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+++ Pratt and Sikorsky reshuffle management +++ Air Berlin decides to go public +++ EADS has excellent 2005 +++ German P-3s to be serviced by EFW/ESG +++ Fraport reports banner year 2005 +++ A300/A310 production to end +++ UK and France cooperate on carriers +++ News in brief +++
Pratt and Sikorsky reshuffle management
Neue Chefs bei P&W und Sikorsky
Louis Chenevert, 48, has been elected President and Chief Operating Officer and a Director of United Technologies effective immediately, the company announced. UTC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer George David, 63, said Chenevert will join him in the newly formed Office of the Chief Executive. Executives currently reporting to David will now report to the new office. In making the announcement, David said, "Louis has proven his abilities and delivered on his commitments as an exceptional operating executive at Pratt & Whitney during his 13 years with UTC, including seven years as Pratt & Whitney's President. Additionally, he has demonstrated strong skills at building and developing cohesive management teams and at learning and taking on new challenges. I am confident he will be a strong UTC President."
Steve Finger, 57, currently President of Sikorsky Aircraft, will replace Chenevert as President of Pratt & Whitney. Jeff Pino, 51, Sikorsky's Senior Vice President, Strategy, Marketing and Commercial Programs, will replace Finger as President. "Both have long tenure in their businesses and are fully qualified for these important positions," David said. Chenevert joined UTC's Pratt & Whitney Canada unit in 1993 as its Vice President, Operations. He moved to Pratt & Whitney's headquarters in East Hartford, Conn., in 1996 as Executive Vice President, Operations. He was named Pratt's President in 1999. Finger joined Pratt & Whitney in 1970 in the engineering function at the company's then Government Products Division in Florida. He rose to the position of Executive Vice President, Engineering and Operations for Pratt & Whitney in 2001, and was named President of Sikorsky Aircraft in 2003. Pino joined Sikorsky Aircraft from Bell Helicopter in 2002 in his current position of Senior Vice President, Strategy, Marketing, and Commercial Programs.
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Air Berlin decides to go public
Billigairline geht an die Börse
The die is cast. At the ITB in Berlin on Wednesday, the chief executive officer of Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG, Joachim Hunold, declared that "we are floating the company because we want to capitalise on our market opportunities.” The company's shareholders, who are identical to the earlier partners when the airline still had the corporate form of GmbH & Co. KG, passed a resolution to that effect on the previous day. The timing of the flotation has yet to be agreed with the advisory banks. Hunold remarked: “If we want to continue our growth within the context of tough European competition, we will have to be in an appropriate position as far as the capital side is concerned. Our shareholders have now paved the way for this to happen. In the run-up to the company's flotation they have already increased the share capital by 130 million euros." Air Berlin's CEO feels it is realistic to assume that the market share of low-cost carriers in Europe will double over the next few years. Hunold continued: “The banks that are advising us also believe that Air Berlin is now ready for the stock market. We are the second largest airline in Germany and have enjoyed constant growth over the past 15 years.” Commerzbank and Morgan Stanley have been appointed as Joint Global Coordinator and as Joint Bookrunner. At this stage it is impossible to estimate the proceeds from the transaction, as this will depend primarily on the scale of the capital increase and the number of shares to be sold.
Over the last few months the company has carried out major preparations with a view to flotation. This included transforming the general partner into a public limited company (PLC) that is registered in London. This corporate structure is designed to facilitate comparisons with other companies in the same industry and to make it easier to raise capital. However, the company's headquarters will remain in Berlin. Air Berlin will continue to pay its taxes in Germany. Nor will there be any changes as far as the employees are concerned. Shareholders will not notice any major difference between the legal form of an AG and a PLC. The company is aiming for a listing on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The offer of shares will also be open to private investors. However, the intention is to place the shares with foreign institutional investors. As a PLC Air Berlin will have a “one-tier board”. The executive directors, comparable to the German "Vorstand" (board of executive directors), will be Joachim Hunold (CEO), Elke Schütt (CCO), Karl Lotz (COO) and Ulf Hüttmeyer (CFO). Non-executive directors, with a function similar to that of an “Aufsichtsrat” or supervisory board, have not been nominated. The current PLC shareholders want to continue to hold shares in the company even after the flotation.
At the press conference Hunold also quoted the key figures for 2005: with 13.5 million passengers (+ 12.45 %) last year Air Berlin further consolidated its position as Germany's second largest airline after Lufthansa. Turnover increased by 17 per cent to 1.22 billion euros. With a turnover share of almost 58 per cent (+ 24.63 %), flight-only sales continued to be the driving force behind the airline's growth. However, the airline was also able to expand its sales to tour operators by 10.3 per cent. The earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation, amortization and rent (EBITDAR) amounted to 153 million euros in 2005, with equity capital of 197 million euros. Hunold is optimistic about the trend for 2006. Even in what are traditionally the weaker months of January and February, the number of passengers increased by 10.6 per cent and aircraft capacity utilisation rose to 68.8 per cent. The average yield (ticket turnover per one-way) is currently around 79 euros.
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EADS has excellent 2005
Rekordergebnisse für EADS
EADS exceeded its financial targets for the sixth consecutive year in 2005. stood at Euro 2.85 billion for the year, up 17 percent over 2004 with the EBIT* margin also increasing from 7.7 percent to 8.3 percent. “EADS achieved its best results ever and will push for further growth as a global leader in the industry. Looking forward, we intend to further strengthen EADS' profitability and expand in tomorrow's growth markets,” said EADS CEOs Thomas Enders and Noël Forgeard. EADS published its 2005 results on Wednesday.
In 2005, EADS clearly outperformed its previous record year. The outstanding result is mainly due to the continued strong revenues and earnings of Airbus as well as of the Group's space and defence businesses. The EBIT grew in spite of a less favourable FY 2005 average hedge rate of Euro 1 = US$ 1.06 (FY 2004: Euro 1 = US$ 0.99). In 2005, EADS expensed Euro 2.1 billion on Research and Development (R&D), representing a decline of two percent compared to 2004. In the same period, Euro 293 million were capitalized, of which Euro 259 million related to the A380 programme (FY 2004: Euro 169 million, of which Euro 152 million was for the A380). EADS' R&D expenditure, remaining high in 2005, reflecting the Group's continued emphasis on technological investment.
Revenues grew by eight percent to Euro 34.2 billion (FY 2004: Euro 31.8 billion). Increases were achieved at Airbus, Eurocopter, Space and Defence & Security Systems Divisions. Combined revenues from EADS defence businesses remained at Euro 7.7 billion (2004: Euro 7.7 billion), due to a shift of internal revenue recognition on the A400M programme to the first quarter of 2006. Net Income soars EADS' Net Income rose sharply by 39 percent to Euro 1.68 billion (FY 2004: Euro 1.20 billion), or Euro 2.11 per share (FY 2004: Euro 1.50) reflecting the strong operational performance and an increased financial result. It also benefits from a different accounting treatment of BAE Systems' minority stake in Airbus. Revised application of IAS 32 standards required changes regarding the accounting for the put option granted to BAE Systems as a minority shareholder of Airbus (20 percent). These changes contributed Euro 289 million to Net Income (FY 2004: Euro 185 million) or Euro 0.36 to earnings per share (FY 2004: Euro 0.23). These changes also resulted in the recognition of the put option in the balance sheet as a liability for puttable instruments (Euro 3.5 billion). The liability replaces the minority interest for BAE Systems' 20 percent Airbus stake in EADS' balance sheet.
“EADS has delivered its strongest financial year ever and our shareholders shall substantially benefit. The outstanding 2005 performance enables us to move our dividend to a higher level. Looking forward, we expect to offer dividend continuity based on the long-term development of the Group,” EADS CFO Hans Peter Ring commented. Mirroring the strong business momentum of EADS' operational units order intake more than doubled to Euro 92.6 billion over the previous year (FY 2004: Euro 44.1 billion).
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German P-3s to be serviced by EFW/ESG
Betreuungsauftrag für P-3C der Marine
ESG Elektroniksystem- and Logistic-GmbH was contracted by the federal bureau for defense technology and procurement (BWB) with the system care of the P-3C ORION. The business works together with the EADS-daughter DFW. The P-3C Orion replace the airplanes used previously by the German navy of the type Breguet Atlantic. The Federal Armed Forces bought eight of the approximately thirty years old aircraft from the Netherlands eight. The airplanes are received by the end of 2006 of the Marinefliegergeschwader 3 „Graf Zeppelin“ in Nordholz.
ESG and DFW follow new ways with this collaboration and attend to the maintenance business, the total material management, the technicall-logistical care and the development business. In a first concrete order, the ESG answers for the transfer of the Dutch spare parts including the documentation into German warehouses.
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Fraport reports banner year 2005
Gutes Jahr für Fraport
Fiscal 2005 was another banner year for the Fraport Group, with revenues rising by 4.6 percent to EUR 2.1 billion. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) and profit for the year again grew disproportionately faster than revenues. Fraport's executive board is recommending a dividend payment of 90 euro cents per share for fiscal 2005, 20 percent more than in the previous year. Speaking at the company's annual financial press conference, Fraport AG's executive board chairman Dr. Wilhelm Bender emphasized that Fraport's record sales topped the EUR 2 billion mark for the first time because of three essential factors: higher revenues from security services, an increase in traffic fees due to rising maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), as well as extraordinary results from car parking and retailing at the company's FRA home base.
The revenue growth achieved in 2005 positively affected EBITDA. Climbing by 6.1 percent to EUR 547.5 million, EBITDA again grew disproportionately faster than revenues, due to strict cost management. The increase in net income for the year was even more marked: With EUR 161.5 million, the profit for the year exceeded the 2004 level by 17.4 percent. In view of this gratifying business development, the executive board will recommend to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) a dividend payment of EUR 0.90 per share at an unchanged payout ratio of about 50 percent. This is EUR 0.15 or 20 percent more than in the previous year. Fraport's Frankfurt Airport achieved a new passenger record in 2005, when a total of about 52.2 passengers used the airport - 2.2 percent more than in the previous record year of 2004. Airfreight tonnage handled at FRA rose 8.1 percent to 1.9 million metric tons - also a new record figure. Together, the Fraport Group's airports served approximately 72.1 passengers last year, 6.4 percent less than in 2004 due to the traffic decline at Antalya Airport in Turkey. All other shareholdings of the Fraport Group developed very positively during the past twelve months, some showing even double-digit growth rates. Cargo tonnage for the Group's airports rose by 7.6 percent to about 2.4 million metric tons.
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A300/A310 production to end
Ende für erste Airbus-Modelle kommt näher
In response to market demand for its newer aircraft ranges Airbus will progressively phase out the A300/A310 final assembly. This follows more than 35 years of successful marketing and production of Airbus' original aircraft programme. The last A300-600 aircraft on order will be handed over in July 2007. “It is in Airbus' best business interest to optimise the use of its resources at this time. We are implementing a major production ramp-up across our business as the A300/A310 programme nears completion. This is in response to growing demand from our customers for the newer Airbus products like the A321, the A330/A340 family and the new A350 aircraft, that cover or even go beyond the market segment of our original aircraft programme,” Airbus President and CEO Gustav Humbert said.
“The A300/A310 programme launched the Airbus success story and with a total of 821 orders it has surpassed all commercial expectations. The spirit behind the A300/ 310 continues into the 21st century, most recently with the A380 and the A350 programmes,” Mr. Humbert said. “I wish to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all customer and all Airbus employees who have participated over the years in designing, developing, marketing and building these exceptional aircraft.” During the last two years around 150 Airbus employees produced about one aircraft a month on the A300/A310 final assembly line. All employees involved in the A300/A310 production will be offered new positions in other current or future programmes. Airbus is currently undergoing a ramp-up phase with significant internal demand for this skilled and experienced workforce. It is expected that deliveries of Airbus aircraft will surpass 400 in 2006, up from 378 in 2005.
The A300/A310 programme has achieved a total of 821 orders. 802 aircraft have been delivered until the end of January 2006. The order backlog comprises A300 freighter aircraft to be delivered to Federal Express (FedEx), United Parcel Service (UPS) and Galaxy Airlines. Airbus plans to offer new freighter versions of current aircraft when the A300/A310 programme will be completed. To date, there are more than 650 A300s and A310s in service with about 80 operators worldwide. It is expected that the A300s and A310s will continue their operational life for many years with half of the fleet expected to still be in operation beyond 2025. Airbus' “Long term fleet support programme” will support their operability until the very last aircraft is retired from service.
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UK and France cooperate on carriers
Neue Flugzeugträger für Europa
A landmark agreement between the UK and French Governments on cooperation on aircraft carriers was signed in Innsbruck by UK Defence Secretary John Reid, and French Defence Minister Madame Michele Alliot-Marie. The Carrier project will provide the UK Armed forces with the largest and most powerful warships ever constructed in the UK. Under the terms of the MOU, UK and France will co-operate on the demonstration phase work to produce a Common Baseline Design that will meet requirements for CVF and French requirements for its carrier, PA2. It is also intended to identify shared procurement opportunities. Ministers agreed in January the level of fee that France would pay together with their share of the demonstration phase costs. A French team has already been accommodated alongside their UK colleagues. Speaking from Innsbruck, Mr Reid said: "Co-operation between our two countries on our future aircraft carriers is of key importance, and the signing of this agreement today is a major step that launches our cooperation on future aircraft carriers for the next 12 months. In the current security environment, we must ensure that our forces have the right tools to do the jobs which we ask of them. France and the UK are working in partnership across a range of systems, which will bring benefits not only to the Armed Forces of both countries, but also to our industrial bases, economies and, therefore, to our populations."
France has agreed to pay an initial fee of £100M in three stages, in recognition of the investment already made by the UK in the design of the ships. The phasing is £30m now and £25m in July. The final £45M will be conditional on a final French decision to commit to manufacturing the carriers. France will also contribute one third of the demonstration phase costs of the common baseline design.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Bell Helicopter announced the signing of a purchase agreement for 10 new Bell 429 twin helicopters with CJ Systems Aviation Group, a leading provider of air medical services. The purchase agreement also includes an option for 10 additional 429s. “This purchase represents a significant step in our fleet modernization strategy,” said Larry Pietropaulo, President and Chief Operating Officer at CJ Systems. “It will help fuel our continued growth and allow our customers more options for expansion.”
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The Airbus A380 programme has reached the milestone of 1000 flight hours during the flight test programme for the aircraft type since the first flight of MSN1 on 27th April 2005. The 1000th flight hour was achieved after MSN1 took off from the manufacturer's home base in Toulouse, France, at 09.40 h local time for a flight over Southern France, including the testing of the flight control system in specific weather conditions with strong winds. Currently, four A380 development aircraft have taken to the air. The first two aircraft are fitted with heavy test instrumentation and are actively involved in the flight test programme, successfully carrying out aerodynamics, low speed and flight vibration tests. The third and fourth aircraft have been flown to Hamburg for cabin installation, and both aircraft will be used for Early Long Flights and Route Proving Flights later this year. These four aircraft are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, while a fifth aircraft will join the flight test programme in mid-2006 with Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Eventually, the five aircraft will fly some 2,500 flight hours, ensuring maturity ahead of first delivery.
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The US Air Force wants a new refueler aircraft, something commercially available now, which can be modified to replace the existing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. That testimony came from Air Force leaders associated with the tanker replacement program, Feb. 28 in front of the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on projection forces. Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, the military deputy for Air Force acquisition, told congressional members that his first choice would be to replace the service's fleet of aging KC-135s with a new airplane. "It should be a new aircraft, a commercial derivative, and I think we ought to buy one kind," he said. "The first 100 (should) all look the same." The general said he has no opinion on who should manufacture the plane, only that the new aircraft be the same as each other in both size and design. General Hoffman told congressional members his second choice for recapitalizing the tanker fleet would be to modernize the current KC-135 fleet, which involves converting existing KC-135E models to KC-135R models. But one problem with modernizing aircraft already owned by the Air Force is the rate at which those planes can be converted. General Hoffman said the Air Force can afford to convert about 15 aircraft a year to the R model. At that rate, the Air Force would be modernizing those aircraft for some 40 years. At the end of that cycle, some of the aircraft coming out of the modernization process would be nearly 80 years old.
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Evans & Sutherland Computer announced that the company has been selected by Rheinmetall Defence Electronics to provide its next-generation simFUSION 7000 PC image generator for the Tiger Aircrew Training Means Series Production (TATM SP) Program. The contract includes a nine-channel out-the-window (OTW) image generator plus a one-channel direct vision optics (DVO) image generator for each of the 14 full mission simulators, plus a five-channel OTW image generator and a one-channel DVO image generator for each of the 14 cockpit procedures trainers. Deliveries to Rheinmetall Defence Electronics simulation integration facilities in Bremen, Germany, will begin in 2006 and continue through 2011.
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Great Slave Helicopters, one of Northern Canada's largest commercial helicopter fleet operators, has once again purchased more Eurocopters to expand its 64 rotorcraft fleet. Specifically, the Yellowknife NT operator – which provides aerial transport to projects such as the Mackenzie Delta oil pipeline -- has enhanced their fleet purchase by two trios of Eurocopters: each including an AS-350B2, an AS350B3, and an EC-130. The first trio will be delivered in April, 2006; the second a year later. This brings the total number of aircraft confirmed in the current fleet purchase to 8 AS350's. GSH has options for an additional 6 Eurocopter single and twin engine helicopters for delivery over the next three years.
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PHI reported net earnings of $14.2 million ($1.76 per diluted share) on operating revenues of $363.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to net earnings of $4.0 million ($0.72 per diluted share) on operating revenues of $291.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. All segments experienced an increase in flight hours in 2005. Operating revenues increased $39.5 million in our Domestic Oil and Gas segment and increased $3.9 million in the International segment, both due to increased flight hours and increased rates. In addition, in our Domestic Oil and Gas segment there was also an increase in the number and size of aircraft requested by customers. The increased activity by our customers in Domestic Oil and Gas was due primarily to increased exploration and production activity in the Gulf of Mexico. Additional flight hour demand was also caused by the aftermath of recent hurricanes, as customers experienced logistical challenges as they repaired facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. Our Air Medical segment's revenues increased $34.6 million for the year, however, patient transport volume was negatively affected by weather in the fourth quarter, and we incurred the cost of opening seven additional operating locations in the fourth quarter. In 2005 we opened 15 additional Air Medical locations, seven of which opened in the fourth quarter. In total we have opened 37 locations in the Air Medical expansion which commenced late 2003. New locations typically take several months to build sufficient volume to absorb facility operating costs and achieve profitable aircraft utilization levels. Our focus in 2006 will be to improve the margins in this segment.
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Currently hosting the most comprehensive pro-gramme of supporting events to date, the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) continues to build on its reputation as a leading trade fair and conference venue. From 16 to 21 May, ILA2006 will be the venue for over 80 conferences attended by experts from all walks of the aerospace indus-try, a figure 20 per cent higher than in 2004 (65). More so than any other aerospace exhibition, on top of the products and services exhibited in the halls and on the grounds the ILA has all the latest information, and as such represents a major discussion forum for members of the aerospace indus-try. Due to high demand by conference organisers from Germany and abroad additional room space is being added in Hall 5 to supplement the Conference Centre area in Hall 4. The eight headings of the main conference themes are: Commercial Avia-tion, International Politics, International Economy, International Research and Development, International Military Aviation and Defence Technology, Space Technology, Education and Career Forum, and HeliCenter/ Interna-tional Air Rescue/ Medical Services. The majority of the conferences are taking place in the Conference Centre on the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport.
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Goodrich announced that it has entered into a teaming agreement to provide electronic flight bag and other related video solutions to Rockwell Collins. These video solutions will be applied to Rockwell Collins' Flight Information Management System offering for military applications. The system solutions include cargo video surveillance, outside-the-aircraft video monitoring and recording systems, and a variety of other video systems used to enhance flight deck and flight crew situational awareness.
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AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has been awarded the Integrated Merlin Operational Support (IMOS) contract which will transform logistics support arrangements for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) fleet of EH101 Merlin helicopters. This partnering arrangement, valued at £450 million for the first five years of a 25 year contract, will provide support to the UK MoD's fleet of EH101 Merlin Mk.1 and Mk.3 helicopters, operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force respectively. The IMOS contract introduces payments for achieved flying hours and novel incentivisation arrangements associated with delivering agreed levels of aircraft serviceability, operational fleet aircraft numbers and EH101 Merlin HM Mk.1 training system availability. Unique contract mechanisms will allow Industry to meet changing MoD requirements whilst retaining supply chain stability.
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L-3 Communications announced that a Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) developed by its Communication Systems-West (CS-West) division was used to remotely command and control a Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from an Apache helicopter as part of the Hunter Standoff Killer Team (HSKT) Advanced Concept Technology Development (ACTD). L-3 Communications supported the integration of the TCDL and the flight-testing of both aircraft under an agreement with the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD). The demonstration achieved Level IV UAV control, commanding and controlling both the UAV and its sensor payload from the airborne manned aircraft. The flight was a milestone in U.S. Army aviation history, the first time a UAV has been controlled from a U.S. Army Aviation helicopter through a TCDL. The Longbow Apache carried out its mission using high quality video from the Hunter at a range of more than 65 km. "This achievement shows the U.S. Army has the technology to carry out advanced UAV missions," said Curtis Brunson, president and general manager of CS-West. "L-3 TCDL systems give U.S. Army Aviation pilots better situational awareness from sensors flying on UAVs in the area, and the means to connect to ground forces via the Rover III."
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Sikorsky announced that it will team with a third party engineering services provider to open an engineering design center in Bozeman, Mont. The design center will support Sikorsky's aftermarket, commercial, and U.S. government business. By the end of 2006 the design center will employ 40 engineers, with the potential to expand if warranted by business conditions. Engineers at the center will perform targeted airframe and subsystem detail design activities to support anticipated growth of several Sikorsky military and commercial programs and related aftermarket services. Sikorsky is currently seeking and reviewing proposals from several engineering services providers to set up and operate the facility. The selected provider will be announced in late April, with operations scheduled to begin in July with approximately 20 engineers. The specific location within Bozeman is currently under evaluation.
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Bombardier Aerospace announced that National Air Support (NAS) of Adelaide, Australia has placed a firm order for three Bombardier Q300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) for the Surveillance Australia Coastwatch program. The list price value for the three aircraft on firm order is approximately $53 million US. Surveillance Australia began operating Bombardier Dash 8/Q200 aircraft in 1996 and currently operates five of the aircraft that have accumulated more than 70,000 hours of aerial surveillance. They are used to detect illegal fishing and immigration, quarantine and environmental hazards, drug smuggling and missing vessels in the largest operation of its type in the world.
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Boeing and Ryanair celebrated the delivery of the airline's 100th Boeing Next-Generation 737, nearly seven years after receiving its first 737-800. Since taking delivery of its first 737-800 on March 19, 1999, Ryanair has become Boeing's largest European customer for the Next-Generation 737. It has ordered a total of 239 Next-Generation 737-800s, and today has 139 remaining to be delivered. The Dublin-based carrier currently operates its all-Boeing fleet on 301 routes into 22 countries. Ryanair previously operated Classic 737s, taking delivery of its first Classic 737 in January 1994. yanair's fleet of 100 737-800s comprises 18,900 seats. Its fleet has carried more than 130 million people, more than twice the population of the United Kingdom.
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Kenya Airways hosted representatives of Boeing and the media to celebrate the airline's decision to purchase six 787 Dreamliners. Kenya Airways plans to replace its current 767s with the highly efficient Dreamliners beginning with the delivery of two airplanes in 2010, and four in 2011. enya Airways was the first carrier to purchase and operate the Boeing 777 in sub-Saharan Africa, and becomes the third major African airline to order the 787 Dreamliner. The unmatched performance, range and passenger comfort of the 787 will further enhance Kenya Airways' ability to offer service on routes across the globe.
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Boeing detailed its Current Market Outlook for the Asia-Pacific region, forecasting a market for about 7,200 new airplanes worth $770 billion over the next 20 years. Over the forecast period, Asia-Pacific will remain the largest market outside North America for new commercial airplanes. ith the continued high rate of growth for Asia-Pacific air travel and air cargo markets, Asia-Pacific's fleet will nearly triple to about 8,600 airplanes by the end of the forecast period. Nearly 7,200 new airplanes will be needed for future growth and replacement. Single-aisle airplanes, such as the Next-Generation 737, will be the largest category with total new airplane deliveries at 3,690 airplanes. Intermediate twin-aisles such as the Boeing 787 and 777 will comprise approximately 2,430 airplane deliveries. Regional jets will total 540 units delivered and 747-and-larger-size airplanes will be 510 units delivered.
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NASA researchers using the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft have developed a method of seeing through the sun to the star's far side. The sun's far side faces away from the Earth, so it is not directly observable by traditional techniques. "This new method allows more reliable advance warning of magnetic storms brewing on the far side that could rotate with the sun and threaten the Earth," said NASA-supported scientist Phil Scherrer of Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. Magnetic storms resulting from violent solar activity disrupt satellites, radio communications, power grids and other technological systems on Earth. Advance warning can help planners prepare for operational disruptions. The sun rotates once every 27 days, as seen from Earth, and this means the evolution of active regions on the far side of the sun previously has not been detectable. Many of these storms originate in groups of sunspots, or active regions - areas with high concentration of magnetic fields. Active regions situated on the near side of the sun, the one facing the Earth, can be observed directly. However, traditional methods provided no information about active regions developing on the other side of the sun. Knowing whether there are large active regions on the opposite side of the sun may greatly improve forecast of potential magnetic storms. The new observation method uses SOHO's Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument to trace sound waves reverberating through the sun to build a picture of the far side. The sun is filled with many kinds of sound waves caused by the convective (boiling) motion of gas in its surface layers. The far side imaging method compares the sound waves that emanate from each small region on the far side with what was expected to arrive at that small region from waves that originated on the front side. An active region reveals itself because its strong magnetic fields speed up the sound waves. The difference becomes evident when sound waves originating from the front side and from the back side get out of step with one another.
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Predicated on the favorable comments expressed by both attendees and exhibitors, HELI-EXPO 2006 was the best exposition and meeting ever. This appears to be confirmed by the numerous records broken. HAI is pleased to report that HELI-EXPO 2006 has broken all previous HELI-EXPO attendance records, with a total of 16,629 helicopter industry professionals attending. The attendance record was already broken after only the second day of the show. As of the end of Monday, February 27, 15,833 people had already attended the show. Additional records broken include 520 exhibitors who showcased their products and services, utilizing 220,000 net square feet of exhibit space, 853 Job Fair attendees and 30 Job Fair exhibitors, and 617 students who registered for the Professional Education Series. There was a total of 48 helicopters displayed on the show floor.
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In 2005, consolidated revenues for Thales remained ed stable at Euro10.3 billion, while underlying organic growth was 3.8%, after exchange rate fluctuations (+Euro15m) and change in the scope of consolidation (-Euro37m) and excluding the no-margin billing for the hull of the third and last Sawari 2 frigate in December 2004 (Euro375m). In 2005, all Group divisions, except the Naval division, contributed to the 3.8%-growth in revenue with some variations among sectors. Aerospace division revenues grew by 9% over 2005 and benefited from a highly favourable environment in avionics. Revenues in the Air Systems division saw a 7% increase, sustained by the growth in billings in the air defence activities. The 7% increase in revenues recorded by the Security division is the result of higher sales from the components business for medical and space applications and from the GPS navigation activity, although it experienced a slowdown in growth in the last quarter 2005. Growth in the Services division (+3%) was less substantial despite a positive performance in the training & simulation services as in the Land & Joint Systems division (+1%). The lower revenue figure of the Naval division (-2%, excluding Sawari 2 hull) is the result of the anticipated lower billings on several major warship programmes which are nearing completion. Order intake rose sharply in 2005, increasing by 36% from Euro9,375 million in 2004 to Euro12,781 million in 2005. This increase is not only the result of major contracts, such as the Franco-Italian FREMM multi-mission frigate programme and the United Kingdom's Watchkeeper UAV-based surveillance system programme, but reflects significant growth in orders worth less than Euro100m. With this improvement in both major orders and smaller orders, the Group posted a book-to-bill ratio of 1.25 in 2005, a sharp rise over the 0.9 recorded in 2004. With very slight growth in defence budgets in most European countries but strong momentum in civil markets, particularly in aerospace and services, the Group has set as a target to record the same, or a slightly higher, level of organic growth in revenues in 2006, as in 2005. Income from operations is expected to grow as in recent years, pending the full impact of the competitiveness measures launched in the second half of 2005, which should enable improvements to gain pace.
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Boeing identified Pegasus Airlines as the carrier which earlier this year placed an order for six Next-Generation 737 airplanes. The order was previously accounted for on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site as being from an unidentified customer. Deliveries of these aircraft to Pegasus Airlines, an all-Boeing operator based in Istanbul, begin in 2008. The order is valued at $406.5 million at list prices. In addition, the airline holds purchase rights for six more Next-Generation 737s. Pegasus Airlines started operations 15 years ago with a Boeing 737 and has since grown its business to a fleet of 14 Boeing 737s. Boeing Commercial Airplanes predicts strong traffic growth for the Turkish aviation market, both domestic and international.
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Boeing and ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL of Wedel, Germany, have signed a licensing agreement allowing ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL to refurbish international airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft rotodomes using Boeing's proprietary refurbishment process. This new process nearly triples -- to approximately 20 years -- the service life of corrosion protection and will help reduce maintenance, repair and overhaul costs to AWACS operators. ESW-EXTEL SYSTEMS WEDEL currently performs rotodome refurbishments for NATO AWACS operators. "Licensing agreements complement Boeing's core business and play an important role in providing products and services that help maintain the readiness of our customers' products," said Torbjorn Sjogren, vice president of International Support Systems for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "This milestone is the result of extensively working together toward a common objective. Emphasizing extensive communication was decisive in focusing our attention on bringing added value and satisfaction to Boeing and ESW's customers," said Dr. Bob F. O'Donovan, ESW's international business development manager.
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Boeing and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems have completed ground testing of the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar aboard a 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia's Project Wedgetail, clearing it for flight testing at full power. "The testing demonstrated the radar would not interfere with the aircraft's avionics and engines and is compatible with the mission system hardware and software," said Jack Delange, 737 AEW&C integration and test manager.
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Boeing identified Luxembourg-based cargo operator Cargolux as the customer for two Boeing 747-400 Freighters. The two freighters, with a total catalog value of US$ 450 million, will be delivered in 2007 and 2008, bringing the Cargolux fleet of dedicated 747-400 Freighters to 16. The order was listed on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries Web site in March and was attributed to an unidentified customer. In November 2005, Cargolux became the launch customer for the Boeing 747-8 Freighter with an order for 10 firm aircraft and 10 purchase rights. The Boeing 747-8 Freighter will enter Cargolux's fleet in 2009.
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Jean-Peter Jansen, chairman of the board of Lufthansa Cargo, will lay down its porsition for health reasons as of 01 April 2006. The supervisory board of Lufthansa Cargo ordered thereupon in its current session that Mr. Stefan Lauer, member of the board of directors of the mother company German Lufthansa, to take over for the time being.
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Partner nations involved in the Joint Strike Fighter development programme met in Noordwijk to discuss JSF cooperation in a European framework. The starting point for this meeting is the situation that would arise if the partner nations were to decide at the end of 2006 to participate in the production, sustainment and follow-on development programme of the JSF. Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey were represented in Noordwijk. The procurement of the JSF will be subject to parliamentary decision or approval in the respective partner countries. Given the fact that the production, sustainment and the follow-on development of the Joint Strike Fighter will span the next 30 to 40 years, substantial interests are involved. These include not only European cooperation in the field of the operational deployability of the JSF, but also employment, strengthening of the knowledge economy and industrial turnover. At least two conditions should be met before a European plan can be formulated: the development of a shared European vision of the assembly and sustainment processes, and the support of the initiative by the US authorities and aircraft and engine producers, also with a view to technology transfer. These issues were the subject of extensive debate today, and partner nations present emphasised the importance of European cooperation in the context of the JSF programme. The next step is for the plan to be worked out in detail in consultation with the US authorities and the industries involved. The joint plan should be completed by the summer of 2006. The joint plan can then be taken into consideration in the decision-making process on the Memorandum of Understanding in respect of the production and sustainment of the JSF, which is expected to be signed by all partners by the end of 2006.
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Delta Air Lines is offering customers more reasons to choose its hub at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for international and domestic travel this summer with the addition of 46 new daily Delta and Delta Connection departures to 17 nonstop destinations. The new flights, to be introduced between June and September, will connect customers from destinations across the Northeast and on the West Coast to Delta's growing offering of international, domestic and transcontinental service from New York-JFK, and will complement the airline's leading presence on the other side of Queens at New York's LaGuardia Airport.With this expansion, Delta will offer JFK customers 139 peak day flights to 67 worldwide destinations by September – more than any other airline in the market. New and expanded destinations include: Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Baltimore, Md.; Hartford, Conn.; Providence, R.I.; Washington, D.C (Reagan and Dulles); San Diego, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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John Reid challenged his EU colleagues to improve strategic airlift capability across Europe. Mr Reid has issued a discussion paper challenging individual Member States to be able to lift and sustain their rapid reaction forces by air themselves. This capability would then be available when operating under either NATO or the EU. Mr Reid said that events such as the tsunami, the Pakistan earthquake and Darfur continue to highlight the long-term importance of Europe having sufficient strategic lift capability to enable us, both as nations and when working within international organisations, to respond to crises and disasters. Mr Reid said that Europe has made some good progress in procuring more airlift capacity, for example the new multinational Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS), and agreement by a number of nations to procure A400M aircraft. But more needs to be done if we are going to have sufficient airlift capacity to contribute to security across the world with the speed and effect we desire.
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The US National Transportation Safety Board called on the Federal Aviation Administration to require all U.S.-registered turbine-powered helicopters certificated to carry at least 6 passengers to be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system. The recommendation is one of five contained in the final report of a fatal helicopter accident in the Gulf of Mexico. On March 23, 2004, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A++ helicopter, N579EH, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico at about 7:18 p.m., 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Galveston, Texas. Although visual meteorological conditions existed, it was a dark night with very few external visual cues. The aircraft was transporting eight oil service personnel to the Transocean drilling ship Discoverer Spirit; they and the two pilots perished in the crash. The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons, which resulted in controlled flight into the water.
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Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, announced plans for a $300 million, 7-year expansion of its manufacturing and service facilities in Savannah, Ga. As a result of the expansion, employment at the facility is expected to grow by some 1,100 jobs, a 25 percent increase from the current employment level of 4,300 employees. In the presence of Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, U.S. Representative Jack Kingston, Chatham County Commission Chairman Pete Liakakis, Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson and other dignitaries, employees at the Gulfstream facility learned that their work site will expand nearly 70 percent in size by 2012."Gulfstream is the benchmark for business aviation throughout the world, and we are proud that the company is based in Georgia ," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "The expansion of Gulfstream's manufacturing and service facilities will have a major impact on the state and local economy by creating more than one thousand new jobs."
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The Czech Republic has ordered two Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJs), joining the growing number of governments and private customers that have chosen the aircraft following an official call for tender. Total sales of the Airbus ACJ Family now stand at some 70 aircraft. The Czech Republic has selected CFM International CFM56-5 engines to power its Airbus ACJs, which will consume much less fuel than the Tupolev Tu-154s that they will replace. Overall, the Airbus ACJs will deliver valuable savings in operational and maintenance costs to the government fleet.
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On the occasion of Sharm-El-Sheikh-based Avex 2006 airshow, 7-10 March, Egyptian airline Sun Air today announced that they will soon be commencing its operations with an ATR 72-210 on its regional network. Cairo-based Sun Air is a private Charter Airline, a joint venture between Orascom, Sun Air and Tunisian Khartago group.
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Yemenia-Yemen Airways, based in Sanaa, has selected the Airbus A350 for its long haul fleet modernization programme and has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for the acquisition of six aircraft of the type, with options for another four. The selection of the A350-800 by the airline followed a thorough evaluation of the aircraft type and its competitor. Deliveries of the A350s for Yemenia will start in 2012, and the aircraft will be configured in a comfortable two-class configuration with seating for 18 passengers in First Class and 265 in Economy. The engine type for Yemenia's A350s has still to be selected.
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AgustaWestland announced the delivery of the first HH-3F helicopter to the Italian Air Force with a new integrated avionics suite. The upgrade programme is part of a multiyear programme to improve the operational capabilities of the Air Force's helicopter fleet. All the HH-3F helicopters currently operated by 15° Squadron, based at Pratica di Mare – Rome, are being upgraded by AgustaWestland which is responsible for design, development and integration of the new avionics suite. The new avionics system includes LCD cockpit primary flight displays, an upgraded integrated navigation system with GPS, a Head-up-Display and an improved communications suite.
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A year on since the launch of the Lufthansa Private Jet services, Lufthansa can look back well satisfied with results. Customer response has been entirely positive. With up to ten bookings, daily, the new services have far exceeded initial expectations and will now be expanded with the addition of further destinations and new services. “Our Lufthansa Private Jet product has come up trumps with our customers. Demand has meantime emerged for future use of private jet services operating to Lufthansa standards in the USA, Middle East and Asia. Expansion of the product to those markets is now being considered,” disclosed Lufthansa Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales Thierry Antinori. Alongside the Cessna Citation Bravo and Cessna Citation Excel, the Lufthansa Private Jet service is now offering bookings with the Hawker 800XP and Falcon 2000. These new aircraft types have a far greater range of 4,600 and 5,100 kilometres. The Falcon seats up to ten passengers, the Hawker 800XP accommodates up to six passengers. The passenger total was previously restricted to a maximum of six. Moreover, a flight attendant will constantly be on board Falcon 2000 flights to offer top-flight service with personal attention to passenger needs. Lufthansa Private Jet flights can now be booked to destinations in even more countries. Besides all EU member countries, the service is available for flights to Switzerland, Norway and Iceland as well as Bulgaria, Rumania, Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, the Caucasus, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Ukraine. In view of encouraging demand, Lufthansa is also pondering plans to expand this exclusive mode of air travel to states in the Russian Federation.
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A two-year programme to drive down costs and strengthen customer service was unveiled by British Airways. The new business plan for the airline, the first since Willie Walsh became chief executive, includes provision for reducing costs by £450 million and setting new standards for airline customers. The plan covers the period from the end of March 2006 to the end of March 2008, when British Airways will move into its new operational home in Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. The plan includes: Savings across the airline worth £225 million in 2006-07 and a further £225 million the following year; Investment of nearly £200 million to include a new Club World seat, on-demand films in all cabins and ba.com; Establishment of new procedures aimed at major improvements in punctuality, and baggage performance in preparation for Terminal 5, plus greater use of self-service check in; Proposals to enable the achievement of a 10 per cent operating margin and prepare the airline for future profitable growth. Willie Walsh said: "This plan will make us fit for the future. By resolving our pensions deficit, reducing cost and delivering world-class customer service, we can make a 10 per cent operating margin a sustainable reality.
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China is expected to realize its "large aircraft" dream by the year 2015, a senior aviation official said Friday in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. "Large aircraft" refer to large transportation planes with a carrying capacity exceeding 100 tons, trunk liners with more than 150 seats and other derivative special-purpose planes, Liu said. Liu Daxiang, who is a senior official with the state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation I and also a deputy to China's parliament or the National People's Congress (NPC), said he was happy to learn that the development of large aircraft is listed as one of the country's 16 major development plans in the 11th Five-Year Program for the 2006-2010 period. "If things are going smoothly, large transport planes for military and civil purposes are expected to fly into the sky in 10 years," Liu said.
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L-3 Communications announced that its Canadian MAS (L-3 MAS) subsidiary has been awarded a CDN $20 million (US $17.6 million) contract by the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for the design and prototype activities required for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 Centre Barrel Replacement (CBR) Program. The work related to this contract started on December 22, 2005 and is being performed in the L-3 MAS facilities in Mirabel, Quebec (Canada). The centre barrel is the aircraft's mid-fuselage section that carries the load of the wings. The F/A-18 CBR is a major structural modification, required to extend the service life of the F/A-18 aircraft. Both the Canadian Forces and the RAAF have selected L-3 MAS as the service provider for the development of their F/A-18 aircraft structural life extension solution. The RAAF aircraft is scheduled to arrive at the Mirabel facilities in May, 2006 and the prototype activities are expected to be completed by mid-2007.
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Aeronautical Systems Center's commander, Lt. Gen. John L. “Jack” Hudson, along with other Department of Defense leaders, was on hand to accept the keys from Bell Boeing for the first combat configured CV-22 Osprey during a ceremony March 1 at the Bell manufacturing facility in Amarillo, Texas. "It's an honor to be here for this historic milestone in aviation history," General Hudson said. "When our nation chooses to deploy forces into combat, we do our best to send them well-equipped and well-trained." The Air Force plans to purchase 50 CV-22s for long-range infiltration, exfiltration and re-supply of special operations forces in hostile or denied territory. The Osprey provides twice the speed, up to five times the range and significantly enhanced survivability over other conventional rotary wing platforms, and this is the first CV-22 built upon the Block B baseline configuration.
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The future of Marine Corps aviation took a large step forward as hundreds of Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and family members gathered to watch a ceremony in which the first operational MV-22 Osprey squadron was activated here March 3. “Commissioning (Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263) is a historic day for the 'Thunder Chickens,' for our Corps and for our nation,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Moore, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general. “We have introduced a transformational aircraft into our nation's forces with the 'Thunder Chickens.'” A transformational aircraft because it capitalizes on both the best aspects of the rotary wing and the best aspects of the fixed wing turbo-propeller, Moore explained. “The (Osprey) is much more survivable than the (CH-46E 'Sea Knight') because of its range and it's speed,” said Moore. “It's a much more capable aircraft and we expect it to perform (excellent) in battle.” A capable aircraft that has been in the making since the early 1960's, some feel the delay has produced the best result.
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