News Desk

Za001, Which Will Be Used for the Aircraft’s First Flight, Completed Its the First Start of Its Rolls-royce Trent 1000 Engines on May 21, and Has Been Undergoing a Series of Gauntlet Testing, Which Simulate the Entire First Flight to Check the Functioning of Systems From May 29. The Final Stages of ‘intermediate Gauntlet’ Testing Are Thought to Have Been Completed in the First Week of June, With the ‘final Gauntlet’ Expected to Be the Focus Up Until the Aircraft’s First Flight Which is Expected by the End of the Month.

Za002, the Second Dreamliner Which Has Been Painted in All Nippon Airlines Colours (but is Not Allocated to the Airline), Was Expected by Early June to Have Started Its Own Factory Gauntlet Testing, Ahead of the Aircraft Being Moved Out to the Fuel Dock for Its Own Fuel Calibration Testing, Engine Start and Preflight Gauntlet Testing Series Before Joining the Flight Test Program. Boeing is Expected to Use Six Aircraft for the Flight Testing and Certification of the 787, With First Delivery to Launch Customer Ana Due in the First Quarter of 2010.

Airbus Expects Fewer Orders

This Year Airbus Coo – Customers John Leahy Has Predicted the Company Will Probably Take Fewer Than 300 Orders This Year, Far Fewer From the 900 It Took in 2008, and Well Down on the Company’s Earlier Forecast of About 300-400 Orders for the Year.

Last Year’s Performance, the Third Highest on Record, Left the Manufacturer With a Backlog of More Than 3700 Airliners. “this Year Got Off to a Somewhat Slow Start in Terms of Orders,” Leahy Said at the Company’s Annual ‘innovation Days’ Media Briefing in Hamburg During May. “it’s Going to Be a Slow Year, but the Important Thing About This Year is Not Booking Orders, It’s Keeping Orders We’ve Already Got. ” Leahy Says the Manufacturer Will Struggle to Reach His Target of About 300 Orders This Year. Airbus Has Taken Just 30 Orders to the End of April 30 This Year, Meaning on That Trend the Manufacturer Will Be Lucky to Take 100 Orders. “on a Net Basis, Boeing Has Negative One Orders, and I’ve Got Plus 11, Which Gives Us 100 Per Cent,” He Joked.

Leahy Remained More Bullish About the Company’s Delivery Rate, Saying Airbus Would Meet Its Forecast of About 450 Deliveries This Year and Maintain Roughly That Rate Throughout the Downturn. “historic Trends Show That Other Manufacturers, From the Peaks and the Troughs, They Tend to Fall About 50 Per Cent in Deliveries – This Isn’t the History With Airbus,” He Said. “if You Look at That Last Cycle With the Problems the Industry Had After 9/11, We Essentially Stayed Flat. The Assembly Line Kept Running, Delivering About 300 Aircraft Per Year. ”

Bombardier Q1 Profit Dives Bombardier Aerospace Has Recorded a Sharply Lower Earnings Before Interest and Tax (Ebit), Driven Largely Due to Weakness in the Business Aviation Market.

For the Three Months to April 30, the Company Recorded an 8. 3 Per Cent Fall in Revenue to Us$2. 2bn (a$2. 7bn), While Ebit Was Down by 87 Per Cent to Us$110m (a$137m), Primarily Due to an Increased Cost of Sales as Well as Research and Development Work on the Learjet 85 and Cseries. Revenue Was Also Affected by Lower Numbers of Business Jet Deliveries During the Quarter (43, Compared to 58 Last Year), Although Deliveries of Commercial Aircraft Increased to 31, Compared to 28 in the Previous Year. The Airframer Also Recorded Orders for 50 Cseries Aircraft From Lufthansa and Lease Corporation Internation, With No Recorded Orders for Its Q400 Turboprop or Crj Series of Regional Jets, Except for Adria Airways Shifting an Order for a Crj1000 to the Smaller Crj900.

At the End of the Period, the Company Said It Had a Backlog Worth Us$22. 4bn (a$27. 9bn), Compared to Us$23. 5bn (a$29. 3) the Year Before, With the Slump Attributed to Cancellations of Business Aircraft.

Jal, Ana Shuffle 787 & 767 Orders

Japan Air Lines and All Nippon Airlines Have Switched Some of Their Orders for the Short-range Boeing 787-3 for the Longhaul Models, While Ana Has Also Cancelled an Order for Five 767s.

According to an Update of Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries Website in Early June, Jal Has Abandoned the 787-3 Altogether, Switching Its Order for Eight to the Longhaul 787-8, While Ana Has Confirmed That It is Switching Two -3s to -8s Orders. Ana Still Has 28 787-3s on Order, as Well as 22 787-8s.

Ana Has Also Cancelled Orders for Boeing 767-300ers Which Were Part of a September 2008 Order for Nine of the Aircraft as a Result of the Delays to the 787. The Airline Says the Changes to Its Delivery Schedule, Which Will See the Carrier Take a Number of Early Delivery Slots Previously Allocated to Chinese Airlines, Are the Reason for the Cancellation.

The Cancellation of Jal’s 787-3 Order Leaves the Short Range Variant of the 787-8 on Shaky Ground as It Only Has Ana’s Order for 28 Behind It. Originally Planned to Enter Into Service Between the -8 and Larger -9, Design Work on the -3 Was Suspended Last Year in Favour of Allocating More Resources to the -9 Program. Boeing Says It Still Plans to Build the -3, but Has Given No Firm Date for the First Delivery of the Variant, Except for It Coming After the -9.

Airbus Celebrates 40 Years

Airbus Celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Launch of Its First Aircraft Program on May 29.

On May 29 1969, French Minister of Transport, Jean Chamant, and the German Minister of Economic Affairs, Karl Schiller, Signed an Agreement at the Paris Airshow for the Joint Development of the A300 Aircraft, a Twin Aisle, Twin Engined Medium Haul Airliner.

“forty Years Ago – in May 1969 – the Commercial Jet Aircraft Market Was Entirely Dominated by the Us Industry,” Said Airbus Ceo Tom Enders. “giving the Go-ahead for the A300 Was a Bold Strategic Decision. ” the Airbus Consortium Was Then Formed in 1970 to Build the A300, With Key European Industrial Partners Aerospatiale, Deutsche Airbus, Hawker Siddeley and Vfw-fokker.

The Prototype A300b1 Made Its First Flight in October 1973, and the First Production A300b2 Was Delivered to Launch Customer Air France in May 1974. The Manufacturer Later Launched the Longer Ranging, Smaller Capacity A310 and the Improved A300-600r, With 822 A300/a310s Built by the Time Production Ceased in March 2007.

First Chinese A320 Flies

the First Airbus A320 Assembled Outside Europe Made Its First Flight on May 18.

The Aircraft Completed a Four Hour and 14 Minute Test Flight From Tianjin International Airport, Home of the Airbus Final Assembly Line China (Falc). The Falc is a Joint Venture Between Airbus, the Tianjin Free Trade Zone and China Aviation Industry Corporation (Avic), and Has Started Assembling A320 Family Aircraft for a Number of Chinese Customers.

“our Commitment is to Provide the Very Best Aircraft and Services to Our Customers and Operators in China, While Applying the Same Rules, Procedures and Quality Standards as for Any Other Airbus Aircraft Produced in Europe,” Said Laurence Barron, President of Airbus China. “it Highlights Our Commitment to the Development of a Long Term Strategic Partnership With the Chinese Aviation Industry. ” Assembly of the A320 at Falc Began in August 2008, Following the Shipping of the Assembly Kit From Hamburg. The Facility is Expected to Produce 11 A320s and A319s This Year, With Production Set to Rise to Four Aircraft Per Month by the End of 2011.

The First A320 From Falc is Being Produced for Dragon Aviation Leasing, and Will Be Delivered to Its Operator Sichuan Airlines in June. Airbus Says It Holds Orders for Over 700 Aircraft From Chinese Customers, With the Majority for A320 Family Aircraft.

Airbus Seeks Clarity on Open Rotor Regulations

Airbus Has Started Approaching Airworthiness Authorities to Scope Out Possible Certification Requirements for Open Rotor Turbofans, Which Are Among the Engine Technologies Being Explored for Future Airliners.

“Open Rotor (Powered Aircraft Designs) Are Concepts and Do Not Exist So Are Not Covered by Any Certification Rules, Per Se,” Airbus’s Powerplant Chief Sebastian Remy Told Flight International. “It is an Area That We Are Addressing With the Engine Manufacturers to Propose to the Airworthiness Authorities (What Requirements They Will Set) to Certificate These Types of Machines. ” as Open Rotor Engines Feature Large Unducted Fans, It is Expected That Authorities May Have Concerns About the Likelihood of Blades Detaching and Penetrating an Aircraft Fuselage. The Engines Are Also Said to Generate Significantly More Noise Than Other Engines, Although Moves Are Underway to Reduce That.

Open Rotor Technology, Which Was Originally Developed in the 1980s, Could Deliver Up to a 15 Per Cent Reduction in Fuel Burn Compared to Current Generation Turbofans. Ge and Snecma Have Been Conducting Research Into the Application of Such Technology to Its Leap-x Engine, Which is Expected to Power the Next Generation of Narrow-body Aircraft.

Cfm Starts Testing on Leap-x Core

Cfm International, the General Electric-snecma Consortium Which Produces the Cfm56 Engine Used on the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, Said on May 15 That It Will Commence Testing on the Core of Its Leap-x Engine Which is Being Designed as a Next-generation Narrowbody Turbofan.

The Core Will Undergo Testing Over the Next Two Years, With a Second Core to Be Produced at the End of 2011, With a Third Due Six Months After That. Also Undergoing Testing is a “mascot” Test Engine Which Features Composite Three-dimensional Modelling of Leap-x Fan Blades. The Mascot is Being Tested at Ge’s Peebles, Ohio, Facility.

The Leap-x Features a 10:1 Bypass Ratio, Twice That of the Current Cfm56, and Has Been Described by Cfm Officials as a Scaled Down Version of a Widebody Turbofan. It is Hoped That the Engine Will Be Able to Reduce Fuel Consumption by Up to 16 Per Cent Compared to the Current Cfm56, and Could Be Ready for Certification in 2016 With a 2018 Entry Into Service.

Commercial Briefs

* Boeing Has Completed Assembly of the Forward Fuselage for the First 747-8 Freighter. Compared to the 747-400, the -8 Features a 4. 1m Stretch in the Forward Fuselage, While There is an Additional 1. 5m Stretch Aft of the Wing.

* Bombardier Has Delivered the First Nextgen Q400 to Norwegian Airline Wideroe. The Nextgen Offers an Enhanced Cabin Featuring Led Lighting, New Ceiling Panels, Dished Window Sidewalls and Larger Overhead Bins.

* the Last Boeing 747-400, a 747-400erf Freighter, Made Its First Flight on May 16.

* Embraer Delivered Its 1100th Erj 145 Family Aircraft in Late May. The Aircraft Was a Legacy 600 Business Jet.

* Bp Has Purchased Two Boeing 737-700s Which Were Originally Built for Us Based Carrier Air Tran. The Aircraft Will Be Used for in-house Operations in Alaska.

* Bombardier Launched a New Customer Portal for Operators of Crj and Q-series Aircraft on June 5. The Site, Iflybomardier. Com, Provides a Number of Diagnostic Tools, Analytics, Technical Request System and a Digital Data Navigator.

Military

Raaf Hornet Maintenance Impasse Settled

the Future of the Long Term Maintenance of the Raaf’s F/a-18a/b Hornet Fleet Has Finally Been Settled After a Delay of More Than Six Months.

The Dmo’s Original Decision to Award the Contract to Bae Systems and L-3 Mas Had Been Upheld as a Result of Original Contractor Boeing Moving to Protect Its Commercially Sensitive Intellectual Property (Ip) Concerning Aspects of the Aircraft. With That Dispute Resolved, the Four Year, $150 Million Contract Will See Bae and L-3 Assume Responsibility for the Maintenance and Upgrades of the Hornet Fleet at Their Williamtown Facilities. The Contract Has Extension Options to the Hornet’s Planned Withdrawal in 2018.

Bae Systems Will Increase Its Workforce at Williamtown by About 40 Positions Over and Above the Workforce That Currently Maintains the Raaf’s Fleet of Hawk 127s. “it Further Strengthens Our Already Significant Readiness and Sustainment Capability,” Bae Systems Australia’s Managing Director Jim Mcdowell Said in a May 28 Statement. “along With Our Key Partner L-3 Mas Canada, We Are Proud to Be Making a Vital Contribution to Sustainment of the Raaf’s Air Combat Capability. ” Boeing Has Previously Said That It Was Important to Protect the Company’s Ip on the Aircraft, Especially as There Are More Than 1000 ‘classic’ and 350 Super Hornets in Service Around the World, and Several Active Marketing Campaigns for the Super Hornet Underway. “the Ip is Really the Key Thing at This Point,” Boeing Defence Australia Managing Director, John Duddy, Told Australian Aviation in March. “we Built and Designed the Plane, and There Are More of Them in Service Around the World. So That’s Really Important to Us – With F/a-18s, We Have a Lot of Current and Potential Customers Around the World and We Want to Make Sure We Protect That. ”

MORE POWERFUL

the Three Ap-3c Orion Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft and One Ran Frigate Based in the Persian Gulf Region Will Be Available to Be “flexibly” Tasked to Perform Anti-piracy Missions in the Nearby Gulf of Aden.

The May 28 Announcement by Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon Came a Week After Two Australian Navy Ships Transiting the Area Came to the Assistance of Two Vessels Being Attacked by Somali Pirates. “the Contribution Will Help to Curb Piracy in the Region, Protect Australian and International Maritime Trade and Underline Our Commitment to Targeted Increased Engagement With Africa,” Minister Fitzgibbon Said in a Statement. “in 2008 There Were 111 Pirate Attacks in the Region, With 42 Successful Hijackings. There Have Been Around 100 Registered Attacks, Including Over 25 Successful Hijackings, So Far This Year. ”

Snowden Confirms Tindal Jsf Sqn Raaf Base Tindal Will Be Home to a Squadron of Raaf F-35 Jsfs, Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon Confirmed During a Recent Visit to the Base.

Minister Snowden Was Visiting the Base to Brief Personnel on the Government’s Recent White Paper. “and Just as a Squadron of F/a-18 Hornets Call Tindal Home Now, I Can Confirm That Raaf Tindal Will Also Become a Home for the F-35 Lightning Ii Joint Strike Fighters,” He Said.

The Raaf Has Been Reviewing Its Basing Options for the Jsf, With Some Consideration Understood to Have Been Given to No Longer Permanently Basing a Fighter Squadron at Tindal, Where the Base Instead Would Have Become a Bare Base Used Only for Exercises or Forward Deployments of F-35s or Super Hornets From Williamtown and Amberley. Instead, Minister Snowdon’s Announcement in Effect Confirms That 75 Squadron Will Remain Based at Tindal When It Swaps Its F/a-18 ‘classics’ for Jsfs Mid-late Next Decade.

Snowdon Also Detailed That, “already $38. 5 Million is Being Spent in This Financial Year to Prepare the Base for the Arrival of the Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft. This Project Will Provide New Taxiways, Aprons, Shelters, Hydrant Refuelling as Well as Site Infrastructure Works. Construction is Scheduled for Completion in Late 2010. ”

Final Ffg-up Accepted the Ran Has Provisionally Accepted the Fourth and Last Upgraded Adelaide Class Ffg Frigate, Hmas ‘newcastle’, From Prime Contractor, Thales.

The Provisional Acceptance Was a “momentous Day,” According to Thales Australia’s Naval Division Vp Chris Lloyd, After the Project Had Previously Been Listed as One “of Concern” by Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon. “the Ffg Upgrade Has Been One of the Most Complex Undertakings in Australian Defence History,” Lloyd Said. “these Four Ships – Hmas ‘sydney’, ‘melbourne’, ‘darwin’ and ‘newcastle’ – Are Now Highly Capable Warships Thanks to the Enhancements Provided by This Program. ” the Upgrade Comprised a New Anti Anti-ship Missile System (Essm), the Installation of a Vertical Launch Tube System, New Esm Systems, a Tactical Datalink Capability, New Underwater Warfare Systems, Enhanced Training Systems, New Ship Service Diesel Generators, and Other Systems Which Should See the Four Ships Through to Their Planned Withdrawal From Late Next Decade.

Wedgetail

Achieves Faa Stc, More Confidence in Program Boeing’s Wedgetail Aew&c Aircraft Currently Under Development for the Raaf, Turkey and South Korea Was Awarded a Supplemental Type Certificate (Stc) by the Us’s Federal Aeronautics Administration (Faa) on May 11.

The Stc Means the Aircraft Now Meets All Applicable Faa Requirements for Safety of Flight With Its Various Sensors and Systems Operating. It Was Awarded After the Wedgetail Completed a Comprehensive Ground and Flight Test Program and a Review of Compliance Data.

Meanwhile, Reports in Us Media Indicate the Wedgetail’s Systems Performed Well During Recent Tests in Australia and the Us. Boeing Officials Have Said That the Program Has Made Significant Progress in Recent Months and That They Are Confident the Aircraft Will Pass a Review to Being Conducted by Senior Program, Industry, Raaf and Government Officials in June. The Aircraft Underwent a Technological Assessment by Radar Experts From the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratories in February, Participated in an Operational Assessment During April’s Arnhem Thunder Exercises in the Northern Territory, and in Early May Conducted a Demonstration Flight Out of Canberra for Senior Raaf Officials.

“We Feel Confident in Every Way That They’re Going to Find That the Foundation of the Radar is Sound, That We’re on the Right Path and There Are No Weaknesses With the System,” Boeing’s Senior Manager for Aew&c, Egan Greenstein Said.

The Wedgetail Program is Currently Running About 40 Months Behind Schedule With the First Aircraft Now Not Due to Be Delivered Until Early Next Year.

Us Navy Funds Super Hornet

Targeting & Sensor Enhancements Boeing Has Won a Us$48. 9m (a$62. 5m) Contract to Develop and Test a Distributed Targeting (Dt) System for the Boeing F/a-18e/f Super Hornet.

The Dt System, a Key Element of the Navy’s and Boeing’s F/a-18e/f ‘flight Plan’ Series of Enhancements, is a Combination of New Hardware and Software Designed to Give Crews and Weapons More Precise Targeting Information for Air and Ground Targets.

Also Approved for Further Development Recently is the Centreline Fuel Tank Mounted Infra Red Search and Track System (Irst) Being Developed by Lockheed Martin. The System, a Development of the Chin Mounted Irst Used on the F-14d Tomcat, Has Been Approved for Low Rate Production by the Us Navy After a Series of Successful Trials Onboard Usn Supers.

Boeing Delivers C-17 Crew Training System Boeing Has Delivered a C-17 Aircrew Training System to the Raaf’s 36 Squadron.

The Ats, Which is Used to Train Pilots and Loadmasters for the Aircraft, Consists of Weapons System Trainer, a Loadmaster Station, a Learning Centre and Other Support Systems. The Ats Arrived at Raaf Amberley Between April 26 and May 2 Onboard Two 36sqn C-17s. Engineers From Flight Safety International Will Install the System at Amberley, While Boeing Defence Australia Will Provide Instructors for the Aircrews’ Initial Qualifications.

More Powerful Super Hornet?

Boeing is Seeking an International Launch Customer for a Version of the Super Hornet Which Will Feature More Powerful F414 Powerplants.

The Improved General Electric F414 Enhanced Performance Engine (Epe) Would Feature a New Core and Forward Fan, According to a Report on Flightglobal. Com in May. Sources Indicate That These Enhancements Could Boost the Engine’s Output by Up to 20 Per Cent, to 26,660lb (118kn) of Thrust.

Boeing’s Vice President for the F/a-18e/f Bob Gower Said That the New Engine Core Has Come From Developments to the F414s Designed to Improve the Engine’s Durability in the Event of Foreign Object Damage and to Improve Specific Fuel Consumption. The Key Difference is the Epe Would Feature a New Fan to Deliver the Increase in Thrust, Without the Need to Increase the Size of the Engine Duct.

The Super Hornet is Currently Being Considered by Several Countries, Including India, Kuwait, Brazil, Denmark and Greece, With Some Countries Likely to Be Interested in the Higher Thrust Engine Which Would Allow for Better Performance in Hot and High Conditions.

Jassm Again Under Threat

the Usaf Has Threatened to Cancel the Jassm Missile Program Later This Year if It Does Not Perform Sufficiently Well in an Upcoming Series of Testing.

The Missile, Which Has Also Been Acquired by the Raaf to Equip Its F/a-18 Hornets With a Stand-off Precision Strike Weapon, Has Had Development Issues Including Several Test Failures of Randomly Selected Production Rounds in 2006/07, Resulting in a Suspension of the Usaf Program. Lockheed Subsequently Developed a Fix for Reliability Issues With the Missile’s Gps System, and a Further Series of Tests Held Early Last Year Were More Successful, Resulting in a Lifting of the Suspension.

“I Think That if This Next Round of Missiles Does Not Perform Well, That It Will Not Be Positive for the Program,” the Usaf’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, David Van Buren, Told Us Media During a Recent Briefing.

No Funding for Acquisition of the Stealthy 400km+ Range Weapon Has Been Included in the Fy2010 Budget, Although Us$82. 2m (a$110m) Was Allocated for Continued Testing.

Military Briefs

* Pratt & Whitney Says It Has Completed a F-35 Lightning Ii Propulsion Sustainment Study for the Australian New Air Combat Capability (Nacc) Team. The Study Provided Detailed Recommendations and Requirements for the Support of the F-35 Jsf’s F135 Engine, and Took Into Account Australia’s Unique Operational Requirements Including the Need for Self-reliance in Operations and Maintenance.

* the Ge Rolls-royce F-35 Alternate Jsf Engine Team Has Launched Its Flight Clearance Certification Review Which Will Prepare the First F136 Engine for Flight Test in Early 2011. The F136 is Still Under Threat After Funding Was Withheld From the Obama Administration’s Fy2010 Budget Proposal.

* Northrop Grumman Says It Has Verified the System Performance of Its Multi-platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (Mp-rtip) Which It is Integrating With the Latest Block 40 Rq-4b Global Hawk Uav. The Test Program Was Conducted Using a Scaled Composites Proteus Test Platform Operating Out of Mojave Airport Near Edwards Afb in California, and Tested the Mp-rtip’s Ground Moving Target Indicator (Gmti) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (Sar) Nodes.

* the Japan Air Self-defense Force’s Three Boeing Kc-767j Achieved Ioc (Initial Operational Capability) in April.

* Air Tractor Has Developed a Light Attack Version of Its Air Truck at-802 Agricultural Aircraft. Dubbed at-802u, the Aircraft Will Debut at the Upcoming Paris Airshow and Will Feature Dual 12. 7 Mm Gau-19/a Three Barrel Gatling Guns, M260 Rocket Launchers, Ballistic Glass and Cockpit Armour, Self-sealing Fuel Tanks, Rough Strip Low Drag Landing Gear, an Amsafe Inflatable Restraint System Integrated With a Five-point Harness, an Aar-47/ale-47 Countermeasures Suite, and an Infrared Camera and a Turret System With a Secure Video Downlink * the Raaf Deployed a Number of Aircraft and Personnel to Malaysia in May to Participate in Exercise Bersama Shield 2009. Designed to Practice the Interoperability of Air, Ground and Naval Forces Under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (Fpda), the Exercise Also Includes Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The Raaf Has Deployed Eight F/a-18 Hornets From 75 Squadron and an Ap-3c Orion, While a C-17a Globemaster Has Been Used to Support the Deployment.

* the Dsto in Conjunction With the Us Air Force Research Laboratory (Afrl) Have Successfully Tested a Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (Hifire) Vehicle at Woomera in South Australia. The Small Vehicle Was Launched Into Space on a Booster Rocket Before Re-entering the Atmosphere and Then Travelling at Speeds in Excess of Mach 5.

* Vietnam Has Reportedly Ordered 12 Sukhoi Su-30mk2 Fighters According to Russian Media. Deliveries Are Expected to Commence in 2010.

* Thailand Has Reportedly Put on Hold Its Plan to Buy Six Saab Jas-39 Gripen Fighters Due to the Economic Crisis. The Aircraft, Which Were to Have Been Delivered From Next Year, Will Now Not Be Delivered Until 2015.

* a Northrop Grumman Mq-8b Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Uav (Vtuav) Successfully Completed a Second Round of Fully Autonomous Flight Trials From the Perry Class Ffg Frigate Uss ‘mcinerney’ in Early May. The Trials Were the First Aboard a Surface Combatant Vessel and Follow Previous at-sea Trials From an Amphibious Landing Ship Last Year.

* the Usaf is Conducting Fatigue Tests on Its Remaining F-15c/d/e Eagle Fighters to Assess Whether the Fleet is Suitable for a Service Life Extension Program (Slep). While the F-15 is Expected to Have a Service Life of Around 8000 Hours, the Usaf is Studying Whether This Can Be Extended to 12,000 Hours in Order to Fill a Looming Capability Gap Mid Next Decade Before the F-35 Jsf Enters Service in Sufficient Numbers.

* Eads Ceo Louis Gallois Has Told French Media That He Expects the Troubled A400m Airlifter to Make Its First Flight Before the End of This Year. Gallois Reportedly Told L’express Magazine That Comments by the Engine Consortium Member, Safran, That the Aircraft Could Fly in That Timeframe Were Realistic, “within a Margin of a Few Weeks. ” * the Uk Government Has Agreed to Proceed With a Third Tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon Fighters, but is Yet to Commit to a Number of the Aircraft. The Uk Had Previously Committed to Acquire 232 Eurofighters During the Aircraft’s Development Program, and Has Already Ordered 140 Under Tranches 1 and 2.

* the Czech Republic Has Ordered Four Airbus Military C-295m Military Transports in a Deal Which Will Also Include Logistical Support, to Replace Antonov an-26s in Service.

* a Raaf C-17 Globemaster Recently Conducted a Two Day Goodwill Visit to Halim Air Force Base Near Jakarta as Part of Moves to Increase Cooperation With the Indonesian Air Force (Tni-au). Air Lift Group Commander Aircdre John Oddie Used the Visit to Meet With Similar Counterparts in the Tni-au.

Airlines

Pacific Blue Goes to Hamilton

Pacific Blue Announced on June 3 That It Will Launch Flights Between Sydney and Brisbane to Hamilton, New Zealand From September 1.

Virgin Blue Ceo Brett Godfrey Said That the New Services Are Part of a Strategy to Expand Its Network in Under-served Markets. “as Hamilton Currently Has No International Services in Place, It Was an Obvious Opportunity for Us,” He Said.

The Airline Will Offer Three Weekly Flights to Both Sydney and Brisbane, and Will Be Operated by Boeing 737-800s, With Regular One-way Fares Starting From$232 From Sydney, and $262 From Brisbane.

Hamilton Has Seen Its International Services Fall Away This Year With Air New Zealand Indefinitely Suspending Its Services to Brisbane in April Due to Consistently Poor Traffic and Yields. Pac Blue Also Recently Demonstrated an Embraer E190 at Hamilton as Part of a Tour of Regional Airports in New Zealand While the Aircraft Was Ferrying Through to Australia.

Pacific Blue Seeks More Se Asian Rights

Pacific Blue Has Lodged Submissions With the International Air Services Commission to Launch Services to Thailand, as Well as Greater Rights to Indonesia.

In Its Submission to the Iasc, Pacific Blue Says It Plans to Commence Services From Unnamed Points in Australia to Phuket Utilising Boeing 737-800s. The Airline is Seeking an Allocation for Seven Weekly Frequencies, Which Would Be Introduced Progressively, With All Capacity to Be Utilised by April 1 2010.

The Airline Has Also Sought an Allocation of Unlimited Capacity to Operate From Points Other Than Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Unnamed Points in Indonesia. Pacific Blue Currently Operates Services From Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Denpasar.

V Australia & Virgin America to Interline

V Australia Has Concluded an Interline Agreement With Virgin America Which Will Allow Passengers to Seamlessly Connect Between the Two Carriers.

The Agreement Allows Passengers Arriving From V Australia’s Services to Book Connecting Flights From Los Angeles Onwards to Cities on Virgin America’s Network Including Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Washington Dc.

V Australia Already Has Interline Agreements With Delta Air Lines and Alaskan Airlines, Allowing Passengers to Connect Through to a Number of Destinations From Los Angeles to Key Destinations Including New York, Seattle and Salt Lake City, While It Represents the First Interline for Virgin America.

Ba Facing Fight for Survival British Airways Ceo Willie Walsh Told Staff via a Newsletter That the Airline Was in a “fight for Survival”, Following the Airline Posting the Largest Loss in Its History.

Citing the Current Major Downturn in Traffic for the British Carrier, Walsh Called on Staff to “recognise That the Diagnosis for Our Airline is Now Critical. . . There Has Been a Significant Shift in Consumer Attitude, With People Wanting More and Paying Less. And Things Are Getting Worse. We Haven’t Yet Reached the Bottom and Everything Points Towards a Protracted Downturn. ” Ba Recently Recorded a Pre-tax Loss of £401m (a$804m) for the 2008 Financial Year as the Carrier Was Hit by Falling Demand and Yields Due to the Global Recession, Particularly During the Final Quarter of the Year Which Saw Its Revenues Fall by 8. 4 Per Cent Compared to the Same Time Last Year. As a Result, the Carrier is Planning on Cutting Capacity by Four Per Cent During the Northern Winter Season and is Also Set to Announce a Series of Redundancies on Top of Previous Measures Taken by the Airline.

The Loss is Likely to Call Into Question the Ongoing Merger Talks With Spanish Airline Iberia, Which Appear Largely to Have Stalled. Ba Says It Expects Talks on the Merger to Continue and “will Take Several Months to Conclude. ”

Qantas Calls for Airports to Reduce Charges

Qantas Ceo Alan Joyce Has Called on Australia’s Major Airports to Reduce Their Charges to Help Support the Airline Industry During Its Time of Crisis.

“we Need Airports to Become Partners With Us in Reducing Overall Costs, and We Have Limited Leverage Given That Most Have a Monopoly Advantage,” Joyce Said in an Address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia in Melbourne on May 27. He Also Praised Gold Coast Airport for Working Together With Jetstar to Turn It Into a Japanese Hub, and Noted That Melbourne Airport Has Been Working to Reduce the Cost of Qantas’s Operations There. “but So Far No Major Airport Has Agreed to Lower Its Charges in an Effort to Cooperatively Stimulate Passenger Demand,” He Added.

The Airline Pays More Than $700 Million Each Year in Airport Charges, Property Costs, Licences and Staff Parking, and Says That Australian Airports Are Among the Most Profitable in the World.

Joyce Also Said That the Airline Was Not in Need of Any Further Capital Injections in the Short Term, Given It Has Deferred Large Capital Spending Items and Its Current $3 Billion Cash Holding. “. . . We Are Well Prepared if the Economic ‘glimmers of Hope’ Turn Out to Be False Dawns, and the Downturn Extends for Some Time,” He Said.

Jetstar Opens Lounge at Ool Jetstar

Was Planning to Open Its First Passenger Lounge at Gold Coast Airport on June 15, but Has Made It Clear That It is a One-off for the Low Cost Carrier.

The Lounge Has a Capacity for 120 People and Feature a Designated Child’s Play Area and Children’s Cinema, Complimentary Food and Drinks, Internet Access and Plasma Screens Showing Movies, Music Videos and Television News. Entry Will Initially Be Available for $5 Per Adult With Children Under Six Years Old Admitted Free, With the Price Expected to Rise Later. Passengers Flying Starclass on Jetstar Services to Japan Will Have Complimentary Entry.

Jetstar Told Australian Aviation That It is Not Planning on Rolling Out Any More Lounges at Other Airports, and Would Instead Continue to Offer Its Starclass Passengers Access to the Qantas Club. The Gold Coast is an Important Domestic and International Hub for Jetstar, but There Have Been No Qantas Club Lounge Facilities There Since Qantas Withdrew Services From the Predominantly Leisure Market.

Qantas-woolies Scheme Unveiled

Qantas and Woolworths Have Unveiled Their Long Anticipated Loyalty Scheme Partnership, Where Customers of Woolworths Supermarkets and Liquor Outlets and Big W Department Stores Will Soon Be Able to Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.

Starting Late June, Shoppers Who Link Their Woolworths Everyday Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer Accounts Will Be Able to Earn One Frequent Flyer Point for Every Dollar Spent on Purchases Above $30. Shoppers Will Be Able to Begin Earning Qantas Points at Woolworths Supermarkets and Liquor Stores From June 22, and at Big W From July 16. Dick Smith and Participating Caltex Woolworths Service Stations Will Later Be Added to the Scheme.

Woolworths Says It Has 20 Million Customer Transactions Per Week Across 3000 Stores. Members of Its Everyday Rewards Scheme Can Now Join Qantas Frequent Flyer Without Paying the Joining Fee.

Jetstar Ups Asian Capacity

Jetstar Has Announced That It Will Introduce the A321 on Two of Its Short Haul International Services Which Operate Through Darwin.

From June 10, the Airline’s Daily Cairns-darwin-singapore Service Has Been Operated by a 214-seat A321, While Its Daily Melbourne-darwin-singapore and Darwin-denpasar Services Will Be Upgraded to the Higher Capacity Aircraft From July 7. Jetstar Says That This Will Add an Additional 1000 Seats to and From Darwin Each Week.

“as the Largest Member of the Airbus A320 Family, the A321 Offers Jetstar a Suite of Benefits to Meet the Demands of a Growing Market and to Maintain Our Low Fares Leadership Position. This Includes Offering Superior Seat-kilometre Costs of Any Single-aisle Aircraft Within Its Class,” Said Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan.

Separately, Jetstar Asia Announced That It Had Signed an Interline Ticketing and Settlement Agreement With Qantas, Which Will Initially Allow Passengers on Either Carrier to Seamlessly Connect Through Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang From August 1, With Other Routes to Be Added Over Coming Weeks.

Qantas Cuts First Class on Some Routes

Qantas Has Announced That It is Temporarily Cutting First Class Sales on Selected Routes Due to the Fall in Premium Bookings.

The Airlines Says That It Will Stop Selling First Seats on Routes From Sydney to Buenos Aires and San Francisco as Well as Its Melbourne-hong Kong-london Heathrow Services Between July 6 and October 31. While the Airline Will Not Be Reconfiguring Aircraft to Remove First Class, Business Passengers Can Be Seated in the Seats but Will Receive Otherwise Regular Business Class Service Levels.

The Airline Has Said That That Plans to Sell Up to 10 Aircraft as Part of Its Capacity Reduction Measures, Which Some Sources Believe Could Include Some of Its Oldest Boeing 747-400s.

Vb Fly Sydney-hamilton is

Virgin Blue Has Announced That It Will Launch Flights Between Sydney and Hamilton Island From July 4.

The Flights Will Be Operated Daily by Boeing 737s Which Offer Premium Economy Seating, and Will Compete With Jetstar’s Services to the Holiday Island Which Are Operated by A320s.

“in the Current Climate, It is Especially Important to Ensure We Direct Aircraft Where We See Sufficient Demand and Long Term Viability,” Virgin Blue Ceo Brett Godfrey, Said.

The Launch on the Route, Which Has Traditionally Been Considered a Leisure Market, Comes Months After the Airline Announced That It Was Planning to Cut Capacity as Part of Measures to Preserve Its Yield During the Current Downturn in Travel.

Recovery on the Way for Asian Carriers? The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (Aapa) Says That Passenger and Cargo Traffic During April Continued to Decline, but Has Suggested That the Worst May Be Over for Airlines in the Region.

Compared to the Same Time Last Year, Passenger Numbers Across Aapa’s Member Airlines Were Down by 5. 8 Per Cent to 11,090, While Freight Tonne Kilometres Were Down by 21. 9 Per Cent. Despite Capacity Reductions, Passenger Load Factor Was Down by 2. 3 Percentage Points to 72. 3 Per Cent, While Freight Showed a Decline of 4. 9 Points to 62. 8 Per Cent.

“the April Figures, Although Poor, Are Not Quite as Bad as the Declines We Experienced in the First Three Months of the Year,” Said Aapa Director General Andrew Herdman. “despite the Slump in Exports, Some Asian Economies Are Holding Up Reasonably Well, With Mainland China Seeing a Strong Rebound in Domestic Travel After a Weak Performance in 2008. ” Nevertheless, He Cautioned That the Outlook for the Remainder of the Year Was One of “continued Challenges”, With First and Business Class Bookings Still Down as Companies Trim Travel Budgets.

Qantas Pax Numbers Stabilise the Qantas Group Recorded a Marginal Increase in Passengers and Load Factor for April, Possibly Pointing to an Arrest in the Recent Downward Trend.

Overall, the Qantas Group Recorded a 0. 2 Per Cent Increase in Passenger Numbers, Although This Appears to Have Been at the Expense of Yield as Rpks Fell by 2. 7 Per Cent. A 4. 5 Per Cent Fall in Asks Saw Revenue Seat Factor Increase by 1. 5pts to 80. 4 Per Cent.

The Main Driver of the Passenger Growth Was Again Jetstar, With Both Its Domestic and International Operations Recording Higher Load Factors of 80. 7 and 69. 3 Per Cent Respectively. Mainline Domestic Services Saw a 2. 4 Per Cent Fall in Passenger Numbers, Although a Similar Cut in Capacity Kept Load Factor Stable at 80. 6 Per Cent. Qantas International Saw Its Passenger Numbers Continue to Fall by 10. 1 Per Cent, Although a Similar Cut in Capacity Saw Load Factor Rise by 2. 7pts to 83. 3 Per Cent. Qantaslink Saw a Decline of Two Per Cent in Its Passenger Numbers, Driving Load Factor Down by 2. 3pts to 68 Per Cent.

Despite the Overall More Positive Numbers, Qantas Says Its Group Yield for the Financial Year to April Was 4. 3 Per Cent Lower (Excluding Foreign Exchange) Than Over the Same Period Last Year. This is Likely Due to Discounting the Carrier Has Undertaken to Try and Stimulate Weak Demand Seen in Previous Months.

More Pax Travel on Virgin Blue Virgin Blue’s Domestic Australian Services Saw an Increase in Passengers During April of 3. 1 Per Cent.

According to Figures Released by the Airline, the Increase in Passengers and a Subsequent 5. 1 Per Cent Increase in Rpks Came During a Month Where Capacity Only Increased by 0. 9 Per Cent. That Pushed Load Factor Up by 3. 3 Points to 80. 9 Per Cent. The Airline Also Recorded the Best on-time Performance of the Domestic Airlines During April, With 87. 3 Per Cent of Its Flights Departing on Time, Followed by Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger Airways.

The Increase in Passenger Numbers May Reflect a ‘flight to Value’ of Premium Passengers Who May Have Favoured Qantas to Virgin Blue’s Cheaper Fares. The Increase in Rpks Could Also Signal That Yield During April May Have Increased for the New World Carrier.

Factoring in Its International Services, the Virgin Blue Group Recorded an 8. 6 Per Cent Increase in Passengers During April, While Its Group Load Factor Fell by 0. 9 Points to 76. 3 Per Cent.

Airline Briefs

* Pacific Blue Commenced Services From Sydney to Denpasar on June 1, Followed a Day Later by Its Inaugural Melbourne-denpasar Service. The Services Are Operated Two and Three Times Per Week Respectively.

* Skyairworld Administrator Peter Lucas Told the Courier Mail Newspaper That He Was Investigating the Possibility That the Charter Operator Was Trading Whilst Insolvent and is Seeking to Question Former Ceo and Owner David Charlton. Saw is Believed to Owe Unsecured Creditors Up to $80 Million, and Was Placed Into Administration in April.

* South African Airways Will Increase Its Johannesburg-perth Services to Daily Frequencies From September 1, Using Both Airbus A340-200s and Larger -600s. The Airline, Which Codeshares With Qantas, Says That It is Seeing Great Results From Its Recent Interline Agreement With Virgin Blue.

* Jetstar Was Due to Cut Its Services to Hervey Bay at the End of June, Citing Operational Reasons. Fraser Coast Council Says It is Involved in Talks With Other Airlines to Take Up the Extra Passenger Demand.

* Regional Express Subsidiary Pel-air Won a Contract to Operate Fly-in/fly-out Services From Townsville to Barrick Gold’s Osborne Mine. Pel-air Has Been Operating the Service Since February on an Interim Basis After the Collapse of Macair, Utilising Two Saab 340bs and 10 Ex Macair Staff Members.

* Qantas Has Announced It Will Charge $160 Per Sector for Economy Class Passengers to Select an Emergency Exit Row Seat on Long Haul Flights, and $80 on Shorter International Flights. The Airline Says It Does Not Expect to Introduce Charges for the Seats on Domestic Services, Unlike Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Blue.

* Singapore Airlines Has Announced That Passengers Will Be Able to Use Their Mobile Phones to Check-in on Any of the Airline’s Flights Worldwide via Its Sia Mobile Application. The Service Will Be Upgraded Later This Year to Include Features Such as Booking Tickets and Accessing Selected Krisflyer Services.

* Aegean Airlines of Greece is to Become the 26th Airline to Join the Star Alliance. The Alliance Has Also Announced That Its Regional Members Will Be Integrated Into the Alliance as Full Members, Following the Completion of a Governance Review.

* Russia’s S7 Airlines Will Join the Oneworld Alliance in 2010.

* Virgin Blue Announced on May 19 That It Had Joined Forced With Gold Coast Based Con-x-ion to Offer Transfers to a Number of Hotels for Passengers Travelling From Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Airports. Passengers Will Be Able to Book the Ground Transfers as Part of the Flight Booking Process Online.

* Garuda Indonesia Will Begin Flights From Sydney and Melbourne to Jakarta From August 1. Both Routes Will Be Operated Three Times Weekly With Newly Arrived Airbus A330-200 Aircraft.

* Qantas Has Received Approval From the Iasc to Allow Japan Airlines to Codeshare on Its Services From Singapore to Australia.

* Boeing Recently Delivered the 50th 767 for Japan Airlines. Jal is the Fifth Largest Operator of the 767.

* Tiger Airways Australia Carried Its Two Millionth Passenger on May 18, Less Than 18 Months Since It Commenced Operations. The Lucky Passenger Was Given a Travel Voucher for Use on Any Flight Operated by Tiger in Australia.

* Sharp Airlines Will Add Additional Weekend Services on Its Flights From Adelaide to Port Augusta and Mildura From July. The Victorian Based Airline Says That It Has Carried Over 17000 Passengers on Its Services From Adelaide, Which Commenced on April 28 2008.

Environment

Virgin Blue Joins Gobal Deal

the Virgin Blue Group Has Announced That It Has Become the First Australian Airline to Join the Aviation Global Deal Group.

The Agd Group Includes a Number of Airlines, Airport Operators and Ngo the Climate Group Seeking to Develop an Industry-based Approach to Dealing With Carbon Dioxide Emissions as Part of the New International Climate Change Agreement Which is Set to Be Negotiated in Copenhagen in December.

“already We Are Pursuing Initiatives Across a Wide Range of Our Operations to Offset the Impact of Our Emissions and to Limit Emissions at Source,” Said Virgin Blue Ceo. “we Believe There is a Limit to What Individual Airlines Can Achieve and It Makes Sense to Work Together Globally With Like-minded Organisations to Seek a Uniform and Integrated Approach to International Policy on Aviation’s Contribution to Climate Change. ” Virgin Blue Joins Fellow Airlines Air France-klm, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic as Members of the Agd Group.

Boeing Calls for Regulation to Lower Emissions

Boeing Ceo Scott Carson Says That Aircraft Efficiency Standards Are Needed to Drive Emissions Reduction.

“an Efficiency Standard Would Be Straightforward and Easier to Implement Than a Standard for Aircraft Operators. And It Would Help Ensure That We Continue to See the Kind of Technological and Environmental Breakthroughs We Pioneered With the 787,” Carson Wrote in an Opinion Piece for the Wall Street Journal.

Carson Also Called for Greater Government Assistance in Developing Biofuels, Which He Said Emit 50-80 Per Cent Fewer Carbon Emissions Than Petroleum. “one Proposal is That Government Could Provide Loans to Refiners to Make Biofuels Competitive When the Price of Petroleum is Low and Get Repaid When the Price of Petroleum is High. We Hope Government Officials Will Seriously Consider Such Ideas Because Biofuels, in Our View, Are the Ultimate Answer to Aviation’s Carbon-emissions Challenge. ” Boeing Has Set Down Its Own Targets to Improve Its Recycling Rates, Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity by 25 Per Cent by 2012, and Said in May That It is on Track to Outperform Those Targets.

Aviation Emissions Are Expected to Be a Major Topic of Discussion at the Un’s Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December This Year. Among Other Things, It is Expected That the Unccc Will Establish a Benchmark for Handling of Air Transport Emissions and Help Resolve Some of the Uncertainty Created by Different Emissions Trading Schemes Around the World.

Positive Results From Air Nz Biofuel Flight

Air New Zealand Says That Its Test Flight of a Boeing 747-400 Powered Partially by Biofuel Showed a Reduction in Fuel Consumption and Emissions.

The Carrier Revealed at the Eco Aviation Conference on May 27 That Data Gathered From the 747, Which Had One of Its Rb211 Engines Powered by a 50/50 Mix of Jet Fuel and Jatropha Based Fuel, Showed That the Mix Had the Potential to Reduce Fuel Burn by 1. 2 Per Cent and Carbon Dioxide Emissions by 60-75 Per Cent. On Such Analysis, the Mixture Could Save 14. 3 Tons of Fuel and 4. 5 Tonnes in Emissions on a 12 Hour Flight.

Despite the Positive Outcome, Air Nz’s Chief Pilot Dave Morgan Said That There Was a Lot of Hype Surrounding Biofuels, and That There Was a Long Way to Go Before It Could Be Accepted by the Industry. “the Reason We Did the Flight Was to Make a Contribution to the Database in Order to [make Progress Toward Getting] This Fuel Certified. In the Short Term, It’s Really About Getting a Second Generation Biofuel Certified. In the Long Term, We Believe It Could Be a Fuel Alternative for Anz,” He Said.

Air Nz Has Set a Goal of Sourcing 10 Per Cent of Its Total Fuel Needs Across the Breadth of Its Operations From Alternate Sources by 2013. While It Used Jatropha as the Feedstock for the Test Flight, the Airline is Unlikely to Use It Long Term as It Cannot Be Grown in New Zealand. More Likely, the Carrier May Be Able to Access Algae Based Biofuel, With New Zealand Based Company Aquaflow Bionic Having Proven Its Ability to Synthesise Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene From Algae Grown in a Sewerage Farm in Marlborough.

Environment Briefs

* Scandinavian Airlines (Sas) Has Announced That It is Holding a Sustainability Seminar in Melbourne, Following One Held in Sydney Earlier in May. The First Seminar Was Held on May 12 in Cooperation With the Swedish Australia Chamber of Commerce, With Speakers Examining the Practical and Legal Lessons Gained From the European Carbon Trading Scheme.

Airports

Bankstown Busiest Airport

Bankstown Airport Was the Busiest Airport in Australia and 26th Busiest in the World During 2008, According to Passenger Movement Data From Airservices Australia.

For the Year, Movements Increased by Seven Per Cent to 362,206, and Sydney Metropolitan Airports (Sma) Says That the Current Year Trend is Pointing Towards a Further Increase This Year.

“the Sustained Growth in Aircraft Movements is an Encouraging Sign for the Future of the General Aviation Industry, Locally and Internationally,” Said Sma Ceo Kim Ellis. “this Activity Translates Into Direct Flow-on Economic Impacts Across the Airports and Into the Wider Community With Job Retention and Creation, Coupled With the Benefit of Ongoing Demand With Related Aviation Services Such as Maintenance and Other Support Services. ” Ellis Also Noted That the Airport Has This Year Been Seeing an Increase in Jet Aircraft Using Bankstown, With 30 Different Types of Code 3c Jets Using the Airport Over a Two Month Period. Many of These Have Include Private Operators and High End Charter Companies Such as Aeromil Pacific, Professional Jet Services and Skypac.

Darwin Expansion Misses Out on Funds

Darwin International Airport’s Terminal Expansion Plans Have Been Dealt a Blow, With the Project Missing Out on Funding From Infrastructure Australia.

“naturally, We Are Very Disappointed by This Decision as We Believed We Had a Very Strong ‘shovel Ready’ Project That Would Provide Substantial Benefit to All Territorians, Particularly in the Tourism Sector, Not to Mention the Creation of Many Jobs,” the Airport’s Ceo Ian Kew Said.

The Expanded Terminal, Which Was Planned to Commence Construction This Year, Was Designed to Cater for the Airport’s Projected Growth Out to 2015, but the Failure to Secure $30 Million in Government Funding and the Current Financial Climate Are Likely to Stall the Project.

With the Funding Now Gone, the Airport is Likely to Seek to Increase Passenger Charges to Fund the Upgrade. “we Understand the Airlines Need to Keep Their Costs as Low as Possible, Particularly in the Current Economic Environment. It is Much Harder for Airlines, Particularly Low Cost Carriers, to Readily Agree to Larger Increases in Airport Charges in These Difficult Times,” Said Kew.

Separately, the Airport Received Federal Planning Approval in May for a Proposed $100 Million Home and Lifestyle Super Centre at the Airport’s Business Park. Despite an Agreement With Developer Ticor to Develop the Centre Having Expired Last Year, the Airport is Expected to Seek Another Joint Venture Partner for the Project.

Airport Briefs

* Bankstown Airport Limited Says That Recent Reports in Some Media Claiming That the Airport Has Been Sold Are Misleading. According to the Airport, Recent Media Reports Have Suggested That a Sale of Shares in Bankstown Tenant Bac Devco, Rather Than Bal Which is the Leaseholder of Bankstown, Camden and Hoxton Park Airports.

General Aviation

Cirrus Boosts Production

in a Sign of Renewed Confidence for the General Aviation Sector, Cirrus Design Has Begun Recalling Staff and Plans to Increase Production of Its Single-engine Piston Aircraft.

The Company Says It is Recalling 55 Workers at Its Production Facilities in North Dakota and Minnesota and Will Increase Its Output of Singles From Six to Eight Per Month Due to an Uptick in Demand During February and March.

Cirrus’ Vp of Marketing Todd Simmons Said That the Signs Were Looking Positive for the Manufacturer. “we Do Have Indications That Point to More Favourable Things in the Second Half of the Year,” He Told ‘flightglobal. Com’.

Cirrus Was Forced to Slash Jobs Last Year and Cut Production in Half Due to Increasing Levels of Aircraft Inventory.

Casa Proposes Changes to Ga Maintenance

Casa Has Issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Change the Maintenance Licensing Arrangements for General Aviation Aircraft.

Under the Nprm, Casa Proposes to Establish a New Small Aircraft Licence Structure Under the B3 and B4 Categories, With Provision to Be Made for It Under the Proposed Casr Part 66. Casa Says That the Key Driver Behind It is to Create a Licence to Meet the Maintenance Requirements of Smaller Aircraft, as Opposed to Larger Rpt or Charter Aircraft. “a Licence Structure That Would Be Common to Both Sectors is Regarded as Impractical and Would Impose Unjustifiable Cost Burdens on the Aerial Work and General Aviation Sector,” the Nprm Reads.

The Favoured Option by Casa and Its Consultation Group Would See a Number of Subcategories for B3 (Mechanical) and B4 (Avionics) Licences Established, Including Some Which Would Stand Alone as Well as Others Which Would Added to the Different Licences. There Would Also Be a Four Year Phase-in Period for the New Licences. Comment on the Proposal Closed on June 5.

Uq, Cira Team Up on Hypersonics the University of Queensland (Uq) and the Italian Aerospace Research Agency (Cira) Signed a New Cooperation Agreement on Hypersonics Research in Brisbane on May 29.

“the New Agreement Complements Uq’s Successful History of Hypersonics Ground and Flight Testing, and Collaboration With About 20 Universities and Research Organisations, Including Space Agencies Nasa in the Us and Dlr in Germany,” Uq Acting Deputy Vice-chancellor Professor Max Lu Said.

Uq Has Been Conducting Research Into Hypersonics, Which is the Science of Flight at Speeds of Mach 5 and Above, for Over 20 Years. The University’s Centre for Hypersonics Has Been Working on Scramjet Technology, Which Involves Supersonic Engine Combustion, and Successfully Demonstrated This With Its Hyshot Flight Series at Woomera in 2002.

“I Anticipate That the Agreement Will Open Up Many Opportunities, Including the Transfer of Ideas, Personnel Exchange, and Access to Facilities and Capabilities at Both Institutions,” Said Cira’s Head of Space Systems Dr Gennaro Russo.

Rfds Opens Redeveloped Jandakot Base

the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Wa Section Officially Opened Its Redeveloped Patient Transfer Facility at Jandakot Airport on May 24.

Located at the Eastern End of the Jandakot Base, the Building Features a New Patient Resuscitation Area, Indoor Parking Bays for Three Ambulances, New Offices for Doctors and Nursing Facilities as Well as a Medical Conference Room. Crew Accommodation Facilities at the Base Have Also Been Revamped, Providing Better Accommodation for Crew Who Need to Take Rest Breaks Before Undertaking Flights. Funding for the Upgrades Was Provided by Lotterywest and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Rfds Wa Currently Operates a Fleet of Pilatus Pc-12s and Beechcraft King Air 200cs on Aeromedical Evacuation Flights From Five Bases Around Western Australia. It is Planning to Take Delivery of a Jet Aircraft Later This Year, Which Will Allow It to Cut Down Transit Time for Evacuations From the Remote North West to Perth Considerably.

Cessna, Bell Get Financing Help

the Export-import Bank of the United States in May Approved a Us$500m (a$646m) Loan Facility to Assist Textron Inc to Finance Exports of Its Cessna and Bell Helicopter Subsidiaries.

“ex-im Bank’s Mission is to Assist in Financing Us Exports to Help Companies Create and Maintain Jobs in the United States, and That is Exactly What This Facility is Designed to Do. It Will Help Textron to Continue Exporting Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopters and Support the Jobs of Thousands of Us Workers at These Companies,” Said Ex-im Bank’s Transportation Vice President Robert Morin.

The Funds Will Be Provided to Textron Finance Corp, and Enable It to Continue to Provide Finance to International Customers Who Are Planned to Take Delivery of New Cessna and Bell Aircraft by December 2010. Ex-im Bank Will Disburse Under the Facility on a Periodic Basis, Reimbursing Tfc for Financings of Eligible Aircraft and Helicopters That Have Been Exported.

The Global Financial Crisis Has Hit Textron Hard, Particularly Its Financial Arms Which Have Been Critical to Underwriting Many of Its Customers. Some Analysts Believe That the Diversified Industrial Company May Even Be Forced to Sell Off Cessna, Bell or Both in Order to Survive the Recession.

Airservices Awards Scholarships

Airservices Australia Has Awarded Four More Flying Scholarships to Aspiring Pilots, This Time in Conjunction With the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (Rfaca).

The Four $6000 Scholarships Were Awarded to Students Who Had Undertaken an Introductory Flight With a Rfaca Member Organisation and Had Been Assessed on Their Suitability to Undertake Formal Training, and Were Drawn Out of the Top 10 Candidates. The Money is Provided to Help Subsidise the Cost of Gaining a Private or Commercial Pilot’s License.

The Winners for This Year Were Bradley Childe, Andrew Ruth and Arthur Waters From Darling Downs Aero Club in Queensland, and Samuel Simpson of the Aero Club of Southern Tasmania.

General Aviation Briefs

* Mt Propeller Has Received an Faa Supplemental Type Certificate for a New Generation, Four Bladed Scimitar Shaped Propeller for the Pacific Aerospace Pac750xl. The Company Says That the New Composite Propeller Improves Overall Performance and Reduces External and Internal Noise Significantly.

Business Aviation

Boeing Goes Convertible With Bbj

Boeing Will Make Available a Version of the Boeing Business Jet (Bbj) Which Will Be Able to Be Converted Into a Combi or All-cargo Configuration in Eight Hours.

Designated as the Bbj-c (for “convertible”), the Aircraft is Based on the C-40a Used by the Us Navy. It is Being Targeted at Large Corporations and Governments, With Possible Applications as Both a Vip Transport and Also for Delivering Relief Supplies, Transporting Equipment for Touring Bands and Also Medical Evacuations. With 50 Passengers and Baggage, the Bbj C Can Fly Up to 5815nm (10,770km), or 4948nm (9170km) With a Cargo Load of Up to Eight Main Deck Pallets Weighing Nine Tonnes.

Boeing Also Confirmed That Bbjs Delivered From 2011 Will Incorporate the Airframe and Engine Refinements Recently Announced for the Commercial 737. These Are Expected to Deliver a Two Per Cent Reduction in Fuel Consumption.

Business Aviation Briefs

* Easa Has Certificated the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (Acj) for a New Maximum Takeoff Weight of 76. 5 Tonnes.

* Cessna Announced on May 20 That It Has Completed the Wing/fuselage Mating of the Third Production Citation Cj4. The Cj4 Prototype and Two Production Aircraft Are Currently Involved in Certification Testing at Wichita, With First Deliveries Expected by the End of the Year.

* Embraer Announced on May 11 That It Will Offer Its Phenom 100 Customers a New, Ergonomically Improved Seat as Standard From the Fourth Quarter of This Year. The New Seat Was Designed in Partnership With Bmw Group Designworks Usa, and is Manufactured by Decrane Aerospace Aircraft Seating.

* Gulfstream Announced Recently Completed Testing of Its First All-composite Structural Wing Assembly. The 5. 5m Structural Wing Assembly, Which Weighs 211kg, is Similar in Size and Shape to the Outboard Section of the G650 Aircraft but With a 35 Percent Weight Reduction, and Could Lead to the Inclusion of Composites in Future Gulfstream Jets.

Cargo

* Qantas Freight Has Commenced a Weekly Service From Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City With Onward Service to Shanghai, New York and Chicago, Utilising a Boeing 747-400 Freighter. The Service Departs Sydney on Thursdays, and Qantas Says It Has an Option to Add a Second Service Once Demand for Air Freight Picks Up Again.

Finance

Sia Profit Plummets

Singapore Airlines Has Recorded a Near 50 Per Cent Fall in Profit for the Financial Year Ending March 31, as the Company Was Buffeted by High Fuel Prices and Falls in Premium Traffic.

For the Year, Sia Earned S$821m (a$743m) in Operating Profit, Representing a 49. 9 Per Cent Fall Compared to the Previous Year, While Its Regional Subsidiary Silkair Recorded a 16 Per Cent Fall in Profit to S$34m (a$30. 7m), a Fall of 16 Per Cent. Sia Engineering and Sats Group Recorded Profits of S$113m (a$102m) and S$171m (a$155m) Respectively, While Sia Cargo Recorded a Loss of S$245m (a$222m). Total Group Profit Was S$1. 06bn (a$959m), 48. 2 Per Cent Lower Than the Previous Year.

In Its Outlook, the Airline Noted That the Recent Fall in Bookings is Beginning to Level Out, but Promotional Pricing and Reduced High-yield Traffic Would Keep Revenues Under Pressure. It Also Said That Any Recovery Could Be Compromised Should the Outbreak of Swine Influenza Continue.

Sia Group Also Announced a Proposal to Divest Itself From Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats) Through an in-specie Dividend to Sia Shareholders. The Airline Said That the Divestment Would Allow It to Unlock Value in Sats and Give It Greater Independence, as Well as Allowing Sia to Focus on Its Airline and Mro Businesses.

Rex Profit Drops

Regional Express Has Recorded a 6. 3 Per Cent Fall in Profit Before Tax for the Three Months Ending March 31, and Has Foreshadowed Job Cuts as Passenger Numbers Fall.

Rex Group, Which Includes Its Pel-air Subsidiary, Recorded a Profit of $7. 5 Million Before Tax for the Quarter, Which Came on the Back of a 7. 8 Per Cent Drop in Revenue to $57 Million (Passenger Revenue Was 10. 8 Per Cent Lower at $45. 4 Million). That Was Driven by a Decrease in Passenger Numbers of 19. 8 Per Cent as Capacity Fell by 15 Per Cent. Costs Per Ask (Excluding Fuel) Rose by 8. 7 Per Cent to 24. 9c/ask, While Revenue Per Ask Was Only Up by 4. 7 Per Cent to 26. 7c/ask.

In Its Outlook, the Company Said That It Expects the Final Quarter of the Financial Year to Be Even More Difficult Than the Third, and is Reducing Passenger Capacity by 11 Per Cent. It is Also Carrying Through With Plans to Remove the Last of the Metro Freighters From the Pel-air Fleet, and Says It Expects to Retrench Up to Four Per Cent of Its Workforce. On the Positive Side, the Company Noted That There Had Been an Increase in Pel-air’s Mining Charter and Medivac Business.

Airasia Boosts Profit

While Many Other Airlines Are Struggling From Falls in Traffic and Yields, Airasia Has Announced That It Has Dramatically Increased Its Profit for the Three Months Ending March 31.

The Malaysian Based Carrier Recorded a Profit After Tax of Myr203m (a$74m) After Tax, 26 Per Cent Higher Than During the Previous Year. The Carrier Attributed the Results to an Increase in Yield, Ancillary Revenue and Lower Costs Predominately Due to the Lower Cost of Fuel.

The Carrier’s Long Haul Arm Airasia X Also Performed Well, Producing a Core Operating Profit of Myr17. 8m (a$6. 5m). Average Load Factor for the Carrier Was 69 Per Cent. The Airline Currently Operates Three A330-300s and One A340-300 on Routes From Kuala Lumpur to Australia, China and Recently Launched Flights to London Stansted Airport.

Ceo Tony Fernandes Said That He Expects the Airline to Continue to Grow, Despite Many of Its Competitors Taking Steps to Reduce Capacity in Recent Months. “this is Creating Enormous Opportunities for Airasia, as. . . Airports Compete to Get Our Business and Are More Amenable to Provide Desirable Terms and Concessions to Airasia in Order to Attract Our Airline,” He Said. “they Recognise That Airasia Can Deliver Significant Passenger Growth and Revenue to Their Entities. ” Fernandes Also Noted That Forward Bookings Showed That Demand Was Robust, and That Ancillary Revenue Was Also Continuing to Grow.

Skywest Considering Asx Listing

Skywest Could Make a Return to the Boards of the Australian Securities Exchange to Access Further Capital and Gain More Exposure to Australian Investors.

Skywest Was Delisted From the Asx in 2006 After It Was Taken Over by Singapore Based Company Advent Air, Which Subsequently Changed Its Name to Skywest Airlines Limited and Listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market. However, With the Company’s Share Price Trading at Low Levels, the Company Said in a Statement That, “a Dual Listing May Enable Australian Investors to Compare Skywest With Other Asx Listed Airline Stocks and May Also Help Increase Liquidity in the Company’s Shares. ” Skywest Operates a Fleet of Fokker 50s and 100s Primarily on Intrastate Rpt and Charter Routes Within Wa. The Company is Facing Possible Changes to Its Network, With Its Exclusive Licence to Operate Coastal Services Due to Expire in July.

Finance Briefs

* the Emirates Group Has Recorded a Profit of Aed1. 49bn (a$524m) for the Financial Year Ending March 31, a 72 Per Cent Reduction on the Previous Year. Emirates Airline Recorded a Profit of Aed982m (a$346m) on Revenue of Aed44. 2bn (a$15. 6bn).

* Virgin Atlantic Nearly Doubled Its Profit for the Financial Year Ending February 28, Recording a £68. 4m (a$140m) Pre-tax Profit, on an Increase in Sales Revenue of 8. 4 Per Cent to £2. 58bn (a$5. 27bn). The Airline Attributed Strong Sales of Its Premium Class Products for the Rise.

Security

* the Australian Federal Police Impounded a Tiger Airways Airbus A320 for Six Hours at Canberra Airport on June 4 Following the Spillage of a Cleaning Liquid From a Passenger’s Hand Luggage. The Fluid Was Partially Corrosive and Had to Be Cleaned Before the Aircraft Returned to Service.

Air Safety

Casa Releases Gaap Training Review

Casa Has Made a List of Recommendations for Changes to General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (Gaap) Following Two Mid-air Collisions Near Aerodromes in 2008.

The Review Gathered Data From Interviews and Surveys of Chief Flying Instructors, Flying Instructors and Students, and Revealed a Broad Range of Issues, Most of Which Involved Poor Situational Awareness. Other Findings Included a Poor Level of Standardisation in Non Aip Gaap Procedures, a Lack of Training Material on Gaap Procedures, No Requirement for Such Training in the Day Vfr Syllabus and Poor Circuit Sizes Under the Aip Recommendations.

The Review Has Recommended a Number of Steps Be Taken, Including the Development of New Training Materials and Incorporation of Gaap Procedures Into the Day Vfr Syllabus, as Well as Conducting a Similar Survey in the Future to Establish the Effectiveness of Any of the Measures Being Implemented. Casa Was Planning a Mailout During June to All Pilots Which Will Include Information About Some of the Key Safety Factors Involved in Mid-air Collisions and Practical Recommendations to Assist Pilots in Avoiding Mid-air Collisions. It is Also Preparing a More Comprehensive Training Package to Help Combat Mid-air Accidents and Incidents.

Atsb Report Leads to E-jet Fix the Investigation of an Incident Involving a Virgin Blue Embraer E-170 Last Year Has Led to a Redesign of the Aircraft’s Slat Actuator.

The E-170, Registered Vh-zha, Was Operating a Scheduled Service Between Sydney and Melbourne, and Was Beginning Its Landing Procedures and Selected ‘flaps 1′. This Led to a Number of Messages From the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System Showing, Including ‘slat Fail’, ‘spoiler Fault’, ‘aircraft Operating Angle of Attack (Aoa) Limit Fail’ and ‘shaker Anticipated’. As a Result, the Crew of the Aircraft Cycled the Flaps Again With the Same Messages Appearing. The Crew Then Initiated an Alert Phase, and Later Landed With Only a Flaps 1 Setting After Declaring a Pan.

A Subsequent Inspection by Engineers Identified That the Left Side Number 3 Slat Actuator Torque Trip Limiter Had Activated, Possibly as a Result of Operation in Extremely Cold Temperatures. This Was Then Reset, Clearing the Fault Messages and the Aircraft Was Returned to Service. Following Advice From the Manufacturer, the Actuator Was Replaced.

According to the Atsb, There Was a Similar Failure on the Same Aircraft Earlier in 2008, While Another Operator Using the Same Type in a Cold Climate Reported That Flap/slat Failures Occurred Regularly. In January 2009, the Manufacturer of the Actuator Released an Amended Fault Isolation Manual Which Requires the Replacement of the Slat Actuator if the Torque Trip Limiter Had Tripped. It Has Also Initiated the Redesign of the Actuator to Reduce Torque Trip Limiter Engagement.

People

* Auckland International Airport Limited Has Announced That Its Cfo Jason Dale Has Given Notice of His Resignation. Dale is Expected to Leave at Some Point Before August.

* Rod Mahoney Has Been Appointed as Vice President Asia Pacific for Us Based Consultancy Air Transport Business Development Inc. Mahoney is a Former Consultant to V Australia and Also Previously Led Airbus’s Sales Activities in Airbus.

* Sydney Metropolitan Airports Has Appointed Jason Rainbird as Airport Operations and Compliance Manager for Bankstown and Camden Airports. Rainbird Previously Worked at Hamilton Island Airport.

* Martin White Has Been Appointed as Executive General Manager, Commercial for Air Pacific, Effective May 18. White Previously Held Senior Marketing Positions With a Number of Us Airlines, and Will Be Responsible for Customer Relations, Revenue and Yield Management and Strategic Product and Brand Development.

* Liza Carver and David Burden Have Been Appointed to the Board of Airservices Australia. Carver is a Partner in Law Firm Gilbert and Tobin and Previously Held Positions at the Australian Energy Market Commission and the Nsw Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, While Burden Previously Held Executive Roles at Royal Mail and Qantas. Dr Warren Mundy Will Assume the Role of Deputy Chair of the Airservices Board, While Roxley Mclennan Ao Avm (Ret’d) Will Remain on the Board for Another Term.

Captions

The Us Department of Defense Has Awarded Lockheed Martin a Us$2. 1bn (a$2. Xbn) Contract Modification to Build 17 F-35 Ii Jsfs in the Third Lrip (Low Rate Initial Production) Lot, a Buy Also Includes the First International Orders – Two F-35 Operational Test Aircraft for the Uk and One for the Netherlands. Assembly of 14 Aircraft in the First Two Lrip Lots is Already Under Way, With Initial F-35 Deliveries to the Usaf Scheduled to Begin in 2010, Lockheed Martin Reports. Eight Development Aircraft Have Entered Testing, and the Remaining 11 Are Planned to Roll Out by Year’s End. Pictured is an Altered Image Showing the F-35 in Raaf Markings. (Lockheed Martin)

Air New Zealand Has Announced That It is Cutting Its Daily Hong Kong-london Heathrow Service to Five Times a Week Instead of Daily From September Due to Weak Conditions. The Carrier Also Announced That Its First Boeing 747-400, Zk-nbs – Pictured – Departed Auckland on June 5 for Roswell, New Mexico Where It Will Be Parted Out. (Mike Millett)

Tecnam’s Four-seat, Twin Engine P2006t Achieved Easa Certification on May 25. The Italian Company Says It Has Already Built 10 P2006ts, and Holds Nearly 100 Orders for the Type.

Lancair International’s Evolution High Performance Single Engine Piston Aircraft Made Its First Flight on June 3. The Piston Version is Powered by a Lycoming Ie2 Series Engine and Cruises at 270kt.

On Tuesday, June 2, Lockheed Martin [nyse: Lmt] and the Air Force Research Lab (Afrl) Successfully Conducted the Initial Demonstration Flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (Acca). This Flight Marks the Final and Most Significant Milestone of Phase Ii of Afrl’s Acca Program, in Which Lockheed Martin Replaced the Mid/aft Fuselage and Empennage of a Dornier 328j Aircraft With an Advanced Composite Structure.

“Yesterday Was One of Those Perfect Days Where I Get to Be the First to Fly a New Aircraft and Everything Goes as Planned. The Aircraft Was a Real Pleasure to Fly and We Experienced No Issues,” Said Rob Rowe, Lockheed Martin Test Pilot.

Acca Took Off to the East From Usaf Plant 42 at 6:55 a. M. The Aircraft Then Banked West and Climbed to an Altitude of Approximately 10,000 Feet Where the Two-pilot Crew Took the Vehicle Through a Series of Airspeed and Stability and Control Tests. These Tests Are Important to Understand How the Composite Cargo Aircraft Performs at Varying Speeds, Attitudes, and Altitudes. This Data Will Be Used as a Baseline for Future Tests.

“Historically Aircraft Cost Has Been Determined by the Size and Weight of the Vehicle. With Acca We Are Proving That While Size Does Matter, It Isn’t the Final Determination of Aircraft Cost,” Said Frank Mauro, Vice President of Advanced System Development, Lockheed Martin. “Acca is an Important Step in Proving That Composite Technologies Are Real Game Changers in Reducing Design and Manufacturing Costs Along With Extending Life and Reducing Maintenance Costs Over Traditional Metallic Aircraft Structures. ” the Road to This First Flight Started Over a Decade Ago With Industry and Government Laboratories Collaborating in the Afrl-led Composites Affordability Initiative (Cai), a Series of Critical Development Steps in Both Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Designed to Mature Dramatic, Cost-saving Processes. Out-of-autoclave Curing of Large, Unitized and Co-bonded Structures Minimizes Part Count and Mechanical Fasteners. The “Ripple Effect” of This Approach Spreads Across Every Aspect of Airframe Production Expense. Tooling, Raw Material, Fabrication Man-hours, Quality Control and Floor Space Utilization Efficiency Are Just a Few of the Factors That Combine to Create a Compounding Effect on Cost When Applied in a Holistic Manner. Acca is the “Capstone” Test of Integrating These Cai Principles All the Way From Conceptual Design Through Certification and Flight.

“This Successful Flight is the Culmination of Years of Teamwork Between Government and Industry Labs Involving Hundreds of Dedicated Researchers Across the Country,” Said Barth Shenk, Air Force Research Lab’s Acca Program Manager. “This Has the Potential to Change Aircraft Manufacturing as We Presently Know It, for the Better” “Nasa Dryden Flight Research Center and Avcraft (Myrtle Beach, Sc) Have Been Lynchpin Partners in Our Program’s Success,” Shenk Said. “Nasa’s Expertise in Experimental Flight Test Programs Helped Us Streamline Our Test Preparations and Avcraft (the Domestic Maintainer of the Dornier 328j) Provided Critical Support on the Aircraft Subsystems So That Lockheed Martin Could Focus on the Structural Design, Fabrication and Integration Issues” Upcoming Test Activity Will Focus on Establishing the Flight Envelope of the Acca to Baseline Its Flight Performance and Validate Predicted Structural Performance. Accurate Prediction of Structural Behavior in the Flight Environment is a Key Step in Establishing the Eligibility of the Technologies for Transition Into Future Programs So That the Cost Savings Acca Has Demonstrated Can Be Realized.