, HFTS will deliver turnkey training services to NH90 aircrews and the German government will pay an hourly rate.
This PFI program for simulator-based pilot training will ensure the German Armed Forces the quickest and most cost-effective availability of training for the NH90 helicopter, which the German Army begins receiving in 2005. The NH90 is the largest helicopter program ever launched in Europe. Program partners are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal. In addition, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Oman and Australia have chosen the NH90. The training centres developed for Germany will be the first for the NH90 and will give HFTS the ability to market training services to the other nations procuring the NH90 helicopter.

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Bombardier Global Express XRS flies
Erstflug des Global Express XRS

Bombardier's new-generation Global Express XRS business jet has successfully completed a rigorous 4-hour, 4-minute first flight, marking a significant milestone for the much-anticipated intercontinental aircraft. The flight occurred Jan. 16, according to the program schedule established at official launch in October 2003. The first Certificate of Airworthiness is expected shortly and customer deliveries of completed aircraft are on schedule to begin in the first quarter of 2006. The Bombardier Global Express XRS business jet took off from Bombardier's Downsview, Ontario facility under high overcast conditions, at 9:55 a.m. EST and returned at 1:59 p.m. EST. It reached a maximum first flight altitude of 47,000 feet (14,326 m), and a maximum true airspeed of 518 knots (596 mph; 959 km/h).
The Bombardier Global Express XRS – the next evolution of the pioneering Bombardier Global Express – delivers the best speed/range combination in the ultra long-range category. Featuring a maximum fuel weight of 44,975 pounds (20,400 kg), it can fly 6,150 nautical miles (11,390 km) non-stop at Mach 0.85 under certain conditions. Using a new zero flaps takeoff capability, Bombardier Global Express XRS operators will have the option to depart from runways at higher temperatures and higher altitudes, reaching more cities from more airports around the world.

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Eurocopter's civil helicopter dominance to continue
Neue Hubschraubermarktprognose

Although civil helicopter deliveries began rising in 2003 and registered further gains in 2004, this market will remain relatively flat during the next 10 years, according to Forecast International's “World Commercial Rotorcraft Market.” Current shipments are receiving a major boost from the piston-powered Robinson Helicopter models, the two-seat R22 and the four-place R44. It should be noted, though, that annual output, which totaled just under 1,250 shipments in 2004, will fall off gradually through 2011 before rising to about 1,000 deliveries in 2013. “Eurocopter continues its strong dominance of the turbine-powered helicopter segment, a trend expected to continue beyond the 10-year forecast period,” said the report's author, Bill Dane. He added, “The consortium is expected to account for about 30 percent of the revenues market, nearly twice the share of its closest competitor.”
Bell Helicopter's long-awaited strategic plans are finally coming into focus. The company is developing a Modular Affordable Product Line (MAPL) of light singles and twins spanning the five- to eight-seat-capacity range. Very few technical details have been disclosed; Bell hopes to have three new models in production by the end of this decade in a bid to reassert its market presence. Bell has also launched an IFR-capable 427i model with partners Korea Aerospace and Mitsui Bussan. The current VFR-only 427 has not sold well against the competing MD Explorer, A109 Power, and EC 135 types. With its Italian partner Agusta, Bell plans to obtain FAA certification of its BA609 tiltrotor in late 2007. The Italo-American team shipped its first AB139 a year ago and announced that a second assembly line would begin delivering aircraft from a Texas site in 2006. MD Helicopter claims to have resolved problems with delayed shipments from its suppliers, and by 2008 it is expected to make double the number of deliveries made in 2004.
“While the overall annual deliveries will decline over the next 10 years, we would point out that shipments of turbine-powered helicopters, at 567 in 2004, will rise to 615-620 per year in the 2008-2010 timeframe before falling off to 580-590 annual deliveries in 2012-13,” Dane said. The near-term spike is due in no small part to the order backlogs of a number of recently announced new models; manufacturers have been working to reduce this backlog during the past two years. For the 2005-2014 forecast period, Forecast International is projecting shipments of approximately 10,500 commercial rotary-wing aircraft, valued at just under $20.25 billion.

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Aermacchi M-346 interest in Greece
M-346-Trainer für Griechenland?

Aermacchi and the Hellenic Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the potential cooperation of the Hellenic industry in the production of the advanced LIFT trainer M-346. This MoU initiates the discussion to define a partnership agreement, which would make Greece a primary partner in the programme. Currently in its early industrialisation phase, the M-346 programme is fully supported by the Italian Government. Greece is the first European nation signing a MoU to join the programme. In case the agreement is finalised, it would be the first time that this country enters an aircraft partnership programme. Aermacchi is now identifying other potential European partners, which should participate in the programme with either a primary or secondary role, according to their respective level of involvement.

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Closer ties between ESA and Russia
Engere Zusammenarbeit mit Russland

On 19 January in Moscow, ESA Director General, Jean-Jacques Dordain and the Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Anatoly Perminov signed an agreement for long-term cooperation and partnership in the development, implementation and use of launchers. This agreement, which comes within the general framework of the Agreement between ESA and the Russian Federation for Cooperation and Partnership in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, will strengthen cooperation between ESA and Russia, ESA's first partner in the long-term cooperation on access to space. ESA-Russian partnership is based on two main pillars: the exploitation of the Russian Soyuz launcher from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana and cooperation, without exchange of funds, on research and development in preparation for future launchers.
The Soyuz at Europe's Spaceport programme covers the construction of the Soyuz launch facilities in French Guiana and the adaptations that Soyuz will need to enable it to be launched from French Guiana. A number of ESA Member States have signed up for this optional ESA programme and their contributions will be supplemented by a loan to Arianespace from the European Investment Bank, guaranteed by the French Government as a temporary measure pending the creation by the European Commission of a guarantee reserve mechanism. Complementary funding from the European Union is also envisaged.

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Bombardier celebrates 1,000th CRJ200
1000. Regionaljet ausgeliefert

Bombardier Aerospace has celebrated the 1,000th regional jet manufactured in the CRJ200 program which includes the CRJ100, CRJ200 and CRJ440. The aircraft, a 50-seat CRJ200, was handed over to Air Canada Jazz in a ceremony at Bombardier's facility in Dorval, Québec. The Bombardier CRJ program, the most successful regional aircraft program in history, has grown to include the 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700, 86-seat CRJ900 and 75-seat CRJ700 Series 705. As of December 31, 2004, firm orders for Bombardier CRJ aircraft stood at 1,424 with 1,191 delivered to customers. Conditional orders and options could raise the program total to 2,484 aircraft. Only the Boeing and Airbus jet families have been ordered in such numbers.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

In a further step in its international growth strategy, OHB Technology AG has established a new space-technology company in Luxembourg known as LUXSPACE S.a.r.l. LUXSPACE is responsible for offering space-technology and defense systems and services in the global commercial and institutional market. The main focus will be on small satellites for research, communications, navigation and earth observation. The reason for the decision to establish a new company is Luxembourg's growing importance in the space technology industry as well as the closer partnership ties with the leading global satellite communications operator, SES GLOBAL, and its European subsidiary, SES ASTRA, both of which are based in Luxembourg. In this connection, a partnership agreement was signed by OHB Technology AG and SES ASTRA S.A. in Luxembourg at the end of 2004 with the aim of using the LUXSPACE platform to jointly develop and market various projects in the communications, navigation and earth observation areas.
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Hapag-Lloyd Flug, a member of the TUI Group and the launch customer for Boeing 737-800 Blended Winglets 4 years ago, has ordered 10 additional Blended Winglet Systems. The Boeing Company will install the Blended Winglets as Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) on new 737-800s to be delivered between January 2006 and May 2007. Hapag-Lloyd operates a 100% Blended Winglet Equipped fleet of 737-800s. After 4 years of enjoying dramatic fuel savings, along with measurable performance and environmental benefits made possible with Blended Winglet Technology, this leading charter operator is sold on the benefits of Aviation Partners Boeing Technology.
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Fraport is launching "We're Making Fraport Fit," a wide-ranging cost-savings program designed to ensure that the company remains competitive in the future. The year 2004 was a record year for Fraport. With a relaxed and target-oriented approach, Fraport wants to prepare from this position of strength for meeting the growing market pressures early enough and in consensus with employees and the works council - to ensure the company's earning power and provide job security within the Fraport Group in the long-term and even to create new jobs. In the current year alone, the Fraport Group plans to add at least 700 new jobs. Cost reductions are indispensable for sustaining the company's ability to compete and invest. In view of ever-increasing cost pressures, Fraport's management does not see any alternative. The newly started program targets changes in working hours, pay rate structures and some company social benefits. The results of comprehensive internal dialogue with the work force and employee representatives will determine specifically where the necessary cost-savings can be made. At a conference with senior executive staff, Fraport's executive board chairman Dr. Wilhelm Bender, chief financial officer Dr. Stefan Schulte, and labor relations director and executive board member Herbert Mai made it clear - also vis-a-vis the works council - that there are two key parameters for this process, which are not automatically part of cost-savings programs: "Our goal is to continue avoiding operationally-related job terminations in the future," said Bender, and "we intend to implement the necessary reductions in personnel costs in such a way that every employee will still receive the same absolute pay at the end of the month."
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Embraer has announced its deliveries for 2004, including 1 ERJ 135, 87 ERJ 145, 46 EMBRAER 170, 13 Legacy and 1 EMB 145 for the Defence Market. As of December 31, 2004, Embraer's total firm order backlog, including the Airline, Corporate and Defense markets totaled US$ 10.1 billion. This amount includes firm orders from Air Canada for 15 EMBRAER 175 aircraft and from GECAS for four EMBRAER 170 aircraft, which will be operated by Hong Kong Express Airways. In addition, the firm order backlog includes the previously announced cancellation of 18 ERJ 145 aircraft by American Eagle and a net decrease in orders for the corporate aviation segment by 11 Legacys. Embraer's total deliveries forecast for 2005 and 2006 remains unchanged at 145 aircraft for each year.
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For the first time, two "live"; Boeing Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), were launched for the first time by the U.S. Air Force at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., scoring direct hits on each target. "My primary goal is to deliver the SDB capability to the warfighter in 2006 as promised," said Col. Jim McClendon, U. S. Air Force Miniature Munitions Group commander at Eglin Air Force Base. "This was a big milestone for our program." The SDBs were successfully launched from an F-15E aircraft flying at 15,000 feet on December 13 and December 15. One target was a scoring board and the other was a Russian rocket launcher where the SDB sensor detonated the warhead just before impact.
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Goodrich announced the expected impact on the company of the decision by Boeing to conclude production of the 717 aircraft in 2006. The company expects to record a charge to net income in the fourth quarter of 2004 of less than $10 million pre-tax, or less than $7 million after-tax ($0.06 per fully diluted share), related to the 717 program. The exact amount of the charge is currently under review by management and will be finalized prior to reporting fourth quarter and full year 2004 results in early 2005.
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Boeing has selected Korry Electronics, an Esterline Technologies [NYSE:ESL] company based in Seattle, Wash., to provide the flight-deck control panels for the 7E7 Dreamliner. The panels include the pilots' overhead panels and switches.
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EADS North America underscored its commitment to U.S. industrial investment and expansion with an official cornerstone ceremony today at its new EADS CASA North America aircraft support center headquarters, which is being built adjacent to Alabama's Mobile Regional Airport. Welcoming EADS North America to Mobile were Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, Governor Bob Riley, Congressman Jo Bonner and Mobile Mayor Michael Dow, who were joined by personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and members of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, City Council and Mobile Airport Authority. “Mobile is a superb location for EADS North America to establish the new EADS CASA North America facility,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman and CEO, EADS North America. “The area offers all of the resources and attributes that are important for business success: an excellent workforce, a strong university system and a pro-business environment. We learned from the outset what our Coast Guard customers already know – Mobile is a great community. We come to Mobile to grow, to be part of the industrial community, to provide quality products and services to our customers and to create good jobs for Alabama.”
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Lockheed Martin has demonstrated the further maturation of its Joint Common Missile (JCM) tri-mode seeker with the successful acquisition and track of a tactical littoral target in a test series conducted during December 2004 at Eglin Air Force Base, Ft. Walton Beach, FL. The tests, which involved 125 runs, showed the ability of the missile's tri-mode seeker to acquire and track a Boghammar vessel moving at up to 30 knots at ranges of 1 to 6 kilometers. The Swedish Boghammar coastal patrol boat is representative of a typical, hostile patrol craft that war fighters would likely encounter in a littoral scenario. This test demonstrated simultaneous detection and processing by two of the missile's three sensors: the imaging infra-red (I2R) and the millimeter wave radar (MMW)--integrated with the JCM's inertial tracking capability. Target profiles included crossing, diagonal, inbound, outbound, rectangular racetrack, "turntable," orbiting in small circles and evasive maneuvers (s-turns).
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The special ship transport with the Zeppelin NT on board arrived the Japanese harbour of Kobe on the 8th of January 2005. The airship was prepared for disembarking on the 11th of January. On the 14th the airship took-off from the harbour to the destination Nagoya, where the World Exhibition 2005 takes place.
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The H-1 Upgrades program here achieved yet another major testing milestone recently with the achievement of 2,500 mishap-free flight-test hours for the upgraded UH-1Y and AH-1Z. Coming as the program is rapidly bringing the system development and demonstration phase to close and preparing for the “graduation exercise” of operational evaluation this summer, the milestone reflects the success of the program to date and what's in store for the Fleet Marine Force. The program recently received positive feedback from an operational assessment by Fleet pilots and crews. Operational assessments provide more of a quick check during development. More definitive findings will be a part of this summer's operational evaluation.
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Eurocopter has selected Ryan International Corporation to supply 9900BX Traffic Advisory Systems (TAS) and Multi-Hazard Display's (MHD) as standard factory options in EC-135, EC-145 and EC-155 Model Eurocopter helicopters. Ryan's advanced 9900BX Traffic Advisory System provides independent airborne surveillance radar coverage above and below the host aircraft using Ryan's patented phase array top and bottom mounted antenna system. Ryan International also offers industry exclusive performance with Audible Position Alert™ that announces aircraft position, relative altitude and distance of threat aircraft, augmenting the pilot's responsibility for “see and avoid.” Ryan's 3ATI Multi-Hazard Display provides a plain view of threat traffic in full color to supplement the pilot's scan and is available with optional Night Vision Goggle (NVG) filter for operators requiring NVG display compatibility.
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The European Commission and Snecma Moteurs have signed an agreement to launch a new research program called VITAL to significantly reduce aircraft engine noise and CO2 emissions. VITAL is a four-year program with a total budget of 90 million euros, including 50 million euros in funding from the European Commission. Snecma Moteurs will be leading a consortium of 53 partners including all major European engine manufacturers – Rolls-Royce Plc, Volvo Aero, MTU Aero Engines, ITP, Avio, Techspace Aero, Volvo and Rolls-Royce Deutschland – and Airbus. This is an integrated European Commission program, reflecting and continuing Snecma Moteurs' Research & Technology efforts over the last few years to develop technologies that bring innovative environmental solutions to our products and our customers. The VITAL program, building on the results of the previous research programs EEFAE & SILENCE, aims to achieve the technology breakthroughs required to meet the ambitious ACARE goals.
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South Africa's first locally-assembled Hawk fighter trainer aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight. The aircraft, a BAE Systems Hawk Mk.120, was flown by South African industry test pilot, Dave Stock, together with Gordon McClymont, test pilot for the UK aerospace and defence group, BAE Systems. They took off from Denel Aviation at Johannesburg International Airport at 10h20 on a 80 minute test flight during which the aircraft's flight controls and response and essential systems functionality were confirmed. Denel Aviation, under contract to BAE Systems, assembled the new fighter trainer at its recently refurbished facility. Denel which manufactures Hawk aerostructures including the tailplane and airbrake, is assembling 23 of the 24 new jet trainers.
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Southwest Airlines reported its 32nd consecutive year of profitability, with annual net income of $313 million, or $.38 per diluted share, compared to 2003 net income of $442 million, or $.54 per diluted share. Excluding last year's government grant, 2003 net income was $298 million, or $.36 per diluted share. Gary C. Kelly, CEO, stated: "I am very proud of our Employees and their strenuous efforts to lower our cost structure. Although our fourth quarter 2004 earnings declined 15.2 percent due to significantly higher energy costs, our unit costs, excluding fuel, declined 4.5 percent. As a result of our low cost competitive advantage and ongoing efforts to improve productivity, we have been able to offer the low fares our Customers demand while sustaining our profitability and growing our route system during these difficult airline industry times. Based on current cost trends, we expect our first quarter 2005 unit costs, excluding fuel, to decline from first quarter 2004's unit costs, excluding fuel, of 6.57 cents. "Even though jet fuel prices per gallon increased 20.1 percent, net of hedging gains, our overall unit costs declined 1.3 percent in fourth quarter 2004. We also continue to mitigate record-high jet fuel prices with our hedging program, which resulted in a reduction in fuel and oil expense of $174 million during fourth quarter 2004. Although we are 85 percent hedged in first quarter 2005 with prices capped at $26 per barrel, based on current market conditions, we presently expect first quarter 2005 average jet fuel cost per gallon to exceed fourth quarter 2004's 89.1 cents. We are 85 percent hedged for the remainder of 2005 with prices capped at $26 per barrel; 65 percent in 2006 at $32 per barrel; over 45 percent in 2007 at $31 per barrel; 30 percent in 2008 at $33 per barrel; and over 25 percent in 2009 at $35 per barrel.
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Northrop Grumman has begun acceptance testing the first of four new workstations that will allow it to reduce the time and cost to develop operational flight software for the Department of Defense's Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program. The testing, which began in mid December, marks the beginning of operations for a systems integration laboratory the company opened in October at its San Diego facility to support work on its X-47B J-UCAS program. The company expects to install the remaining three workstations in the facility by March 2005.
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Boeing marked the induction of the first U.S. Air Force C-130 into the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) in San Antonio, Texas. This aircraft will undergo a trial installation leading to the modernization of more than 500 U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps C-130 aircraft. "After four years of hard work by our C-130 AMP team in Long Beach, Calif., St Louis, Mo., and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., the program is performing to plan and we're on track for first flight in early 2006," said Pat Finneran, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Support, part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The C-130 AMP program will standardize aircraft configurations with the installation of a fully integrated, night-vision-goggle-compatible digital glass cockpit and provide a reduction in total ownership costs for the U.S. Air Force. The new avionics system features digital displays and the proven flight management system from the 737 commercial airliner, both of which provide navigation, safety and communication improvements to meet global air traffic management (GATM) requirements. The GATM upgrade will facilitate the warfighter's ability to deploy the fleet world-wide.
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All of the Army's CH-47 Chinooks will be upgraded to the new CH-47F models by 2018 as the result of a partnership between the service and Boeing, the helicopter's manufacturer. The Army will buy 55 new CH-47F models, have 397 helicopters remanufactured into CH-47Fs, and have 61 remanufactured to the CH47G used by Special Forces units. Total procurement costs through 2018 will be $11.4 billion. In a media round table Jan. 12, Col. William T. Crosby, project manager Cargo Helicopter, said the effort will keep the Chinook in the air even longer than the U.S. Air Force's B-52 bomber. When the helicopters are remanufactured, they will be rebuilt from the ground up. The Chinooks will receive recapitalized depot-level repair components that are nearly “zero hour” or new. The aircraft will receive new airframes.
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Embraer announced that Republic Airways Holdings has added 16 firm and 34 option EMBRAER 170s to its order book. This brings Republic's order book for EMBRAER 170s to 39 firm EMBRAER 170s and 61 options. Of the 16 new firm aircraft, two were already accounted for in Embraer's fourth-quarter 2004 order book. The list price value of the firm portion of the new contract for 16 aircraft is US$ 400 million, with a potential to reach US$ 1.5 billion, if all options are converted. Embraer will begin deliveries of these aircraft in June 2005 and continue through mid-2006.
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Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, has been selected by the Undersecreteriat for Defence Industries of Turkey for the supply to the Navy of ten ATR-72 ASW (Anti Submarine Warfare) aircraft, which will carry out maritime patrol and anti-submarine surveillance missions. The negotiations start for the contract finalisation is due shortly. The ATR-72s for Turkey, provided with a mission system by the Thales company, are a special version, developed by Alenia Aeronautica, of the commercial transport ATR 72/500 aircraft. The ASW version, conceived for a cost-competitive medium range aircraft, is capable of carrying out anti-submarine missions, with the integration of the maritime patrol functions already implemented by the ATR42 MP, the Maritime Patrol version currently in force within the Italian Guardia di Finanza (Customs Police) and the Coast Guard.
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The South Korean government has decided to implement a project for the development of transport helicopters based on domestic technology without procuring them from abroad, the National Security Council said. It will determine whether to develop the attack helicopters later, depending on the success of the manufacturing of the transport aircraft. Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young, who concurrently heads the NSC, recently reported the decision to President Roh Moo-hyun, after drawing up the new plan through a meeting of relevant ministries on Dec. 27 last year, an NSC official said. The multibillion-dollar helicopter procurement project, or KMH (Korea Multipurpose Helicopter), is aimed at replacing the nation's aging fleet. “The transport helicopters will be developed with domestic technology as part of efforts to develop the aviation industry,” the official said.
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As Paneuropean specialist for Central- and Eastern Europe the Austrian Airlines Group regards the dynamically growing economic region Vienna-Bratislava as enlarged home-market. As a consequence the Austrian Airlines Group has accepted the invitation of the Slovak government to participate in the stabilization and development of the Slovakian national carrier in October 2004. In order to fortify its financial situation also on a long-term basis, Slovak Airlines has decided at the end of 2004 to increase capital. With the participation in the capital increase and the therefore necessary funds of 2.8 Mio EUR, the Austrian Airlines Group acquires a 62 % majority stake in Slovak Airlines. The remaining shares are owned by the Slovak state and other private shareholders. Thomas Kleibl, Chief Financial Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group issues the following statement: “After the Austrian Airlines Group has undertaken measures to stabilize the national carrier of Slovakia -Slovak Airlines-, we want to continue developing the company. Our shareholding and our interest in the privatization of Bratislava airport are underlining our intention to further develop the Slovak market according to its favorable growth potential dynamically.”
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Intelsat announced that its IS-804 satellite experienced a sudden and unexpected electrical power system anomaly on January 14, 2005, at approximately 5:32 p.m. EST that caused the total loss of the spacecraft. In accordance with existing satellite anomaly contingency plans, Intelsat is in the process of making alternative capacity available to its IS-804 customers. The satellite, launched in 1997, furnished telecommunications and media delivery services to customers in the South Pacific. Intelsat and Lockheed Martin Corporation, the manufacturer of the satellite, are working together to identify the cause of the problem. Intelsat currently believes that there is no connection between this event and the recent IA-7 satellite anomaly as the two satellites were manufactured by two different companies and their designs are different.
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The Singapore MINDEF has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of the United States to acquire six new Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters which will operate off the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) new frigates. The acquisition of naval helicopters, equipped with advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare sensors and weapons, is a significant milestone in the RSN's force development. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery to the RSN between 2008 and 2010. This acquisition will enhance the RSN's capability to undertake a wide spectrum of missions and carry out its mission of defending Singapore and its vital sea lines of communications more effectively
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Bombardier announced today a reorganization of its corporate office and the decentralization of certain functional responsibilities to Bombardier Aerospace and Bombardier Transportation. The reorganization follows the previously announced creation of the Office of the President that regroups strategic and executive management responsibilities around the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Presidents of the Corporation's two main operating groups. A total of 60 corporate office positions will be eliminated.
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An extensive strategic cooperation was announced by TAP Air Portugal and Lufthansa in Lisbon. As of 1st February 2005, the two airlines will offer code-sharing flights, in other words, in each case with the flight numbers of both airlines. These flights can be booked immediately via the reservation systems. TAP and Lufthansa passengers will benefit from the new agreement. Both airlines will offer their joint customers worldwide transfer connections which are coordinated with each other, thus making travel as convenient as possible for passengers. Also in other areas such as baggage handling, airport services alounges, coordinated procedures will all contribute to an improvement in travel comfort for the passengers. As of 1st February 2005, TAP will transfer its operations and passenger check-in facilities to the Star Alliance/Lufthansa terminals at Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1) and at Munich Airport (Terminal 2), in order to provide its passengers with rapid and convenient transfers between TAP and Lufthansa as well as the other partner airlines.
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Aeronavali, an Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccanica company, today announced an agreement with U.S.-based Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc., “kick-off” customer for the passenger to freighter conversion of Boeing 767-200 aircraft. The agreement, for ten conversions including options, is worth around 100 million dollars. The conversions will be accomplished in the frame of the agreement with Boeing through which Aeronavali is the sole company licensed to market and convert Boeing 767-200 passenger airplanes to freighters using the Boeing Amended Type Certificate.
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Ludwigsfelde, Germany – MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg has inked a seven-year contract with Sahacogen in Thailandfor the maintenance of two LM6000 gas turbines operated by the listed, independent power company. With Sahacogen, the Ludwigsfelde-based engine shop added a second Thai power producer to its list of long-term customers last year, after it had concluded a similar contract with Rojana Power earlier in 2004. MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg is the IGT Center of Excellence of MTU Aero Engines, Germany's leading engine manufacturer. It repairs and overhauls General Electric LM2500, LM2500+, LM5000 und LM6000 series gas turbines.
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As the year-end Traffic Statistics of the Austrian Airlines Group for 2004 are published, Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, offered the following analysis: 'The dedicated Focus East expansion of the Austrian Airlines Group into Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific region has contributed to the strong Traffic Statistics over the last year, just as the 'redticket – return flight inclusive' campaigns have done throughout Europe. Overall, we succeeded in transporting around 9.4 million passengers in 2004, which translates into a rise of almost one million, or 10.9 %. While production on scheduled flights measured in seat kilometers rose by 19.1 %, we managed to increase revenue passenger kilometers by 20.5 %, thereby improving the passenger load factor further still to 72.2 %. That's a new record result for the Austrian Airlines Group, though our load factors towards the end of the year did remain below expectations.' Rates of growth were approximately the same for the scheduled and charter segments, proof that – despite strong competition – the Austrian Airlines Group had adapted successfully to market conditions in both areas with its product range of flights from Austrian, Austrian arrows and Lauda Air. In 2005, the Focus East strategy of orientation towards Central and Eastern Europe and Asia will continue – without in any way neglecting the other traffic regions – in the shape of additional flights and new destinations. On 1 May 2005, the city of Mumbai (Bombay) will become another Indian destination to be newly incorporated into the long-haul scheduled programme. This move will further strengthen both the Austrian Airlines Group hub at Vienna Airport and Austria itself as an economic location. Due to the weaker traffic trend of the past two months and reduced average load factors, the Austrian Airlines Group is immediately implementing a number of other measures. The support of passenger charges for Austrian transfer traffic via Vienna, which was introduced on 17 January 2004, and the reduction in fuel surcharges due to the slight relaxation in the kerosene price situation are both market-led initiatives designed to stimulate higher demand. For the financial year 2005, the Austrian Airlines Group is forecasting traffic growth of up to 8 % compared to 2004 as measured in ASK (available seat kilometers). As reported at the time of the target correction announced in the fourth quarter, the Austrian Airlines Group will strive to improve its adapted EBIT in 2005 compared to 2004.
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