Accident Near Perpignan, France

Toulouse, 27  November  2008

Malaysia Airlines And ATR Ink Global Maintenance Agreement

Malaysia Airlines and ATR today announced the signature of a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA), valued at US $ 27 million, for spare parts and maintenance services for the new ATR 72-500 fleet of the two Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiaries, MASwings and Firefly. 

Under this 7-year GMA, ATR will handle the repair of equipment and line replaceable units, as well as the inventory of spare parts.

Source: ATR

Israel Aerospace Industries Awarded an IMOD Contract Valued at $28 Million for Command and Control (C2) Systems

The MLM Division of the Systems Missiles and Space Group of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been awarded a $28 million contract from Israel’s Ministry of Defense for advanced Command -and-Control (C2) Systems.

IAI’s knowledge and experience in the field of C2 and C4I systems span decades and continues to deepen as development of newer systems proceeds. It is expected that this will enable IAI to win additional local and international programs, in both military and civil markets.
Itzhak Nissan, IAI’s President and CEO commented: “This significant contract is a vote of confidence in IAI’s MLM Division and its employees who conducted highly-rated design reviews and demonstrations prior to signing of the contract. This award is one of many international achievements in the development and marketing of C4I systems which will continue to strengthen IAI’s position as a world leader in this discipline”.

Source: IAI

British Airways Orders 20 CFM56-3 Advanced Upgrade Kits

British Airways has placed an order 20 CFM56-3 Advanced Upgrades kits for its 737 Classic fleet. The order is valued at approximately $33 million at list price, and the kits begin delivery early next year. The order could potentially encompass as many as 44 CFM56-3 engines.

CFM56-3 engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company. Approximately 4,500 CFM56-3 engines in service worldwide; nearly one quarter of those engines have been upgraded.

“We are pleased to be incorporating the CFM56-3 Advanced Upgrade into our 737 fleet,” said Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of British Airways. “This engine has served British Airways well in the past, and the upgrade has already proven its value in service around the world. The lower fuel consumption will have an immediate positive impact on our operating economics while helping us control our carbon footprint; both of which are critical in today’s environment.”

A fully upgraded 10-aircraft fleet will save British Airways approximately 280,000 gallons of fuel per year. That equates to approximately a $750,000 savings at $2.60 per gallon of fuel. The add-on effect of the lower fuel consumption will be that this same fleet will emit 2,700 fewer tons of carbon emissions each year.

The Advanced Upgrade kit features three-dimensional high-pressure compressor (HPC) aerodynamics (3-D aero) and new high-pressure turbine hardware. The upgrade is installed during normal overhaul and provides significant benefits, including: up to a 1.6 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption (which directly impacts fuel burn), as well as up to 25 degrees additional exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margin, which reduces maintenance costs through longer on-wing life.

Source: General Electric

NATO Moves Forward With Agreement to Acquire Boeing C-17s

Aviationnews archive (c)

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 24, 2008

– Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the NATO Airlift Management Agency (NAMA) general manager, on behalf of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) nations, has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the U.S. government for the acquisition of two Boeing C-17 Globemaster III long-range cargo jets. The agreement follows NATO’s Oct. 1 announcement that the 12 SAC nations had formally agreed to move forward with the acquisition of C-17s, which will address national requirements for strategic airlift.

“We’re pleased that SAC nations are moving quickly to meet their critical needs with the C-17 Globemaster III,” said Tommy Dunehew, International C-17 program manager for Boeing. “The C-17 is well-suited to meet the requirements of NATO and each of the sovereign nations, and it continues to be regarded as the backbone of international airlift missions, supporting numerous contingency, humanitarian relief, and peacekeeping efforts around the world.”

Under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense and NAMA, two of the advanced airlifters would be purchased from Boeing, while a third would be provided by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft would be assigned to SAC’s Heavy Airlift Wing and jointly operated by the nations from Pápa Air Base, Hungary.

Each participating nation would pay for a portion of a C-17 rather than an entire aircraft, allowing them to share a pooled fleet. The 12 nations participating in the SAC Program are Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the United States.

“The agreement with Boeing is a significant step forward in the ability of NATO and partner nations to respond to a critical shortfall in Alliance and national capabilities,” said Gunnar Borch, NAMA general manager. “It has been made possible by nations working together, pooling resources and sharing costs to develop a collective capability beyond the reach of, or not practical for, many nations individually.”

The C-17 fleet will allow each nation to meet its airlift requirements to support sovereign and multinational mission requirements. NATO does not currently own a heavy airlift capability and frequently contracts with nations such as the United States and Russia for assistance with its heavy airlift requirements.

“We’re looking forward to delivering the first SAC C-17 as early as spring 2009,” said Jean Chamberlin, vice president and general manager, Boeing Global Mobility Systems. “We’ll follow that with delivery of the other two aircraft in the summer.”

The SAC agreement calls for Boeing to establish a facility at Pápa Air Base to provide C-17 logistics support under the current C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership (GSP), a performance based logistics contract. Boeing is currently contracted to provide logistics support to the 194 operational C-17s worldwide — 180 with the U.S. Air Force; six with the Royal Air Force (UK); four with the Royal Australian Air Force, and four with the Canadian Forces. Boeing received a contract in July to provide the C-17 to Qatar, with deliveries starting in late summer 2009. GSP has provided the Air Force with the best mission-capable rate in military airlift history.

A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances directly to small austere airfields anywhere in the world. With a payload of up to 170,000 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles and land in 3,000 feet or less.

Source: Boeing

Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Successfully Completes First Supersonic Flight

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., November 25, 2008 – Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine successfully completed its first supersonic flight, reaching a top speed of Mach 1.05, or about 680 miles per hour. The first supersonic flight is a significant program milestone demonstrating the capability and performance of the F135 engine. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

The F135 engine powered the F-35 Lightning II to supersonic speed while loaded with a full internal complement of inert weapons to simulate the engine’s supersonic capability while the aircraft was in a fully armed, stealth configuration.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of the successful first F135 supersonic flight,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Programs. “The engine performed exactly as expected, demonstrating the F135’s fifth generation propulsion technology.”

During the test sequence, the F-35 completed four transitions through the sound barrier, spending a total of eight minutes in supersonic flight. Testing will continue with the eventual goal of reaching Mach 1.6 with a full weapons load.

This is one of many successes the F135 program has had this year, including powering the first STOVL aircraft flight in June, successfully completing of over 10,000 test hours, and completing assembly of 10 flight test engines. 

“The F135 is the only fifth generation engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program,” Gostic said. “With every successful test and with every milestone achieved, the F135 continues to prove its unmatched performance and capability to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

The F135 propulsion system is the power of choice for the F-35 and has proven it can meet diverse aircraft requirements. The ground and flight test experience demonstrates the maturity and the associated reliability of the F135 engine for armed forces around the world.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

Source: Pratt & Whitney

Royal Netherlands Navy Launches Harpoons From New Frigate

Harpoon block II (Boeing)

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 25, 2008

– Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the Royal Netherlands Navy has successfully test-launched two Boeing Harpoon missiles from air defense and command frigate (LCF) HMS De Zeven Provinciën. The exercise, which was the first LCF launch of a Harpoon, was held off the coast of Virginia on Nov. 8.

In the exercise scenario, a hostile ship attacked the Dutch frigate, which responded with a salvo of two Harpoon Block IC missiles, marking the first time the Dutch Navy has launched multiple Harpoons on a single target. Both Harpoons hit and destroyed the target. The Netherlands has been a Harpoon customer since 1975.

“We are extremely pleased with the performance of the Harpoon Weapon System during this test, and we congratulate the Royal Netherlands Navy on achieving this new milestone,” said Jan Browne, Boeing director of Stand-Off Strike Weapons. “Harpoon is an extremely reliable weapon system in use by the United States and 27 allied countries. We are proud of Boeing Weapons Programs’ 33-year relationship with the Netherlands.”

Boeing has delivered more than 7,000 missiles to U.S. and allied navies. The Harpoon Block I missile is capable of flying in excess of 67 nautical miles and carries a 500-pound warhead. In 2001, Boeing delivered the first Harpoon Block II missile, which incorporates a Global Positioning System navigation system to provide autonomous, over-the-horizon capabilities, even in adverse weather. The Harpoon Block III missile, which includes a data link system for in-flight target updates, is currently in development.

Source: Boeing

JDAM ER Weapon System Successful in Royal Australian Air Force Flight Tests

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 25, 2008 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM ER) weapon system successfully completed testing with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in August.

The tests at the Woomera Test Facility in South Australia were led by the Australian Department of Defence with support from Boeing and Boeing subsidiary Hawker de Havilland, developer of the wing kits for the 500-pound JDAM ER.

“This cooperative effort with our RAAF customer and key supplier is helping to increase JDAM’s stand-off range, adding improved warfighter safety and survivability to JDAM’s proven effectiveness and accuracy,” said Kevin Holt, JDAM ER program manager for Boeing. “We anticipate that these successful tests will lead to JDAM ER moving from the flight demonstration phase into Low Rate Initial Production beginning in calendar year 2010.”

The flight tests were conducted from RAAF F/A-18A/B+ aircraft. Each flight exceeded the RAAF’s range and accuracy requirements.

“By increasing range and accuracy, the delivery of the weapon will be more effective, allowing a single aircraft to engage multiple targets while the extended range increases the survivability of the aircrew and the aircraft launching the weapon,” said The Honorable Warren Snowdon MP, Australian Minister for Defence Science and Personnel.

JDAM ER is a standard JDAM weapon enhanced with the Hawker de Havilland wing kit, designed to significantly increase its range while maintaining its proven accuracy.

Source: Boeing

Chandrayaan-1 starts observations of the Moon

24 November 2008
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 released a probe that impacted close to the lunar south pole on 14 November. Following this, the instruments on the spacecraft are being switched on to get the science observations started.

The Moon Impact Probe was dropped close to Shackleton crater, a place close to the south pole, where ice may exist in areas that are never illuminated by the Sun. It carried three instruments: a video imaging system, a radar altimeter and a mass spectrometer. The imaging system took pictures of the Moon as it approached the surface, the radar was used to determine the altitude, and the mass spectrometer was used to study the thin lunar atmosphere.

The probe was released from the spacecraft at 15:36 CET (20:06 Indian Standard Time), on 14 November and took 25 minutes to reach the surface. As it descended, the probe transmitted pictures to the orbiter that were later downloaded to Earth.

The Terrain Mapping Camera, TMC, and the Radiation Dose Monitor, RADOM, were functional by that time on the orbiter. After the impact of the probe, the remaining orbiter instruments were switched on consecutively for their commissioning activities.

During commissioning all standard operating modes of an instrument are exercised and the data and housekeeping parameters are examined to verify that everything is working properly.

The European near-infrared spectrometer SIR-2 was commissioned successfully on 19 November. The instrument was switched on and sent back housekeeping data indicating normal functionality. Science observations were started successfully on 20 November.

The Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer, C1XS, was first activated on 23 November, and its commissioning is in progress.

The Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser, SARA will be commissioned from 7 to 10 December. The commissioning for this instrument will take longer than usual because the instrument operates at a high-voltage, which will be increased in steps.

Source: ESA

AgustaWestland Delivers M-TADS Equipped Apache AH Mk.1s

During a ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility today, the first two Apache AH Mk.1s equipped with a new sighting and targeting system were handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence, following the achievement of Release to Service on 14th November 2008. The sighting and targeting system, known as M-TADS/PNVS (Modernised Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor) along with TEDAC (TADS Electronic Display and Control) will provide Apache AH Mk.1 crews with greater situational awareness and combat effectiveness. Additionally the new system will also deliver significant whole life cost savings over the service life of the aircraft. The M-TADS Contract has been an excellent example of industry (AgustaWestland, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and QinetiQ) and the Ministry of Defence teams working as partners to benefit the performance and flexibility of a project.

Nick Whitney, Senior Vice President – UK Government Business, AgustaWestland said at the handover ceremony, “I am delighted to be handing over the first two M-TADS equipped Apaches ahead of schedule, as we know the Apache crews and the troops on the ground on overseas operations will welcome the capability improvements the M-TADS system delivers.” He went on to say “This programme is one where industry and the Ministry of Defence have worked together as true partners to deliver a programme on budget while achieving such important milestones ahead of schedule – I would like to congratulate all those involved.” Air Commodore Doug Whittaker, Attack Helicopter IPT Leader, said, “I am very pleased to be taking delivery of the first two M-TADS upgraded Apache aircraft today from the Industry team, and to be handing them onto the Apache Force Commander for service use. In addition to substantial whole life cost savings and improvements in reliability, M-TADS will provide substantial benefits to Apache aircrew. It further enhances the outstanding capabilities of the aircraft.” Accepting the introduction of the M-TADS Release to Service earlier this month, Apache Force Commander Col David Turner said “The introduction of M-TADS will realise many benefits across the AH Force. It will not only improve our military capability but will also remove the logistic and support penalties associated with the current system. We very much welcome its early introduction into service and aim to deploy M-TADS on operations at the first available opportunity. The AH Force see M-TADS as a major step forward.”
M-TADS/PNVS extends the optical targeting ranges and is expected to increase by a factor of three the overall system’s reliability, significantly reducing maintenance. The new system also features quick-access “remove-and-replace” modules that reduce maintenance and contribute to the whole life cost savings. The newly designed FLIR sensors and avionics use the very latest image processing techniques to give the aircrew the best possible resolution images to help avoid obstacles, such as wires and trees, during nap of the earth flight. AgustaWestland was awarded a £194 million contract in May 2005 to undertake the integration and testing of the new system on the Apache AH Mk.1 and to retrofit the entire fleet of 67 aircraft. The retrofit programme is set to commence on schedule on 27th November at Wattisham, the Main Operating Base for Apache, and all aircraft will be upgraded by the end of 2010.

Source: Agusta Westland

Northrop Grumman Awarded Joint STARS Radar Modernization Contract

MELBOURNE, Fla., Nov. 20, 2008 — The U.S. Air Force has awarded a risk reduction study contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) Radar Modernization program. The study will be performed under Northrop Grumman’s existing Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Radar (MP-RTIP) program.

The $5.8 million study will look at risk reduction efforts involved in adapting the wide-area surveillance version of the MP-RTIP sensor, originally planned for the E-10A aircraft, for Joint STARS.

“This is a critical first step for the Joint STARS Radar Modernization program,” said Tom Vice, sector vice president of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems’ Eastern Region. “A large, advanced, wide-area surveillance version of the MP-RTIP sensor integrated on Joint STARS will provide an exponential growth in information fidelity to our joint warfighters. It will also bring vastly improved situational awareness for tracking ground movement, cruise missiles and support for irregular warfare and other emerging threats. I am confident that when deployed, this sensor will be a game-changer beyond everyone’s expectations.”

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the Joint STARS program and responsible for full system life cycle support. Work on the study will be done at Northrop Grumman facilities in Norwalk, Conn., Melbourne, Fla. and El Segundo, Calif. and Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business unit.

The U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint STARS is a highly modified commercial aircraft that detects, locates, classifies, tracks and targets hostile ground movements, communicating real-time information through secure data links to ground and airborne forces.

All Joint STARS aircraft are assigned to the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Wing, a “total-force blended wing,” based at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Ga. The wing comprises active-duty Air Force, Army and Air National Guard personnel. Crews from the 116th have flown more than 40,000 combat hours supporting coalition forces in the Global War on Terrorism.

Source: Northrop Grumman

Hawker Beechcraft Awarded $171 Million Contract for 23 King Air 350ER Turboprops

WICHITA, Kan. (Nov. 19, 2008) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) with an estimated value of $171 million. The contract is for 23 extended-range (ER) special mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER turboprops. Deliveries will take place in 2009.

“We are honored to be part of the team supplying this critical capability to our military and to continue our long term relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense,” said Jim Schuster, HBC chairman and CEO. “The King Air 350ER is ideally suited for use in special missions as an airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. We understand the priority of this important mission and are committed to the aircraft deliveries necessary for rapid deployment.”

The versatile King Air 350ER is part of the Beechcraft King Air family, the world’s best selling turboprop line of all time. The King Air 350ER is a derivative of the King Air 350, and provides extended range through the addition of nacelle fuel tanks, along with an increase in gross weight from 15,000 to 16,500 pounds and the incorporation of heavy-weight landing gear. The King Air 350ER will be modified for the USAF with military required equipment and provide the Air Force with advanced technology and reliability.

The King Air 350ER can provide over eight hours of endurance and has the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet. Taking off at gross weight with full fuel and full payload, the King Air 350ER can fly out 100 nautical miles, perform a low altitude surveillance mission for seven hours and 20 minutes, fly back 100 nautical miles, and still land with over 45 minutes of fuel on board. No other aircraft in its class can come close to this performance.

Source: Hawker Beechcraft

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