What's
new
Stuff
we've added recently
Features
A
good read
In the cockpit
Meet
some flyers
Employment
Get
a job
New products
Gadgets
and toys
Archives &
downloads
Try our library
Coming
events
Get out there!
Links
Clubs
& contacts
The trade
Where
to buy stuff
Health
& safety
Editorial
About us
Letters
Airfield codes
Airservices
Weather
Streetmap
Weather
For
learners
Key clubs
Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Helicopter Association
Recreational Aviation
Sport Aircraft
Women Pilots Assn
Pacific Flyer covers all the latest in amateur-built & ultralight aviation. Look for it at your newsagent.
Our
other mags
Main
index
|
News July 2006
A familiar tune (July 30)
The Oshkosh AirVenture in the USA finishes today and the organisers have rounded out with a list of key issues facing the light aviation industry, including rising fees, increasing restrictions and lack of commonality in international rules. Does it sound familiar? See this link
Boeing predicts more wide-body freighters (July 27)
 The global air cargo market will continue its growth patterns of the past few years, with strong 20-year growth, according to the Current Market Outlook (CMO) 2006 from the Boeing Company. This pattern will lead to a doubling of the world freighter fleet from 1789 to 3563 airplanes, both numbers slightly up from the previous forecast.
This growth, accounting for expected airplane retirements of 1209 airplanes, will result in a total of 2983 airplanes added to the freighter fleet by 2025, according to the annual CMO, which was released earlier this month prior to the Farnborough Air Show.
"Relatively stable total fleet numbers over the past five years are a bit misleading since strong deliveries have been offset by a roughly equal number of retirements," said Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing for Asia. "Rising fuel prices apply replacement pressure on older inefficient fleets, contributing to unprecedented freighter interest while we experience minimal negative impact upon traffic levels."
Most of these additions -- nearly 62% -- will be in the widebody category (medium widebody plus large freighters). Widebody freighters with a capacity of 40 tons or more will increase in share from 50% of the current fleet to 64% of the 2025 fleet. Consequently, there will be an increase in overall average freighter airplane payload. These findings are consistent with prior years' forecasts.
Boeing report
B/E acquires Draeger (July 27)
From the media release files: B/E Aerospace, a manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and distributor of aerospace fasteners, today announced that it has acquired Draeger Aerospace, for approximately $80 million. With over 100 years of experience in the oxygen delivery business, Draeger is a supplier of components and integrated systems to supply oxygen systems for both civil and military aircraft.
Cirrus announces turnkey program (July 26)
More from Oshkosh, in the USA: This week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Cirrus announced a new program designed to deliver what most prospective pilots want—the immediate value and convenience of personal flight with a clear path through the challenges of ownership, training, operation, and maintenance. Dubbed Cirrus Access, the new program incorporates flight training, licensing, insurance, and other details that often overwhelm a prospective pilot. Think of it as a turnkey solution to many of the questions and problems that confront the new aircraft owner.
"The industry needs to do a better job promoting aviation to the nonflying public. One way Cirrus can do that is by offering Cirrus Access, making it easier, faster, and more fun to learn how to fly and own a Cirrus airplane," said Klapmeier. "In my opinion, there is no better way for a new owner/pilot to get safe utility with their aircraft."
Ed: Is that the sound of cheering we hear out there?
Oshkosh report; Cirrus Design
Cessna unveils two new models (July 25)
 Cessna unveiled two major new light aircraft at the Oshkosh Air Venture yesterday. The first was a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category machine, which was announced some weeks ago.Cessna CEO Jack Pelton explained that the burgeoning LSA market was the next logical step for the company.
“We believe that the light-sport aircraft may be the key to stimulating new pilots, re-energizing the industry and feeding the important pipeline of human talent, which is so important to all of us in this industry," he said.
Called the Cessna Sport, it will be powered by a Rotax 912 100-horsepower engine and claim a 120kt top speed.
The company also briefly showed off the new generation 172-182 replacement, a high-wing machine with no wing struts and a more curvaceous body.
See the Oshkosh story
Continental celebrates a century (July 25)
Also from Oshkosh: It’s been 100 years since Continental Motors—now Teledyne Continental Motors, or TCM—built its first engine. That powerplant was an automobile engine built for 1905-1906-era autos. By 1916, the company had manufactured more than 150,000 engines but didn’t break into the aviation market until 1927. That engine, a nine-cylinder radial that came to be known as the A-70, powered new aircraft of the time. Read more
Honda to start selling jet (July 25)
Honda announced plans to enter the innovative HondaJet in the growing verylight jet market, with the process of accepting sales orders expected to begin in the US in autumn 2006. The firm will establish a new US company to hold FAA type certification and production certification. Its goal is to complete type certification in about 3-4 years, followed by the start of production in the US. Full story
First seabird migrates to USA (July 21)
 Hervey Bay (Qld) maker Seabird Aviation Australia is soon to see its first surveillance aircraft take to the sky in the USA. The aircraft (hopefully the first of many) will be sent to Seabird Aviation America, in New Mexico, in a few weeks, according to a report in Queensland Business Review.
The company specialises in a two-seater fixed wing design aimed directly at low cost aerial surveillance.
Queensland Business Review; Seabird Aviation Australia
China’s aviation claims number 2 in world (July 20)
China's aviation transportation amounted to 13.83 billion ton-kilometers in the first half of the year, an increase of 16.1 per cent over the same period last year, sources with China's General Administration of Civil Aviation said in Beijing Wednesday.
According to the administration, China's aviation industry carried 73.99 million passengers and 1.56 million tons of cargo in the first six months, up 17.5 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively over the same period of last year.
The passenger flow between China and neighbouring countries also witnessed an increase in the first half year with passengers flying to Russian doubling and air travel to the Republic of Korea and Vietnam increasing by 15 per cent and 36.6 per cent respectively.
Air travelers flying to the United States, Canada, Germany and Britain went up 16.5 per cent, 19.2 per cent, 13.3 per cent and 15.7 per cent respectively in the first half of the year.
The increase in domestic air travel was even greater than that of international airlines and aviation transportation in central China was faster than other regions of the country in the first six months of this year.
China's aviation industry surpassed Germany to become the second largest after the United States last year.
In 2005, the turnover of China's aviation transportation amounted to about 25.8 billion ton-kilometers, up 12 percent over that of 2004.
Source: People’s Daily online
D-Jet goes Ballistic (July 18)
Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), a manufacturer and worldwide supplier of whole-airplane parachute recovery systems for general aviation and recreational aircraft, will develop and install a BRS parachute system for Diamond Aircraft's new D-Jet.
The company says it is the first time such a s system has been offered in a civilian jet. A similar set-up is already offered in Cirrus light aircraft.
"We have been discussing the possibility for many years, but this agreement with Diamond Aircraft represents the next step required to make our vision a reality. Our spending on the development program has recently accelerated to accommodate this next generation jet aircraft," said Boris Popov, founder of BRS and board member. "Diamond Aircraft gives us the first product platform in the important new very light jet category and will be a driver for the combined efforts of our development teams."
"The D-Jet will be fully certified to fly without the parachute, but the parachute will be offered as the standard option. This expands our tradition of active safety by adding an advanced, proven passive safety system to the aircraft. Pilots and passengers alike, desire the reliability of a proven safety technology from the market leader in whole aircraft parachute recovery systems. We are pleased to select BRS as our development partner for this program," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft Industries.
Meanwhile: Following the initial flight test series in late April, Diamond's D-Jet resumed flight testing after installation of its data acquisition system and minor planned modifications to the inlet engine fairings.
In a series of flight tests conducted from June 26 through June 30, the speed and altitude envelope was progressively expanded from the previously flown 170 kts and 12,000'. The latest flight, flown by pilots Christian Dries and Anthony Brown, on June 30th, expanded the cruise speed to 280+ ktas and altitude to the design certification limit of 25,000'.
"We are very pleased to have expanded the envelope in such a short time. The aircraft is a joy to fly, smooth, very stable and with all systems functioning perfectly," said CEO Christian Dries. "The aircraft is doing everything we are expecting of it. The more time I spend in it, the more I am convinced that the aircraft will be an absolute sensation. The blend of exceptional comfort with real world performance is sure to appeal to many current piston pilots, as well as established turboprop and light jet owners."
BRS announcement (Businesswire.com); Diamond announcement
Good times ahead for commercial planes – Boeing (July 17)
 Boeing forecasts a US $2.6 trillion market for new commercial airplanes over the next 20 years. Strong market demand for new airplanes will lead to a world fleet with significantly improved environmental performance.
These new airplanes will accommodate a forecasted 4.9 percent annual increase in passenger traffic, and a 6.1 percent annual increase in air cargo traffic.
The Boeing Company released its 2006 Current Market Outlook recently in London. The report is Boeing's world outlook for the future of commercial jet airplanes.
Boeing projects a need for approximately 27,200 new commercial airplanes (passenger and freighter), doubling the world fleet by 2025. The vast majority of these new airplanes will be in the single-aisle (100-240 seats) and twin-aisle (200-400 seats) categories.
"We're forecasting a continued strong long-term demand for new airplanes over the next 20 years," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Marketing Randy Baseler. "These airplanes will take people and products where they need to travel, as never before. Improved fuel efficiency and increased range will allow airlines to take more travelers directly where they want to go, when they want to go. New, much quieter airplanes with significantly reduced emissions will permanently change the character of the world airplane fleet."
Full release; More resources
Unmanned helo goes solo (July 16)
Boeing has achieved a major milestone in the development of its Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) technology demonstrator by flying the versatile aircraft unmanned for the first time.
 Boeing demonstrated the capability June 30 at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona, about 130 miles from the Boeing Rotorcraft facility in Mesa, Arizona, where Boeing has tested the aircraft, a modified MD 530F single-turbine helicopter, over the past two years with a safety pilot on board.
The aircraft lifted off from a helipad, hovered briefly and flew a programmed armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission around the proving ground.
After the 20-minute flight, the aircraft returned to the helipad and landed within six inches of the planned recovery location. Prior to the fully unmanned demonstration, the ULB Demonstrator had flown more than 450 hours of engineering flight test time as a rapid prototyping platform, developing and integrating the sensors and systems necessary to create an operational unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
"Expansion of the flight envelope to include true unmanned flight is a major milestone for the program and opens doors to a wide range of applications for this aircraft," said Dino Cerchie, Advanced Systems program manager for the ULB Demonstrator and A/MH-6X Little Bird programs, a part of Advanced Rotorcraft Systems for Boeing. "Previous autonomous demonstrations with this aircraft have included target identification, precision re-supply, communication relay and weapons firings."
Full release
Embraer gets Euro approval (July 17)
The Brazilian-built Embraer 195 twin-engine medium-size passenger airliner today gained European Aviation Safety Agency approval, two weeks after being certified in its home country. The company says it has firm orders from four customers and made the announcement at the Farnborough Air Show, which opened today.
Embraer website
Sport Cub gets a green light (July 13)
Cubcrafters, the American company which restores Piper Cubs and builds replicas, has gained Light Sport Aircraft certification in the USA for the Sport Cub. The company says this will enable it to fill an order backlog of around 100 aircraft.
Company President Jim Richmond said, “Today’s news is much larger than just a new airplane. We not only have now validated that SPORT CUB meets and exceeds the applicable ASTM standards, but we have also verified a completely new design for the airplane that inspired the Light Sport Aircraft category.
Sport Cub website
Leisure Flight fights for self regulation (July 12)
 The latest edition of the member’s magazine for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association contains a flyer promoting the Leisure Flight Australia, an organisation set up to promote self-regulation of General Aviation (GA). Famously declared dead by high-profile businessman and aviator Dick Smith, and others, the GA sector is battling for life, suffering an increasing burden of rising airport and government charges.
The Leisure Flight website says: “Everywhere we look we see doom and gloom for general aviation. Our regulator sees the decline and has no answers. The industry complains loudly but has no plan to save itself. All wring their hands and predict the demise of general aviation.
“Not us! Not Leisure Flight Australia, the fighting force of the major private GA organisations in Australia.
“We look at the success of sport aviation, such as ultralights, gliders and others. We look at the success of the Experimental amateur built movement. We note the acceptable safety record and ask, “Why not general aviation?”
“The answer is breathtakingly simple. Sport aviation is self administering and is able to form safety regulations that suit recreational activity. Experimental amateur built aircraft regulations allow the builder freedom, but put operating limitations on him if he builds something unsafe. These regulations are tuned to the real, sensible needs of the participants and third parties.”
See Leisure Flight Australia
New radar for major airports (July 11)
 Airservices has selected Sensis Corporation to supply and support Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS) at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney airports to be operational by 2008.
The system will replace existing surface surveillance radar, providing air traffic controllers with a comprehensive view of the airports for enhanced operational efficiency and safety in all weather conditions.
Airservices will establish an A-SMGCS support facility at Melbourne Airport to provide logistic support to the installed systems.
Advanced surveillance is needed at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports to ensure spacing and separation of aircraft and/or vehicles when visual means are not adequate, and to maintain aerodrome capacity in all weather conditions.
Almost two thirds of all aircraft passengers in Australia fly through one of these three airports - more than 61 million passengers in 2004-05.
Source: Airservices; Sensis brochure
Airshow for RAAF Richmond (July 10)
RAAF Richmond will be running a diverse and exciting airshow on the weekend of October 21-22.
More than three hours of flying are planned for both days. Aircraft from the current Defence inventory will combine with Warbirds from the Temora Aviation Museum and the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society. It will be the most exciting airshow since Richmond’s 1988 Bicentennial spectacular.
More – see this link to the Australia Air League news page
US helo maker protests Army-EADS contract (July 9)
 MD Helicopters Acting Chief Executive Officer Lynn Tilton has called the US Army's selection of a European conglomerate to receive a multi-billion dollar military aircraft award an "outrageous decision completely at odds with supporting American industry." (See our July 2 story.) Ms Tilton said that the award of a major American military contract to a foreign company belies rationality when US companies produce superior products for better value.
"I am profoundly disappointed by this decision," Tilton said from her office in New York. "When US companies like MDHI provide high quality products at outstanding value and cannot get support within their own country, it is a very sad day for both American companies and American workers. The United States is struggling to stay competitive with its global neighbors and our own taxpayer money is being poured into the coffers of foreign companies when that money could be going to re-build this industry in our country, it is a true injustice."
Ms Tilton said MDHI is a classic American turnaround story and did not receive the same level of consideration as its competitors. "The process was seriously flawed and perfunctory, at best."
The US Army recently announced its selection of a unit of European Aeronautic, Defense and Space (EADS), the French-German aerospace conglomerate, to build a new fleet of 322 light utility helicopters in an award that could be worth as much as $3 billion over the next 20 years. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation will provide contractor logistics support for the program.
Source: MD Helicopters
Open skies for UK-Oz route (July 9)
The Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, has announced that all restrictions on the number of flights between Australia and the United Kingdom will be lifted immediately.
"This new agreement is an important step in meeting both countries' commitment to a fully-open aviation environment. Australian and UK carriers can now freely determine the number of services operated between our two countries.
Mr Truss said this new open capacity regime covers services to and from Australia's main gateways as well as regional centres.
"This outcome is in line with the Government's policy of seeking aviation arrangements that provide capacity ahead of demand. There have been no increases in the allowed capacity under the Australian-UK air services agreement since 1996 and the Australian Government has been pursuing a more liberal arrangement. These negotiations gained momentum following the visit to Australia earlier this year by UK Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair.
"The agreement allows Australia's airlines to plan confidently for future services to take advantage of the growing market between Australia and the UK and provide more opportunities for the development of air services to and from Australian ports."
Mr Truss said the agreement also allows Australia's airlines to fly to any point beyond the United Kingdom (other than the United States and China) significantly increasing the flexibility of Australian carriers to serve European markets via London. This access is on top of existing rights to fly via Europe to the UK. Following these talks few restrictions now remain. It also improves the route options open to Australian airlines flying to the UK.
"This is a major step forward towards a fully-liberalised ‘open skies’ agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom. Both parties have agreed that we should continue to work together towards a fully-open aviation market, either bilaterally or as part of a comprehensive air services agreement between Australia and the European Union.
"Such an agreement should include unlimited traffic rights on services between, within and beyond our respective territories, the lifting of investment and ownership and control restrictions, and the limitation of government regulation of aviation to essential matters such as safety, security and consumer, competition and environmental protection.
"Australia will continue to seek removal of the few remaining restrictions on routes and the expansion of commercial rights with the UK."
Merger for Bini (July 8)
 Aeromil Flight Training at Essendon (Vic) is closing and moving to Moorabbin after buying Peter Bini Advanced Flight Training.
The move is promoted by the combined school as providing less expensive training costs for students, thanks to lower landing fees and a training area in closer proximity to the airport.
Aeromil Chief Pilot Tony Rodjak said in a letter to customers, “I would also like to point out that although some of our loyal customers from the Northern and Western suburbs will be inconvenienced by this move, please be aware that any extra traveling costs will be far outweighed by the potential savings of operating out of Moorabbin.”
The cost of operating out of Essendon has been rising and is likely to keep going. Owner Lindsay Fox is currently redeveloping the land, which is close to a lot of major facilities, including the Melbourne CBD, to include new retail, office and residential space.
Peter Bini website
A beautiful set of numbers (July 8)
The aviation scene in Florida is in the news in the USA at the moment because some fear it may be becoming too popular — leading to overcrowded skies.
A reports from MSNBC reveals these figures:
Eight Central Florida counties -- Orange, Lake, Seminole, Osceola, Polk, Marion, Brevard and Volusia -- are home to at least 167 air facilities, including 74 private airports, 61 heliports, 27 community airports, four commercial airports and one ultralight park. About 17 became active in the last 5 years;
Central Florida is home to the heaviest concentration of the state's 49,000-plus private and commercial pilots. And those pilots, locally and nationwide, are aging;
The number of home-based aircraft, which has been steadily increasing and stood at 3856 in 2004, is projected to rise to 5326 aircraft by 2025. And that's only the number at the region's 31 community and commercial airports. It does not include those based at the private airports.
Click here to read the full story
Space shuttle does backflip (July 7)
 NASA’s Space Shuttle has performed an extraordinary backflip manoeuvre above the Earth, so crew on the nearby orbiting space station could photograph the heat shield on its underside and check it for damage.
The spectacular ‘stunt’ is available online as a video.
Meanwhile NASA reports: Discovery's mission, STS-121, is the second in NASA's Return to Flight sequence. For 12 days, Discovery's crew members -- Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly, and Mission Specialists Mike Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers -- will continue testing new safety equipment and procedures that were introduced on the first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, last summer. They also will deliver equipment, supplies, experiments and spare parts to the station.
The STS-121 mission also will bring a third crew member, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, to the orbiting laboratory. The station has had two-person crews since May 2003.
See this link
Airbus could become an also-ran – commentators (July 6)
From the Seattle Post: Airbus, buffeted by delays in the A380 superjumbo jet that triggered the ouster of senior management Sunday, faces the growing risk of losing its position as one of the world's two dominant aircraft makers.
European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Co., which is Airbus' majority owner, replaced one of its co-chief executive officers and the CEO of Airbus after saying wiring bottlenecks in the A380 may cost it 2 billion euros, or $2.6 billion, through 2010. Airbus also has fallen behind The Boeing Co. in the race to offer a fuel-efficient 250- to 350-seat plane.
Seattle Post home; Full story
EU votes for aviation fuel taxes (July 5)
 The cost of aviation in Europe is likely to jump in the near future, as the European Parliament has voted to introduce taxes on jet fuel as part of an overall emissions trading system.
The EU announcement said: EPs back the immediate introduction of kerosene taxes by requiring a tax on all domestic and intra-EU flights (with the possibility to exempt all carriers on routes on which non-EU carriers operate). They also call on the Commission to propose arrangements for their worldwide introduction. Furthermore, they agree that tax exemptions on air transport and other imbalances lead to very unfair competition between aviation and other transport sectors, and therefore ending the VAT exemption would further level the playing field, and bring fiscal as well as environmental benefits.
Full story via noticias.info
Suspect parts get the once-over (July 4)
From CASA: A world-leading conference on suspected unapproved aircraft parts is being held in Australia next month.
People from throughout the aviation industry are urged to take part in the conference, which is being run by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The conference will deliver a detailed understanding of the processes that must be used to identify and avoid suspected unapproved aircraft parts.
It will also provide a full explanation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s important Suspected Unapproved Parts Program.
Unapproved aircraft parts pose a real danger to aviation safety because the design and production quality of the components are unknown.
The conference is being held at the Sydney Hilton Hotel from 21 – 23 August. Bookings – click here.
Full story
India looks for better aviation plan (July 3)
Phenomenal growth in the aviation sector has prompted that India’s Planning Commission to draw up a five-year plan which devotes considerable resources to improving the industry’s infrastructure.
A report in The Times of India says: Observing that actual growth in air traffic had been at a rate of 24-28 per cent, much beyond the expected 16 per cent, the Commission said airlines are facing infrastructure constraints due to limited landing slots, inadequate parking bays and congestion during peak hours.
See this link for the full story.
Cessna to unveil LSA at Oshkosh (July 2)
 Cessna, which is enjoying great success with jets such as the Citation XL pictured (see story below), says it will unveil a concept design for its own light sport airctaft during the upcoming Oshkosh AirVenture in the USA at the end of this month (July 24-30).
It said in a recent media release: The company plans to display a full scale proof-of-concept aircraft at this year’s Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) annual convention – known as AirVenture – next month in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The newly-emerging Light Sport Aircraft category is the highest growth sector of general aviation. Light Sport Aircraft are defined as having a maximum gross weight of 1320 pounds, maximum level-flight speed of 120 knots, and no more than two seats.
“As the world’s largest producer of single engine piston airplanes, we believe we could bring unique capabilities to this exciting market,” said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton. “Our extensive sales and service network could provide an important market advantage, which, in concert with our design and manufacturing experience, could make this an attractive extension of our product line,” he said.
Pelton said the company will evaluate a spectrum of issues associated with entering the sector to determine if there is a favorable business case. That decision is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2007.
“An important part of our thought process in looking at LSA is the value in terms of new pilot starts. Experience has shown that Cessna brand loyalty is a powerful force in our success, and we believe this new category of aircraft could provide a conduit for new pilots to grow through the Cessna product line in the years ahead,” he said.
The company plans to unveil its proof-of-concept LSA at a press conference at the EAA show on July 24, and will survey attendees at the show to insure a Cessna-designed LSA would be responsive to market preferences.
Cessna; AirVenture web
Plus...
Cessna says it has delivered its 500th Citation XL/XLS model (pictured) to European Flight Service AB, the largest jet charter operation in Sweden.
Since the first Cessna Citation XL was delivered in 1998, more Citation XL and XLS aircraft have been delivered than any other corporate business jet in the world.
“European Flight Service was the first commercial company in Europe to put an XL into service in 2003,” said Cessna Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Whyte. “There have been many others that have followed suit. We took orders for 36 XLS aircraft in Europe for 2005 alone.”
New-gen air-traffic radar for Australia (July 2)
Airservices Australia has signed a multi-million dollar deal with electronic systems group Thales for the supply of new generation radars at eight of Australia’s busiest airports.
Commencing next year, the project involves the replacement of 15-year-old radars at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Coolangatta and Canberra with the latest in aircraft surveillance technology.
Airservices Chief Executive Officer, Greg Russell said the contract followed an international call for tenders and a comprehensive evaluation of proposals from several of the world’s leading radar system manufacturers.
He said Thales would also supply a new transportable radar that can be moved to any location in the country to meet any short term needs and a support radar system to be used for maintenance and software testing.
“The new generation radars comprise the latest technology based on European standards,” Mr Russell said.
“Compared to the existing system, the radars report far more information about aircraft equipped with appropriate transponders.”
The new radars will enable air traffic controllers to deliver safer and more efficient services through The Advanced Australian Air Traffic System (TAAATS).
Source: Air Services Australia; Thales Group website
Europcopter wins US$3 billion army contract (July 2)
 From Eurocopter: EADS North America and Eurocopter have committed the full resources of their UH-145 industry team to the production, supply and in-service support of this helicopter following its selection as the U.S. Army’s next-generation Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The LUH requirement is for up to 352 aircraft with a potential program life-cycle value of US $ 3 billion.
The LUH award is a continuation of Eurocopter’s over 20-year heritage as a helicopter supplier to American government agencies…including the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. The decision, announced Thursday by the US Army, marks EADS North America’s and Eurocopter’s first major win as a prime contractor for the US military.
The UH-145 is a version of the commercial EC145.
Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Eurocopter, the company which designed and builds the EC145, declared: "We are extremely proud that our helicopter has been selected for the US Army’s requirement. After decades of delivering to US government and commercial operators, this is our first entry into the US military market and a tremendous opportunity for us to further prove our total commitment to this market. In terms of numbers, the UH-145 award is the single largest order for one aircraft type booked by Eurocopter to date."
Eurocopter; Report from cdispatch.com
Aussie radial in Murphy Rebel (July 2)
Murphy Aircraft from Canada will unveil an optional radial engine version of its Rebel at Oshkosh later this month. A prototype (pictured) was shown at last year’s event. The machine uses an Australian-built Rotec 2800 seven-cylinder radial, rated at 110hp.
According to the company: Demand for a smaller airplane with the radial look was so high that some Rebel builders started their own independent installations. Darryl Murphy said, “It’s no fun as a kit builder, to have to design a major system. That’s my job. Additionally, I’m always concerned that our customers get good results, and if we design it, we can be confident, offering it.”
The company has also been plying with a much-larger radial prototype ‘Moose’, using a 10-litre, nine-cylinder M-14 radial.
Murphy Aircraft
India's biggest aviation deal collapses (July 1)
 India's biggest aviation deal worth Rs 24 billion has collapsed resulting in a series of lawsuits between the two companies involved: Jet Airways, India's leading private airline, and the financially troubled Air Sahara.
The deal officially collapsed on June 22 with Air Sahara taking back operating control from Jet Airways as it failed to pay the required amount by the set deadline. Both the airlines are preparing to file lawsuits.
While Air Sahara files lawsuits in hope for receiving damages, Jet Airways is ready to protect its decision.
It is believed that Jet Airways was demanding a 40 per cent cut in the negotiated price to which Air Sahara did not agree, and lead to the failure of what was to be a historic deal in the Indian civil aviation industry. The deal would have made Jet Airways the leading domestic airline of the country with a market share of over 50 per cent.
By Kabir Taneja
More reading
 Return
to top
See
our archives for earlier news
Use this tool to search our
site or the web.
|
Job
watch
See our jobs
page
Free
Newsletter
AllFlying
is sending out a weekly email newsletter with all the latest gossip. It is free. See our subscription page.
Got
news, an event or product?
Let us know about it & we'll give it a
run on this site. It's a free service. Email us via this link.
|
