Fourth Airbus Military A330 MRTT handed over to RAAF
December 29, 2011
The fourth Airbus Military A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport for the Royal Australian Air Force has been formally handed over to the service, leaving just one aircraft of its order still to be delivered.
Known as the KC-30A in RAAF operation, this particular aircraft is the only one for the RAAF to have been converted from the basic A330 in Madrid, the others having been converted by Qantas Defence Services in Brisbane, Australia. It took part in the A330 MRTT development programme and has been extensively renovated prior to delivery in Madrid.
Following the handover the aircraft will remain in Spain for continued test work and will be transferred to RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland later in the year. The fifth and final aircraft will be delivered in the third quarter of the year.
The A330 MRTT recently underwent successful refuelling trials in Australia with a RAAF F/A-18 fighter and earlier this month was displayed by the RAAF at the LIMA Airshow in Malaysia.
It is the world’s most advanced air-to-air tanker and the only certified and flying new generation tanker/transport aircraft in existence. It will substantially increase the aerial refuelling and logistical capabilities of the RAAF.
In RAAF service, the aircraft are equipped with two underwing refuelling pods, the fly-by-wire Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), and a Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) enabling it to be refuelled from another tanker. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80E engines, the aircraft are equipped with a comprehensive defensive aids suite (DAS) and fitted with 270 passenger seats.
Revista Aerea-Diciembre 2011/Enero 2012
December 28, 2011
Se prohiben las catástrofes hasta que llegue el combustible
December 22, 2011
Chile, laboratorio económico del mundo occidental y modelo a seguir por muchas economías, donde la palabra “mercado” domina todos los espectros, se ha quedado sin combustible para su aviación civil comercial. Un quiebre en los stock, ha provocado que este combustible no esté disponible en las cantidades que se requiera y ha obligado a las compañías aéreas a realizar esfuerzos para abastecer sus aviones y cumplir los vuelos programados.
La raíz del problema, estaría en el concepto de “cero stock”, lo que abarata los costos de operación, pero produce “ocasionalmente” este problema de escasez que al parecer durará sus semanas.
Ojalá, la naturaleza no se acuerde de Chile con alguna catástrofe o calamidad, al menos, hasta que se reponga el stock de combustible de aviación. La economía y los hombres parecieran ser inhumanos, quizás, es una buena ocasión para repensar algunos conceptos y estar siempre preparados para enfrentar a las fuerzas que no podemos dominar, todo no puede ser “mercado”
USDOC – Aviation and Airport Trade Mission to Brazil and Chile, March 25-29, 2012
December 22, 2011
Dear Aerospace Executive:
The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Kallman Worldwide are organizing an Aviation and Airport Trade Mission to Brazil and Chile, March 26-29, 2012. The mission is designed for representatives from U.S. firms specializing in all facets of aviation parts, manufacturing, support, airport equipment and logistics.
As a participant in the Aviation and Airport Trade Mission to Brazil and Chile, you will benefit from the following:
· Welcome Reception on March 25th in Sao Paulo
· Doing Business in Brazil briefing on March 26th with U.S. Embassy and senior industry leaders
· Minimum of four (4) one-on-one meetings with industry decision makers in Brazil
· Networking events and other group presentations in both in Brazil and Chile
· Doing Business In Chile presentation on March 28
· Networking lunch with Air Force Logistics Commanders from all over Latin America (gathered for the FIDAE exhibition)
· One-on-one meetings with leading Chilean firms representing and acting as agents for U.S. suppliers
· VIP event (U.S. VIP Reception) the evening of the 28th with potential follow-on meetings at the FIDAE show on the 29th
Cost: US$6,500 ($5500 for registered FIDAE exhibitors) inclusive of in-country transportation and interpreter services.
*please note that each participant is responsible for their own airfare, hotel and meal costs (excluding planned events or receptions). Information on the host hotel in each country will be supplied as soon as possible.
APPLICATION PROCESS – Click here…
For more detailed information: http://export.gov/california/irvine/events/braziltm/index.asp
Questions? You may contact:
Diane Mooney
Director
U.S. Export Assistance Center
Seattle, Washington
(206) 553-5615, Ext. 236
Diane.Mooney@trade.gov
Justin Griffing
Sales Manager – Defense
Kallman Worldwide
Waldwick, New Jersey
(201) 251-2600, Ext. 103
JustinG@kallman.com
Jason Sproule
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Export Assistance Center
Irvine, California
(949) 660-7105
Jason.Sproule@trade.gov
Final Gulfstream G200 Rolls Off Production Line
December 20, 2011
250th Business Jet Set for December Delivery
SAVANNAH, Ga., December 20, 2011 — Capping a 14-year production run, the last super mid-size Gulfstream G200 business jet – the 250th – has rolled off the production line in Dallas. It will be replaced in the Gulfstream fleet by the all-new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280, which is scheduled to enter service in the first part of 2012.
The G200 was the first super mid-size business jet to enter the marketplace. It rolled out in 1997 and was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1998. Seven years ago today, Gulfstream delivered the 100th G200.
With a cabin width of 7 feet, 2 inches (2.184 m) and a cabin height of 6 feet, 3 inches (1.905 m), the G200 has one of the largest cabins in its class. To date, the aircraft has been certified in 18 countries and has a dispatch reliability rate in excess of 99 percent. The fleet has flown more than 581,000 flight hours and completed more than 351,000 take-offs and landings.
Originally introduced as the “Galaxy” by Galaxy Aerospace (which was acquired by Gulfstream in 2001), the G200 was manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries in Tel Aviv and then flown to Gulfstream’s Mid-Cabin Completions Center in Dallas for interior outfitting and paint. The last G200 is scheduled for customer delivery later this month.
The G200 set the standard for the new super mid-size category and quickly established an important market niche. It became a mainstay aircraft for NetJets and many corporate operators. It also opened new markets for Gulfstream in China, Brazil and elsewhere.
“The G200 took the basic cabin dimensions of a large-cabin aircraft and made them available to a broader market by offering a shortened eight- to 10-place, two-seating-area layout with solid transcontinental U.S. range,” said Stan Dixon, vice president, Mid-Cabin Programs, Gulfstream. “It led the category for its time, as will the G280 going into the future.”
The G280 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The business jet is capable of traveling 3,600 nm (6,667 km) at Mach 0.80 and has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.85. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet (12,497 m), the G280 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet (13,716 m). Its 3,600-nautical-mile range means the G280 can fly nonstop from New York to London or from London to Dubai.
The G280 features an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum takeoff weight, the G280 has a balanced field length of 4,750 feet.
While G200 production has ended, the product support organization will ensure adequate parts, tooling, sustaining engineering and people are available to continue providing Gulfstream’s industry-leading product support for the worldwide G200 fleet.
Fifth Airbus Military A400M development aircraft makes first flight
December 20, 2011
The fifth Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has made its first flight, marking the end of a highly successful year for the programme and meaning that the full fleet of Grizzly development aircraft is now in the air, completing the flight-test programme.
Known as Grizzly 5, the aircraft took off from Seville, Spain with a take-off weight of 125 tonnes at 08:55 local time (GMT+1) and landed back at Seville 2 hours 10 minutes later.
Experimental Test Pilot Christophe Marchand captained the flight, supported by Experimental Test Pilot Etienne Miche-de-Malleray. The crew also included Test Flight Engineer Jean-Paul Lambert and Flight Test Engineers Ludovic Girard and Cesar Gonzales-Gomez.
Grizzly 5 is the final member of the fleet which has now completed more than 2,500 hours of the 3,700 hour flight-test programme leading to first delivery. It carries a light flight-test instrumentation load and will be primarily dedicated to electromagnetic interference (EMI)-testing, cargo development, operational demonstrations and extreme cold weather trials.
Airbus Head of Flight Operations Fernando Alonso said: “The first flight of Grizzly 5 is right on schedule and is an excellent way to end this second year of A400M flight-testing. It provides a strong platform from which to address the challenging year ahead leading to first delivery to the French Air Force.”
During 2011 the A400M has successfully completed an extremely intensive test schedule and the aircraft has now been flown by more than 60 pilots. The key high-energy rejected take-off test has been passed as well as emergency evacuations in different configurations. Crosswind and wet runway testing is complete, and so is testing with artificial ice shapes fitted to the wings.
All stalling and braking tests have been passed, together with cruise performance, and the minimum unstick speed (Vmu), minimum control speed on ground (Vmcg) and minimum control speed in the air (Vmca) tests are also complete.
The Grizzly fleet will immediately start 2012 with an aggressive test programme, including an increasing proportion of military tests, in preparation for first delivery around the turn of the year 2012/2013.
The attached photo shows Grizzly 5 taking off from Seville this morning.
El quinto A400M de desarrollo de Airbus Military realiza su primer vuelo
December 20, 2011
El quinto A400M de desarrollo de Airbus Military realiza su primer vuelo
El quinto A400M de Airbus Military ha realizado su primer vuelo, marcando así el final de un año plagado de éxitos para este avión de transporte militar. La flota completa de los Grizzly de desarrollo se encuentra ya en el aire completando el programa de ensayos en vuelo.
El avión, conocido como Grizzly 5, despegó del aeropuerto de Sevilla a las 08:55 hora local (GMT+1) con un peso de 125 toneladas y aterrizó de vuelta en Sevilla 2 horas y 10 minutos más tarde.
El comandante del vuelo ha sido el Piloto de Pruebas Experimentales Christophe Marchan, que trabajó conjuntamente con el también Piloto de Pruebas Experimentales Etienne Miche-de-Malleray. La tripulación de este vuelo inaugural se completó con los Ingenieros de Ensayos en Vuelo Ludovic Girard y César Gónzalez Gómez, así como con el Ingeniero de Vuelo Jean-Paul Lambert.
Grizzly 5 es el último miembro de la flota, que ya ha completado más de 2.500 horas de las 3.700 horas del programa de ensayos en vuelo que llevarán a la primera entrega a cliente. Este avión incorpora una carga ligera de instrumentación de ensayos en vuelo y se dedicará, principalmente, a la realización de pruebas de interferencias electromagnéticas (EMI), desarrollo de la gestión de cargas, demostraciones operativas y tests en frío extremo.
Fernando Alonso, responsable de Operaciones de Vuelo de Airbus, ha declarado: “El primer vuelo de Grizzly 5 se ha realizado dentro del calendario previsto y es una forma excelente de terminar este segundo año de ensayos en vuelo del A400M. Es una gran plataforma desde la que hacer frente al año de desafíos que tenemos por delante hasta la primera entrega a la Fuerza Aérea Francesa”.
El A400M ha completado con éxito un plan de ensayos extremadamente intenso durante 2011 y ya son más de 60 los pilotos que lo han volado. Se superó con éxito el importante ensayo de despegue abortado con alta energía, así como los de evacuación de emergencia en distintas configuraciones. Ya se han completado las pruebas de viento cruzado y pista mojada, al igual que las de hielo artificial adherido a las alas.
Se han superado todas las pruebas de parada de motor y de frenado. También se han completado los ensayos de vuelo de crucero, de velocidad mínima de despegue (Vmu), de velocidad mínima de control en tierra (Vmcg) y de velocidad mínima de control en el aire (Vmca).
La flota Grizzly comenzará de inmediato en 2012 un enérgico programa de ensayos que incluye un aumento en la proporción de pruebas de tipo militar, conducente a la primera entrega, que se producirá en torno al cambio de año 2012/2013.
Satélite para Chile
December 20, 2011
En la presente semana, Chile tendrá en órbita, quizás el primer gran proyecto satelital desde que comenzó a explorar esta área en la década de los 90. Se trata de un satélite fabricado en Francia y que será lanzado desde las instalaciones ubicadas en Guyana Francesa (costa este de América Latina).
Han sido múltiples los esfuerzos que el país sudamericano ha realizado para contar con un artefacto en el espacio, es de esperar, que su operación sea fructífera para el país, al menos, Chile ha demostrado en el tiempo, realizar buenas y justificadas inversiones, lo que habla bien del país y de su gente, detalles no menores para los tiempos actuales.
Algunos antecedentes de costos y técnicos son los siguientes:
Costo: U$ 72 millones
Fabricante: Francia, Astrium
Peso: 130 kg.
Orbita: 620 km.
Resolución de imágenes: 1,4 m.
Bell Helicopter Delivers First 429 with Multi-Mission Configuration
December 15, 2011
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 15, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it has delivered the first Bell 429 with a multi-mission configuration to Fairfax County, Virginia.
This is the first of two Bell 429s being delivered to Fairfax County. Their second Bell 429 is expected to deliver in the second quarter of 2012.
This multi-role Bell 429 is capable of completing missions for airborne law enforcement, helicopter emergency medical services and search and rescue. This one-of-a-kind, multi-mission configuration was completed at Paradigm Aerospace Corporation, a Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility, located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.
“The Bell 429 has exactly what we were looking for when we searched the market for a true multi-mission helicopter. Its spacious cabin allowed us to be creative in our design,” said Paul Schaaf, Chief Pilot for the Fairfax County Police Department.
“We are very pleased with our new Bell 429 and know it will serve us well in the coming years,” Schaaf said.
“The Bell 429 was designed for this type of multi-role capability,” said Larry Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter’s Commercial Business.
“Our customers like the speed, power and the advanced flight deck technology found in the Bell 429. Along with the largest cabin in its class, it offers a smooth, comfortable ride. It is reliable, conforming to the latest airworthiness standards, and is backed by Bell Helicopter’s award-winning and industry-leading customer service and support,” Roberts said.
The Bell 429 is the world’s newest and most advanced light twin-engine helicopter. It has conducted extensive flight demonstrations in every continent, except Antarctica, and has been certified in more than 40 countries. With configuration options ranging from VIP to air-medical, law enforcement, utility and oil & gas, the Bell 429 offers superior mission capability and adaptability.
Economías que pudieron salvarse
December 15, 2011
A raiz de los problemas que viven las economías de Europa, recuerdo a mi padre cuando nos dice, “gasten la mitad de lo que ganen, el resto inviértanlo para el futuro”. Sabias sus palabras, las cuales son aplicables a una familia, a una institución y a un país también.
Visto como se desmoronan algunas economías, uno se comienza a preguntar, ¿en qué se invirtió los dineros de la bonanza? y las respuestas son dramáticas y da mucha pena cuando entre las respuestas se escucha, que se construyeron aeropuertos gigantes sin futuro, en localidades donde los antecedentes no lo justificaban y hoy se encuentran siendo parte del inventario de malas inversiones.
Una pena para el mundo actual, pero un llamado de atención a las autoridades que mañana volverán a tomar decisiones pensando en el bien de la gente. Ojalá, la aviación, nunca sea protagonista de estas malas decisiones.
Comentarios de Elenita
 |
Estimados lectores:
La historia que sigue es sobre una carrera aérea que se realiza la semana entrante. O sea, que se enterarán del resultado después de leer este artículo. Todos... Read more » |
 |
|
 | ||
