Boeing Celebrates Opening of New Factory in China

TIANJIN, April 18, 2011 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Aviation Industries Corporation of China (AVIC) today celebrated the opening of a new factory that doubles the footprint of their joint venture, Boeing Tianjin Composites Co., Ltd.

The new facility will increase Boeing Tianjin Composites’ production capacity by 60 percent and company employment is expected to rise from 700 to more than 1,000 by 2013, the target date for full production. Boeing Tianjin Composites produces components for all of Boeing’s in-production programs including the 737, 747-8, 767, 777 and 787. Boeing invested $21 million to develop the new factory, which was built next to the existing factory in the New Binhai Area of Tianjin.

“Boeing Tianjin’s new factory is an example of win-win collaboration between China and Boeing,” said Ray Conner, vice president and general manager, Supply Chain Management & Operations, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We rely on our Chinese partners to produce high-quality components for Boeing airplanes, and we are excited to expand this successful joint venture to increase production and employment.”

“The expansion of Boeing Tianijin Composites is just one example of how Chinese companies have an increasing role as our manufacturing partners and collaborators,” said Marc Allen, president of Boeing China. “Through commercial airplane sales, manufacturing, airplane services and research partnerships, we are committed to finding mutually beneficial avenues to advance our long-term relationships in China.”

Building on Boeing’s environmental leadership in manufacturing, Boeing Tianjin Composites’ new facility in China is certified to meet the internationally recognized rating of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This rating highlights Boeing's commitment to use building strategies that improve environmental performance, including energy and water efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, improved indoor environmental quality and the stewardship of natural resources.

The new factory capitalizes on Boeing Tianjin’s existing world-class composites manufacturing operations and product offerings, and will allow Boeing Tianjin continue providing support to Chinese-owned aviation factories that are also part of Boeing’s commercial airplane supply base.

Boeing Tianjin’s customers include Boeing, Hexcel, Goodrich, FACC AG, Korean Aerospace Industries, Triumph Group, Boeing Aerostructures Australia, Shanghai Aviation Industry Corporation and Xi’an Aviation Industry Corporation.

Boeing has worked with China’s aviation industry for nearly four decades and is the largest customer of made-in-China airplane parts, with a direct spend of more than $200 million annually in China on aviation hardware and services. Boeing expects to more than double its Chinese procurement by 2015 and, with its supplier partners, has active contracts with China’s aviation industry valued at more than US$2.5 billion. Boeing-related businesses support an estimated 20,000 Chinese jobs, including more than 6,000 employees who work directly for Boeing, its subsidiaries and joint ventures.

Boeing provides executive development training and special technical training for Chinese suppliers to ensure high quality products for its commercial airplane. Boeing also works closely with Chinese partners to develop a safe, reliable and efficient air transportation system. In an effort to reduce commercial aviation’s environmental footprint, Boeing and Chinese researchers are also working together to advance aviation biofuels commercialization and assess efficient air-traffic management.

PR

Read more...

Boeing Ready to Deliver 787 Pilot Training on Global Scale

SEATTLE, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has achieved multiple qualifications for its worldwide network of 787 training campuses. The qualifications mean Boeing Flight Services has training devices that are ready to be used with an approved training course in locations around the globe.

"The innovations of the 787 Dreamliner don't end with the airplane itself," said Sherry Carbary, vice president, Boeing Flight Services. "Boeing is changing the game through continued innovation in our advanced suite of training technologies. By bringing this cutting-edge training directly to airlines in the regions of the world where they're based and serve their passengers, we're offering our customers the flexibility and efficiency of flight crew training where they need it, when they need it," Carbary said.  

Full-flight simulators and other flight training devices for commercial pilot training require qualifications from each airline's home country regulatory agency. Boeing is qualifying its network of 787 training devices with multiple regulators in order to allow airlines the maximum options and regional locations for training their crews.

"Providing our airline customers with cost effective flexibility is a top priority," said Roei Ganzarski, chief customer officer, Boeing Training & Flight Services. "We've invested in world-class courseware, trained a global team of experienced instructors, and now have certified a worldwide network of simulators, all to provide 787 operators an efficient and effective 787 training solution."

Boeing operates 787 training campuses in five locations: Seattle, Singapore, Tokyo, London Gatwick and Shanghai. As part of the qualification process, Boeing demonstrated, with the regulators' concurrence, that the training devices located at the five campuses around the world were similar or identical in the way they operate.

The qualifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on behalf of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will allow Boeing Flight Services to deliver the same quality of training at all locations.

Last month the CAAC qualified the Shanghai Boeing training campus for 787 training including the full-flight 787 simulator and the 787 flight training device. With this achievement, Boeing has received more than 20 separate qualifications in five locations on three continents in support of 787 entry into service beginning later this year.

PR

Read more...

Boeing Selected for 2nd Round of NASA Commercial Crew Development

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has been selected for the second round of NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. Under a $92.3 million CCDev-2 contract, the company will further mitigate program risk and mature the system design of its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft.

“We are combining lessons learned and best practices from commercial airplanes, satellites and launch systems with those from human spaceflight programs such as the space shuttle and the International Space Station to design, deliver and fly the CST-100 in 2015,” said John Elbon, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Crew Programs.

The CST-100 spacecraft -- comprised of a crew module and a service module -- relies on proven materials and subsystem technologies that are safe and affordable. Boeing also plans to supply the CST-100 to Bigelow Aerospace for that company’s space station. The CST-100 is designed to carry up to seven people, or a combination of people and cargo, and is compatible with a variety of expendable launch vehicles.


Under the initial CCDev Space Act Agreement of 2010, Boeing successfully completed several risk reduction demonstrations and a System Definition Review (SDR) in October, with only $18 million in government investment. The SDR defined the CST-100 spacecraft’s system characteristics and configuration and established a baseline design. Among the many accomplishments Boeing achieved during this first phase of the CCDev program were the design, build and testing of a pressurized structure of the crew module and an avionics systems integration facility to support rapid prototyping and full-scale development.

“Boeing’s CCDev performance to date is an example of how the company’s innovative and experienced team is successfully partnering with NASA in a commercial environment,” Elbon said.

NASA’s new 14-month CCDev-2 Space Act Agreement builds on the work performed during the first round of CCDev and enables Boeing to further mature its system to a Preliminary Design Review, a critical step that ensures the system design meets all requirements. Boeing also will conduct key demonstrations and development tests. The company plans to gather performance data on the launch abort system and the service module fuel tank; evaluate vehicle ascent performance in wind tunnel testing; and build on earlier landing air bag and parachute demonstrations with more in-depth investigations.

Most of the work will be located at Boeing sites at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; Houston; Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Huntsville, Ala. Key suppliers include Bigelow Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Airborne Systems, ILC Dover, Spincraft, United Space Alliance and the ARES Corporation.

Boeing's Commercial Crew Transportation System includes the CST-100 spacecraft, launch services and ground systems -- all integrated to support a safe and reliable operations concept. Using expertise and resources from across the Boeing enterprise provides a complete end-to-end transportation service to support NASA crew transportation to and from the International Space Station.

PR

Read more...

BELL HELICOPTER'S OH-58 BLOCK II SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (April 18, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) announces the first flight of its OH-58 Block II [http://www.scoutsout.com] demonstrator at its Xworx research and development facility in Fort Worth, Texas on April 14, 2011.


"The flight was flawless and completed according to plan," said Cathy Ferrie, Director of Bell Helicopter’s Xworx facility. "The Block II is a significant leap forward in performance for the Kiowa Warrior platform and will absolutely make this a 21st Century airframe for the 21st Century soldier."


Bell Helicopter is developing this OH-58 Block II fleet representative demonstrator to facilitate prototyping activities in anticipation of a U.S. Army future requirement of 6K/95 performance. The Block II OH-58 provides an attractive, cost efficient alternative for the U.S. Army and U.S. taxpayer, and will demonstrate Bell helicopter’s ability to meet or exceed all performance requirements for the Army’s Armed Aerial Scout. Bell Helicopter is developing this aircraft with its own resources and at no cost to the government.


The Block II demonstrator takes an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior and makes it a fast fielding, low risk and lowest cost solution to achieve 6,000ft and 95 degree performance. The “high-hot” performance can be attained with propulsion and drive training upgrades to the existing platform. This upgrade program builds upon the F model Cockpit and Sensor Upgrade Program (CASUP) improvements by adding a new engine, transmission and rotor system.“


By continuing to upgrade the OH-58F into a Block II program, the Army will save money that they can invest in future technologies or future platforms,” said Stephen Eppinette, Army business development manager. “It will also give the Army and the tax payer a return for the money invested in the F model program.”


Along with the performance upgrades, the Block II will adopt fully integrated condition-based maintenance (CBM) technologies so that the aircraft will have higher performance, increased safety, and greater operational readiness while reducing life-cycle costs.


With more than 750,000 fleet combat hours, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a combat- proven aircraft that is safe, rugged and reliable, maintaining the highest readiness rate of any Army helicopter operating in Afghanistan while simultaneously having the highest operational tempo.


About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.


About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company , Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.


PR

Read more...

EADS North America conducts flight demonstrations of its Armed Aerial Scout 72X Technical Demonstration Aircraft

EADS North America this week is conducting flight demonstrations of its company-funded Armed Aerial Scout 72X (AAS-72X) helicopter at the Nashville International Airport to coincide with a nearby military aviation exposition.

The company, and its industry team of American Eurocopter and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), have made a significant investment in the development of three AAS-72X Technical Demonstrator Aircraft (TDA), which are being used to conduct parallel development and risk reduction activities, and to demonstrate the aircraft's increasing level of capability and technical maturity. The AAS-72X is based on the highly successful EC145 commercial helicopter platform.

The AAS-72X demonstration aircraft is equipped with a Mission Equipment Package (MEP) that includes a chin-mounted turret with integrated targeting sensor, manned-unmanned teaming capability, communications suite and weapons.

"EADS North America and its Armed Scout team has achieved every milestone we've set in developing a highly capable helicopter that will meet the Army's armed aerial scout mission," said EADS North America CEO Sean O'Keefe. "Bringing one of our three technical demonstrator aircraft to Nashville enables Army leadership and aviators to see and experience these accomplishments first-hand."

The Technical Demonstrator Aircraft made its first flight in December 2010, and is being used to validate the AAS-72X's ability to meet the U.S. Army's current armed aerial scout mission requirements.

Prior to first flight of the TDA helicopter, the company conducted high/hot hover-out-of-ground-effect, endurance and payload testing in 2009 at Alamosa, Colo., successfully operating at 6,000 feet and 95-degree density altitude. The team also conducted a key transportability test when five militarized EC145 aircraft were successfully loaded in a C-17 transport aircraft. Additionally, EADS North America and Lockheed Martin established a System Integration Laboratory (SIL) and hangar in April 2010 at Lockheed Martin's Orlando, Fla. facility.

"Having a fully-capable laboratory enables high fidelity integration and testing and results in the lowest-risk MEP solution for the AAS-72X," said Bob Gunning, vice president of Fire Control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "We have made significant investments to ensure our state-of-the-art MEP provides a best value, superior solution to meet the warfighters' armed scout mission requirements."

A highly capable helicopter for the Armed Aerial Scout mission, the AAS-72X combines twin-engine safety with the high/hot operating performance critical to the Army's Armed Scout mission. The AAS-72X is derived from the same family of aircraft as the UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter. The result is a low-risk evolution of the U.S. Army's newest rotary-wing aircraft, which is widely considered one of the most successful acquisition programs in the service's history.

Production of the AAS-72X will take place at American Eurocopter's Columbus, Miss. helicopter center of excellence where the UH-72A Lakota is currently assembled for the U.S. Army. EADS North America has delivered more than 160 UH-72A Lakotas to the U.S. Army on time and within budget, along with five H-72A versions to the U.S. Navy for test pilot training.

About Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com)
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

About American Eurocopter (www.eurocopterusa.com)
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter's product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, Texas, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss., that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army's Light Utility Helicopter program.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)
EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

About EADS (www.eads.com)
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2010, the Group - comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.

PR

Read more...

JSC SCA and Armavia airlines completed technical acceptance procedure for SSJ100 SN95007

April 12, 2011, on completion of Technical acceptance procedure, JSC SCA and Armavia airlines have signed the Acceptance Act for the first deliverable Sukhoi Superjet 100 SN 95007.

The document, signed by the parties, states that the aircraft is technically sound, fully meets the performance criteria without any operational limitations and is ready for immediate commercial operation on the route network of the Armavia Airlines. The Acceptance Act also confirms that SSJ100 is transferred to the carrier with a full set of required operational and maintenance documentation.

On completion of the required aircraft delivery documents the aircraft will be delivered to the customer.
PR


Related: Russia's state-owned plane maker Sukhoi will deliver its first Superjet regional airliner to Armenian airline Armavia on Tuesday, bringing to an end a more than two-year wait.

Read more...

The Airbus Military A330 MRTT Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) for the Royal Air Force is today visiting the United Kingdom for the first time.

The aircraft, one of two now flying following their conversion at Airbus Military's Madrid facilities, is visiting RAF Boscombe Down in a move marking the beginning of the UK phase of test activities before delivery of the first aircraft.

Initially specialised ground-testing will take place, leading to airborne testing through the summer, involving both aircraft, to qualify the receiver aircraft in-service with the RAF.

The first aircraft of 14 on order will be delivered towards the end of the year for operation from RAF Brize Norton by the AirTanker consortium on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The remaining 12 aircraft will be converted by Cobham in the UK with continuing engineering support from Airbus Military.

Head of Airbus Military Derivatives Antonio Caramazana said: "It is an enormous pleasure to see the A330 MRTT in the home country of our biggest customer. We look forward to seeing it enter service later this year and beginning the transformation of the RAF's tanker, transport and aero-medical evacuation capabilities."

PR

Read more...

Programa: I Centenario del aeropuerto de Cuatro Vientos (LECU)

Bucker Book, el Real Aeroclub de España y Flynews tienen el placer de convocarle a compartir estas extraordinarias jornadas aeronáuticas en conmemoración del Centenario de nuestro Aeropuerto de Cuatro Vientos.

Cumple Cien Años de su Historia,  que también son Cien Años de la Historia de la Aviación Española. Sus terrenos, sus edificios emblemáticos, sus escuelas, su faro, sus museos,  sus primeros  aviadores y sus gestas; todo esto podréis conocerlo a través de la magnífica Exposición de Fotografías y también en boca de los mejores conferenciantes de la Historia de la Aviación.

Programa de actos:

Read more...