Final preparations underway for the delivery of Singapore Airlines’ first A380

Airbus has begun pre-delivery tests for the initial A380 to enter commercial service, which will be delivered to Singapore Airlines this October. In parallel, the first pilots from this Asian carrier are completing their qualification to fly the 21st Century flagship. Singapore Airlines’ no. 1 A380 is now back in Toulouse, France, after returning from Hamburg, Germany where it was ferried to be painted and fitted with its cabin interior. The aircraft was assembled at Toulouse, the home to the A380 final assembly line. Airline pilot training courses for the A380 began in June, with eight Singapore Airlines pilots starting the ground phase of the standard type rating course at their Singapore headquarters facility. Completion of the training is being done at Airbus Training in Toulouse using the flight simulator and the aircraft itself. Airbus has received validation from the European, American and Canadian civil aviation authorities for its first three A380 pilot training courses, which were approved after an evaluation process that began on 16 April. The courses include the A380 standard type rating for pilots with no previous Airbus fly-by-wire experience, and two cross crew qualification (CCQ) courses for pilots transitioning from the A330 and the A340. A team of four pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) acted as evaluators, while 10 pilots representing the authorities tested out the training. One crew evaluated the A330 to A380 CCQ, another crew tested the A340 to the A380 CCQ, and three crews tried out the standard type-rating course. The team found that the A380 had very similar handling characteristics to the A330/A340, and crews had no difficulty in flying the aircraft. The main differences were in the pilot interfaces, i.e. the onboard information system and the flight management system, which are covered in detail in the training. Feedback received during evaluation will allow Airbus to continue to offer the best possible course for pilots. Development of the courses began in January 2004, and the civil aviation authorities were involved from the very beginning of the process.

Spanish Air Force Purchases Two More EADS CASA C-295 Military Transport Aircraft

(Madrid, July 31, 2007) — Spanish Air Force has recently purchased 2 more units of the EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft. The fleet of these aircraft operated by Spanish Air Force reaches a total of 13 units. On top of the initial 9 aircraft purchased in December 2000, there are 2 additional aircraft ordered in December 2005 and December 2006.

The EADS CASA C-295 is a medium weight military transport aircraft with two engines of 2,645 HP each and 9,250 Kg payload capable of transporting 71 (+4 optional) equipped troops or five (5) 88″x108″pallets.

LOCKHEED MARTIN C-130J DELIVERY TO AIR MOBILITY COMMAND CONTINUES USAF AIRLIFT RECAPITALIZATION

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered the second C-130J Super Hercules to an Air Mobility Command active duty combat delivery unit.  After accepting the new C-130J, Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, Commander 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., flew the aircraft to Little Rock AFB, Ark., where it will operate as part of the 463rd Airlift Group.

“The C-130 in general has been a true workhorse.  The J-model provides so much more capability, especially in dealing with the high altitude and hot temperatures our crews encounter in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said General Hawkins during the delivery ceremony.  “What the C 130J will do for air mobility is incredible.  One C-130J does the work of three C-130Es.  So this recapitalization effort will yield big dividends as we continue to support the Global War on Terror.”

The 463rd, which operate a fleet of 13 C-130Es and 14 C-130Hs, is currently scheduled to receive at least 16 C-130Js.  The new C-130J is capable of generating much greater operational efficiencies than the older C-130s by flying further, faster, with more payload and higher reliability.  Additionally, the C-130J only requires three crew members for most missions so fewer flight crew members are exposed to potential threats in theater.  C-130Js are currently deployed in two combat theaters and are operating at a very high tempo efficiently and reliably. C-130Js are being used daily for troop and equipment re-supply via ground delivery and airdrop, for air-to-air refueling, ground refueling and humanitarian relief. The worldwide fleet of C-130Js has now exceeded 350,000 flight hours.

In the United States, Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units fly C-130Js. The Marine Corps operates KC 130J tankers and the Coast Guard flies the HC-130J.  International C-130J operators include the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Italian Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force.

Airbus A380 approved to operate on 45m runways

Airbus’ A380 has received approval from both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be operated on runways with a width of 45 metres (150 feet) or more. Most of the world airports have 45m runways as standard width.

 ”This aircraft has been shown to be safely controllable and to be compliant with applicable airworthiness requirements when operating on runways with a width of 45 meters (150 feet) or more”, stated James J. Ballough, FAA Director Flight Standards Service in an official correspondence to Airbus, dated July 19, 2007.

This approval is yet another great achievement for the A380 Programme and the result of a unique operational evaluation including airport compatibility checks, route proving campaigns and dedicated flight-testing together with the Authorities.

“Full Airport compatibility has always been a key design driver for this new flagship of the 21 century”, says Mario Heinen, Airbus Executive Vice President, A380 Programme. “Since the very beginning of the A3XX concept phase in 1996 Airbus has established a sustainable dialogue with regulators, airports, airlines, ground handlers and pilots as well as trade-associations, with the objective to make it fully compliant with the average airport environments. We are pleased to see once more that this approach is bearing fruits.”

The A380 has already visited more than 45 airports. By 2011, more than 70 airports will be ready for A380 operations.

In parallel, Airbus is progressing well with the first customer A380s. The first A380 for Singapore Airlines arrived in Toulouse in mid-July after completion of the cabin installation. It is now submitted to thorough final checks, prior to delivery to the customer in October. The subsequent aircraft, for delivery to Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Qantas, are also well on track.

Being cleaner, greener, quieter and smarter, the A380 is already setting new standards for transport and the environment. Per passenger, the A380 is as fuel efficient as a small economical family car. The combination of extra passenger capacity without increasing the number of flights, excellent environmental performance and lower operating costs is an ideal solution for both increasingly congested airports and the airlines that serve them

Boeing Delivers SonAir’s First 737-700

SEATTLE, July 20, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE; BA] has delivered the first of two 737-700s to SonAir, Angola’s air transportation arm of the national oil company Sonangol. The airplane is shown here taking off from Boeing Field. It departed Thursday en route to its home operating base in Luanda, Angola.

The Boeing Next-Generation 737 is unmatched by any competitive airplane in its class. The 737-700s boast 28 percent less fuel consumption per seat and 52 percent lower maintenance costs than the 737-200s they will replace in SonAir’s fleet.

Aurigny Air Services Signs for 2 ATR 72-500s

ATR and Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services today announced the signature of a contract for the purchase of 2 ATR 72-500s, valued at some US $ 37 million. With the purchase of these two 70-seat latest-generation ATRs, the States of Guernsey-owned airline will increase and update its current fleet of 3 ATR 72-200s. Both aircraft will be delivered in 2010 and will be equipped with the “Elegance” cabin as well as the newest technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation tools. Commenting on the announcement, Aurigny Air Services Managing Director Malcolm Hart declared: “We are very satisfied with the service given by our fleet of ATRs since we started flying them in 2003.

We look forward to introduce our new ATR 72-500s as they will offer improved passenger comfort, together with low maintenance costs and outstanding economics. This will enable Aurigny Air Services to guarantee to all our passengers and especially the community of Guernsey a great flight experience at affordable fares.”

ATR CEO Stéphane Mayer stated: “We are delighted to see Aurigny Air Services continuing its development with new ATR 72-500s, which is a great mark of appreciation of our products. In addition to the advantages of costs and passenger comfort, the ATR 72 is also the most environmentally friendly aircraft, with the lowest emissions of any 70 seat aircraft.”

Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 65 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 902 aircraft (416 ATR 42s and 486 ATR 72s) and has delivered 733 (394 ATR 42s and 339 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 169 aircraft.

The 500 series: New Generation aircraft

With its ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500, ATR supplies state-of-the-art aircraft with jet-like comfort. The advanced six-blade propeller provides remarkably low noise levels. Low fuel burn and gaseous emissions contribute to make the ATR environment friendly. All ATR models are compliant with noise regulations and have a large margin with regard to Chapter IV (ICAO) noise regulations, effective 1st January 2006.

About Aurigny Air Services

Aurigny is based in Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. It operates daily flights to London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Alderney, Jersey and Dinard. The word ‘Aurigny’ comes from the Norman-French name for the island of Alderney where the airline started operations in 1968. Aurigny flew 45,000 passengers in its first year and has flown nearly 10 million passengers since. The airline will be celebrating its 40th birthday next year making it is one of the longest-running regional operators in the world.

AIR FORCE AWARDS $1.1 BILLION AIRCREW TRAINING AND REHEARSAL SUPPORT CONTRACT TO LOCKHEED MARTIN

ORLANDO, FL,July 18, 2007

 

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a 10-year Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support II (ATARS II) contract. The $1.1 billion contract will provide Air Force Special Operations Command crews with training on a variety of weapon systems.  The win extends Lockheed Martin’s role as the principal mission rehearsal trainer for Air Force Special Operations and Search and Rescue aircrews.  The company was awarded the original ATARS contract in 1987.

 

“For nearly two decades, Lockheed Martin has provided a total spectrum of training solutions for Special Operations and Air Force Search and Rescue aircrews,” said Dale Bennett, president of Lockheed Martin Simulation Training & Support. “This award shows that the Air Force continues to have strong confidence in our ability to provide rapid-turnaround solutions for the special operations warfighter.”

 

ATARS II represents the next-generation training system for special operations crews at several locations: Kirtland Air Force Base, NM; Hurlburt Field, FL; Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, PA and Fort Rucker, AL.  ATARS II is a distributed, fully-networked environment that provides combat-ready aircrews to support SOF units deployed across the world in support of national requirements.

 

“We look forward to continuing to provide Air Force warfighters with custom-developed combat training and simulation systems that hone their piloting and mission skills at the full-service schoolhouses operated by Lockheed Martin,” said Lorraine Martin, STS Flight Solutions vice president.

Lockheed Martin will provide training for the C-130 Talon, Spectre and Shadow, MH-53 Pave Low and MH-60 Pave Hawk and the CV-22 Osprey.  Through the ATARS program, thousands of aircrew members are trained each year and offers additional training for flight, naval and ground systems applications.

Source: Lockheed.

First Embraer 175 Jet Arrives at Northwest Airlines

Company’s E-Jet to be operated by Northwest’s regional subsidiary, Compass Airlines

(Sao Jose dos Campos, July 17, 2007) — Embraer has delivered the first EMBRAER 175 jet to the U.S.-based carrier, Northwest Airlines. The airline has placed a firm order for 36 EMBRAER 175 jets. The new E-Jets will be operated by Northwest’s regional subsidiary, Compass Airlines, and will fly under the Northwest Airlink brand name.

“We are happy to welcome Northwest Airlines and its regional subsidiary, Compass Airlines, into the growing group of E-Jets operators, as the EMBRAER 175 aircraft joins its fleet,” said Mauro Kern, Embraer’s Executive Vice President, Airline Market. “It is a distinct pleasure to see one of our E-Jets taking part in Northwest’s plan for offering its passengers an aircraft of superior comfort and reliability. In addition to that, I am sure our aircraft will bring them robust performance, high operational efficiency, and outstanding economics.”

Northwest’s new EMBRAER 175 will be configured with 76 seats, 12 first-class and 64 coach. “The fuel-efficient EMBRAER 175 allows Northwest to offer first-class seating to more customers and to open new routes that were not feasible to operate with larger aircraft,” said Neal Cohen, Chief Executive Officer – Regional Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Inc.

(Embraer)

Boeing Places 50th Next-Generation 737 with AirTran Airways

SEATTLE, July 17, 2007 — The 50th Boeing Next-Generation 737 in AirTran Airways’ distinctive livery took off Monday following delivery at Boeing Field. AirTran Airways, which began service in 1995 exclusively using 717-200s, took delivery of its first Next-Generation 737 in August, 2004. “For this airline to have taken 50 Next-Generation 737s in less than three years speaks both to the success of AirTran Airways and the positive contribution of Boeing products to an airline’s bottom line,” said Ray Conner, vice president, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The milestone 737 will join the all-Boeing low-cost carrier’s fleet of 737s and 87 717s.

 Source: Boeing

Boeing Approved for Full-Rate Production and Fielding of CH-47F Chinook Helicopter

ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received U.S. Army authorization for full-rate production and fielding of the new CH-47F Chinook helicopter.

The CH-47F successfully completed U.S. Army operational testing at Fort Campbell, Ky., in April, and now will move forward with First Unit Fielding in July.

“This authorization enables us to support the needs of the warfighter today and well into the future,” said Jack Dougherty, director of Boeing H-47 programs.

“The Army put the CH-47F to the test with over 60 hours of rigorous flight test in numerous simulated mission scenarios, including air assault, combat resupply and transport operations,” said Ken Eland, Boeing CH-47F program manager. “The successful test and evaluation of the aircraft is a validation of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the H-47 program and proves again that the Chinook is ready to meet the diverse requirements of the warfighter.”

Operational testing of the CH-47F was conducted by Bravo Company (Varsity), 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

The CH-47F helicopter features a newly designed, modernized airframe, a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and a BAE Digital Advanced Flight Control System. The advanced avionics provide improved situational awareness for flight crews with an advanced digital map display and a data transfer system that allows storing of preflight and mission data. Improved survivability features include Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser Systems.

Powered by two 4,868-horsepower Honeywell engines, the new CH-47F can reach speeds greater than 175 mph and transport payloads weighing more than 21,000 lbs. The CH-47F, with the Robertson Aviation Extended Range Fuel System, has a mission radius greater than 400 miles.

Source: Boeing

Boeing-led Airborne Laser Team Actively Tracks Airborne Target, Compensates for Atmospheric Turbulence and Fires Surrogate High-Energy Laser

ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], along with industry teammates and its government customer, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, successfully completed a key Airborne Laser (ABL) flight test Friday, demonstrating the weapon system’s ability to actively track an airborne target, compensate for atmospheric turbulence and fire a surrogate for its missile-killing high-energy laser.

During the test, the modified Boeing 747-400F took off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and used its infrared sensors and its track illuminator laser (TILL) to find and track an instrumented target board located on the U.S. Air Force’s NC-135E Big Crow test aircraft. The Big Crow then fired its beacon laser at the ABL aircraft to allow ABL to measure and compensate for laser beam distortion caused by the atmosphere. Finally, ABL fired the surrogate high-energy laser (SHEL) at the Big Crow target board to simulate a missile shootdown. With the exception of ABL’s beacon illuminator laser (BILL), this flight test demonstrated the entire engagement sequence from target acquisition to pointing and firing the SHEL.

“This successful test shows that ABL can find and track a target, use its beam control/fire control system to compensate for atmospheric turbulence, and fire a surrogate high-energy laser to simulate a missile intercept,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. “We have now demonstrated most of the steps needed for the Airborne Laser to engage a threat missile and deliver precise and lethal effects against it.”

As announced earlier, ABL fired the TILL at the Big Crow target board for the first time March 15. This latest test demonstrated ABL’s ability to transition from passive tracking of a simulated missile plume to active tracking, by “walking” the TILL beam to the nose of the missile and using the TILL light returning from the edge of missile for precision tracking and determination of where to point the SHEL on the target. In addition, atmospheric turbulence compensation was performed concurrent with active tracking and SHEL firing.

In upcoming flight tests, ABL will again demonstrate the engagement sequence, but this time use the return from its BILL instead of the Big Crow’s beacon laser to measure atmospheric distortion. After these flight tests, the program will install the actual Northrop Grumman-built high-energy laser in the aircraft to prepare for the first intercept test against an in-flight ballistic missile in 2009. The high-power chemical laser has completed rigorous ground testing at Edwards Air Force Base and is being prepared for installation.

Boeing is the prime contractor for ABL, which will provide a speed-of-light capability to destroy all classes of ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight. Boeing provides the modified aircraft and the battle management system and is the overall systems integrator. ABL partners are Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC], which supplies the high-energy laser and the beacon illuminator laser, and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], which provides the nose-mounted turret and the beam control/fire control system.

Source: Boeing.

Paul Bonhomme wins Interlaken RedBull AirRace.

Paul Bonhomme (GBR) has won the RedBull air race at Interlaken Switserland.

2nd came American Mike Mangold and 3th Peter Besenyei of Hungary.

For full results visit www.air-races.com

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