Key Milestone Achieved for GE’s New Turboshaft Engine for the U.S. Marine Corps.
January 14, 2009
LYNN, Massachusetts – January 13, 2008 – GE Aviation has completed on
schedule the Critical Design Review (CDR) of its new GE38 turboshaft
engine, clearing the way for full-engine testing in 2009.
A key component of GE’s growth strategy for turboshaft engines, the GE38
will power Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation’s next-generation CH-53K heavy
lift helicopter being developed for the United States Marine Corps.
In addition to powering the CH-53K, GE envisions the GE38 as the future
cornerstone for a new turboshaft/turboprop family, with a long-term
production potential of 7,000 engines for various commercial and
military applications over the next 30-plus years.
For the CDR, more than 50 representatives from the United States Naval
Air Systems (NAVAIR) command and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation were
involved, covering all aspects of the engine program from test and
manufacturing plans to logistics support.
“We are extremely pleased with the CDR results, and we are excited to
support Sikorsky in delivering the increased capability CH-53K to the
Marine Corps,” said GE38 program manager Harry Nahatis. “Successfully
completing this important milestone further validates GE’s investment in
technology for the GE38 and provides confidence the engine will meet
requirements for the CH-53K and other potential applications.”
Completion of the CDR concludes a busy 2008 for the GE38. In June, a
thorough review of more than 100 design and program management criteria
led to finalization of drawings and release of parts for manufacture.
Engine component rig tests have been conducted throughout the summer and
fall.
Combustion system rig testing validated key performance parameters,
including cooling effectiveness, altitude starting, thermal efficiency
and exit temperature distribution. Controls component tests verified
electrical interfaces and demonstrated functionality of the Full
Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC). Lubrication system
simulator tests, designed to ensure the GE38 meets stringent military
requirements — such as pitch-and-roll operation — are scheduled for
early 2009.
Capable of producing more than 7,500 shaft-horsepower at sea level, the
GE38 draws upon technologies from the GE27 Modern Technology
Demonstrator Engine program for the U.S. military, which set world
records for low fuel consumption and power-to-weight ratio, and the T407
turboprop engine developed for the U.S. Navy. A turbofan derivative of
the T407 engine, the CFE738, powers the Dassault Falcon 2000 business
jet.
The GE38 architecture is updated with new three-dimensional aerodynamics
for more efficient airfoil shapes, plus improved cooling schemes and
materials for added durability. As a result, the GE38 can deliver
approximately 15-20% more power than the T407 engine–depending on the
application and the mission–plus significant advances in engine
performance and life-cycle cost.
The GE38 also features a more rugged compressor airfoil design to
increase durability. To help reduce operation and support costs, the
GE38 also features a modular design popularized by the T700 engine
family.
In December 2006, Sikorsky selected the GE38 for its three-engine CH-53K
aircraft, which will replace the CH-53E SUPER STALLION(tm) helicopter
powered by GE’s T64 engine. The GE38 provides 57% more power, 18%
better specific fuel consumption and has 63% fewer parts than the
similarly sized GE T64 powering the existing CH-53E helicopter. Engine
deliveries are expected to begin in 2010.
Texas Aviation Services And Sierra Aeronautica Deliver Agusta 109E To Brazil
January 14, 2009
SAO PAULO, Brazil, January 12, 2009 — Texas Aviation Services (TAS), a leader for 38 years in helicopter and aircraft services, along with its in-country partner Sierra Aeronautica, announced today the delivery of an executive Agusta 109E Power to Sao Paulo.
Despite economic “brown-outs” and rumors of a market that is “slowing down”, Texas Aviation Services continues to roll out high-end executive completions. TAS recently delivered its’ second Agusta 109E to Sao Paulo, Brazil after paint, interior and avionics upgrades were completed. Prior to the aircraft’s departure, the TAS Brazilian Repair Station was graded 10 out of 10 by the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority on the conformity inspection.
Texas Aviation retrofitted the new Agusta 109E with multiple Garmin 430W’s, a GMX-200 with Chartview, Skywatch HP and a redesigned Instrument Panel engineered by the TAS staff. The six passenger seats were covered with high-end leather and the crew and passenger areas were covered with carpet and Ultra-Leather. Door activated dome lights with soft dim were installed along with Tinted Dual Windows STC’d by TAS. The Dual Windows came with additional soundproofing to decrease interior sounds considerably, conveniently allowing passengers to communicate without headsets. To finish, the TAS team installed Whelen exterior LED lights and applied a mirror finish paint scheme.
Michael Bashlor, President of TAS said: “We aren’t slowing down; TAS continues to push out executive completions that re-define the industry’s standards.”
Marcos Braga, CEO of Sierra Aeronautica said, “This aircraft was the second completion for this particular customer, and we continue to surpass their expectations. 2009 should be a record year for us together in Brazil.”
About Texas Aviation Services
Texas Aviation Services, part of Ranger’s 175,000 square feet of facilities at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, TX, is an independent helicopter technical services company with 37 years of successful history. TAS specializes in both civilian and military helicopter completions, retrofits, MRO, avionics systems integration, interiors, paint, component overhaul and engineering. Originally founded in 1971, TAS performs complex customizing projects on civilian Bell, Eurocopter, Agusta, and extensive retrofits on military Blackhawks. The Meacham Airport operations are one of the largest of their type in the mid-South, with the capacity for scores of helicopter projects per year.
TAM Has Record International Market Share of 85.5% in December
January 14, 2009
Domestic market share in December was 49.1%
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/SPTH002LOGO )
According to ANAC, TAM registered 5.0% growth in domestic RPK (demand) compared to the same period last year, and 14.3% increase in domestic ASK (supply). In December, market demand increased 3.7% and market supply increased 11.2%. TAM registered domestic market share (RPK) of 49.1%, a 0.6 p.p. increase compared to the same period in 2007. TAM’s domestic load factor was 66.1%, 0.7 p.p. lower than the market average of 66.9%.
In the international market, TAM registered 22.1% growth in RPK and 21.9% in ASK, compared to
JetBlue Announces Commercial Team Promotions
January 14, 2009
“Thanks to the strength of JetBlue’s brand, we are now positioned to earn even more than our share of the marketplace. 2009 will be a challenging year, but we have a great brand and these leadership appointments will allow us to continue to develop our products and services,” said Mr. Hayes. “Marty brings experience and expertise in executing broad programs in support of our commercial strategies, both serving our customers well and generating improved results for the company.”
Mr. St. George joined JetBlue in
“I’m honored to take on this responsibility, and I look forward to serving JetBlue’s crewmembers, customers and shareholders,” Mr. St. George said. “Through the hard work of our 11,500 crewmembers, JetBlue has become the strongest brand in the airline industry, and we are committed to maintaining our leadership position.”
“I’m pleased to name
Mr. Laurence joined JetBlue in 2008 as Director, Network Planning, after nine years at United Airlines in roles of increasing responsibility in the network planning and revenue management departments. He also held positions at US Airways in areas of similar focus.
“I look forward to leading the Network Planning group as JetBlue focuses on the business travel markets in 2009 and beyond,” Mr. Laurence said. “We will continue developing our route network as a vital resource for JetBlue’s success.”
Jeppesen Selects Alpine Access to Provide Quality Customer Care
January 14, 2009
Known for providing the most accurate and timely information in the air, on the water and on the ground, Jeppesen makes customer service a priority. To fully meet the needs of their pilot customers, the company needed a customer contact partner with strong transportation experience both as an organization and within its employee base. They selected Alpine Access because not only did the company have strong travel knowledge, the virtual nature of its business model provided access to hundreds of customer care professionals (CCPs) with previous aviation experience.
“At Jeppesen, our customers’ success is our success. We must fully understand the needs of each person in order to provide the best possible service and support,” said
Alpine Access is a leader in the home-based customer care market. Through its unique employee-matching program, customer care professionals are recruited, screened and hired based on their unique skills, passions and experiences. These employees are then dedicated by Alpine Access to a single client that matches their profile. As a result, clients know that the CCPs handling their calls are passionate, qualified and possess unique knowledge of their particular industry. Alpine Access’ agent-match program has proven to have positive financial benefits with better results for one-call resolution, customer satisfaction, customer retention, and average order sizes.
“Jeppesen’s dedication to providing the highest possible customer service matches our own company philosophy and makes this a strong combination that will result in satisfied customers,” said
About Jeppesen
For 75 years Jeppesen has made it possible for pilots and their passengers to safely and efficiently reach their destinations. Today this pioneering spirit continues as Jeppesen delivers essential information and optimization solutions to improve the efficiency of air, sea and rail operations around the globe. Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, a unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
About Alpine Access
Alpine Access pioneered a distinctive home-based employee contact center model in 1998 that provides greater customer connections and premium quality results by matching an elite workforce of agents to specific client needs. With this service, customers in the retail, travel, financial and public sectors, including J.Crew, Office Depot, Jeppesen, EDS – an HP company, and the Internal Revenue Service, experience improved operational efficiencies and increased financial success with higher one-call resolution, greater customer satisfaction scores and larger average order sizes.
Alpine Access employs 7,500 distributed home-based agents and has been included on fastest-growing company lists such as the Inc. 500, Deloitte &
6th Annual ‘Living Legends of Aviation'(R) Awards Ceremony to Honor Harrison Ford, Sir Richard Branson and Other Aviation Legends
January 14, 2009
Sir
Often referred to as the Academy Awards of Aviation, the ceremony is produced by Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit which introduces kids to aviation. “The award ceremony recognizes great work, dedication and accomplishments in aviation. The importance of leadership and commitment in these challenging economic times make this recognition event even more significant,” said
Additional awards presented by the Legends throughout the evening include:
- Special “Flown West” Tribute to the late pilot, producer, director
Sydney Pollack and test pilotJohnny Myers . - Freedom of Flight Award:
Emily Howell-Warner , first female commercial pilot. - Legends Top Flyer Award: USAF F-22 Raptor pilot
Paul “Max” Moga . - Aviation Industry Leader of the Year Award:
Ed Bolen , President of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). - More honorees to be revealed the night of the ceremony!
“I consider being inducted in the Living Legends of Aviation last year among the most important happenings of my life,” Aviation Legend Bob Lutz (Co-Chair General Motors)
This year’s celebrity attendees include: Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Maj. Gen.
For more information or to purchase tickets please visit: www.airportjournals.com/legends.
About Living Legends of Aviation:
The “Living Legends of Aviation” is made up of 70 admirable people of aviation including: entrepreneurs, innovators, record breakers, astronauts, pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots. The Legends meet yearly to recognize, nominate and honor individuals that have made significant contributions in aviation. Living Legends of Aviation is a registered trademark.
About Kiddie Hawk Air Academy:
The event is produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization recognized by the IRS. Kiddie Hawk introduces kids ages 5 thru 11 to flight with the Kiddie Hawk Air Trainer Simulator. The Kiddie Hawk Trainer allows kids to take their first flight lesson with the sophistication of motion and control of real flight, piloting their airplane, albeit just a few feet off the ground. Kiddie Hawk follows up as the students progress, making scholarships available as these kid pilots enter actual flight training years later. The Kiddie Hawk program also introduces youngsters to aviation related careers.
Copa Holdings Announces 16.5% Traffic Growth for December 2008
January 14, 2009
For the month of
Copa Airlines passenger traffic (RPM) for
Aero Republica passenger traffic (RPM) for
Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney Successfully Complete Advanced Affordable Turbine Engine (AATE) Design Review
January 14, 2009
This advanced engine is planned as a potential retrofit for the T700 engine now powering UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The AATE demonstrator program is designed to validate the technologies needed to achieve the Army’s aggressive performance goals of 65 percent improvement in shaft horsepower (SHP)/weight ratio and a 25 percent improvement in fuel consumption for the next-generation
“The successful Preliminary Design Review demonstrates the innovation of this new engine design and the ATEC team’s strong commitment to our customer,” said
“Successful completion of the PDR is the first of many major milestones for the AATE program as we develop this advanced engine,” said
With the completion of PDR the ATEC team will now focus on execution of Detailed Design and the beginning of validation testing. Validation testing will begin in 2009 and will continue through full engine testing in 2011.
The
About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in
Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the T400 for the UH-1N, the PT6 family that powers the T-6A Texan II, C-12, C-23, T-44 and RC-7, and the PW207 for the A160 Hummingbird. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of MRO and MAS focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers.
About Honeywell
Honeywell International is a
Honeywell’s military engines include the AGT1500 powering the Abrams Family of Main Battle Tanks, the HTS900 powering the ARH 70-A, the T55-GA-714A powering the Boeing CH-47, the T53 powering the UH-1H and Cobra helicopters, and the LHTEC T800 powering the Augusta Westland Super Lynx and Future Lynx helicopters. Honeywell operates a global network of MRO service centers offering a broad range of repair capabilities.
Aveos and Air Canada extend engine repair agreement until 2018
January 14, 2009
“Aveos is proud to continue its strong partnership with Air Canada. The extended agreement offers Air Canada a customized, flexible maintenance program with advantageous fixed price guarantees. It is a great example of the value-added offering we bring to our customers,” said
Aveos upholds the highest standards in quality and boasts one of the industry’s highest first-time pass rates and engine gas temperature margins. “We are able to bring our customers cost-effective solutions and offer competitive value due to our technical knowledge and our strong relationships with GE and CFM, with whom we have long-term material and repair agreements giving us enhanced access to OEM-produced parts and services at industry-competitive pricing,” continued
Terms and conditions of the agreement remain confidential.
About Aveos
Aveos is a full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider of airframe, engine, component and maintenance solutions. From maintenance facilities across
Goodrich Selects U.S. Air Force for F-35 Landing Gear Advanced Coatings
January 14, 2009
— Selection for environmentally responsible coatings expands Air Force partnership
HVOF coating technology is increasingly being used in demanding aerospace applications such as landing gear because it provides a superior performing, environmentally responsible alternative to hard chrome plating. Goodrich, along with the F-35 integrated product team, worked closely with OO-ALC on technical, quality and program elements to bring the depot’s HVOF process online in a production environment.
According to
OO-ALC is the U.S. Air Force’s landing gear center of excellence. Goodrich and OO-ALC have had a partnership agreement since 2001. Other work under the partnership agreement includes the repair and overhaul of landing gear for the C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.
Goodrich provides landing gear for all variants of the F-35 Lightning II – CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing), CV (carrier variant) and STOVL (short takeoff/vertical landing). Other Goodrich content on the F-35 includes the air data system, weapons bay door systems, engine and fuel quantity sensors, actuation systems and unique STOVL engine and airframe components. Goodrich content on the F-35 is expected to be valued at more than
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