EU-DIGEST

Labels: A400 military transport aircraft, Aircraft Industry, EU

"We reached an agreement in principle between the seven nations in the project and EADS," said Carme Chacon, referring to the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, parent company of A400M manufacturer Airbus. "The Airbus project will be a success for Europe."

Chacon did not give any details as to how the countries would resolve the financing dispute surrounding the late and over-budget project, but added that more information would be released on Thursday, following an EU defense meeting in Mallorca.

Labels: A400 military transport aircraft, Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

The Pentagon on Wednesday officially launched a competition to replace its aging, aerial refueling tankers. It released the requirements needed to fulfill a contract potentially worth $35 billion.

Labels: Airbus, Airbus Tanker, Aircraft Industry, EU, US

France hopes a deal that could lay the foundation for a new contract will emerge on the sidelines of a European Union defense ministers' meeting in Spain on Wednesday, spokesman Laurent Teisseire said. Spain, which is hosting the regularly scheduled EU defense ministers meeting in its current role as EU president, has final say whether a meeting of A400M customer states occurs in Majorca, Teisseire said.

Governments had made proposals to EADS on Monday, and EADS responded two days later, German officials said Wednesday. Teisseire said France believed the responses "go in a favorable direction." EADS and the seven governments that ordered the four-propeller Airbus plane have been haggling over who will pay for 5.2 billion in cost overruns and technical problems that have put the program almost four years behind schedule.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU Economy, France, Military Aircraft

Herve Morin told journalists that the positions of the seven countries — Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey — and Airbus parent company EADS appear to be converging. "As it stands today we have the perspective in our minds to reach an agreement by the end of the week," he said.

The advanced and ultra sophisticated four-engine turboprop is seen as occupying an important niche market between the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, which carries only half the payload, and Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III, which is larger, costlier, and less tactically versatile. Once in full production this aircraft is expected to become a top seller for Airbus.

Labels: A400 military transport aircraft, Aircraft Industry, Belgium, Britain, EU, France, Germany, Luxembourgh, Spain, Turkey

Vladimir Putin praised the maiden flight of Russia’s new stealth plane as “a big step” towards giving the air force a fighter fit for the twenty first century.

The Russian prime minister told a cabinet meeting he wanted the first batch of T-50 stealth fighters to be in service by 2013, well ahead of earlier deadlines. The fighter will be the first all-new military aircraft Russia has built since the collapse of the Soviet Union nearly two decades ago. Russian aviation and air force officials lost little time in boasting that the plane would equal if not better America's F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.

Experts believe the T-50s maiden test flight underlines the Kremlin's determination to overhaul its ageing Soviet-era military hardware even as it is locked in key nuclear arms reductions talks with the United States.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Russia

"We should not accept the situation and continue this stupidity that could seriously jeopardise Airbus and its commercial competitiveness," Enders said. Developing the high-tech A400M transport planes has proved much more costly and time-consuming than anticipated when the project was agreed in 2003 by NATO members Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg. The A400, however, is considered the best transport and most advanced aircraft presently available and is expected to become a top seller once it is on the market.

So far a total of 180 aircraft have been ordered for about 20 billion euros (29 billion dollars) but clients are being asked to plough in more to cover unexpected costs and some countries have voiced unease about the extra costs.

Labels: A400 military transport aircraft, Airbus, Aircraft Industry

A leading European defence industry watcher said governments and Airbus had come too far, since the unifying defense project was first was conceived 25 years ago, to allow it to fail. They would therefore most likely patch over their differences while blowing some tough rhetoric along the way. "I think it is mainly sabre-rattling to get the best possible revised deal from governments, but Germany needs the planes more than most," said Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners in London.

"I don't think there are grounds to cancel the plane now because it has flown and has moved a big step forward," said Wheeldon who had been one of the programme's strongest critics.

Labels: A400 transport aircraft, Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Earlier this month the Solar Impulse airplane made its maiden flight (as documented in this YouTube video), rising several feet off the ground and staying aloft for a distance of a little over 1,000 feet, somewhat akin to the first flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, N.C., a little more than a century ago.

Labels: Aircraft Industry

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU

For anyone who’s into fighter jets, this article will be a treat as it compares the latest, greatest and costliest in aviation research and development. Presented here are Sweden’s Griffin, the EU’s Typhoon and two extraordinary fighters from Russia. One thing is for sure: the Joint Strike Fighter Program (F-35) of the United States and several allied nations has competition. Buckle up for our supersonic tour.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Military Aircraft

the highly sophisticated and deadly Euro fighter

For the complete report from the WSJ.com click on this link

Eurofighter GmbH, a consortium set up to manage the development and production of the Eurofighter Typhoon weapon system, Tuesday said it expects global demand for the multi-role combat jet to reach 300 over the next 20 years with the Middle East region accounting for almost a half of sales. "Our estimate for the market over 20 years is the need for 800 fighter jets. For Eurofighter, we are trying to target a total of 300 sales out of this," Eurofighter chief executive Enzo Casolini told reporters at a roundtable event at the Dubai Air show. Casolini said that there had been "a lot of interest" from Gulf states in the warplane during the Dubai Airshow, but declined to comment on details. "All Gulf states have a requirement for a new fighter jet," he said. In 2007, Eurofighter which is comprised of aerospace group European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EAD.FR), BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) and the Italian group of Alenia and Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI), signed a $7.25 billion deal with Saudi Arabia for 72 Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes. So far, six Eurofighter Typhoon jets have been delivered to Saudi Arabia and a further two will be delivered by the end of the year, Casolini said.

Eurofighter expects an order backlog of EUR25 billion by the end of the year and revenue of EUR4 billion, he said.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter, Fighter Aircraft sales

An Etihad flight incident in May, in which the European safety regulator says an engine temporarily “stagnated”, has spurred modifications to some Airbus aircraft to prevent the build up of ice. Airbus A330s and A340s using Rolls-Royce engines must replace oil-cooler devices with a newer design that is less susceptible to ice build-up during long-haul flights, particularly over water or polar regions, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said last week. Earlier, the European and US safety regulators issued similar directives for Boeing aircraft which use Rolls-Royce engines following incidents involving flights by British Airways and Delta Air Lines.

After investigating the Etihad incident, EASA said ice blocking was a possible cause of the incident. There have been two other recent incidents of ice build-up within fuel systems, both involving Boeing 777 aircraft.

Investigation revealed that, “under certain conditions, over a long period of low fuel temperatures, ice may accumulate in the main tanks and/or in the associated engine fuel feed systems of Aircraft using Rolls-Royce engines”.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing

2009 jet order tally so far: Airbus 194, Boeing 91

Airbus’ commercial airplanes backlog got a boost in November when an unnamed customer ordered 52 of its single-aisle A320 jets. The request lifts Airbus’ net order tally to 194 through the first 11 months of 2009, the company said Thursday. The European jet maker leads rival Boeing in net orders this year. Boeing, which updates its orders Web site weekly, lists 93 net orders through Dec. 1.

Boeing won an order for two 737s in the last week from an unidentified customer, bringing its net orders up from 91. The Chicago-based jet maker has been plagued by order cancellations this year, particularly for its delayed 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has received 204 gross orders through Dec. 1 but has logged in 111 cancellations — 83 for its 787.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines confirmed Tuesday that it placed initial firm orders for 50 wide-body planes, evenly split between Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner and rival Airbus's new A350 model, and arranged future purchase rights for 50 more of each. United, the third-largest U.S. airline by traffic, hadn't ordered new aircraft for 11 years. The carrier began shopping last summer, figuring it could drive a better bargain by pitting the manufacturers against each other at the bottom of the business cycle. The airline hired aviation-consulting firm Seabury Group LLC to help it negotiate.

At catalog prices, the order is valued at more than $10 billion, but major customers such as United usually win substantial discounts. These can exceed 40% off list prices, industry officials say, although actual pricing varies widely for each deal.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing

Huge demand for the new Airbus A400 Transport aircraft

For the complete report from the WSJ.com click on this link

Airbus aims to get its troubled A400M military transporter airborne for the first time as soon as next week. The A400M is one of Europe's most ambitious defense projects. Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. agreed in May 2003 with seven countries from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to build 180 of the planes for €20 billion ($30 billion). Both sides hailed the deal as a model of Europe's integration and a sign of European savvy in the cutthroat aerospace industry. EADS promised to deliver the first A400M this year and swallow any budget overruns. The pan-European defense-procurement agency Occar, which is representing the seven governments in contract talks with EADS, has hired PriceWaterhouse Coopers to audit the program so defense officials can better understand the program's status and costs. Agreeing to a unified position has been difficult because some countries want the plane urgently, including France and Britain, while others such as Germany are more concerned about its cost. The remaining European customers are Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg.If the plane flies next week as planned, four of them will begin a three-year program of flight testing to be certified by military and civil-aviation authorities.

Despite the program's troubles, it has a trump card: Militaries need airlift. The world's only other big military-transport planes are U.S. models, but Boeing's jet-powered C-17 is too big for most countries, while the updated C-130 from Lockeed Martin Corp. is too small. "There is huge demand for this aircraft," Mr. Gallois, EADS Chief Executive, said.

Labels: A400 military transport aircraft, Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

The CAMCOPTER S-100 will be leased for a selection of comprehensive experimental trials in France by the French Army at a military camp, during a military exercise, as well as two weeks of demanding trials at a non European location, and on behalf of the French Navy at a Navy base. The trials will take place during the first half of 2010.Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is a proven capability for military and civilian applications. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAS needs no prepared area or supporting launch or recovery equipment. It operates day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200km, both on land and at sea.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Camcopter, EU, France

European aerospace group EADS is ready to retaliate against South Africa after the country canceled a contract to buy Airbus military planes and sought repayment of an advance, a press report said. The Tribune report said that the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company was "seriously considering canceling most of the orders that have already been signed, worth about 400 million euros , in the framework of a partnership with (South African) industry (notably with the Denel and Aerosud groups) and which were linked to the contract to purchase eight A400Ms."

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Friday morning, at 11:39 am, Air France's Airbus A380 departed from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, operating flight AF 380, made the first transatlantic flight between Europe. The aircraft, registration F-GHJA, landed at New York-Kennedy airport at 1:07 PM. Among the 538 passengers were the 380 winning bidders for seats on the inaugural Paris-New York - Paris flights. This auction raised proceeds of 300,000 euros which will finance five different humanitarian projects by charities chosen by the Air France Foundation. The proceeds of this auction of seats on the two inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights finally reached 300,000 euros, more than expected. The amount will thus finance 5 humanitarian projects for children in need instead of the three initially planned. The benefits of the auction for the inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights will go to several projects in aid of humanitarian associations for children in need all over the world.

Labels: A380, Air France, Aircraft Industry, EU, Tourism, US

In the 1970s and ’80s, working for Airbus, Mr. Ziegler and his colleagues perfected a revolutionary system known as “fly-by-wire control,” marrying electrical circuits and digital computers to make almost perfect flying machines. “Within the limits of physics and structural science,” Mr. Langewiesche writes, “Ziegler and his colleagues identified the wrinkles of conventional handling and mostly ironed them out.” The airplanes that resulted — including the Airbus A320 — are not only easy to fly and filled with redundancies that make mechanical backup systems unnecessary, but they will also not let pilots make certain mistakes. The airplane “will intervene to keep people alive,” Mr. Langewiesche writes.

Because these rare interventions cannot be overridden, they are not popular with all pilots. The fly-by-wire system wasn’t designed to protect passengers from people like Sully, Mr. Langewiesche writes, but from “people at the low end of the scale, who occasionally will be at the controls of any airplane that is widely sold and flown.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry

Reuters - Officials from countries who have ordered the delayed A400M military transporter from European plane maker Airbus will meet in Berlin on Thursday to discuss the matter, the German Defence Ministry said. "On Thursday, the state secretaries from the countries involved in the deal will meet in Berlin," Defence Ministry spokesman Christian Dienst told a regular government news conference on Monday when asked about the deal. "Before a decision is made, anything you read at the moment is rumour, speculation or agenda-setting on the part of others."

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

For the first time, a Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will make an appearance at the Dubai Airshow on November 15-19 at the city’s Airport Expo. The Typhoon, a supersonic and agile multi-role combat aircraft, will be flown by the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) during the week-long event. The aircraft is built by a four-nation consortium comprising BAE Systems of the UK, Alenia Aeronautica of Italy, EADS Deutschland and EADS Spain.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Dubai Airshow, EU, EuroFighter

Russia and China are each pursuing plans to beat Airbus and Boeing to the market with new narrow body commercial jets. With the Western air framers yet to commit to time frames for refreshment of their narrow body families, the Commercial Air Corporation of China (Comac) and Russia's United Aircraft (UAC) are aiming to bring new airliners to the market in 2016. Specifications for the C919 narrow body passenger jet in development by Comac were revealed during the Asian Aerospace exhibition in Hong Kong in September, where the manufacturer displayed a large-scale concept model.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, China, Russia

the new Airbus A350 with first flight scheduled in 2012

For the complete report from Flight Global click on this link

Aircraft Industry: Next generation widebodies: Dreams of tomorrow - by Max Kingsley-Jones

For the Airbus A350 program, 2009 has been a year of consolidation as its rival in Seattle's Dreamliner development effort lurched from crisis to crisis. The only consoling factor for Boeing is the serious prospect that the 787 should finally get airborne by the end of the year. Airbus has been working on the production plan for the aircraft's carbon fibre structure as it prepares for fabrication of the initial components, which is due to begin soon.As with the 787 at this stage of its development, the A350 appears to progressing smoothly. Late last year the -900 achieved the key "maturity gate (MG) 5" milestone on schedule, which represented the detailed definition freeze. This version will be the first to fly, in early 2012. Qatar Airways is due to receive the first aircraft, in the second half of 2013.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing, EU, US

the technically plagued Boeing dreamliner

For the complete report from the HeraldNet click on this link

Boeing reports $1.6 billion loss

The Boeing Co’s troubled 787 and 747-8 jet programs dragged down its third-quarter earnings, causing the company to report a $1.6 billion loss this Wednesday. Last month, Boeing disclosed a $1 billion charge on its delayed 747-8 jumbo jet program. In August, Boeing had announced it would take a $2.5 billion charge on its 787 Dreamliner program. On Wednesday, Boeing announced that it wrote down another $138 million on the program between August and September. Both Boeing and its commercial rival Airbus have been faced with increasing requests for jet delivery deferrals or order cancellations as airlines struggle with steep air traffic declines. Boeing booked 96 gross orders for commercial jets in the quarter but logged in 17 jet order cancellations. The company delivered 113 aircraft in the third quarter. That’s up from 84 deliveries in the third quarter of 2008. However, 2008’s performance was affected by the Machinists strike.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing

Europe's aviation agency issues safety warning for instrument on Airbus A330, A340 jets

The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a safety warning for an instrument to measure air speed that is used on Airbus A330 and A340 jets. The directive in effect from Wednesday says malfunctions have been reported in the instruments, known as pitot probes. The Cologne-based agency says the problem may originate with manufacturer Goodrich and could cause an in-flight air leak that would cause incorrect pressure and airspeed readings. Goodrich is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

A replacement for the Airbus 380 already on the drawing board

For the complete report from Gizmodo click on this link

New Airbus A30x Planes Look Straight Out Of Coruscant Skies - by Jesus Diaz

While Boeing is struggling to get the Dreamliner into the skies, Airbus is already planning their A30X next generation aircraft, which include really cool stuff like forward swept wings, u-tails and lower-placement engines. Their five-decker A380 replacement is even crazier.These won’t come for another 15 years, but they represent a significant change in philosophy from current models, including that Sonic Cruiser model that looks—in technical terms—absofrikkinlutely damn cool.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

BAE Systems targets 300 Typhoon exports

The biggest potential export markets for BAE and its consortium partners, EADS and Finmeccanica, are India, Japan and Saudi Arabia, which is already buying 72 Typhoons. An order from Switzerland could come as soon as next year and the consortium is also pursuing sales in Greece and Romania. It also has long-term ambitions in Brazil, Malaysia and Finland. Typhoon's biggest competitor is the US, which sells the F15 and F18 to the export market; France's Rafale fighter which it built after leaving the Eurofighter consortium; and Sweden's Gripen plane. Its other competitor is another BAE product, the F35 joint strike fighter, which the company is building in a partnership led by Lockheed Martin of the US.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter

Aircraft Industry - Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has a composite problem - by G. Blass

What's more, he says, composites allow engineers to make custom shapes, but these custom shapes compound the already difficult modeling problem. "You have many more design options, which can be both a strength and a weakness. There are many more things I can do with composite materials--add strength in specific places, take it away--but then you have combinations of both the geometry and the particular layup of the composite materials" that are unique.

Boeing's mechanical stress tests start with representative pieces (known as coupons), then move on to progressively larger parts of the structure, and finally to the full structure. Boeing puts the structural parts into huge hydraulic machines that bend and twist them to mimic stresses that go far beyond worst-expected conditions in real flights. It was during such tests that problems emerged with structural spars in the wing box.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787

Eurofighter contract signed in Germany

Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain, have decided to split the order for the third tranche of production of the Eurofighter into two parts for budgetary reasons. The contract, worth about eight billion euros ($11.2 billion), for 112 of the 236 planes in the third tranche, was signed at the Eurofighter consortium headquarters near Munich by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. The Eurofighter Typhoon, a multi-purpose combat aircraft, has been developed by a consortium of European aerospace companies - BAE Systems of Britain, the Italian company Alenia/Finmeccanica and EADS, which represents the industrial interests of both Spain and Germany.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter, Germany

Boeing Dreamliner two years behind schedule - Questions raised about 787 outsourcing

A new problem with the Boeing 787 is just the latest setback in the effort to get the plane off the ground, and has some questioning the wisdom of sending some of the work overseas. The company has been forced to stop production of the airplane’s fuselage because of wrinkles found in its skin. An internal stiffener appears too thick and is distorting the outside of the plane. Boeing says a patch will fix the problem. Overall, the Dreamliner is two years behind schedule. The 787 is still on standby to fly for the first time, since engineers found a weakness problem with the plane's Japanese built wings in June.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787, US

Airbus wins Turkish Airlines order for 7 jets

Turkish Airlines has firmed up a preliminary order for seven Airbus 289-seat A330-300s, worth a total of euro1.4 billion ($1.97 billion) at catalog prices. Airbus said Tuesday that Turkish Airlines has signed a contract to expand its medium-haul network after announcing its intention to buy the planes at the Paris Air Show in June. Airlines often negotiate substantial discounts to the listed prices of planes, and the financial details of this order were not disclosed.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU, Turkey

Airbus urges sensor switch after crash

Airbus said on Thursday it was urging airlines to switch most speed sensors on about 200 jetliners to U.S.-made parts in the wake of the Atlantic jet disaster, anticipating a European safety order. The move affects Airbus A330 or A340 planes fitted with sensors manufactured by France's Thales, like the Air France A330 passenger jet which crashed en route from Brazil to Paris on June 1, killing all 228 people on board. Airlines are being urged to switch at least two thirds of the sensors -- known as pitot probes -- on each plane to parts supplied by U.S. aerospace company Goodrich, which already supplies most of the 1,000-strong A330/A340 fleet. Confirmation of the switch came after Reuters reported that European safety authorities were drawing up proposals to make such a change compulsory in the wake of the disaster.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft disaster, Aircraft Industry, EU

"787 battling structural problems"

For the complete report from the Seattle Times Newspaper click on this link

Boeing 787 may not fly this year because of structural flaw - by Dominic Gates

The structural flaw that delayed the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner is more complex than originally described by the company, and the plane's inaugural takeoff is likely at least four to six months away, say two engineers with knowledge of Boeing's problem. "It's got to take at least three to four months just to get something installed on an airplane," said a structures engineer who has been briefed on the issue. "It's definitely a costly fix to go and do this work."

Both engineers said the issue requires a thorough redesign of the plane's wing-to-body join, and the necessary parts will be very difficult to install on the test airplanes that have already been built.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787, US

Airbus A330 Strategic Tanker refueling two Eurofighters

For the complete report from defpro.com click on this link

First Airbus A330 prepared for conversion to UK’s FSTA Tanker fleet

The first Airbus A330 aircraft platform slated for the United Kingdom’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program has arrived ahead of schedule to begin its conversion into a Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) at Airbus Military facilities in Madrid, Spain. The Royal Air Force (RAF) tanker uses the same basic airframe as Northrop Grumman’s KC-45, which is proposed for the U.S. Air Force’s tanker fleet modernization. EADS North America is a principal subcontractor with responsibility for delivering the KC-45 aircraft platform, which will be produced at a new aviation center of excellence to be built in Mobile, Ala. “This early delivery once again underscores EADS’ ability to provide the most capable platforms to meet the most demanding aerial refueling and airlift requirements of military services worldwide,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., EADS North America’s Chairman and CEO.

The United Kingdom’s FSTA program involves the acquisition of 14 A330 MRTT-based tanker/transports for the RAF. With a service entry planned for 2011, the new aircraft will progressively replace the country’s fleet of aging VC-10 and TriStar refueling aircraft.

Labels: Airbus Tanker, Aircraft Industry, Britain, EU

Russia to resume production of world's largest airplane, Ruslan

Russia will soon resume the production of world’s largest commercial heavy transport plane An-124-100 Ruslan, RIA Novosti news agency reports with reference to the administration of Aviastar-SP Enterprise, which produced the plane before. Physically, the An-124 is similar to the American Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but has a 25% larger payload, and in lieu of the Galaxy's T-tail, the An-124 uses a conventional empennage, similar in design to that of the Boeing 747. An-124s have been used to carry locomotives, yachts, aircraft fuselages, and a variety of other oversized cargoes. The An-124 is able to kneel to allow easier front loading. Up to 150 tons of cargo can be carried in a military An-124: it can also carry 88 passengers in an upper deck behind the wing centre section. However, due to limited pressurization in the main cargo compartment (3.57 PSI), it seldom carries paratroopers.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Russia

Solar Powered Blimp Set to Fly Across English Channel - by Bridgette Meinhold

Perhaps propelled by the recent dawn of solar powered airplanes, this stunning solar powered blimp is poised to take flight by harnessing sunlight for fuel. Dubbed Nephelios, the solar-powered helium blimp was designed and built by high school engineering students in France. The history making blimp will begin test flights in the next 2 weeks, and by summer’s end the designers hope to fly Nephelios across the English Channel, “just to show that it’s possible.” Nephelios will be the first manned solar airship in existence, and its inaugural flight will prove that CO2-free air travel is now a reality.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Alternative Energy, Blimp, EU, Solar Power

Boeing Dreamliner Woes Point to Difficulty of Using High-Tech Materials - by Andy Pasztor and Peter Sanders

Despite the steadily increased use of carbon-fiber composite parts in airlines, Boeing Co.'s disclosure Tuesday of design troubles with its 787 Dreamliner highlights the engineering, manufacturing and maintenance issues still associated with such high-tech materials. By indicating that "a relatively small number" of added internal structural supports are needed on some of the upper portions of both wings, the disclosure underscored a broader problem that the aerospace industry has recognized for a while: shortcomings in computer-design systems' abilities to precisely predict behavior of certain composite parts as they bend and twist in flight. The areas of the 787 under scrutiny involve a blend of metal and nonmetallic composite materials. Independent structural experts said Tuesday that even the most advanced computer-models sometimes have difficulty accurately predicting how stress will affect the composite parts, or where they attach to aluminum or titanium. In such circumstances, "stress paths" within or between components can be unpredictable.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing

Is Flight 447's 'Fly-by-Wire' Aircraft Technology Safe? - by Joshua Rhett Miller

As investigators search for clues to why Air France Flight 447 crashed, former pilots and aviation experts are debating whether the "fly-by-wire" technology in modern aircraft makes it difficult or impossible for a pilot to control a plane in distress. The Airbus A330-200 that crashed into the Atlantic on May 31 — killing all 228 people aboard — relied on electronic rather than hydraulic or mechanical systems to control the aircraft. It's akin to having a computer control your car, with the electronic brain doing the steering, hitting the gas and pumping the brakes as you tell it what to do. Some pilots claim the old way was better. In an emergency, they say, passengers are better off having a skilled pilot working all the systems.Among a fly-by-wire system's benefits are weight savings and flight envelope protection, or keeping the aircraft within safe operating parameters, Greczyn said. In other words, the system is meant to cut down on human error by not letting a pilot maneuver the plane into extreme degrees of roll, pitch or yaw that would endanger the aircraft's structural integrity.

Mary Anne Greczyn, an Airbus spokeswoman, said fly-by-wire technology was introduced by the company in 1988 with the A320 and has been used on every subsequent Airbus aircraft. "The system maximizes safe control of the aircraft — for instance, in the case of the loss of reliable speed data, the autopilot turns off and gives control back to the pilot," Greczyn's statement continued. Greczyn said fly-by-wire has no disadvantages and that no plans exist to issue "any sort" of alert the system. Asked if a pilot can disengage the fly-by-wire system in the event of an emergency like the one experienced by Flight 447, Grecyzn replied, "It's akin to shutting off your ABS in your car as you are skidding on ice. You can do it, but you wouldn't want to."

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing, EU, Fly-By-Wire

Safety questions raised about Yemen jet - by Jeffrey Fleishman

Flight 626 originated in Paris and stopped in Marseille before traveling on to San`a, where passengers switched to the Airbus 310-300. That jet, which was 19 years old and operated by Yemen’s national carrier, Yemenia, had raised suspicions earlier among European safety inspectors.In 2007, French transportation authorities barred the plane from French airports following a safety review that found problems with technical equipment. Inspectors “noticed a certain number of defects. Since then the plane had not returned to France,” Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau was quoted as telling French TV. “The company (Yemenia) was not on the blacklist but was subject to stricter checks on our part and was due to be interviewed shortly by the European Union’s safety committee.” In 2008, the European Union asked Yemenia to take “corrective actions” to improve safety performance. It was unclear what those actions were, but at a news conference Tuesday, EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani said Yemenia had been reviewed by safety authorities and the company was not banned from operating in Europe.

Comorans and French nationals who had flown on Yemenia flights had complained to the French government about what they regarded as questionable safety practices, such as passengers forced to sit among luggage strewn about the aisles and unhygienic conditions. An association known as SOS Voyages to Comoro was formed to push for improved standards on Yemenia, owned by the poorest Arab nation.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Safety

Boeing Faces $15 Billion Dilemma as Airbus A350 Gains - by Andrea Rothman and Susanna Ray

Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner, absent from the Paris Air Show this week after two years of delays, may not be the jetmaker’s biggest problem. Airbus SAS’s bigger A350 has won almost 500 orders, 10 of them at the show, forcing Boeing to turn its attention to the market for bigger planes with more than 300 seats. The Chicago- based company is considering an upgrade of its 15-year-old 777. Airlines say it should spend billions on a new aircraft instead. “What Boeing makes next is the big question,” said Doug Runte, a New York-based analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co. who estimates the U.S. company would need to spend $15 billion to develop a new model. “Airplanes require a huge investment of money and effort. If you get it wrong, the consequences are enormous and you have to live with it for a very long time.”

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing, Boeing Dreamliner 787, Safety

'No links' between Air France and Yemenia Air crashes - by Dan Milmo

Aircraft crashes inspire horrified fascination – and, inevitably, frenzied speculation – whenever they occur. For the second time in a month, there has been a fatal incident involving an Airbus plane. However, any thought that the two incidents are related – the safety of Airbus products has been heavily questioned in recent weeks following the Air France disaster – has been downplayed by seasoned commentators. The Air France crash, which happened off the coast off Brazil with the loss of 228 lives on 31 May, raised concerns over the fly-by-wire system used by the Airbus A330-200.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Safety

Crashes analyzed for insight and clues - don't always trust the computer - by Alan Levin

As the Northwest Airlines jet climbed past 16,000 feet, its speed began increasing mysteriously. A short time later, a horn sounded to alert the pilots that they were flying dangerously fast. "Just pull her back, let her climb," the captain told the confused co-pilot, suggesting that they could slow the Boeing 727 down by making it climb even steeper. Within minutes, this 1974 flight crashed into a wooded area in New York, killing all three pilots, the only ones aboard. According to aviation safety experts, it is one of a string of accidents around the world that could offer clues into what might have caused Air France Flight 447 to disappear as it cruised above the Atlantic Ocean on June 1.

The blaring warning horn and speed indicators in the cockpit of the Northwest jet were erroneous, investigators concluded later. The normally highly reliable aircraft was instructing pilots to do the wrong thing. Instead of speeding up, the jet was actually slowing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found. All three devices that measured air speed had become clogged with ice and were telling the pilots they were going far faster than they actually were. Faced with a jarring series of sometimes contradictory warnings, the pilots became confused.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Safety

Boeings 787 Dreamliner - are composite materials used unsafe in aircraft?

For the complete report from the DailyFinance click on this link

Is Boeing's 787 safe to fly? - by Peter Cohan

Yesterday, Boeing (BA) announced its fifth delay in the delivery of its latest aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has 865 orders for the $178 million aircraft, which is designed to cost 20 percent less to operate and maintain. A big reason for these savings is the 787's use of composite materials -- for example, All Nippon Airways, which is to be first to receive the 787, said in April that fuel savings and higher revenue from the higher capacity 787 could add $100 million in fiscal 2011. But the very composite materials that are saving money for airlines are now contributing to the problems that delayed the 787 for the fifth time. And those problems raise questions about whether it can ever be safe to fly -- which would probably scare passengers from boarding the 787. In order to understand why the 787 might be unsafe, it is crucial to understand more about the 787's composite materials -- including carbon fiber reinforced epoxy tape. Older aircraft are made of aluminum, which is heavier than the composite material.

Composites are lighter and stronger hence able to fly more fuel efficiently. But engineers don't completely understand how aircraft made of composite materials will respond to the stresses of actual flight. This incomplete understanding is reflected in the computer models they use to design the aircraft. The reason for the fifth delay is that the actual 787 did not behave the way the model predicted.

Labels: Air Safety, Airbus A330, Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787, composites

Britain delivers first Eurofighter jets to Saudi

Saudi Arabia has taken delivery of two Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Friday, the first of a massive order.

The two fighters were the first out of an order for an eventual 72 that has been valued at up to 25 billion euro's (32.9 billion dollars), including armaments and long-term servicing. Saudi Arabia is the first country outside Europe to have the Typhoon, a multi-role aircraft produced by a BAE Systems-led consortium of European firms.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter, Saudi Arabia

Air Transportation: AirBus Clobbers Russia Again on Indian tanker sale

The Indian Air Force decided to buy six Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) rather than six Russian IL-78 aerial tankers. India has already been using six IL-78s since 2003, but felt the MRTT was a better value. India has been souring on Russian military equipment for the last decade, and this is another example. Poor reliability and maintenance support, as well as unpredictable pricing, has led India to depend increasingly on the West for military gear.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU, India, Russia

Eurofighter relief as Brown approves order - Germany also orders more - by Jeremy Lemer

Gordon Brown, UK prime minister, gave long-awaited approval for an order of Eurofighter Typhoon jets on Thursday – but warned industry that he expected a much lower price tag. The decision came as a relief to Germany, Italy and Spain – Britain’s programme partners – which feared Mr Brown would abandon or delay the multibillion-euro third production run.

The consortium responsible for building the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet on Thursday welcomed Britain's decision to take part in the next round of production and pegged the four-nation deal at around 8 billion euros. After weeks of pressure from European allies, Britain gave tentative approval earlier on Thursday to the next tranche of production and said it hoped to be able to order the planes later this year following further negotiations. "The agreement that the UK have confirmed today sends a clear signal of customer commitment," Enzo Casolini, chief executive of Eurofighter GmbH, said in a statement. The consortium -- grouping BAE Systems, Finmeccanica of Italy and EADS for Germany and Spain -- said the overall value of the contract under negotiation would be "in the region of 8 billion euros."

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Britain, Britain. EU, Euro Fighter, Germany, Italy, Spain

First A320 Assembled In China Passes Maiden Flight

First A320 Assembled In China Passes Maiden Flight

he first A320 aircraft assembled outside Europe in the Airbus Final Assembly Line China (FALC) successfully completed its first flight today. The aircraft took off from Tianjin International Airport at 10:42 am and landed at 14:56. The four-hour and fourteen minutes test flight was jointly captained by Harry Nelson, Vice President Production Flight Tests and by Experimental Test Pilot Philippe Pellerin. The other crew members were Senior Vice President Flight & Integration Tests Fernando Alonso and Zidan Ren, the first Chinese Flight Test Engineer trained by Airbus as well as Cabin Engineer Eric Garcia. "The flight was a complete success thanks to excellent teamwork," Fernando Alonso, Senior Vice President Flight & Integration Tests, Airbus said.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, China, EU

Aircraft Industry - Airbus registers 11 net orders in first four months of year

Airbus the EADS subsidiary said that between January 1 and April 30 it had written 30 orders and recorded 19 cancellations. Most of the cancellations, 14 in all, concerned the company's mid- range A320 family, which seats between 100 and 200 passengers. However, Airbus was well on track to meet its goal for 2009 in deliveries, with 162 deliveries registered between the beginning of the year and the end of April. This year Airbus is looking to match its record total of 483 deliveries from 2008. On Wednesday, the company announced it was curtailing deliveries of its A380 super-jumbo airliner from the planned 18 to 14, because some of its customers are unable to pay for the plane due to the effects of the economic crisis on air travel.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Aircraft Industry - Boeing jetliner orders tumble in April - by Joshua Freed

Boeing, the world's No. 2 plane maker after France-based Airbus, has grappled with weaker demand in recent months as the recession has forced airlines to cancel or postpone plans to buy new planes. Limited access to credit also has made it more difficult for potential customers to finance new aircraft purchases. Customers have canceled orders for 59 planes this year, all but two of them for the company's hot-selling but long-delayed 787, a next-generation aircraft built for fuel efficiency with lightweight carbon composite parts. That's left Boeing with a negative balance of one order for 2009. In April, the Chicago-based aerospace company received orders for 17 jetliners, down from 58 during the same month last year, according to figures posted on the company's Web site.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing, US

Computer Spies Breach F35 Joint strike fighter-Jet Project - by Siobhan Gorman, August Cole and Yochi Dreazen

Computer spies have broken into the Pentagon's $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project -- the Defense Department's costliest weapons program ever -- according to current and former government officials familiar with the attacks.

The Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the F-35 Lightning II, is the costliest and most technically challenging weapons program the Pentagon has ever attempted. The plane, led by Lockheed Martin Corp., relies on 7.5 million lines of computer code, which the Government Accountability Office said is more than triple the amount used in the current top Air Force fighter. Former U.S. officials say the attacks appear to have originated in China. However it can be extremely difficult to determine the true origin because it is easy to mask identities online. A Pentagon report issued last month said that the Chinese military has made "steady progress" in developing online-warfare techniques. China hopes its computer skills can help it compensate for an underdeveloped military, the report said.

The Chinese Embassy said in a statement that China "opposes and forbids all forms of cyber crimes." It called the Pentagon's report "a product of the Cold War mentality" and said the allegations of cyber espionage are "intentionally fabricated to fan up China threat sensations."

Labels: Aircraft Industry, F35, security, US

Eurofighter in the German Sky

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German Fighter Wing 73 “Steinhoff” receives Tranche 2 Eurofighter Typhoon

Four Block 8 Eurofighter Typhoons were delivered to their new home, German Fighter Wing 73 “Steinhoff” last week following a period of QRA duties and in-service testing at Fighter Wing 74 in Neuburg in Southern Germany. On the 14th April, two Tranche 2 aircraft were delivered to the base in Laage, Northern Germany followed by a further two Eurofighter Typhoons on the 16th April. The first Tranche 2 deliveries to Germany began in December 2008.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, EuroFighter, Germany

Europe's most advanced stealth jet Eurofighter launching an air to ground missile

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Italian Air Force: over 10,000 flight hours flown by the Eurofighter Typhoon

Alenia Aeronautica records with great satisfaction another important result reached by the Eurofighter program in Italy: the Air Force’s pilots have surpassed 10,000 flight hours on the Eurofighter Typhoon, the new-generation defence aircraft in service with two squadrons in Italy. The aircraft, that operates in Italy from Grosseto and Gioia del Colle air bases, has started being employed three years ago in missions of air police and quick-reaction alert for the airspace control, having inaugurated such operations during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

Since 2006 four other air forces have joined ItAF and the Typhoon fleet in service in Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Austria have by now surpassed the total of 50,000 flight hours. By the end of the year also the first Typhoons for the Saudi Arabian Air Force, first Eurofighter’s non-European customer, will be delivered. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a milestone for the Italian aeronautical industry that with a share of 19% of the programme provides long-term job for 24,000 resources within some 200 companies, and in particular for the Finmeccanica companies, which play an important role with their 36% of industrial participation, in the definition, design, development and production of the new aircraft, the European industry’s technological frontier.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Airforce, EU, EuroFighter, Italy

EU aerospace and defence firms plead for government funding - by David Gow

Europe's aerospace and defence industries today urged the EU and national governments to boost spending on research and development and provide loans for distressed suppliers. The call, from the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association (ASD), the pan-European trade lobby, comes as airlines are cancelling or postponing orders for new planes, cutting thousands of staff and preparing for a 12% fall in revenues.Contractors point to US federal support for military development and Airbus chief warns credit squeeze is choking aircraft sales

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU

Russia's 5th generation fighter aircraft RAFKA

"Russia's fifth-generation fighter, known as the PAKFA (Advanced Tactical Aviation Aircraft), has emerged as a key tool of the Russian aerospace and defense industry even before the aircraft has completed its first flight. Rosoboronexport has aggressively pitched component production partnerships to a number of Russia's largest arms markets in order to garner risk/cost-sharing agreements and insure continued Russian market access. However, with the PAKFA program under increasing tension and the West's major aerospace firms seeking to shore up additional orders for soon to be closed fourth-generation aircraft production lines, Russia faces the prospect of declining presence in the world's most high sought after arms markets."

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Airforce, Russia

A new Lockheed scandal in the Netherlands? Technical problems and cost overruns make Lockheed-Martin F35 not a good investment for Dutch tax payers

eu-digest

Netherlands: JSF (F35 Lockheed-Martin) purchase could be postponed until 2011 or 2012

Following earlier Dutch press reports that the three Government coalition partners had agreed on taking a decision about the Lockheed-Martin JSF as a possible replacement for the F-16 Dutch fighter plane, by 2010 at the latest, Government sources in The Hague now say the decision probably would be put off until 2011 or even 2012. In the meantime, only one or two test planes would be purchased. The Dutch participation in the development of the American fighter plane has been a source of major controversy in parliament, after the Governments initial decision to get involved back in 2002. The center right Christian Democrats (CDA) are in favor of proceeding with the 2010 deadline but the Labor party (PVDA) has difficulty swallowing the idea of the JSF. The small orthodox Christian coalition member (Christen Unie) also wants more clarity about the exact cost of the JSF before taking a final decision. Consequently the JSF (or Lockheed F-35) has become a very hot political issue in the past few weeks. A majority in parliament, which included coalition Labor, last week sent the annual JSF report back to defense minister Jack de Vries for further clarification. Mr. de Vries is also being criticized for appointing a radical Muslim cleric as a religious counselor to Muslims serving in the Dutch military forces in Afganistan. As a result of all the controversy surrounding the ministry of defense the planned debate about the purchase of two test planes was postponed until next week. Should the Dutch parliament approve the purchase of the test planes next week, Dutch fighter pilots will take part in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase in 2013. Apart from the US, the only other country still involved in the IOT&E phase is Britain. Taking part in the IOT&E phase will cost the Netherlands some 274 million euros.

Many politicians believe it would probably be a wise move for the Dutch Government to postpone the decision or even cancel the purchase of the F35 all together. The plane is not only plagued by technical problems but also by cost overruns. One of the main problems is that the F-35 is having serious difficulties getting rid of excess heat. This will require a redesign. A look at the history of the aircraft also shows several problems that already required some redesign, including airframe fatigue problems. It is also strange that the Netherlands is gambling on the purchase of a basically untested US fighter aircraft when there are proven high quality EU made stealth fighter aircraft like the Gripen, Rafale and Eurofighter available. It is also interesting that it is once again a purchase from Lockheed that is causing an upheaval in Dutch political circles. Back in the late 1970’s Prince Bernhard, husband of the former queen Juliana, had pocketed a million-dollar bribe for ensuring that the Dutch government would choose Lockheed planes for their military needs. Bernard at that time was the Chief of the combined Dutch military forces, which included the air force.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Airforce, EU, F35, Lockheed-Martin, Netherlands

Aircraft Industry - Boeing at risk of losing more 787 orders - by James Wallace

One of those Chinese carriers that ordered the plane in 2005, Shanghai Airlines, reportedly feels the first batch of 787s for customers won't measure up. The Dreamliner doesn't "fully meet the quality that Boeing touted earlier," Zhou Chi, chairman of Shanghai Airlines, said at a shareholder meeting Friday in Shanghai, according to Bloomberg News. He said the airline may cancel or postpone delivery of part of its order for nine 787s. Boeing would not comment about any talks that may be under way with any of its 787 customers. The 787 is two years late, and so far this year two customers have already canceled a total of 31 orders.

Earlier this year, Boeing had 31 of its 787s orders canceled by two customers -- a Russian airline and a Dubai leasing company. More airlines that have ordered jets from Boeing and rival Airbus are expected to either push back delivery of planes or cancel some orders because of the worldwide recession, which has sent the industry into one of its worst downturns ever.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing

Airbus ‘Intensively’ Addressing ‘Problems’ With Emirates’ A380s - by Tony Czuczka

Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of commercial aircraft, said it is working “intensively” to resolve “problems” with A380 jets owned by Dubai’s Emirates airline. A delegation from Emirates, the biggest A380 customer, cited a series of defects with the plane when it visited European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. in Toulouse, France, last month, Der Spiegel reported today in a preview of an article in its latest edition.

Der Spiegel said on its website on the weekend that Emirates gave a 46-page presentation in Toulouse, telling Airbus officials about heat-damaged power cables, defective engines and numerous malfunctions. The planes have lost 500 hours of flying time due to grounding to deal with problems, Der Spiegel said.

Labels: Airbus 380, Aircraft Industry, EU

Dutch KLM Boeing 737-800's had 17 altimeter failures in 6 months - by Adriana Stuijt

Dutch KLM airlines' Boeing 737-800s recorded 17 radio-altimeter failures over the past 6 months, similar to the problem identified as the most likely cause of the crash of the Turkish Airlines' Boeing 737-800 two weeks ago, in which 9 people were killed.
This important information - indicating that there may be a structural problem with Boeing's 737-800 passenger lines' altimeters - the instruments which record the plane's height from the ground with radio-waves and are directly linked to its automatic pilot system -- was contained in confidential documents published by the Dutch news-radio BNR. The radio station has been unable to get any comment from Boeing about the issue.

Labels: Aircraft disaster, Aircraft Industry, Boeing 737, EU, KLM, Turkish Airlines

the new cSeries Bombardier

For the complete report from the Montreal Gazette click on this link

New rival for Airbus and Boeing - Canadian Bombardier lands $1.53B deal - by Bombardier lands $1.53B deal- by Francoise Shalom

German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG firmed up its order for 30 Bombardier CSeries CS100 jets yesterday, formally catapulting Montreal’s aircraft manufacturer into the narrow-body airliner segment currently carved up between Boeing and Airbus.The firm order, first announced as a tentative deal last summer, will mark the first time Bombardier produces traditional-looking jets with wing-mounted engines, a niche that has long been the exclusive preserve of Airbus’s A320 and Boeing’s 737 families of aircraft. With the order in hand, Bombardier will now push ahead with building its largest aircraft to date. The 110-to-149 seat aircraft has been in development for the better part of a decade and will put the Montreal-based plane maker in the big leagues. The CSeries will compete against the smallest planes built by Boeing and Airbus.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, Boeing, Bombardier

AeroIndia 2009: With Eurofighter, less can be more

Eurofighter is the ideal candidate for India's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) requirement, due for field trials in April this year, said Eurofighter GmbH CEO Aloysius Rauen. He was speaking on the subject 'Eurofighter Typhoon - Perspectives and Trends' at the Aero India 2009 International Seminar on 'Aerospace - Perspectives and Trends in Technologies', held in Bangalore from 9 to 12 February. Rauen said that the Eurofighter was the most pilot-friendly next-generation fighter, since pilots were brought into the loop at the design stage itself. He especially pointed to its 'Sensorfusion' system, which managed the overload of information coming in through the radar, infra-red sensor systems and ESM systems fitted into the aircraft.

Pointing out that 155 Eurofighters were already in service in five European countries and Saudi Arabia, Rauen said that since the development of the aircraft was itself a joint collaborative effort, technology transfer could be more transparent and more effective for offsets, as integrating teams was Eurofighter's speciality.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter, India

Naked at 43,000 feet: showering on the Emirates A380 superjumbo

Flying above the Tasman Sea, somewhere between Australia and New Zealand, I have a dilemma: as one of a select few to have a shower at 43,000 feet on an Emirates A380, should I add high-flying streaker to my list of firsts? Emirates is the first commercial airline in the world to have showers on board, in two spacious bathrooms with under-floor heating that it has dubbed "shower spas". The showers are available only to passengers in the 14-berth first class. Yet this is where Emirates also stands out in the A380 club: on the short-haul flight to Auckland, first class, at about $2000 return, is suddenly within reach of the punters. You, too, can sip on Dom Perignon and Grange while reclining, electronic doors closed, in your glossy walnut-paneled private suite, smelling of Bulgari perfume and creams.

Labels: Airbus 380, Aircraft Industry, Arab Emirates

Airbus and partners gear up for A350 production - by Max Kingsley-Jones

Airbus and its programme partners across Europe and the USA are gearing up for the launch of A350 XWB production with the construction of factories or extensions to existing infrastructure.The bulk of A350 production will be undertaken by Airbus's European plants - including the factories it has hived off into the French and German standalone divisions Aerolia and Premium Aerotech, respectively. Construction began in January of the A350's flagship final assembly line adjacent to the A330/A340 complex in Toulouse, and the building of new factories for the twinjet is under way elsewhere in France, in Germany, Spain and the UK, as well as in the USA.

Labels: Airbus sales, Aircraft Industry, EU

Airbus A380 VIP Saloon, the perfect airborne playground for the super-rich

Come along with us, dear readers, and wallow in luxury on an airplane built for a zillionaire. Luftansa Technik, the luxo-sport decorating and customization arm of the fabled German airline, gives us a peek, with a gorgeous group of unreal renders depicting what the good life must be like aboard its proposed VIP Saloon on an Airbus 380. Take a peek — it's the perfect playground for a boisterous batch of bailed-out banker billionaires.

Labels: Airbus380, Aircraft Industry, EU

Unmanned nEUROn stealth combat aircraft

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nEUROn Europe's unmanned combat aircraft taking shape

On February 9, 2006, French defense procurement agency DGA, the program executive agency, named Dassault Aviation as prime contractor in charge of developing nEUROn, a European combat aircraft vehicle demonstrator. This signaled the active launch of the project.The AVE-C drone carried out a demonstration flight on June 30, 2008. Since this drone features a general design similar to nEUROn, this test helped confirm the likelihood of the new UCAV performing a successful automatic takeoff and landing right from its first flight.The maiden flight of nEUROn is scheduled for the end of 2011. Test flights will be carried out over a period of about 18 months, in France (Istres), then Sweden and Italy. 85% of the total budget has now been awarded to Industry by DGA, which acts on behalf of the six Partner States (France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Greece and Switzerland).In other words, not only is nEUROn beginning to take shape, but so is a real pan-European military aviation industry.

Labels: Air France, Aircraft Industry, EU, European Military, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland. nEUROn, Unmand Aircraft

Venezuela set to order Russian aircraft- by Jackson Flores Jr.

The Venezuelan government is expected this month to order two Ilyushin Il-96-300 airliners to be used for commercial airline and government VIP transport. The widebodies - each valued at around $98 million according to local government sources - are scheduled for delivery in the first and fourth quarter of next year. Sources in Venezuela indicate that one of the airframes will be fitted out as a presidential transport aircraft in a configuration similar to that used by the Russian government. The second aircraft is expected to join state-owned airline Conviasa's fleet to fly on its long-haul routes.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Russia, Venezuela

Airbus plant operational in 2010

Tunisia and Aerolia, a branch of Airbus (EADS), signed on Wednesday an agreement relative to the construction of a plant south of Tunis, in the industrial zone of El Mghira. The plant will become operational mid 2010 and will employ some 1500 qualified personnel, said Mr Christian Cornille, the company’s president during a press conference in Tunis on Wednesday.The project which is estimated at 60 million Euros, will also involve sub-contracting partners, essentially from France. A training program is also part of the agreement between Tunisia and the plane maker, it was announced. Aerolia, a French leader in the sector of aero structures, conceives and builds all of the front segments of Airbus planes.Among the reasons which prompted Aerolia to build their 4 th plant in Tunisia after those of Meaulte, St Nazaire and Toulouse in France, are the high degree of competence of Tunisian engineers, the proximity to Europe, the logistic advantage of a nearby harbor and the full support from the Tunisian government, said Mr Cornille.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU, France, Tunisia

Airbus gets order for A380 that will seat 'around 840'

Airbus says it has received its first order for a single-class A380 that apparently will seat up to 840 passengers. Airbus says that order came from Air Austral, an airline based in La Reunion –- a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, according The Associated Press. Reuters says the carrier "provisionally bought two A380s in a single-class configuration, meaning it could seat over 800" when it's delivered in 2014. Air Transport Intelligence (ATI) goes one step further, reporting that Air Austral's A380s "will be configured with around 840 seats." The publication says that configuration would be the "highest density seating of any A380 so far."

Labels: A380, Aircraft Industry, EU

USAF Looks to Replace Air Force One With Possible Airbus

The U.S. Air Force is looking to replace the president's air force fleet -- possibly with an Airbus, FlightGlobal.com reports. The USAF has reportedly posted a request for information seeking market sources who can provide three "widebody" aircraft to replace the Boeing VC-25 Air Force One.The Airbus 380 has been named as a possible alternative.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU, USAF

Planes can float, but the US Airways Airbus A320 that crashed into the Hudson River yesterday had a better chance than most. That's because it was equipped with a special device unique to Airbus planes that increased the likelihood it would stay on top of the water. The device, called a "ditching switch," effectively seals the plane by closing valves and ventilation ports, a spokesman for the airline said.

With the valves and ports shut, "a float line" is created, Airbus spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn said.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Safety

Airbus undertakes Blended-Winglet evaluation on A320

Airbus has started flight-testing of Blended Winglet devices on an Airbus A320. The Blended Winglet technology, developed by Aviation Partners Inc. (API), has been specially adapted for these tests on the A320 Family. The objective of these tests and the subsequent evaluation is to identify both the performance and economic benefits that these devices could offer for Airbus aircraft. In conjunction with follow-up analyses, they will provide data on the overall viability of the devices and help to determine whether API's technology could be considered for an integrated Airbus program.

Labels: A-320, Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Italy's Second Eurofighter Unit Operational

At 12:00 on Monday 5th January 2009, Italy’s 36th Wing, based in Gioia de Colle, began air defence duties five years after Eurofighter Typhoon was introduced to the four partner nations. The Eurofighter F2000 aircraft was only supplied to the 36th Wing on 1st October 2007 and both the flight crew and base underwent an intense period of training and achieved the ambitious goal of a thousand hours of flight to ensure they were ready for January 2009. The 36th Wing consists of two flying squadrons and will provide air defence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will compliment the 4th, 5th and 37th Wings who are already defending the air space of the southern Mediterranean.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, Euro Fighter, Eurofighter 2000, Italy

Next Air Force One: an Airbus A380?; Gates on weapons buying-by Michelle Dunlop

The Air Force is searching for a new aircraft for the president. Yesterday, the Air Force began the process of picking a new Air Force One, by requesting interested companies to submit basic information on widebody aircraft that might fit the bill. The major contenders could include Boeing’s updated 747-8 or European Airbus’s new A380. The Air Force hopes to have the first of the new presidential aircraft by 2017.

Labels: Airbus 380, Aircraft Industry, US Airforce

Aircraft Industry: EADS folding military unit into Airbus plane division

European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. plans to fold its Military Transport Aircraft Division into the Airbus airliner business as part of an effort to streamline operations. The reorganization will speed development of the A400M plane model, Paris- and Munich, Germany-based EADS said Tuesday in a statement. Carlos Suarez, now head of the military transport-plane unit, will remain a member of EADS' executive committee and join the committee overseeing Airbus. The A400M won't make its first test flight before the second half of 2009, a year late. Delays stemming from engine-control software difficulties have cost EADS $2.4 billion so far, and more charges may come in the fourth quarter. Responsibility for the project has until now been assigned to the former CASA, the Spanish partner in Airbus that EADS absorbed when it was created in a mid-2000 European aerospace merger.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU

Boeing To Announce Yet ANOTHER Dream liner Delay

To anyone at Boeing who may have snickered when rival Airbus experienced a number of delays in bringing its high-profile A380 superjumbo to market... one imagines if you didn't believe in karma then, you do now.The Wall Street Journal reports the American plane maker is poised to announce yet another delay to its troubled 787 Dream liner program, due to the recent strike by workers represented by the International Association of Machinists. Citing unnamed sources, the WSJ says Boeing will announce later this month first deliveries of the composite-bodied jet will be pushed to summer of 2010, with the possibility the aircraft's first flight may not happen until late 2009. "There is no question" the 787 will be delayed further, one source told the WSJ. "The real issue right now is that Boeing wants to make sure it has a believable date before going back to the customers with more bad news." Boeing's latest official statement about the Dream liner called for deliveries to start in the third quarter of 2009.

If the latest report is true -- and there's nothing to suggest it isn't -- the latest delay would mean the first 787 will delivered to launch customer All Nippon Airlines at least two years later than Boeing had originally hoped. Touted by Boeing as a revolutionary, highly-efficient airliner for a environmentally-conscious world, for the moment the Dreamliner has instead become the company's largest embarrassment since the Darleen Druyun fiasco.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787

Further delay forecast for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

Another major delay appears certain for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the record-selling jet that has been plagued by production problems, the most recent of which have been wrongly installed fasteners and a two-month strike by Boeing workers. The Dreamliner which is one of the first of the largely composite jets isn't likely to be delivered before mid-2010, more than two years behind schedule. But a source close to the program said the jet's launch could occur even later, especially if flight tests for the all-new aircraft take longer than the aggressive schedule that Chicago-based Boeing has planned. The 787 Dreamliner has already been delayed three times

Labels: Aircraft Industry, Boeing Dreamliner 787, USA

Spain - Basque aerospace skills benefit Airbus and Boeing by Niall O'Keeffe

Two members of Basque aerospace association Hegan have been selected to manufacture carbonfibre components and structures for the Airbus A350 XWB. The contracts establish Aernnova and SK10 as risk-sharing tier-one suppliers to the European airframer's newest programme. SK10, part of the Alcor group, has won a contract to manufacture the A350's belly fairing, a 170m2 (1,830ft2) structure based on a metal grille and carbon fibre lining. The contract has a potential value of €1 billion. Aernnova's contract, with a potential value of €3 billion, covers the overall design and production of the horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

Airbus, a fairly near neighbor, is a strong supporter of the Basque aerospace sector. Despite the woes caused by program delays, the sector's A380 involvement has led to investment of €300 million and will generate €3 billion in revenue

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU, Spain

Oman in talks with BAE over Eurofighters purchase - by Sylvia Pfeifer

BAE Systems is in talks to secure a second multi-billion euro export order from the Middle East for Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The British defense contractor is in early-stage negotiations with the government of Oman to sell them the aircraft, sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed.Sources said the Oman government was looking to replace the Jaguars with Typhoons by around 2012 in a deal that could be worth an initial euro 1.64b (US$ 2.6b), although that would not include the billions of pounds BAE could net to maintain and support the aircraft.The Typhoon would give Oman a boost in terms of its air defence capability, although the sources cautioned that Oman could yet postpone any decision.

Labels: Aircraft Industry, EU, EuroFighter

EADS Returns to Profit on Airbus Deliveries, Raises Forecast - by Andrea Rothman

European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., the continent's largest aerospace company, returned to profit in the third quarter as it delivered more Airbus A380 superjumbo airliners. It raised its full-year profit forecast. Net income was 679 million euros ($865 million) compared with a 776 million-euro loss a year earlier, Paris- and Munich- based EADS said in a statement released by the German stock exchange. Last year's loss included charges for delays of the A400M military transport plane.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Eurofighter refueling from Airbus A310
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Germany launches Eurofighter refueling trials with A310 - by Craigg Hole

ADS has conducted the first of nine planned test flights leading to the certification of the Eurofighter combat aircraft to undergo in-flight refueling from the German air force's Airbus A310 multi-role tanker transports. Conducted from EADS Military Air Systems' Manching facility near Munich in late October, the first test lasted for about 5h and employed two of Germany's instrumented production aircraft.

Labels: Airbus Tanker, Aircraft Industry, EU, EuroFighter

Airbus Leads Boeing In 9 Month Orders, Output

Airbus sold 31 planes in September, bringing gross orders for the first nine months of the year to 785 as the European planemaker held a lead over strike-hit Boeing in new orders and deliveries. Stripping out cancellations, Airbus reported a net total of 737 aircraft orders in the first nine months. While some airlines are having second thoughts over purchases as the global economy weakens, the Airbus tally does not yet include a 55-plane purchase from Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.Although the USD$11 billion order dominated headlines at the Farnborough air show in July, getting it into the order book has proved a headache as Airbus and the Gulf emirate negotiate an industrial offset deal, according to industry executives.The deal for a net 51 planes would bring Airbus within reach of its 2008 goal of 850 orders if it enters the backlog before end-year, though other new business has slumped since July.

Airbus delivered 34 planes in September and 104 in the third quarter, bringing deliveries for the year so far to 349 jets. Deliveries at rival Boeing have been paralyzed by a production workers' strike, now a month old.
The US jetmaker said last week it had delivered 84 planes in the third quarter, down from 109 in the same quarter of 2007.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, EU

Airbus begins push for Chinese market - David Gow

Airbus broke out of its European fortress yesterday when it opened a euro520m ($600m) final assembly line for its best-selling A320 aircraft in China and committed to buy $1bn of locally made components by 2020. The plant, the most modern of its kind in the world, is designed to establish a foothold in China's booming aviation market, which is growing at 14.5% a year. Airbus executives said it would see orders for more than 3,000 new planes over the next 20 years as China develops the world's second-largest aviation market after the US.

After an opening ceremony attended by premier Wen Jiabao and more reminiscent of a Communist party congress setting, John Leahy, chief operating officer (sales), said China could account for as much as a fifth of the more than 850 orders the European plane-maker expects this year.

Labels: Airbus, Aircraft Industry, China, EU