Interavia Business & Technology back issues from December 2005:
Order record ... and a new world order.(aircraft industry)(Editorial)
Dec 22, 2005; ... 2005 has been a good vintage for the world aerospace industry. Commercial aircraft deliveries have started to grow again. The airlines are ordering new airplanes at a fast pace. Defence budgets have been maintained at expected levels, and a number of major international military equipment ...
EADS tightens China ties.(signed a contract with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Corp.)
Dec 22, 2005 ... EADS concluded two major deals during the recent visit to France by Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao. The first was a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group (CASGC) for the purchase of 150 A320 family aircraft, worth almost $10 billion--the ...
First flight for Sikorsky fly-by-wire testbed.(Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. developing Schweizer 333 helicopter )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Sikorsky has completed the first flight of a converted Schweizer 333 testbed equipped with its new X2 Technology fly-by-wire system. The Schweizer 333 helicopter is said to have performed flawlessly while demonstrating basic capabilities of the X2 Technology system during a one half hour ...
Smiths Aerospace and ISR have formed a strategic alliance to position both companies in the market for next-generation airborne electronics.(BUSINESS BRIEFING)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Smiths Aerospace and ISR have formed a strategic alliance to position both companies in the market for next-generation airborne electronics. ISR provides high-performance electronic system cooling ...
Chinese aircraft manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (a subsidiary of AVIC-I) and Stork Aerospace of the Netherlands have signed a Heads of Agreement for collaboration in the development and manufacturing of aerostructures for commercial aircraft.(BUSINESS BRIEFING)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Chinese aircraft manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (a subsidiary of AVIC-I) and Stork Aerospace of the Netherlands have signed a Heads of Agreement for collaboration in the development and manufacturing of aerostructures for commercial aircraft. Shenyang ...
Northrop Grumman has signed a long-term agreement with Kalekalip Defense and Aerospace of Turkey, under which the Turkish firm will provide support equipment associated with the Turkish Air Force Peace Eagle Airborne Surveillance Programme.(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Northrop Grumman has signed a long-term agreement with Kalekalip Defense and Aerospace of Turkey, under which the Turkish firm will provide support equipment associated with the Turkish Air Force Peace Eagle ...
Loral.(Loral Space and Communications Ltd. emerged from bankruptcy)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Satellite maker Loral Space and Communications has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a reorganization of nearly two-and-a-half years. Chief executive Bernard Schwartz says that the company is now "stronger, leaner and more efficient". He says that during reorganisation, ...
Labinal.(Labinal Aero Defense Systems Inc. signed a contract with Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Labinal, a company of the SAFRAN Group, has been selected by Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. for the manufacture, production, installation and customer support of the Falcon 7X completion electrical harnesses. The electrical systems will be delivered and installed directly at Dassault Falcon s ...
GE.(developing GEnx test engine for the Boeing 787 and 747-8 and the Airbus A350)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... GE has started component assembly work for the first full-scale GEnx test engine. The GEnx engine is being developed for the Boeing 787 and 747-8 and the Airbus A350. Testing is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2006, with engine ...
Vision Systems International.(won contracts from Boeing Co., US Navy and Air Force )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Vision Systems International, LLC--the joint venture between EFW (a US subsidiary of Elbit) and Rockwell Collins--has received new contracts with a total potential value of more than $100 million. The Boeing Company awarded VSI a ...
Volvo Aero.(signed a contract with European Union)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Volvo Aero will be the coordinator on a new EU project, Virtual Engineering for Robust Manufacturing with Design Integration (VERDI), in which 16 leading European engine manufacturers, institutes and-universities collaborate on the virtual ...
Commercial aircraft industry earnings hike.(BUSINESS BRIEFING)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The commercial aircraft manufacturing industry posted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $2.6 billion in the first half of 2005, a 36% hike from the same period last year and 175% over the first six months of 2003, according to Standard & Poor's in its semi-annual survey on the ...
V-22 gets Full Rate Production nod.(Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... In a major milestone for the V-22 programme, Bell Helicopter has been granted approval by the US DoD for Full Rate Production (FRP) of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Current plans include the delivery of 360 aircraft to the US Marine Corps (USMC), 50 for the US Air Force ...
A400M engine in testing.(EPI Europrop International GmbH tested TP400-D6 engine )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... EPI Europrop International GmbH has announced the successful first engine test of the TP400-D6 engine for the A400M military transport. During the tests, the engine is reported to have performed exactly as expected. Certification is scheduled for October 2007, with the A400M first flight ...
Boeing releases Asia-Pacific market forecast.(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing has published its 2005 Current Market Outlook (CMO) for the Asia-Pacific region, forecasting a market for about 7,200 new airplanes worth $770 billion over the next 20 years. Over the forecast period, Asia-Pacific will remain the largest market outside North America for new ...
Bell, AgustaWestland realign JV.(Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.'s joint venture with AgustaWestland)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Bell Helicopter and AgustaWestland have announced a realignment of their joint venture Bell Agusta Aerospace Company LLC. Effective upon regulatory and other necessary approvals, Bell is selling its 25 percent interest in the AB139 medium twin helicopter programme to AgustaWestland. ...
Integrated Guidance Systems.(Rockwell Collins Inc. forming a joint venture with Honeywell Inc. and establishing Integrated Guidance Systems LLC)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Rockwell Collins and Honeywell have announced the formation of a limited liability company that will offer customers a new series of integrated precision guidance solutions r precision guided weapons. The new entity, Integrated Guidance Systems LLC, is a Honeywell International/Rockwell ...
EADS and DRS Technologies have agreed to collaborate on US marketing of the EADS Hellas laser-based obstacle warning system, which protects helicopters against difficult-to-detect obstacles, such as of 6.4m [euro], including 4.5m [euro] from the EU.(EADS N.V. EADS Defence and Security Systems Div.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... EADS and DRS Technologies have agreed to collaborate on US marketing of the EADS Hellas laser-based obstacle warning system, which protects helicopters against difficult-to-detect obstacles, such as of 6.4m [euro], including 4.5m [euro] from the EU. The goal is to create a digital model of ...
Rolls-Royce.(Pratt and Whitney purchased first propulsion system flight hardware from Rolls-Royce North America Inc.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Rolls-Royce has delivered the first propulsion system flight hardware to Pratt & Whitney on schedule for the first Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35B development aircraft. The Variable Area Vane Box Nozzle (VAVBN), developed specifically for the short take-off vertical landing ...
Northrop Grumman.(testing its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System sensors)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Northrop Grumman has begun initial flight testing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EO DAS) sensors, designed to provide the pilot with all-round situational awareness. On Nov. 11, Northrop Grumman's BAC 1-11 avionics testbed aircraft flew with ...
Turning down the volume.(Boeing Co.'s Quiet Technology Demonstrator 2, flight-test programme )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing and a team of industry partners have completed a three-week flight-test programme which they say confirms the effectiveness of several significant airplane noise-reduction technologies. Known as the Quiet Technology Demonstrator 2 (QTD2), the research and development ...
Rolls-Royce starts building first Trent 1000.(Rolls-Royce North America Inc. developing engine for Boeing Co.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Rolls-Royce has begun assembly of its first Trent 1000, the engine being developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The first test bed run is scheduled to take place at the company's civil aerospace facilities in Derby, UK, in February 2006. The launch of the build phase was ...
Embraer unveils 20-year forecast.(Embraer Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.)(demand for commercial and business jets)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Embraer has presented its 20-year forecast for world demand of 30- to 120-seat commercial jets as well as for the business jet market. The company foresees a global demand for 7,950 jets in the 30- to 120-seat capacity segment over the next 20 years. It estimates that 3,350 aircraft will ...
GP7200 on track for certification.(GE-P and W Engine Alliance L.L.C.'s aircraft engine)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, selected to power Emirates' new fleet of Airbus A380s, has completed all the required engine tests for FAA certification, opening the way for first flight on the Airbus A380 in 2006. All required engine certification tests were completed in November, and ...
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca.(given license to Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for using RTM322 turboshaft engine)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The first Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engine to be assembled by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has been delivered to representatives of Japan, s Defense Agency and Japan s Maritime Self Defense Force ...
Snecma and NPO Saturn have inaugurated a jointly-owned company to produce aircraft engine parts, called VolgAero.(Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Snecma and NPO Saturn have inaugurated a jointly-owned company to produce aircraft engine parts, called VolgAero. VolgAero will produce components for aircraft engines and more specifically the SAM146 engine, designed for the new generation of small liners. Developing 14,000 to 17,500 ...
EADS has selected US partners for its UH-145 team that is competing for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) contract.(BUSINESS BRIEFING)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... EADS has selected US partners for its UH-145 team that is competing for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) contract. Joining the EADS team are Sikorsky (which will provide expertise in contractor logistics support), ...
Also competing for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter programme will be another US/European team, bringing together Agusta-Westland (prime contractor) and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (principal partner).(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Also competing for the US Army Light Utility Helicopter programme will be another US/European team, bringing together Agusto-Westland (prime contractor) and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (principal partner). The team, which also ...
Boeing.(teamed up with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Office of Naval Research and demonstrated HyFly hypersonic strike demonstrator vehicle)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing, in partnership with DARPA and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), has successfully demonstrated boost phase performance of its HyFly hypersonic strike demonstrator vehicle. A Boeing F-15E launched the HyFly vehicle during a test over the US Navy's sea range at the Naval Air Weapons ...
Northrop Grumman.(teamed up with US Air Force for E-10A multi-sensor command-and-control aircraft programme)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman-led team's E-10A multi-sensor command-and-control aircraft programme has successfully completed its critical platform design review. The review was intended to ensure all platform design requirements have been completely identified, and that the ...
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and CAE have entered an agreement to develop a prototype solution for embedded and virtual training.(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and CAE have entered an agreement to develop a prototype solution for embedded and virtual training. The prototype will combine IAI s expertise and technology specific to sensors, avionics, and C4ISR (command, control, communications, computing, ...
Lockheed tests pole model UCAV.(Lockheed Martin Corp. tests Northrop Grumman Corp.'s X-47B vehicle)(Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Lockheed Martin has completed the first round of testing of a full-scale pole model to provide critically relevant data about the Northrop Grumman-led X-47B vehicle built for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) programme. The radar cross section testing of the vehicle ...
FASTT track to hypersonic flight.(Freeflight Atmospheric Scramjet Test Technique programme by Alliant Techsystems Inc., Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Office of Naval Research)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Alliant Techsystems, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) successfully ground-launched and flew a hypersonic scramjet-powered vehicle from the Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA in a pre-dawn launch on Saturday 10 December ....
Boom time for big engines: GE and Rolls-Royce are well placed in the current market, but don't count Pratt & Whitney out yet.(FINANCE, MARKETS & INDUSTRY)
Dec 22, 2005; ... The air transport industry is recovering from the deep crisis that started in 2001. Because of the oil price surge and the pressure on yields, it may post another year of losses, but traffic has grown strongly in 2005 and the prospecs for the coming years are good. As a result, airlines ...
Dust-up in Dubai: Airbus and Boeing jostle for top spot as 2005 orders avalanche continues.(FINANCE, MARKETS & INDUSTRY)
Dec 22, 2005; ... As expected, Airbus and Boeing dominated the proceedings at the ninth Dubai Air Show, where a record total of $29 billion in contracts were announced. Customers like leasing companies ILFC and Low Cost Aircraft Leasing (LCAL)--a new player based in Hong Kong with financing from ...
European Commission.(Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme for airlines)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The European Commission has formally announced plans to bring airlines into the EUs Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (ETC). The ETC sets an overall cap on greenhouse gas emissions, within which participating operators can buy and sell emission allowances as needed. The idea, says ...
Association of European Airlines.(givesv the data for traffic of airlines)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The Association of European Airlines says traffic and capacity data for October 2005 remained for the most part firmly on the trend lines which have shown little sign of deviation through the year so far. Overall, passenger traffic grew 6.0%, which is exactly where the market stood for the ...
How's that for size?(Airbus A380 tested at the Frankfurt Airport )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Shortly before embarking on its recent Asia-Pacific tour, the Airbus A380, landed at Frankfurt Airport for the first compatibility tests at a major air transportation hub. Tests covered the full range of ramp-handling services required for the quick turnaround of a jet aircraft. Supply and ...
Regional transport trends.(market share of regional aircraft)
Dec 22, 2005 ... At the risk of stating the obvious, Forecast International declares in its recently released study, The World Market for Regional Transport Aircraft, "The market for once-dominant 50-seat regional jets is cooling, while demand is increasing for regional airliners that seat 70 passengers ...
Singapore opts for integrated maintenance.(Singapore Airlines Ltd. signed a contract with Boeing Co.)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for Boeing s integrated maintenance solution, which combines its Integrated Materials Management (IMM) and Airplane Health Management (AHM) programmes. Through IMM, Boeing will be responsible for purchasing, inventory management and ...
Airport IT spending boom.(Airports Council International and Airline Business survey )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... According to the 2005 Airport IT Trends Survey, investment in new information technologies such as check-in kiosks, wireless connectivity and biometrics, promises to make the experience for the four billion passengers travelling through airports each year faster, safer, and more ...
22 hours 42 minutes later ...(Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner speed)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing established a new world record for distance traveled nonstop by a commercial airplane when a Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner landed at London Heathrow Airport after flying 11,664 nautical miles (21,601 km) during a 22-hour 42-minute flight from Hong Kong. The 777-200LR left ...
British Airways.(CEO Rod Eddington is departing)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Outgoing British Airways CEO Rod Eddington delivered a few parting shots in a farewell speech to the Aviation Club of the UK. Excerpts: "The most extraordinary thing has happened to aviation in Europe. We, re out-performing America. That's something I didn't see happening five years ago ....
Air Transport Association.(introduced area navigation procedures at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The US Air Transport Association (ATA) has welcomed the successful introduction of Area Navigation (RNAV) procedures at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). On September 6, DFW began clearing departing airplanes an pre-defined departure paths precisely navigated by onboard ...
NATCA.(National Air Traffic Controllers Association's nationwide media campaign )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... NATCA, the US air traffic controllers association, is launching a nationwide media campaign to "blow the whistle on serious and dangerous mismanagement by the FAA that is threatening passenger safety. The campaign focuses on staffing shortages and modernisation failures. It states that, ...
IATA.(International Air Transport Association report on airports traffic)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... IATA traffic results for the first 10 months of 2005 show a weakening trend for both cargo and passenger traffic. October passenger traffic grew 6.0% compared to the same month in the previous year. IATA notes that this is considerably slower than the 7.9% recorded for the January-October ...
Delta Air Lines.(labor relation with pilots)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... As we went to press, Delta Air Lines was locked in what the airline is presenting as literally a life-or-death struggle with its pilots. The airline has asked a bankruptcy court to void its contract with the pilots union in order to achieve $325 million in savings to help it emerge from ...
747-8 gets the go.(Boeing Co. received contracts for 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter airplanes from Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines Company Ltd.)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing has finally launched its 747-8 programme (previously known as the 747 Advanced), which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airplane and the 747-8 Freighter airplane. Cargolux of Luxembourg has ordered 10 747-8 Freighters and will take delivery of the first 747-8F in ...
IATA wants paperless cargo processing by 2010.(International Air Transport Association's Simplifying the Business program)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The International Air Transport Association has kick-started IATA e-freight, the cargo component of the association s Simplifying the Business initiative. The target is to achieve paperless cargo processing by 2010, saving $1.2 billion annually (based on current cargo volumes) and reducing ...
Europe launches SESAR.(air traffic management system)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Europe has officially launched the SESAR new-generation air traffic management system--the technological portion of the single European sky initiative, launched in 2004 to reform the organisation of air traffic control in European airspace. SESAR will introduce new communication, control ...
China Eastern sets Airbus milestone.(purchasing 100th Airbus aircraft)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, one of China's three major carriers, took delivery of its 100th Airbus aircraft, an A320 leased from GECAS, ...
India.(International Air Transport Association is concentrating on Indian airports)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Two weeks ago it was Africa, now IATA is turning its attention to India, The Association has identified five challenges for the successful development of air transport in India (1) enhancing safely, (2) urgent infrastructure improvement, (3) reasonable taxation, (4) commercial freedom and ...
Eurocontrol's Cascade.(SN Brussels Airlines)(European Aeronautical Information Services Database)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... In a milestone for Eurocontrol's Cascade programme, the full fleet of SN Brussels Airlines has been modified to enable pilots to consult information for their flights from the cockpit both on the ground and in flight, using the information stored in the European Aeronautical Information ...
World airline fleet watch.(Boeing Co. and Airbus S.A.S. deliveries )(Table)
Dec 22, 2005 ... <Pre> Airbus deliveries, September/October/November 2005 A318A319/ACJA320 A321 Air Berlin 1 Air China 3 Air Deccan 2 Air France ...
MRO sector pursues cost, reliability goals: despite good global market growth prospects, barriers to entry will remain high.(maintenance, repair and overhaul)
Dec 22, 2005; ... One of the results of the spate of airline accidents this summer was to focus attention on the role played by the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector--in-house airline shops, independent providers and the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)--in maintaining commercial ...
Personal jets proliferate: within a few years, commercial transports could be sharing the skies with thousands of "personal jets", raising safety and operational issues.
Dec 22, 2005; ... Microjet, very light jet (VLJ), ultra light jet (ULJ) or personal jet, no matter the semantics, the booming market for these small bizjets weighing no more than a large sedan with a price tag between 1 and 2.5 million dollars, if confirmed by facts, will send thousands of non-professional ...
Raytheon.(Raytheon Aircraft Co. selected by Defense Advanced Research Projects )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Raytheon has been selected to proceed with Phase II of the Affordable Adaptive Conformal ESA Radar (AACER) programme after a competitive down-select at the end of Phase I with Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems. intended for use on rotary unmanned aerial vehicles in development by DARPA ...
MBDA.(won a contract from Ministry of Defence's Research Acquisition Organisation of United Kingdom)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... An industrial consortium led by MBDA has been awarded a 4M [pounds sterling] contract by the UK MoD Research Acquisition Organisation (RAO) for the NEC for Integrated Weapons research programme. The two-year programme aims to develop new integrated technology concepts for future strike ...
French parliament.(planning to create Schengen zone for the arms sector)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... A new report by the defence committee of the French parliament calls for the creation of a "Schengen zone for the arms sector". The Letter of Intent (Lol) process has failed, says the report, and something must be done to remove national barriers that prevent the free circulation of ...
South African Gripen makes maiden flight.(Gripen International's fighter planes)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... The first South African dual-seat Gripen took to the skies on its maiden flight in Sweden on 11 November 2005. During the flight, the test team were able to validate the basic flight control systems, engine, hydraulics and electrics. This aircraft was to undergo a thorough inspection and ...
Taurus operational testing completed.(Taurus KEPD 350, guided missile system tested at Overberg )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Operational testing of the Taurus KEPD 350 standoff guided missile system destined for the German Air Force has been successfully completed at Overberg / South Africa. The trials confirmed that Taurus KEPD 350 completely meets the system performance specifications for deployment in the ...
Sweden flies FILUR technology demonstrator.(Saab-Scania AB and FMV)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Saab and FMV's FILUR technology demonstrator programme made a successful first flight on 10 October. FILUR's main objective is to show the tactical importance of stealth technology applied on aerial vehicles, to gain experience and to set a foundation for stealth requirements for future ...
EA-18G in systems test.(DEFENCE)(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Boeing has completed the initial laboratory verification of the EA-18G tactical aircraft's Interference Cancellation (INCANS) system, and demonstrated the system's capabilities during aircraft ground testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The INCANS engineering ...
Europe OKs code of conduct for defence procurement.(DEFENCE)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Words like "landmark" and "breakthrough" were much in evidence as European Union defence ministers--at a meeting of the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA)--agreed a voluntary code of conduct for defence procurement in order to encourage greater use of open competition in ...
Northrop Grumman.(opened electronic-warfare systems-integration laboratory )(Brief article)
Dec 22, 2005 ... Northrop Grumman has opened a new electronic-warfare systems-integration laboratory that will be used to support the development of the airborne electronic-attack system for the US Navy's EA18G aircratt. The system is scheduled to begin entering the fleet in 2009. The company's Bethpage ...