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+++ Bell introduces 429 +++ IATA pleased with 15 per cent growth +++ Lockheed Martin CEV with EADS input +++ First EC 725 for French Air Force +++ Boeing reports 2004 results +++ F/A22 completes IOT&E with success +++ Sikorsky announces S-76D +++ News in brief +++
Bell introduces 429
Neuer Hubschrauber von Bell
At a spectacular unveiling, Bell Helicopter chief executive officer Michael Redenbaugh introduced the all-new Bell 429 light twin helicopter. In ceremonies before a large crowd Mr. Redenbaugh presented two complete mockups of the new aircraft. First was the wheeled corporate version followed by Emergency Medical Service version with a cavernous patient area. Speaking of the newly introduced and named GlobalRanger, Mr. Redenbaugh said, "The new Bell 429 represents many things to the market place. First it is simply the benchmark for the light twin segment. Second it epitomizes the new Bell's dedication to listening to our customers. Third it is the first of many Bell products that will begin incorporating new technologies we have been developing the last several years." He continued, "The Bell 429 contains nine new MAPL technologies. The most visible is the MAPL cabin. It is huge! It will provide our customers a tremendous range of options. We are able to do this because we accelerated the introduction of some of our MAPL technology by three years. It is the basis of our responding to our customer requirements for now and the future. With the Bell 429 we are accelerating the introduction of the next generation product line by incorporating the MAPL cabin with the 427i announced last year." Plans call for the first Bell 429 deliveries in first half of 2007. Current orders for the Bell 429 stand 90. Approximately 80 of those are converted 427i orders.
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IATA pleased with 15 per cent growth
Hohe Zuwachsraten im Luftverkehr
"The traffic recovery in 2004 was phenomenal across all regions," said Giovanni Bisignani, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Bisignani reported that 2004 full year international scheduled passenger traffic increased 15.3% and cargo traffic 13.4% over 2003 levels at a meeting of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) in Maastricht. All regions reported double-digit year-on-year growth with the Middle East and Asia Pacific leading the way at 24.8% and 20.5% growth for passenger traffic. Freight also saw double digit growth in all regions with the Middle East carriers reporting the highest growth at 26.8%. The one-off recovery from SARS contributed an estimated 5% of the global passenger traffic growth. Going forward IATA forecasts average annual growth of 6.0% for the period to 2008, in line with the historical trend.
"The challenge for 2005 is to turn traffic growth into profitability with improved cost efficiency across the industry's value chain," said Bisignani. The industry ended 2004 with an estimated loss of US$4.8 billion. IATA forecasts an industry profit of US$1.2 billion for 2005*. The price of fuel remains a critical factor for airline profitability. "Airlines enter 2005 with a renewed determination to increase efficiency and reduce industry costs," said Bisignani. "We ask the same of our partners, many of whom are monopolies. The bill for air navigation services has increased by 9.4% since 1999 to a total of US$8 billion. Over the same period airline yields declined by over 10%. The level of cost efficiency among air navigation service providers (ANSPs) is simply not good enough."
"Our customers demand that we evolve to a low cost industry with simplified business processes. Our partners, including ANSPs and airports must be a part of that evolution. As customers paying an enormous bill, we demand better value, increased transparency and meaningful consultation on future developments. ANSPs must harmonise infrastructure and operations across borders. And we must agree on the adoption of new technology based on real value and business benefits," said Bisignani.
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Lockheed Martin CEV with EADS input
EADS an CEV für NASA beteiligt
Lockheed Martin announced an all-star team of industry innovators have joined Lockheed Martin in the competition to design and build NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Lockheed Martin is one of several companies chosen by NASA last September to provide concepts for the development of a Crew Exploration Vehicle, as well as overall architecture concepts for human exploration of the moon. The CEV will serve as NASA's next-generation human space transportation system that will carry astronauts from Earth to space - safer, more reliably and more cost-effectively - all part of the nation's Vision for Space Exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond. NASA is expected to select two prime contractor teams later this year for further concept development, and will make a final selection of the CEV contractor team in 2008.
"The depth and breadth of expertise and experience that Orbital Sciences, EADS SPACE Transportation, United Space Alliance, Hamilton Sundstrand and Honeywell bring to our CEV team is unparalleled, exciting and highly focused on meeting NASA's needs for the future," said Michael Gass, vice president and general manager of Space Transportation for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "Our team has been on every manned program over the past 45 years. Together, we are developing a CEV for NASA that will be much safer, more reliable and much more operationally efficient than the systems we rely upon today. We're already developing and maturing concepts, designs and technology. And our design incorporates the ability for the CEV to evolve as we expand our presence in space, ensuring that NASA will have a very valuable, long-term asset for space exploration."
The teaming of these premier aerospace companies reaches across two continents and builds upon their significant strengths and decades of experience in large, complex systems integration, innovation and advanced technology development, and operational reliability and performance - all of which are vital to helping NASA achieve its goal of demonstrating a new CEV by 2008 and an operational capability by 2014.
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First EC 725 for French Air Force
Neuer Eurocopter-C-SAR-Hubschrauber ausgeliefert
The acceptance by the French "Délégation Générale pour l'Armement" (DGA) of the first EC 725 happened on Thursday February 10th 2005. This EC725 is dedicated to C-SAR missions for the French Air force. The follow-on deliveries spread out over 2005 and 2006. The latest newcomer to the Cougar range benefits not only from the operating experience of its predecessors, but also from major technical upgrades. The French Air Force - the EC 725 launch customer - will operate six of these helicopters to perform Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) missions and eight of these aircraft will be operated by the Special Operations Detachment of the French Army Air Corps.
The EC 725 is the latest member of the Cougar family. This aircraft has benefited both from the experience of its predecessors and from important technical improvements. The EC 725 was designed to perform SAR, Combat SAR, long distance tactical transport missions, and also medical transport and logistical services. It can also be used for naval missions. The EC 725 made its maiden flight in November 2000. It is a medium-class twin-engine helicopter (in the 11 metric ton class), whose performance capabilities have been noticeably increased. It obtained its qualification from the aeronautical department of the DGA on 23 December 2004. To date 22 aircraft of the EC 725/225 family have already been ordered and more than 650 helicopters from the Super Puma/EC 225-Cougar/EC 725 family have been ordered by 85 customers in 47 countries. The delivery of the first civil EC 225 occurred in December 2004. This aircraft was in a VIP configuration.
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Boeing reports 2004 results
Solides Jahr für Boeing
Boeing reported net income for 2004 of $1.9 billion or $2.30 per share, on revenues of $52.5 billion. The results include previously announced charges totaling $0.44 per share for completing production on the 717 program and recognizing expenses related to the USAF 767 Tanker program as well as a $0.12 per share benefit related to state tax settlements. "An intense focus on execution led to strongly improved results in 2004," said Boeing President and CEO Harry Stonecipher. "Integrated Defense Systems delivered double-digit revenue growth, outstanding profitability and over $30 billion of new orders for the year, which strengthens our revenue outlook going forward. Boeing Commercial Airplanes generated solid operating performance while successfully laying the groundwork for a significant increase in airplane deliveries to meet higher demand over the next few years. Our cash flow remains very strong. Significant progress on important new programs like the 787 (formerly the 7E7) and the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, as well as expansion of key contracts like Future Combat Systems, position us well for future growth. As we enter 2005 our focus remains on business execution, demonstrating our commitment to integrity and growing the business."
The Company's 2004 earnings from operations increased sharply to $2.0 billion, reflecting strong growth and profitability in the Company's defense and intelligence businesses and higher operating earnings at its Commercial Airplanes unit.
Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) delivered double-digit revenue growth and excellent profitability as its defense and intelligence businesses continued to perform in healthy markets. Revenues for all of 2004 grew 11 percent to $30.5 billion on strong growth in its Network Systems and Support Systems segments. Operating margins rose to 9.6 percent as all four IDS segments delivered improved performance. IDS expanded its business base with over $30 billion in orders including the U.S. Navy's Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft program and a significant expansion to the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems program. Launch and Orbital Systems' 2004 results were impacted by the continued weakness in commercial space markets as well as cost growth in its commercial satellite business, which occurred primarily in the first three quarters. Revenues fell 1 percent from 2003 to $3.0 billion on lower satellite volume and two fewer Delta IV launches. Operating losses totaled $342 million reflecting cost growth on certain satellite programs partially offset by continued profitability on NASA programs.
During 2004, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) aggressively managed for profitability and made investments to support long-term growth. Commercial Airplanes launched the 787 program in April and won 126 customer orders and commitments from 8 airlines. At the same time, Commercial Airplanes introduced the 777-300ER, launched the 747 Special Freighter and began offering the 777 Freighter. In early 2005, Commercial Airplanes won commitments from six Chinese airlines for 60 787s bringing total customer orders and commitments to 186. For 2004, Commercial Airplanes delivered 285 airplanes and generated $21.0 billion of revenue. Operating earnings for the year were $0.8 billion while operating margins were 3.6 percent, primarily reflecting the fourth- quarter charges of $280 million to shut down the 717 program and $195 million for the USAF 767 Tanker program, which were partially offset by good operating performance.
Defense and intelligence markets are expected to remain strong in 2005 and 2006. Conditions in the commercial space market are expected to remain challenging. Global commercial airplane markets are improving with higher deliveries forecast for 2006 and further delivery improvement expected in 2007. Development of the 787 is timed for delivery into strong markets in 2008. These healthy market conditions, combined with a strong focus on operational execution, underpin the Company's outlook for solid revenue and earnings growth. The airline industry environment remains mixed with trends varying between carriers and regions. A number of low-cost carriers continue to gain market share, remain profitable and order new airplanes. The global economy and air traffic trends are strengthening and interest from airlines in adding capacity to handle higher traffic volume is increasing. However, higher fuel prices have dampened airline profits, particularly in the United States. Commercial Airplanes is experiencing increased demand for aircraft, especially 737s and 777s, as airline passengers continue to value frequent, direct routes and airlines focus on reducing costs. As a result, the Company expects airplane deliveries to increase in 2005 and 2006, followed by a further increase in 2007. Commercial Airplanes' delivery forecast for 2005 is unchanged at approximately 320 airplanes. The delivery forecast for 2006 is between 375 and 385 airplanes. The delivery forecast is sold out for 2005 and 78 percent sold out for 2006 at the low end of the range.
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F/A22 completes IOT&E with success
Erfolgreiche Truppenerprobung der Raptor
The F/A-22 Raptor demonstrated "overwhelmingly effective" warfighting capability according to the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation report by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. During the test, it met or exceeded performance expectations in altitude, speed, maneuverability and survivability. It also performed significantly better than the F-15C in all air-to-air mission areas, leading to a rating of "effective" by AFOTEC. "The Raptor operated against all adversaries with virtual impunity," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lewis, Air Force program executive officer for the F/A-22. "The ground-based systems couldn't engage the Raptor, and no adversary aircraft survived. That is air dominance, and that's exactly what the Raptor was designed to give us." AFOTEC also evaluated the Raptor's sustainability in field operations as "potentially suitable," because the aircraft met interim milestones but did not meet every requirement needed before the Raptor is declared operational. The Air Force is already working to address the deficiencies AFOTEC identified to get the aircraft ready for operational use.
Raptor flight training is on-going at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and flight operations have begun at Langley Air Force Base, Va., the home of the first operational Raptor squadron. Follow-on test and evaluation of the Raptor's air-to-ground capabilities will be conducted later this year. This December, the Raptor is expected to reach initial operational capability, which means it is able to conduct combat operations.
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Sikorsky announces S-76D
Neues Modell von Sikorsky angekündigt
On February 6, Sikorsky announced a series of engine, air vehicle, interior and avionics upgrades available for order immediately on the new S-76C++ helicopter and a set of additional product improvements that will lead to the launch of the new S-76D model in 2008. The extensive product upgrades, outlined for the first time at Heli-Expo 2005, ensure that the S-76C++ and the future S-76D will remain best-in-class in the corporate VIP, offshore oil, airline, EMS/ search-and-rescue and law enforcement segments. Product improvements available immediately on the S-76C++ include the Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 Engine Upgrade. The replacement 2S2 will provide a 5 to 6 percent increase in engine ratings, 350 to 450 lb increase in Category A takeoff gross weight at sea level 90F, and a barrier filter that provides superior protection against FOD and contamination, resulting in longer time-between overhaul, fewer removals and lower costs. Also a new sleek, modern, leather interior, with a three-person aft-facing bench and two forward-facing captains chairs is coupled with an improved soundproofing system using Keystone's SILENCER technology to meet the highest standards for luxury and elegance.
The S-76D will build upon the upgrades slated immediately for the C++ by offering additional product improvements to include: New Composite Main Rotor Blade. The new blade featuring advanced airfoils, a composite spar and integral deice will provide added efficiencies and meet the latest FAA safety standards for damage tolerance. The blade will increase hover performance and cruise efficiency, with almost 300 additional pounds capability for Cat A hot take-off performance and 50 additional nautical miles range compared with today's main rotor blade. New Quiet Tail Rotor. The S-76D will add even more comfort and environmentally friendly efficiencies with the New Quiet Tail Rotor. The New Quiet Tail Rotor will produce 2 dBA exterior noise reduction on takeoff, a 1.5 dBA exterior noise reduction on flyover, and no change in performance, handling or sideward flight capability. New Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210 Engine. Pratt & Whitney Canada will develop the new PW210 engine. The PW210S, tailored for the specific needs of S-76D customers, will encompass the latest turbine technologies to provide the best match of power, range, payload, and fuel consumption. The Category A hot takeoff capability will increase by nearly 1,000 pounds, while maintaining the range advantage of the S-76C+.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
The first series of tests of the CLEAN technology demonstrator was a complete success. Kicking off on September 29, 2004 at the University of Stuttgart, this initial series in the simulated altitude chamber came to an end. Funded by the European Union, the CLEAN program aims to achieve a significant reduction in polluting emissions from commercial aircraft engines, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 20% and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 80% in relation to current engines, while also lowering fuel consumption. In particular, the CLEAN technology demonstrator tested two new technologies developed by Snecma Moteurs: an LPP (lean prevaporized premixed) combustor, and active surge control. The latter technology marks a world first, since no other active surge control system had functioned to date on a modern jet engine at idle to full throttle settings, with a highly-loaded high-pressure compressor of the type used on the CLEAN demonstrator.
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The UK MoD appointed Kellogg Brown & Root (UK) Ltd (KBR) to act as the preferred 'Physical Integrator' on the future aircraft carrier (CVF) project. After a competition KBR were selected in recognition of their track record of both operating in alliances and delivery of complex, bespoke projects in the off-shore industry and other sectors. The MoD established that due to the size of the proposed carriers no single shipbuilding facility in the UK has the infrastructure, skills or capacity to build the two ships on its own. The carriers will need to be constructed at a number of different sites before transportation to a final integration facility which will both create and sustain thousands of jobs in dockyards across the country. Building and integrating the two carriers, the biggest warships ever built in Europe, represents a major challenge requiring considerable project management skills. In discussion with Alliance partners, it was agreed that there was a need to appoint a company - as a risk bearing member of the Alliance - to further strengthen our approach to this area and introduce innovation to the manufacturing phase. This will be a key role for the Physical Integrator on behalf of the Alliance. KBR will also lead for the Alliance on a range of programme management functions; and will bring its best resources and competences to complement the capabilities of other Alliance Participants.
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Deliveries of the extraordinary Bombardier Q400 airliner reached a milestone on February 10 when Austrian Airlines Group accepted the 100th Q400 airliner built. The aircraft is the 9th 72-seat Q400 from a firm order for 10, and will be flown under the Austrian arrows banner by Tyrolean Airways, a wholly owned unit of Austrian Airlines Group, based at Innsbruck. The Austrian arrows fleet includes nine Bombardier Q400, 12 50-seat Bombardier Q300 and 17 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet aircraft. "The Bombardier Q400 is a very valuable asset for us in the highly competitive and expensive European marketplace," said Johann Messner, Managing Director, Tyrolean Airways. "It is quiet, it is very economical to operate and it is fast. On a typical flight, the difference between the Q400 and a jet is about five minutes, but the Q400 consumes far less fuel." Achievement of this 100th milestone follows the recent delivery of the 700th Bombardier Q Series Dash 8 aircraft overall, a Q400 which was delivered to FlyBE of the United Kingdom, during January 2005.
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Airbus has selected Goodrich to provide the nacelles and thrust reversers for the new A350 aircraft. The contract is expected to generate approximately $6 billion in original equipment and aftermarket sales for Goodrich over 20 years. The A350 is due to enter into service in 2010. Design and production of the A350 nacelle systems will leverage existing lean design and manufacturing processes. The work will be performed by Goodrich's Aerostructures business headquartered in Chula Vista, California and its major assembly facility in Toulouse, France.
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Rolls-Royce released its annual ten-year forecast of worldwide turbine helicopter deliveries. The forecast, which was presented at Heli-Expo 2005 by Scott Crislip, the company's President - Helicopter and Small Gas Turbine Engines, projects worldwide deliveries of turbine-powered helicopters and rotary-wing unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in all size classes, both civil and military, from 2005 until the end of year 2014. During the 2005-2014 period, some 10,677 turbine helicopter deliveries are forecast worldwide (with an associated airframe value of $91.4 billion and an installed engine value of $8.5 billion). This figure confirms last year's forecast, with the onset of military fleet replenishment during the period offset by delays to a number of key military programs. The civil forecast remains stable when compared to the 2004-2013 projection. Substantial growth in the military helicopter market is still forecast, but the timing and nature of this growth has changed, due to a number of programs being postponed or shelved in order to meet immediate operational funding requirements in support of the war on terrorism. The military market is also witnessing a move away from aircraft life-extension projects in favor of new-build programs, which are seen as 'lower risk.' On a unit basis, the split between civil and military sales is forecast to be 48:52, with the split by aircraft value being 15:85, or 22:78 by engine value. In addition to underscoring the relatively larger size (and hence cost) of most military rotorcraft, this value split does of course also reflect the higher cost of mission avionics, etc., fitted to military rotorcraft. Civil helicopter deliveries are projected to total 5,144 units during the next ten years, roughly the same figure to last year's forecast. The associated value of this market is forecast to be $13.8 billion in airframes and $1.9 billion in installed engines. This stability reflects the long-term health of the civil helicopter market, with anticipated new product introduction towards the end of the decade bolstered by strong near-term paramilitary demand from law enforcement agencies. Our forecast projects a total of 5,533 military helicopter deliveries and major engine-related upgrades during 2005-2014. The associated value of this market is forecast to be $77.6 billion in airframes and $6.6 billion in installed engines. The military rotorcraft market is expected to benefit from substantial re-equipment over the period, albeit at a slower rate than originally planned due to the near-term focus on operations in the Middle East. Approximately 45 percent of all unit deliveries will be multi-engine medium rotorcraft, primarily troop transports and maritime patrol aircraft, with 19 percent being intermediate twins (e.g. light attack and tactical utility helicopters) and 18 percent being turbine singles (e.g. armed reconnaissance helicopters)
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The first privately owned Raytheon Aircraft business jet in China is a Beechcraft Premier I. Hangzhou Daoyuan Chemical Fibre Group, a privately held company, purchased the six-seat, composite-fuselage business jet for company transportation throughout China and the Pacific Rim. The aircraft will be based in Hangzhou, China, and will be managed by Deerjet, the charter company of Hainan Airlines of Haikou, China. The Beechcraft Premier will begin operation this spring. Raytheon Aircraft is a market leader in China with eight Hawker 800XPs and six King Airs operating in the country.
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EADS Defence Electronics has successfully conducted first ground tests with its missile launch detection sensor MILDS-F on a Royal Danish Airforce F-16. As reported by EADS, the objective of the tests was to prove that MILDS-F can be integrated into the F-16 Electronic Warfare System and furthermore to collect neccessary data for the MILDS-F software adaptation to the environmental conditions on F-16 aircraft. Successful results were achieved in both parking position and taxiing the aircraft. Stimulation of the sensors caused corresponding indications on the Advanced Threat Display in the cockpit of the testbed aircraft. As the next milestone in the project, flight tests with MILDS-F installed on the testbed F-16 are planned in the first half of this year. The Royal Danish Airforce in July 2004 had awarded EADS Defence Electronics (DE) a contract for the delivery of 30 Systems AN/AAR-60 (V)2 MILDS-F to be installed on the Danish F-16 fleet in order to protect the aircraft especially against electro-optically guided surface-to-air missiles which cannot be detected by the aircrafts' radar warning system.
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The first EF-18 MLU production aircraft has been delivered to the Spanish Air Force during a ceremony celebrated at EADS Military Aircraft facilities at Getafe that was honoured with the attendance of the Chief of the Air Staff and other military and civil authorities. On 29th December 2003, EADS Military Aircraft in Spain and the Spanish Air Force signed the contract, valued aprox. 186 Millions Euro, which started the EF-18 MLU process. The first aircraft arrived at Getafe on January 2004 and since than EADS has respected the contractual agreement and has punctually received one aircraft per month. The software team of the SpAF Armament and Experimental Logistics Centre (CLAEX) and EADS CASA Military Aircraft have actively collaborated in the design and development of the software and in the integration and testing of the new avionics equipment, as well as in the complete development of the modified system integration software.
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Honeywell announced that it has been selected to provide its new HTS900 turboshaft engine for future integration for Bell's Model 407 helicopter. The HTS900 incorporates and features new compressor technology for improved performance, producing more than 925 Shaft horsepower at Takeoff Power rating at sea level on a standard day. The engine is expected to deliver Specific Fuel Consumption levels of .54 lb per shaft horsepower or a 5% decrease from earlier Honeywell helicopter engines. The HTS900 has successfully completed the first engine to test (FETT), with a production version dual-channel full authority digital engine control (FADEC), achieving all designed power specifications. The dual-channel FADEC will ease pilot workload, provide reduced support cost and simplify maintenance procedures.
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Sikorsky's S-92 medium-lift helicopter was awarded its Canadian type certification by Transport Canada in a ceremony at the Heli-Expo 2005 trade show. Alan Stewart, the Senior Rotorcraft Project Manager for the Aircraft Certification Branch of Transport Canada presented the certification document to Jeff Pino, Sikorsky's Senior Vice President of Sales and Commercial Programs. Transport Canada certification will allow the S-92 to enter service with Canadian operators and to carry passengers. Canadian certification of the S-92 follows European Aviation Safety Agency/Joint Aviation Authorities (EASA/JAA) certification in June 2004 and U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in December 2002.
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In a far reaching move, the PHI Oil & Gas Division and PHI Air Medical Division have placed an order for ten Eurocopter 135P2 helicopters with an option for ten additional EC 135 P2 helicopters. PHI will operate the aircraft in air medical roles around the country as well as supporting the offshore energy sector. Petroleum Helicopters is based in Lafayette, Louisiana. PHI Chairman and CEO, Al A. Gonsoulin commented, "Both the air medical and oil and gas divisions of the company are positioning themselves for the future to provide the safest, most economical and modern helicopters for our customers and end users". PHI most recently completed the delivery last year of ten new AS350B3 helicopters in support of their growing air medical operations. Mr Gonsoulin also stated "The EC135 is a proven helicopter that PHI can rely on for the long term".
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The SAS Group presented its full-year 2004 results. Group total operating revenue increased by 0.6% to MSEK 58,073 for the full-year 2004. The Group transported a total of 32.4 million passengers, an increase of 4.4% vs. 2003. Income before capital gains and nonrecurring items amounted to a loss of MSEK 1,814 for the full-year 2004. This is an improvement of MSEK 407 vs. 2003. Income before capital gains and nonrecurring items amounted to MSEK -344 for 4th Quarter 2004. Jörgen Lindegaard, President & CEO of the SAS Group comments: "2004 was a year with many achievements. We have successfully reduced our costs by a substantial amount, created a new business structure and turned many unprofitable units into profitable ones. Due to yield reductions of unprecedented scale, record high jet fuel prices and severe overcapacity in many markets, the outcome for the Group full-year result was clearly unsatisfactory. It must be stated though; that the underlying results in 4th Quarter are the best Q4 result in four years. This is an indication that our actions on both the revenue side and the cost side are taking effect, getting SAS under way for 2005."
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Following a very competitive tender, Shell Exploration and Production has awarded Bristow Helicopters a 7-year contract for crew-change transport operations throughout the United Kingdom and the Dutch sectors of the North Sea. As the launch customer of the EC 225 for Oil and Gas operations, Bristow confirms their plans to operate this latest type of helicopter for this contract for Aberdeen/Scotland operations, and the EC 155s for the Southern sectors of the North Sea. Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Eurocopter, said, "We are very proud to see the EC 225 being selected for serving Shell operations in the harsh North Sea environment. This program, which benefits from many technological enhancements from the whole Eurocopter product line, sets new standards of safety, comfort and performance for offshore operations. Shell has carried out a very thorough assessment of our helicopter and we know that their assessment criteria are extremely stringent. We consider their selection recognises that the EC 225 is well adapted to Shell's current and future needs through its inherent qualities in terms of safety, performance and comfort."
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Sikorsky announced that Era Aviation, Inc. a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc. has selected the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter as one of its crew change aircraft for use in the Gulf of Mexico. Sikorsky announced the agreement today at a signing ceremony at the Heli-Expo 2005 trade show. Era plans to take delivery of two Sikorsky S-76C+ and three S-76C++ helicopters beginning in the first quarter of 2006.
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The world's first civil tiltrotor aircraft, the Bell/Agusta BA609, begins ground runs soon in preparation for envelope expansion flight testing throughout this year. The first flight test aircraft, BA609 a/c #01, is continuing to undergo configuration modifications at Bell's Flight Research Center, in Arlington, Texas. These upgrades include the program pacing hardware and software flight controls contracted from BAE Systems in California. The initial hovering portion of the flight test program was successfully completed in Spring 2003. So far the BA609 has flown on nine occasions with 14 hours of total flight time. BA609 a/c #02 is at Agusta's assembly and flight testing facility in Italy, where tests are progressing in support a/c #01. Aircraft #02 will fly 90-120 days after a/c #01 returns to flight. BA609 a/c #03 will be shipped to Italy later this year. Bell/Agusta will produce a total of four prototype tiltrotor aircraft for flight-testing in the US and Italy to earn the Transport Category IFR certification status.
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Boeing and SpiceJet today said the new carrier is ordering up to 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes for domestic routes within India. Details were provided during the Aero India 2005 air show. SpiceJet placed a firm order for ten airplanes, valued at $630 million at list prices, and has options for ten more. First delivery is scheduled for 2006. SpiceJet begins service in May with three leased Boeing 737-800s. Based in New Delhi, the airline is one of India 's newest start-up private carriers.
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Honeywell announced that it has entered into a contract under which AltoBridge, Ltd. will provide software technology for a new Honeywell system that will enable aircraft passengers to place and receive calls on their personal cellular telephones in flight. "AltoBridge technology is leading the way to a viable in-flight cellular solution," said Honeywell Cabin Services Business Leader David Gilbert. "Combining AltoBridge's proven software knowledge with Honeywell's track record in developing reliable aircraft communications equipment will provide passengers with a convenient in-flight calling option." AltoBridge CEO Mike Fitzgerald said, "Our technology enables full ingoing and outgoing voice and text messaging without interference with aircraft systems or the ground cellular network. To keep things simple for the user, charges will be included in the subscriber's regular bill just like any other roaming call." Honeywell's onboard cellular phone system initially will work with GSM cellular networks. The agreement calls for AltoBridge to integrate the Honeywell system with other cellular networks and wireless technologies in the future.
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Lockheed Martin announced that it has delivered the first modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be readied for a May launch. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-M1, is the most technologically advanced GPS satellite ever developed and will provide significantly improved navigation performance for U.S. military and civilian users worldwide. The satellite is the first in a series of eight GPS IIR satellites that Lockheed Martin is modernizing for its customer at the Navstar GPS Joint Program Office, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
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German helicopters in Afghanistan will be better protected against missile attacks in the future. ESG has outfitted six CH-53GS helicopters with a modern missile warning system, commissioned by the German Federal Authority for Military Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung, or BWB). Today, in Rheine, North-Rhine Westphalia, the helicopters were officially handed over to Air Force Regiment 15. The warning system installed by ESG is called MILDS (Missile Launch Detection System) and was developed by the aerospace and defence company EADS. It replaces the previously used AN/AAR-47 system, which is considered to be unreliable for the detection of modern missiles and has a high percentage of false alarms. This is why in mid-2004 the BWB commissioned ESG to re-outfit the German military's transport helicopters for use in Afghanistan. Using a demonstrator programme, the engineers first proved the project's technical feasibility. Beginning in December, MILDS was then installed into six helicopters. Despite the tight deadline, the systems are now completely functional and the helicopters can be transferred to Afghanistan at the beginning of February. In a short speech during the official handing-over, the commander of Air Force Brigade 3, Group Captain Robert Bund, expressed his pleasure at the rapid installation of the MILDS system into the transport helicopters: "This way, we can offer our deployed squad considerably more protection."
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The world's best-selling, new-generation light twin, the EC 135, continues to be the preferred choice of international law enforcement agencies and EMS (Emergency Medical Service) operators. Eurocopter delivered 60 EC 135s and four EC 635s in 2004. Forty of these aircraft went into the EMS market. Due to high customer demand, the company is increasing its annual production of the EC 135 by 20 percent to 72 units in 2005. This means that one EC 135 will be delivered every third working day of the year. A total of 382 EC 135s have been delivered to date.
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Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have teamed to compete to build the next generation geostationary weather and environmental system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) provide environmental data products to the commercial, education and public sectors to protect lives, property and the environment, and to foster economic growth. GOES imagery and data has been a mainstay of weather observations and forecasting since 1975 and is featured on weather reports worldwide. The next-generation system, GOES-R, will take a major step forward with the deployment of new technologies and data products. GOES-R will monitor the Earth's environment with improved spatial, spectral and temporal resolution, producing about 50 times the amount of data than is provided by the current GOES spacecraft and serving as the basis for new environmental products and services.
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Sikorsky issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Navy's presidential helicopter contract decision. On February 3, the U.S. Navy debriefed Sikorsky on the factors that determined the outcome of the Marine One competition. Throughout that meeting, the Navy was complementary of the outstanding proposal effort by the men and women of Sikorsky. In the debriefing, the Navy confirmed that the Sikorsky offer was fully compliant and, in fact, had yielded the best performing aircraft. The company learned, however, that the competing bidder started with an aircraft -- particularly the cabin -- that more closely met the unique requirements established by the Navy, and that this was the major factor in the decision. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigatory arm of the U.S. Congress, has been asked to look into the issues related to performing heightened security work in an offshore foreign environment. Sikorsky does not want to take any action that might delay or conflict with the GAO's investigation. Accordingly, the company has elected not to protest the Navy's Marine One contract decision.
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The U.S. Air Force has announced orders for three Boeing C-40C aircraft to provide worldwide transportation support for government officials. The C-40Cs are based on the Boeing Business Jet and will replace retiring C-9A aircraft, supplying the Air Force with reliable, updated and cost-effective airlift support.
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Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) is launching a new generation turboshaft engine, the PW210, offering best-in-class performance in the 1,000 SHP class with unmatched reliability, durability and operating economics for large single and intermediate/medium twin helicopters. The first model of the new generation, the PW210S, has been selected by Sikorsky to power its next generation S-76D helicopter targeting corporate, offshore oil, hospital, airline and government operators around the world. "We are extremely pleased to have been selected for this program," said Alain M. Bellemare, President, P&WC. "We look forward to this new opportunity to work with Sikorsky and are delighted to be a part of this exciting new helicopter program." "The PW210 engine will build on the remarkable success of the PW200 engine family, the most popular turboshaft engine in the new light twin helicopter market," said Keyvan Fard, Vice President, Regional Airline & Turboshaft Engines. "PW200 engines were selected to power more than 75 per cent of new light twin helicopters ordered in 2004 and we intend to build our future growth on this great platform."
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Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., (PHI), one of the world's leading helicopter services companies, has placed an order for 6 Bell 407 helicopters to be delivered by the end of the first quarter 2005. This order will bring the total number of 407s operated by PHI to 45.
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Sikorsky announced that CHC Helicopter Corporation has signed a contract for five new S-76 helicopters. Based in Vancouver, B.C. CHC will use the new S-76s for offshore operations around the world. The signings were announced at a ceremony today at the Heli-Expo 2005 trade show. CHC and its subsidiaries have been operating Sikorsky helicopters for more than 40 years in all types of utility and transport operations. This latest order for five new S-76s comes as a follow-on to a previous CHC order for ten new S-76s executed last year. Two of the initial 10 aircraft have been placed in India, providing offshore transport services there. Others have entered operations in Africa and southeast Asia.
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At a ceremony aboard HTMS Taksin, Admiral Sampop Amraparn, Commander in Chief, formally accepted the Super Lynx into operational service with the Royal Thai Navy. The Royal Thai Navy Super Lynx 300 aircraft are operated by 203 Squadron based at U-Tapao and will be used for a wide range of naval roles including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. The aircraft will primarily operate from the Narasuan Class frigates, but are also capable of operating from all other Royal Thai Navy ships with aviation facilities.
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Enstrom has initiated numerous projects in 2005 to enhance 480B, F28F and 280FX mission performance in support of police and other special missions. The turbine aircraft is being primed for a strong push into the US police and worldwide training markets. Right hand pilot in command (PIC) for the 480B will be offered as an option for training and other missions. A rotor brake is currently in the development process and will soon be offered as an option. The brake is scheduled to start endurance and flight testing in the near future. Preliminary installation has been completed and flight testing is scheduled to commence in early 2005 on a new camera, FLIR, and searchlight nose mount system. Also, Enstrom has started working with suppliers to incorporate alternate lighting to make the cockpit NVIS compatible.
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Flying near the edge of space, a NASA scientific balloon broke the flight record for duration and distance. It soared for nearly 42 days, making three orbits around the South Pole. The record-breaking balloon, almost as large as one and one half football fields, carried the Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass (CREAM) experiment. CREAM is designed to explore the supernova acceleration limit of cosmic rays, the relativistic gas of protons, electrons and heavy nuclei arriving at Earth from outside the solar system. In addition to gathering scientific data, the flight was a demonstration of the capabilities of the NASA Ultra-Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) support system. The ULDB is being developed to extend flights up to 100 days.
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On January 28, 2005, Mr. Svinarov, the Bulgarian Defense Minister and Mr. Luc Barrière, the Eurocopter Senior Vice-President for Sales & Marketing, signed a contract in Sofia for the supply of twelve AS 532 AL Cougar helicopters and six AS 565 MB Panther helicopters. The deliveries of the 18 helicopters are scheduled on a 3 years period. The 3 first aircraft of the Cougar type will be delivered by end 2006. This contract specifies the delivery of 12 Cougars to the Bulgarian Air Force . Eight of these aircraft will perform tactical transport missions and the four others will fly Combat SAR missions. The six Panthers for the Bulgarian Navy will perform sea surveillance and search and rescue missions; along with anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface operations. The acquisition of the Cougar helicopters is part of the restructuring initiated following Bulgaria's entry into NATO in March 2004. If necessary, the aircraft, which will be operated by the Air Force, may be sent to external theater of operations to assist NATO and UN missions.
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Kaman announced today that its Kaman Aerospace Corp. subsidiary has received a contract from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to manufacture cockpits for various models of Sikorsky's UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter. The multi-year contract calls for Kaman Aerospace's Aerostructures Division to supply 84 cockpits for Sikorsky's UH-60L, MH-60S, UH-60M and S-70A model helicopters. The value of the initial contract to Kaman is approximately $27.7 million for production through 2006. The multi-year agreement with follow-on options, if fully exercised, has a total potential value to Kaman of approximately $100.0 million and would include the fabrication of approximately 349 units.
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Recent flight trials have shown that an innovative Air Traffic Management concept called Tailored Arrivals can improve efficiency and reduce noise and emissions when aircraft land. The Boeing Company, the Air Traffic Alliance (a grouping of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., Airbus and Thales), the Australian air carrier Qantas Airways and air navigation services provider Airservices Australia jointly conducted the flight trials last year at airports in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. In Tailored Arrivals, clearance instructions are transmitted electronically to arriving aircraft, so that pilots and controllers don't have to engage in multiple voice communications. Linked directly to an aircraft's Flight Management System, the electronic data guide the aircraft on a steady descent profile along the most efficient path to its destination. The Tailored Arrivals concept is one of several Air Traffic Management approaches that Boeing and the Air Traffic Alliance are supporting as part of an effort to improve interoperability and coordination between air and ground systems around the world.
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Lockheed Martin has received a $532 million contract for 156 PAC-3 Missiles for the U.S. Army, the Netherlands and Japan. This represents the first international sales of the battle-proven PAC-3 Missiles. The contract also includes launcher modification kits as well as kits of spares and other ancillary ground equipment. The PAC-3 Missile is currently the world's only fielded hit-to-kill, pure kinetic energy air defense missile. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver 156 PAC-3 Missiles to the U.S. Army, 32 of which will then be delivered to The Netherlands and 16 missiles to Japan. The Netherlands and Japan are receiving their respective interceptors under Foreign Military Sale (FMS) agreements.
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Bombardier announced that it has delivered a new Special Edition Bombardier Learjet 60 midsize business jet to the Government of Macedonia. The new jet will be used primarily to provide national and regional nonstop service for senior government personnel. The aviation department of the Government of Macedonia will operate the jet under a civil registry at its base in Skopje, the nation's capital, from where it can fly up to eight passengers non-stop across much of Europe including to cities such as Brussels, London and Stockholm. The aircraft is fully compliant with international reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) operations and European JAR-OPS1 regulations and procedures. A total of 278 Learjet 60 aircraft have been manufactured to date. As of December 2004, the fleet had logged over 775,000 flight hours and posted a dispatch reliability exceeding 99.52 per cent.
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Under the Armed VTOL UAV Technology Integration program, AATD has been using the Vigilante UAV to explore concepts of operation for armed manned-unmanned helicopter teams. UAVs may be used to scout ahead of manned helicopters, finding and watching threats, designating targets with lasers for guided munitions fired from other aircraft or vehicles, or shooting the target themselves. Imagery confirming results can then be beamed back to manned team mates operating safely out of harms way. These successful launches of Hydra-70 rocket pave the way for integration of recently developed Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rockets and the addition of a laser designator to the existing Wescam 12DS-200 electro-optic/infra-red (EO/IR) sensor, making the lightweight UAV highly capable of prosecuting 'soft' targets such as unarmored vehicles and enemy personnel.
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Boeing started flight tests at Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake, Calif., as part of the integration of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) into the aft cockpits of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Hornet. While the helmet has been used extensively for F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 pilots in the forward cockpit, today's flight marks the first time both the pilot and weapon systems officer have used the helmet during flight. This flight is a first step in a flight test program that will include integration tests for F/A-18D and F/A-18F aircraft. "Providing both members of the F/A-18D and F/A-18F aircrew with the JHMCS will provide a dramatic improvement in situation awareness and coordination, resulting in a significant increase in combat effectiveness and survivability," said Todd Harper , the JHMCS F/A-18 Team Leader.
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The first flight of the upgraded Chetak (Alouette III) helicopter "Chetan", which is manufactured by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautic Limited) and is powered by the TM 333 2M2 engine, passed off successfully on 1st February 2005 in Bangalore, India. The Chetak is currently powered by Turbomeca's Artouste IIIB engine. A minimum of 200 aircraft used by the Indian Armed Forces, could now be re-engined with the TM 333 2M2. HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja said: "The TM 333 2M2 engine will make Chetan a highly reliable helicopter with far less fuel consumption which will increase its range, endurance and useful load". The Chetan is primarily being designed to evacuate casualties from high-altitude areas in the Himalayas and the North East. The next stage in the re-engining project is the civil certification of the Chetan fitted with the TM 333 2M2. This will encourage many Chetak operators to go in for life extensions of their existing fleets.
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Boeing recently completed upgrading the first of four French E-3F AWACS aircraft with a Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kit, ahead of schedule. The modification is part of a $133 million foreign military sales contract with Hanscom, Air Force Base, Mass. "This is the most significant upgrade to the French AWACS fleet since its delivery in the early 1990s," said Nigel Lo, Boeing RSIP program manager. "It also will bring France's surveillance capability up to same standards as its NATO allies". The other three AWACS aircraft will receive upgrades by mid-2006 to improve the E-3F's surveillance capability by increasing the sensitivity of the pulse Doppler radar so the aircraft can detect and track smaller targets. It also improves the radar's electronic counter-countermeasures capability.
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Sensis Corporation announced that Innsbruck Airport, Innsbruck, Austria has begun live operational use of Sensis' Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS) for enhanced terminal and approach surveillance. Sensis' MDS provides air traffic controllers a surveillance picture with an accuracy of seven meters on the runway and taxiway and 60 meters accuracy in the air. Regardless of the often inclement weather conditions surrounding the Inn Valley, MDS offers coverage 30 nmi east and 20 nmi west of the airport within a 350 square nmi total coverage area. Austro Control GmbH, the air navigation service provider for Innsbruck Airport, Austria, must ensure the safety of 200 aircraft movements per day. Mountain ranges over 9,000 feet high to the north and south of the airport make traditional radar surveillance financially and logistically prohibitive. Further, because of the mountainous terrain surrounding the Inn Valley, Innsbruck Airport must route both incoming and outgoing planes in the same direction.
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With a recently signed cooperation agreement the world´s largest supplier of flight data, OAG, and the international aviation consultancy Lufthansa Consulting (LCG), confirmed to continue the intensive cooperation in delivering new services to improve airline schedule planning, market potential evaluation and airport route development. This cooperation reflects the confidence and commitment by both partners to provide their customers with the scale and quality of data that is necessary for effective decision-making?, declared Andrew Jay Blackburn, LCG?s Executive Vice President Commercial. As a first step, a sample of standard analyses are immediately available to download from the OAG website www.oagdata.com. These standard analyses have been developed in cooperation by the partners as part of their ongoing drive to fulfil market needs and expand services. All additional consultancy requirements are provided by Lufthansa Consulting.
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NASA chose the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) to fly as part of the scientific payload for the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Chandraayan-1 mission, slated for launch in 2007. The M3 is designed to create a mineral-resource map of the moon. It will be flown as part of the Chandraayan-1 mission if it is selected by ISRO in an independent competition. "This exciting scientific experiment will provide detailed maps of the moon's surface geology and mineral composition for the first time," said NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Dr. Ghassem Asrar. "The M3 investigation also complements the six experiments recently selected by NASA in response to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Announcement of Opportunity. Together, the M3 and LRO investigations support NASA research and exploration objectives for the moon," he said. The final confirmation of the M3 investigation is subject to successful negotiation of an international agreement between NASA and ISRO.
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Sales at Robinson Helicopter, once again, exceeded expectations. In 2004, Robinson produced 690 new helicopters, a 63% increase over the 422 helicopters produced in 2003. RHC shipped 234 R22s and 456 R44s, an all time high for the company, and has manufactured over 3,780 R22s and 2,100 R44s to date. Moving forward in 2005, strong demand for both R22 and R44 helicopters has led to a large backlog of orders. In response, Robinson plans to increase production from 15 to 20 new helicopters per week. An additional 215,000 square foot new manufacturing building will help facilitate the increased production rate. The worldwide increase in R22s and R44s also led to a record 1,011 pilots attending the Robinson three day safety course in 2004. The growing interest in the safety course prompted Robinson to create a new, larger training facility within the new building. Class size was expanded to 65 pilots and the class schedule increased from once to twice per month. RHC now has the ability to accommodate the 1,300 students expected to attend the safety course in 2005.
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Effective February 3, Etihad Airways (EY/ETD) will commence non-stop freighter services twice per week between Frankfurt Airport and the carrier's home base in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Etihad will be using an Airbus A300-600F on the new AUH-FRA cargo route. This summer Etihad also plans to add daily non-stop passenger services between Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi, using Airbus A330-200s jets.
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Boeing engineers completed all wind tunnel testing for the EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack aircraft on Jan. 27 under the EA-18G System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program. The program conducted five different wind tunnel tests at several laboratories, beginning in June 2004 and ending in January 2005. Each test gathered critical information for the continued development of the EA-18G. The Boeing team conducted a total of 1,412 hours of wind tunnel testing. "The wind tunnel testing has validated that the F/A-18F airframe is well suited to perform the electronic attack mission," said Mike Gibbons, EA-18G chief engineer for Boeing. "We will use these results to complete the detailed design of the EA-18G weapon system and present it to the Navy at the Critical Design Review in April 2005."
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MTU Aero Engines has further improved its capital structure: As of February 1, the company has repaid loans in the amount of 79 million euros ahead of schedule. Bank liabilities are thus reduced to 106 million euros, while the annual gross interest load is decreased by some 4 million euros. "MTU already took important steps in this direction in the past year with two off-schedule repayments - 130 million euros in October and 70 million euros in November. With the repayment of a further 79 million euros we are systematically continuing MTU's debt clearance,?? explained Udo Stark, president and CEO of MTU Aero Engines. The repayment was made possible through the positive development of cash flow and the strong liquidity position of MTU. Reiner Winkler, chief financial officer of MTU, added: "Apart from the implementation of our "Impact 100" restructuring and savings program, favorable business and market developments have helped us to substantially improve cash flow in the past year. The liquid resources of MTU now total 50 million Euros and available liquidity including the undrawn loans is around 230 million."
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Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines today announced a preliminary agreement for up to 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger planes that will make the airline the first Africa-based operator of the super-efficient, all-new jetliner. Valued at $1.3 billion at list prices, the agreement involves five firm orders and purchase rights for five more. The first plane is scheduled for delivery to Addis Ababa, the airline's home base, in 2008.
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CHC Helicopter Corporation ("CHC"), announced today the creation of the world's largest independent helicopter support company, Heli-One. The mandate of the new organization is to provide helicopter leasing and a complete array of helicopter support services to civilian and military helicopter operators worldwide. These support services include integrated logistics, engineering and design, base maintenance, safety equipment, inventory management, parts supply, and repair and overhaul services for engines and components. Heli-One leases and supports several different helicopter types, including Eurocopter Super Puma and Dauphin, Sikorsky S76, S61 and S92 and Bell 212/412. Heli-One combines under one banner all CHC helicopter support subsidiaries and divisions including Astec Helicopter Services, Multifabs Survival Limited, AeroTurbine Support Ltd. and Overhaul International Pty.
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Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, a joint venture of Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and Agusta (an AgustaWestland company), marked the handover of the first of three AB139 helicopters ordered by ChevronTexaco. The ceremony took place at Bell/Agusta's booth (#1057) during this week's HAI Heli-Expo annual convention in Anaheim, California. "Delivery of the first AB139 to ChevronTexaco represents an important milestone for Bell/Agusta," stated Managing Director Louis Bartolotta. "This AB139 is the first to be delivered to an oil company and configured for offshore use, which represents the largest segment of the current AB139 order book."
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Raytheon has been awarded a $55.7 million full-rate production contract to provide the newest version of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW-C) to the U.S. Navy. Raytheon Missile Systems will provide 189 AGM-154C JSOW-C weapons, logistics support and ancillary hardware under the contract. Work is expected to be completed in February 2007. JSOW-C was developed by a team that includes the U.S. Navy, Raytheon Company, BAE Systems and Thales Missile Electronics. JSOW-C incorporates a Raytheon-developed uncooled, long-wave infrared seeker with automatic target acquisition algorithms, providing the Navy a launch-and-leave weapon with a long range standoff precision strike capability. JSOW-C is the first U.S. weapon to incorporate the two stage broach blast fragmentation/penetration warhead, developed by the United Kingdom's BAE Systems. Thales provides the fuze. JSOW-C has a unique capability for a glide weapon in its ability to attack a hardened target in a near-horizontal mode.
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Statement by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe about the Administration's fiscal year 2006 budget proposal and the Vision for Space Exploration. "The fiscal 2006 NASA budget reaffirms the President's commitment to the Vision for Space Exploration and provides us the next step in implementing it. The exploration Vision provides a historic opportunity to focus NASA for the long term, and the process is well under way. We are transforming NASA and making great progress.The preparations for returning the Shuttle fleet to flight are continuing. On the International Space Station, we are in our fifth year of continuous presence on orbit. Our programs to explore the solar system continue to amaze us with the new and unexpected information returned from Mars, Saturn's moon Titan and other distant points in the universe. The Vision for Space Exploration remains an Administration priority even in this challenging budget environment. The continued priority for and support of exploration has enabled a gradually growing NASA budget over the next five years. The budget maintains resolute focus on exploration priorities and critical milestones, based on our science priorities. The budget proposal maintains the return-to-flight of the Space Shuttle fleet as our top priority, and it includes close to $2 billion for the Space Station. This level of funding will enable NASA to meet obligations to international partners. NASA will also proceed with plans to retire the Shuttle in 2010, while ensuring safe missions for the life of the fleet.
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Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, a joint venture of Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and Agusta (an AgustaWestland company), announced today that SEACOR Holdings Inc. has placed an order for 20 AB139 medium-twin helicopters. The ceremony took place at Bell/Agusta's booth during this week's HAI Heli-Expo annual convention in Anaheim, California. This order, the largest received for the AB139 to date, raises the backlog to more than 100 helicopters for over 40 customers worldwide.
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AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that Aerolineas Ejecutivas S.A. has placed an order for two A109 Power and two Grand helicopters. The ceremony took place at the Heli-Expo, HAI's annual convention in Anaheim, California. These orders add to the four A109 Powers sold last January to Mexican private customers.
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The last of the MV-22 Osprey's that will take part in an upcoming operational evaluation was recently flown from Amarillo, Tex., to Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron-22(VMX-22) at Patuxent River. The aircraft arrived to the squadron ready for full flight operations. The addition of the recent arrival to VMX-22's inventory has enabled the squadron to resume flights beginning today while awaiting spare parts for its remaining aircraft. Last month the squadron discontinued flights at the direction of Col. Glenn M. Walters, commanding officer of VMX-22, in order to avoid risking a reduction in spare supply on a part of the aircraft called the proprotor gearbox. Prior to Walter's decision, flaking of the thin dense chrome on the input quills within the proprotor gearbox and improper torquing of a part within the proprotor gearbox caused a chip light indicator to go off in several of the MV-22 Ospreys. While flights at VMX-22 could have resumed, the decision to continue flying the aircraft could have lead to the eventual need to replace the entire proprotor gearbox rather than only replacing the input quill within the proprotor gearbox.
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The European Space Agency has given the green light for the MARSIS radar on board its Mars Express spacecraft to be deployed during the first week of May. Assuming that this operation is successful, the radar will finally start the search for subsurface water reservoirs and studies of the Martian ionosphere. ESA's decision to deploy MARSIS follows eight months of intensive computer simulations and technical investigations on both sides of the Atlantic. These were to assess possible harmful boom configurations during deployment and to determine any effects on the spacecraft and its scientific instruments. The three radar booms of MARSIS were initially to have been deployed in April 2004, towards the end of the Mars Express instrument commissioning phase. They consist of a pair of 20-metre hollow cylinders, each 2.5 centimetres in diameter, and a 7-metre boom. No satisfactory ground test of deployment in flight conditions was possible, so that verification of the booms' performance had to rely on computer simulation. Just prior to their scheduled release, improved computer simulations carried out by the manufacturer, Astro Aerospace (California), revealed the possibility of a whiplash effect before they locked in their final outstretched positions, so that they might hit the spacecraft.
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Frankfurt Airport (FRA) passenger and airfreight traffic continued to grow unabatedly in January 2005. About 3.7 million passengers used Germany's largest airport during the first four weeks of the year - a 3.2 percent increase compared to the same month last year and the strongest January in the history of the airport. FRA also reported its best January ever for airfreight, handling 135,707 metric tons and achieving a double-digit increase of 18.2 percent. Continuing increases in intercontinental traffic on routes to and from Asia, South Africa, and South America affected passenger growth, in particular. Destinations in Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe also enjoyed strong demand. Intensified airfreight activity resulted mainly from new freighter services and increasing volumes for Far East connections. Furthermore, growth markets in Latin America, North Africa and Eastern Europe generated positive impulses.
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CFM International continued to be the world's leading aircraft engine supplier in 2004, logging orders for 683 commercial and military engines at a value of approximately $4.1 billion. In addition, the company received orders for a total of 118 CFM56-3 and CFM56-5C/P upgrade kits. CFM International (CFM) is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric Company. Since the company's formation in 1974, it has delivered more than 14,550 engines to 400 commercial and military customers worldwide. In 2004, the company delivered 728 new CFM56 engines.
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In 2004, Thales Group revenues totalled Euro 10,288m. On a like-for-like basis, revenues declined by only 0.25%. Excluding billings of the hulls for the Sawari 2 frigates, revenues remained identical compared to 2003. Revenues declined by 2.7% compared to posted 2003 revenues (Euro 10,569m). This evolution is largely explained by changes in the scope of consolidation which resulted in a Euro 239m net reduction in revenues (mainly due to the deconsolidation of Thales Geosolutions, which was divested at the end of 2003). Year-on-year exchange rate fluctuations had a limited overall effect, reducing revenues by Euro 15m, as the rise of the pound sterling and Australian dollar offset the fall of the American dollar. The Aerospace division (+3%) continued to benefit from good performance of the defence businesses, particularly equipment and systems for the French Rafale programme, export Mirage programmes and maritime patrol systems for export customers. The civil avionics business, which has seen resumed growth, benefited from strong Airbus and support business sales. The decrease in Air Systems revenues (8%) resulted from lower sales of air defence systems in 2004 due to the billing schedules of several major contracts, particularly for missile systems and command centres. In addition, the completion of the first tranche of the KSAM contract in South Korea and the third phase of the Starstreak programme in the United Kingdom, and lower billings on the Crotale and Shahine contracts in Saudi Arabia and the NATO ACCS Loc1 programme, were not completely offset by revenues on new contracts awarded since 2003 (European FSAF and PAAMS contracts, Saudi Arabian Shola 2 contract, French VT1 missile programme and new phases of the Starstreak and KSAM programmes). In air traffic management, 2004 revenues did not yet benefit from the recovery of the level of air traffic that was witnessed in this sector in 2004 and fell in line with the lower level of order intake recorded in 2003.
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The Langenhagen repair experts had a good start into the new year: Since early January, MTU Maintenance Hannover is providing service support for CF6-50C2 engines of France's Europe Airpost, a mail carrier. Paris-based Europe Airpost is a wholly-owned affiliate of the French La Poste group. It operates a fleet of three Airbus A300B4s, 13 Boeing 737-300s and four ATRs, carrying consignments for France's La Poste and Chronopost and other express freight customers at night. Thank to its large fleet of B 737-300 Quick Change, those aircraft are dedicated to passenger transportation on scheduled and charter routes during day time and over week end.
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The wing-mate of the Citation Mustang is the latest in a long list of program milestones to be accomplished. On February 3, 2005, at 8:30 a.m. (CST) Cessna team members mated the wing to the fuselage of the Citation Mustang prototype. The entire process took less than 20 minutes. "We couldn't be more pleased with the outstanding progress of the Citation Mustang certification team," said Cessna's Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton. "We are eager for first flight and are confident the Citation Mustang will deliver everything we've promised customers and more."
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Alcatel is coordinating the European Research and Development project MOWGLY, which groups an international consortium of 16 partners. The objective of MOWGLY (MObile Wideband GLobal Link sYstem) aims at studying the implementation of new appropriate standards for the provision of broadband access to users of aircraft, trains and ships. Existing mobile satellite communications systems offer only narrowband services or use proprietary solutions for broadband access. The new DVB-S2/DVB-RCS standard bears the potential for an efficient open approach for broadband access. MOWGLY will investigate innovative solutions for satellite terminals in mobile environments, such as advanced transmission solutions for a group of passengers using the collective terminals with Quality of Service control and networking technologies. Gathering leading players in the transportation and telecommunications industries as well as SMEs and Universities, the MOWGLY consortium will address this challenge.
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At the AERO INDIA exhibition in Bangalore today, MBDA and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the industrial basis for the development and production of Indan / Milan ER, an enhanced anti-tank infantry weapon for the Indian and French armies as well as the wider export market. BDL has already been producing MBDA's Milan 2 anti-tank system under licence for the Indian armed forces since 1981. The MoU signed today paves the way for the development and industrialisation of Indan / Milan ER, an enhanced Milan system with extended range and an improved anti-jamming capability to meet the requirements specified by both the Indian and French armies.
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Airbus is expanding its presence in Japan with the appointment at the head of its Tokyo-based subsidiary of three senior executives, including a new President and CEO. The objective is to provide Airbus with a better understanding of, and access to, the Japanese market. The appointments include that of Glen S. Fukushima as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Japan K.K., as well as that of Norio Yamanouchi as Senior Advisor and Hiroshi Jojima as Vice President of Airline Marketing.
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Embraer announced that a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Indian DRDO (Defense, Research and Development Organization) to support the Indian Air Force new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system development. The new asset will be based on the EMB 145 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, one of the world's best selling ISR platforms. Embraer's commitment to contribute its previous experience in platform development and complex systems integration was a key factor in the DRDO's selection. Indian government analysts and Embraer company engineers are collecting necessary technical data on the aircraft for the study. At the request of the Indian government, an Embraer team recently visited Indian Defense Research and Development Organization and held in-depth discussions to support DRDO personnel in their task.
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Alenia North America and Vought Aircraft Industries announced they formed their joint venture in support of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner program. The announcement was made at a groundbreaking ceremony here at the site where the joint venture and Vought facilities will be built. The joint venture, called Global Aeronautica, LLC, will join and integrate fuselage sections from Vought, Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A. of Italy and other structural partners, which together represent more than 60 percent of the 787 fuselage. This integration work will entail the joining of the majority of the fuselage sections and the installation and testing of the associated system elements.
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A large hybrid rocket motor was successfully fired on its test stand at Edwards AFB recently. The test took place on a Air Force Research Laboratory test stand overlooking Edwards' dry lake bed and surrounding Mojave Desert. The test was part of the Air Force small launch vehicle office's Falcon program. The program is a 36-month long effort to develop and demonstrate an affordable and responsive space lift launcher capable of placing a small, 1,000-pound satellite into a circular orbit of 100 nautical miles. The hybrid rocket differs from liquid fueled and solid propellant fueled rockets, because it combines technologies from both types of launchers. Typically, a hybrid rocket uses a rubberized fuel and liquid oxygen to generate thrust, officials said.
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At a board meeting in Tokyo today, Japan Airlines decided to introduce the Boeing 737NG - New Generation - aircraft on the airline's domestic network, settling the carrier's selection of a new type of small, single aisle airplane for future fleet development. JAL aims to conclude an agreement on the purchase of 30 aircraft and 10 options in spring this year. The 737Next-Generation series includes the 737-700, -800, and -900X types. JAL is ordering the new aircraft in response to increased departure and arrival slots resulting from Tokyo's Haneda Airport's continued expansion and in anticipation of its forthcoming new fourth runway, together with corresponding increases in demand for flight frequency. Factors contributing to the choice are JAL's need to minimize the number of aircraft types in the fleet and overall business efficiency.
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In a span of less than 10 hours, International Launch Services (ILS) placed two satellites in orbit on February 3 from space centers on opposite sides of the world. The flights were carried out by, respectively, a Russian-built Proton/Breeze M vehicle from Baikonur and an American Atlas III vehicle from Cape Canaveral. ILS, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin of the United States and Khrunichev of Russia, markets both vehicles worldwide and manages the missions. These back-to-back launches were the first missions in a busy year for ILS. "No one else can do this," said ILS President Mark Albrecht. "The cornerstone of ILS is offering two independent vehicles, launching from independent launch sites, which enables us to service two customers at the same time." The Proton vehicle lifted off at 9:27 p.m. EST Wednesday (7:27 a.m. today in Baikonur, 2:27 today GMT), carrying the AMC-12 satellite for SES AMERICOM. After about 9 hours and 19 minutes of flight, the satellite separated from the launcher and went into orbit. AMC-12 is expected to go into service in April, providing communications for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The satellite was built by Alcatel Space of France. The Atlas III vehicle, designated AC-206, lifted off from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 36B at 2:41 a.m. EST (7:41 GMT) with a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The payload was released into orbit about 79 minutes later. Details about the payload and mission, known as NROL-23, are classified.
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EADS Astrium, Europe's leading satellite manufacturer, has completed production and test of the first Inmarsat-4 spacecraft, the world's most sophisticated commercial communications satellite. The spacecraft will leave the Toulouse facility on 5 February 2005 for shipment to Cape Canaveral. Scheduled for launch on 10 March 2005 aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the first giant Inmarsat-4 satellite will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 65 degrees East longitude. It will enable Inmarsat to address a wide area covering most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as the Indian Ocean. A second satellite is planned for launch in summer 2005 to cover South America, most of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean. A third satellite is also at an advanced stage of production. All three satellites are identical and interchangeable - their coverage is programmable and can be reconfigured in orbit.
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The Government of Jharkhand has placed order on Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) for supply of two Advanced Light Helicopters (Dhruv). Out of the two helicopters, one will be placed for utility role with the Police and the other for the use of VIPs. Dhruv, the ALH indigenously designed and developed by HAL, covers comprehensively the entire spectrum of heli-services which are required for civil administration today. It is a sate-of-the-art twin engine helicopter with full capability for operations in all weathers by day and night. It incorporated advanced avionics, digital engine control, digital auto-pilot and redundancy in all major systems to ensure highly reliable and safe operations.
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EADS CASA announced today its selection of Messier-Bugatti, a Snecma group company, to supply wheels and brakes for Europe's new A400M military transport aircraft. Messier-Bugatti will be the sole supplier, with an exclusive contract to provide wheels and brakes for all 180 A400M transports ordered to date, as well as any aircraft ordered subsequently by other countries. The A400M has 2 nose wheels and 12 braked wheels. Because of the large number of wheels, coupled with low-pressure tires, the plane will be able to use damaged or unprepared runways.
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Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected the company's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite to carry out the next mission in its Small Explorer (SMEX) series of scientific spacecraft. Orbital is a key member of the IBEX mission team, which is led by Principal Investigator Dr. David McComas of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. The IBEX satellite is based on Orbital's MicroStar spacecraft design, a lightweight, multi-role platform of which dozens are already in orbit performing communications and remote sensing missions. The IBEX spacecraft is designed for launch on Orbital's Pegasus rocket, which is procured by NASA's Kennedy Space Center under a separate contract. A solid rocket motor, provided by Alliant Techsystems, is used to boost IBEX into its highly elliptical Earth orbit, with an apogee of approximately 150,000 miles (or nearly two-thirds of the distance to the Moon). Together, the satellite and launch vehicle contracts have an estimated combined value of approximately $60 million. The IBEX mission is scheduled for launch in 2008 and will be designed for an in-orbit duration of at least two years.
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The newly designated C-model A-10 Thunderbolt II, modified with precision engagement technology, was flown for the first time here recently by a 40th Flight Test Squadron pilot. Precision-engagement technology allows the Air Force's premier close-air support aircraft to also use smart weapons such as Joint Direct Attack Munitions and wind-corrected munitions dispensers, incapable in the previous model, officials said. "We have taken the world's greatest close-air support platform and made it even better by adding a wide array of laser and Global Positioning System-aided munitions, the latest in targeting pods and the infrastructure to support data link," said Maj. Michael Rawls, the pilot who made the flight. The increased capability also allows for the A-10C to accept more high-value target missions.
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Ameco's upward trend in revenue continues, with the 2004 total figure increasing by 17.9% compared to 2003. At the same time, the company further improves its technical capabilities. For Ameco Beijing, the past year was an unqualified success. The MRO provider signed a number of important agreements for the overhaul of aircraft, engines and components with many domestic and international customers, among them Hainan Airlines, Air Atlanta Icelandic, Asiana Airlines, Thomas Cook AG and Royal Nepal Airlines. The customer base for line maintenance increased by seven new international customers, a group which altogether generated approximately 20% of Ameco's total business volume. The trend of expansion of the product portfolio from 2004 has not lost momentum in 2005. In January, Ameco started to perform cabin upgrades (First Class and Business Class) on a Boeing 747 of Air China. The upgrade program comprises a total of nine Boeing 747, with seven modifications to be carried out in 2005. The remaining two aircraft will be completed by the end of 2006.
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US Air Mobility Command Commander, Gen. John W. Handy, directed 30 U.S. Air Force C-130E model aircraft be grounded Feb 10. An additional 60 C-130 aircraft, including some of the E, H, H1, and HC-130 N/P models were placed on restricted flight status to minimize wing stress and increase the safety margin. The 30 C-130E aircraft were grounded based upon a recommendation by the C-130 System Program Office at Robins AFB, Ga. Since 2001, a series of inspections of the center wing box structure of C-130 has revealed that cracks to the structure were greater in number and severity than originally expected.
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Sir John Rose, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce, said: "Our results confirm the benefits of a consistent strategy and strong business model. During 2004 this has resulted in strengthened market positions and growth in services revenues, with higher volumes, improved mix and strong operational performance enabling the Group to increase profit and reduce average net debt. "We enter 2005 with a record order book, strong positions on a new generation of programmes and a growing services business. These factors, supported by our investment in operational efficiency, underpin our expectation of continued growth in profits and reduction of average net debt." Group sales in 2004 rose 5 per cent to £5,939m (2003: £5,645m), in large part reflecting the growth of service revenues and a better than expected cyclical recovery of the civil aerospace market. The Group gross margin rose to 19.0 per cent (2003: 17.4 per cent), benefiting from continuing improvements in operational efficiency and a 5 per cent reduction in product unit costs. Underlying profits before taxation rose 21 per cent to £345m (2003: £285m). After exceptional and non-trading items, notably goodwill amortisation, pre-tax profits on ordinary activities were £306m (2003: £180m). New orders in 2004 reached a record level of £8.7bn (2003: £8.1bn), and brought the year-end firm order book to a record £18.9bn (2003: £17.4bn). The order book has now grown in each of the past 10 years, at a 12 per cent compound annual growth rate.
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