ew Gamma-Ray Burst Smashes Cosmic Distance Record
April 28, 2009
WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA’s Swift satellite and an international team of astronomers have found a gamma-ray burst from a star that died when the universe was only 630 million years old, or less than five percent of its present age. The event, dubbed GRB 090423, is the most distant cosmic explosion ever seen.
“Swift was designed to catch these very distant bursts,” said Swift lead scientist Neil Gehrels at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “The incredible distance to this burst exceeded our greatest expectations — it was a true blast from the past.”
At 3:55 a.m. EDT on April 23, Swift detected a ten-second-long gamma-ray burst of modest brightness. It quickly pivoted to bring its ultraviolet/optical and X-ray telescopes to observe the burst location. Swift saw a fading X-ray afterglow but none in visible light.
“The burst most likely arose from the explosion of a massive star,” said Derek Fox at Pennsylvania State University. “We’re seeing the demise of a star — and probably the birth of a black hole — in one of the universe’s earliest stellar generations.”
Gamma-ray bursts are the universe’s most luminous explosions. Most occur when massive stars run out of nuclear fuel. As their cores collapse into a black hole or neutron star, gas jets — driven by processes not fully understood — punch through the star and blast into space. There, they strike gas previously shed by the star and heat it, which generates short-lived afterglows in many wavelengths.
“The lack of visible light alone suggested this could be a very distant object,” explained team member Edo Berger of Harvard University.
Beyond a certain distance, the expansion of the universe shifts all optical emission into longer infrared wavelengths. While a star’s ultraviolet light could be similarly shifted into the visible region, ultraviolet-absorbing hydrogen gas grows thicker at earlier times. “If you look far enough away, you can’t see visible light from any object,” he noted.
Within three hours of the burst, Nial Tanvir at the University of Leicester, U.K., and his colleagues reported detection of an infrared source at the Swift position using the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. “Burst afterglows provide us with the most information about the exploded star and its environs,” Tanvir said. “But because afterglows fade out so fast, we must target them quickly.”
At the same time, Fox led an effort to obtain infrared images of the afterglow using the Gemini North Telescope on Mauna Kea. The source appeared in longer-wavelength images but was absent in an image taken at the shortest wavelength of 1 micron. This “drop out” corresponded to a distance of about 13 billion light-years.
As Fox spread the word about the record distance, telescopes around the world slewed toward GRB 090423 to observe the afterglow before it faded away.
At the Galileo National Telescope on La Palma in the Canary Islands, a team including Guido Chincarini at the University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy, determined that the afterglow’s so-called redshift was 8.2. Tanvir’s team, gathering nearly simultaneous observations using one of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescopes on Cerro Paranal, Chile, arrived at the same number. The burst exploded 13.035 billion light-years away.
“It’s an incredible find,” Chincarini said. “What makes it even better is that a telescope named for Galileo made this measurement during the year in which we celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first astronomical use of the telescope.”
A few hours later, Tanvir’s team confirmed the distance using one of the European Very Large Telescopes on Cerro Paranal in Chile.
The previous record holder was a burst seen in September 2008. It showed a redshift of 6.7, which places it 190 million light-years closer than GRB 090423.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center manages Swift. It was built and is being operated in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and General Dynamics of Gilbert, Ariz., in the United States. International collaborators include the University of Leicester and Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory in the United Kingdom, Brera Observatory and the Italian Space Agency in Italy, and additional partners in Germany and Japan.
Sikorsky Global Helicopters Delivers Six S-300CBi(TM) Helicopters to Bristow Academy
April 28, 2009
HORSEHEADS, N.Y., April 28 /PRNewswire/ — Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s Sikorsky Global Helicopters unit today announced it has delivered six S-300CBi(TM) helicopters to Bristow Academy, a Florida-based flight training school. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
All six aircraft will join Bristow’s fleet of 48 S-300CBi helicopters, currently used for training instruction at Bristow’s three U.S. locations in California, Florida, and Louisiana.
“The S-300CBi helicopter is an excellent training platform with great stability,” said Samantha Willenbacher, director of Bristow Academy. “The helicopter’s characteristics give students a more efficient and positive learning experience.”
David Oglesbee, Director, Light Helicopter Programs, Sikorsky Global Helicopters, said: “We are very excited that Bristow Academy has continued their long history of loyalty to the S-300CBi. We look forward to another generation of professional pilots starting their careers in Sikorsky helicopters.”
Bristow Academy, a subsidiary of Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), first introduced S-300CB helicopters in 1995 and has operated more than 100 S-300CB and S-300CBi helicopters since then.
Bristow is also an authorized sales center for Sikorsky Global Helicopters, Light Helicopter Division. The S-300CBi helicopter operates throughout the world primarily as a training helicopter, renowned for its excellent flight characteristics, impressive safety record, and competitive operating costs. Combining these features has made it the most cost- and mission-effective training helicopter of its kind on the market.
Bristow Academy has long been recognized for its flight training program. The company started in Concord, Calif. in 1987, and since then has graduated more than 2,000 helicopter pilots who now work in an array of missions worldwide. Bristow has earned a reputation for excellence and for its extensive range of services for military, Federal Aviation Administration, and Joint Aviation Authority training. It is the only flight school outside of Europe approved to offer the Joint Aviation Authority Integrated Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter) program. The Academy is also one of only three helicopter schools approved by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Sikorsky Global Helicopters, a Sikorsky company, comprises current Sikorsky platforms S-76(R), S-92(R) and H-92(TM) helicopters; light helicopter platforms, the S-300C(TM), S-300CBi(TM), S-333(TM) and S-434(TM) helicopters; and all operations of Keystone Helicopter Corp. and Associated Aircraft Group (AAG). Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.
Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated. Through its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, the Company has major transportation operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, and in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Alaska, Australia, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia and Trinidad.
Gobierno brasileño aprueba liberación de precios para vuelos internacionales
April 28, 2009
El Agencia Nacional de Aviación Civil de Brasil (ANAC) aprobó liberación gradual de las tarifas para todos los vuelos internacionales de empresas regulares brasileñas o extrajeras partiendo de Brasil. Hasta el presente momento, los precios de los pasajes aéreos eran controlados por medio de un valor mínimo, que dificultaba la competición entre las empresas y sus promociones. Con la liberación, serán permitidos en inicio 20% sobre el precio mínimo. Después de 3 meses, los descuentos serán ampliados a 50%, 80% tres meses después y no existirá más precio mínimo seis meses después. En 2008 ANAC había aprobado la liberación de tarifas de todos los vuelos con destino a Sudamérica y en septiembre del mismo año el valor mínimo ya no existía para estos vuelos.
Governo brasileiro aprova liberação de preços para vôos internacionais
April 28, 2009
A Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) aprovou liberação gradual das tarifas para todos os vôos internacionais de empresas regulares brasileiras ou estrangeiras partindo do Brasil. Até o presente momento os preços das passagens aéreas eram controladas através de um valor mínimo, que dificultava a competição entre as empresas e, consequentemente, as promoções. Com a liberação, serão inicialmente permitidos descontos de 20% sobre o preço mínimo. Após 3 meses, os descontos serão ampliados para 50%, 80% três meses depois e após seis meses não haverá mais preço mínimo. Em 2008 a ANAC já havia aprovado a liberação tarifária para vôos com destino a America do Sul e em setembro do mesmo ano já não existia valor mínimo para esses vôos.
EMBRAER PARTICIPATES IN EUR-AVIA CANNES 2009
April 28, 2009
Company will showcase the Legacy 600 super midsize executive jet at the static display
São José dos Campos, April 27, 2009 – Embraer will participate in Eur-Avia Cannes 2009
(www.eur-avia.com), in France, from April 30 to May 2. Eur-Avia, now in its third edition, is an annual international exhibition dedicated to general aviation in Europe. The event will be staged at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport (LFMD), a prestigious business center and tourism destination.
“We are delighted to mark our third consecutive year at Eur-Avia Cannes, and to
exhibit the Legacy 600 super midsize executive jet,” said Colin Steven, Embraer
Vice President, Marketing and Sales – Europe, Africa, and the Middle East – Executive Jets.
“Visitors will be able to experience the superior comfort of its cabin, which is the
mark of all Embraer executive jets and has helped us gain market share and sales
throughout Western and Eastern Europe, and also Russia.”
The Legacy 600 is the largest business jet certified to operate at the restricted Cannes-
Mandelieu Airport. At the event, Embraer will promote its entire executive jets portfolio, which
also includes the entry level Phenom 100, the light Phenom 300, the recently launched midlight
Legacy 450 and midsize Legacy 500, and the luxurious ultra-large Lineage 1000 jets.
AgustaWestland Unveils The TUHP 149 Helicopter To Meet The Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme
April 28, 2009
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, unveiled a full scale mock-up of the TUHP 149 helicopter at IDEF 2009 in Istanbul today. The TUHP 149 is the AgustaWestland candidate for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Programme (TUHP). It is a new generation 8.1 ton medium lift multi-role helicopter designed to meet the military requirements of Turkish end users.
The TUHP 149 maximizes the involvement of TAI and additional leading Turkish aerospace and defence companies, including ASELSAN, TEI, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, building on the strategic partnership already set up by AgustaWestland and Turkish industries through the ATAK programme.
The TUHP 149 features a wide, constant cross section and unobstructed cabin with large sliding doors. The cabin can be easily reconfigured to meet different operational requirements with the capability to transport up to 18 equipped troops. The leading edge technology, open architecture digital avionics and integrated mission and weapon systems allow the aircraft to undertake a wide range of missions. The high performance twin engine helicopter is designed for operations in all environments day and night.
The aircraft can be configured to carry a wide range of weapons, including rocket launchers, air-to-surface and machine-guns as well as external auxiliary tanks in a variety of combinations. Pintle mounted machine-guns can also be fitted on fixed frame windows or in the doors. Structural provisions for the installation of an external cargo hook, heavy duty rescue hoist and a wide range of other mission equipment are provided.
The TUHP 149, due to its modular design for rapid role re-configuration, is perfectly suited to perform an impressive range of duties including troop transport, battlefield and logistic operations, fire support, SAR and combat SAR, special forces operations, reconnaissance, surveillance, CASEVAC, command control and communication, external load lifting as well as VIP military transport.
The new technology TUHP 149 has been designed from the outset with low support and maintenance requirements to minimize the operating costs and the through life ownership costs. A range of support and training services packages will be available to provide cost effective through life support to meet customer’s requirements. A full “Level D” flight simulator is also envisaged.
Thales’s in-theatre ISTAR contract extended
April 28, 2009
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended Thales UK’s H-450 unmanned air
system (UAS) contract that provides vital intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and
reconnaissance (ISTAR) support to UK forces on current operations.
The contract, which comes into effect in July, will run through to 2011 when the H-450
UAS will be replaced by the newly developed WATCHKEEPER. The H-450 ISTAR
service provided by Thales began in July 2007 in response to an Urgent Operational
Requirement (UOR) contract issued by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Since being deployed in mid-2007, the H-450 UAS has flown in excess of 19,000 hours.
It has been an invaluable intelligence-gathering asset, delivering high-quality imagery
and image intelligence to the Land Component Commander.
The UOR contract is being fulfilled by Thales UK through a highly innovative ‘fly-by-the-hour’ agreement originally signed in mid-June 2007. It included the provision of the H-
450 unmanned air vehicles, the training of the UK MoD staff in the use and maintenance
of the system, the provision of contractor logistic support (CLS) and programme
management services. This ensures high system availability and contributes to the low
whole-life costs.
H-450 in theatre
The WATCHKEEPER system comes into service in 2011, replacing the H-450, and will
provide enhanced capability. This includes electro-optic/infra red (EO/IR) imaging and
synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) capabilities.
The first production WATCHKEEPER UAV platform undertook it’s maiden flight on 16
April 2008. This is the first air vehicle to be designed and built to meet the demanding
requirements of the UK MoD. On 23 July last year automated take-off and landing flights
of the WATCHKEEPER UAV using Thales’s MAGIC ATOLS were successfully
performed and validated.
Last November we announced WATCHKEEPER’s first system flight trials, with the
autonomous flight taking place under the system guidance of the WATCHKEEPER
ground control software and fully integrated within the ground control station (GCS).
These trials of the UAS will continue throughout 2009, and will validate the key mission
system capability of the WATCHKEEPER system.
Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK, says: “Over the last two years the value of UAVs in
providing crucial ISTAR capability to the UK Armed Forces has been well and truly
confirmed. Building on lessons learnt on current operations, we have developed
WATCHKEEPER to be an invaluable force multiplier for commanders on the ground.”
Gulf Air Selects CFM56-5B Engines To Power A320 Fleet
April 28, 2009
BAHRAIN — April 27, 2009 — Gulf Air has placed a $270 million U.S order for CFM56-5B engines to power 15 new Airbus A320 family aircraft scheduled for delivery between late 2009 and 2013.
Gulf Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a long-time CFM customer and operates CFM56-5A and -5B powered single-aisle Airbus A320 and long-range, four-engined CFM56-5C powered A340-300 aircraft. The airline operates scheduled services to over 40 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Far East from its base at Bahrain International Airport.
Talal Al-Zain, Chairman of Gulf Air, said: “Selecting the CFM56-5B engine demonstrates our continued trust and confidence in this product’s excellent technical capability. It also demonstrates our long-standing relationship with CFM who has powered our existing A320 and A340 fleet with superior reliability.”
“We are extremely honored to continue our long relationship with this great customer,” said Muhammad Al-Lamadani, CFM’ s Senior Executive Sales for Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union). “The high reliability and low operating costs of the CFM56-5B-powered A320s will help support Gulf Air’s long-term profitability, and the fleet will also benefit from our world-class customer and product support organization”.
All of Gulf Air’s CFM56-5B engines are the Tech Insertion configuration. This configuration was introduced in September 2007 and, to date, the fleet of approximately 800 engines in service worldwide has logged nearly 2 million flight hours and more than 1 million flight cycles without a single engine-related event.
CFM56 Tech Insertion provides 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 also lowers 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 such that it emits 25 percent lower NOx emissions. As a result, the engine meets the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection standards (CAEP /6) that took effect in early 2008.
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.
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.
Pilatus PC-12 NG for Finnish Air Force
April 28, 2009
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has been awarded a contract by the Air Force
Command Finland for the delivery of 6 PC-12 NG aircraft to the Finnish
Air Force to replace their existing Liaison Aircraft. The procurement
contract, worth € 22.5 million, was agreed and signed at a ceremony in
Tikkakoski on Friday attended by the Commander of the Finnish Air Force,
Major General Jarmo Lindberg and Jim Roche, Vice President in charge of
Government Aviation at Pilatus. Delivery of the 6 PC-12 NG Liaison
Aircraft will be made during the final quarter of 2010.
Following more than 12 months of assessment and an extensive flight
evaluation phase in Stans, Switzerland and Iqaluit, Canada, Pilatus was
able to prevail against international competition and succeeded in
securing this very important contract with its PC-12 NG aircraft.
Commenting on the contract award, Pilatus Chairman and CEO, Oscar J.
Schwenk, stated: “We are extremely happy to have been awarded this
important contract. This decision is further proof of the versatility of the
PC-12 NG, which can fulfil the needs of military operators due to its
proven multi-role capabilities. We believe this will encourage other Air
Forces in Europe and around the globe to look closer at the performance
and capabilities of this unique platform. With ever shrinking military
budgets, the durability, efficiency and the life cycle cost of the PC-12
NG are key parameters for today’s decision makers. With more than
860 PC-12 aircraft operating every day – on all five continents – in some
of the toughest environmental conditions possible, the PC-12 is fast
becoming a legend in its own lifetime. Once again we are proud to have
been selected and we welcome the Finnish Air Force in to the ‘Pilatus
Family’”.
The decision by the Finnish Air Force to purchase the Pilatus PC-12 is a
significant benchmark for Pilatus as it marks the first fleet sale of the
PC-12 to a European Air Force. The Finnish Air Force joins 32 other Air
Forces around the world operating Pilatus aircraft.
The PC-12 NG aircraft with its outstanding versatility, performance and
operational flexibility will be used in a Multi Purpose Liaison Aircraft role
to transport Finnish air force personnel and cargo and will ultimately
replace the Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain aircraft which has been in service
with the Finnish Air Force since 1983.
Project Phoenix bolsters sales team
April 28, 2009
Project Phoenix, the Dubai-based Bombardier CRJ-200 executive VIP conversion specialist, is bolstering its sales team with two significant appointments.
Mike Creed, a well known figure in the business aviation industry, joins Project Phoenix as Vice President Sales after working with Action Aviation for just over three years. Mike’s 40 years’ experience will be invaluable at a time when Project Phoenix prepares to enter new territories later this year with new ventures that will complement its now established Phoenix CRJ line.
Mike started out as operations manager at Fairoaks Airport in Surrey in 1969, where he learned to fly. He joined the Alan Mann Group (fixed wing operations) as sales and marketing manager, before becoming an independent aircraft broker in 1981. He was sales director at Sloane Helicopters, prior to serving as managing director of Patriot Aviation. He joined Harrods Aviation as aircraft sales director before leaving to become managing director of Action Aviation in November 2005.
“Having believed wholeheartedly in the Project Phoenix offering and actually helped draw up the business plan with Mike Cappuccitti three years ago I am delighted to be inhouse working with such a professional team,” he said. “Despite the economic gloom, we are seeing a lot of interest in the Phoenix CRJ, especially in the Middle East where the market is becoming increasingly cost conscious.”
In addition, David Barker joins Project Phoenix as Sales Director, based out of Tucson, Arizona covering the western USA. David brings 13 years of diverse business aviation sales experience having worked at an FBO (in Chicago), an OEM and for a number of block charter, fractional and charter sales/management organisations. David worked with Bombardier’s Flexjet between 1997 and 2003 in a number of sales positions culminating in Sales Director – West Coast. Since 2004 he has worked independently, sourcing aircraft, brokering, jet card sales, completion center sales, and negotiating fractional ownership acquisitions for several Fortune 500 companies. Among these was Honda Aircraft Company, for whom he helped secure a number of fleet sales for the distinctive looking HondaJet light jet throughout west coast USA and into Mexico.
“With the appointment of Mike Creed and David Barker we have strengthened our already experienced management and sales team in order to build on our early achievements,” said Mike Cappuccitti.
The Phoenix CRJ programme was conceived, with the assistance and support of several former senior Bombardier executives who make up the Project Phoenix team, to offer buyers of large executive aircraft a viable and cost-effective alternative to new business aircraft models in the 2,200 – 3,000nm range – for which new customers are having to wait for up to five years for a delivery slot.
Jet Asia of Macau is the first operator to fly the Project Phoenix VIP-configured Bombardier CRJ-200 on behalf of owner Ritz Pacific Ltd, accepting its aircraft in May.
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