Skycontrol news archive for november 2007

28/11/07: Boeing Named NASA Large Business Contractor of the Year

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 27, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today was recognized by NASA as its Large Business Contractor of the Year for providing outstanding support to small businesses at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., through its Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) program. “Boeing recognizes the benefits and innovations contributed by CAPPS small business partners,” said Mark Jager, Boeing CAPPS program manager. “The contributions of our small business partners help ensure that CAPPS offers best-of-industry solutions to NASA.”

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27/11/07: Meteosat celebrates 30th anniversary: Europe’s weather satellite program an unqualified success

Cannes, November 27, 2007 – Thales Alenia Space, prime contractor for Meteosat satellites, joined French space agency CNES, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Meteorological Satellite Organization (Eumetsat), to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Meteosat weather satellites. This program is a textbook case of successful collaboration between European space agencies and industry. For the last 30 years, millions of people have been using the daily weather reports based on Meteosat images: high pressure and low pressure zones, cloud masses and many other images have been a daily feature on TV screens for many years. In addition to the daily forecasts, the data provided by Meteosat satellites play a vital role in planning ahead for major events such as storms, hurricanes and floods – and more generally to monitor the long-term changes in our planet’s climate.

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27/11/07: Canadian and European Airports Herald Launch of Canada-EU Open Aviation Area Talks

BRUSSELS AND OTTAWA (27 November 2007) – The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) and Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE) today heralded the launch of aviation talks between Canada and the European Union. Together, they urged the negotiating team to conclude an agreement achieving a fully liberalized framework for aviation. “As Canada’s negotiators meet with their European counterparts today in russels, they have an historic opportunity to further Canadian trade and tourism by bringing down barriers to air service across the North Atlantic,” said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette. “Canadian airports are the gateways between Canada and Europe and have an important stake in the outcome, but it is the Canadian public that will benefit from increased air service, more competition and the trade/tourism opportunities these will bring.”

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27/11/07: Czech ANS Integrates Multilateration Data into ARTAS

Reston, VA – November 27, 2007 – Once again, Czech ANS, the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) of the Czech Republic, is leading the way in the adoption of next generation surveillance solutions. And once again, it is Era technology that is supporting these initiatives. ARTAS is a multi-sensor surveillance tracker developed by Eurocontrol and supported by Comsoft GmbH of Germany. It is increasingly seen as the “best of breed” tracking solution and a solution that is independent of both surveillance sources and of the adopted ATM automation solution. In recognition of the rapid adoption of next generation surveillance technologies, ARTAS already supports ADS-B (ASTERIX 21) data and Eurocontrol has commissioned Comsoft to enhance ARTAS to support Multilateration (ASTERIX 20), so that both technologies can be rapidly absorbed into existing ATM automation systems.

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27/11/07: Boeing Receives Third C-130 for Avionics Modernization

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 27, 2007 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday inducted the third U.S. Air Force C-130 into the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) at company facilities in San Antonio, Texas, where it will receive a fully integrated, night vision goggle-compatible digital glass cockpit and a new digital avionics system. The aircraft, assigned to the West Virginia Air National Guard’s (ANG) 130th Airlift Wing, is the third of more than 200 C-130 aircraft that Boeing Support Systems will modify under the AMP initiative.

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26/11/07: Bombardier Sells Four Of Its Bombardier 415 Amphibious Firefighting Aircraft

Montréal, November 26, 2007 - Today, Bombardier Aerospace announced the sale of four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft to an undisclosed customer. In addition to purchasing the four firefighting aircraft, the customer also purchased additional special mission equipment items to enhance the aircraft’s capabilities. The value of the order based on the aircraft list price is approximately $118.2 million U.S and will include spare parts provisioning, training and technical support. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin during the last quarter of fiscal year ended January 31, 2008, and will continue until 2010.

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26/11/07: Flight Design USA Leads Light-Sport Aircraft Industry: Training Service Technicians to High Expertise

South Woodstock, Conn. / November 26, 2007 — Flight Design USA (http://www.FlightDesignUSA.com) announced that it has in the last year graduated 23 technicians, distributors, and dealers from its comprehensive engine and airframe training classes. In this new industry such work to professionally build infrastructure to better serve its customers is the goal of sales leader, Flight Design. The U.S. importer has earned a 21%+ market share which it has maintained since the first Special Light-Sport Aircraft were certified.

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26/11/07: IASI Instrument built by Thales Alenia Space operational in orbit: A breakthrough in Numerical Weather Prediction, an outstanding opportunity in Climatology, Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry: the first results published

Cannes, November 26, 2007 – Following the IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) conference, held in France (Anglet) from 13 to 16 November 2007 and organized by the French Space Agency (CNES) and Eumetsat, Thales Alenia Space is joining the Agencies and the scientists to celebrate the validation of the instrument and the good quality of the first results. Jointly developed by CNES and EUMETSAT, IASI was build by Thales Alenia Space. IASI is one of 12 instruments to fly on Metop, Europe’s first operational polar orbiting satellite launched on 19 October 2006. IASI is an innovative, highly sophisticated Infrared sounding instrument used for global measurements of atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles with unprecedented accuracy and spectral resolution.

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26/11/07: CAE achieves industry first with Level D certification of 3.2 MPixel LCoS system

Montreal, November 26, 2007 – (NYSE: CGT; TSX: CAE) – CAE announced today that its CAE Tropos™-6000 visual system and 3.2 megapixel (MPixel) Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) projectors have obtained Level D certification on a CAE-built Airbus A320 full-flight simulator (FFS) for Air France. This Level D certification, the highest available for a FFS, is an industry first for this resolution of high-performance fixed-matrix LCoS projectors. The CAE-built A320 FFS, currently installed and now ready for training at Air France’s training centre in Paris, was certified by the DGAC, France’s civil aviation authority.

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26/11/07: AgustaWestland Completes BERP IV Flight Testing

AgustaWestland has successfully completed the qualification flight testing of the new generation BERP IV AW101 main rotor blades. The new technology blades will enter operational service in early 2008 on the UK’s Royal Air Force fleet of AW101 Merlin Mk.3A helicopters. The BERP IV program commenced in 2000 with a technology selection and integration phase leading to the design and manufacturing phase in 2002. The blades first flew in September 2006 and have now completed a 13 month flight test programme during which the AW101 was flown at speeds up to 198 knots and at altitudes of 13,000 ft. Aircraft fitted with BERP IV blades have also been flown at weights up to 16,500 kg - 1,900 kg over the normal Merlin gross weight and 900 kg over the current AW101 maximum gross weight.

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26/11/07: TAP to acquire up to 15 A350XWBs and 8 additional A320s

TAP Portugal has signed a firm contract for 12 A350XWBs, plus three options, and a letter of intent for an additional eight A320 Family aircraft. The Lisbon based airline herewith converts its initial order for the A350, placed in December 2005, into the new A350XWB, and has, simultaneously, increased the number of aircraft ordered, from 10 to 12. At the same time TAP is taking delivery of its first directly owned A330-200. In announcing the transaction, TAP’s Chief Executive Officer, Fernando Pinto, said: “We have thoroughly re-evaluated our initial A350 order and the result clearly demonstrated that the XWB is the winner in all areas. This aircraft will meet TAP’s requirements to cater for passenger traffic growth across the Atlantic and our plans to serve further destinations. The A350XWB offers outstanding passenger comfort thanks to its wider cabin, and unmatched operating costs, fuel consumption and environmental friendliness. The further additional A320s is a natural choice for our expansion plans, as the A320s perfectly fit our need for efficient single aisle aircraft offering the best possible comfort for our passengers”.

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26/11/07: Airbus signs MOU with NDRC to formalise Airbus A350XWB work package to Chinese Aviation Industry

Airbus signed today a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to formalise the commitment of allocating five per cent of the A350XWB airframe to the Chinese aviation industry. The MOU was signed by Chen Deming, Vice Minister of NDRC, and Fabrice Bregier, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus, at the Great Hall of the People in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to the MOU on Strengthening Industrial Cooperation through A350XWB, NDRC and Airbus will carry out high-level industrial cooperation on A350XWB development and manufacturing work, in order to enhance a closer strategic cooperation relationship between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry.

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26/11/07: For two glorious days, the Vintage Wings of Canada hangar was home to two all-blue F4U Corsairs

Throughout the Second World War, Canadian aviators made their indelible marks in the skies over every theatre of operations from the defence of England, to Europe (ETO), Mediterranean, North Africa, Asia (China Burma India), the North Atlantic and the South Pacific. Perhaps the most compelling of these tales of bravery and skill is the story of the final moments in the short life of Robert Hampton Gray. Gray, a native of Trail, British Columbia, was a baby-faced, easy going, always cheerful Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot who was much loved by his squadron mates.

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26/11/07: New DxO Optics Pro v5 Software Featuring a Breakthrough RAW Engine Leads the Way in Image Quality for Demanding Photographers

Paris, France – October 1, 2007 – DxO Labs today announced DxO Optics Pro v5, the latest version of its award-winning flagship software application for automatic image quality enhancement for Digital SLR camera users. Due to be released later in the fall, DxO Optics Pro v5 sets a new standard for image quality with its new RAW conversion engine. All purchasers of DxO Optics Pro v4.5 on or after August 1st, 2007 are eligible for a free upgrade to DxO Optics Pro v5. DxO Optics Pro v5 RAW conversion engine delivers exceptional quality especially for lowlight images. Fully rewritten, version 5 also adds dust/blemish removal, improved user interface, increased speed and expanded camera support.

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24/11/07: Change for Good Christmas campaign begins: Finnair and UNICEF help children affected by AIDS in Vietnam

Finnair’s and UNICEF’s traditional Change for Good Christmas campaign collects funds for Vietnamese children affected by HIV-AIDS for the second year running. The campaign will begin on Finnair flights on Monday 26 November and continue until 6 January. Instead of sending cards and gifts, Finnair is contributing equivalent sums to Change for Good again this Christmas. The airline has been increasing its operations to Asian destinations significantly in the past years and operates leisure flights in the winter time to Vietnam.

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23/11/07: New range of Personal and Compact Distress Signals could help save lives of high-flyers!

Pains Wessex, the brand best known for its range of marine distress signals, has launched a new range of compact and personal distress signals ideal for aviators and pilots of light aircraft, helicopters, balloonists, micro lights and hang-gliders. These compact and easy to use distress signals can be used by a pilot to indicate their position by sending a long range distress signal. Robert Hill, Managing Director of Chemring Marine Ltd, which has developed the product says: “A red flare, whether spotted from land or at sea, is still universally recognised as a distress signal. This new range of compact and personal distress signals are ideal to be carried, and can be used by pilots in the case of an emergency to alert people that they need help, or to pinpoint their location.”

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23/11/07: Ukraine International Airlines is celebrating its 15th anniversary

On 25th November 1992 Ukraine International Airlines that had been officially registered on 29th October 1992 made its first flight Kiev-London. In the space of 15 years of its activities UIA has grown from a small company with two aircraft and 100 personnel to being the leading Ukrainian airline operating a fleet of fifteen Boeing-737 aircraft and transporting one and a half million passengers annually. For today UIA has carried more than 6.5 million passengers and over 40 thousand tons of post and cargo, and received revenue over of 1 billion 300 million USD. The operating profits of the Airline amount to over 25 million USD.

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23/11/07: Angolan airline Taag awards long-term engine maintenance contract to Snecma Services

Paris, November 23, 2007 – Taag, the national flag carrier of Angola, has awarded an exclusive 10-year engine maintenance contract to Snecma Services (SAFRAN group). This long-term contract reflects Taag’s commitment to building an enduring relationship with the CFM56 engine maintenance specialist Snecma Services. The ESPH – Engine Services Per Hour – contract will enable the two partners to form a value-added partnership. Dedicated Snecma Services engineering teams will work alongside the airline to provide a comprehensive package of services that will ensure excellent reliability at optimum cost. Because of its in-depth understanding of the engines used by its new customer, Snecma Services will be able to anticipate required servicing and more effectively plan shop visits, thus avoiding emergency situation while ensuring continuously improved engine dispatch reliability.

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23/11/07: Close cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands: Air navigation services intensify partnership

The Germans and Dutch are striving for even closer cooperation in air navigation services. On 23 November 2007, the CEOs of Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland (LVNL) and DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH signed a memorandum of understanding to explore options for more intense relations. This is in line with the EU’s Single European Sky initiative which aims at triggering the future integration of air navigation service providers through cooperation. As a first step, LVNL and DFS will assess in great detail the fields of technical infrastructure, ATM staff and competences, operational procedures and airspace optimisation.

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23/11/07: Alphabus development well under way: First flight model to be used for ESA/Inmarsat Alphasat mission

Cannes, November 23, 2007 - Astrium and Thales Alenia Space are jointly developing Alphabus, the new European platform for next generation high power communications satellites. The Alphabus programme development is supported jointly by ESA (European Space Agency) through the ARTES-8 technology programme and CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales of France). Following the recent agreement between Inmarsat and ESA, the first flight model of the Alphabus platform will be used for the Alphasat satellite, which will carry a large commercial communications payload for Inmarsat, as well as three technology demonstration payloads for ESA. The Alphabus programme is currently in the Critical Design Review phase, an important milestone to be reached in mid-December, and is on track for the delivery of the PFM (Protoflight Model) in the course of 2009 to the Alphasat programme.

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23/11/07: Dassault Aviation: Delivery of the last MIRAGE 2000-5 Mk.II to Hellenic Air Force

Dassault Aviation delivered the last of 15 Mirage 2000-5 Mk.II to the Hellenic Air Force. These aircraft were ordered in 2000. They are the last of 601 Mirage 2000 produced by our company and operated by nine air forces. This event has been highlighted by an official ceremony held today, Friday November 23rd, at Tanagra Air Base, Greece. Mr. Hervé Morin, French Defense Minister, and General Abrial, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, were attending the ceremony at the invitation of their Greek homologues. The Mirage 2000-5 programme continues with the modernization of the Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM of the Hellenic Air Force performed in cooperation with Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

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23/11/07: ESA and Inmarsat sign innovative Alphasat satellite contract

ESA and Inmarsat Global Ltd announce on Friday 23 November in Paris the formal signature of the contract for Alphasat satellite, one of the world’s largest telecommunications satellites. The Alphasat programme is a major cooperation between the public and private sectors. With Alphasat, Inmarsat will be the first commercial customer for the Alphabus platform, the new European high-power telecommunications platform jointly developed by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space and initiated by a partnership between ESA and CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) as a coordinated European response to the increased market demand for larger telecommunication payloads, for new broadband, broadcasting and mobile communications services. The Alphabus Alphasat programme represents an expenditure of € 440 million by 16 ESA Member States. Under the development schedule, Alphasat will be available for launch in 2012.

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22/11/07: Boeing, KLM Announce Order for Additional 777-300ERs and 737-700s

SEATTLE, Nov. 22, 2007 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, part of the AIR FRANCE/KLM Group, has placed an order for additional 737 and 777 aircraft. The airline will add three Next-Generation 737-700s and two 777-300ERs (Extended Range) to its fleet. As part of the agreement, KLM took options on one additional 737 and two additional 777s. The order, worth approximately $716 million at catalog prices, was previously posted to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries Web site and attributed to an unidentified customer. With today’s announcement, the airline has six 777-300ERs on direct order with Boeing and is scheduled to take delivery of its first of this model in the first quarter of 2008. KLM currently operates a fleet of 15 777-200ERs in a combination of leases and direct purchases.

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22/11/07: PLANETSPACE, Lockheed Martin and ATK team up to bid on NASA COTS

PlanetSpace is announcing that they have submitted a proposal response to NASA’s recent COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Phase 1 Demonstrations) request for proposals. PlanetSpace, working closely with its team mates Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, ATK, and the Bank of Montreal (Financial Advisor), has been diligently working to put together this proposal for NASA. PlanetSpace, a leader in commercializing space and developer of space related technologies, today announced it has submitted its proposal to NASA to flight demonstrate cargo and crew delivery capability to the ISS in response to NASA’s COTS Phase 1 RFP. “We have been working closely with our Lockheed Martin, ATK, and BMO team mates over the past 6 months and have developed an innovative, low risk business plan and technical approach that can deliver cargo to the ISS economically and has the added benefits of providing low cost launch services to commercial and NASA customers” said Dr Chirinjeev Kathuria, Chairman of PlanetSpace. The team has been gathered together over the last month at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Denver Co, putting the final details of their proposal together for NASA.

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22/11/07: KLM signs follow-up contract for two A330s

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has signed a contract for the acquisition of two further A330-200s, bringing their total A330 fleet to 12 aircraft. These new A330s will play a major role in KLM’s long-term fleet renewal and future expansion. The A330s, powered by CF6-80E(1A3) engines, will mainly serve on intercontinental routes, and will have a two-class configuration with 251 seats. “With the excellent record of the A330 in terms of economics and efficiency, this order for two additional A330 aircraft was a natural choice. These aircraft perfectly fulfil our expectations in terms of passenger comfort and optimised operational costs, and are an excellent investment to further strengthen our market position,” Peter Hartman, president & CEO of KLM, explained.

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