Skycontrol news archive for december 2006

31/12/06: Eclipse Aviation Delivers First Customer Eclipse 500: Company kicks off an aggressive delivery schedule fueled by a modern manufacturing infrastructure

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — December 31, 2006 — Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), delivered its first customer aircraft today at its headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ramping up to fulfill the backlog of more than 2,500 aircraft, the company already has 37 additional aircraft on its production line in various stages of assembly. Seven of these aircraft have completed final assembly and are being prepared for delivery. In the coming days, Eclipse will hold a delivery ceremony at the company headquarters.

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29/12/06: BLAST, a balloon-borne telescope,flies over Antarctica

Longueuil, December 29, 2006 – A fascinating experiment is being conducted this week over Antarctica by Canada and its partners, the U.S., the U.K. and Mexico. Attached to a huge helium balloon, 2,000-kilogram BLAST (balloon-borne large aperture sub-millimetre telescope) is peering deep into space to study distant stars and galaxies. Launched from the McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica on December 21, BLAST is expected to fly for up to 10 days, circling 38,000 metres above the frozen continent in the stratosphere. At such an altitude, the two-metre telescope offers levels of sensitivity and resolution unmatched by any observation facility on Earth.

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28/12/06: TopSat image of the week: La Rochelle

TopSat, the micro-satellite designed and built by a QinetiQ-led consortium of British firms, captured this image of La Rochelle. The image is featured in the 2006 Art and Photography edition of Aviation Week and Space Technology, a US-based magazine. Of the 793 digital images submitted for consideration, this was the only satellite image to be honoured in the magazine’s annual photography awards.

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28/12/06: Abacus presents A380 Special Edition for FSX and FS2004

Hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed Airbus A380 published in 2004 comes this newly enhanced FSX compatible version. And it’s also every bit as exciting as flying the double-decker monster of an aeroplane at Mach .8! This new version now includes four different models of the world’s latest super jumbo. The Airbus A380 was designed to be the largest passenger aircraft ever right from the start. The newly designed Model 900 can be outfitted to carry an incredible 650 passengers up to 7800 miles!

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28/12/06: Just flight presents: Flying Club X

Just Flight’s award-winning General Aviation expansion has now been fully updated for Flight Simulator X and comes with new content and features. The four most popular light aircraft in the world - and also the all-new Schweizer 300CBi helicopter - make this the club to join!

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28/12/06: TAG Expands VTOL UAV Weaponization Program With New Recoilless Technology

(Los Angeles, December 28, 2006) TAG has announced a new recoilless technology development that is to be implemented on their portable unmanned helicopters. Tactical Aerospace Group ( www.tacticalaerospacegroup.com ) has signed a Joint Commercialization Agreement with Recoilless Technologies International ( www.rticl.com ) of Australia to develop a recoilless weapons package for their aircraft as part of ongoing UCAV weaponization programs. Initial efforts will be directed towards 7.62 armament with future attention towards other calibers, grenade launchers and other fire power that might be adapted or suitable for this aircraft.

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28/12/06: LGS is a certified air navigation service provider and fully compliant with the EU requirements: On 20 December LGS was granted a certificate ranking among the certified ANSPs of the European Union.

Pursuant to the European Commission Regulation No. 2096/2005 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services throughout the Community, air navigation services in the Member States may be provided only by ANSPs, which comply with the Common Requirements. It allows for provision of cross-border air navigation services in Europe and is binding to the Member State air navigation service providers as of 2007.

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27/12/06: Successful launch of the Corot scientific satellite

Paris, December 27, 2006 – The Corot scientific satellite was successfully launched today by a Soyuz 2-1b rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. French space agency CNES was the prime contractor for this satellite, assigning industrial responsibility to Alcatel Alenia Space. The Corot satellite is designed to study the structure of stars and also search for new planets outside our solar system.

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27/12/06: Just Flight presents: Traffic PlusPak - Military Aircraft 1

Finally here’s the aircraft traffic you have been asking for! Traffic PlusPak – Military Aircraft 1 adds military aircraft movements to your Flight Simulator AI world. From low fast-flying fighters to high-and-mighty AWACS surveillance aircraft, this package will add 160 new AI (Artificial Intelligence) aircraft to your sim environment. It includes 10 new aircraft models in 12 distinct variations and 17 sub-variants are included, plus 8 military variations of existing civil models. As well as this PlusPak including aircraft from more than 30 nations’ forces and services from all around the world, it provides some new military airfield facilities that are missing in the default FS world – there are even seaborne aircraft carriers with launching and landing traffic. Your FS world will be busier than ever before!

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26/12/06: The 2nd international business aviation exhibition JET EXPO 2007 is to be held on September 19-21, 2007 in Moscow

The international exhibition centre Crocus Expo, pavilion No.2, hall No.7 features excellent pavilion infrastructure with bank offices, food courts, restaurants, cafés, a cloakroom, free parking with 15,000 spaces, taxi-booking service, a customs office and has eight conference halls readily available. Crocus Expo can hold the most important of events.

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25/12/06: Tiger Moth for Microsoft FSX and FS2004

The de Havilland Tiger Moth is the classic embodiment of the biplane trainer. With its distinctive dual wing and tail dragger layout, thousands of pilots learned to fly on this trainer before and during WW2. Many Tiger Moths are still in use today for recreational flying, although if you want to you can still learn to fly in one! The crew over at Aeroplane Heaven now bring this beauty to Flight Simulator for you to relive the days of classic flying. Highly detailed, the models are exacting in accuracy and have been researched with the kind assistance of the de Havilland Moth Club, the official body that represents and safeguards the Moth range of aircraft. The Canadian version has been authenticated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, thus ensuring that the aircraft are authentic and realistic.

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25/12/06: 442 Squadron crew assists volunteers in search Christmas Eve

19 WING COMOX – a Buffalo aircraft from 19 Wing Comox assisted Ground Search and Rescue volunteers in trying to find a missing hiker throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria tasked the Buffalo crew as night fell and the volunteers requested illumination for their search. The missing hiker, a 34-year-old male, had gone hiking during the day and was lost. He was able to make a 911 call just prior to his cell phone dying; however, his location was unknown except that he was in East Sooke Park. Volunteers from Juan de Fuca ground search and rescue and mutual aid teams from Victoria and Metchosin had been searching throughout the day and prepared to continue through the night.

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23/12/06: Universal Control System Unveiled by Raytheon

Raytheon recently unveiled the Universal Control System (UCS) — a first of its kind unmanned aerial system (UAS) “cockpit” that revolutionizes operator awareness and efficiency, while providing the ability to control multiple unmanned aircraft, reduce potential accidents, improve training, and decrease costs. “We took the best-of-breed technologies from the gaming industry and coupled them with 35-years of Raytheon UAS command and control expertise and developed a state-of-the-art universal cockpit built around the operator,” said Mark Bigham, business development director for Raytheon’s Intelligence and Information Systems business.

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22/12/06: Switzerland’s Sky Work Airlines Orders A Bombardier Q400 Airliner

Toronto, December 20, 2006 - Sky Work Airlines of Bern, Switzerland has placed a firm order for one Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliner, Bombardier Aerospace announced today. The value of the order based on the Q400 aircraft list price is approximately $25.6 million US. “We selected the Bombardier Q400 to provide increased capacity because of its extremely low operating costs, remarkable 360 knot (667 km/h) speed, good runaway performances and outstanding passenger comfort,” said Alex Gribi, President, Sky Work Airlines.

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22/12/06: Sécurité Civile Orders One More Bombardier 415 Amphibious Aircraft

Montréal, December 22, 2006 - Bombardier Aerospace announced today that France’s Sécurité Civile has placed a firm order for another Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft. This order brings the French fleet to twelve Bombardier 415 aircraft.

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22/12/06: Boeing Delivers First 777-300ER to PIA

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 22, 2006 — Pakistan International Airlines today took delivery of its first of three Boeing [NYSE: BA] 777-300ERs on order. The newest member of PIAs long-haul, wide-body fleet departed Paine Field this morning en route to its new home base at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

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22/12/06: ESA’s pair of astronauts back on earth

Space Shuttle Discovery landed in Cape Canaveral, Florida tonight at 23:32 CET (22:32/GMT), completing one of the most complex assembly missions to the International Space Station to date, and bringing back ESA’s two astronauts, Christer Fuglesang and Thomas Reiter. Discovery’s return marks the end of NASA’s STS-116 mission, which delivered a new truss segment to the ISS as well as goods and equipment. For ESA, it also marks the completion of two manned missions: Astrolab with Thomas Reiter and Celsius with Christer Fuglesang.

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22/12/06: Cessna Scores Recent 172 Sales in Europe

Wichita, Kan., Dec 22, 2006– Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that four European flight schools are upgrading their aircraft fleets with new Cessna 172 Skyhawks.

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22/12/06: Sikorsky Aircraft Selects CH-53K Main Engines

Dec. 22, 2006 - STRATFORD, Conn., - Sikorsky Aircraft has selected General Electric Aviation to provide the new CH-53K heavy lift helicopter’s main engines. Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), is developing the CH-53K for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The three-engine CH-53K will replace the CH-53E SUPER STALLION™ helicopter. The GE38-1B engine planned for the CH-53K is a derivative of the CFE738 commercial turbofan engine and the US Navy T407 turboprop engine. The CH-53K contract and subsequent planned production program could lead to the manufacture of 156 aircraft.

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21/12/06: Boeing’s Puget Sound Employees Share the “Spirit Of The Holidays”

SEATTLE, Dec. 21, 2006 — The Boeing Company’s [NYSE: BA] more than 68,000 Puget Sound area employees have opened their hearts and wallets to provide more than a little Spirit of the Holidays for thousands of people in need, including seniors and families. Boeing’s Washington-based employees, primarily through the Employees Community Fund of Puget Sound, have voluntarily participated in several employee-driven food and gift drives designed to help disadvantaged seniors and families during the holidays, including children who are cared for under the auspices of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

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21/12/06: Boeing KC-767 Tanker for Japan Completes First Flight

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 21, 2006 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] test pilots today took the first KC-767 Tanker slated for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on its maiden flight. Set to make history as Japan’s first aerial-refueling platform when delivered in February 2007, the aircraft lifted off from McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kan., adjacent to the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Wichita facility, and logged a three-hour and 30 minute flight before employees, customers and suppliers.

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21/12/06: Eurocopter signs a nine year contract with the Australian government to maintain the RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft fleet

Marignane, 21 December 2006 - Eurocopter, through its Australian subsidiary, Australian Aerospace, and the Australian Government signed today a nine year contract worth $201 million for deeper maintenance of the RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft. The AP-3C fleet is based at RAAF Edinburgh and the work is carried out at RAAF Bases at Richmond and Edinburgh Australian Aerospace is a member of the Australian P3 Accord signed in November of 2005 that will provide Block Upgrade Programs and Through Life Support for the RAAF AP-3C fleet through to its planned withdrawal, currently 2015. The P3 Standard Support Contract signed today will further expand Australian Aerospace involvement and support of the Platform and involves a major investment for Australian Aerospace and Eurocopter in local capability and Australian skills. Australian Aerospace has been performing the Deep Maintenance of the RAAF AP-3C fleet since 1993.

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21/12/06: A Place for Parents and Their Little Ones at Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport has made travelling with young children a breeze, with the launch of a new Family Zone today. Located at Terminal 2’s Departure / Transit Mall, the Family Zone has a whole range of facilities that not only meet the needs of parents with kids in tow, but also offers facilities to keep the young ones entertained.

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21/12/06: Midwest Airlines Selects SkyWest Airlines to Provide 50-Seat Regional Jet Service

MILWAUKEE, Wis., Dec 21, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Midwest Airlines, Inc. (Amex: MEH) today announced that it has reached agreement with SkyWest Airlines, Inc. to operate 50-seat regional jet service beginning in April 2007. SkyWest will operate a minimum of 15 and up to 25 Canadair Regional Jets for Midwest during the five-year term of the agreement.

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21/12/06: EUROCONTROL Contributes to Curbing Aircraft Emissions

Brussels, Belgium – EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, is following with interest the European Commission’s proposal to include aviation’s carbon dioxide emissions in the existing European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme.

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