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UPDATE 
Week ending June 28, 1998
+++ ESA Council meeting decides on immediate measures +++ Money for EURAAM approved by German committees +++ RAF chooses Grob G 115D as new trainer +++ Boeing publishes latest market forecast +++ German Sea Lynx will be modernised +++ Messerschmitt "flying museum" opened at Manching +++ Three Star Alliance partners form new venture +++ News in brief +++

ESA Council meeting decides on immediate measures
ESA-Rat in Brüssel beschließt Sofortmaßnahmen

The Council of the European Space Agency meeting in Brussels on 23 to 24 June 1998 decided on a greater coordination between ESA and the European Union. It adopted a "Resolution on Immediate Measures and Preparatory Steps towards the Council Meeting at Ministerial Level related to ESA's new programmes and its evolution". The Council approved the initiation of the first step of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS-2), the definition and start-up of activities related to the Living Planet Programme in Earth Observation, the first step in the development of a more powerful version of Ariane 5 to ensure its continued competitiveness on the international launcher market. Approval was also given to a first step in preparing the development of the small launcher Vega. The Council also adopted the "Resolution on the Reinforcement of the Synergy between ESA and the European Union", which calls for the further strengthening of relations and encourages more initiatives at strategic level for developing a common vision, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, navigation and Earth observation to enhance the effectiveness of public investments in these programmes for the benefit of both users and European industry. The Brussels meeting was preceded by a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1973 European Space Conference which laid the foundations for ESA and its programmes.

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Money for EURAAM approved by German committees
Ausschüsse billigen Mittel für EURAAM

The parliamentary defence and finance committees in Bonn have approved the so called definition phase for a new medium-range air-to-air missile for the Eurofighters of the Luftwaffe. This will allow conclusion of contracts with Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH (LFK) for a risk-reduction and test programme lasting about two years. Roughly 350 million DM will be available, but a first contract will probably be worth only around 150 million DM. These will be spent on things like four free-flights of a missile in tha A3M configuration, to validate the performance of the Bayern-Chemie rocket/ramjet engine. Also, work on a seeker combining Ka- and X-band should continue. The EURAAM studies are part of wider ranging European efforts to procure a common medium-range AAM for EF2000 and Gripen. The UK recently has received bids from Matra BAe Dynamics (Meteor) and Raytheon of the US (FMRAAM) for its BVRAAM competition. Germany and other countries are observers there.

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RAF chooses Grob G 115D as new trainer
Grob-Trainer von der RAF ausgewählt

On June 18, Armed Forces Minister Dr John Reid announced that Bournemouth-based Bombardier Services has been chosen as preferred bidder for a contract to replace the current Bulldog trainer aircraft. Subject to final negotiations Bombardier Services is to supply the Grob 115D aircraft, and provide a linked package of support services which will give the RAF some 50,000 flying hours per year at a saving in excess of 30 million pounds over the next ten years. The aircraft will be owned and maintained by the contractor who will provide flying hours and support services to the University Air Squadrons and the Air Cadet Air Experience Flights at 13 locations across the UK.
"The planned contract will provide the RAF with a modern aircraft that is ideally suited to the training role it is required to perform. The aircraft is quieter and significantly cheaper to run than the ageing Bulldog aircraft it will replace. "The choice of aircraft was narrowed down to the Grob 115D and the Firefly M260. The Grob 115D better meets our particular requirements for the University Air Squadron and Air Cadet tasks and in particular its cockpit size and ergonomics offer a better teaching environment. Moreover, the Grob is quieter and operating costs are significantly less than the Firefly. Taking all factors into account it offers better value for money on this occasion", Reid said.

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Boeing publishes latest market forecast
Neue Marktprognosen von Boeing

Small airplanes will capture the largest segment of the market over the next 20 years, according to Boeing Commercial Airplane Group's 1998 edition of the "Current Market Outlook." The annual forecast projects seven out of 10 airplanes delivered during the next two decades will be single-aisle airplanes - the size of the Boeing 717, 737 and 757. Airplanes of this size will account for 43 percent of the dollars invested in new airplanes, or 12,260 airplanes. Intermediate-size airplanes, such as the Boeing 767 and 777, will represent one out of four future airplane deliveries. Airplanes of this size will account for 44 percent of the dollars invested in new airplanes, or 4,360 airplanes. The report estimates the smallest market segment, 747-size or larger airplanes, will total 15 percent of the dollars invested in new jetliners, or 1,030 airplanes.
The Boeing forecast projects annual, worldwide air travel growth of 4.9 percent. The report expects the commercial jet airplane fleet of 2017 to have 26,200 airplanes, with airlines adding 17,650 airplanes, worth $1.25 trillion, over the next two decades. Bruce Dennis, vice president of Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, said: "This forecast was the basis for our decision not to build an airplane larger than today's 747. Unlike our competitor, we think that market forces are moving toward frequency over size. The market is simply too small and too far into the future to risk investing large amounts of money on airplanes larger than the current 747-400."
Boeing thinks the Asian economic situation is to be short term. During the next five years, the crisis will result in about 150 fewer airplane orders for all manufacturers. However, in the long term, the forecast predicts that Asian economies will regain stability and gradually return to previous growth trends. The report projects Asia-Pacific airlines will add 4,760 new jets, worth $ 427 billion, over the next two decades.

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German Sea Lynx will be modernised
Modernisierungsprogramm für Sea Lynx der Marineflieger

On June 24, the German BWB (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung = Federal Agency for Military Technology and Procurement) has signed contracts worth over 250 million DM for the upgrade of the Marineflieger fleet of 17 Sea Lynx Mk88 helicopters to the latest Super Lynx standard. GKN Westland will be responsible for the first trial installation and will then supply kits to Eurocopter Deutschland who are prime contractor for upgrading the remaining 16 helicopters at Donauwörth. The trial installation will be completed by early 2001 and the overall programme by 2003.
The upgraded aircraft will be supplied with new fuselages int owhich the existing fleets engines, flying controls, hydraulic systems, avionics and electrical systems will be transferred. Upgrades and modifications will aso be applied to teh tail rotor system. Equipment fit will include GEC-Marcony Sea Spray 3000 radar, Racal Doppler 91, RNS 252 and Rockwell Collins GPS. The helicopters will also be fitted to accomodate the forward looking infrared system fitted to the seven new Mk88A aircraft and be capable of deploying teh Sea Skua air to surface missile in additon to its current anti-submarine warfare role fit.

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Messerschmitt "flying museum" opened at Manching
Fliegendes Museum in Manching eröffnet

On June 26, the Messerschmitt hangar at the Dasa Manching plant was officially opened. More than 700 guests attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony by Aloysius Rauen (Dasa Military) and Messerschmitt Foundation officials. The building, which was finished in less than a year, was opened on the 100th birthday of the famous designer. It housed a HA-300 and a Bf 108, while the flyable Me 109G, Bf 108 and Saeta jet trainer were performing a spirited flying display. The new hangar will be home to these flyable machines and will also get a Me 262 replica from the Texas Aircraft Factory in 2000.

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Three Star Alliance partners form new venture
Drei Star Alliance-Partner formen neues Joint -venture

Three members of the Star Alliance - United Airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa Technik recently created a new joint venture company, AirLiance Materials, to buy and sell used aircraft parts. Now in addition to selling seats on each others' flights through codesharing agreements, partners are cooperating to cut costs through pooling surplus parts inventories and reselling them to each other and other airlines. Together the three airlines currently trade nearly $100 million in "pre-owned" or after-market parts each year, which represents about 10 percent of the world's current spare parts market

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

NATO Headquarters Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) in Brunssum, the Netherlands, has established a Partnership for Peace (PfP) Staff Element.This will further strenghten the PfP process by intensifying contacts with Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden.
+++
On 23. June, a Tornado of the Luftwaffe and a sailplane collided over the northern part of the Black Forest. While the combat jet was able to make a forced landing at Ramstein Air Base, the glider was later found smashed in a wooded area, with the pilot dead. An investigation is under way.
+++
CASA has opened an office in Seoul to promote the Eurofighter EF2000. South Korea has loosely defined requirement for an F-15-class fighter, but that seems to be pretty much down on the list of priorities.
+++
Fairchild Aerospace President Jim Robinson announced that John D. Wolf has joined the company June 22 as its Chief Operating Officer. Based in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany, Wolf will be responsible for the company's aircraft business, as well as its aircraft components and services businesses, which are based in Germany and the United States. From 1989
through early 1997, Wolf held progressively broader executive management positions at Douglas Aircraft Company, including responsibilities for the MD-80, MD-90, MD-11 and MD-95 programs. The MD-95 was subsequently re-named the Boeing 717 after the Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger. With Wolf incoming previous vice-president Earl Robinson and 328JET programme manager James Brown have left the company.
+++
Transaero Airlines, "The New Airline for the New Russia," has announced the acquisition of two new Boeing 737-700 aircraft, the first of their type added to the airline's fleet. The aircraft were delivered on June 24 at a Boeing ceremony in Seattle. Transaero Airlines presently offers one weekly non-stop flight between Los Angeles and Moscow. Domestically, Transaero has the biggest, most comprehensive network within Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In addition, the Transaero Privilege Program is the first and only mileage program, on any carrier in Russia.
+++
Philippine Airlines (PAL) said last week that it has told Airbus Industrie and Boeing that it was canceling orders for 11 aircraft worth 780 million dollars due to losses from a crippling, three-week old pilot strike. PAL Senior Vice President Jaime Bautista told a news conference that the airline has asked the aircraft companies to cancel delivery of eight Airbus 320-200s worth 300 million dollars and three Boeing 747-400s worth 480 million dollars.
+++
Boeing intends to buy 100 Russian supersonic target rockets developed on the basis of the anti-ship rocket X-31A, code named Cripton by NATO. An agreement on the deal was reached after talks between representatives of the state research and production center Zvezda-Strela (Star-Arrow) and American specialists in Korolyov, just outside Moscow. The American company decided to buy Russian rockets in connection with its participation in a tender to develop a new supersonic target with a sea-skimming trajectory simulating Russian supersonic anti-ship rockets Moskit 3M-80 which by the end of this year will for the first time be put in service with the Chinese navy.
+++
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on June 23 placed America West Airlines under a safety watch and classified it as a troubled air carrier. FAA inspectors will keep an eye on airline employees with a special focus on scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and ramp inspections for evidence of corrosion in the carrier's 103 jets. The move comes in response to complaints by employees of the Phoenix-based airline. America West is the US ninth- largest airline with 600 daily flights. It has hubs in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Columbia.
+++
On June 24, Air Wisconsin has placed a firm order for four Canadair Regional Jet Series 200LR aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace for service under the United Express banner from Denver, Colorado. Value of the order is $84 million U.S. ($123.5 million Cdn.). Air Wisconsin expects to start its CRJ service in the first quarter of 1999.
+++
Lockheed Martin will further expand the international connections of its Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program when it performs testing of its JSF aircraft concept at the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) wind tunnel in the Netherlands this summer. Testing of scale models of the Lockheed Martin aircraft will be accomplished at NLR's 9.5 by 9.5-meter low speed wind tunnel, beginning in August. The Netherlands is participating in the JSF development program as an associate partner. Additionally, the government of the Netherlands has made a total of $75 million (U.S.) available for Dutch companies to use in pursuing technologies applicable to the JSF aircraft being designed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
+++
On June 24, Russia's international airline Aeroflot has received the first of 10 Boeing 777-200 jets as part of an ambitious re- equipment plan. The airline intends to put the widebody jet into service immediately on the busy Moscow-London and Moscow-New York routes, replacing smaller Boeing 767s and Airbus A-310s. Aeroflot is also in the process of receiving 10 Boeing 737-400 short- haul jets for its domestic and European network, replacing old Russian Tupolev-134 twinjets and Tupolev-154 trijets.
+++
A cable fire has paralysed the Terminal A of Hannover airport on the evening of June 18. Around 200 people had to be evacuated, but traffic was switched to other facilities. Damage was minor, the airport said later.
+++
ZF Luftfahrttechnik has boosted turnover in 1998 by 13,6 per cent to 92 million DM, leading to around 20 new jobs (now 456) at the Kassel-Calden and Friedrichshafen plants. For the first time, there was a profit, though the management did not give details.
+++
For the first time, the European Court of Justice has ruled that aid for state-owned airlines was wrongly approved by the European Commission. It criticised the 20 billion French Francs accorded to Air France on the ground that there was no conclusive justification for it.
+++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen ist nach wie vor abrufbar:

*June 21, 1998 *June 14, 1998 *June 7, 1998

*May 31, 1998 *May 24, 1998 *May 17, 1998 *May 10, 1998 *May 3, 1998

*April 26, 1998 *April 19, 1998 *April 5, 1998

*January to March 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

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