EADS' New EW Countermeasures Core Enters Production
EADS recently completed development of a third-generation digital
radio frequency memory (DRFM) which provides the core for advanced
new generation electronic countermeasures. The new system was developed
and is produced by EADS Airborne Systems unit, a part of the company's
Future Defense Electronic business unit. DRFM can manipulate hostile
radar signals before retransmission, thus enabling the defended
platform to electronically hide its position or identity against
missile attack. The DRFM's newly developed techniques generator
creates realistic but deceptive range, Doppler or other signal falsification,
which makes accurate tracking of the aircraft by air defense radars
extremely difficult. The DRFM combines instantaneous bandwidth coverage
with very-high-frequency accuracy and multi-threat capability.
Air France Selects Goodrich for Wheels and Services
Air France has selected Goodrich to supply wheels, brakes, and
repair and overhaul services for their fleet of new 777-300ERs.
Goodrich has been selected to supply wheel overhaul maintained for
the entire Air France 777-300ER fleet as well. Deliveries of the
new 777-300ER to Air France, the launch customer for the aircraft,
will begin in 2004.
Agusta Westland and BAE Systems for Air9000
Agusta Westland has teamed up with BAE Systems Australia to compete
for the Australian Air 9000 multi-phase contract to rationalize
the Australian Defence Force's military helicopter fleet. The second
phase of the program is for the supply and support of an additional
squadron of troop-lift helicopters for the Australian Army. The
partnership will offer the EH101 as a replacement for the Army's
Sikorsky Black Hawk fleet. "Project Air 9000 represents the
most sophisticated rotary-wing acquisition program of any military
force in the world. The program will set new benchmarks for innovative
and cost effective delivery of military rotary wing capability,"
said Giacomo Saponaro, managing director of EHI and Agusta Westland
business director.
Air Plus Comet's B737 Classics First with Winglets
Madrid-based Air Plus Comet has become the first airline to opt
to retrofit its B737 Classic jetliners with Aviation Partners Boeing's
blended winglets, which earned FAA supplemental type certificate
on May 30. Flight tests indicated that APB winglets reduce overall
fuel consumption by 4.5%-10% percent better than they improve performance
on Boeing's Next Generation 737-700 and 800 twinjets. Air Plus
Comet can look forward to saving about 22 gallons per hour, not
much at face value. But, each Air Plus Comet B737 averages 2,900
flight hours per year, resulting in a 65,000-gallon annual fuel
saving per airplane. The improved wing performance associated with
winglets also enhances climb performance, thereby reducing noise
and exhaust emissions, an important benefit for environmentally
conscious European airline operators.
By Fred George
Alitalia Express Receives ATR 72-500
Alitalia Express has taken delivery of its sixth ATR 72-500, completing
an order placed at last years Farnborough Air Show. This will bring
the carrier's ATR fleet to 10-four ATR 72-210s and six ATR 72-500s.
Alitalia, which is developing hub-and-spoke and point-to-point services,
will use the 66-seat ATR 72-500s on routes serving Milan and Rome.
"Our passengers appreciate the qualities of the 500, which
represents a real technological step forward in respect to the other
regional turboprop aircraft in terms of comfort, economics and performance,"
the airline says. To date, 655 ATRs have been delivered to more
than 100 airlines in 70 countries.
Boeing, Volvo Aero Services Extend Marketing Agreement of Surplus
Inventory
Volvo Aero Services will continue to market and sell Boeing Company
surplus inventory for commercial aircraft. The companies agreed
to extend their 1999 marketing and distribution agreement through
December 2009. Volvo is offering Boeing spare parts to airline customers
as well as MRO and repair stations worldwide. According to Mark
Owen, VP of Spares for Commercial Aviation Services at the Boeing
Company, the agreement with Volvo allows the company to reduce its
surplus inventory, focus its resources on the main spare parts operation.
Goodrich Air Data System Picked for Boeing X-45C
Boeing announced at the Show that it has selected Goodrich Corporation's
SmartPort™ air data system, for installation in the X-45C Unmanned
Combat Aircraft (UCAV). SmartPort™ is one of several product
options available from Goodrich's Smart-based air data architecture.
This is claimed to offer several benefits over traditional air data
systems. By integrating multifunction sensing probes, pressure sensors,
and processing capability, the total number of discrete sensor installations
is reduced, reliability is significantly improved, and overall weight
and drag are minimized. Boeing Phantom Works is developing the X-45C
as a cost-effective solution to meet both USAF and U.S. Navy requirements
in their Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)-led demonstration
programs.
Website boosts Hamilton Sundstrand Business
Hamilton Sundstrand's e-business aftermarket revenue has surpassed
$25 million since 2000, when the Connecticut-based company began
offering Internet ordering capabilities to its customers. Commenting
on this development, Hamilton Sundstrand e-business manager Hyunni
'Doc' Kim said , "Aftermarket sales on our Power™ page
on the internet have been increasing at an annual rate of 50%. Our
websites are expanding customer capabilities to interact with us
more efficiently," he said. "More than 7,000 registered
users representing over 600 commercial and military entities worldwide
are making 20,000 enquiries per month to our internet websites."
Commercial customers using the website include large and small airlines
as well as third-party repair shops. Government customers include
the armed forces of the U.S. and many countries worldwide.
Honeywell Supplies Key Avionics for F-35
Honeywell has just received a major contract to supply avionics
for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program that could
eventually number more than 6,000 aircraft. Honeywell was selected
to provide Inertial Navigation Systems, Tactical Navigation Units,
Low Observable Air Data Systems (LOADS), and Low Probability of
Intercepts (LPI) radar altimeters for all three JSF variants. These
comprise conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) versions for the
USAF; carrier versions for the U.S. Navy; and short-take-off and
vertical landing (STOVL) versions for the U.S. Marine Corps and
British forces. In addition to these orders, Lockheed Martin expects
to build another 3,000 JSFs for international customers.
Honeywell's ITEC Runs First Production F124 for M-346 Trainer
Successful initial runs of the first production-configured F124-GA-200
turbofan for Aermacchi's new M-346 advanced jet-trainer, now nearing
prototype roll-out, were announced by Honeywell's International
Turbine Engine Corporation at the show on Friday. The production
configuration of the engine's full-authority digital electronic
control (FADEC) is based on Honeywell's modular aerospace control
(MAC) platform. MAC eliminates the need to develop engine-specific
controls, and replaces them with a customized platform developed
by Honeywell for highly reliable, fault-tolerant engine control
systems. The F124-GA-200 is the latest development in the F124 turbofan
family, which also includes the GA-100 for the Czech Aero L-159
trainer and Boeing/DARPA X-45A UCAV, as well as the afterburning
TFE1042 in Taiwan's AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo combat aircraft. ITEC
operates as a joint venture between Honeywell and the Republic of
China's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).
British Airways' Telemedicine in Action
BA used new technologies in May with Boeing's mobile high-speed
communications service (HSCS), to transmit a passenger's vital signs
from a Boeing 747 flying to New York from London at 37,000 ft. A
Tempus 2000, produced by Remote Diagnostic Technologies of Basingstoke,
England, was used to record the passenger's blood pressure, blood
oxygen level, temperature and respiration rate, for transfer to
a ground receiving station. Tempus 2000 utilizes a built-in Ethernet
card and unique audio processing hardware and software to transmit
data in real-time to medical personnel on the ground, while maintaining
continuous two-way voice communication with the receiving station.
It also received a 12-lead ECG trace and high-quality still video
images. BA was already successfully using the MedLink service of
MedAire, based in Phoenix, Arizona, to receive voice calls from
its aircraft during in-flight medical incidents. The hospital-based
center is also equipped to receive calls from the Tempus 2000.
Chemtronics Selected to Supply Turbine Exhaust Case for A380
Chemtronics Inc has been awarded a long-term contract by Pratt
and Whitney to supply the turbine exhaust casing for the Engine
Alliance GP7000 engines powering the Airbus A380. The contract is
valued at $180 million through the life of the agreement. The turbine
exhaust case directs airflow from the turbine into a linear stream
through the nozzle and plug, and also serves as the rear mount for
engine and the pylon. Chemtronics' unique five-point welding system
enabled the company to design an assembly that could meet the strict
weight, performance, and cost targets set for the GP7000.
Hamilton Sundstrand Powers Up China's Regional Jet
Shanghai's AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) group has selected
Hamilton Sundstrand to supply the electric power system for its
new 80-100 passenger ARJ21 advanced regional jet. Over the life
of the aircraft program, the contract could bring in more than $200
million to Hamilton Sundstrand. The U.S. company will provide the
complete electrical power generation, primary distribution and emergency
power system, and act as an overall system integration partner with
ACAC. The power system is based on proven equipment, including a
40kVA integrated drive generators for 115V AC main electrical power.
The ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century), will be
an integral part of the rapidly-growing Chinese aviation market,
specifically addressing the need for regional feeder traffic. Overall
market growth for regional and derivative jets remains strong. ARJ21
market potential is projected at more than 500 aircraft world wide
over the next 20 years.
Boeing Sells Corinth Wiring to Labinal
Labinal, a Snecma Group company, has purchased a Corinth, Texas
wiring plant previously owned by Boeing. The 800-staff Texan wiring
company joined the ranks of Paris-based Labinal on June 6. In her
announcement of the plan to sell the company, Mary Armstrong, VP
and general manager of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' Aircraft Systems
and Interiors group, said, "The agreement is the right thing
for the Corinth employees, for the community and for Boeing. It
allows Boeing to concentrate on our core strategy of large-scale
systems integration and provides Corinth and its employees the opportunity
to grow. Labinal is the world leader in the aerospace wire harness
business and intends to prosper in the industry. The acquisition
of Corinth will contribute to that growth."
Filling the Passenger Aircraft Protection Gap
Aerospace industries are gearing up to offer systems that can protect
airliners from terrorist missile attacks. Such threats have been
perceived for many years, but since most attacked failed, or scored
hits in remote areas, they haven't gained much awareness. The serious
threat was realized after 9/11, and last year's attack in Mombassa
Kenya in which missiles were fired at an Israeli jetliner. The Israeli
MOD launched a countermeasure program before this attack but then
accelerated development. Initial installations of IAI/IMI flare
based systems on airliners are expected by early 2004, followed
by more advanced Directional IR Countermeasures (DIRCMs) developed
by Elbit, RAFAEL and Elisra in a later phase. In the USA, Congress
is pushing for the conversion of military countermeasures for commercial
systems. Following the R&D and certification phase, a large
scale, federally funded procurement is expected to win wide support
by U.S. lawmakers, at a target cost per aircraft of $1-1.5 million
per aircraft. Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are working on electro-optical
systems. In the UK BAE is proposing DIRCM-based countermeasures.
In Russia, laser-based countermeasures are under development.
Derco Aerospace Extends Agreement with Goodrich
A three-year agreement signed with Goodrich Turbine Fuel Technologies
will see Derco Aerospace stocking and distributing fuel nozzles
and related parts for the T56 turbine engine. A follow-on to a 1996
agreement, the new contract will support aircraft such as the Lockheed
Martin P-3 Orion maritime patroller, L-100 civilian freighter and
first-generations of C-130 Hercules. Derco, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, was established 20 years ago and
has progressively expanded its inventory and agreements from the
Hercules family to include combat aircraft such as A-4 Skyhawk,
F-4 Phantom, F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger and F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Through its relationships with original equipment manufacturers,
it maintains the largest and most diversified military aircraft
spares inventory in the world.
Boeing launches E-Learning with KAAU
As part of Boeing's Aviation Safety e-learning curriculum at King
Abdulaziz University (KAAU), in Jeddah, the University's Aeronautical
Engineering Department opened a state-of-the-art section on Aviation
Safety training. The program will help to benefit airline operations,
aviation regulatory bodies, airport operations, aircraft maintenance,
repair and overhaul, aircraft inspection, air transport systems
and the military. "This program represents a major milestone
in our continued commitment to KAAU and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,"
said Marcus Hurley, president, Boeing Middle East. The Aviation
Safety e-Learning curriculum has been developed in conjunction with
Aerostudies, a Canadian company that specializes in online aviation
training.
Desk Top Training for Falcon EASy Cockpit
Honeywell and FlightSafety are teaming to develop a PC-based training
system for the Dassault EASy cockpit and avionics system. Dassault
offers EASy, based on Honeywell's Primus Epic flight system, on
the Falcon 900EX and 2000EX. Designed to offer pilots an intuitive,
visual means of controlling and monitoring the airplane's flightpath
and systems, EASy is intended to minimize keypad inputs and make
more use of interactive graphics, drop-down menus and cursor-driven
displays. FlightSafety will use the new training system to allow
pilots to familiarize themselves with EASy before they start training
on a full-flight simulator.
Wulfsberg to Deliver First Digital Tactical Radio
Wulfsberg will begin deliveries of the first digital tactical
FM radio with a color LCD display to an unnamed federal agency in
July. With a sharp display that highlights critical information,
the P-2000 is the first panel-mounted, multi-band radio offered
by Wulfsberg. For a glimpse of the new technology, it will be on
display at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association conference in
Wichita, Kansas, next month. Touted as "a cost-effective solution
for many public service missions that do not require 30-960MHz RT-5000
full-band capability," it is a powerful device, offering multiple
bands and configurations for maximum flexibility. The P-2000 is
part of the Flexcomm family of AM/FM multi-band airborne communication
systems.
X-31 Completes Successful ESTOL Landing
After three years of testing between the U.S. Navy, the German
Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, EADS Military
Aircraft and Boeing Aerospace, the first Vector ESTOL (Extremely
Short Take-Off and Landing) X-31 Technology Demonstrator made a
successful landing on April 22 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station,
Maryland in the hands of German project test pilot Rudiger Knopfel.
The ESTOL landing maneuver requires that the pilot hold a 24°
angle of attack at 121 kts approach speed until the aircraft is
two feet off the ground, where he levels off to put the wheels to
the runway. The landing is entirely automated- a camera mounted
to the belly of the aircraft allows the pilot to judge the distance
between the runway and the thrust vanes of the X-31. The normal
landing speed of the X-31 is 175 knots, at a 12° angle of attack,
and takes 8,000 feet to stop. During an ESTOL landing the aircraft
requires just 1,700 feet.
Eurofighter Survives 200K Amp 'Lightning Strike'
After being bombarded with 200,000-Amp simulated lightning strikes
at the BAE Systems Electronic Warfare Test Facility at Warton, UK,
Eurofighter Typhoon met a Weapon Systems requirement for Type Acceptance.
The aircraft used was a series production standard aircraft. The
test required that all necessary systems were turned on. The Typhoon
received hundreds of strikes between 20,000 and 150,000 Amps before
receiving the maximum strike. The test showed system integrity for
the aircraft during harsh weather, and demonstrated the fine-tuning
required to increase fighter survivability.
Honeywell Reduces Cost of Glass Displays
Honeywell has reduced the cost of repairing its 8 x 8-in liquid
crystal displays from $47,500 to $38,000 for older displays, and
$23,000 for the newer 'Phase II' displays. Approximately 2,000 aircraft
currently employ the displays, including Boeing 717s, 737s, 777s
and MD11s, amounting to more than 13,000 displays in services. "This
is the third time we have lowered the price of repairing these LCD
displays since their introduction in 1996, and the price for repairing
the newest versions is only one-fourth of the original repair cost,"
said Adrian Paull, VP Customer Services.
