Uruguay’s President Vazquez rejects the idea of re-nationalizing Pluna
September 11, 2008
The
BRAZIL/ARGENTINA HAVE AGREED TO A NUMBER OF BILATERAL DEALS
September 11, 2008
According to the September 9 issue of the Inter-American Dialogue’s Latin American Advisor, President Cristina Fernandez and Lula met in
CAE wins contracts for four full-flight simulators and training devices valued at C$54 million
September 10, 2008
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – Sept. 10, 2008) – CAE (TSX:CAE) (NYSE:CGT) today announced it has been awarded contracts to design and manufacture four full-flight simulators (FFSs) and associated training devices valued at more than C$54 million at list prices. The contracts are with Cathay Pacific Airways, Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa Flight Training, as well as Flight Simulation Company. CAE has now announced a total of 18 FFS sales in fiscal year 2009.
“As the global airline industry continues to face a challenging business climate and a worldwide shortage of pilots, CAE is well-positioned to help airlines and third-party training centres meet their pilot training requirements with the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of simulation products,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s Group President, Simulation Products and Military Training & Services.
Cathay Pacific Airways
CAE has sold a CAE 7000 Series Boeing 747-8 FFS to Cathay Pacific Airways. The Boeing 747-8 FFS is required to support pilot training in preparation for Cathay Pacific taking delivery of new Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft. The simulator will be delivered in 2010 to Cathay Pacific’s flight training centre in Hong Kong. In addition, Cathay Pacific has ordered a CAE SimfinityTM Integrated Procedures Trainer and CAE Simfinity Virtual Maintenance Trainer for the Boeing 747-8 aircraft.
Southwest Airlines
CAE has sold a CAE 7000 Series Boeing 737-700 FFS to Southwest Airlines. The Boeing 737-700 FFS for Southwest will be delivered in 2009 to Southwest’s training centre in Dallas, Texas. The simulator will feature the CAE TrueTM electric motion system. It is the first simulator bought by Southwest since 2004 and will be the sixth CAE-built FFS operated by Southwest.
“CAE has been selected to supply our newest full-flight simulator by agreeing to an aggressive manufacturing schedule to meet our training requirements,” said Joe Marott, Director of the Southwest Airlines Flight Operations Training Center. “This project is a continuation of the successful partnership enjoyed by both of our Companies.”
Lufthansa Flight Training
Lufthansa Flight Training GmbH (LFT) has ordered a CAE 7000 Series Airbus A330/340 convertible full-flight simulator (FFS). The CAE 7000 Series FFS will be convertible to an Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A340-600 configuration. The simulator will be delivered in October 2009 to LFT’s new training centre in Munich, Germany. LFT has now ordered a total of 32 CAE flight simulators since 1980, including six over the past two years.
Flight Simulation Company (FSC)
CAE has won a contract to design and manufacture a CAE 7000 Series Airbus A320 FFS for Flight Simulation Company (FSC). Based in Europe, FSC is an independent provider of simulator capacity, crew training, and simulator leasing services and consultancy to commercial airlines and simulator operators.
“We’re pleased to continue our relationship with CAE as our provider of world-class simulation equipment for the comprehensive pilot training programs we offer,” said Captain Bob van Balen, Managing Director, Flight Simulation Company.
CAE is a world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces around the globe. With annual revenues exceeding C$1.4 billion, CAE employs approximately 7,000 people at more than 75 sites and training locations in 20 countries. We have the largest installed base of civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices. Through our global network of 27 civil aviation and military training centres, we train more than 75,000 crewmembers yearly. We also offer modelling and simulation software to various market segments and, through CAE’s professional services division, we assist customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs. www.cae.com
Notes to Editors:
Following are some details on the technical features of the full-flight simulators for each customer:
Cathay Pacific Airways
– Type: CAE 7000 Series Boeing 747-8F FFS
– Motion: CAE TrueTM electric motion system
Southwest Airlines
– Type: CAE 7000 Series Boeing 737-700 FFS
– Motion: CAE True electric motion system
Lufthansa Flight Training
– Type: CAE 7000 Series A330/340 convertible FFS
– Motion: CAE True electric motion system
FSC
– Type: CAE 7000 Series Airbus A320 FFS
– Visual: CAE Tropos-6000 with LCoS projectors
– Motion: CAE True electric motion system
Vaisala to Deliver Weather Radar Equipment to US Federal Aviation Administration
September 10, 2008
HELSINKI, FINLAND–(Marketwire – September 9, 2008) –
Helsinki/Boulder – Vaisala has signed a 6.9 MUSD contract with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the delivery of weather radar signal processors and software for the FAA Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) network, operating at major airports in the USA. The deliveries will start during the last quarter of 2008.
The FAA regulates and oversees civil aviation in the U.S. This contract is related to an upgrade program for the TDWR radars. The original signal processors for the TDWR network have also been delivered by Vaisala (Sigmet Inc).
“The FAA already has Vaisala’s automated weather observing systems, lightning data, and runway visual range systems in use. We are happy to strengthen our great partnership with this contract, which highlights the position of Vaisala Sigmet product line as the global leader in weather radar signal processors and software,” says Martti Husu, Business Unit Manager for the Vaisala Weather Radar.
Further information:
Martti Husu, Business Unit Manager, Vaisala Weather Radar, tel. +358 40 5483 423/Helsinki, Finland (please note the time difference), martti.husu@vaisala.com
Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, providing services, products and solutions for meteorology, environmental sciences, aviation, traffic and industry. Built on science-based innovation, advanced technology and over 70 years of experience, Vaisala is committed to providing a better quality of life through environmental measurement. Headquartered in Finland, Vaisala employs over 1100 professionals and is listed on the Nordic Exchange, Helsinki. www.vaisala.com
Continental Airlines Integra la Lista de Honor en Diversidad Corporativa de la Revista Latin Business para 2008
September 10, 2008
HOUSTON, 10/09/2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Continental Airlines es una de las 13 organizaciones que integran la Lista de Honor en Diversidad Corporativa de la revista Latin Business, publicada en la edición de verano 2008, lo que marca el tercer año consecutivo en que Continental figura en la lista.
“Si los recientes acontecimientos en el ámbito de la diversidad, a nivel nacional y corporativo, son indicativos de algo, podríamos decir que la diversidad, con sus múltiples matices, se ha convertido en algo más generalizado”, indica el prólogo de la revista sobre la Lista de Honor. “Somos conscientes de que no siempre es fácil, pero celebramos los bien intencionados esfuerzos de todos”. (FUENTE Continental Airlines)
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NASA’s Ares I Rocket Passes Review to Reach Critical Milestone
September 10, 2008
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA has taken a
major step toward building the nation’s next generation launch vehicle with
Wednesday’s successful completion of the Ares I rocket preliminary design
review.
Starting in 2015, the Ares I rocket will launch the Orion crew
exploration vehicle, its crew of four to six astronauts, and small cargo
payloads to the International Space Station. The rocket also will be used
for missions to explore the moon and beyond in the coming decades.
The preliminary design review is the first such milestone in more than
35 years for a U.S. rocket that will carry astronauts into space. The
review was conducted at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala. It examined the current design for the Ares I launch vehicle to assess
that the planned technical approach will meet NASA’s requirements for the
fully integrated vehicle. That ensures all components of the vehicle and
supporting systems are designed to work together.
“This is a critical step for development of the Ares I rocket,” said
Rick Gilbrech, associate administrator of the Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate in Washington. “Completing the preliminary design review of the
integrated vehicle demonstrates our engineering design and development are
on sound footing, and the Ares I design work is taking us another step
closer to building America’s next mode of space transportation.”
The preliminary design review included more than 1,100 reviewers from
seven NASA field centers and multiple industry partners. The review is the
final step of this design process. Teams representing each major part of
the Ares I rocket — the upper stage engine, first stage and upper stage —
all have conducted similar reviews during the past year.
The preliminary design review is one of a series of reviews that occurs
before actual flight hardware can be built. As the review process
progresses, more detailed parts of the vehicle design are assessed to
ensure the overall system can meet all NASA requirements for safe and
reliable flight. This process also identifies technical and management
challenges and addresses ways to reduce potential risks as the project goes
forward.
“Risk assessment is a very important part of the process,” said Steve
Cook, manager of the Ares I rocket at Marshall. “It allows us to identify
issues that might impact the Ares I rocket. For example, we identified
thrust oscillation — vibration in the first stage — as a risk. In
response to this issue, we formed an engineering team. The team conducted
detailed analyses and reviewed previous test data, and then recommended
options to correct the problem.”
“We intend to hold a limited follow-up review next summer to fully
incorporate the thrust oscillation recommendations into the stacked vehicle
design,” Cook added. “Identifying risks that can impact the project and
resolving them is a necessary and vital part of the development process.”
With the completion of this review, each element of the Ares I rocket
will move to the detailed design phase. A critical design review will mark
the completion of the detailed design phase and allows for a more thorough
review of each system element to ensure the vehicle design can achieve
requirements of the Ares program.
This week, the J-2X engine will be the first Ares I element to kick off
the critical design review process. The engine will power the Ares I upper
stage to orbit after separation from the first stage.
“We’re excited about getting into full system engine tests with the new
J-2X engine,” Cook said. “This will be one of the safest, most affordable
and highest performing rocket engines ever built, and testing is critical
as we begin preparation for future flights.”
Marshall manages the Ares projects and is responsible for design and
development of the Ares I rocket and Ares V heavy cargo launch vehicle.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston manages the Constellation Program,
which includes the Ares I rocket, the Ares V vehicle, the Orion crew
capsule and the Altair lunar lander. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida
is responsible for ground and launch operations. The program also includes
multiple project element teams at NASA centers and contract organizations
around the U.S.
NASA Developing Fission Surface Power Technology
September 10, 2008
CLEVELAND, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA astronauts will
need power sources when they return to the moon and establish a lunar
outpost. NASA engineers are exploring the possibility of nuclear fission to
provide the necessary power and taking initial steps toward a non-nuclear
technology demonstration of this type of system.
A fission surface power system on the moon has the potential to
generate a steady 40 kilowatts of electric power, enough for about eight
houses on Earth. It works by splitting uranium atoms in a reactor to
generate heat that then is converted into electric power. The fission
surface power system can produce large amounts of power in harsh
environments, like those on the surface of the moon or Mars, because it
does not rely on sunlight. The primary components of fission surface power
systems are a heat source, power conversion, heat rejection and power
conditioning, and distribution.
“Our goal is to build a technology demonstration unit with all the
major components of a fission surface power system and conduct non-nuclear,
integrated system testing in a ground-based space simulation facility,”
said Lee Mason, principal investigator for the test at NASA’s Glenn Center
in Cleveland. “Our long-term goal is to demonstrate technical readiness
early in the next decade, when NASA is expected to decide on the type of
power system to be used on the lunar surface.”
Glenn recently contracted for the design and analysis of two different
types of advanced power conversion units as an early step in the
development of a full system-level technology demonstration. These power
conversion units are necessary to process the heat produced by the nuclear
reactor and efficiently convert it to electrical power.
The first design concept by Sunpower Inc., of Athens, Ohio, uses two
opposed piston engines coupled to alternators that produce 6 kilowatts
each, or a total of 12 kilowatts of power. The second contract with Barber
Nichols Inc. of Arvada, Colo., is for development of a closed Brayton cycle
engine that uses a high speed turbine and compressor coupled to a rotary
alternator that also generates 12 kilowatts of power.
“Development and testing of the power conversion unit will be a key
factor in demonstrating the readiness of fission surface power technology
and provide NASA with viable and cost-effective options for nuclear power
on the moon and Mars,” said Don Palac, manager of Glenn’s Fission Surface
Power Project.
After a one year design and analysis phase, a single contractor will be
selected to build and test a prototype power conversion unit. When
complete, the power conversion unit will be integrated with the other
technology demonstration unit’s major components. Glenn will develop the
heat rejection system and provide the space simulation facility. Glenn also
will work in conjunction with the Department of Energy and NASA’s Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Marshall will develop and provide a
non-nuclear reactor simulator with liquid metal coolant as the heat source
unit for the technology demonstration.
A nuclear reactor used in space is much different than Earth-based
systems. There are no large concrete cooling towers, and the reactor is
about the size of an office trash can. The energy produced from a space
reactor also is much smaller but more than adequate for the projected power
needs of a lunar outpost.
Testing of the non-nuclear system is expected to take place at Glenn in
2012 or 2013. These tests will help verify system performance projections,
develop safe and reliable control methods, gain valuable operating
experience, and reduce technology and programmatic risks. This technology
demonstration is being conducted as part of NASA’s Exploration Technology
Development Program.
‘Naked-Eye’ Gamma-Ray Burst Was Aimed Squarely at Earth
September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Data from satellites
and observatories around the globe show a jet from a powerful stellar
explosion witnessed March 19 was aimed almost directly at Earth.
NASA’s Swift satellite detected the explosion — formally named GRB
080319B — at 2:13 a.m. EDT that morning and pinpointed its position in the
constellation Bootes. The event, called a gamma-ray burst, became bright
enough for human eyes to see. Observations of the event are giving
astronomers the most detailed portrait of a burst ever recorded.
“Swift was designed to find unusual bursts,” said Swift principal
investigator Neil Gehrels at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md. “We really hit the jackpot with this one.”
In a paper to appear in Thursday’s issue of Nature, Judith Racusin of
Penn State University and a team of 92 coauthors report on observations
across the spectrum that began 30 minutes before the explosion and followed
its afterglow for months. The team concludes the burst’s extraordinary
brightness arose from a jet that shot material directly toward Earth at
99.99995 percent the speed of light.
At the same moment Swift saw the burst, the Russian KONUS instrument on
NASA’s Wind satellite also sensed the gamma rays and provided a wide view
of their spectral structure. A robotic wide-field optical camera called “Pi
of the Sky” in Chile simultaneously captured the burst’s first visible
light. The system is operated by institutions from Poland.
Within the next 15 seconds, the burst brightened enough to be visible
in a dark sky to human eyes. It briefly crested at a magnitude of 5.3 on
the astronomical brightness scale. Incredibly, the dying star was 7.5
billion light-years away.
Telescopes around the world already were studying the afterglow of
another burst when GRB 080319B exploded just 10 degrees away. TORTORA, a
robotic wide-field optical camera operated in Chile with Russian-Italian
collaboration, also caught the early light. TORTORA’s rapid imaging
provided the most detailed look yet at visible light associated with a
burst’s initial gamma-ray blast.
Immediately after the blast, Swift’s UltraViolet and Optical Telescope
and X-Ray Telescope indicated they were effectively blinded. Racusin
initially thought something was wrong. Within minutes, however, as reports
from other observers arrived, it was clear this was a special event.
Gamma-ray bursts are the universe’s most luminous explosions. Most
occur when massive stars run out of nuclear fuel. As a star’s core
collapses, it creates a black hole or neutron star that, through processes
not fully understood, drive powerful gas jets outward. These jets punch
through the collapsing star. As the jets shoot into space, they strike gas
previously shed by the star and heat it. That generates bright afterglows.
The team believes the jet directed toward Earth contained an ultra-fast
component just 0.4 of a degree across. This core resided within a slightly
less energetic jet about 20 times wider.
“It’s this wide jet that Swift usually sees from other bursts,” Racusin
explained. “Maybe every gamma-ray burst contains a narrow jet, too, but
astronomers miss them because we don’t see them head-on.”
Such an alignment occurs by chance only about once a decade, so a GRB
080319B is a rare catch.
Swift is managed by Goddard. It was built and is being operated in
collaboration with Penn State, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and
General Dynamics in the U.S.; the University of Leicester and Mullard Space
Sciences Laboratory in the United Kingdom; Brera Observatory and the
Italian Space Agency in Italy; plus additional partners in Germany and
Japan.
SOURCE NASA
FAA Awards Air Traffic Control Optimum Training Solution Contract to Raytheon Team
September 10, 2008
RESTON, Va., Sept. 10, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — A team led by Raytheon
Technical Services Company (RTSC) LLC, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN), has received a 10-year contract to provide training support
for Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers. The single
contractor award is valued at $437 million for the five-year base period.
The contract also has two options. If exercised, the first option is three
years and the second option, two years.
The FAA’s Air Traffic Control Optimum Training Solution (ATCOTS)
contract is a performance-based contract that replaces the current FAA
field Training Support for Air Traffic (TSAT) and the FAA Academy
Instructional Support Services (ISS) contracts. The ATCOTS contract, which
began Sept. 9, gives the Raytheon team the ability to examine the entire
air traffic controller training lifecycle.
“We are proud to have been selected to provide training support for the
next decade,” said Rick Yuse, RTSC president. “Our ATCOTS team is committed
to ensuring a smooth transition, exceptional training and an improved
training process for the FAA’s air traffic controllers.”
The Raytheon-led ATCOTS team includes Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.,
Arlington, Va.; Dynamic Sciences, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.; The Fortier Group,
Oceanside, Calif.; CNI Information Technology, LLC, Oklahoma City, Okla.;
Interim Solutions for Government, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Chenega Technology
Services Corporation, Alexandria, Va.; University of North Dakota, Grand
Forks, N.D.; and Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis,
Minn.
“Our systematic approach to designing training solutions will help the
FAA provide safe, uninterrupted travel for air travelers,” said Raytheon
Program Manager Charlie Keegan. “The training we will deliver to the FAA is
built on more than 40 years of experience delivering a full range of
training to the air traffic control community.”
RTSC provides technology solutions for defense, federal and commercial
customers worldwide. RTSC specializes in Mission Support (including
installation, integration, maintenance, training and logistics support),
counterproliferation and counterterrorism, homeland security solutions,
base and range operations and customized engineering and manufacturing.
Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86
years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a
broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham,
Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.
Note to Editors:
This contract award was announced by the FAA Sept. 9, 2008.
The TSAT contract incumbent is the Washington Consulting Group (WCG),
and the ISS contract incumbent is the University of Oklahoma (OU). WCG and
OU were on the Lockheed Martin Corporation ATCOTS team. Both WCG and OU
have been incumbents for more than 20 years.
Statement of Northrop Grumman on the KC-X Tanker Replacement Program Decision
September 10, 2008
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The following is the
statement of Brandon R. “Randy” Belote, III, Northrop Grumman vice
president, Strategic Communications, in response to today’s decision
terminating the current KC-X tanker competition:
“We are extremely disappointed at the decision to terminate the current
tanker competition, especially on behalf of our men and women in uniform
who will now be denied a critically needed new tanker for years.
“The Department of Defense, as recently as last week, stated the
urgency to replace the Eisenhower-era fleet of refueling tankers. With this
delay, it is conceivable that our warfighters will be forced to fly tankers
as old as 80 years of age.”
Northrop Grumman entered this competition in good faith and proposed
the most modern, most capable tanker available, at the best value to the
American taxpayer. While we understand, we are greatly concerned about the
potential future implications for the defense acquisition process.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company
whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions
in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to
government and commercial customers worldwide.
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation
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