Skycontrol news archive for may 2006

31/05/06: Finnair Group restructures its travel agency network

The Finnair Group’s subsidiaries Matkatoimisto Oy Area and Suomen Matkatoimisto Oy/Finland Travel Bureau (FTB) have agreed an arrangement in which Area will sell most of its street-level agencies to FTB. Area will further develop its travel management services for corporate customers. In terms of the provision of leisure travel for consumers, Area will focus in future on electronic service channels and telephone service. FTB, on the other hand, will be developed into a diverse travel department store, through a comprehensive sales office network, e-business and an expanded telephone service.

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31/05/06: Sikorsky Selects CDI to Develop New Engineering Design Center

Sikorsky Aircraft announced today that it has selected CDI-Aerospace, a division of CDI Corporation, to open and operate a third Engineering Design Center in the U.S., this one in Bozeman, Mont. The Design Center will support Sikorsky’s aftermarket, commercial, and U.S. and international government business. Sikorsky Aircraft, based in Stratford, Conn., is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). CDI Corporation (NYSE:CDI), based in Philadelphia, has roughly 18,500 employees and revenues of approximately $1.2 billion.

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31/05/06: Cessna’s Independence Facility Honors a Decade of Building Airplanes; Marks the First-ever Cessna Jet Produced Outside of Wichita, Kan.,

Independence, Kan., May 31, 2006 – Today, Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), marks a decade of producing Cessna’s single engine piston aircraft at the company’s manufacturing facility in Independence, Kan. More than 6,000 Cessna 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes and 206 Stationairs have been built, painted, flight tested and delivered to customers since the Independence facility opened in 1996.

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31/05/06: Volaris takes delivery of the first two directly ordered Airbus A319

Volaris, a Mexican low fares airline based in Toluca, close to Mexico City, has received the first two Airbus A319 directly ordered from Airbus, during a delivery ceremony held at the manufacturer’s Hamburg factory. In January 2006, the new Mexican start-up airline signed a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 16 new A319s with options for up to 40 additional A320 Family aircraft. Volaris started operating on March 13th, 2006, and currently operates four A319s.

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31/05/06: Boeing Announces Supplier Agreement with Telephonics Corporation for Combat Search and Rescue Program

ST. LOUIS, May 31, 2006 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has announced an agreement with Telephonics Corporation of Farmingdale, N.Y., to support the proposed HH-47 Combat Search and Rescue helicopter program for the U.S. Air Force. “Boeing is proud of its HH-47 proposal and supplier network support,” said Rick Lemaster, Boeing HH-47 program manager. “Telephonics represents the solid support and quality supplier network supporting the HH-47 proposal, which reduces risk and contributes to our best value solution.”

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31/05/06: Boeing Begins Assembling the First 737-900ER

SEATTLE, May 31, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today begins final assembly of the first 737-900ER (Extended Range), the newest member of the world’s most successful single-aisle airplane family. The wings and landing gear shown here are being joined to the 737-900ER fuselage in the Boeing manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash. Last-stage assembly and interiors installation will begin once the airplane joins the moving assembly line. The 737 derivative incorporates an extra pair of exit doors, a flat aft-pressure bulkhead and other structural and aerodynamic changes that allow it to carry more passengers and fly farther than the 737-900. The twin-engine jet can carry up to 215 passengers and fly up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km). The 737-900ER, destined for Indonesian-based launch customer Lion Air, will embark on a five-month flight test program later this year.

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31/05/06: EAA AirVenture hosts public unveiling of Diamond D-Jet

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (May 31, 2006) - Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc., manufacturer of an extensive line of single- and twin-engine piston airplanes, today announced plans to debut its newest product, the D-Jet, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006, The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, July 24-30.

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31/05/06: European Court of Justice judgment on transfer of passenger data to the USA

Today the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg issued a judgment on the validity of a legal framework for the transfer of airline passenger data from the EU for flights to, from or across United States territory. Under the legal framework of May 2004 European airlines are required to provide the American authorities electronic access to the data contained in their systems, the so-called passenger name record (PNR) for controlling and monitoring departures in the interest of national security.

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31/05/06: PIA takes delivery of its first ATR 42-500 aircraft

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) today took delivery of its first ATR 42-500 aircraft. This aircraft is the first to be delivered following the signature of a contract for seven new ATR 42-500s unveiled in November 2005 for a total value of US $100 million. The delivery ceremony took place in Toulouse in the presence of Syed Farooq H. Shah, Deputy Managing Director of PIA and Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR.

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31/05/06: Lockheed Martin delivers upgraded P-3 Maritime Surveillance aircraft for US Navy Foreign Military sale: Maritime Surveillance Enterprise Focuses on P-3 Program Integration, Customer Service and Expanding Opportunities With International Customers

EAGAN, MN, May 31, 2006 — Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered the 10th upgraded P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft originally contracted by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command as part of a foreign military sale to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). Under the 2001 contract, Lockheed Martin was awarded more than $73 million to upgrade 10 P-3C aircraft to a unique customer configuration which included advanced computer processing and mission systems integration capabilities; improved communications systems; and state-of the-art acoustic and non-acoustic sensors. The first upgraded aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Navy in November 2003. Lockheed Martin provides the program management, systems engineering, mission systems and sensors for the aircraft, as well as aircraft upgrades and modifications.

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31/05/06: Federal Aviation Authority Certificates IAI/Bedek Aviation Group’s B747-400 Conversion from Passenger to Freighter Configuration

The United States’ Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)’s Bedek Aviation Group for conversion of a Boeing 747-400 combi aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration. Bedek received the FAA certification certificate along with the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) certification on May 30, 2006.

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30/05/06: Eclipse 500 Test Fleet Tops 2,000 Flight Hours: Eclipse Aviation now has six customer aircraft on the production line as test fleet nears completion of FAA certification testing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — May 30, 2006 — Today Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the revolutionary Eclipse 500 very light jet (VLJ), can see FAA certification on the horizon as the Eclipse 500 test fleet has exceeded 2,000 flight hours and completed the majority of required FAA certification testing. The company also announced that six customer Eclipse 500 VLJs are in various assembly positions on the production line. The Eclipse 500 is on track to achieve FAA certification by the end of this quarter and will be the first VLJ to market.

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30/05/06: Cessna Names Pete Ginocchio 2006 Vern Lowe Award Winner

Wichita, Kansas, May 30, 2006 – Cessna Aircraft Co., a Textron (NYSE: TXT) company, has awarded the 2006 Vern Lowe award to long-time aviation legend Pete Ginocchio, president of Aviation Global Support and an early pioneer in establishing the global maintenance systems for the Citation business jet as director of customer service for Cessna in the 1970s.

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30/05/06: Cessna Highlights Product Enhancements at 2006 Citation Customer Conference

Wichita, Kansas, May 30, 2006 – An enhanced vision system (EVS) for Citation Excel/XLS operators and an Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS) for CJ1 and CJ2 aircraft were among the product enhancements introduced to more than 400 Cessna Citation operators at the annual customer conference here hosted by Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

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30/05/06: JSSI and Adam Aircraft Announce Exclusive A500 and A700 Tip-to-Tail Coverage

Englewood, CO, May 30, 2006—— Today JSSI (Jet Support Services, Inc.) and Adam Aircraft introduced Tip-to-Tail hourly maintenance cost guarantee programs developed exclusively for the new Adam A500 twin-engine piston and A700 AdamJet aircraft. This program launch marks the entry into the VLJ (Very Light Jet) market for JSSI and the first hourly maintenance program to include complete airframe and engine coverage for a twin-engine piston aircraft.

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30/05/06: Landmark Design of Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 Unveiled

Singapore Changi Airport’s new Terminal 3, which will open its doors in early 2008, will offer a brand new travel experience for passengers. The interior design and layout of the terminal was unveiled today at a Topping-Out Ceremony graced by the Minister for Transport, Mr Yeo Cheow Tong. This event marks the completion of the main terminal building’s structure and the beginning of its interior fit-out.

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30/05/06: Boeing Delivers First Integrated Fire Control Station for New Army Air Defenses

ST. LOUIS, May 30, 2006 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] recently delivered the first integrated fire control station (IFCS) for the U.S. Army’s new Surface-Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) ground-to-air weapon system.

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30/05/06: Northrop Grumman Conducting Flight Tests of New Electro-Optical Surveillance and Detection System

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., May 30, 2006 — Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that flight testing is under way for the new Electro-Optical Surveillance and Detection System (EOSDS) intended for the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s NIMROD MRA-4 aircraft. NIMROD MRA-4 is currently undergoing extensive flight trials for which BAE Systems is the prime contractor. For its part in the ongoing two-year NIMROD MRA-4 in-service reliability maintainability demonstration program, Northrop Grumman’s Defensive Systems Division is providing flight-test support to include software development and flight test personnel training in addition to fielding inquiries regarding the system.

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29/05/06: Aer Lingus plans to leave oneworld

Aer Lingus has confirmed to its oneworldTM partners that it intends to leave the alliance but retain bilateral links with a number of the grouping’s key member airlines. The timing and terms for its withdrawal will be considered at the next meeting of the alliance’s Governing Board, but it is likely to be in early 2007, as the three new recruits lining up to join oneworld board the alliance in its biggest expansion to date - Japan Airlines, the largest airline in the Asia-Pacific region; Malev Hungarian and Royal Jordanian.

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29/05/06: Thielert AG: Centurion Engine approved for further aircraft

Hamburg, May 29, 2006 – Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH, subsidiary of the public listed Thielert AG, obtained the supplemental type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to integrate its economical jet fuel piston engines into additional Piper PA28 series. Croatia and Australia have been added to the list of countries having validated the company’s existing aviation certifications. This marks a significant expansion of relevant markets for Thielert’s Centurion engines. These innovative engines have already clocked up over 200,000 accumulated flying hours.

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29/05/06: Gripen – The Nordic Solution

At two separate press conferences – one in Oslo on 15 May and one in Copenhagen on 16 May, Gripen International presented details of its formal offers to Norway and Denmark for a new version of the Gripen fighter to replace these countries ageing F-16 aircraft. An enhanced standard of the Gripen new generation fighter, dubbed Gripen N for Norway and Gripen DK for Denmark respectively, with longer range and greater payload, have been offered in response to these countries’ respective requirements to deliver up to 48 aircraft from 2016.

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29/05/06: Simulated battle, real training: Aircrew at 19 Wing Comox Canadian Forces gain experience in major exercise

Training is to the military as Ron MacLean is to Don Cherry on Coaches Corner; one doesn’t come without the other. Launching missiles, evading torpedoes, communicating with allied vessels and aircraft; these are not the types of things you make up as you go along. That is why 19 Wing Comox was among the diverse list of participants in the Canadian-led Exercise Trident Fury, the largest integrated air, land and sea training exercise ever seen on B.C.’s West Coast, from May 8 to 19, 2006.

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28/05/06: Australian Company Airflite Pty Ltd awarded contract for maintenance support of the RAAF PC9/A fleet

The Federal Government has approved a contract to provide continuing maintenance support of the Royal Australian Air Force’s PC9/A fleet of aircraft through to 2012. The PC9/A aircraft are used principally for the training of RAAF and Navy pilots. The Roulettes aerobatic team also uses the aircraft for displays. RAAF East Sale in Victoria and RAAF Pearce in Western Australia (WA) are the main operating bases for the aircraft.

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26/05/06: EC 225, latest evolution of the Super Puma family, is ordered for the first time in China by the Ministry of Communications to Fulfil Search and Rescue Missions

The Chinese Ministry of Communications (MOC) and Eurocopter have signed a contract for the acquisition of two 10/11 ton class EC 225. These aircrafts, the most up-to-date helicopters in their category, will be operated by the Rescue and Salvage Bureau to ensure Search and Rescue missions. Present at the China Police 2006 Exhibition, Mr. Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter Executive Vice President proudly declared:” They will be fully operational by end 2007, joining the reknown MOC helicopter fleet, ready to bring an outstanding contribution in the frame of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.”

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26/05/06: Changes to controlled airspace around Newcastle

New measures to enhance the safety of air traffic control operations in the Newcastle area have been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Changes to the existing Class D Control Zone (CTR) and Control Areas (CTAs) and the establishment of five additional CTAs will be introduced on 6 July. Approval of the changes follows a review of local airspace arrangements by Newcastle Airport and subsequent consultation with the aviation community, local government and environmental groups, in accordance with the CAA’s Airspace Change Process.

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