LAN Cargo receives Colombian government certification
February 19, 2009
The ‘model airline” has received Colombian certification and will begin service in March. It will operate two B767-300Fs and will serve major destinations in Latin America as well as Miami.
Amerijet to Operate Boeing 767-200 Cargo Aircraft
February 19, 2009
| Amerijet’s Imports facility at Miami International Airport. (PRNewsFoto/Amerijet International, Inc.)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL UNITED STATES |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Amerijet International, Inc. announced today it has signed a seven year agreement with Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (CAM), a subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG) to lease five Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft. The 767s will enable the airline to increase capacity on its scheduled service routes, and expand its charter availability.
“Amerijet had identified this aircraft as key to our long-term leadership in the markets we serve and crucial in enabling us to expand our service throughout the Americas,” said Pam Rollins, SVP of Business Development. “Our customers will be very happy to have this aircraft available to service their needs, including charters, both within our current service region and beyond.”
“Amerijet is planning to increase frequency to several favorable markets and potentially add new long-haul routes.” Pamela Rollins further added, “Amerijet’s strong foothold in its existing markets, flexibility and reputation for outstanding performance will allow us to grow with our customers.”
The carrier’s current fleet of eight Boeing 727-200s are deployed on scheduled and charter flights, to points in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.
Amerijet International, Inc. is a full-service multi-modal transportation and logistics provider, offering international, scheduled all-cargo transport via land, sea, and air. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based Amerijet operates offices all over the world, serving destinations throughout North, South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Amerijet operates from its primary hub at Miami International Airport, where it maintains a 210,000-square-foot export, 100,000-square-foot imports air cargo handling facility, a 50,000-square-foot ocean cargo handling facility and a custom-built 10,300 square-foot (227,419 cu. ft.) cooling facility specially designed to maintain the cool chain integrity of perishables during the transportation process offering not only refrigerated, but frozen, and chilled storage.
Boeing Delivers First 777 Freighter to Air France
February 19, 2009
EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) today celebrated the delivery of the company’s first 777 Freighter to launch customer Air France in a ceremony at the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour near Paine Field. The contractual delivery and airplane departure are scheduled for Friday.
“Our new Boeing 777 Freighter will operate very well with our 747-400ER Freighters,” said Air France Executive Vice President for New Aircraft & Corporate Fleet Planning Pierre Vellay. “Also, we will benefit from the airplane’s commonality with our proven 777 passenger fleet and improve our cargo efficiency to help us through the current economic difficulties.”
Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777 Freighter can fly 4,880 nautical miles (9,038 kilometers) with a full payload of 226,700 pounds (103 metric tons). The new airplane is expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) in the Air France Cargo fleet. Air France currently operates five 747-400ER Freighters and four 747-400BCFs.
“The 777 Freighter uses less fuel per cargo tonne than any freighter operating,” said Aldo Basile, vice president, Sales, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the 777F, Air France also will experience the lowest maintenance costs and the lowest trip costs of any large freighter, as well as outstanding environmental performance.”
The 777 Freighter is the world’s longest-range freighter and features the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high cargo density and 10-foot (3.1-meter) interior height capability that complement the popular 747 Freighter family.
“The 777 Freighter provides a new level of cargo economics, with low tonne-kilometer costs to help cargo airlines in the current environment,” said Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the Boeing 777 Program. “The 777 Freighter is a great example of Boeing’s commitment to continuously improve the 777 family to deliver top value to owners and operators.”
The 777 Freighter is powered by General Electric’s GE90-110B1L and meets QC2 noise standards.
Air France Cargo also was the first operator of the 747-400ER Freighter.
Twelve customers have ordered a total of 73 777 Freighters.
NASA’s Kepler Mission to Seek Other Earths
February 19, 2009
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA’s Kepler spacecraft is ready to be moved to the launch pad today and will soon begin a journey to search for worlds that could potentially host life.
Kepler is scheduled to blast into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a Delta II rocket on March 5 at 10:48 p.m. EST. It is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth — rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface. Liquid water is believed to be essential for the formation of life.
“Kepler is a critical component in NASA’s broader efforts to ultimately find and study planets where Earth-like conditions may be present,” said Jon Morse, the Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The planetary census Kepler takes will be very important for understanding the frequency of Earth-size planets in our galaxy and planning future missions that directly detect and characterize such worlds around nearby stars.”
The mission will spend three and a half years surveying more than 100,000 sun-like stars in the Cygnus-Lyra region of our Milky Way galaxy. It is expected to find hundreds of planets the size of Earth and larger at various distances from their stars. If Earth-size planets are common in the habitable zone, Kepler could find dozens; if those planets are rare, Kepler might find none.
In the end, the mission will be our first step toward answering a question posed by the ancient Greeks: are there other worlds like ours or are we alone?
“Finding that most stars have Earths implies that the conditions that support the development of life could be common throughout our galaxy,” said William Borucki, Kepler’s science principal investigator at NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. “Finding few or no Earths indicates that we might be alone.”
The Kepler telescope is specially designed to detect the periodic dimming of stars that planets cause as they pass by. Some star systems are oriented in such a way that their planets cross in front of their stars, as seen from our Earthly point of view. As the planets pass by, they cause their stars’ light to slightly dim, or wink.
The telescope can detect even the faintest of these winks, registering changes in brightness of only 20 parts per million. To achieve this resolution, Kepler will use the largest camera ever launched into space, a 95-megapixel array of charged couple devices, known as CCDs.
“If Kepler were to look down at a small town on Earth at night from space, it would be able to detect the dimming of a porch light as somebody passed in front,” said James Fanson, Kepler project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
By staring at one large patch of sky for the duration of its lifetime, Kepler will be able to watch planets periodically transit their stars over multiple cycles. This will allow astronomers to confirm the presence of planets. Earth-size planets in habitable zones would theoretically take about a year to complete one orbit, so Kepler will monitor those stars for at least three years to confirm their presence. Ground-based telescopes and NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes will perform follow-up studies on the larger planets.
“Kepler is a critical cornerstone in understanding what types of planets are formed around other stars,” said exoplanet hunter Debra Fischer of San Francisco State University. “The discoveries that emerge will be used immediately to study the atmospheres of large, gas exoplanets with Spitzer. And the statistics that are compiled will help us chart a course toward one day imaging a pale blue dot like our planet, orbiting another star in our galaxy.”
Kepler is a NASA Discovery mission. Ames is the home organization of the science principal investigator, and is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations and science data analysis. JPL manages the Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colo., is responsible for developing the Kepler flight system and supporting mission operations.
Derco Aerospace Enhances Worldwide Support for Honeywell Product Line
February 19, 2009
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Derco Aerospace, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, has expanded its distribution agreement with Honeywell Defense & Space (D&S) to include support and sales in six additional countries: South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Romania, Austria, and Jordan. Derco now supports the Honeywell D&S Military Fixed Wing products and services worldwide, except in Japan. Under the expanded agreement, Derco will further integrate Honeywell products into its supply chain management and fleet sustainment solutions for its customers around the world. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the worldwide aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
“Derco is excited to expand on its existing relationship with Honeywell and begin supporting these additional countries with high-quality Honeywell products at reduced lead times,” said Brian Holt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Derco Aerospace. “Customers will now enjoy the same level of industry-leading support on Honeywell products they have come to expect from Derco on other critical programs.”
For more information regarding this agreement or to learn more about Derco, call (414) 355-3066 or visit www.dercoaerospace.com.
Founded in 1979, Derco Aerospace, Inc., is based in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a world leader in providing aircraft spares, services, and solutions to customers around the globe. Through solid relationships with premier original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Derco maintains one of the largest and most diversified aircraft spares inventories in the world. Today, Derco is a full-service logistics and solutions provider, supporting military and commercial fleets in more than 65 countries. Derco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services provides comprehensive support to rotary and fixed wing aircraft around the world. It offers its military and commercial customers a full portfolio of support services through its aftermarket companies, Derco Aerospace, Inc., Helicopter Support, Inc., Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Composite Technology, Inc., and Sikorsky Helitech.
Sikorsky Aircraft is based in Stratford, Conn., and is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Sikorsky Aircraft’s mission statement reflects the company’s long commitment to safety and innovation: “We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere… every time(TM).” More information is available at the interactive www.sikorsky.com Web site.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., and provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com. Based in Phoenix, Honeywell’s $12 billion aerospace business is a leading global provider of integrated avionics, engines, systems and service solutions for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military, space and airport operations.
Airbus revises production rates
February 19, 2009
Delivery target 2009 remains unchanged
Airbus is adapting production rates of its A320 Family programme from 36 to 34 a month from October 2009 onwards. Production rates of the A330/A340 family will be paused at the current level of 8.5 a month, and not increased further as previously planned. This decision reflects Airbus’ current view on market demand in times of airlines adapting their capacities and of continuing uncertainties caused by the worldwide economic crisis. At this point, no impact on employment is foreseen.
Tom Enders, Airbus Chief Executive Officer said: “We monitor the market continuously and try to be proactive. Flexibility and adaptability are essential in times of crises. We reached record production rates in late 2008, but now we see a drop of air traffic in most regions. Many airlines are taking capacity out of the market. I do not exclude further production cuts if the need arises.”
Airbus achieved a record high of 483 deliveries in 2008 and aims to achieve a similar figure in 2009. Today’s precautionary measure will not affect the 2009 Airbus delivery target.
With a backlog of more than 3600 aircraft, and the Power 8 improvement programme making good progress, Airbus is in a position to face up to the short-term challenges posed by the downturn whilst preparing for a strong future.
The A320 Family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321. It is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. More than 6,300 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold and more than 3,700 delivered to more than 220 customers and operators worldwide, making it the worlds best selling commercial jetliner ever. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft
The A330/A340 is a unique Family of six true wide-body aircraft models with capacities covering the 250 to 380 seat, regional to ultra long haul, passenger markets and the 64 to 69 tonne cargo market. Thanks to high levels of passenger comfort and operational efficiency almost 1,400 Airbus A330/340 aircraft have been sold, with almost 950 in service with nearly 100 customers.
Saudi Arabian Airlines Formalizes Order For CFM56-5B Engines to Power New Airbus A320s
February 19, 2009
NEW YORK CITY – February 19, 2009 — In a special ceremony here, Saudi Arabian Airlines signed the final agreement to formalize the airline’s order for CFM56-5B engines to power 22 new Airbus A320 family aircraft.
The $300 million order was originally announced at the 2008 Farnborough Air Show. The airline, which is also leasing CFM56-5B-powered A320s, is scheduled to begin taking delivery of the new aircraft later this year.
In originally announcing the order, Engineer Khalid Almolhem, Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines said, “The CFM56-5B is the right engine for our A320 new fleet. The engine combines operational efficiency as well as lower NOx emissions for our planet. This will effectively be the engine of choice for all of the airline’s A320 aircraft.”
Saudi Arabian Airlines, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, began operations in 1945 with a single twin-engined DC-3 that had been presented to King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud by the then U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today, it is one of the Middle East’s largest airlines, operating a fleet of 98 aircraft to nearly 90 destinations. It operates flights to more than 60 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.
All of Saudi Arabian’s CFM56-5B engines are the Tech Insertion configuration. This technology will provide operators with a 1 percent improvement in fuel consumption over the life of the product, compared to the base CFM56-5B engine. This lower fuel consumption will also lower CO2, reducing these emissions by 200 tons per aircraft per year. Improved analytic design tools have also enabled CFM to further optimize the Tech Insertion combustor so that it will provide 25 percent lower NOx emissions.
Over the engine’s life cycle, Tech Insertion will also provide operators with longer time on wing and will lower maintenance costs between five and 12 percent, depending on the thrust rating. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor and the high- and low-pressure turbines.
CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
Hawker Beechcraft Fires Back at Media and Politicians on Business Jets
February 18, 2009
Supports corporations who rely on business aviation to succeed
WICHITA, Kan. (Feb. 18, 2009) – Many of America’s most successful companies are under fire for owning business aircraft. They still need to fly and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) is here to help. In its latest advertising campaign, HBC reaches out to corporations who are under intense pressure to divest their business aircraft.
“Many in the media and some politicians have misrepresented business aircraft as a symbol of excess instead of an increasingly necessary business tool,” said Charles Mayer, vice president of Marketing at HBC. “This negative stereotype is damaging the ability of American corporations to compete globally and, at the same time, jeopardizing thousands of American aviation jobs.”
“Frankly, we are puzzled by this approach given the importance of aviation to the American economy,” Mayer said. “It not only represents more than 5.5 percent of total GDP, but is an industry that America dominates globally. It is time to embrace our strongest industries, not destroy them.”
In the first of a series of advertisements, HBC pens an open letter to Starbucks sharing support for the company’s business aircraft needs via the headline, “Dear Starbucks, You Still Need To Fly. We’re Here To Help.”
“Starbucks is a uniquely American success story with thousands of locations in more than 40 countries,” Mayer said. “Like most successful corporations, Starbucks relies on business aircraft to manage and grow its business worldwide. We are here to help them fly even more efficiently than before by showing them how to right-size their flight department.”
For example, like larger, much costlier aircraft, the new Hawker 4000 is ideally suited to intercontinental flights. With its industry-first composite construction that is lighter and stronger than aluminum, and its ability to carry eight passengers in stand-up, stretch-out comfort, the Hawker 4000 does most of what many corporations’ bigger jets do, but at half the price.
“By right-sizing their fleet to the revolutionary Hawker 4000, Starbucks would give up almost nothing in capability, but gain a dramatic increase in efficiency – something the media, politicians and even their shareholders will appreciate,” Mayer said.
HBC’s advertising campaign will break on Feb. 19 in national business publications including the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, Financial Times and others.
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with the largest number of factory-owned service centers and a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.
Lufthansa Expands CFM56-5B-Powered Airbus Fleet; Places $375 Million Engine Order
February 18, 2009
EVENDALE, Ohio — February 18, 2009 — Lufthansa has selected CFM International’s CFM56-5B engine to power 27 new Airbus A319/A320 aircraft in a firm engine order valued at approximately $375 million. The airline is scheduled to take its first new aircraft later this year, with deliveries continuing through November 2012.
Lufthansa took delivery of its first CFM-powered aircraft in 1986 and today operates more than 150 CFM56-powered Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Lufthansa, the national carrier of Germany, is one of the world’s most prestigious airlines. Since it’s foundation, Lufthansa has been a driving force behind commercial aviation. In recent years, the airline has been one of the industry’s strongest proponents of “green” technology that reduces the impact of aviation on the environment, particularly noise and emissions.
By selecting the CFM56-5B Tech Insertion configuration, Lufthansa is taking a significant step in further achieving those goals. Over the engine’s life cycle, CFM56 Tech Insertion will provide the airline better specific fuel consumption, which translates to better fuel burn and, as a result, lower CO2 emissions. The engine also meets the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection standards (CAEP /6) that took effect in early 2008.
Tech Insertion will also result in longer time on wing through an equivalent 15 – 20° C additional exhaust gas temperature margin; between 5 and 15% percent lower maintenance costs (depending on the thrust rating) through enhanced durability. These benefits are achieved through improvements to the high-pressure compressor, the combustor, and the high- and low-pressure turbines.
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
CAE 5000 Series simulator surpasses 15,000 hours of training
February 18, 2009
– Aeroflot and Zhuhai Flight Training Centre simulators latest to achieve Level D qualification
– Ryanair simulators also qualified for training
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – Feb. 18, 2009) – (NYSE:CGT)(TSX:CAE) – CAE today announced that its CAE 5000 Series full-flight simulator (FFS), which was launched in March 2007 and entered service a year ago, has surpassed 15,000 hours of training in its first year of service.
CAE also announced that a CAE 5000 Series A320 FFS for Aeroflot Russian Airlines as well as a CAE 5000 Series A320 FFS for the Zhuhai Flight Training Centre in China have recently achieved Level D certification, the highest qualification for flight simulators. The Zhuhai Flight Training Centre, a joint venture of China Southern Airlines and CAE, had its first CAE 5000 Series FFS certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). In addition, two CAE 5000 Series B737NG FFSs for Ryanair have recently been qualified, which Ryanair will use specifically for recurrent training.
“CAE continues to be the market leader because of our close customer relationships, our intense focus on simulation and training and our drive for continuous innovation and technological leadership,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s Chief Operating Officer. “The CAE 5000 Series was the result of close collaboration with customers to deliver a breakthrough full-flight simulator delivering increased flexibility, enhanced efficiency, and reduced costs. CAE offers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of simulation products and training services-including the CAE 5000 Series-and is in the best position to help airlines meet their training requirements in today’s challenging business climate.”
More than 30 CAE 5000 Series FFS are either in-service or scheduled to enter service this year. CAE 5000 Series FFS have been sold to airlines and training organizations such as Lufthansa Flight Training, Qantas, Aeroflot and Ryanair, as well as deployed throughout CAE’s global training network. The CAE 5000 Series has been designed for a variety of aircraft types, including the Airbus A320, Boeing 737NG, Embraer Phenom 100/300, Bombardier Q400 and a range of other business aircraft.
After more than 15,000 hours of operation in its first year of service, CAE and its customers have been able to assess a range of performance measures for the CAE 5000 Series, including:
– Greater than 98.5 percent availability;
– Between and 20 and 30 percent lower operating costs due to lower power consumption, less preventative and corrective maintenance, and fewer spares;
– Reduced delivery time by approximately 30 percent from contract award to ready-for-training.
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