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+++ EADS Barracuda flies +++ Aero Testing Alliance formed +++ Ryanair selects Marseille as new base +++ ESA selects EADS Astrium for Gaia astrometry mission +++ Eurofighter drops first bombs +++ IAE V2500 to be assembled in Dahlewitz +++ News in brief +++
EADS Barracuda flies
Erstflug der neuen Militärdrohne
The EADS Military Air Systems Business Unit has for the first time flight tested an innovative aircraft for the development of future operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). During the recent 20-minute flight, the jet-powered air vehicle, which is known by its project name 'Barracuda', followed a pre-programmed course completely autonomously, merely being kept under observation from a ground station. This flight marked the successful completion of the first test phase, which also comprised an extensive series of ground tests. Following presentation at the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin, the further development and testing will be continued.
Johann Heitzmann, Head of Military Air Systems within the EADS defence activities, underlined that "with the tests conducted up to now we have delivered the proof that we are able to independently develop and test a demonstrator for future agile, autonomous and network-capable unmanned mission systems. This brings us closer to our goal of capturing major shares of the UAV market, which in future will continue to grow in significance and sales potential." Heitzmann continued: "We envisage putting the test system, which has within roughly three years been designed and developed up to test maturity by Military Air Systems in Germany and Spain, at the disposal of all those partners in Europe who are interested in the development and production of UAVs for military and other national tasks."
The test series now having been completed, Dr. Rolf Wirtz, who as Head of Operations at EADS Military Air Systems is responsible for the design and development of the UAV demonstrator, revealed first details of this EADS technology demonstrator: "The experimental system is eight metres long, has a wingspan of more than seven metres and a maximum take-off weight of just over three tonnes. The testbed is propelled by a jet turbine from Pratt & Whitney Canada which delivers 14 kN thrust. It operated entirely autonomously during its first flight, only being monitored for flight safety purposes from a ground station on the San Javier air base." This demonstrator contains a mass of technological refinements, even if as many commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components as possible have been used in its basic systems. "The structure of this unmanned aircraft is made entirely of carbon-fibre composites (CFC) and was manufactured on the basis of a new EADS patent at the company's Augsburg plant. The wings, which are also manufactured from CFC, come from the EADS plant in Getafe near Madrid. Apart from the landing gear, this is an "electric airborne system" that, in contrast to conventional aircraft, therefore dispenses with hydraulic components and uses electro-mechanical actuators instead," Wirtz explained.
In unmanned systems, the decisive features are failsafe and non-jammable data transmission between the UAV and the ground station and also reliable flight guidance and control. This requirement was met by, among other things, developing and integrating a triplex flight control and navigation unit. The demonstrator is designed as a user-friendly technology platform for the testing of a wide spectrum of payloads. The avionic system, for instance, was developed as an open and modular structure that allows a large number of sensors to be integrated into the demonstrator. According to current planning, these will include electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser target designators, an Emitter Locator System (ELS) consisting of detectors for picking up radio-magnetic signals and also advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems, which can be integrated on the multisensor principle, being accommodated in the payload bay. In addition to this, it is also possible to equip the testbed for stores tests.
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Aero Testing Alliance formed
European Wind Tunnel facilities integrated
Three national aerospace research organizations - the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the French Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales (ONERA) - took a major step towards integration of the wind tunnel facilities of France, Germany and The Netherlands. By signing a co-operation agreement they enabled the foundation "German-Dutch Wind Tunnels" (DNW) - operating NLR and DLR wind tunnels - and ONERA to establish, at the same time, the European Economic Interest Grouping "Aero Testing Alliance" (ATA), having its seat in Noordoostpolder, The Netherlands. The ultimate goal of this new, European co-operation is the integrated operation of wind tunnel facilities, intensively used by leading aerospace companies worldwide . As a first step DNW and ONERA will perform joint activities not only concerning technical co-operation, but also on marketing and acquisition of contracts for their wind tunnel services. Also, joint investments in equipment are foreseen.
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Ryanair selects Marseille as new base
Neue Basis in Frankreich
Ryanair announced that it has selected Marseille as its 16th European base. Ryanair will invest over $120M in 2 new aircraft that from November will serve 13 routes and deliver almost 1M passengers per annum. From November, Ryanair will connect Marseille to Brussels, Dublin, Eindhoven, Fez, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Karlsruhe Baden, London, Marrakech, Oujda, Oslo, Porto and Rome. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO said: “Ryanair's first base in France marks a major breakthrough for French passengers/visitors who will no longer suffer Air France's high fares. This base will revolutionise travel to/from the Provence region. It would not have been possible without Marseille Provence airport who have developed a low cost terminal that has won them this base despite intense competition from 5 other low cost European airports.
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ESA selects EADS Astrium for Gaia astrometry mission
Neue Sonde beauftragt
During a ceremony held in Toulouse on 11 May 2006, ESA officially awarded EADS Astrium the contract to develop and build the Gaia satellite. The goal of this space mission, currently planned for launch in 2011, is to make the largest, most precise map of our own Galaxy to date. The contract, worth 317 million Euros, has been jointly signed by ESA's Director of Science, Professor David Southwood, and Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer for EADS Astrium. The Toulouse branch will lead the Gaia development
“GAIA is our next grand challenge – to understand our galactic home, the Milky Way,” says David Southwood. “It is a great privilege to meet the team in EADS Astrium and to wish them well in working with us in this great project.” Gaia will be the most accurate optical astronomy satellite ever built so far. It will continuously scan the sky for at least five years from a point in space known as the second Lagrangian point (or L2), located at about 1.6 million kilometres away from the Earth, in the direction opposite to the Sun. This position in space offers a very stable thermal environment, very high observing efficiency (since the Sun, Earth and Moon are behind the instrument field of view) and a low radiation environment. Gaia's goal is to perform the largest census of our Galaxy and build a highly accurate 3D map. The satellite will determine the position, colour and true motion of one thousand million stars. Gaia will also identify as many as 10 000 planets around other stars, and discover several tens of thousands of new bodies - comets and asteroids - in our own Solar System.
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Eurofighter drops first bombs
Erste Bombenabwürfe des Eurofighter
The first deliveries of air-to-surface weapons in the history of the Eurofighter programme were carried out by EADS CASA Military Air Systems (MAS) on the 4th and 5th of May. “As we have been nominated to conduct these first weapon release trials within the Eurofighter community, we are proud to announce that the next-generation combat aircraft Eurofighter is getting closer to reach the full multirole and subsequent swing-role capability”, said Pablo de Bergia, CEO of EADS Defence & Security Systems Spain, after this significant programme milestone. For the first drop EADS CASA test pilot Alfonso de Castro took off on the 4th of May from Moron AFB. The Eurofighter, accompanied by an F-18 chase aircraft of the Spanish Air Force, made several approaches to the planned impact point in order to check the release procedures and the video cameras for the flight-test documentation. In the hot run, a GBU-16 was jettisoned from the centre pylon of the starboard wing. The following day, company test pilot Carlos Pinilla dropped another GBU-16 from the inboard pylon of the starboard wing.
The GBU-16 is a 1,000 lbs. Paveway II-class NATO-standard air-to-surface laser-guided precision bomb to be implemented by the four Eurofighter core nations Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The weapon will enter into service with the first Eurofighter Typhoon Block 5 aircraft. Both jettison tests were completely successful and met all flight test objectives. The most prominent ones were to verify the safe separation of the stores from their pylons and the overall aircraft behaviour during and after the jettison trials. Of extreme importance was also the evaluation of the armament control system, the flight control system and the overall avionics performance during the weapon jettison sequences. To reach the final GBU-16 clearance, the programme foresees four more test sorties, to be performed by EADS CASA within the next two months.
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IAE V2500 to be assembled in Dahlewitz
Triebwerksmontage bei Rolls-Royce Deutschland
In the presence of the Minister-President of Brandenburg, Matthias Platzeck, and the Minister of Economic Affairs of Brandenburg, Ulrich Junghanns, Rolls-Royce Deutschland officially opened the production line for the IAE V2500 engine. Axel Arendt, President Defence Aerospace of Rolls-Royce and Chairman of Rolls-Royce Deutschland, formally handed over the first V2500 engine to be built in Dahlewitz to Mark King, President and CEO of IAE International Aero Engines. With the relocation of V2500 production from Derby in the UK to Brandenburg, responsibility for one of the most successful engine programmes in the world now lies in the hands of Rolls-Royce Deutschland. In future Dahlewitz will produce180 V2500 engines per year, as a result of which the number of engine deliveries will virtually double.
Commenting on the occasion, Axel Arendt, President Defence Aerospace of Rolls-Royce and Chairman of Rolls-Royce Deutschland, said, "We are backing Germany as a business location because the prerequisites for financial success such as high staff motivation, high quality and reliability of work, high management qualities are available here in Germany and as a result productivity is first-class. It is these features combined with the fantastic support that we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy at the municipal and regional level and also at the level of the German government, that enable us to fulfil our company's aspirations of accomplishing the very best at all our sites by also meeting our high standards in Germany."
As the first V2500 engine to be built in Dahlewitz was unveiled, Mark King, President and CEO of IAE, declared, "It gives us great pleasure to be opening our IAE office and starting V2500 production in Dahlewitz, the Rolls-Royce centre of competence for twin-shaft engines. This is not the first time that the Dahlewitz team, which is well-known for its efficiency, has successfully coped with the transfer of an engine programme, achieving what from the customer's perspective is a totally seamless transition. The foundation of the IAE Engineering Centre in Dahlewitz will have the effect of significantly boosting IAE's already considerable operational activities in Germany which, on top of component production, engine maintenance and overhaul at MTU Aero Engines, will now additionally include final assembly and testing of the V2500 engine at Rolls-Royce Deutschland."
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
On 10 May 2006, the French Air Force Chief of Staff, General Richard Wolsztynski, presided the official ceremony on the Cazaux Base in which the Combat Search & Rescue EC725 helicopters were declared operational. Currently the most accomplished helicopter in the world for Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) operations, the EC725 will progressively take over from the former generation helicopters, offering substantially improved operational capabilities. On this occasion, Eurocopter President Fabrice Brégier emphasized the success of the EC725 program – from program ordering in 2002 to qualification in 2004 – and expressed his satisfaction at the exemplary cooperation between Eurocopter and the various French Government agencies involved (DGA, CEV, DQP, Air Force, CEAM de Mont de Marsan, etc.).
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Lufthansa put in a sturdy performance in the first three months of 2006 despite record-level oil prices. In the traditionally weak first quarter, the Group result improved by 15.5 per cent to -98 million euros. The operating result totalled -75 million euros (previous year: -26 million euros). Adjusted for changes in the group of consolidated companies, the operating result would have been -47 million euros. “The result is in line with our expectations. The first quarter is normally weak in the airline business,” said Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, presenting the quarterly figures. “Lufthansa is staying on course despite a headwind. Even with an oil price of more than 70 dollars per barrel, our strategy is helping with innovative products to convince and gain new customers.” The Lufthansa Chairman is looking confidently to the full year and is still expecting an operating result at least on a level with the previous year's (2005: 577 million euros). Lufthansa will continue pursuing its strategy of offering attractive prices coupled with the highest quality. It has since April been offering round-trip fares starting at 99 euros on flights from Germany to all European destinations. The response is highly positive. Lufthansa has also made gains in premium business: Following its great success in Central Europe, the Lufthansa Private Jet service is now also available for flights to and from airports in the entire Russian Federation. Lufthansa will continue beyond 2006 to seek possibilities of strengthening its clout. “We save in order to grow, not vice-versa. We are re-investing savings in new routes, new products and attractive prices. And that is creating perspectives for all: for our customers, for our shareholders and for the people employed by the entire Group,” said Mayrhuber.
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Less than one month after insertion into orbit, and after sixteen loops around the planet Venus, ESA's Venus Express spacecraft has reached its final operational orbit on 7 May 2006. Already at 21:49 CEST on 6th May, when the spacecraft communicated to Earth through ESA's ground station at New Norcia (Australia), the Venus Express ground control team at ESA's European Spacecraft Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt (Germany) received advanced confirmation that final orbit was to be successfully achieved about 18 hours later. As of the 9-day capture orbit, Venus Express had to perform a series of further manoeuvres to gradually reduce the apocentre and the pericentre altitudes over the planet. This was achieved by means of the spacecraft main engine – which had to be fired twice during this period (on 20 and 23 April 2006) - and through the banks of Venus Express' thrusters – ignited five times (on 15, 26 and 30 April, 3 and 6 May 2006).
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Light in weight, heat-resistant and affordable: for use in low-pressure and intermediate-pressure turbines, MTU Aero Engines has succeeded in developing LEK94, a material that is setting new benchmarks. "A material of this type was still missing in the current offerings of high-temperature materials. There're lots of pricey and heavy high-end materials around, but with their overwhelming temperature and strength capabilities they tend to be overgunned in some of the applications," explains Dr. Jörg Esslinger, who supervises materials engineering at MTU. The new lightweight has promptly found a prominent home in the low-pressure turbine of the GP7000 powering the Airbus A380. LEK94 is a nickel-base single-crystal superalloy designed for elevated service tem-peratures. Its relative low density makes it nearly ten percent lighter than comparable materials. For stage-1 rotor blades of the GP7000 low-pressure turbine, it pro-vides about two kilograms in weight savings. The sophisticated balance struck be-tween light weight and high temperature resistance makes LEK94 just right for use in the forward stages of low-pressure and intermediate-pressure turbines. According to Esslinger, "advanced efficient turbine concepts call for low weight and high speed. To keep centrifugal forces reasonable, the blades will necessarily have to be light-weight. Simultanenously, however, we're here faced with formidable temperatures that demand highly heat-resistant materials." The new material affords another, compelling advantage: the superalloy is affordable for the reason that rare, precious metals like rhenium, tungsten and tantalum are needed in tiny doses only.
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Swiss International Air Lines (Group) achieved earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of CHF 23 million for the first quarter of 2006. The positive operating result compares to a negative EBIT of CHF10 million for the same period last year. SWISS also reports a consolidated net profit of CHF4million for the first three months of 2006 (prior-year period: net loss of CHF 44 million).
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Star Alliance announced it has invited Shanghai Airlines Co., Limited of Shanghai, China to join the alliance. With this move both Shanghai Airlines and Star Alliance open a new chapter in Chinese aviation history. Shanghai Airlines Chairman Zhou Chi said the invitation to join Star Alliance would only further enhance Shanghai Airlines' position as a leader in the Chinese aviation market. “With our large domestic network and increasing international routes we believe Shanghai Airlines brings a wealth of experience and value to Star Alliance. We look forward to working with Star Alliance toward full membership over the coming months.” Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Jaan Albrecht commented: “For Star Alliance this invitation to Shanghai Airlines represents a giant step forward in the evolution of the alliance. Having a high quality Chinese carrier of the calibre of Shanghai Airlines will add immeasurable value to our network.”
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XCOR Aerospace announced that it had won a $3.3 million contract with ATK as part of ATK's contract to develop low-cost LOX/methane rocket propulsion for NASA. Together with ATK, XCOR will develop the initial workhorse version of a 7,500 lbf LOX/methane engine for NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). ATK will use the workhorse engine as a basis for development of the final flight- weight hardware. These engines are being designed to return the CEV from Lunar orbit to the Earth, and to perform in-space maneuvering. Said XCOR's president, Jeff Greason, "We are very excited about the opportunity to contribute to NASA's exploration program in such a significant way. We are proud that NASA selected our team over many more traditional rocket engine suppliers."
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NASA's Deputy Administrator Shana Dale announced the agency's Centennial Challenges program has signed an agreement with the X PRIZE Foundation to conduct the $2 million Lunar Lander Analog Challenge. "NASA's Centennial Challenge program is using the tool of prize competitions, so successfully demonstrated by the X-PRIZE, to plant the seeds for future space commercial activities," Dale said. "We're confident the Lunar Lander Analog Competition will stimulate the development of the kinds of rockets and landing systems that NASA needs to return to the moon, while also accelerating the development of the private sub-orbital space flight industry." Dale made the announcement at the International Space Development conference in Los Angeles. The challenge will take place at the X PRIZE Cup Expo in Las Cruces, N. M., Oct. 20-22. NASA is sponsoring the challenge, offering the competition's largest cash prize yet for developing a versatile space vehicle that one day may support exploration of the moon. The X PRIZE Foundation is administering and executing the competitions at no cost to NASA, providing the venue for the competition and encouraging involvement by a diverse field of competitors.
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“The Spirit of Delta” – Delta Air Lines' employee-purchased aircraft – returns home Sunday to a welcoming crowd of Delta leaders, employees and friends. The Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum, Inc. will accept the aircraft for permanent display during an event at Delta's World Headquarters in Atlanta. The Boeing 767, a symbol of pride for Delta people, began a farewell tour of key Delta cities in March before being renovated in preparation for permanent display at the Museum. The Spirit of Delta has been repainted to its original livery and will feature a video viewing area in the first class cabin, and an exhibit area and presentation room in the economy cabin. The aircraft will be carefully towed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport across public roadways to Historic Hangar II at the Delta Heritage Museum. The aircraft is retiring adjacent to Ship 41, the first Douglas DC-3 to carry Delta passengers in 1940, and a 1931 Travel Air, symbolizing Delta's first passenger aircraft.
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Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $2.5 million contract by the U.S. Air Force for the Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) Studies and Analysis program. Part of the Operationally Responsive Space initiative, the HLV will provide the Air Force with an affordable, responsive, reliable and simple-to-operate capability for launching tactical space assets and conventional satellites into low earth orbit. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is one of four companies awarded contracts for the program by the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin will formulate conceptual designs for an operational system architecture, a subscale demonstrator and associated ground hardware and infrastructure for an HLV that employs a reusable first-stage booster and an expendable upper stage. Previous Air Force studies have found that the hybrid approach - a reusable booster with expendable upper stages - offers cost advantages over a fully expendable or fully reusable vehicle. This approach also will be highly responsive, with an anticipated 24- to 48-hour turnaround time. Air Force requirements call for an HLV that will accommodate medium to heavy lift (10,000 to 15,000 pounds).
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Allied Wings took delivery in April 2006 of all nine airplanes ordered less than one year ago. The delivery of this new batch of aircraft with the sales designation G 120A-C was completed on time and to the satisfaction of the customer. In addition, GROB Aerospace - based in Mattsies near Munich - delivered an additional fuselage, including cockpit equipment. It is currently being converted into a G 120A-C flight simulator by Allied Wings team member, Atlantis Systems International located in Ontario, Canada. The aircraft has been equipped to meet demanding Canadian Forces Air Force specifications. The cockpit instrumentation includes standard flight instruments and also 2 HSI's (Horizontal Situation Indicators), to operate under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) conditions. The comfort of the pilots was also taken into consideration. To provide adequate warmth for the flight instructors and their student pilots from the freezing temperatures during the cold winters of Manitoba, additional cockpit heating was installed to keep the spacious cockpit of the G 120A-C at comfortable temperature levels. Air conditioning has also been provided for flying on hot summer days. The primary reason for the Canadian decision for the GROB aircraft was the versatility of the G 120A-C. First flown in 1999, the aircraft is an excellent training platform for basic flight instruction, high-performance aerobatics, as well as for IFR training. It has been specially designed by GROB Aerospace for demanding basic and advanced flight training as well as for aerobatics. As a pilot screener it is a top-class trainer. It combines superb flight characteristics with the power potential of a 260-hp Lycoming engine. The G 120-A can thus be used for training tasks that previously required two different types of aircraft. As with all Grob planes, it is made entirely of carbon fibre composite which imparts to the G 120A high strength, long fuselage life and lightness of weight, combined with low fuel and maintenance costs.
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NASA will have two scientific instruments on India's maiden voyage to the moon. Tuesday, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and his counterpart, Indian Space Research Organization Chairman G. Madhavan Nair, signed two Memoranda of Understanding in Bangalore, India, for cooperation on India's Chandrayaan-1 mission. Griffin is touring Indian Space Research Organization facilities this week. He will visit its satellite development center, launch vehicle production center and launch site. "It is my hope and belief that as we extend the reach of human civilization throughout the solar system, the United States and India will be partners on many more technically challenging and scientifically rewarding projects," Griffin said at a ceremony in Bangalore. "I very much look forward to the opportunity to see first hand India's impressive space facilities, to meet with your scientists and engineers and to learn more about your remarkable work."
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UK Transport Minister Derek Twigg announced that night-time movements limits at Heathrow to apply from October 2006 to October 2012 will not increase above existing limits. Making the announcement to Parliament, Mr Twigg said: "We have been considering the responses to the consultation on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports and will announce our final conclusions by the end of the month. However, in order to remove uncertainty on an element which has given rise to concerns, I have decided not to increase night-time movements limits at Heathrow during the period 2006-2012."
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Sea Launch has signed a firm contract with EchoStar Communications Corporation for the launch of the EchoStar XI Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) in 2007. This will be Sea Launch's third mission with an EchoStar spacecraft, having launched EchoStar IX in August 2003 and EchoStar X in February 2006. The new contract, signed in November 2005, requires Sea Launch to lift the EchoStar XI spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Under construction by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the spacecraft is based on SS/L's 1300-series platform and will support EchoStar's DISH Network(TM) customers. EchoStar XI is a DBS spacecraft designed to complement the existing EchoStar fleet. Its Ku-band payload will provide uninterrupted service and additional capacity and capabilities for EchoStar's DISH Network(TM) customers. The 1300 bus -- an industry leader in power, performance and reliability -- is a space-proven platform for a wide range of satellite services, providing total satellite power capability of 20 kW throughout the life of the satellite.
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The latest round of wind-tunnel testing for the new Boeing 747-8 family of airplanes concluded recently, marking another milestone for the program launched in November by Cargolux Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines. The latest tests included high- and low-speed lines development and fine-tuning of the noise characteristics on the fully integrated airframe. High-speed testing (see photo) was done with the high-speed model of the 747-8F at the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel in Seattle. The model is a 3 percent scale model of the 747-8 and measures about 2.2 meters (87 inches) long with a wingspan of 1.8 meters (74 inches). The low-speed model of the 747-8 was used at the Low Speed Acoustic Facility (LSAF) at Qinetiq in Farnborough, England, and noise testing was also done in the LSAF at Qinetiq. More than 3,000 hours of wind-tunnel time have been logged to date in the development of the 747-8.
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The 851st Electronic Systems Group is on the cusp of the next major spiral for the Global Hawk variant of its Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program. The group is preparing for a year-long test of the smaller version of the radar aboard the Proteus, a manned twin turbofan high altitude multi-mission aircraft similar in size to the Global Hawk, on which the radar will eventually be installed. The MP-RTIP is the next generation airborne sensor designed to provide advanced surveillance capabilities, including ground and air moving target indication. The smaller Global Hawk Block 40 version is the one undergoing initial testing on Proteus. A larger variation, referred to as the E-10 Wide Area Surveillance Sensor, is also being developed for a wide-body manned aircraft. The first step of the Proteus test process was completed last week at a civilian flight test center at Mojave Airfield, near Edwards AFB, Calif., when Proteus was flown with the pod that will house the MP-RTIP radar once the test period begins in September. To replicate the weight and characteristics of the radar, the pod contained mass simulators during this safety flight.
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Allegheny General Hospital has selected four American Eurocopter EC-145s to replace four MD-900s being used by Allegheny's renowned LifeFlight AMS service. With over 40,000 missions under its belt, Allegheny General Hospital's LifeFlight AMS is a familiar sight in the skies of west Pennsylvania, southeastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Maryland. The decision to buy the four EC-145s came after Allegheny conducted a competitive bidding process in which Agusta, American Eurocopter, and Bell took part. Two of the EC-145s will be delivered in early 2007; the other two in mid-2007.
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MD Helicopters presented five MD 600N helicopters to the Turkish National Police (TNP) for inspection and acceptance. TNP representatives, including their team leader and four pilots, were on hand at the MDHI site to commence the inspection and acceptance process. The aircraft, the remaining five of 10 ordered by the TNP, will be stationed in varied locations throughout Turkey. TNP headquarters its existing MD 600Ns at Ankara and Istanbul and utilizes the aircraft for general law enforcement missions, including surveillance and patrol missions, in various regions of the country. Four of the new helicopters incorporate infrared systems to further assist law enforcement missions.
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The Norwegian Government has decided to continue participation in the Joint Strike Fighter programme. The decision came after Lockheed Martin presented an improved package for Norwegian industry. So far potential contracts of up to 20 billion NOK have been identified. The agreement entails that the Norwegian Government will contribute 114 million NOK to the JSF programme, in addition to the 429 million that has already been paid. “I want to emphasize that this decision does not mean that we have decided which aircraft Norway will procure, but I am satisfied that our efforts to strengthen Norwegian industry's opportunities have been rewarded, should we decide to choose JSF,” says Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. “This work has been carried out in close dialogue with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and in my opinion it serves as an excellent example of active Norwegian industry policy.” There are at present four potential candidates for the possible Norwegian procurement of new aircraft. These are Eurofighter, Joint Strike Fighter, JAS Gripen and Rafale. “In the time to come we will examine the other three candidates in more detail with regards to industrial and operational matters. This way we will have a best possible basis for comparison when the decision on future aircrafts for the Norwegian Armed Forces is to be made,” says Strøm-Erichsen.
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The Fraport Group's revenue and EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) continued to grow in the first three months of 2006, despite a slight slowdown in passenger figures. Compared to the same quarter last year, revenue increased by 1.4 percent to EUR487.4 million. EBITDA climbed by 2.2 percent to EUR109.5 million from January to March 2006. Group profit increased by 0.4 percent to EUR27.4 million, slightly above last year's level. During the first three months of the year, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) was affected by numerous weather-related flight cancellations. As a result, only about 11.2 million passengers used the FRA air transportation hub - 1.1 percent fewer than in the first quarter of 2005. The year-on-year comparison also reflects the continuing negative development of passenger traffic at Antalya Airport (AYT) up to April. The Fraport Group served a total of 14.6 million passengers from January to March 2006, down 6.8 percent from the first quarter of 2005. The redistribution of passenger traffic - which recently took effect at Turkey's top vacation airport - will be applicable on an annual basis for 2006 and will clearly boost the Group's total passenger figures again in the coming months.
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EADS has successfully completed extensive field testing of its newly developed ASR-S air traffic control radar. As the company announced on Wednesday, this paves the way for the modernisation of the whole military Air Traffic Control (ATC) System in service at German Bundeswehr Airbases which is encompassing the replacement of more than 20 radars. The fully solid–state Air Traffic Control Radar ASR-S is designed to control and safeguard primarily military air traffic, even under adverse conditions of climate and high traffic density. All operationally critical sub-systems are redundant. The comprehensive signal processing and tracking safely supports control of typical military flight manoeuvres, such as formation flights, extreme fighter manoeuvres and hovering helicopters. Furthermore, the system incorporates comprehensive built-in test equipment for fast, accurate fault location. Thus, ASR-S guarantees near 100% availability.
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Saab Ericsson Space in Gothenburg, Sweden, has signed a contract for production of guidance computers and telemetry antennas for the European heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 5. We are happy that Arianespace are successful in the launcher business so that more of our reliable launcher guidance computers and our Telemetry antennas are needed, says Jan Persson, the Saab Ericsson Space Project Manager. Most space programs do not offer volume production. We benefit a lot from this even if prices in the Ariane program are under strong pressure, he adds. The total order value is in the order of 10 million Euros.
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Lockheed Martin conducted a successful Control Test Vehicle (CTV) flight test of its Loitering Attack Missile (LAM) recently at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. This latest flight test of the new square body LAM airframe included a turbojet and demonstrated launch through transition to cruise. A more extended cruise was hindered by fuel issues that were promptly identified, reported and addressed. One more flight test remains in the series to demonstrate LAM end-to-end performance. During this flight, the LAM launched vertically from a container launch unit; maintained stability during rocket powered ascent using a fin-control actuation system and a commercial IMU; maintained stability during wing deployment; started a micro turbojet engine with integral electrical generator; executed a high-G maneuver to limit altitude; transitioned to cruise; established a commercial GPS fix; and maneuvered and navigated to the initial waypoint. The onboard telemetry subsystem provided real-time observation of all onboard operations including a nose mounted color TV camera recording the missile view through a clear glass nose dome.
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AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on May 4, 2006, an $87,154,533 firm-fixed-price contract for full rate production of the SHADOW Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System and associated support equipment. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on Jan. 11, 2006.
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May 9th, four H-1 aircraft, two AH-1Zs and two UH-1Ys, left the Naval Air Warfare Center here to begin the program's long awaited Operational Evaluation period. "This is a significant milestone in the H-1 Upgrades program and brings us that much closer to fielding this critical capability to the Fleet Marines who are anxiously awaiting these tremendously capable aircraft," said Col. Keith Birkholz, H-1 program manager at NAVAIR. "This milestone also is a tremendous testimony to the government-Bell team that has labored so hard for the last few years to achieve it." "This is a great day for the U.S. Marines and the H-1 Program," said Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Michael Redenbaugh. "Over the next six months these aircraft will demonstrate and validate the significant improvements that have been made to make them more valuable to the Marines. These aircraft are among the world's most technologically advanced and posses capabilities that the Marines need now but also in the future." he continued. The aircraft will fly to China Lake Naval Air Station in California where they will spend the next six months undergoing numerous tests and evaluations to determine the H-1 aircraft operational suitability. Start of OPEVAL represents the last exit criteria before a Defense Acquisition Board is to decide on Low Rate Initial Production Phase III.
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In Hamburg/Germany, Airbus successfully completed the first extensive ground cabin tests in a fully equipped A380. During five hours of testing, 474 passengers and 20 crew members simulated a 15 hours flight, during which they tried all cabin systems, such as the In-flight Entertainment System, the water and waste system and the air conditioning system. Passengers on board the aircraft were given individual tasks to perform at certain intervals in order to simulate a maximum stress on certain cabin systems. Some passengers brought laptop computers to test the performance of the in-seat power supply. The test included all cabin management related processes. In collaboration with Airbus cabin trainers, a cabin crew from Lufthansa ran all cabin operations in the A380 from boarding to safety instructions, galley and trolley lift operations, and full meal service. The test passengers included Airbus employees and specialists from cabin system suppliers. Another major milestone was reached in Dresden, Germany, where fatigue tests on the A380 reached 10,000 flight cycles. The test examines the A380's structural behavior by simulating structural stresses over a very condensed period of time. The tests are performed in purpose built hangar equipped with hydraulic cylinders to simulate structural load. The tests in Dresden started in September 2005 and will continue to run to 2008 to simulate 47,500 flights in total, including short and long-haul missions.
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ARINC and SITA announced the formation of an Industry technical work group to define the next generation of business-to-business messaging for the Air Transport Industry (ATI). The work group will formalize standards to complement industry Type B messaging with a new approach using XML technology and Service Oriented Architecture for communications. The work group membership has already grown to include Northwest Airlines, British Airways, Worldspan, Amadeus, Lufthansa Systems, Sabre, Galileo and Mercator – reflecting strong industry support for the initiative by both airlines and application providers. The ATI is one of the most highly integrated industries in the world, requiring millions of messages per day for reservations, passenger processing, and general operations – even the equivalent of “email” to airplanes. An estimated 40 million Type B messages per day are processed by ARINC and SITA and delivered across vast extranets to a wide variety of industry participants. Today the industry uses a broad range of modern and legacy protocols – a heritage that dates back to teletype. The move to define an XML-based approach addresses the growing demand to enable secure and robust communications using what has become the technology of choice for modern applications.
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General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced that its Army I-GNAT ER unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has reached a record 10,000 combat flight hours on a total of 858 combat missions. The milestone was achieved by AI-005 while it performed a routine surveillance mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “With the highest full-mission capability rate of any operational U.S. Army UAS, the Army I-GNAT ER aircraft has made remarkable strides since it was deployed to Iraq just over two years ago,” said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “No other unmanned aircraft system has reached this level of performance as quickly as the durable, consistent Army I-GNAT ER.” Flying a total of more than 700 hours a month between two deployment sites, the Army I-GNAT ER family of three combat aircraft achieved 10,000 combat flight hours four years earlier than even the company's flagship Predator UAS. Positioned as a cost-effective, long-endurance tactical reconnaissance system to support ground troops, the initial Army I-GNAT ER aircraft were deployed in March 2004, only six months after contract award. Fielded aircraft are also being integrated with SATCOM capability to allow for beyond line-of-sight control. The Army I-GNAT ER is fully contractor-supported, with 11 company crew members at each site.
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The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded a $8,796,220 contract to Lockheed Martin Corp., Littleton, Colo., to develop a power system for a stratospheric airship operating at more than 43 miles above the Earth. The two-year contract is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of Arlington, Va., in support of its “Integrated Sensor Is Structure (ISIS)” program. The goal of the ISIS program is to develop a stratospheric airship-based autonomous unmanned sensor with years of persistence in surveillance and tracking of air and ground targets. It will have the capability to track the most advanced cruise missiles at a distance in excess of 370 miles and dismounted enemy combatants on the ground nearly 200 miles away.
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The Finnish Air Force signed the contract with EADS CASA to purchase two (2) C-295 military transport aircraft, with an option to purchase a further five (5). Col. Ossi Koskela, Chief of Aircraft and Weapon System, and Aatos Kaukinen, Chief of Procurement Branch, signed on behalf of the Finnish Air Force, in the presence of Major Gral. Heikki Lyytinen, Commamder in Chief of the Finnish Air Force, and Brigadier General Jarkko Numminen, Chief of Finnish Air Force Headquarters, while EADS CASA was represented by its Chairman, Francisco Fernández Sáinz.
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The UK Ministry of Defence and the Department for Transport have today announced that the Joint Search and Rescue - Helicopter (SAR-H) Project is entering into its next stage. Together the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will provide a helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) capability for the UK well into the 21st century. Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement and Stephen Ladyman, the Minister with responsibility for shipping, have approved SAR-H going forward as a joint MOD/MCA Private Finance Initiative competition. This important step will bring greater benefits to UK SAR operations as a whole.
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NASA has awarded Boeing a competitively bid contract to modify the communication, navigation and electrical systems of an S-3B Viking aircraft. NASA obtained the S-3B from the U.S. Navy to facilitate research requirements for the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The contract marks the first time an S-3B has been made available for non-military applications since the Navy announced its decision to retire the Viking fleet. The award follows the successful S-3B Viking modification program between the Navy and Boeing from 2000 through 2005, when Boeing installed more than 500 modifications into the Navy's S-3B anti-submarine warfare, all-weather aircraft fleet.
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