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UPDATE 
Week ending May 2, 1999
+++ Airbus A318 is launched +++ Lufthansa orders Fairchild Aerospace 728JETs +++ NATO intensifies air campaign against Yugoslavia +++ Successful launch of ABRIXAS X-ray satellite +++ Athena investigation points to payload fairing +++ Neues ISS-Modul in Rußland gezeigt +++ Vegaspazio, a new joint venture for the VEGA launch system +++ Lufthansa sees profit drop +++ Greece buys new fighters +++ News in brief +++

Airbus A318 is launched
Programmstart für den Airbus A318

Airbus Industrie has formally launched the A318, adding a new aircraft version to its single-aisle A320 Family. A total of 109 orders and commitments have been received from customers including Air France, Egyptair, ILFC and TWA. The launch base for the programme exceeds the commercial requirements set by the Airbus Industrie Supervisory Board. Due to enter service in the last quarter of 2002, the A318 will carry 107 passengers in a standard two-class layout up to 3,700 km/2,000 nm in its baseline version, and will be the smallest member of the A320 Family, the fastest selling airliner family ever. Over the next 20 years, Airbus Industrie forecasts a demand of more than 1,300 aircraft in the A318 size category.
Noël Forgeard, Managing Director of Airbus Industrie, stressed the significance of this launch. "With the A318, one of the last objectives regarding our product development strategy has been achieved," he said. "We have rounded out our single-aisle product range with an aircraft that enables us to satisfy customer needs in the 100-seat category. This aircraft provides the benefits of the same type rating as other members of the A320 Family, and full operational commonality with larger Airbus Industrie aircraft."
Final assembly of the A318 will be in Hamburg alongside the A319 from which it is derived. This will allow maximum flexibility when responding to market conditions and customer requests. Industrial negotiations between the Airbus Industrie partners are presently continuing at an advanced stage. Airbus Industrie has made its position known to the partners, but the decision-making process on the issues in question remains in their hands. Nonetheless, in line with the status of Airbus Industrie, the A318 launch decision taken by the Managing Director represents a full commitment by the consortium to its customers and suppliers.

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Lufthansa orders Fairchild Aerospace 728JETs
Erster Auftrag für 728JET

On April 29, Lufthansa has signed a contract for 60 firm 728JET 70-seat airliners, valued at approximately $1.6 billion. The airline also has taken options for 60 additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2002. "As launch customer for the 728JET, Lufthansa has again demonstrated its leadership in commercial aviation," said Fairchild Aerospace Chairman and CEO Carl Albert. "We are extremely pleased that such a successful and well-respected airline is the lead customer for our new product line."
The 728JET, powered by two GE CF34 turbofan engines, is the first member of a new family of airliners in the 55 to 100-seat class, combining airliner passenger comfort with the efficiency and flexibility of 55-100 seat aircraft. It is the only product line that offers complete commonality over a broad range of airliners in the 100-seat and below market, Fairchild Aerospace claims.

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NATO intensifies air campaign against Yugoslavia
Luftangriffe auf Jugoslawien werden intesiviert

NATO has stepped up its military pressure on the Milosevic regime in Belgrade with heavy attacks throughout Yugoslavia during the week, at times putting in over 600 sorties per 24 hour period. Recent events include:
  • On April 26, a US Apache attack helicopter was destroyed on a night-time training flight in Albania. Both crewmembers were injured, but are in good condition in hospital
  • A HAMRM missile strayed of course and hit a house in Bulgaria, near the capital Sofia.
  • German Luftwaffe reconnaissance Tornados returned to Piacenza, after they had been withdrawn on April 14 and kept on alert at their home Base of Schleswig. There are now again 14 Luftwaffe Tornados in Italy
  • The US is sending over more B-52s to Europe plus other aircraft
  • On May 1, in another mistake, a civil bus was hit on a bridge under attack, with maybe 60 people dead.
  • An US F-16 fighter from Aviano was lost on the night of 2 May near the Croatian border, possibly due to engine failure. The pilot ejected and was rescued soon after.
  • As of 28 April, there were 11410 missions flown for operation Allied Force, 4000 of them strike and 3500 Combat Air Patrol, plus 2570 tanker sorties. Also, the US alone has now 446 transport missions in support of the refugee release operations in Albania and Mazedonia.
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Successful launch of ABRIXAS X-ray satellite
Röntgensatellit ABRIXAS erfolgreich gestartet

The mission of the German X-ray satellite ABRIXAS had a successful beginning. The satellite was launched on a Cosmos launch rocket on 28 April from the Russian spaceport Kapustin Yar. The satellite is now orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 580 kilometers. The three year mission of ABRIXAS (A BRoad Band Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey) is to look for x-rays coming out of the depth of the universe. Among other topics, ABRIXAS is looking at black holes, neutron stars and supernova remains. The physicists expect that the small satellite will discover more than 10000 so far unknown x-ray sources. The data will help to generate a map of the universe. The project is scientifically supervised by the Astrophysikalisches Institut in Potsdam, the Max-Planck institute for extraterrestic physics in Garching and the institue for astronomy and astrophysics of the university of Tübingen. ABRIXAS will continue the work of the successful German satellite Rosat which, after an eight-year successful mission, went off-line at the beginning of the year and which had discovered more than 150 000 new x-ray sources. The ABRIXAS mission costs 40 million Marks. Similar projects will follow in the US (AXAF) and Europe (XMM).

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Athena investigation points to payload fairing
Nutzlastverkleidung der Athena für Zwischenfall verantwortlich

An aluminum cover designed to protect the Ikonos-1 satellite during launch has been identified as the cause of its failure on Tuesday. Lockheed Martin, which built the spacecraft, said that its payload fairing, a 1,143 pound cover that sits over the satellite during its launch through the atmosphere, failed to separate from the rocket during its last maneuvers as it was programmed to do. Analysis of the craft's radio telemetry indicated that the added weight of the fairing made it impossible for the Athena II rocket's fourth stage to send the Ikonos-1 into orbit. The result was that the rocket, with the satellite still attached, crashed into the Pacific Ocean hours after Tuesday's launching from Vandenberg Air Base, Calif. The company, which built the rocket as well as the satellite, said a preliminary investigation of data radioed from the rocket indicated that its four stages performed as planned during the launching. The completion of the investigation will clear the rocket to launch NASA science payloads next year, and possibly the Ikonos-2, which is a duplicate of the satellite destroyed Tuesday, before the end of the year. The Ikonos-1 was the first privately owned satellite that was capable of photographing objects on the ground as small as 3 feet. This type of capability has been limited in the past to government and military spy satellites.

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Neues ISS-Modul in Rußland gezeigt
Russia unveils new ISS module

Russian space officials on Monday unveiled a key segment of the new international space station that will house the first crew -- but its launch date is still months away. Russia's repeated delays in completing the service module have put the entire 16-nation project more than a year behind schedule, pushing up expenses and frustrating other partners. The first component of the station, the U.S.-funded, Russian-built Zarya module, was launched last November. NASA followed in December with its Unity module. NASA wants Russia to commit all its scarce resources to the new outpost and abandon Russia's aging Mir space station that has been in orbit for more than 13 years. The Russian government said it would only pay for Mir through August, and then scrap the station unless private investors come up with funds. No funds have been forthcoming, but Russia has still not announced a final decision on what it will do with Mir. The RKK Energia company, which runs the Mir and also built the service module, has cited delays in government funding as the reason that it took so long to build the service module. Monday's ceremony marked the completion of the module's testing at Energia's plant just outside Moscow -- but there's still no fixed date for sending it into orbit. The spacecraft will now be delivered to the Baikonur cosmodrome in the former Soviet republic of Kazakstan for more pre-launch tests. The launch date will be announced in August once the pre-launch tests are completed, he said.

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Vegaspazio, a new joint venture for the VEGA launch system
Vegaspazio zur Vermarktung der VEGA-Rakete gegründet

On April 28, 1999 in Collefero (Rome), Pier Giorgio Romiti, CEO of FiatAvio and Michel aye, CEO VP Space & Defense of Aerospatiale, signed a contract of collaborate within a new company, Vegaspazio. Vegaspazio, a joint venture with equal participation of the partners, will manage the Vega light launch vehicle program for the European Space Agency. With headquarters in Collefero, Vegaspazio is a management company, which will act as prime contractor and as design authority during both the development and production phases. During the signature ceremony, Pier Giorgio Romiti reiterated his thanks to the Italian Space Agency, ASI, who strongly supported and believed in the Vega project, and promoted it at the European Space Agency. It is foreseen that Arianespace will operate and commercialize the launch services, in order to ensure good synergy with Ariane, and to take advantage of the unique position of the European operator in the space business. While the development of ground facilities to be implemented in Kourou will be done under prime contractor-ship of CNES, the specifications for these ground facilities will be elaborated by the Vegaspazio joint venture and Arianespace. Vega is a three stage launch vehicle, all using solid propellant. Above the third stage, a liquid upper module, the avionics, the payload adapter and the fairing constitute the upper section. The Vega launcher is designed to inject 1-ton payloads, such as Earth observation, and scientific satellites for civil applications into circular polar orbit (700 km). Communications satellites would be a complementary market. Vega is 28 meters high and has a mass of 130 metric tons at lift-off. The whole development program will cost 310 Meuros, 30 Meuros of which will be supported by industry and the remaining 280 Meuros will be financed by ESA. The overall development phase, including one test launch, is assumed to last four years, with the aim of obtaining a qualified transportation system by 2003.

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Lufthansa sees profit drop
Gewinnrückgang bei Lufthansa

After an excellent 1998, Lufthansa is more cautious regarding its outlook for this year. In the first quarter alone, net profits were 66 per cent lower at 111 million DM (down from 324 million DM), but this was still the second best ever figure for the company. The performance was ostensibly hit hit by extreme weather conditions and an alteration to the air corridors in Western Europe, management board chairman Juergen Weber said. The Kosovo crisis was not having a major financial impact on the group although the flight delays it caused were hurting quality, Weber said.
For 1998, Lufthansa posted pre-tax profit of 2.447 billion DM compared with 1.686 billion in 1997. Operating profit last year was 2.84 billion DM versus 2.131 billion and net profit was 1.431 billion DM compared with 1.077 billion DM a year earlier.

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Greece buys new fighters
Neue Fighter-Bestellungen durch Griechenland

After some weeks of consideration and search for funds, Greece has now opted for another 50 Lockheed Martin F16 Block-50+ fighters $2 billion and another 15 Dassault Mirage 2000-5. Defence Ministry sources said each Mirage would cost about $55 million. On April 30, prime minister Costas Simitis, speaking after a meeting of a government council on defence and foreign policy, also confirmed that Greece would participate in a joint venture with Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain to build 60 to 90 Eurofighters, starting in 2005. "Our deterrent capability mainly depends on the strength of our air force," he said. The big looser now is Boeing, which offerd its Boeing's F-15H, which got the best reviews from the military but apparently was too expensive given the difficulties to scrape together enought funds. The fighter purchase is part of a giant $17 billion Greek defence modernisation programme over the next decade to fend off what Athens calls Turkish territorial threats in the Aegean Sea.

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NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Lauda Air has reported an 12,5 per cent increase in turnove for 1998, to 4,907 billion Shillings. This led to a profit of 49,15 million Shillings, some 8,7 per cent more than in 1997. Passenger numbers increased 6 per cent ot 1,524 million.
+++
On April 28, UK Defence Secretary George Robertson took to the air as one of the first civilians to fly in Eurofighter Typhoon, the RAF's new front-line fighter. Mr Robertson said: "You must command the skies to use the skies, and Eurofighter will help the RAF do both. It is an incredible aircraft whose speed and agility is astounding. Experiencing it first-hand was a dramatic experience of how tomorrow's fighter will perform". With chief test pilot John Turner at the controls, Mr Robertson's hour-long flight in British Aerospace's two-seat development version took him from their Military Aircraft Division at Warton over the Irish Sea at supersonic speeds of up to Mach 1.3 (1,000 mph.)
+++
On April 28, Dasa began the flight test programme of the modified F-4E Phantom II for Greece. Test pilots Robert Hierl from WTD 61 and Richard Gütter were at the controls for a 45 minute sortie. They took the F-4E to 45000 ft and also pushed the fighter up to Mach 1.5 already. Dasa is under contract to modify 38 Greek F-4Es under the "Peace Icarus" programme, which it has won in 1997 against strong US competition. Much of the upgrades are based on the experience of upgrading 100 Phantoms for the German Luftwaffe. After the trial installation made at Manching, the actual work on further F-4s will be done at Hellenic Aerospace with support form Dasa.
+++
The team of Lucas Aerospace and Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke (PFW) of Speyer, Germany, have been selected by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus GmbH to supply the Cargo Mechanical System for the new Airbus A340-500/600 aircraft. The system was selected for its high reliability. The multi-year requirements contract includes design, development, qualification, and delivery of the guide and restraint hardware. The value of the contract for the team over the life of the program, including aftermarket spares, is in excess of $142 million. "PFW is the sole supplier of lower deck cargo systems to DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus and we are pleased to add the cargo mechanical systems for the new A340-500/600 aircraft to our production programs," said Hans-Peter Traber, General Manager of Pfalz-Flugzeugwerke, Germany. Lucas Aerospace facilities in Brea, Calif., and Jamestown, N.D., will supply components for the system to PFW, which, in turn, will supply additional components, conduct final assembly and deliver the cargo mechanical system to Airbus Industrie and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Airbus. First flight test hardware is scheduled for delivery in August 1999.
+++
TransAer Cologne, a new German-Irish charter airline, has christened one of its A320 "Stadt Köln". The airline will create 50 jobs at Cologne/Bonn airport. 60000 passenger seats will be on offer this summer season.
+++
After Germany had already signed up, the Pentagon now also has confirmed that it will contribute to further tests with the X-31 experimental aircraft. Sweden is expected to follow suite so that the technology demonstrator can be made flightworthy again soon. X-31 has exceptional performance due to its thrust vector controls.
+++
Citing lower costs, greater lethality and improved supportability, Boeing has selected the Advanced 27mm Aircraft Cannon for its next-generation Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat aircraft. Boeing in Mesa, Ariz.; Mauser-Werke Oberndorf of Germany; Primex Technologies, Inc. of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Western Design, of Irvine, Calif., will jointly develop the 27mm cannon system, based on the combat- proven BK27 cannon, developed by Mauser. The gun also is a candidate for the Lockheed Martin version of the JSF. The 27mm cannon is a single barrel, gas-operated lightweight revolver gun that fires electrically primed 27mm ammunition at 1,800 shots per minute. "It's the lightest, most accurate and reliable gun based on our initial studies," said Dennis Muilenburg, JSF weapon system director for Boeing.
+++
Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing has succeeded in placing the first two of its Boeing 717-200s with Olympic Aviation of Greece. The aircraft will enter service soon after delivery in December.
+++
On April 28, BFGoodrich announced commitments from two private, Middle Eastern-based operators to re-engine their 727-200adv aircraft to the Super 27 configuration. These commitments bring the total Super 27 re-enginings orderbook for private operators to 18 aircraft. "The Super 27 re-engining program allows corporate and head-of-state operators to configure 727s to meet FAA Stage III and ICAO Chapter 3 noise regulations in the United States and Europe, while also benefiting from extended range on routes of up to 4,200 nautical miles," said Robert Korn, Business Development manager for the Super 27 program. "With these modifications, an operator can achieve the same performance and range capabilities of a new business jet at a fraction of the cost, without sacrificing the comfort and size of the 727 aircraft." The Super 27 program extends the operational life of 727-200s through the installation of new nacelles and engines produced by two aerospace leaders -- the BFGoodrich Aerospace/Aerostructures Group and Pratt & Whitney. In addition to compliance with FAA Stage III and ICAO Chapter 3 noise requirements, those 727 aircraft re-engined with Super 27 program modifications have demonstrated increased range of up to 1,000 nautical miles, 30 percent more thrust, 10 percent better fuel burn, the capacity to carry up to 10,000 lbs. more payload, and reduced takeoff runway requirements. To date, 53 Super 27s, including 22 from Valsan, have been sold and delivered to customers worldwide.
+++
On April 27, Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures Sector (ISA) has been awarded a $1.3 billion, five-year contract to produce 22 E-2C Hawkeye 2000 next-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Of the 22 aircraft, one will be sold to France under a foreign military sales agreement. The multiyear contract results in several benefits to the Department of Defense, including production line stability and a single system configuration, which make force structure planning predictable. The U.S. Navy will take delivery of the first Hawkeye 2000 E-2C under this contract in October 2001. France is expected to receive its aircraft in 2003. Several countries are evaluating AEW system procurements for upgrades to the Hawkeye 2000 configuration. The Hawkeye 2000 went into flight test in early 1997 with the new mission computer and displays. The Navy's Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) integrated satellite communications and a new, environmentally friendly cooling system upgrade have since been added and entered flight testing in early 1998. Hawkeye 2000 improves the current Hawkeye's already significant capabilities in detection, processing, identification, communications, and navigation.
+++
Cargolux has reported the best results in its history, with turnover, profits and cargo tranported all at record levels. 321982 tons were flown, an increase of 18 per cent. Tunrver was 578 million US-Dollars, while net profit was 92 million US-dollars.
+++
On April 30, Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced that British Aerospace plc (BAe) has been requested, under Article 223(1)(b) of the EC Treaty, not to notify the military aspects of the proposed merger of Marconi Electronic Systems with BAe to the EC Commission under the EC Merger Regulation. The UK considers that this merger concerns essential defence systems of vital strategic importance to the UK. It also involves important UK capabilities in defence technology. The merger and the subsequent operation of the business raise issues of essential importance to the security interests of the United Kingdom. The UK has notified the EC Commission that it has taken these measures as they are necessary to protect the essential security interests of the UK.
+++
London Stansted airport has now seven scheduled flights to German cities, that is Aachen (KLM exel), Dortmund (Eurowings), Düsseldorf, Franfkurt, Hahn (Ryanair), Munich and Nurenberg (Eurowings)
+++
KLM has sold its 10 per cent stake in reservation system company Galileo. This transaction will bring in 500 million Euros, it is expected. +++

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Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*April 25, 1999 *April 18, 1999 *April 11, 1999 *April 4, 1999

*March 28, 1999 *March 21, 1999 *March 14, 1999 *March 7, 1999

*February 21, 1999 *February 14, 1999 *February 7, 1999

*January 31, 1999 *January 24, 1999 *January 17, 1999 *January 10, 1999

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

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