Interavia Business & Technology back issues from December 2004:
Role reversal.(Editorial)(Aircraft industry)(Editorial)
Dec 22, 2004; ... In mid-December, Airbus finally decided to offer the A350, an advanced derivative of its A330, to counter the Boeing 7E7. The European manufacturer bad been talking about the new concept since May, and during the summer it had presented its proposal to several airlines, including Singapore ...
The struggle for the No. 1 spot on the French side of EADS is over, and current Airbus CEO Noel Forgeard has come out on top.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The struggle for the No. 1 spot on the French side of EADS is over, and current Airbus CEO Noel Forgeard has come out on top. He will replace Philippe Camus as joint chief executive of the European group next year. On the German side, Thomas Enders will succeed Rainer Hertrich. The ...
Bombardier.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * A change of leadership is also on the agenda at Bombardier, caught in turbulence due to the depressed market for its 50/70-seat regional jets. Current CEO Paul Tellier has been ousted--one year before the end of his three-year contract--having informed the company that he did not wish to ...
South Africa is set to become the first export customer for the A400M, announcing its intention to buy 8-14 aircraft and to become a partner in the programme.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * South Africa is set to become the first export customer for the A400M, announcing its intention to buy 8-14 aircraft and to ...
Thales has signed a protocol with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company to provide the development and integration of Thales' Full avionics suite on board the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) airplane.(Business Briefing)(Thales S.A.)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Thales has signed a protocol with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company to provide the development and integration of Thales full avionics suite on board the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) airplane. The protocol includes a contract of around 70 million [euro] for a first batch of equipment. Thales ...
Airbus strikes back.(Business Briefing)(Airbus North America Sales Inc.)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Airbus has received approval from its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems, to begin making firm commercial offers to launch customers for two new members of its wide-body family. The new sisterships to the A330s, called "A350" models, are due to enter service in the first half of 2010--two ...
Northrop opens J-UCAS facility.(Business Briefing)(Northrop Grumman Corp. open new facility Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems )(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Northrop Grumman has opened a new system integration laboratory (SIL) to help identify potential hardware, software or system cost issues related to the development of its X-47B combat unmanned air vehicle before the first air vehicle flies. The company-funded facility will support the ...
GP7200 gets airborne.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The Engine Alliance's GP7200 engine for the A380 completed its first flight aboard GE's Boeing 747 flying testbed in Victorville, California. The first flight, which took place on December 3 and lasted for nearly three hours, focused on initially assessing the engine operation as well as ...
It's an ill wind at Nasa.(Business Briefing)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Nasa needs to retain nearly all of its 31 major wind tunnel and propulsion test facilities, which continue to play a key role in supporting important US aeronautic objectives across the military, commercial and space sectors, according to a new Rand study. Over the past two decades, NASA ...
Alenia Aeronautica.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Alenia Aeronautica is increasing its workshare on the A380 programme. The Italian company will start new activities for the A380 Freighter version, in addition to its existing responsibility for production of the central fuselage for the passenger version. Alenia Aeronautica says the ...
Boeing will use software from Delmia Corp. and Intercim, Inc., to digitally define how the 7E7 Dreamliner commercial airplane will be built and maintained.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Boeing will use software from Delmia Corp. and Intercim, Inc., to digitally define how the 7E7 Dreamliner commercial airplane will be built and maintained. The combination of their software products--DELMIA V5 DPM Shop and Intercim Velocity--will create a three-dimensional shop-floor ...
Turbomeca.(Business Briefing)(refurbishment)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Turbomeca has completed the refurbishment of its South African site, Turbomeca Africa Pty Ltd, and the machine-tools and heavy maintenance workshops, caterinq for engines and accessories, have-been upgraded. Turbomeca Africa has a 300-strong workforce making it the biggest of the 14 ...
BAE Systems North America has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MiKES (Mikrodalga Elektronic Sistemler Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.), Ankara, Turkey, for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * BAE Systems North America has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MIKES (Mikrodalga Elektronic Sistemler Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.), Ankara, Turkey, for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme. The agreement with MiKES is the fourth MOA this year furthering BAE Systems' ...
Embraer 195 flies, 170 improves performance.(Business Briefing)(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The latest--and largest--addition to the Embraer product lineup, the 108-seat Embraer 195, made its first flight at the company's Sao Jose dos Campos headquarters on 7 December, performing a range of flying quality and system validation tests. Powered by two GE CF34-10E engines, the ...
What transatlantic technology gap?(Business Briefing)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The biggest constraint on European investment in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) is overall limitations on defence budgets, not the absence of adequate technology ... and this is not just wishful thinking by some European ...
7E7 production arrangements taking shape.(Business Briefing)(aircraft)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Vought and Alenia North America, Inc. are finalising a joint venture in support of the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner programme. The joint venture, called Global Aeronautica, LLC, will join and integrate fuselage sections from Vought, Alenia Aeronautica of Italy and other structural partners, which ...
Europrop International.(Business Briefing)(Europrop International GmbH)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Europrop International GmbH (EPI), the joint company formed by the four leading European aero engine companies to offer the TP400-D6 turboprop for the A400M transport aircraft, announced the successful first run of the Intermediate Pressure Compressor (IPC) on schedule on 30 November ...
Embraer.(Business Briefing)(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Embraer has released its forecast for the world demand of 30-to 120-seat jets and for the corporate aviation market, as well as the 2005 and 2006 delivery forecast. The company foresees a global demand for 7,800 jets in the 30- to 120-seat capacity segment over the next twenty years. It ...
Northrop Grumman.(Business Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Northrop Grumman Corporation has awarded contracts to Canadian and Australian firms for components that will go into the next-generation radar that the company has developed for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Dy 4 Systems of Kanata, Ontario, Canada, will supply the data processor for the ...
Euro-US drone teams.(Business Briefing)(europe, united states)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH--the Defence Electronics division within the Rheinmetall DeTec Group--is teaming with Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc to market a family of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the US government. Teledyne Brown will adapt Rheinmetall's proven UAV system ...
Boeing tests 737 MMA.(Business Briefing)(Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft )(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Boeing has completed the first series of wind tunnel tests for the 737 Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programme under the Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract. Low-speed wind tunnel tests have begun on an 11 percent scale model of a 737 MMA in Boeing's 20fl x 20ft ...
New-generation Pampa unveiled.(Business Briefing)(AT-63 Pampa jet trainer upgraded by Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina has rolled out the first upgraded AT-63 Pampa jet trainer. The first aircraft will serve as a demonstrator of the new configuration of the Pampa. Flight testing is expected to begin mid-year 2005. The AT-63 is the new version of the legendary ...
A318 flies with improved PW6000A.(Business Briefing)(Aircraft engines)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Four years after its original flight debut with the now-infamous Pratt & Whitney PW6000, the A318 has made its first flight with the improved PW6124A version. Certification of this aircraft/engine combination should take place towards the end of 2005 after some 500 flight hours. The new ...
BAE says Hejda! to Saab.(Business Briefing)(BAE SYSTEMS PLC, Saab-Scania AB)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Having pulled out of the UK, BAE Systems is now pulling out of Sweden. The UK firm plans to reduce its shareholding in Saab AB from its current level of 35 percent, though it will retain at least 20 percent of votes and capital "as a long-term investment". Simultaneously, it was announced ...
Engine makers ready for the upturn: as the market recovery gains momentum, it is clear that some engine-makers are better placed than others to take advantage of the upswing.(Finance, Markets & Industry)
Dec 22, 2004; ... Is the market upturn finally getting underway? Yes, if you listen to marketing executives from GE and Rolls-Royce ... though soaring fuel prices still provide plenty of grounds for caution. If the market is really about to take off, however, some members of the restricted club of ...
All aboard for the upcycle! European equipment suppliers find themselves in a brave new world of ultra-competitive global markets ... making life tough for the smaller players.(Finance, Markets & Industry)
Dec 22, 2004; ... After several years of deep crisis, the market cycle is gradually turning upwards again, bringing with it new programmes, new opportunities--and new challenges--for European equipment suppliers. To remain competitive they must show that they can be even more innovative than in the past. At ...
Singapore Airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(order for 18 Boeing 777-300ER jetliners)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Singapore Airlines (SIA has finalised an order for 18 Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners that makes the airline the world's largest 777 customer and ties the record for the largest order of the 777-300ER. With this order, valued at $4.1 billion at list prices, SIA has ...
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines reported continued sustained growth in passenger numbers and cargo traffic in preliminary results far October. The number of passengers carried rose 9.7%, reaching the 10 million mark for the third time in four months. RPKs posted a ...
American Airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * American Airlines has agreed with Boeing to defer delivery of 54 out of 56 aircraft originally scheduled for delivery between 2006 and 2010. The delivery of 47 737-800s and seven 777s will be deferred by seven years and six years, respectively. American says that the move will allow it ...
Association of European Airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The Association of European Airlines reported a slight fall-off in growth in October. Overall, the figure was plus 6.4% in passenger-km but only 2.0% in passenger boardings due to weaker demand for the shorter flights within Europe compared to the longer sectors--possibly ...
IATA's good news story.(Air Transport Briefing)(International Air Transport Association)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The International Air Transport Association has released cargo and passenger traffic forecasts for 2004-2008 indicating 6.0% growth annually for international passengers and 6.0% annually for international cargo tonnage. "It looks like we will finish 2004 with the strongest traffic rebound ...
A318 makes Latin American debut.(Air Transport Briefing)(aircrafts)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Mexico City-based airline Mexicana has taken delivery of the first of 10 A318s, becoming the first operator of the type in Latin America. The aircraft will be operated under a lease agreement with GECAS. Powered by CFM International CFM56-5Bs engines, the aircraft is equipped with a ...
Wi-Fi takes to the air.(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Connexion by Boeing and Vodafone plan to jointly trial the delivery of high-speed inflight WiFi connectivity to airline passengers. Vodafone will be the first global mobile telecommunications operator to undergo trials with Connexion by Boeing, aimed at extending Vodafone's laptop data ...
Boeing rolls out 500th 777.(Air Transport Briefing)(commercial airplane)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Boeing held a ceremonial rollout for the 500th 777 commercial airplane on 3 December, prior to delivery to International Lease Finance Corp and operator Air France later in the month ....
MD-11 freighters for Lufthansa.(Air Transport Briefing)(Lufthansa Cargo AG)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aerospace) and Boeing have redelivered to Lufthansa Cargo AG (LCAG), the first of five MD-11 passenger aircraft converted into freighters at the Paya Lebar facility of ST Aerospace, the aerospace arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering. The five ...
Aviation security--who pays?(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... According to a new European Commission study, in 2002 alone, European airlines and airports paid out 3 billion [euro] for additional anti-terrorist security measures imposed by European governments. Europe's aviation industry leaders called the study a wake-up call for policy makers ...
The past month has seen substantial concessions by employees at several major US airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(US airlines)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The past month has seen substantial concessions by employees at several major US airlines. Delta pilots agreed to a 32.5% wage reduction and other changes designed to provide the carrier with $5 billion in cost savings over a five-year period. Continental is seeking $500 million in ...
Volare.(Air Transport Briefing)(Volare Airlines)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The predicted bloodbath in the European low-cost sector may be getting under way. The board of Italy's Volare declared insolvency on 23 November, though the company. will likely be protected from its creditors while a government-appointed administration team seeks to turn it ...
Jet Airways.(Air Transport Briefing)(Initial public offerings)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Jet Airways, India's largest private airline with 41 aircraft, says it is considering an intial public offering of shares to fund a fleet ...
China Southern Airlines.(Air Transport Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * China Southern Airlines has announced plans to acquire the aviation assets of China Northern Airlines and Xinjiang Airlines, worth $2 billion. Both airlines have been part of the China Southern network since 2002, when they were taken over by the ...
US airline industry.(Air Transport Briefing)(united states)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The US airline industry is expected to set a record in 2004 for the number of passengers carried. Low fares, a perceived reduction in the terrorist threat and increased international travel have boosted passengers to an expected 685 million for the full year--3% higher than 2000, and 6% ...
Malaysia Airlines System.(Air Transport Briefing)(Boeing Defense and Space Systems Div.)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Boeing has delivered the first Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) 777-200ER (Extended Range) airplane incorporating the Class 3 Boeing Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), making the airline the first in the Asia/Pacific region to use the EFB. Malaysia Airlines is equipping two 777-200ERs with the ...
Beijing ATC centre on line.(Air Transport Briefing)(Air traffic control)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Air traffic controllers using the new North, East and Southern Area Control Centres for China (NESACC) system to control all traffic in the upper airspace of the Beijing Flight Information Region have commissioned the new Beijing Air Traffic Control System. The Civil Aviation ...
GE throws lifeline to US Airways.(Air Transport Briefing)(contracts)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... US Airways, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), and GE Engine Services (GEES) have reached a comprehensive agreement on aircraft leasing and financing, and engine services, which will provide the airline with short-term liquidity, reduced debt, lower aircraft ownership costs, enhanced ...
300th ATR 72 goes to Air New Zealand.(Air Transport Briefing)(Avions de Transport Regional delivered aircraft )(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... ATR has celebrated the delivery of the 300th ATR 72. The aircraft was delivered to Air New Zealand on 23 November, taking the airline's total ATR fleet to 11 ATR 72-500s. Air New Zealand regional subsidiary Mount Cook Airlines will operate the aircraft. Air New Zealand first introduced ATR ...
World airline fleet watch.(Air Transport & General Aviation)(Illustration)
Dec 22, 2004 ... <Pre> WORLD AIRLINE FLEET WATCH Boeing deliveries October / November 2004 717 737/BBJ 747 757 767/777 Totals Aeromexico1 1 Air Europa4 4 Air France ...
Flying the Legacy: within a short space of time, Embraer has carved itself a niche in the super-midsize bizjet market. Additional offerings could follow.(Air Transport & General Aviation)(Column)
Dec 22, 2004; ... A derivative of the ERJ 135, Embraer's Legacy is the spearhead of a strategy aimed at rapidly penetrating the super-midsize business aviation market. The technical and financial risks were limited, thanks to the company's storehouse of experience with its existing airline customers. Some ...
Global Hawk acquisition strategy too risky, says GAO.(Defence Briefing)(General Accounting Office)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Global Hawk's highly concurrent development and production strategy is risky and runs counter in important ways to a knowledge-based approach and to DOD's acquisition guidance, according to a new GAO report. The report analyses the impact of the DoD's 2002 decision to restructure and ...
EU to create battlegroups.(Defence Briefing)
Dec 22, 2004 ... In a further step towards bolstering its military capabilities for crisis management, the European Union member states have committed themselves to setting up 13 EU "battlegroups"--a key element of the Headline Goal 2010--thus ensuring Initial Operational Capability in 2005 and 2006 and ...
Eurocopter Tiger.(Defence Briefing)(defense contracts)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The Australian Army has taken delivery of the first of 22 Eurocopter Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters. The first four ARHs are being assembled at Eurocopter in France ....
Ground-based Midcourse Defense.(Defence Briefing)(aerospace industry contracts)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Boeing has started deliveries of Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors to Vandenberg Air Force Base, following delivery of six interceptors to the Fort Greely site in Alaska. Up to 17 additional interceptors are scheduled to be delivered to the two GMD missile fields by the ...
UK RAF.(Defence Briefing)(aerospace industry)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The UK RAF has announced details of its downsizing plans--the recruitment target for the next three financial years has been reduced from 10 000 to 6,000 personnel, and the Service will be looking to ...
Taurus.(Spanish missile deal)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The Spanish Air Force has reportedly decided to equip its F/A-18 and Eurofighter aircraft with the Taurus KEPD 350 precision-guided stand-off missile system. Spain is said to have confirmed its procurement intentions during the German-Spanish summit talks held by Federal Chancellor ...
Joint Standoff Weapon.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The US Navy has given Raytheon Company's unitary penetration variant of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW-C) its highest assessment: "suitable and effective", following operational testing (OT) firings with 10 of 11 successful shots against a wide range of targets. JSOW-C was developed by ...
Northrop Grumman.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $153 million contract to continue full-rate production of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Guidance Replacement Program (GRP). This programme will upgrade the guidance-system electronics in the Minuteman III ICBM ...
ScanEagle.(Defence Briefing)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * ScanEagle, a long-endurance fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Boeing and The Insitu Group, successfully demonstrated high-speed wireless communications relay during a recent flight at the Boeing Boardman test range. Enabled by Harris Corporation's National Security ...
Asia-Pacific defence spending on the up.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Pacific Rim and Far East defence spending is heading for steady growth over the next few years, according to Forecast International's latest figures for total defence spending in the region. The company expects that the region's defence expenditures will rise by 11.5 percent to $157.3 ...
France orders Rafale F3.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The French MoD's DGA procurement executive has officially signed an order for 59 Rafale combat aircraft--11 two-seaters and 36 single-seaters for the Air Force, and 12 single-seaters for the Navy. The 3.1 billion [euro] order, which has been "imminent" for months, brings the total number ...
Eurofighter Tranche 2 gets the go.(Defence Briefing)(aircraft industry contracts)(Eurofighter GmbH )(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... Eurofighter GmbH and NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency NETMA have signed the international production contract for a further 236 aircraft for the four Partner Nations--Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Britain will take 89 aircraft, while Germany will buy 68, Italy 46 and Spain ...
Darpa funding for ducted fan UAVs.(Defence Briefing)(United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
Dec 22, 2004 ... The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded funding to three contractors (Aurora Flight Sciences, BAE Systems Aircraft Controls, and Honeywell) for the first phase of the Organic Air Vehicle--II (OAV-II) programme to develop a prototype ducted fan Class II unmanned ...
C-27J Spartan.(Defence Briefing)(aircraft)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * The first Alenia Aeronautica/ Lockheed Martin C-27J Spartan to be delivered to the Hellenic Air Force, has successfully achieved its maiden flight in Caselle, after the final integration at Alenia Aeronautica's plants of Turin-Caselle. Delivery is scheduled for January 2005. The aircraft ...
Patriot Advance Capbility-3.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Lockheed Martin's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile successfully intercepted two missile targets during. Developmental Test/Operational Test-12 (DT/OT-12), the most complex flight test scenario to date for PAC-3. During the initial phase of the test, conducted at White Sands ...
Raytheon.(Defence Briefing)(Brief Article)
Dec 22, 2004 ... * Raytheon has delivered five STANDARD Missile-3 rounds to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for deployment as a key element of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. The rounds are ...
Transport chopper showdown: today's medium-sized military transport chopper needs to bring speed, flexibility, safety and ergonomics to distant and disparate battlefields.(Defence)
Dec 22, 2004; ... Though they're unlikely ever to cross swords on the battlefield, the Western world s latest medium-sized military transport helicopters--Sikorsky's H-92, the AgustaWestland International EH-101, NH Industries' NH90 and the Eurocopter EC725--are frequently to be found trading shots in ...
Eurotraining--easier said than done: Europe's ambitions to coordinate the training of its future fighter pilots will not be fulfilled for another 15 years at least.(Defence)
Dec 22, 2004; ... Less haste, less speed. That seems to be the message that emerged from the latest meeting of the chiefs of staff of the 12 air forces involved in the European Advanced Jet Pilot Training (EAJPT) initiative, better known as Eurotraining. The meeting was held on 18 November in Prague. The ...