Latest Industry News (page 1)

Aeronautical industry is a leading-edge sector concerned with the design and construction of aircraft. Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering concerning aircraft, spacecraft and related topics. It is often called aeronautical engineering, particularly when referring solely to aircraft, and astronautical engineering, when referring to spacecraft. This section of your international aviation news magazine presents news from designers and builders of the world's most advanced aircraft and spacecraft for commercial, industrial and military use.

05/10/08: Avionics Innovations DMP-100 Cabin Briefer Selected By AgustaWestland For Use In Demanding Environments: DMP-100NVG System offers clear cabin communications in high-noise settings

Ramona, CA (October 6, 2008) — Avionics Innovations, Inc., has been selected by AgustaWestland to provide an innovative command communications solution involving its DMP-100NVG for use with AW101 and Super Lynx 300 helicopters in high-noise environments. Avionics Innovations’ DMP-100NVG, a night-vision compatible version of its popular DMP-100 cabin briefing system, plays back prerecorded versions of all necessary pilot commands, overcoming the problem of ambient noise on the flight deck overpowering the pilots’ microphones. A rugged unit that meets DO-160 environmental testing requirements and features EMI/RFI shielding to prevent interference with other aircraft systems, the DMP-100NVG is ideal for military applications.

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05/10/08: Avidyne MLX770 satellite datalink reciever gains Irridium certificatio: Iridium approval paves the way for activation of Avidyne’s worldwide datalink weather service.

NBAA, Orlando, FL, October 5, 2008 — Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated flight deck and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced today that its MLX770 Satellite Datalink Transceiver has received system certification by Iridium Satellite LLC. The approval gives Avidyne the authority to operate on the global Iridium satellite network, paving the way for the launch of Avidyne’s innovative worldwide datalink weather service. “We are pleased to welcome Avidyne to the growing family of value-added partners,” said Don Thoma, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite. Avidyne’s Datalink product leverages Iridium’s global connectivity and robust two-way low-latency data channels to develop innovative new products for the burgeoning aeronautical satcom market,”

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05/10/08: Avidyne partners with WSI for worldwide datalink weather: Avidyne’s new MLX770 delivers WSI’s industry-leading weather data via the global Iridium satellite network.

NBAA, ORLANDO, FL, October 5, 2008 –Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated flight deck and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced today that it is partnering with WSI Corporation to provide datalink weather to operators of aircraft worldwide. Utilizing Avidyne’s MLX770 two-way datalink transceiver and the Iridium® satellite constellation, Avidyne will provide WSI’s industry-leading weather data products including worldwide graphical METARs, textual METARs, TAFs, and Winds & Temps Aloft. Premium services will include WSI’s NOWRad® and SATRad® imagery as well as worldwide Lightning data.

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05/10/08: Winglet Technology Nearing Completion of Cessna Citation X Elliptical Winglet Flight Testing

Orlando, FL October 5, 2008 – Since program announcement at NBAA in September 2007, significant progress has been made towards completing FAA certification of Winglet Technology’s patented Elliptical Winglets on the Cessna Citation X. The modification kit and production winglets have been installed on Cessna’s test aircraft, and final flight testing is nearing completion. The wing full scale static test has been successfully completed, and the winglet static test is underway and expected to complete this month. Remaining electrical system and exterior lighting flight testing is also scheduled to be completed this month. Issuance of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate for the Citation X Elliptical Winglet is planned for June 2009.

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03/10/08: World’s Most Powerful Portable Halon-Alternative Fire Extinguisher On Display At NBAA

(Larkspur, CA) – H3R Aviation, Inc., makers of Halon and Halon-alternative portable fire extinguishers, has teamed with Aviall to promote Halon-alternative fire extinguishers at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. Aviall, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services and one of the world’s largest providers of new aviation parts and related aftermarket operations. Aviall will display the H3R Aviation model 674 150 lb. wheeled Halotron 1® fire extinguisher at its stand (#1441) during NBAA, October 6-8, 2008 in Orlando, Fla. The 674 is the world’s most powerful Halon-alternative flight line fire extinguisher. Also at NBAA, Aviall and H3R Aviation will raffle off the 5.5 lb. portable Halotron 1® model B394TS. The B394TS is the only Halotron 1® clean agent fire extinguisher approved by FAA for use on-board aircraft.

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25/09/08: SkyTrac Systems to Provide Flight Following and SatCom Solutions to Hydro One

Kelowna, BC, Canada, September 25, 2008 - SkyTrac Systems is pleased to announce it has been selected to provide satellite communication (SatCom) and flight following systems to Hydro One. By equipping its fleet of AS350 B2, AS350 B3, and B206 L3 aircraft, Hydro One will enhance operational safety while flying in remote, isolated locations. Hydro One, through its Helicopter Services Group conducts power line inspection and maintenance to over 28,000 kilometers of transmission line over some of Canada’s most rugged and isolated terrain. In order to facilitate communication with flight crew and further enhance their safety program, Hydro One decided to procure flight following and SatCom equipment.

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24/09/08: US Transportation Security Administration Deploys QinetiQ’s New Airport Security Technology: The next evolution of mass transit safety, SPO Technology protects public safety and preserves individual privacy

QinetiQ North America’s Technology Solutions Group announced that the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) deployed its new mass transit security solution at the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport to enhance security measures surrounding the 2008 Republican National Convention. TSA used QinetiQ’s groundbreaking millimetre wave, passive stand-off detection solution – called “SPO Technology” – to scan for weapons and explosive materials in and near MSP International Airport. SPO Technology has already proven successful in both air and surface transport use. TSA for the very first time operationally deployed this new threat technology solution at the Denver International Airport during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

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23/09/08: SR Technics and SAS sign new aircraft services contract

Zurich, September 23, 2008 - SR Technics and SAS Scandinavian Airlines have concluded a contractual agreement covering aircraft services for the airline’s Airbus A330 and A340 fleets. The work will be carried out at SR Technics’ facilities in Dublin, Ireland, and is due to commence this November. Under the new accord, SR Technics will provide aircraft services for SAS’s fleet of four Airbus A330 and seven Airbus A340 aircraft. The work will consist of C-Checks and a modification programme on the eleven aircraft, and will be performed between November 2008 and April 2009.

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23/09/08: Volvo Aero Services and Boeing extend partnership agreement

Volvo Aero Services Corp and The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] have extended a marketing and distribution partnership agreement, originally established in 1999, for an additional 10 years.Within the agreement, Volvo Aero Services will continue to provide multiple asset management services to support the distribution of quality aircraft parts for a wide range of Boeing aircraft models. In addition, Volvo Aero Services has been awarded the rights to manufacture and distribute Boeing proprietary parts. The program, managed from the jointly established facility in Kent, Washington, covers the distribution of excess parts for in production and out of production Boeing and legacy McDonald Douglas aircraft.

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22/09/08: survey finds airport operators investing $3 billion in IT to win passengers

BOSTON/GENEVA, 22 September, 2008 – A survey of investment trends among the world’s top airport operators which are spending $3 billion this year on IT, has found they are focussing heavily on attracting passengers but some are also fearful of IT budget cuts in the present economic climate. Improving customer service and satisfaction emerges as the high priority investment driver for 80% of the world’s airport operators in the 5th annual Airport IT trends Survey* carried out by SITA, the specialist provider of airport IT and communications, in conjunction with Airline Business and the Airports Council International (ACI). Airports want to meet the demands of travellers by expanding self-service to include the introduction of passenger self-boarding (35%), off-airport passenger/baggage processing (32%) and common bag drop locations (33%). Nonetheless, there are airports which appear to have been hard hit by the economic downturn and airline route cutbacks. This is reflected in the response that for 26% of airports participating in the survey, the main obstacle to achieving their IT strategy is lack of investment / reduced budget.

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22/09/08: Lochard Introduces WebTrak FlyQuiet To Efficiently and Effectively Manage Aircraft Noise

WebTrak FlyQuiet actively monitors, manages and improves aircraft operators’ compliance with airport noise abatement procedures to reduce aircraft noise. Lochard, the world’s leading provider of Airport Noise Management Systems, today announced the release of WebTrak FlyQuiet, their latest value-adding service for Airports. WebTrak FlyQuiet identifies flights that don’t comply with noise procedures and communicates this information to the aircraft operator. The operator can rapidly communicate with their pilots and pinpoint the reason for any deviations. This enables airports to reinforce procedures and improve future compliance. Aircraft operators can quickly investigate noise and flight track violations themselves and collaboratively work with airports and pilots to ensure they “fly quieter”. WebTrak FlyQuiet is the latest in the WebTrak suite of modules designed to assist airports with noise management, particularly as it affects their local community. So far more than 30 airports around the world, from Long Beach, California to London Heathrow in the United Kingdom, are utilising WebTrak services.

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19/09/08: QinetiQ North America’s new flight optimisation software saves fuel and mission time

A new software tool that allows pilots to easily adjust altitude settings based on a visual display of wind data is helping aviators to reduce fuel use and mission time. Called Vertical Visual Optimiser (VVO), the software was developed by QinetiQ North America’s Systems Engineering Group for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and works with U.S. Portable Flight Planning Software (PFPS). Applicable to both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, the pre-flight planning solution is now available to all U.S. military aviation platforms and those of allied nations. VVO retrieves wind data at user-defined altitudes from defence weather sites and other sources and then graphically displays head and tail wind speeds on a desktop, laptop or knee-board computer so that pilots can quickly adjust altitude settings that take advantage of favourable winds.

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19/09/08: International Communications Group receives FAA repair station certification

Newport News, Va. –(September 19, 2008) – International Communications Group (ICG) has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for its in-house Repair Station in Newport News, Virginia. The official Air Agency certificate was issued by the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Richmond, Virginia on September 15. “This certification means that we can now repair and return to service parts that are covered by our Part Manufacturing Authorization (PMA), which was also previously granted by the FAA. Repair Station certification is no small accomplishment and our technical team deserves a pat on the back for successfully completing the requirements over the past year and a half. As our business expands, we will be able to utilize the lessons learned in this effort to expand our capabilities and obtain similar approvals at other ICG sites,” said Armin Jabs, ICG’s Chief Operating Officer.

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19/09/08: Rolls-Royce to power additional A380s for Qantas Airways

Rolls-Royce announced today (19 September) that Qantas Airways has ordered Trent 900 engines to power eight additional Airbus A380s, in a deal valued at more than $575 million. This brings Qantas’s Rolls-Royce powered A380 fleet to 20 aircraft. Qantas today took delivery of its first Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered Airbus A380 at a special ceremony at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. David Cox, Executive General Manager Qantas Engineering said: “We are pleased to further expand our relationship with Rolls-Royce. The Trent 900 offers us an effective economic solution, operational efficiency, and low engine noise and emissions for our A380 fleet.” Nick Devall, Executive Vice President – Customer Business, Rolls-Royce, added: “This repeat selection of the Trent 900 by Qantas is a demonstration of their faith in the product and underlines the Trent’s status as the market leader on the A380.

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19/09/08: Employees from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Campus in Canoga Park Donate More Than 700 Backpacks and School Supplies to Area School

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2008 – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea-Rocketdyne recently donated more than 700 backpacks and school supplies to students at Rosa Parks Learning Center. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Hamilton Sundstrand, leaders in rocket engines and space electronics, are units of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). More than 500 of the backpacks were delivered to the students during a recent school assembly, while an additional 200 will be distributed to students who begin the school year in October. The backpacks were filled with school supplies and were purchased and collected by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Hamilton Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea-Rocketdyne employees. This was the 10th year the company led “Project Backpack,” reaching thousands of low-income students in Simi Valley and the San Fernando, Conejo, and Santa Clarita valleys.

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18/09/08: Malév and SITA bring web check-in to Hungary

BUDAPEST – 18 September 2008 – Malév, the national carrier of Hungary, today announced the introduction of web check-in. This new service, using the technology of aviation IT specialist SITA, enables Malév passengers departing from Budapest Ferihegy airport to check-in quickly and easily from anywhere, avoiding queues and speeding their journey through the airport. Péter Leonov, CEO, Malév said: “Passengers are demanding more self-service options and we are delighted to make them available. With our new Online Check-in Malév’s e-ticketed passengers departing from Budapest to all short haul destinations can check-in from the comfort of their own home, office, or indeed anywhere they have Internet access.

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18/09/08: Pratt & Whitney Canada Establishes New Parts Distribution Centre in Sydney, Australia

LONGUEUIL, Quebec, Sept. 18, 2008 - Pratt & Whitney Canada has established a new parts distribution centre (PDC) in Sydney, Australia to speed delivery times to customers in the Australia and New Zealand regions. Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is a United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) company. “This is the third PDC we have deployed worldwide as part of our aftermarket strategy to extend our global footprint to meet our customers’ requirements and keep them flying,” said Maria Della Posta, vice president, Customer Support, P&WC. P&WC’s new PDC in Australia will complement a PDC opened in Singapore last year, and in Amsterdam in late 2006. It will house a range of spare parts, including new parts, exchange accessories and line-replaceable units for all P&WC engine models. The PDCs are operated by Pratt & Whitney Component Solutions (P&WCS). Parts ordered by phone or email through P&WCS will be dispatched from the closest PDC warehouse.

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18/09/08: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Donates $103,000 to Local Non-Profit Organizations

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2008 – In its ongoing commitment to support the local community, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in Canoga Park has donated $103,000 this year to 18 non-profit organizations throughout Simi Valley, the San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company. The donations were awarded to non-profit organizations based on a number of criteria, including their level of outreach. “Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is pleased to help fund non-profit organizations that provide so many valuable programs and services in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Pam Campeau, community relations coordinator, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “In addition, nearly 470 of our employees volunteered 3,013 hours last year to various non-profits, and those numbers are only expected to grow.”

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18/09/08: Honeywell to Provide Avionics Suite for Tiger Airways New Airbus A320 Aircraft: Full suite of avionics includes terrain, traffic avoidance warning systems

PHOENIX, Sept. 18, 2008 — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that Tiger Airways has selected Honeywell’s full suite of avionics products for its additional Airbus A320 aircraft. Tiger Airways, whose existing fleet of A320 is already equipped with Honeywell avionics equipment, will receive eight A320 aircraft between 2008 and 2010. The avionics suite to be provided for these aircraft will include Honeywell’s RDR-4B weather radar; QuantumTM Line Comm Nav Surveillance (CNS); high-frequency radio; Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS); Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Solid State Flight Data Recorder (SSFDR); Solid State Cockpit Voice Recorder (SSCVR); Flight Data Acquisition and Management System (FDAMS); Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).

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17/09/08: Next generation end-to-end cabin network solutions from Miltope and TriaGnoSys

Munich, 17 September 2008 - VT Miltope and TriaGnoSys have today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to provide end-to-end systems for in-cabin networks. The two companies will work together to develop network backbones for aircraft, over which a range of services can be offered to passengers and crew. The solution will enable a range of services, based on the creation of a cabin network. Applications include broadband Internet access for both crew and passengers, voice services, the transmission of non-flight critical crew information – such as electronic flight bags, weather reports and cabin inventory reports – and management of the inflight entertainment system.

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17/09/08: Saab: Minister handed over Gripen

In a ceremony at Africa Aerospace and Defence show (AAD), South African Gripen fighters were welcomed into the South African Air Force today. On the first day of the biennial Africa Aerospace and Defence show, being staged at AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town, South Africa, history was made when Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota officially handed over the first of the country’s fleet of new generation Gripen fighters to Lt.Gen.Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the South African Air Force.

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17/09/08: Pratt & Whitney Canada Names Six Research Fellows from Universities and NRC during the AIAC Annual Meeting

LONGUEUIL, Quebec, Sept. 17, 2008 -Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has named five university professors and a director at Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) “P&WC Research Fellows” in recognition of their academic excellence and outstanding contributions to the company’s technology programs. The awards were presented during the annual general meeting of the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada (AIAC) in Ottawa. P&WC is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company. “Each of these Research Fellows is playing a vital role in advancing the position of Canada’s aerospace industry through their valuable work in developing new technologies in such areas as advanced materials and concepts and high-speed manufacturing,” said Walter Di Bartolomeo, vice president, Engineering at P&WC. “We are proud to recognize their contributions and look forward to continue working with them and other university professors and scientists across Canada to break new ground in aerospace technologies.

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16/09/08: Toyota Material Handling and AeroVironment Announce Alliance to Market PosiCharge Battery Fast Charge Systems

IRVINE, Calif. - (September 16, 2008) - Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU), the number one lift truck supplier in the United States, and AeroVironment, Inc. (AV), the number one battery fast charge system manufacturer, have established an alliance to market AV’s PosiCharge fast charge systems. PosiCharge systems are now available through 68 authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers with 190 locations throughout the United States. “Beyond pushing the bounds of product innovation, one of Toyota’s goals is to support environmentally appropriate and socially beneficial initiatives contributing to a cleaner environment,” said Shankar Basu, president and CEO of TMHU. “This alliance with AeroVironment furthers Toyota’s ‘green thinking’ philosophy by promoting high-quality PosiCharge products, which benefit the environment and our customers in numerous ways.” AeroVironment’s comprehensive line-up of PosiCharge high quality battery fast charge systems is designed to deliver a measurable positive impact on improving the environment by reducing the total number of batteries required to operate a fleet of electric lift trucks, and improving the efficiency and life cycle of the battery itself.

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16/09/08: Future LYNX engine achieves EASA certification

The Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC), a 50:50 joint venture between Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency Type Certification for the CTS800-4N engine that will power the UK’s Future Lynx helicopter fleet. The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered 70 twin-engine Future Lynx tactical and maritime helicopters from AgustaWestland to meet the requirements of the Army Air Corps and the Royal Navy. The first CTS800-4N engine was delivered to AgustaWestland in April 2008. Ken Roberts, President of the Rolls-Royce Helicopter business and LHTEC board member, said: “Type certification clears the way for aircraft testing and production deliveries and demonstrates that this engine performs exactly as it was designed to do, which is excellent news for the Future Lynx program. Following on so closely from the first engine delivery shows that there is real momentum behind this program.”

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16/09/08: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Signs Partnership Agreement and Provides Financial Support to the University of Alabama Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 16, 2008 – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has signed a letter of intent with the University of Alabama Huntsville (UA Huntsville) to collaborate in research and technology development. To aid this collaboration, the company will provide $40,000 toward reports on both student-evaluated technologies and engineering scholarships. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company. The collaboration falls on the heels of the newly-created PoWeR Innovations, a fast-moving, creative organization to help PWR expand into new business areas and capitalize on emerging opportunities. “Partnering with a research university to carry out the mission of PoWeR Innovations will have a great impact on our success,” said Jim Maser, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne president. “PWR has valuable engineering expertise using sophisticated analysis techniques and tools, and we wish to share our skills and assets to maximize our cooperative research and development efforts with the UA Huntsville.

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