+++ F-35 completes first flight +++ EASA and FAA certify A380 +++ First NH90 handed over to German Army +++ Shuttle mission to the ISS +++ Qantas accepts APA buyout bid +++ Air Force Releases KC-X draft RFP +++ TUI overhauls airline strategy +++ Turkish Airlines to join Star Alliance +++ NATO AWACS to get LAIRCM +++ News in brief +++
F-35 completes first flight
Erstflug der F-35 in Fort Worth
On 15 December, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II lifted into the skies for the first time, completing a successful inaugural flight and initiating the most comprehensive flight test program in military aviation history. “The Lightning II performed beautifully,” said F-35 Chief Pilot Jon Beesley following the flight. “What a great start for the flight-test program, and a testimony to the people who have worked so hard to make this happen.” The most powerful engine ever placed in a fighter aircraft – the Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan, with 40,000 pounds of thrust – effortlessly pushed the F-35 skyward. The flight of the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35 variant began at 12:44 p.m. CST at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, when the jet lifted off and began a climb-out to 15,000 feet. Beesley then performed a series of maneuvers to test aircraft handling and the operation of the engine and subsystems. He returned for a landing at 1:19 p.m CST, half an hour early due to some test equipment problems.
Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, said the aircraft has continued to meet or exceed expectations during its assembly and pre-flight checkouts. It has now embarked on a 12,000-hour flight-test program designed to validate tens of thousands of hours of testing already completed in F-35 laboratories. “The F-35 will enter service as the most exhaustively tested, most thoroughly proven fighter system in history,” Crowley said. “And thanks to its all-digital design, an exceptionally talented international engineering team and the world's best assemblers and mechanics, the F-35 has completely rewritten the book on fighter assembly precision and quality.”
The United States and eight international partners are involved in the F-35's funding and development. The U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy plan to acquire a total of 2,581 F-35s. Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway also are partners in the program and are expected to add about 700 more aircraft to the total. F-35 sales to other international customers could push the final number of aircraft to 4,500 or beyond.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme was signed on 12 December 2006 by Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson, following a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Gordon England, in Washington DC. Lord Drayson said: "After an excellent meeting with Gordon England, I am delighted to be able to sign this MoU which will take the UK into the next phase of the JSF programme. I have always been clear that the UK would only sign if we were satisfied that we would have operational sovereignty over our aircraft. I have today received the necessary assurances from the US on technology transfer to allow me to sign the MoU. UK companies are closely involved with the programme – over 100 companies have already won development contracts and will now be able to compete for work in the next phase. The expected value of work for the UK is over $29Bn. The MoU sets out the framework for purchasing JSF and supporting and upgrading it through life. It also provides for the pooling of the partner nations' collective buying power in a common support solution, and of their resources and technology in follow-on development. It does not, however, formally commit the UK to buying any aircraft. The UK's increase in financial commitment at this stage is £34M. 'Operational sovereignty' is defined as the UK having control over essential aspects of the aircraft such as the ability to integrate JSF into the UK operating environment; operate, maintain, repair and upgrade the UK fleet to meet evolving through-life requirements; and certify the aircraft as safe to fly. The MOD's current plan is to buy up to 150 of the Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.
Australia has entered the next stage of the F-35 JSF Program by signing the JSF Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development (PSFD) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The PSFD MoU was signed for the US Government by the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, Mr Gordon England, and by me on behalf of the Australian Government. Australia is the fourth international Partner to sign the PSFD MoU, the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom formally committing to the next phase of the program. The four remaining Partners in the Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase are expected to sign the MoU in the next few months. The PSFD MoU provides the cooperative framework for the acquisition and support of the JSF over its life and provides significant financial and non-financial benefits from the ongoing partnership. The MoU and associated documents also guarantees Australia's access to the technology and data it needs to operate and support the JSF to meet Australia's sovereign defence needs. Entering into the MoU also opens up billions of dollars in opportunities for Australian industry, building on its success in the development phase.
The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence and the Honourable Maxime Bernier announced that Canada's aerospace and defence industry will have access to billions of dollars in industrial opportunities following the signature of Memorandum of Understandings regarding Canada's participation in Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. In a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., the Department of National Defence formalized their continued partnership with the United States Department of Defense in the JSF program. Canada is the second of eight partner nations to sign the MoU for the third phase of the JSF program - the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development phase.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
EASA and FAA certify A380
A380 erhält Zulassung
The world's largest commercial airliner, the 555-seat Airbus A380, has received joint European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification on 12 th December 2006. The certified aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. The EASA A380 Type Certificate was signed by EASA's Executive Director, Patrick Goudou; and the FAA A380 Type Certificate by John Hickey, FAA's Head of Certification The documents were handed over to Airbus' Executive Vice President Engineering, Alain Garcia. The Ceremony, held at the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, was attended by the Honorable Marion Blakey, FAA Administrator, and by senior officials from Civil Aviation Authorities from several countries worldwide. “This double seal of approval represents a key milestone for the A380 programme. It recognises the quality of the work performed by all those who have worked hard for many years on the development of this superb, new technology leading aircraft. My thanks go to all of them, including to the EASA and FAA teams, for this outstanding achievement,” says Louis Gallois, Airbus President and CEO. “But more than anything, it provides clear evidence of the technical soundness of the A380, and confirms that the aircraft is meeting or exceeding the expectations in terms of performance, range, environmental friendliness, and cabin comfort. Both our customers and their passengers will love it “
The flight test campaign has also revealed that the aircraft is meeting the guaranteed performance both in terms of fuel burn and range. Because of its very low fuel burn, contributing to the lowest operating costs, it will produce very low emissions. An environmental champion, it is also quieter than any other airliner, meeting the stringent noise restrictions at London Heathrow. The A380 also has the quietest cabin in the skies and provides a very smooth ride. Also, all the pilots who have flown it, enjoy its remarkable handling qualities. Five aircraft have been involved in the intensive flight test programme, four of which have Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines and one is powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. To date, the aircraft have accumulated over 2,600 flight hours in 800 flights, with over 80 airline and certification pilots having flown the aircraft. During its test campaign, the A380 was also welcomed at 38 airports around the world, proving its easy airport acceptance and compatibility.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
First NH90 handed over to German Army
Heeresflieger erhalten ersten NH90
The first three latest-generation NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTH) were handed over to the German Army at Eurocopter's Donauwörth facility on December 13 th, 2006. The German Army is the first customer to take delivery of the NH90. The aircraft with the serial numbers TGEA02 and TGEA03 will be used for flight training at the German Army Air Corps Weapons School in Bückeburg, while serial number TGEA05 will be used to train maintenance staff. Qualification of the NH90 TTH was completed by NAHEMA on March 31st this year. German type certification was granted on December 1, 2006, clearing the way for deliveries initially to the German customer, as well as for the respective national certifications of the NH90 TTH for other NAHEMA and export customers.
"Following a period of complex evaluation and comprehensive qualification processes we are proud to now be able to officially launch the NH90 for training purposes. Until the end of 2007, we plan to deliver 14 aircraft to Bückeburg. We are very grateful to all our partners within the German Army, the authorities, the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Centre 61, NAHEMA, and NHIndustries for their contribution to achieving this success", stated Dr. Lutz Bertling, President and CEO of Eurocopter. "We know that the Army and Air Force pilots are eagerly looking forward to this new system. With the launch of the NH90 we are taking a big step towards military interoperability and the ability to perform integrated missions in the future", he concluded.
The NH90, for which 400 firm orders plus options for more than 100 additional aircraft have been placed to date, is the largest helicopter programme ever launched in Europe. In addition to Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands and Portugal, customers include Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia and New Zealand. Spain and Belgium have also selected the NH90. Due to its multi-role capability, the NH90 is able to fulfill a large variety of missions and has been chosen for Army, Air Force, Navy and SAR services.
European helicopter maker NH Industries is to pay Finland a 16 million euro penalty for the delay in the deliveries of NH90 military transport aircraft, Tampere-based daily Aamulehti reported. The penalty is roughly equivalent to the price of a single NH90. The Finnish Defence Forces has ordered 20 NH90s for about 554 million euros. The first NH90s were supposed to be delivered to Finland in October 2004.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Shuttle mission to the ISS
Arbeiten an der Raumstation
On 9 December, the space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:47 p.m. EST on one of the most complex missions ever to the International Space Station. Low clouds delayed Discovery's launch on Thursday night. After standing down on Friday, weather was much better for Saturday's launch. During the 12-day mission, designated STS-116, a new structural component will be added to the station. Shuttle and station crews will work with ground teams to install the P5 truss. This latest addition to the station's backbone weighs 4,000 pounds and will extend the left side of the truss to allow future solar panels to rotate. The mission also includes extensive work to reconfigure the station's electrical and cooling systems from temporary to permanent mode. During the mission, ground control will shut down and reroute the station's power in stages so that the astronauts can reconfigure the power system and make the P4 solar arrays delivered during the last mission fully operational. This complex operation has never been done before. Part of an existing solar panel will be retracted to allow the P4 arrays to track the sun for a full 360 degrees and provide power to the rest of the station.
The International Space Station grew Tuesday when the STS-116 crew installed the P5 integrated truss segment. The P5 was attached at 5:45 p.m. EST. The construction work was performed by STS-116 spacewalkers Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang and robot arm operators Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams. The P5 spacer segment's attachment to the P4 sets the stage for the relocation of the P6 and its set of solar arrays. The P5's installation is not the only change that the station has undergone since Space Shuttle Discovery docked Monday. Williams, who arrived at the station with the STS-116 mission, replaced European Space Agency Astronaut Thomas Reiter on the Expedition 14 crew at midnight Tuesday. Williams will remain a member of Expedition 14 until Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin are relieved by Expedition 15 in March 2007. Williams will finish her remaining time of her six-month tour of duty on the station as a member of Expedition 15. Reiter will wrap up his stay on the station when he leaves with STS-116 next week. He arrived at the station in July with the STS-121 mission to give the station its first three-member crew since May 2003. He was a member of Expedition 13 until Expedition 14 began its tour of duty in September.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Qantas accepts APA buyout bid
Australische Airline geht an Investoren
The Chairman of Qantas Airways Limited, Margaret Jackson, announced that, following detailed negotiations, the Qantas Board had received a revised proposal from Airline Partners Australia (APA) to acquire 100 percent of the Company for $5.60 cash per share. Margaret Jackson said the revised proposal provided an attractive premium for Qantas shareholders, being: * 33 percent higher than the closing share price of $4.20 on 6 November 2006, the day before the first speculation about the offer; and 61 percent above Qantas' volume weighted average share price of $3.48 over the six months to that date. Ms Jackson said that, subject to receiving an opinion by independent expert Grant Samuel that the offer is fair and reasonable, the Non-Executive Directors unanimously intend to recommend that shareholders accept the offer in the absence of a superior proposal, and all Directors intend to accept in respect of their own shareholdings. "The Directors believe this offer allows Qantas shareholders to realise significant value for their shares that has not been fully recognised in the public market," Ms Jackson said.
APA consists of the following investors: Allco Equity Partners, Allco Finance Group, Macquarie Bank, TPG, Onex, other foreign investment funds The proposal involves: Qantas transitioning to a privately owned company and de-listing from the Australian Securities Exchange; Qantas remaining majority owned and controlled by Australians; and retention of the current management team, who will invest in the privately owned company. Mr Geoff Dixon would continue as Chief Executive Officer and Mr Peter Gregg would remain Chief Financial Officer under the new ownership structure. Ms Jackson said the consortium had expressed its support for core Qantas strategies, including: maintaining an extensive domestic and international airline network, using Qantas' two-brand
(Qantas and Jetstar) strategy; continuing Qantas' commitment to high quality product and service; and improving the company's cost base to be globally competitive. If this acquisition is successful, Qantas will remain a majority Australian-owned, Australia-based airline, Ms Jackson said.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Air Force Releases KC-X draft RFP
USAF sucht neuen Tanker
On15 December, Air Force officials announced the release of an updated draft Request for Proposals for the KC-X, the aerial tanker replacement aircraft. "This continues our open and transparent acquisition process," said Mrs. Sue Payton, the Air Force senior acquisition executive. "We're releasing this document so our partners in Congress, the Department of Defense and industry can continue the dialogue we've established." Payton said the release of the final RFP is expected in January and that her goal remained to complete the source selection process by the end of the current fiscal year. The KC-X, the Air Force's number one acquisition priority, is the replacement vehicle for the KC-135 which recently celebrated its 50th year of service with the Air Force. Officials said the KC-X will have a primary mission of aerial refueling, allowing the Air Force to retain the Global Reach that supports the Global War on Terror. "The tanker is the number one procurement priority for us right now. In this global Air Force business, the single point failure of an air bridge, the single point failure for global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance or the single point failure for global strike is the tanker," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff. Additionally, service officials expect the KC-X to have the capability to carry cargo as well as airlifting personnel. "All three missions of the aircraft are vitally important," said Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, "but first and foremost the KC-X is the next generation in aerial refueling." The draft RFP incorporates changes that respond to concerns expressed by Congress, DOD and potential offerors, to include addressing the litigation concerning large civil aircraft pending before the World Trade Organization.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
TUI overhauls airline strategy
Neue Flugzeugeaufträge von TUI
The Supervisory Board of TUI AG approved all measures of the Executive Board to achieve further growth, efficiency enhancements and cost reductions. The Supervisory Board supports the Executive Board's decision not to demerge the shipping division at the current market situation. The core of the action plan is a growth strategy for TUI's German flight business under the new brand TUIfly.com, the establishment of a new Europe-wide internet portal for flights, the expansion of the hotel business and entry into the high-volume premium cruise segment under the brand TUI Cruises by means of a joint venture with world market leader Carnival. At the same time, a new debt reduction programme totalling around one billion euros has been initiated. TUI AG has opted for a stand-alone solution for the German market. In future, the airline will operate under the new brand TUIfly.com. ”We will pool Hapagfly and Hapag-Lloyd Express (HLX) into the new brand TUIfly.com in order to secure access to the low-cost, internet and modular tour growth markets”, explained Frenzel. Currently, growth in the modular segment is largely generated through the airlines' websites, through which some of the hotel and rental car modules are already sold today. Following a capacity increase of five aircraft already announced, the fleet will operate a total of 56 aircraft in 2007 and expand its seat capacity by around 27 per cent. The airline strategy will be implemented in three stages. With the merger of Hapagfly and HLX and the integration of flight schedules, a crucial basis for future growth has already been created this year. In mid-January 2007, a uniform internet portal will be released under the new brand. As of 2007, the remaining five TUI airlines in Europe will then gradually be marketed under the website TUIfly.com. In 2008, all existing airlines will gradually be rebranded to the new airline brand TUIfly.com. “Our consistent branding will facilitate considerable efficiency increases in the use of marketing resources and will boost our sales opportunities”, said Frenzel. Carrying passengers from the holiday destinations to TUI's source markets, in particular, is a business that can still be expanded. With TUIfly.com, a European brand, it will be easier to address customers. At the same time, the new brand TUIfly.com will be an essential element of TUI's new internet strategy. Overall, the new airline strategy will create an earnings effect of around 60 million euros by 2008. In order to secure its future airline business, TUI has placed a fleet renewal order with Boeing for 41 aircraft valued at US$ 3.64 billion. The aircraft will be delivered as of 2010 and will replace aircraft required in the period 2010 to 2013 without increasing overall capacity. The new aircraft will replace leased aircraft currently operated in all source markets. Most of the aircraft will be financed through off-balance financing schemes. The above commitment is in addition to an existing order backlog with Boeing of 24 narrow-body aircraft, bringing TUI's total order backlog with Boeing to 65 aircraft.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Turkish Airlines to join Star Alliance
Star Alliance nimmt Turkis Airlines auf
The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has voted to accept the membership application of Turkish Airlines. This now clears the way for Turkish Airlines to begin the integration process which will subsequently see the airline become the alliance's 21 st member carrier. With its fleet of 101 aircraft and network covering destinations in the USA, Europe, Asia and Africa, Turkish Airlines will allow the Star Alliance network to offer customers more than 17,500* daily flights serving 927* airports in 162* countries. Turkish Airlines' home base, Istanbul, will in future become Star Alliance's foremost hub at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and act as gateway to various new destinations in Turkey and new connections especially to Central Asia and the Middle East. “With Turkish Airlines joining Star Alliance, we can offer our customers a wider choice of flight options while at the same time expanding our network reach to areas previously not served. Here specifically, Star Alliance will be in a unique position to offer flight connections through, what has historically been, the gateway to both Asia and Europe,” said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NATO AWACS to get LAIRCM
Raketenwarnsystem für E-3A der NATO
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $104.6 million contract to outfit 17 NATO AWACS aircraft with the company's Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems. Under the terms of the contract with the U.S. Air Force's Electronic Systems Center on behalf of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program Management Organization, Northrop Grumman will commence LAIRCM system deliveries in 2007, with final deliveries
expected in 2009. Integration of the LAIRCM system on the NE-3A aircraft will provide NATO with the latest generation of infrared countermeasures technology, providing warfighters and high-value AWACS aircraft protection against man portable missile threats in operational theaters. Integrating LAIRCM on NE-3A will
give NATO proven infrared countermeasures technology while providing a foundation for using LAIRCM on the remaining domestic and international AWACS fleet." Northrop Grumman's LAIRCM system is a laser-based countermeasures system that operates automatically by detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and activating a high-intensity infrared countermeasure system to track and defeat the threat. The only such system currently in production, Northrop Grumman's Nemesis AN/AAQ-24(V) is being installed on several hundred military aircraft including more than 27 different fixed- and rotary-wing platforms for the U.S. military and several allied countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Denmark.
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Lockheed Martin and aircraft maker EADS-CASA, on December 6, in Seville, transferred ownership of the first Deepwater medium range surveillance maritime patrol aircraft (MRS MPA) to the U.S. Coast Guard. Produced in Spain with substantial U.S. content, including avionics, propulsion and integrated subsystems, the CN-235-300CG is the first all-new aircraft developed for the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System under contract to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS). Following initial training and aircraft familiarization, which are now underway, the Coast Guard will fly the aircraft to Elizabeth City, N.C., where Lockheed Martin will integrate the mission systems pallet prior to delivery for operational evaluation to the Coast Guard's Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., in 2007. The second aircraft under contract to ICGS has begun preliminary flight testing and the third is nearing production completion. The current Deepwater implementation plan calls for production and system integration of 36 aircraft through 2017.
+++
A B-52 Stratofortress took off on a flight-test mission using a blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8 in all eight engines. This is the first time a "Buff" has flown using a synfuel-blend as the only fuel on board. In September, the Air Force successfully flew a B-52 with two-engines using the synfuel-blend. "The B-52 test flights at Edwards AFB are the initial steps in the Air Force process to test and certify a synthetic blend of fuel for its aviation fleet," said Michael Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force. "We are confident that the success of this flight will bring us one step closer to allowing a domestic source of synthetic fuel to accomplish the Air Force mission in the future," added Secretary Wynne. The first B-52 flight using Fischer-Tropsch fuel occurred Sept. 19 at Edwards. Today's flight further demonstrates the Air Force's commitment to using alternate fuels and is the next step in the testing and certification process before the fuel can go into widespread use. The next test phase for the B-52 will be cold weather testing to determine how well the synfuel-blend performs in extreme weather conditions.
+++
Virgin Blue, Australia's multi-award winning airline and Lufthansa Technik, the leading provider for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of airplanes, components and engines, signed a technical support contract for landing gear overhaul. Over the next eight years the landing gears of the 53 Boeing 737 Next-Generation (NG) airplanes will be sent to Hamburg for complete refurbishment. Lufthansa Technik will provide on-site assistance for the first exchange and offer two loan gears as part of the program.
+++
Rolls-Royce formally opened its latest University Technology Centre (UTC) in Darmstadt, Germany. This is the 25th UTC the company has established in Europe. The UTC was launched at the Technical University in Darmstadt by Rolls-Royce Director - Engineering and Technology, Colin Smith, and the President of the Technical University Darmstadt, Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner. It is the third Rolls-Royce UTC established in Germany, where the company already has a strong research pedigree with a number of institutions and universities established over many years. This new UTC will specialise in the aerothermal interaction between the combustor and turbine. This discipline shapes the engine's environmental performance, which is an increasingly vital driver for the aerospace industry of today and tomorrow. Effective work in this area will allow Rolls-Royce to maintain its competitive position by improving efficiency at the same time as reducing engine emissions, which is an essential ingredient in meeting the highly challenging environmental goals set by ACARE (the Advisory Council for Aerospace Research in Europe) in its 2020 Vision. Initially, research by the Darmstadt UTC will be aimed predominantly at the aerospace sector. The TU Darmstadt also has the capabilities to support research activities for the other Rolls-Royce business sectors, marine and energy.
+++
As early as next summer, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines passengers will reap the benefits of bilateral cooperation between the two airlines. The cooperation agreement was signed today in Istanbul by Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber and Candan Karlitekin, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, following the announcement of Turkish Airline's accession to Star Alliance. With the introduction of the 2007 summer timetable on 25 March, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines will operate selected flights between the two countries on a codeshare basis and harmonise their flight schedules. For passengers, this will mean more frequencies, a wider choice of destinations and better connections at Lufthansa's Frankfurt and Munich hubs, as well as at Istanbul. Participants in each airline's frequent flyer programmes can collect miles on the Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines networks and also redeem them with the partner carrier.
+++
Lockheed Martin has received an initial $128 million from the United States government as part of a $256.2 million contract for three C-130J-30 combat delivery aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and one KC-130J tanker for the Marine Corps. These aircraft, slated for delivery in 2010, were authorized and funded by the FY06 Global War on Terror supplemental authorization. This contract brings the total number of C-130Js ordered to date to 186.
+++
The U.S. government has awarded an initial $78 million as part of a $144 million contract to Lockheed Martin for long-lead tasks related to the production of 18 new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft for Pakistan. Earlier this year, the governments of Pakistan and the United States signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) agreeing to the purchase of 18 Block 52 F-16s. The LOA provides Pakistan an option for an additional 18 aircraft. The new aircraft will modernize the existing Pakistan Air Force fleet, bringing a robust and versatile defensive capability to the nation's military. The final Pakistan F-16 under this contract will be delivered in 2010.
+++
Rolls-Royce recognized its long- standing relationship with Gulfstream Aerospace in a ceremony marking the delivery of 3,000 engines to the business jet maker. No other civil aerospace customer has received more engines from Rolls-Royce than Gulfstream.
+++
Designed to spot terrestrial targets and built in a matter of months, Raytheon Company's first rapid-development space-optical payload was delivered recently to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. "This hyper-spectral imaging sensor is a milestone toward demonstrating the feasibility of the United States' operational responsive space concept," said Brian Arnold, vice president for Raytheon's Strategic Systems business. The $14 million ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer) program required Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to develop an experimental payload within 15 months that could help troops identify potential threats on the ground such as weapons, equipment and combatants. Sensor development typically involves years of design, manufacturing and testing.
+++
On 12 December, a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle successfully placed the MEASAT-3 satellite into orbit today, for the final mission of the year for International Launch Services (ILS). The launcher lifted off at 5:28 a.m. today local time (6:28 p.m. Monday EST, 23:28 Monday GMT). The mission lasted 9 hours and 12 minutes before MEASAT-3 was released into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. This was the fourth Proton launch of the year for ILS. ILS has exclusive rights to market and manage missions on the Russian Proton vehicle for commercial satellite customers worldwide. The satellite is a 601HP model built for MEASAT Satellite Systems (MEASAT) by Boeing Satellite Systems International Inc. From its final orbital position of 91.5 degrees East longitude, MEASAT-3 will serve customers in more than 100 countries at C-band and in Malaysia, Indonesia and South Asian with DTH-quality Ku-band coverage. This was MEASAT's first launch on an ILS Proton vehicle, as well as the 10th 601 model spacecraft launched on Proton. "This is the first satellite to be launched for MEASAT in a decade, and we're pleased that ILS and Proton have played a part in this important event," said ILS President Frank McKenna. "We're proud of the accuracy with which Proton delivered the satellite to orbit. Today's successful performance validates MEASAT's confidence in our vehicle, and we hope to convert this confidence into additional opportunities to work with MEASAT."
+++
Dragonair - the Hong Kong-based airline that serves more destinations in Mainland China than any other airline not based there - is to join oneworld. It becomes the 11th airline lining up to board oneworld in 2007 - alongside members elect Japan Airlines and five of its affiliates, Malév Hungarian, Royal Jordanian, LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador - in the alliance's biggest expansion programme since its launch. Dragonair will add a total of 15 destinations to the oneworld map, 12 of them in Mainland China, giving oneworld a total of 22 points served in the country. Overall, Dragonair operates to 19 points in the Mainland with some 400 flights a week from its Hong Kong hub. The 12 points in China it will bring on board for oneworld are Chongqing, Changsha, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Haikou, Kunming, Guilin, Ningbo, Nanjing, Shenyang, Sanya and Wuhan. Elsewhere, it will add Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Phuket (Thailand) to the alliance map. By adding Phnom Penh, oneworld will connect with one new country – Cambodia.
+++
Boeing announced that Stan Deal has been named vice president Asia/Pacific Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, reporting to Larry Dickenson, vice president, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Sales. Deal will be responsible for sales in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Additionally, Rob Laird, vice president Greater China Sales, will be responsible for sales in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines, and also will report to Dickenson.
+++
A pioneering £34m programme putting Britain at the forefront of next generation, greener, cost effective aircraft design will be backed by £17m UK government support Alistair Darling, Trade and Industry Secretary announced today. He launched the first phase of the 'Integrated Wing' programme at the Airbus UK factory at Broughton, North Wales which brings together the best UK researchers and industry to develop the aircraft wing concept of the future. It maintains the country's reputation as a world leader in aerospace design and manufacture. The consortium, led by Airbus UK developing the new wing concept fit for 2020 and beyond will have particular focus on sustainable air travel with more efficient wings meaning reduced fuel burn, emissions and noise. Announcing the project alongside Louis Gallois, President and CEO of Airbus and Rhodri Morgan AM, First Secretary, Welsh Assembly at Broughton, Mr Darling said: "British excellence in aerospace design, development and delivery is world renowned. "We have great strengths, this project looks to the future of aircraft design and brings together our best from the drawing board to the factory floor. By being smart and working as one - from wings to landing gear; fuel systems to electronics - we can lead. "Innovation and creativity like this are crucial if we are to win in the global economy. It means Britain leading the drive for greener aerospace technology. More efficient, less emissions: That is what this project aims to deliver. Strengthening the economy, kinder to the environment: That is why we are backing it." Over £260m of collaborative funding into next generation design is being put in by Government and industry through the National Aerospace Technology Strategy. The first phase of the Integrated Wing Aerospace Programme lasts three years, with the objective of integrating the most promising combination of technologies related to development of wings, wing systems, landing gear and fuel systems. After completing Phase 1, the intention is to go on and develop a large-scale physical demonstrator in the second phase. The best solutions will be put forward for new aircraft designs from 2020.
+++
Boeing announced that Guggenheim Aviation Partners, the U.S.-based aviation investment firm, acting on behalf of one of its investment funds, has ordered three Boeing 777 Freighters, with an option to purchase one additional airplane. At list prices, the order is valued at approximately $708 million. Delivery of the 777 Freighters will begin in 2009. The order was previously accounted for on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries web site and attributed to an unidentified customer.
+++
The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation has signed contracts with Boeing Australia Limited for the delivery and support of a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) capability for the Army. Boeing Australia, teamed with Israel Aircraft Industries, will provide the I-View UAV system. I-View has a wingspan of 6.7 metres and has a fully automatic take-off and landing system that dramatically increases operational reliability. Its catapult launcher and unique parafoil landing concept enable it to be deployed and recovered from an uneven area smaller than a football field. This capability will enable 24 hour surveillance for the protection of Australian forces and identification of enemy targets. The Army's TUAVs will be operated by 132 Battery, of the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, which is based at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera. The introduction of the TUAVs in the Brisbane area is anticipated to create over 125 jobs in the region. The TUAVs are scheduled to commence operational service in late 2009.
+++
The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company signed a contract with AiRUnion at the SAKS 2006 Siberian air show in Krasnoyarsk on Saturday to sell 30 Super Jet-100 planes. The sum of the deal is more than 400 million dollars. According to the agreement, AiRUnion will buy fifteen 95-seat planes, and also an option for 15 planes more is envisaged. Delivery of the first Super Jet is planned for November 2009, Sukhoi President Viktor Subbotin said. AiRUnion President Alexander Abramovich said the aircraft excellently fit the route network of the alliance. The union of five airlines -- Krasair, Domodedovo Airlines, Samara, Omskavia and Sibaviatrans was formed in late 2004. Remaining independent, the companies have united their resources and cooperate on the mutually beneficial basis. Since June 2005, they have been working under the brand AiRUnion.
+++
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) will invest $1.5 billion in research and development (R&D) over the next five years to create the next generation of made-in-Canada engine technologies. "This strategic investment is the most important commitment made by P&WC in its history," said Alain M. Bellemare, President, P&WC. "Our R&D activities will allow us to develop new engine technologies for the next generation of aircraft, such as business jets and helicopters. They will also help us to maintain our leadership position in the highly competitive global aerospace market." This significant R&D investment is expected to generate over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs at P&WC's facilities across Canada and among its network of suppliers from coast-to-coast. As part of P&WC's activities, the company will also invest $75 million in collaboration projects with some 20 Canadian universities. P&WC is the No. 1 R&D investor in Canada's aerospace sector and has a long legacy of innovation, which has allowed it to achieve numerous technological breakthroughs. The company has developed more than 50 new engines for different aircraft and helicopters in the past decade, a benchmark in the aerospace industry. It also has more than 20 exciting new engines currently under development. P&WC will focus its R&D efforts mainly on developing new engine technologies that will surpass International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) most stringent standards for noise and emissions. "We have already achieved unmatched performance levels in these areas," Bellemare noted. "We will also focus on reducing fuel consumption, developing advanced manufacturing technologies and enhancing competitiveness. In other words, we will create the new generation of high performance and greener engines."
+++
A partnership between Boeing and Air France aimed at transforming the way the airline maintains and operates its fleet is deepening thanks to Air France's adoption of the Boeing Airplane Health Management (AHM) system. AHM provides real-time maintenance information to airlines that can address potential problems before they force airplanes out of service and impact an airline's customers - and its own bottom line. The tool will monitor Air France's 777 and 747 fleets. Air France has 42 777s in service and 13 to be delivered; it has 21 747-400s in service.
+++
The F414-based advanced technology demonstrator engine, XTE77/SE2, has successfully completed a test program that demonstrated an advanced two-stage, all-blisk (blade and disk) fan and new high-pressure turbine (HPT) design. The engine ran to 100% of maximum steady core speed and successfully completed all program objectives during more than 20 hours of testing. The new fan design incorporates 3D-aerodynamic forward-swept airfoil technology, which provides approximately 10% higher airflow, improved efficiency and reduced parts count compared with current F414 fans. This second phase of testing builds on work completed in 2005 to verify an advanced, six-stage compressor configuration. "These demonstrations verify critical F414 Enhanced Durability Engine (EDE) technologies that can deliver added mission capability and lower life cycle cost," said Tony Mathis, F404/F414 general manager at GE Aviation. GE has tested growth versions of the F414 since 2004. Through application of advanced 3D-aero airfoil designs, low-loss structural frames, and the latest hot-section materials and cooling concepts, the F414 EDE offers up to 20% thrust increase over today's F414-400 engine, or up to three times the life of today`'s hot section at current thrust levels. The ongoing demonstrator program also includes research into high-cycle-fatigue reduction technologies, and foreign object damage-tolerant fan and compressor airfoil designs.
+++
The Government of South Korea has signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for approximately 50 additional T-50 and TA-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers bringing, the total number of T-50s ordered by South Korea to more than 70. The T-50 was co-developed by KAI and Lockheed Martin to train pilots who will fly advanced and 5 th Generation fighters, such as the F-35. It can also be used as a light attack aircraft when equipped with various arms, such as air-to-air missiles. The new aircraft will be used for advanced jet training and lead-in fighter training. All the aircraft will be delivered from KAI's production facility in Sacheon, South Korea.
+++
A surging civil aircraft market boosted the aerospace industry in 2006, taking total sales to another record level, AIA reported in its state-of-the-industry analysis released Wednesday. Total sales increased by $14 billion, reaching a record $184.4 billion, a record level for the third year in a row. That represents a jump of 8.4 percent over 2005's final sales total. Aerospace also logged a remarkable $52 billion positive trade balance, a vivid reminder of the industry's strength in the international marketplace, AIA President and CEO John Douglass said. "The increasing trade surplus in the industry shows its importance on the global stage and positive impact on the U.S. economy," Douglass said. "It would be hard to overstate aerospace's positive contributions to our national economy, as evidenced by these very strong indicators." The industry also added about 23,000 new jobs, reaching a total of 635,000. Douglass also touched on two important AIA initiatives for 2007. One is a revamp of export control regulations that hamper foreign trade of both civil and military products. Today's rules are outdated and need to be modernized, Douglass said, to increase cooperation with allies as well as help the industry's positive impact on the U.S. economy. The other issue is to continue progressing with the international ethics and business practices initiative announced in July. AIA is working with counterparts in Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Canada to ensure high standards of business ethics are employed around the globe. Most of the major AIA statistical categories showed growth in 2006. Military aircraft increased $2.8 billion to total $52.8, space jumped $1.3 billion to $38.6 billion, and related products went up $2.4 billion to $30.7 billion. But the civil aircraft category stood out, increasing $8.3 billion to hit a total of $47.5 billion. Very strong future orders and backlog point to a thriving civil market for years to come.
+++
Acting on behalf of the DGA (French MoD procurement agency), EADS Astrium set up six two-way optical links between a Mystère 20 aircraft operating from the DGA Istres Flight Test Centre and the ARTEMIS geostationary satellite in early December 2006. These tests were executed as part of the LOLA airborne laser optical link basic study programme conducted by the DGA. Their objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of an optical link between an airborne carrier and a geostationary satellite. These airborne laser links, established over a distance of 40,000 km during two flights at altitudes of 6,000 and 10,000 metres, represent a world first. Link lock-on was obtained in less than 1 second (including the outward and inward optical path), and pointing accuracy was of the order of 0.5 microrad. The laser data rate between aircraft and satellite achieved so far is 50 Mbps. Consumption of the optical terminals is 100W. LOLA total performance is over 15 times more efficient than can be obtained in the microwave domain using optical terminals on board a UAV. Apart from its transmission performance, the optical beam possesses the unequalled quality of being totally discrete and extremely difficult to jam. These characteristics represent a substantial advantage for forces deployed in a theatre of operations.
+++
AirTran Holdings, the parent of AirTran Airways, announced it has made a proposal to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Midwest Air Group for $11.25 per Midwest share in cash and AirTran stock or a total equity value of approximately $290 million. The offer represents a 37 percent premium to the thirty day average closing price and an 89 percent premium to the six months average closing price for Midwest's common stock, prior to October 20, 2006, the date the offer was made. The proposed merger was initially outlined in a letter from Joe Leonard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AirTran Holdings, to the Midwest Board of Directors on October 20, 2006. After a series of communications between the principals and the companies' respective advisors, on December 7, 2006, Mr. Leonard was informed that the Midwest board had declined AirTran's merger offer, determined not to consider AirTran's proposal further and intended to remain independent. Today, Mr. Leonard sent a letter to the Midwest board advising them that AirTran would continue to pursue a merger with Midwest because it believes the proposed combination offers substantial and compelling benefits to the constituents of both Midwest Airlines and AirTran Airways. The combination of AirTran Airways and Midwest Airlines would create a truly national low cost airline with pro forma revenue of approximately $3.0 billion in 2007. AirTran believes that both companies would benefit from this merger by building greater scale, efficiencies and growth opportunities to better succeed in the face of an increasingly competitive airline environment.
+++
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation two contracts worth a total of $254 million for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS). The contracts cover work on the Joint STARS Total System Support Responsibility (TSSR) sustainment and Joint STARS Extended Test Support (JETS) programs. The $140 million TSSR award is for a seventh year, through 2007, following an initial six-year $810 million contract awarded in 2000, bringing the total cumulative value of the TSSR contract to $950 million. The initial contract included options that could extend Northrop Grumman's participation on this program for more than two decades. Through this TSSR contract, the Air Force has reduced the cost of supporting the E-8C fleet by having the prime contractor, Northrop Grumman, partner with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. This cooperative business initiative has been a model for complete life cycle support.
+++
QinetiQ has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to supply a Combined Aerial Target Service (CATS) for the UK's armed forces. Worth up to £308 Million over 20 years, this is QinetiQ's largest competed sale to date. QinetiQ was confirmed by the MOD as preferred bidder for this air target service contract in March 2006 after open competition. Through the contract, QinetiQ will provide a service that meets all of the UK MOD's aerial target requirements worldwide including ground-based air defence training, aerial target services for the Royal Navy, and an air-to-air service for the RAF. CATS combines in a single contract all of the MOD's existing target arrangements. This includes the Mirach service currently delivered by QinetiQ at Aberporth in South Wales as part of the 25-year Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) through which it runs the MOD's 22 principle test and evaluation ranges.
+++
The first BAE Systems Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) destined for India has taken to the skies for its maiden flight, at BAE Systems' facility in Warton. The Hawk, designated HT001 and specifically tailored to meet the Indian Air Forces requirements, took the air for the first time piloted by Keith Dennison, BAE Systems' Chief Test Pilot and Jon Price, Hawk Instructor pilot. Following the successful flight, Keith said: "The short flight went without a hitch. The aircraft performed very well with sparkling acceleration on the runway. It's a delight to fly, as the Hawk always has been, and thanks to the latest developments, it provides a training platform that is closely matched to the demands of the next generation of aircraft." The first flight of HT001 took place just one month after the aircraft was delivered into final assembly. HT001 is the first of 66 Hawk AJTs that are being built for the Indian Air Force, just one of the 19 air forces who are operating or have ordered Hawk, the world's most successful advanced jet trainer. The first 24 aircraft are being built by BAE Systems in the UK, with the remaining 42 being manufactured under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), based in Bangalore.
+++
The first batch of Flap Support Assemblies for the A400M is leaving this week the SABCA Brussels plant for delivery to the Airbus wings assembly line in Filton (UK). The full wing will later be sent to Sevilla, Spain for mating with the fuselage. SABCA, as a member of FLABEL, a consortium managing the interests of the Belgian industry in this program and shareholder of Airbus Military SL, won a major contract for the development and production of four Flap Support Assemblies. These complex mechanisms are the key of the movement of the wing flaps during take-off and landing phases, but also for all slow flight operations.
+++
The European Union and Morocco formally signed an agreement for co-operation on the European satellite navigation programme GALILEO. The agreement covers a large number of areas of cooperation, including joint activities in the field of scientific research and training, industrial cooperation, trade and market development, standards, certification and regulatory measures. Welcoming the outcome of the negotiations, European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot declared: “We are really pleased to count Morocco as a partner in satellite navigation. The country has the potential to exploit Galileo's technology, and we plan to jointly develop activities for applications which will not only benefit citizens but also increase safety and efficiency in many sectors”.
+++
Bombardier Aerospace announced that the Japan Coast Guard has selected the Bombardier Q300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) as its next-generation patrol and surveillance aircraft. Sojitz Corporation of Japan is the prime contractor to the Coast Guard and will acquire three Q300 turboprops from Bombardier. Field Aviation Company inc. of Toronto will provide the mechanical modifications to the aircraft and install the surveillance equipment. This order is the fourth instance in which the Q300 aircraft has been ordered for the maritime patrol role. In March 2006, National Air Support ordered three Q300 aircraft to supplement the five Dash 8/Q200 aircraft in the Surveillance Australia Coastwatch program. The Swedish Coast Guard selected three Q300 aircraft for its maritime surveillance mission. In 2005, the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) chose the Q300 aircraft for low- and medium-altitude navigation aids inspection and calibration.
+++
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) has selected Volvo Aero to participate in the early development phase of the nozzles for the J-2X engine, destined for NASA's new manned launcher ARES I, the successor of the current Space Shuttle. PWR has chosen Volvo Aero for its extensive experience in development and manufacturing of rocket nozzles. The contract may develop into Volvo Aero's most significant US space endeavor, and it is the first time Volvo Aero participates in the development of a manned system.
+++
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) announced it is providing Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) support for Bombardier business jets at Munich's Franz Josef Strauss Airport – Bavaria's main airport – starting January 2007. Together with AOG support teams from Berlin, the new Munich AOG satellite station will offer urgent repair service to Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will operate in conjunction with Premium Aviation and MCM Maintenance Center at the airport's General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to offer more than 1,672 square metres (18,000 sq ft) of combined hangar space and 10 highly qualified maintenance technicians. Both Premium Aviation and MCM have a long history of supporting executive operators and offer a complete range of Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services.
+++
Mario Colaiacovo, Chairman of the SAFRAN Supervisory Board, and Jean-Paul Béchat, Chief Executive Officer, have agreed to a transition to new Group management, in liaison with the company's main shareholders. Mario Colaiacovo has announced that he will step down as Chairman of the SAFRAN Supervisory Board on January 15, 2007. He will remain a member of the company's Supervisory Board. Jean-Paul Béchat, Chief Executive Officer of SAFRAN, has announced that he will leave the Executive Board when he turns 65 on September 2, 2007. Both Mr. Colaiacovo and Mr. Béchat expressed their intention to fully support the future chairman of the Supervisory Board, who will be named shortly. The new chairman of the Supervisory Board will form the new SAFRAN Group executive team
+++
A U.S. Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile built by Raytheon Company was successfully launched Dec. 6 from USS Milius (DDG-69), an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, on the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Sea Test Range off the coast of Southern California. After launch from the vertical launch system, the Tomahawk, equipped with an inert warhead, completed the launch sequence and transitioned to cruise flight. It flew a fully guided 869-mile course using global positioning satellite and digital scene matching area correlator navigation to a target site on the Naval Air Systems Command land range at China Lake, Calif. The test was the first Tomahawk Block IV launch from USS Milius.
+++
Leica Geosystems announced the debut of the company's MPiA (Multiple Pulses in Air) technology, a new patent-pending advanced laser system that measures distances at significantly higher rates than conventional time-of-flight measurement tools. Leica Geosystems' MPiA technology has been successfully tested in real-world applications, and is now ready for incorporation into product lines. Unlike current time-of-flight systems, Leica Geosystems' new MPiA technology does not depend on receiving the target reflection before starting the next distance measurement cycle. Users will now be able to obtain the same distance measurements in less than half the time without sacrificing data accuracy. "This technology has the potential to significantly increase the productivity of airborne LiDAR data acquisition systems,” said George Southard, director of digital imaging sales, Leica Geosystems, Inc. - Americas region. “We will soon be offering our airborne LiDAR customers an upgrade path to take advantage of the MPiA technology along with our industry-leading 150 kHz data acquisition rate. This will enable our customers to fly a notably wider swath at the same point densities as today, or acquire significantly increased point densities with the same swaths as today. Either option ultimately leads to appreciably reduced flight costs resulting in greater savings to our users.”
+++
L-3 Communications WESCAM (L-3 WESCAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications, announced today that its flight-proven multi-spectral MX-15i imaging turret is now available with True HD technology and Enhanced Local Area Processing (ELAP). These two state-of-the-art technologies will work together to deliver the industry's finest day and night-time imagery. Setting itself apart from competitive digital HD imaging turrets, which offer only 720p HD, WESCAM's MX-15 True HD System is capable of outputting True HD-1080p, 1080i, 720p and analog video formats. Utilizing a miniature 1080p HD camera (1920 x 1080 pixels) for both EO Zoom and Spotters, WESCAM's HD technology provides higher resolution and better imaging performance over stand-alone 720p HD systems.
+++
Delta Air Lines on December 15 inaugurated service to its 300th worldwide destination with nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and La Paz, Mexico. With this flight, Delta and the Delta Connection carrier will become the only major airline network to serve 300 destinations. “Delta continues to deliver enormous value to our customers through the unparalleled scope of both our domestic and international network,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president – Network and Revenue Management. “We are especially pleased that our 300th destination is being served nonstop from our growing Latin gateway at Los Angeles where we are increasing customer choice and convenience for travel to and from growing markets in Mexico and Central America.”
+++
A Delta II expendable launch vehicle successfully launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), marking the first mission completed by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) since its formation Dec. 1, 2006. The Delta II rocket carrying NROL-21 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2-West at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Following a nominal 58-minute flight, the rocket deployed the payload. "The United Launch Alliance team is proud and honored to complete this first mission for our government customer," said Michael C. Gass, president and chief executive officer of ULA. "Today we begin a new era in assured access to space. This is the first ULA Delta launch, but it's the 322nd Delta launch since the first one in 1960. ULA continues two highly successful American launch lines that between them have flown more than 850 times. We are committed to sustaining this outstanding record of reliability, only more effectively and affordably as the two lines are integrated over time." The ULA Delta II 7920-10 configuration vehicle used for today's mission featured a ULA first stage booster powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS- 27A main engine and nine Alliant Techsystems (ATK) strap-on solid rocket boosters. An Aerojet AJ10-118K engine powered the second stage. The configuration features a ten-foot-diameter payload fairing.
+++
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract from Boeing to upgrade Japan's four E-767 Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft. The total value, if an additional option is exercised, of this Foreign Military Sale through the U.S. Air Force Material Command's Electronic Systems Center could be as high as $73 million to Northrop Grumman. The contract calls for Northrop Grumman to provide four Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kits for Japan's E-767 fleet, spares and repair parts, support equipment, technical publications and documentation, services and other related program elements to ensure complete AWACS mission equipment supportability. A follow-on installation and check-out contract is planned to begin in 2010. The RSIP upgrades will improve E-767 surveillance capability by increasing the pulse Doppler radar sensitivity to enable the aircraft to detect and track smaller targets. It also improves the radar's electronic counter-countermeasures, human-machine interface and reliability and maintainability.
+++
On December 1, France's defense procurement agency (DGA) successfully completed the first operational test firing of the AASM modular air-to-ground armament. Developed and manufactured by Sagem Défense Sécurité (SAFRAN Group), the AASM is a new family of weapon that will equip the French Army's and Navy's Rafale planes by 2007. Carried out by a Mirage 2000 N at the Biscarosse Launch Missile Test Center (Southwest of France), the qualification test concerned the GPS/inertial guidance version of the armament. It was fired in particularly severe flight conditions (low altitude, high speed, strong load factor). When fired the AASM followed its trajectory and hit its planned target (a fake runway). The test firing follows several dozen successful tests. The AASM exists in two versions: GPS/inertial and GPS/inertial/infrared-image guidance. With a range exceeding 50km depending firing altitude, the two versions can be fired day and night under all conditions, and at a safe distance from enemy ground-to-air defenses.
+++
Finmeccanica concluded the agreements, reached on 6 August 2006, to reduce its shareholding in Avio, a company that develops and manufactures aircraft and spacecraft engines and components. As a result of the agreements, Finmeccanica has sold its stake of around 30% in Avio to the Cinven investment funds for EUR 432 million, thus tripling its initial investment and generating a return of more than 50% per year. The agreement also saw Finmeccanica's partner the Carlyle group sell its own stake in Avio. At the same time, Finmeccanica bought back 15% of Avio for about EUR 130 million, and used the remaining proceeds of EUR 302 million to reduce its debt. The capital gain from the deal will be tied to the stake actually transferred to third parties.
+++
On 11 December, a jet belonging to the Austrian Airlines Group landed according to schedule at the international airport of Erbil in Iraq. By so doing, the Austrian airline had taken the first step in integrating this destination into its global route network. The Airbus A319 was received at Erbil Airport by high-ranking representatives of the region, who welcomed the connection of the city and the region with regular international aviation networks. Austrian Chief Commercial Officer Dr. Josef E. Burger said the following about the new destination: 'In Erbil, we are seeing a milestone in the development of the Austrian route network, as we once again emphasise our pioneering role and specialisation with our Focus East programme of services to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Far East. With Erbil as a new destination, we are creating a crucial link for the economic reconstruction of the country and region, particularly for international traffic. The Austrian Airlines Group operates a scheduled route network that takes in 130 destinations in 66 countries.'
+++
Boeing has been awarded a contract to launch two commercial satellites in 2007 for Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, the prime contractor of the Italian Space Agency. Two Delta II expendable launch vehicles, both in the 7420-10 configuration, will each carry into orbit a COSMO-SkyMed spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. "Boeing Launch Services is honored to support these missions for Alcatel Alenia Space, the European leader in satellite-based solutions," said Boeing Launch Services Director Ken Heinly. "The COSMO/SkyMed system is a critical mission for Italian science, commerce and security, and the Delta II was selected for its reliability, timeliness and affordability."
+++
AerCap Holdings N.V. announced that it has signed an agreement with Airbus for a firm order of 20 new Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft. "This purchase reflects the continuation of our strong relationship with aircraft manufacturers like Airbus, and the continued growth of our business," said Klaus Heinemann, Chief Executive Officer of AerCap. "Given the limited production capacities of the aircraft manufacturers, AerCap orders placed directly with manufacturers are an important part of ensuring the expansion of our portfolio for the remainder of this decade. The A330-200 aircraft in AerCap's diverse portfolio help us meet the needs of a large number of operators worldwide who rely on the A330-200 as a successful component to various airline business models." The announcement brings the number of aircraft for which AerCap has signed purchase contracts in the last twelve months to a total of 121. This includes a purchase agreement for 70 new aircraft through a joint venture announced earlier this year.
+++
Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
 10 December 2006
3 December 2006
26 November 2006
19 November 2006
12 November 2006
5 November 2006
29 October 2006
22 October 2006
15 October 2006
8 October 2006
1 October 2006
24 September 2006
17 September 2006
10 September 2006
3 September 2006
27 August 2006
20 August 2006
13 August 2006
6 August 2006
30 July 2006
23 July 2006
16 July 2006
January - June 2006
January - December 2005
January - December 2004
January - December 2003
January - December 2002
January - December 2001
January to December 2000
January to December 1999
January to December 1998
January to December 1997
September to December 1996
|
