http://www.aero-news.net/news/aerospace.cfm?ContentBlockID=9423b825-4de3-4601-84fd-0c91d461dbfc&Dynamic=1
All space missions are difficult. Docking a pair of spacecraft is tough but flying multiple satellites together in formation is considered the real cutting edge. A new simulator is now allowing mission planners to get to grips with multi-satellite missions to come, starting with ESA's Proba-3. Several space agencies are preparing formation-flying missions, but it is hard to overstate the difficulty they face: separate expensive pieces of hardware, each one zipping through space at several kilometres per second, may have to manoeuvre to within metres of each other to achieve their goals.
lunes, 13 de septiembre de 2010
SkyRider airplane "seats" for flying standing-up
http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/13/skyrider-airplane-seats/
http://gizmodo.com/5636118/i-dont-ever-want-to-sit-on-these-skyrider-airplane-seats
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-09-10-airlinestanding10_ST_N.htm
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-09/please-dont-let-be-future-air-travel
The SkyRider's creator insists that it is, in fact, a seat and not a way to trick standing passengers into thinking that they are not, in fact, still vertical. Before you go into a full-fledged panic though, it's worth noting that these seats have many hurdles to jump before finding themselves inside airplanes.
The SkyRider seats will be unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference in Long Beach. It's intended to be seating for a new budget "class" (below Coach obviously) and airliners are supposedly interested. I hope it's not serious cause the SkyRider seats only give 23 inches of leg room. Here's what the director behind the design group has to say about the Skyrider seats:
"For flights anywhere from one to possibly even up to three hours ... this would be comfortable seating," he says. "The seat ... is like a saddle. Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle."
An FAA spokesperson said, "While it's not impossible, it's difficult to conceive of a standing seat that would be able to meet all applicable FAA requirements and still be cost-effective."
Argentina se uniría a proyecto avión de transporte militar Embraer KC390
http://economia.terra.com.co/noticias/noticia.aspx?idNoticia=201009131403_RTI_SIE68C0HT
El Gobierno de Argentina podría unirse pronto a planes regionales para ayudar a desarrollar un avión de transporte militar construido por la brasileña Embraer, publicó el lunes el periódico brasileño Valor Economico, citando a un funcionario de defensa. Los Gobiernos brasileño y argentino están acabando los detalles del acuerdo y probablemente firmarán pronto una carta de intenciones, dijo Valor, citando a una fuente no identificada
El Gobierno de Argentina podría unirse pronto a planes regionales para ayudar a desarrollar un avión de transporte militar construido por la brasileña Embraer, publicó el lunes el periódico brasileño Valor Economico, citando a un funcionario de defensa. Los Gobiernos brasileño y argentino están acabando los detalles del acuerdo y probablemente firmarán pronto una carta de intenciones, dijo Valor, citando a una fuente no identificada
India, Russia Agree on Development of Multirole Transport Aircraft
A Joint Venture will now be formed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Russian Partners namely United Aircraft Corporation & Rosoboronexport to Co-develop and Co-produce Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA). The total development cost is around US $ 600.70 million
- Maximum take-off weight 65 tonnes
- Payload Capacity 15-20 tonnes
- Cruise Speed 800 kmph
- Range 2500-2700 km
- Service ceiling 12 km.
- The Aircraft will have two engines, state of the art features such as fly-by-wire, full authority digital engine control, modern avionics and glass cockpit.
Indra Adquiere a Thales el 49% de la filial Indra Espacio, que tenían a medias
El importe que se va a pagar supone valorar Indra Espacio en 80 millones de euros, incluyendo los 24,4 millones de caja neta y una participación del 7% en la compañía de satélites Hisdesat de la que Indra Espacio es titular.
Díaz Ferrán tendrá que pagar de su bolsillo dos meses de sueldo a un trabajador de Air Comet
Juzgado de Primera Instancia número 43 de Madrid ha estimado la petición interpuesta por la Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) en representación de uno de los trabajadores de Air Comet y ha condenado al presidente de la CEOE, Gerardo Díaz Ferrán, a abonar de su patrimonio personal los salarios de octubre y noviembre del 2009.
La sentencia, que puede ser recurrida en apelación, obliga a Díaz Ferrán a pagar 2.451,31 euros, más los intereses acumulados, por los sueldos impagados al trabajador correspondientes a los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2009.
BRASIL AND PORTUGAL FORMALIZE DISCUSSIONS ON PARTNERING IN
Portuguese government expresses its intention to acquire six Embraer military transport jets São José dos Campos, September 10, 2010 – In a ceremony held, today, in Lisbon, Portugal, Brazil's Defense Minister, Nelson Jobim, and the National Defense Minister of Portugal, Augusto Santos Silva, signed a Declaration of Intent regarding participation in the development program of the KC-390 military transport jet. The agreement marks the beginning of negotiations for Portuguese companies to join the project and to participate in the manufacture of the new airplane, as well as the future acquisition of six aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force.
"We have strong historic ties of bilateral cooperation with Portugal, and are very enthusiastic about their future participation in the KC-390 program, which will contribute decisively to strengthening that country's aeronautics cluster," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. "There is a lot of work yet to be done. The preliminary studies have been concluded and we are moving ahead to establish the final configuration of the aircraft and the primary suppliers."
Portugal is the third country to sign an agreement to discuss involvement in an international partnership for the KC-390 in less than a month. In August, the Chilean government made official its interest in participating in the program through Enaer (Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica), as well as to acquire six aircraft. At the beginning of this month, Colombia also signed a Declaration of Intent for cooperating and a future purchase of 12 airplanes. With the intention manifested, in July, by the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira – FAB) to acquire 28 aircraft and this decision by Portugal, the prospective future sales of the KC-390 now total 52 airplanes.
Press Release [pdf]