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Week ending March 22, 1998
+++ DRF celebrates 25 years of EMS helicopter operations +++ Lufthansa forms alliance with Mexicana +++ NH90 flies with T700 engine +++ Aerospace companies see growth with new products +++ Lauda air staff call for better conditions +++ FAA approves Boeing next-generation 737-800 +++ Tyrolean now fully owned by Austrian +++ Germans to use AsiaSat 2 +++ 300th Beech 1900D delivered +++ News in brief +++
DRF celebrates 25 years of EMS helicopter operations
Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht wurde 25
With a reception in Bonn on March 17, the DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht, German air rescue service) has celebrated its 25 years of helicopter rescue operations. The first flight under the auspices of this charitable organization took place on March 17, 1973 from the central hospital at Böblingen near Stuttgart. Since then, over 175000 missions were recorded, both with helicopters and ambulance aircraft. In 1997, the DRF performed 16558 flights, around 1000 more than the year before. It now has 18 rescue stations throughout Germany, served by 22 helicopters and two aircraft. 150 employees are tasked with the operations, among them 70 pilots, 23 mechanics and 14 specialists in the command centre at Filderstadt near Stuttgart, where patient retrieval form abroad is organized. Costs amounted to 74 million DM, of which around one fourth (18 million) was provided by donations and member dues, while the rest comes from medical security programmes.
The next projects for the DRF are the opening of new maintenance facilities at Baden Airport (Söllingen) and the continouous modernisation of its fleet. In a 200 million DM framework accord with Eurocopter, it has ordered 19 new EC 135s and BK 117Cs for delivery in the next ten years. Also, news stations vacated by the Luftwaffe are taken on, like Nurenberg on April 1. But not expanison is the main aim now, but making operations more efficient to counter cost pressures in the medical system in Germany.
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Lufthansa forms alliance with Mexicana
Lufthansa: Allianz mit Mexicana
Despite the economic crises in Mexico, Lufthansa Airlines is increasing its operations in the region and is negotiating a service alliance with Mexicana de Aviacion, the country's largest airline. Mexican sources say that under the deal with Mexicana, passengers on both airlines will be able to accumulate airmiles with either provider, and each will be able to use the services of the other in both countries. The German airline will soon operate seven flights a week to Mexico. In 1997 Lufthansa transported 75000 passengers to Mexico, with an average load factor of 75 percent.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
NH90 flies with T700 engine
Erster Flug des NH90 mit General Electric-Triebwerk
On March 13, the first NH90 prototype was flown for the first time with the T700-T6E engine, codeveloped by Alfa Romeo Avia, Fiat Avio and General Electric. The trial started at 9.45 am and for the next 55 minutes experimental test pilots Fabio Frisi and Carlo Tondi with flight test engineer Marco Montorfano conducted various tests. Agusta at Cascina Costa has the design responsibility for the installation and testing of this engine, as foreseen by the Additional Work and National Customisation contract signed in October 1995. The GE engine has been selected by the Italian armed forces for their NH90s, while other nations may stay with the standard Turboméca/Rolls-Royce RTM322.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Aerospace companies see growth with new products
Neue Produkte sollen Luft- und Verteidigungsindustrie stärken
According to the "1998 Vision in Manufacturing" study by Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, the aerospace and defence industry is entering an era where the old formula for success, which principally relied on superior product performance and cost, is giving way to a fundamentally new model in which price and time-to-market are of equal, if not greater importance in determining business success. A survey among top executives worldwide brought the following ciritical success factors into the spotlight:- Global expansion: Aerospace and defense manufacturers are actively pursuing market growth; expansion into overseas markets is high on the agenda. the main problem here is to overcome political constraints.
- Product development: Executives surveyed anticipate the percentage of reneues attributed to product introductions, which include extensions of existing products, to increase form 19,5 per cent to 31 per cent in the next three years.
- Customer orientation: Executives must become even more market- and customer-focused in order to maintain existing market shares, explore new regions and sectors.
- Organizational change: Streamlined and flexible organizational sturctures are importand. companies in North America are at a more advanced stage of change compared to their competitiors in Europe.
- Supply chain integration: The need to reduce cycle time and improve product development are driving the better integration of suppliers.
- Workforce flexibility: Organizational transformation must be complemented by workforce transformation. A skilled workforce is no longer suficient. the demand for cost-effective and agile processes calls for a workforce that is also flexible and efficient.
Lauda air staff call for better conditions
Unzufriedene Cockpit- und Kabinencrews bei Lauda
Aircrews at Lauda Air, Austria's second biggest carrier, want the same working conditions as their colleagues at Austrian Airlines. Niki Lauda, the airline's founder, believes such a move would cause the demise of the airline. Staff maintain that they don't want to cripple the airline by demanding wages comparable with Austrian Airlines but find it unacceptable that pilots and cabin crew normally work up to 15 hours without a break. According to the daily Kurier, Lauda Air staff have appealed to the Austrian Social Affairs Ministry to arbitrate in the dispute. Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
FAA approves Boeing next-generation 737-800
FAA-Zulassung für Boeing 737-800
Boeings second model of the Next-Generation 737, the 737-800, has earned type certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on March 13. The 737-800 is capable of carrying 160 to 189 passengers and is 19 feet longer than the 737-700. The aircraft is expected to receive validation from Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) by the end of March. Launch customer Hapag-Lloyd of Germany is scheduled to take delivery of the first airplane shortly thereafter. Continental will be the first U.S.-based airline to take delivery of the 737-800 later this year.Boeing said more than 350 flight tests were completed before certification was awarded. Since the 737-800 began its flight test program in June 1997, the three test airplanes have completed more than 760 flights, 550 hours of ground testing and 740 hours of flight testing. The 128-to-149 seat 737-700 is the airplane that launched the Next-Generation program when Southwest Airlines ordered 63 in November 1993. The first 737-700 was delivered to Southwest in December 1997.
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Tyrolean now fully owned by Austrian
Austrian Airlines übernimmt restliche Anteile an Tyrolean
On March 20, Austrian Airlines has announced that it has taken the 14,3 per cent stake of the Leipnik Lundenberger Invest Beteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft in Tyrolean Airways, which thus becomes a 100 per cent subsidiary of the national carrier. Austrian has pledged that the "Tyrolean character and the independence" of the regional airline will not be touched. Indeed, the young fleet, dynamic expansion and profit margins of 8,1 per cent make Tyrolean Airways a valuable addition to Austrian. Tyrolean will continue to concentrate on regional services. Austrian first took a 42,85 per cent stake in Tyrolean in March 1994 and added another 42,45 per cent in December 1997 when it took the stake of the Gernot Langes Swarowski GmbH.Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite
Germans to use AsiaSat 2
AsiaSat 2 wird von DeTeSat genutzt
On March 19, Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) and Germany's DeTeSat announced the signing of a lease agreement on the Germans' use of AsiaSat 2 for voice, data and image transmission across the former Soviet Union. "With the AsiaSat 2 capacity, we are able to expand our service over the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States) and other regions, forming part of our global satellite communications network," Gerd Scheuermann, managing director of DeTeSat Deutsche Telecom Gesellschaft fur Satellitenkommunikation mbH of Germany, told reporters. "We use AsiaSat 2 because it offers excellent coverage," he added. "In one single beam, we can offer satellite communications services stretching from Moscow to the Russian Far East, reaching cities such as Vladivostok and Khabarovsk."AsiaSat 2, a Lockheed Martin Series 7000 model, is the second satellite of AsiaSat. It carries 20 36-MHz and four 72-MHz C-band and nine 54-MHz Ku-band transponders. Its extensive C-band footprint covers 53 countries embracing Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Australia and the CIS. Based in Bonn, Germany, DeTeSat is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telecom AG, which currently operates 3,500 VSAT stations in Europe.
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300th Beech 1900D delivered
Raytheon liefert 300. Beech 1900D aus
On March 16, Raytheon Aircraft delivered its 300th stand-up cabin Beech 1900D Airliner to Proteus Airlines of Lyon, France. Delivery ceremonies were held at Raytheon Aircraft's Customer Delivery Center in Wichita. Proteus has placed an order for 10 new Beech 1900Ds, to be operated in scheduled service to cities throughout France. When all 10 aircraft are in place this fall, Proteus Airlines will be the largest 1900D operator in Europe. In addition to its most recent order, the company flies two previously acquired Beech 1900Ds and six Beech 1900Cs, and operates other regional airline equipment as well.The Beech 1900D was developed from the highly successful Beech 1900 Airliner, which has been in service since 1984. In addition to the 300 Beech 1900Ds now serving regional airlines, special mission operators and corporations, 250 earlier versions of the 1900 series were delivered between 1984 and 1991.
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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines will make daily flights to virtually all European capitals, starting from this summer, Itar-Tass news agency reports. A spokesman of the airline said six new Boeing 737 jetliners will enter the fleet this year. They will fly to Europe by day, and on their return to the east and the south of Russia. According to Aeroflot specialists, this will help to increase considerably flight hours of every plane and, consequently, profits.+++
American Airlines is planning to buy another seven Boeing 777 jetliners for delivery in 1999 and 2000. American is scrambling to add aircraft to expand its international service, including more flights to Japan, Latin America and Europe. The board of American's parent, AMR Corp., will be asked to approve the purchase of four more of the long-range 777-200IGW aircraft for delivery in 1999 and three more in 2000, the newspaper says. The purchase carries a price tag of $950 million to nearly $1.1 billion, based on Boeing's list prices for the aircraft, but American has negotiated a "healthy discount".
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On March 18th, Continental Airlines announced that it will purchase 15 Next-Generation Boeing 737-900 aircraft from Boeing. The airline will convert 15 current 737 options into firm orders that will be delivered between May 2001 and July 2002. In addition, Continental and Boeing agreed to an additional 25 options that could be exercised between 2001 and 2004. The airline said it will take delivery of 64 new Boeing aircraft this year. The new 737-900s will be used to replace jets that will be retired as the new aircraft are delivered. By 1999, Continental's average domestic fleet age will drop from 13,8 years to approximately 7,2 years, one of the youngest in the industry.
+++
Fairchild Dornier has handed over the fourth and fifth Dornier 328 turboprop to state-owned Colombian regional airline SATENA. A sixth aircraft will follow in June.
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With the arrival of a DC-10 freighter (on long-term lease), Air France will increase its cargo capacity to Asia (China), North America and Africa. The DC-10 is better suited for the West African and Mediterranean markets, such as Cairo, Damascus and Istanbul, the airline says.
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The second of two BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 engines has been installed on the first Boeing 717-200 test airplane, paving the way for a roll-out in May. Development engines have completed more than 500 hours of testing, plus a successful 150-hour endurance test.
+++
Aerospatiale has delivered the 100th solid booster for the Ariane 4 launcher. The company is prime contractor for the boosters, which are built in Colleffero (italy) in the facilities fo Fiat Avio-BPD Difesa e Spazio. Fiat assembles and loads the propellant for the boosters. Out of 76 flights of the Ariane 4 vehicle, 39 were versions with solid boosters.
+++
With the start of the summer schedule, Eurowings will boost its feeder services to Paris (Air France) and Amsterdam (KLM). New routes are Dortmund to Palma de Mallorca, Berlin - Riga, Nurnberg - London/Stansted, Dresden - London/Stansted and Stuttgart - Venedig. Intra-German routes offered are Hamburg - Nurnberg and Dusseldorf - Leipzig/Halle.
+++
The Czech air force has requested further information on the Rooivalk and was in talks with Denel Aviation, an aerospace company owned by the South African government, to arrange a demonstration of the Rooivalk helicopter it is reported. This move is seen in connection with South Africas need for new jet trainers. Aero Vodochody is one of several aerospace companies that will bid to supply the South Africa Air Force (SAAF) with 24 lead-in jet trainers.
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On March 19, Boeing Enterprises and RADA Electronic Industries announced that they have signed a preliminary agreement for Boeing to invest $10 million to acquire a minority interest in RADA. The investment will make Boeing the largest single stockholder in the Israel-based company, a leading provider of airplane avionics test equipment and electronic systems for commercial and military customers.
+++
British Airways subsidiary Brymon Airways of Plymouth, England will acquire eight de Havilland Dash 8Q Series 300 aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace. The transaction is subject to a definitive agreement, expected in the next few weeks. Value of the contract is approximately $115 million U.S. ($162.6 million Cdn.). Deliveries will begin in April 1998 and continue into early 1999. "This is the largest single order in our history and is part of a package of measures to boost punctuality on existing services, replace some of our current fleet of nine older Dash 8 aircraft and serve new routes on behalf of British Airways," said Mike Coombes, general manager, commercial at Brymon Airways.
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From May 4, Augsburg Airways will ad the Augsburg - Hamburg route to its network, offering one daily flight in each direction. Hamburg is a new hub for the regional carrier, from where it serves Dresden, Leipzig/Halle and Nurenberg.
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On Tuesday, 17th March at 1.31 MEZ in the morning, the Progress M38 cargo spacecraft was docked to the Mir space station. The maneuvre was completed by manual commands from station commander Talgat Mussabajew. Progress brings new water and other supplies as well as a new station keeping thruster that should be fitted during several spacewalks.
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In 1997, accidents with German-registered aircraft killed 89 people, nearly 20 less than in the year before. More than one third were due to single-engined aircraft crashes, while helicopter accidents claimed the lives of just two people, and airlines reported zero deaths.
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Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain, inventor of the jet engine, has died at age 86 at its Florida home.
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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen ist nach wie vor abrufbar:
March 15, 1998
March 8, 1998
February 22, 1998
February 15, 1998
February 8, 1998
February 1, 1998
January 25, 1998
January 18, 1998
January 11, 1998
January to December 1997
September to December 1996
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Last updated March 20, 1998
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