Latest EASA Annual Safety Review shows continued high level of aviation safety

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) today published its Annual Safety Review for 2009. The review shows the high safety level has been maintained in commercial air transport operations of EASA Member States.

Commenting on the release of the review, EASA's Executive Director, Patrick Goudou, said: "The results of the Annual Safety Review 2009 are an encouragement to continue our efforts to maintain and further improve aviation safety in Europe".

The year 2009 had one of the lowest numbers of fatal accidents involving aircraft operated by EASA Member States commercial air transport operators. During the year, there was a single fatal accident involving an Airbus A330 over the South Atlantic Ocean which resulted in 228 fatalities.

The Annual Safety Review addresses all types of aircraft operations. For the first time, the review includes data from the European Central Repository for occurrences which is a project led by the European Commission to collect safety data at a European level.

The Annual Safety Review also offers an overview of aviation safety measures taken by the Agency, including the progress of the European Strategic Safety Initiative (ESSI).

The Annual Safety Review is available on the Agency’s website [http://easa.europa.eu/communications/docs/annual-safety-review/2009/RLY_EASA_Annual_100722.pdf].




EASA

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X2 Technology™ Demonstrator Achieves 225 Knots, Sets New Top Speed for Helicopter - Target Milestone of 250 Knots Looms in Q3 2010

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s X2 Technology™ demonstrator today unofficially broke the speed record for rotorcraft, achieving a maximum speed of 225 knots in a one-hour test flight at the Development Flight Center. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

X2 Technology demonstrator Chief Pilot Kevin Bredenbeck executed the successful record-breaking test flight. The previous record for a 3,500 kg class of rotorcraft – 216 knots – was set by a Westland Lynx in the mid-1980’s.

“The X2 Technology demonstrator’s latest flight is continuing to push the speed envelope, successfully flying approximately 50 knots faster than a traditional helicopter,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager, Advanced Programs. “Vibration levels and aircraft performance have continued to meet or exceed our expectations, so we are pleased to report that all systems are ‘go’ in our mission to achieve a 250-knot cruise speed later this year.”

In the demonstrator’s previous flight, a new tail configuration was incorporated to decrease pilot workload as the aircraft speed is increased, improving the overall aircraft handling qualities.

Mark Miller, Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering, said, “The X2 Technology program is one of our Sikorsky Innovations initiatives to develop and mature the technologies, products and processes that will redefine the future of vertical flight. With each successful test flight, the X2 Technology demonstrator is carrying this forward and writing a new page in aviation history.”

The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

The X2 Technology program began in 2005 when Sikorsky first committed resources and full funding for the program’s development.

Among the innovative technologies the X2 Technology demonstrator employs are:

• Fly-by-wire flight controls
• Counter-rotating rigid rotor blades
• Hub drag reduction
• Active vibration control
• Integrated auxiliary propulsion system

Sikorsky

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A400M engine beating performance requirement

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/07/26/345073/farnborough-a400m-engine-beating-performance-requirements.html




EPI expects to receive civil certification for the 11,000shp (8,200kW) TP400 from mid-September, after performing one remaining test activity on single medium bird ingestion.

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The consortium is required to deliver around 200 requests to the European Aviation Safety Agency in support of the certification process, and all but five have now been submitted. It has already approved "the vast number" of these.

"We have achieved the certification standard for the software," says Maltby, who describes the event as "a huge milestone". The propulsion system software required for the A400M is three times more complex than for the Airbus A380, he notes. Military certification activities for the TP400 should conclude around mid-2012, EPI says.

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Farnborough cerró con más de 47.000 millones de dólares de negocios

http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=4c4d218813f43&viewTemplate=1

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Fomento comienza la externalización del control aéreo

http://www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/20100723/fomento-comienza-externalizacion-del-control-aereo/836037.shtml

Fomento comienza la externalización del control aéreo

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[http://www.airbus-fyi.com] Despega el concurso internacional “Fly Your Ideas” de Airbus para desarrollar la aviación eco-eficiente del futuro

Estudiantes de todo el mundo presentan sus ideas innovadoras por una
aviación más ecológica.

Despega el concurso internacional “Fly Your Ideas” de Airbus para desarrollar la
aviación eco-eficiente del futuro, dotado con 30.000 euros de premio.

Estudiantes universitarios de todo el mundo tienen la oportunidad de crear proyectos innovadores eco-eficientes relacionados con la aviación del futuro y ganar 30.000 euros.  La competición internacional “Fly Your Ideas” lanzada por Airbus, anima a los estudiantes a  desarrollar nuevas ideas eco-eficientes que aporten mejoras a nuestra industria. El concurso bianual comprende tres fases calificadas por un panel de expertos de Airbus y del sector. La final coincidirá con el salón Aeronáutico de París – Le Bourget, France. Los ganadores compartirán el premio principal de 30.000€, y los finalistas uno de 15.000€.

Durante el anuncio del concurso FYI 2011, Charles Champion, vicepresidente ejecutivo de Ingeniería de Airbus y principal responsable de FYI dijo: “Fly Your Ideas es una oportunidad única para que los estudiantes puedan participar de la visión que tiene Airbus sobre la aviación eco-eficiente del futuro. El concurso está diseñado para estimular ideas innovadoras para un mundo más sostenible e interconectado. Además, gracias a este concurso, Airbus consigue el compromiso de los estudiantes y equipos de investigación para identificar las oportunidades de I+D que permitan encontrar el equilibrio entre la demanda creciente del transporte aéreo y el respeto por el medio ambiente”.

Los estudiantes de cualquier edad, nacionalidad, género o disciplina – desde la ingeniería hasta el marketing; desde el mundo de la empresa hasta la ciencia; desde la filosofía hasta el diseño – están invitados a participar. Todos los proyectos sobre todos los aspectos del “Ciclo de Vida Medioambiental serán bien recibidos” – un innovador acercamiento que Airbus utiliza para mejorar el desempeño medioambiental del avión y sus procesos de producción. Estos últimos se definen en cinco fases: cadena de abastecimiento; fabricación; operaciones; y fin del ciclo de la vida del avión.

FYI 2011 sigue al éxito del primer concurso lanzado en octubre de 2008. Más de 2.350 estudiantes de más de 80 países participaron en la primera edición del concurso, en el que el equipo multinacional “COz” de la Universidad de Queensland, Australia, recibió el primer premio durante el Salón Aeronáutico de Le Bourget en junio de 2009. Su proyecto se centraba en el uso de un innovador material compuesto a base de fibras naturales – fabricada a partir del ricino –
para la cabina del avión. Benjamin Lindenberge, de 27 años, que participó en la edición FYI 2009 con el equipo ganador, señaló: “Ganar este concurso ha sido una gran experiencia pero no menos que trabajar junto a grandes expertos de Airbus, conseguir una mayor visión de la industria y desarrollar habilidades
compartidas”

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