Abu Dhabi 2009 passenger traffic up 7.3 pct

DUBAI – Abu Dhabi Airports Co., which runs Abu Dhabi International Airport, Sunday said 2009 passenger numbers rose 7.3% to 9.7 million from 9 million a year earlier.

July was the airport’s busiest month ever with 923,124 passengers passing through the hub. London was the most popular destination out of the airport, followed by Bangkok, Doha, Bahrain and Cairo, the company said in an emailed statement.

Cargo traffic rose 7% for the year to 378,746 tons from 353,820 tons a year earlier, it said.

“Despite the adverse global economic climate and the consolidation observed in the aviation industry during 2009, Abu Dhabi International has proven to be a resilient airport operation, with solid growth in both passenger and cargo traffic numbers demonstrating this,” ADAC Chairman Khalifa Al Mazrouei said in the statement.

Source: business.maktoob.com

OFFICIAL MATT HALL SUPPORTERS TOUR ANNOUNCED

Matt Hall Racing and leading tour operator Avtours Australia have today launched the Official Matt Hall Supporters Tour to the Perth round of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championships. 

The four night tour from Thursday April 15 to Monday April 19 will take in all the thrills and excitement of the Western Australian capital with the highlight being Grandstand or Race Club seating at the Air Race on April 17 and 18. 

Tour guests will also receive signed Matt Hall memorabilia, enjoy an exclusive dinner with Matt Hall on the Friday night and be treated to a private pit walk led by Matt and Matt Hall Racing staff. 

There are also limited tickets for a Perth only component for those who have already purchased flights and accommodation. 

Hall, who finished his debut Air Race season in 2009 in third place overall, said he was very excited to be able to cater for some of the large group of supporters that are expected to travel to Perth. 

“As soon as I heard the race was coming back to Australia and to Perth I was determined to make sure I had plenty of fans over there,” Hall said. 

“The level of support I have received in my short career so far has been overwhelming and I really wanted to give fans the opportunity for an exclusive experience they would never forget. 

“The team at Avtours Australia are the best in the business when it comes to Aviation Tours and the Red Bull Air Race themselves have been very accommodating in helping us put together something special. I can’t wait for April!” 

There is a bonus too for those that book early – anyone who books before February 28, 2010 will go into a draw to win the following prizes:

* Prize 1: Win one flight in the Red Bull Air Race 2-seater plane, on the Friday preceding the race (time TBC)

* Prize 2: Win an upgrade to the exclusive Race Club hospitality area for you and 3 friends

* Prize 3: Win an exclusive gift-pack signed by Australian pilot Matt Hall

 

For bookings email Karene – karene@avtours.com.au or call 1300 728 634

 

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AVTOURS AUSTRALIA OFFICIAL MATT HALL SUPPORTERS TOUR 

Packages

Silver Package

Return Economy Airfares (Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane – Perth) Flying with Qantas

Group Airport Return Transfers

 Twin Share Accommodation Deluxe Studio Room – The Esplanade River Suites, Como

 (4 nights)

Full buffet breakfast each morning (4 breakfasts)

Thursday night Evening Vineyard Cruise

Friday Day tour of Perth & Fremantle

Friday night dinner with Matt Hall

Private Pit Lane Walk with Matt Hall

Matt Hall Racing Polo Shirt & personally signed Baseball Cap

Matt Hall Racing Grandstand seating for both Saturday & Sunday events

Group transfers to Grandstand each day

Sunday night farewell dinner

Personalised Itinerary

Post trip extensions if required

Gold Package extras

Saturday & Sunday Exclusive Race Club Seating

Twin Share Accommodation Executive Studio Room – The Esplanade River Suites, Como

 

Prices

SILVER PACKAGE PRICE:

$2265.00 per person ex Melbourne

$2295.00 per person ex Sydney

$2399.00 per person ex Brisbane

 

Single Supplement – $470.00 

 

GOLD PACKAGE PRICE:

$2785.00 pp ex Melbourne

$2825.00 pp ex Sydney

$2930.00 pp ex Brisbane                                                                       

Single Supplement – $530.00 

PERTH ONLY COMPONENT PRICES: For Reserved Grandstand Seating, Friday night dinner, Private Pit Walk and merchandise is $460.00 per person.  For the same but Race Club tickets $910.00 per person.

AL AIN AEROBATIC SHOW TO BE BROADCAST LIVE Online sports channel – Airsports.tv to Broadcast for 5 Hours

Al Ain, UAE 29 January, 2009: The Al Ain Aerobatic Show, due to be held later this week, is to be broadcast live online for the very first time in its eight-year history, with coverage of the last two days of the event streamed to viewers across the globe. The event is the world’s only aerobatic spectacle that combines military and civil aircraft, stunt displays and competitions. 

Internet-based sports channel Airsports.tv will be broadcasting live from the Al Ain show – being held at Al Ain International Airport – on the 30^th January, with full running commentary for up to 5 hours from 13:00 – 18:00 (09:00 – 13:00 GMT), delivering an estimated 80,000 video streams over its customised live events page: 

 http://www.airsports.tv/alainaerobaticshowlive.asp. 

A record 23 international teams – featuring some of the world’s top pilots from Croatia, Hungary, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA – will be taking part this year, including an Aero Grand Prix air race – known as the Formula One of Air Racing; the stunning ‘Saudi Hawks’ – the Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatics Team; the ‘Breitling Jet team’, and ‘We Fly’ from Italy. In addition, the South African Goodyear Eagles Aerobatic Team will attempt to complete a never-before-seen triple synchronised inverted parachute drop, whilst three aircraft perform a formation loop. 

The UAE Armed Forces – who this year are taking part both as organiser and participant – will be showing off an F16-C multi-role jet fighter aircraft – known as the  ’Fighting Falcon’; a French multirole, single-engine jet Mirage 2000 fighter; and, for the first time, an AH-64D Apache four-blade, twin-engined attack helicopter. The Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) will also be making its international debut, with two RBAF F16s demonstrating daily. 

Jeff Zaltman, Managing Director of Flying Aces Ltd and Airsports.tv said “We have a unique opportunity to bring this event into the homes, offices and work spaces of thousands of aerobatic pilots, fans and enthusiasts across the globe and we are thrilled to be able to do so. There are thousands of aerobatic flying clubs, aerobatic pilots and aerobatic flight fans worldwide who won’t get the chance to attend Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2010. The live online broadcast will give those people an opportunity to take part in the adrenalin fuelled excitement of this prestigious event.” 

The 2010 Al Ain Aerobatic Show is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

Source: Airsports.tv

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Firing Units, Training Unit, and Missiles

WASHINGTON, January 29, 2010 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States of 114 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC-3)
missiles, 3 AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets and other related equipment and services. The estimated cost
is $2.81 billion.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has requested the
possible sale of 114 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missiles, 3 AN/MPQ-65 Radar
Sets, 1 AN/MSQ-133 Information and Coordination Centrals, 1 Tactical Command Station, 3
Communication Relay Groups, 3 AN/MSQ-132 Engagement Control Stations, 26 M902
Launching Stations, 5 Antenna Mast Groups, 1 Electronic Power Plant III (EPP), battery and
battalion maintenance equipment, prime movers, generators, electrical power units, personnel
training and equipment, trailers, communication equipment, tool and test sets, spare and repair
parts, publications and technical documentation, Quality Assurance Team support services, U.S.
Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements
of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.81 billion.

This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The
U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act.
This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the
recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.
The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining
political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.

The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats of
enemy air strikes. The recipient will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats
and to strengthen its homeland defense. The recipient, which already has PAC-3 missiles in its
inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the
region.

The principal contractors will be: Raytheon Corporation in Andover, MA, and Lockheed-Martin
in Dallas, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential
sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S.
Government and contractor representatives.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

Source: DSCA

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopters

WASHINGTON, January 29, 2010 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States of 60 UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopters, technical
and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $3.1 billion.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has requested a
possible sale of 60 UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopters with 120 T-700-GE-701D engines, 18
spare T-700-GE-701D engines, 69 AN/APR-39A(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers, 69 AN/ALQ-
144A(V)1 Infrared Countermeasure Sets, 69 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, 69
AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets, 120 GAU-19/A .50 cal Machine Gun Systems, and 310
AN/AVS-9 Aviator Night Vision Goggles. Also included are .50 cal ammunition, pyrotechnics,
cartridges and propellant actuated devices. Also included are other explosives including devices,
Po-Sheng Communication/Data Link Systems, ammunition, spare and repair parts, tools and
support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment,
contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics
support. The estimated cost is $3.1 billion.

This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The U.S.
is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act.
This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the
recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.
The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining
political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.

The recipient needs these helicopters for self-defense, personnel movement, cargo lifting, and
aero medical evacuation capabilities. This procurement will modernize the recipient’s rotary
wing fleet and provide for the defense of vital installations and close air support for ground
forces. The recipient will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the
region.

The principal contractors will be: Sikorsky Aircraft (United Technologies) Corporation of
Stratford, Connecticut, and General Electric Aircraft Company of Lynn, Massachusetts.
The purchaser has requested offsets; however, at this time they are undetermined and will be
defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractors.
Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of two contractor
representatives for a period of up to two years.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

Source: DSCA

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States RTM-84L and ATM-84L HARPOON Block II Telemetry Missiles

WASHINGTON, January 29, 2010 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in the United States of 10 RTM-84L HARPOON Block II Telemetry
missiles, 2 ATM-84L HARPOON Block II Telemetry missiles, and other related equipment and
services. The estimated cost is $37 million.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has requested the
possible sale of 10 RTM-84L HARPOON Block II Telemetry missiles; 2 ATM-84L HARPOON
Block II Telemetry missiles; containers; training devices; spare and repair parts; supply/technical
support; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; technical data and
publications; U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $37 million.

This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the
recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance its defensive capability.
The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining
political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.

The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats of
hostile surface ship operations. The recipient, which already has HARPOON missiles in its
inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles.
This sale is consistent with United States law and policy as expressed in Public Law 96-8. The
U.S. is committed to providing military assistance under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the
region.

The prime contractor will be The McDonnell Douglas Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Boeing Company in St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in
connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government
personnel or contractor representatives to the recipient.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

Source: DSCA

Airbus sees Mideast orders steady in 2010

MARRAKESH – Airbus expects orders from the Middle East of between 40 and 50 aircraft this year, about the same as in 2009, the company’s top executive for the region told Reuters on Thursday.

Airbus’s president for the Middle East, Habib Fekih, also said he expected 2010 deliveries in the region to match or exceed the 70 planes delivered last year, and said Airbus customers globally were seeking less vendor finance than expected.

Asked about Middle East orders, Fekih said: “In 2009 in net orders we were well placed … about 40 planes, so 16-17 percent (of the Airbus total). That proportion was a bit less than previously but that was because we sold loads in 2008 and 2007.”

“In 2010 we should come back to the same proportions as 2009, so 40 to 50 planes,” he said in interview on the sidelines of an aerospace industry fair in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.

“We delivered 70 planes in the region in 2009. In 2010 we think we will deliver as many if not more,” he said.

Commenting on the impact of the world economic downturn on Airbus’s global sales, Fekih said: “Airlines did not call on us for customer financing as much as we’d expected in 2009. We had been much more pessimistic.”

“Looking towards the first few months of 2010, it seems to be the same trend.”

Airbus is the world’s biggest plane-maker, slightly ahead of its rival Boeing. Earlier this month Airbus’s global sales chief John Leahy forecast between 250 and 300 plane orders in 2010, compared with 310 orders last year, and predicted that the market would pick up from 2012.

Passenger traffic in the Middle East has coped with the global economic slowdown better than other regions and large fleet ordering programmes have helped aircraft sales.

Dubai’s Emirates airline is the planemaker’s biggest customer by order value but Airbus said after the local debt crisis erupted at the end of last year that it had complete faith in the airline and that it was meeting all its payments.

Source: business.maktoob.com

First Flight Sukhoi PAK FA

First flight of the experimental example of the fifth generation combat aircraft that took place from the KnAAPO factory aerodrome brings evidence that today the history of the world aviation is being written in Russia: in Komsomosk-on-Amur, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Rybinsk, Ufa, Remenskoye, Zhukovsky and other cities where indigenous design houses and aviation plants, their partners and suppliers are located.

Starting from the times of Mikhail Lomonosov, Aleksandr Mozhaisky and Nikolai Zhukovsky, who laid the foundation of aeronautics in this country, Russia has been at the edge of progress in aeronautic technologies and development of flying vehicles.

The flight with duration of 47 minutes opens a new horizon for the Russian aviation for the rest of the XXI century and, hopefully, even further. Successful beginning of flight trials on the next-generation aircraft stimulate us for new achievements and sparks up our desire to create.

Let me congratulate all participants of the next-generation combat aircraft project and all those who facilitate the project with its hard work, experience and knowledge.

Alexey Fedorov

President, Chairman of control board, United Aircraft Corporation

The fighter, tentatively dubbed the T-50 and designed jointly with India, is intended to challenge the technological superiority of the U.S. F-22 Raptor, and to boost Russia’s own defense capabilities for several decades.

Designed by Sukhoi and built by the company’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant, the T-50 prototype flew for 47 minutes and landed on the plant’s airfield. In a statement distributed by Sukhoi on Jan. 29, its pilot, Sergei Bogdan, said the airplane “performed well on all stages of the test-flight program design by us. It is easy and comfortable.”

According to Sukhoi, the fighter – Russia’s first all-new warplane since the collapse of the Soviet Union – has new avionics systems, a phased-array radar, and equipment to exchange information with both ground command-and-control systems and other aircraft in an air warfare group.

“This allows a significant increase in military effectiveness,” a company statement said, stressing that the T-50 answers all requirements of a fifth-generation fighter, including a supersonic cruising speed. The sophisticated control systems “allow a pilot to concentrate on tactical tasks,” while use of composite materials, the aerodynamic design of the body and measures taken to decrease the visibility of the aircraft engine provide for “unprecedented low radio, optical and infrared visibility,” the statement said.

Bombardier Aerospace at Singapore Airshow 2010

Demonstrating its commitment to the Asia-Pacific marketplace, Bombardier Aerospace will attend the Singapore Airshow 2010. Held at the Changi Exhibition Centre from February 2 to 7, Bombardier Aerospace will take this opportunity to showcase four of its innovative aircraft and to update potential customers and the media on the progress of the new CSeries 110- to 130-seat single-aisle mainline aircraft, scheduled to enter service in 2013. On static display at the exhibit will be the Learjet 60XR, Challenger 850 and Global Express XRS business jets, as well as the Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner.

In recent years, Bombardier Aerospace’s activities in the Asia-Pacific have grown substantially in both the commercial and business aviation sectors. With business aircraft and regional aircraft sales offices located in Bejing and Hong Kong, the Company is well positioned to offer the right solutions to meet the needs of airlines and corporate travellers throughout the region. 

“Asia-Pacific is a vibrant market which has enjoyed continuous growth in the recent years,” said David Dixon, Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Singapore Air Show is an opportunity for us to reinforce our already strong presence in the region and to meet with our expanding customer base,” he added.

“Countries in the Asia-Pacific region continue to upgrade their airline transport infrastructures to more efficiently handle the steady growth of airlines and their passengers,” said Trung Ngo, Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We believe we have the right product mix to meet a good part of this demand with our mainline CSeries aircraft, CRJ NextGen regional jets and Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners.”

Bombardier’s Business Aircraft market forecast  predicts 1,030 deliveries for Asia over 2009-2018 while its 2009–2028 Commercial Aircraft Forecast anticipates that the Asia-Pacific region (excluding the People’s Republic of China) will take delivery of 1,550 aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat market. The demand for commercial aircraft will be weighted towards the 100- to 149-seat segment for which Bombardier is producing its CSeries family of aircraft.

The Singapore Airshow 2010 will run from Tuesday, February 2 to Friday, February 5 for trade visitors, and be open to the public from Saturday, February 6 to Sunday, February 7. The Bombardier Aerospace chalet, located at CD-65, will be closed on February 7.

Bombardier aircraft on static display at Singapore Airshow 2010

• Learjet 60 XR: In service since July 2007, the Learjet 60 XR aircraft is a proven model of performance, comfort, value and versatility in the midsize jet market segment. The aircraft delivers a high cruise speed of Mach 0.81 (861 km/hr), superior climb capabilities, proven fuel efficiency and low direct operating costs per nautical mile*. The jet’s higher operating altitudes – certified to 51,000 ft (15,545 m) – translate to time savings due to better winds, less traffic and less turbulence. Bombardier recently introduced new Signature Series Red and Black interiors for the Learjet 60 XR jet.
• Challenger 850: This aircraft combines the outstanding dependability of a CRJ200 airliner with an executive cabin and the superior level of support business aircraft customers demand.
  The Challenger 850 aircraft features the cabin volume of an ultra-long range jet with a transcontinental range of up to 3,044 nautical miles (5,636 km)*. It is the benchmark for cabin comfort in its market segment.
• Global 5000: The super large Global 5000 jet combines superior transatlantic speed with the largest cabin in its market segment. It features high-speed Internet connectivity and unmatched entertainment options as well as a head-up flight display system with the largest field-of-view of any business jet. The Global 5000 the jet can connect Singapore-Moscow and Singapore-Auckland non-stop with eight passengers and three crew*.
• Q400 NextGen: Optimized for short-haul operations, the 70- to 80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft is a large, fast, quiet and fuel-efficient turboprop. It provides the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint. The Q400 NextGen airliner which will be on display at the airshow will be in the livery of airBaltic of Riga, Latvia.

Boeing Helicopter Support Program to Provide Lift for Canadian Industry

At a supplier conference today in Ottawa, Boeing [NYSE: BA] outlined its proposed subcontracting plan for in-service support (ISS) of 15 Boeing CH-47 Chinook Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters (MHLH), designated CH-147 for the Canadian Forces.

Through the performance-based ISS program for the CH-147 fleet, Boeing could provide industry benefits of approximately $2 billion over 20 years. The program provides work packages in areas including engineering support; logistics support analysis; supply chain support; aircraft maintenance training systems and services; technical publications; ground support equipment; and maintenance site operations.

“Boeing has single-point accountability to manage the MHLH fleet’s overall performance while reducing overall life-cycle cost,” said Barry Wolff, MHLH ISS program manager for Boeing. “Ultimately, we are responsible for flawless execution of the MHLH ISS Program to meet or exceed the Canadian government’s Performance Based Accountability metrics and to ensure the level of readiness that Canadian Forces deserve.”

At today’s conference, Boeing reviewed the initial ISS structure and the company’s transition plan for the 20-year ISS phase, including the schedule and process to competitively bid work packages.

“Today’s conference is one of the first steps for the MHLH ISS Program,” said H.W. “Pete” Peterson, country director and vice president in Canada for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This is a chance for us to meet with potential suppliers to explain our proposed approach to compete and award long-term support work for the Canadian Chinook, and to give them the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. Our final plan for the ISS competition will reflect improvements based on industry feedback.”

Through Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) Policy, Boeing’s IRB commitments on the MHLH ISS Program will allow Boeing to continue its long-standing relationship with the aerospace and defense industry in Canada.

“The Chinook fleet, operated or selected by nearly 20 international defense forces around the world, is in high demand,” Peterson said. “Canadian suppliers who offer the best value will have an opportunity to be part of the global support network that ensures these workhorses are ready to meet transport, humanitarian and supply needs in a variety of operational environments.”

Boeing has been a major contributor to the Canadian economy since 1919, generating approximately $1 billion in business annually. The company employs highly skilled workers in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia in support of its commercial and defense business units. Canada also is home to one of Boeing’s largest international supplier bases, with more than 200 suppliers in every region of the country, providing a diverse mix of high-value goods and services to Boeing and its customers.

Source: Boeing

Northrop Grumman Provides Microelectronics for ESA Spacecraft Exploring the Universe

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are flying aboard two state-of-the-art European Space Agency (ESA) space telescopes. The Herschel and Planck spacecraft are studying the formation of stars and galaxies, as well as relic radiation from the Big Bang.

Using Herschel data, scientists earlier this year produced the most detailed images of deep space from 12 million years ago when the Universe teemed with newly formed stars.

“Our high-performance MMICs enable key components for Herschel and Planck,” said Dwight Streit, vice president of Emerging Technologies for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Herschel and Planck use transistors and MMICs developed in the company’s microelectronics facility in Manhattan Beach, Calif. The circuits — designed at NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ESA and Northrop Grumman — form the foundation of Herschel’s and Planck’s low-noise amplifiers and switches, as well as Herschel’s terahertz (THz) local oscillator sources. The systems include the lowest noise MMIC-based millimeter wave radiometers and THz multiplier sources ever built.

“We have a long history of designing and flying MMIC-based radiometers and amplifiers that demonstrate state-of-the-art performance,” Streit said.

Herschel, the largest space telescope ever launched with a 3.5-meter (11.5 feet) mirror, observes in the far-infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths, allowing astronomers to see deep into star-forming regions, galactic centers and planetary systems. Planck, Europe’s first mission to study relic radiation from the Big Bang, observes the cosmic background radiation: the radiation released into the universe by the Big Bang itself about 14 billion years ago. Planck will help answer how the universe came to be and how it evolved soon after.

“This work continues Northrop Grumman’s tradition of supplying state-of-the-art microelectronics technology for spacecraft applications, including radiometers for Jason 1, Odin, Cloudsat and the Microwave Limb Sounder program,” said Richard Lai, director of Technology Programs for Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Processes and Products. “Our devices are also used in many ground-based applications around the world, including several ground-based telescopes that use them because of their state-of-the-art low-noise capability and their uniformity.”

Jason 1 was launched to monitor global ocean circulation, study the ties between the ocean and the atmosphere, improve global climate forecasts and predictions, and monitor events such as El Niño and ocean eddies. Odin was the first indium phosphide MMIC cryogenic amplifier to fly in space. It was designed to perform detailed studies of the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium by observing emissions from key objects like giant molecular clouds and nearby galaxies.

The company also supplied microwave amplifiers for the Cloudsat space-based radar that is used to study cloud formation to measure how much ice and water are in the air at various altitudes. The Microwave Limb Sounder in use on NASA’s Aura spacecraft was created to help better understand the processes and parameters vital to global climate change research and environmental policy by observing the chemistry of Earth’s lower stratosphere and upper troposphere.

Herschel is an ESA mission, with science instruments provided by a consortium of European-led institutes, and with important participation by NASA. NASA’s Herschel Project Office is based at JPL. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel’s three science instruments. The NASA Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology, also in Pasadena, supports the U.S. astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. More information is online at http://herschel.jpl.nasa.gov/.

Planck is another ESA mission, with significant participation from NASA. NASA’s Planck Project Office is based at JPL. JPL contributed mission-enabling technology for both of Planck’s science instruments. European, U.S. and NASA Planck scientists will work together to analyze the Planck data. More information is online at http://www.nasa.gov/planck and http://www.esa.int/planck.

USS George H.W. Bush Departs for Sea Trials

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departed Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., for sea trials Jan. 27 after a seven-month maintenance period.

During Sea Trials, the ship’s electronics, communication, navigation and other combat systems that were built or modified in the shipyard will be tested.

In addition, an inspection of the ship’s catapults and jet blast deflectors will be conducted, as well as inspections of the ship’s berthing spaces, demonstrations of search and rescue equipment firefighting capabilities, and an evaluation of food service facilities to determine the ship’s overall mission readiness.

Bush’s sea trials comes after a highly successful Post Shakedown Availability/Selective Restrictive Availability that officially completed the construction of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

“In just seven months, the ship experienced an amount of depot and intermediate level work comparable to an 11-month planned incremental availability,” said Bush’s Chief Engineer, Cmdr. Shannon Terhune.

Work on the ship over the last seven months included finishing the airwing spaces and combat systems suite, implementation of ship alterations to get the ship on the class maintenance plan, and the completion of the ship’s force work package.

Ship’s force work saved the Navy more than half a million dollars, according to Bush Engineering Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Al Fuller, and more than 60 percent of the overall ship’s force work package fell to Engineering Department Sailors to complete.

One major undertaking was completed by Damage Control division, who exhausted more than 6,800 man hours upgrading the ship’s 10 damage control repair stations and 27 damage control unit lockers, saving the Navy more than $680,000.

Another upgrade included Electric division converting the carrier’s “77″ island lights from incandescent bulbs to light emitting diode, saving the Navy 90 percent of the cost associated with light operation. Terhune credited the teamwork and cooperation between ship’s force, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Program Manager for Ships (In-Service Aircraft Carriers), Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic (Maintenance and Material), Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (Newport News), and more than 20 separate contractor organizations for an unprecedented level of efficiency in the execution of production work on the ship. He said the ship’s crew appreciated the professionalism of all maintenance providers.

Upon completion of sea trials, Bush will return to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., to begin the work-up cycle towards deployment and prepare for sustained flight operations at sea.

For more news from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77/.

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