This new solution, with its comprehensive integration of sensors, C2 (Command & Control) system and secure communication networks, reinforces the operational efficiency of the coastguard and customs services.

Border surveillance and control are essential for guaranteeing the homeland security of a nation. Faced with increasing risks and threats (illegal immigration, drug trafficking, terrorist threats, etc.), governments demand higher levels of security for their national borders. It is therefore vital that the security services are able to collect all the information necessary to make the right decisions, in order to coordinate actions as efficiently as possible while optimising the resources. 

To meet these new challenges, Thales has bolstered its maritime surveillance systems offer with the addition of innovative surveillance and identification capacities, through the integration of the FULMAR long lasting medium-range UAV, a 100% European platform with a unique capability of landing at sea. Jointly developed in Spain by the teams of Thales and Aerovisión, the Thales solution considerably improves the operational capacities of the coastguards by enabling rapid and easy detection of new threats.

In this way, Thales is able to propose a complete and modular solution for coastal surveillance and intervention, built around a C2 system and incorporating multiple coastal sensor data (radar, electro-optical, sonar, Automatic Identification of Ship – AIS etc.), mobile surveillance, communication networks and mobile equipment with intervention capabilities (UAVs, patrol / interception craft, vehicles, etc.). 

A UAV for greater reactivity

The information collected using sensors is not generally sufficient for recognising and identifying in time the tracks of interests or the threats. Moreover, the traditional mobile surveillance resources (ships, helicopters, aircraft, etc.) are not always fit for the task since it takes time to scramble them, and at a significant cost in terms of resources. 

The FULMAR UAV is more reactive, more efficient and has a very attractive operating cost. As soon as the coastal sensors have located potential threats or unidentified elements, it takes just a few minutes to task the UAV from the C2 and send it to the zone in question in order to remove doubt or confirm the threat. This allows the surveillance system operators to classify and identify the elements that have been overflown and to respond with the most appropriate means of action.

This kind of solution offers invaluable operational support during surveillance, rescue and intervention operations. 

FRONTEX: Thales demonstrates the efficiency of its solution in a real-life situation

On 19 October 2011, the integration of the FULMAR UAV as part of the Thales coastal surveillance system was tested for the first time in a flight demonstration organised by FRONTEX, the European borders surveillance agency, on the Aktio airbase in Greece. This integration system is a result of a collaboration between Thales and Aerovisión as part of the European Research and Development project WIMAAS. 

The FULMAR UAV is currently operational in South Asia, where it is fulfilling coastal surveillance missions.

Thales press release

CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2012 – The Boeing [NYSE: BA] 787 Dreamliner, the world’s most advanced passenger airplane, will make its Singapore debut as part of a formidable lineup of Boeing commercial and defense products at the 2012 Singapore Airshow.

The Boeing exhibit at the biennial show, which runs from February 14 to 19, features the new 737 MAX, the new-engine variant of the world’s best-selling airplane; the 747-8 Intercontinental in distinctive “Sunrise” livery; the F-15 advanced cockpit simulator; and the Virtual Maintenance Trainer, which integrates advanced multimedia technology for training in support of fixed- and rotary-wing platforms.

The range of Boeing platforms on static display – and in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force – includes the F-15SG fighter, the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, the AH-64D Apache advanced multirole combat helicopter, and the KC-135R Stratotanker.

“We are delighted to be showcasing some of the world’s newest and most innovative commercial airplanes alongside our strong defense products and capabilities at this year’s show,” said Skip Boyce, president, Boeing Southeast Asia. “Looking to the future, the Asia-Pacific region will be pivotal to our growing international business success. We remain strongly committed to our customers, suppliers and partners here.”

The 787 will land in Singapore for the first time just before the show opens and will be on static display Feb. 14 to 17. The third flight-test Dreamliner aircraft is outfitted with a luxurious business-class cabin, an overhead crew rest compartment and an economy-class section. Boeing has 870 Dreamliners on order from 59 customers, including Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III – the world’s premier military airlifter and transport for humanitarian and peacekeeping missions – will highlight its capabilities during demonstration flights at the show. The Boeing-built and -maintained B-52 Stratofortress, the U.S. Air Force’s prime strategic bomber, will conduct flyovers on Feb. 14, 18 and 19.

Boeing will hold a series of media briefings during the show, as listed below. Reporters should check the briefing schedule daily at the show Media Center for the latest updates.

The company will highlight its air show activities through official Twitter feeds @Boeing, @BoeingAirplanes and @BoeingDefense, and through www.boeing.com/singapore2012, starting today.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Marcel van Leeuwen, Z.A.P.P.

Embraer will present its largest fleet of jets at the 2012 Singapore Airshow, to be held from 14 to 19 February at the Changi Exhibition Center (CEC). Five Embraer jets from the Company’s Commercial Aviation and Executive Jet divisions will be on static display. This is the first time Embraer is showcasing this many jets in the history of the Singapore Airshow.

Making their debut at the show are the EMBRAER 190 (E190) commercial jet, the ultra-large Lineage 1000 executive jet – which is based on the E190 platform – and the large Legacy 650 executive jet. Embraer will also be showcasing its Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 entry-level and light-category jets, and presenting a mock-up of the Legacy 500 at the show.

Embraer press release

Today, the Ipanema agricultural aircraft reached the significant milestone of 1,200 units delivered. The success of this veteran airplane has been proven, year after year, by its great operating results and customer orders. In 2011, 58 of the aircraft were sold in Brazil and the Mercosur region, for an increase of 45% over the previous year.

“The evolution of the Ipanema, with its new technologies, has transformed the airplane into a symbol of aviation sustainability,” said Fábio Bertoldi Carretto, Embraer’s Ipanema Sales Manager. “The product’s reliability has been proven, throughout more than 40 years of uninterrupted production. Studies are constantly made to improve the aircraft, which is now powered by ethanol, focusing on customers’ needs and the sustainability of agribusiness.”

The commemorative Ipanema is the 35th to be received by Sana Aviação Agrícola Ltda., since 1977, when the company was founded. Sana is headquartered in the city of Leme, in outstate São Paulo, and is the largest operator of the model, with 12 currently flying.

“The main advantages of the Ipanema, over land-based spraying machines, are its lower operating cost, greater output, and less environmental impact,” said Bruno Ricardo de Vasconcelos, owner of Sana Agro Aérea Ltda. “The airplane is very adequate for the needs of companies like ours, which seek to offer customers a competitive edge in the spraying business.”

The Ipanema is the first aircraft to be produced in series, in the world, that leaves the factory already certified to fly with ethanol (hydrous ethanol), which is the same fuel used in automobiles. This alternative source of renewable energy, derived from sugar cane, has reduced environmental impact and operating and maintenance costs, while improving the airplane’s overall performance, thus making it an attractive agribusiness tool.

As the leader of Brazil’s agricultural aviation market, with about a 75% share, the Ipanema is used mainly for crop dusting, which avoids crops being crushed by machinery tires and makes the operation more flexible. It can also be used for fighting fires, seeding rivers with fish, and spraying pesticides to protect against insects and larvae.

Embraer press release

Airbus’ statement came the same day the European Aviation Safety Agency said 20 of the aircraft must be inspected after cracks were found in the wings of Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Air France planes.

“This is not a fatigue cracking problem,” said Tom Williams, a vice-president with Airbus, blaming the cracks on design and manufacturing issues. “The cracks do not compromise the airworthiness of the aircraft.”

Dominique Fouda, a spokesman with the European air safety agency, said eight planes must be fully inspected by Friday and the remaining 12 within six weeks.

“The most urgent inspections concern six planes from Singapore Airlines and two from Emirates,” he said.

Among the 12 others, one plane belongs to Air France and another is a test plane belonging to Airbus.

A source close to the matter had earlier told AFP that 30 A380s were the subject of concern.

“The goal of these inspections is to understand a little better the origin of these problems,” Fouda said. “This directive is aimed at having a better understanding of this phenomenon, which is not complete for the moment.”

He refused to comment on theories that the cracks may be due to a premature launch of the aircraft.

“As long as the investigation is not over, we must not speculate,” he said.

Singapore Airlines said Saturday it had begun inspections of its A380s. By Wednesday, checks had been carried out on four aircraft, and there were “findings” during each inspection.

One aircraft was repaired and was back in service while repairs were being carried out on the others, a spokesman said.

A spokeswoman for Emirates, which operates 20 A380s and has ordered another 70, said one of its aircraft had been inspected and another was in the process of being examined.

An Air France spokesman said the company, which operates six A380s, was in talks with Airbus about scheduling an inspection.

The A380 is the world’s biggest passenger jet and a key product in Airbus’s line-up as it battles its main rival US giant Boeing for the top spot in the world civil airliner industry.

The double-decker plane entered service in 2007 after years of technical delays. There are now 67 in service around the world and while they have never had a fatal accident there have been teething problems.

The plane carries more than 500 passengers or more than 800 if configured entirely in economy class.

SOURCE AFP

AviancaTaca, which includes subsidiary AeroGal of Ecuador, has signed a purchase agreement for 33 eco-efficient A320neo and 18 A320 Family aircraft. The order, which is the largest from a single airline in the region in terms of number of aircraft, follows a MOU signed during the Le Bourget Air Show in Paris in June 2011.

The new aircraft will support AviancaTaca’s expansion into new markets in Latin America, while keeping the airline’s fleet among the youngest in the region.

“With this order AviancaTaca and our subsidiaries will continue the modernization process that includes fleet renewal as its primary focus,” said Fabio Villegas, President of AviacaTaca. “Our goal is to offer travelers the most comfortable and efficient aircraft in the market, and we are proud that the A320neo aircraft is recognized for its eco-efficiency and cutting-edge technology,”

“At Airbus, we are very proud of our contribution to the success story of AviancaTaca,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Thanks to its unbeatable operating costs and the comfort it offers to passengers, the A320 Family has become the first choice for single-aisle aircraft among the most important operators worldwide.”

AviancaTaca has placed firm orders for 190 Airbus aircraft (including the latest 51) and has currently in service 88 A320 Family aircraft and eight A330. AviancaTaca operates the entire A320 Family, A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft.

Over 8,300 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and some 5,000 delivered to more than340 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft Family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

The A320neo is a new engine option for the A320 Family entering into service from 2015 and incorporates latest generation engines and large “Sharklet” wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 percent in fuel savings. The reduction in fuel burn is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel – the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars, saving 3,600 tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year. The A320neo NOx emissions are 50% below CAEP/6, and this aircraft also has a considerably smaller noise footprint.

Airbus press release

Airbus press release

The world’s fourth busiest airport in terms of international passenger and cargo traffic handled 51.0 million passengers last year up from 47.2 million in 2010, it said in its annual report.

In December, passenger traffic reached 4.7 million in December, up 10.2 percent over the same prior-year period.

“In a year that was characterised by economic uncertainty, political instability and high oil prices, passenger growth continued unabated driven by new routes and additional frequencies,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

“That trend will continue in 2012 with our two largest airlines, Emirates and flydubai, set to receive additional aircraft throughout the year.”

Unrest across the Middle East and weaker global economic conditions hit passenger and air freight traffic last year.

Aircraft movements for the full year 2011 totalled 326,317, up 6.2 percent from 2010, Dubai Airports said.

The strongest passenger growth came from India, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Germany and the United States.

Government-run Dubai Airports owns and manages Dubai’s two airports, Dubai International and the new Al Maktoum International which opened for cargo operations in 2010.

The operator plans to invest $7.8 billion in airportexpansion to boost current capacity from 60 million passengers a year to 90 million by 2018.

“Aviation is big business in Dubai supporting 250,000 jobs and $22 billion in economic activity or 28 percent of gross domestic product,” Griffiths said.

He said expanding airport infrastructure would generate $45.4 billion in economic activity or 32 percent of GDP by 2020.

Analysts polled by Reuters in December forecast the overall economy of the United Arab Emirates to expand by 3.1 percent this year after an estimated 3.9 percent in 2011.

Source: REUTERS

The storm has caused minor disruptions for U.S. airlines. Delta said it altered routes for “a handful” of flights and that changes are adding about 15 minutes to travel times.

“We are undergoing a series of solar bursts in the sky that are impacting the northern side of the world,” said Delta spokesman Anthony Black on Tuesday.

“It can impact your ability to communicate,” he said. “So, basically, the polar routes are being flown further south than normal.”

United Airlines spokesman Mike Trevino said the carrier diverted one flight on Monday because of the storm, but none on Tuesday.

American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle said the airline has no operational impact due to solar flares but that it is monitoring the atmosphere.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a press release on Monday that it had issued a watch on Sunday for “a geomagnetic storm associated with a bright flare on the sun.”

NOAA said it also issued a warning for solar radiation storming, which can affect communications systems at high latitudes, satellites in space and rocket launches. NOAA said it was the strongest solar radiation storm since 2005.

Source: REUTERS

Eurocopter generated a record high annual turnover in 2011 as the company benefitted from long-term strategies of investing in innovation to keep its helicopter product line at the forefront, growing the international footprint, developing services businesses and optimizing internal operations.

Paris, 24 January 2012

January 23, 2012 — Montréal
Aerospace

• Business aircraft: 163 deliveries; 191 net orders
• Commercial aircraft: 78 deliveries; 54 net orders
• Amphibious aircraft: 4 deliveries; 4 net orders

Bombardier Aerospace announced today its deliveries and orders results for the 11-month fiscal year which ended December 31, 2011.

Despite a volatile economic environment that continued to create uncertainty in many sectors around the world, including the aerospace industry, Bombardier Aerospace put in a solid performance. For the 11-month period ended December 31, 2011, Bombardier delivered 245 aircraft compared to 256 * aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year (February 1, 2010 to January 31, 2011). This delivery total is essentially in line with the 240 aircraft delivery guidance that was provided in February 2011 although with a different mix of aircraft.

For the 11-month period ended December 31, 2011, Bombardier received 249 aircraft orders, net of cancellations, compared to 201 orders, net of cancellations, for the previous fiscal year.

“The recurring fluctuations in the world economies in 2011 created a mood of caution in many sectors, and the resulting uncertainty continued to challenge the civil aviation industry,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “However, with our comprehensive portfolio of business, commercial and amphibious aircraft, we are well positioned to meet the long-term needs of our customers.

“The civil aviation industry is familiar with external turbulence, and Bombardier has a proven record of addressing challenges successfully. Within this uncertain economic environment, our large business aircraft segment has done extremely well, as seen by our Global business jets family where we have seen continuous growth. Additionally, the CRJ1000 NextGen regional aircraft is performing beyond expectations and we are very pleased with the growing and diverse customer base of our CSeries family of airliners,” continued Mr. Hachey.

On November 30, 2011, the Corporation’s Board of Directors approved the change of financial year-end from January 31 to December 31, effective December 31, 2011. As a result, the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2011 contains two months and the annual period ending December 31, 2011 contains 11 months of Bombardier Aerospace’s results.

Business Aircraft
For the 11-month period ended December 31, 2011, Bombardier delivered 163 business jets, compared to 155 for the previous fiscal year. During this same 11-month period, the company received 191 net orders for business jets, compared to 107 for the previous fiscal year.

Commercial Aircraft
For the 11-month period ended December 31, 2011, Bombardier delivered 78 commercial aircraft, compared to 97 for the previous fiscal year. During this same 11-month period, the company received 54 net orders for commercial aircraft, compared to 93 for the previous fiscal year.

Source: Bombardier
Photo: Rob Vogelaar, Z.A.P.P