Zero Gravity Corporation Awarded Safety Approval from the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation

Vienna, Va. – May 27, 2011 – Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G) announced today that the company had received a Safety Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation.


The Safety Approval, granted on April 20, 2011 and in effect for five years, allows ZERO-G to offer reduced gravity parabolic flight profiles to prospective suborbital launch operators to meet the applicable components of the crew qualification and training requirements outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (14 C.F.R. § 460.5). These regulations require crew members to complete training on how to carry out their roles on board or on the ground and to demonstrate the ability to withstand the stresses of spaceflight, which may include high acceleration or deceleration, microgravity, and vibration.


“ZERO-G is pleased to have been granted this Safety Approval issued by the FAA for suborbital spaceflight training. Parabolic flight will be an integral training system for crew and passengers in the growing suborbital market,” said Terese Brewster, president of ZERO-G.


The FAA has determined that ZERO-G has the ability to provide a flight environment capable of replicating reduced gravity levels. These profiles include 0.00 g +/- 0.05 g for 17 continuous seconds, 0.16 g +/- 0.05 g for 20 continuous seconds and 0.38 g +/- 0.05 g for 20 continuous seconds.


Dr. George Nield, Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the FAA, congratulated ZERO-G on receiving the Safety Approval. “The training that ZERO-G offers with its parabolic aircraft flights provides an outstanding opportunity for crewmembers to experience firsthand the reduced gravity environment that is so uniquely associated with spaceflight. By allowing crewmembers to have that experience prior to launch, it will definitely help them to be better prepared for their missions.”


“Not only does ZERO-G have the capability of preparing crew and passengers for spaceflight, the company also offers the scientific community the opportunity to reduce the risk of experiment failure prior to launch,” continued Ms. Brewster. “Parabolic flight is the critical first step in achieving space research objectives. The ZERO-G Weightless Lab increases the probability that equipment will perform to specification and experiment protocols will be successful while in space.”


About ZERO-G

Zero Gravity Corporation is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of weightlessness accessible to the public. ZERO-G is based in Vienna, Va. and is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless flights to the general public, as well as the entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive market; non-profit research and education sectors; and government.



Founded in 1993, ZERO-G is led by a world-class team of veteran astronauts and experienced business leaders. The company was co-founded by X PRIZE Chairman and space visionary, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis; former NASA astronaut, Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg; and NASA engineer Ray Cronise. The team spent more than a decade working to bring the marvel of weightless flight to the public.



Since launching the ZERO-G Experience in September 2004, the company has conducted more than 250 weightless flights and flown over 6,000 members of the public, including celebrities and media personalities, corporate charters, science and math teachers, and individuals aged eight to 93.



ZERO-G operates under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its partner Amerijet International Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Aircraft operations take place under the same regulations set for large commercial passenger airliners.

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Airbus highlights career opportunities at Le Bourget Paris Air Show

World’s leading aircraft manufacturer to recruit more than 3000 people in 2011

31 MAY 2011 PRESS RELEASE

Airbus will showcase job and career opportunities for young talents and graduates as well as experienced professionals at the International Le Bourget Paris Air show. From 20-25 June a series of forums and workshops will provide the opportunity for job seekers to discuss their possible future career path with HR professionals, engineers and business experts.

At the show the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer will highlight opportunities generated by new developments such as the A320neo or the all new A350XWB twin aisle jet. Key competencies such as structure and systems engineering will be in the spotlight as well as lean management. Opportunities also exist in procurement, finance, human resources, strategy, marketing and sales for graduates from business schools and universities. Overall, this year Airbus plans to recruit more than 3,000 talents from all around the world and offers more than 2,500 internships at its worldwide sites.

On June 21st, World Diversity Day, there will be a special focus on diversity, a core asset and strength for Airbus which currently employs 52,500 people of 80 different nationalities. The company seeks to fill at least 25% of its positions with female candidates and looks into further enhancing equal opportunities not only between men and women but also for people with disabilities.

The finale of the second Airbus international student contest “Fly Your Ideas” will also take place at Le Bourget Air show. Fly Your Ideas (FYI) challenges students from around the world to develop new ideas for greener aviation. It comprises three progressively challenging competition-rounds with student proposals being evaluated by a panel of top-level Airbus and industry experts. This year, a new record of 2,620 students from 75 countries have taken part. The winners will share a top prize of €30,000 while the runners-up will receive a €15,000 reward. FYI also inspires young talents to consider a career in aviation and strengthens the company’s ties with universities and schools worldwide in the areas of future research and technology. The finalists this year are coming from Chile, China, India, Malaysia and Sweden.

Workshop website: http://www.parisairshow.eads.com/
Airbus’ career website: http://www.airbus.com/work/
Airbus’ Facebook career page: http://www.facebook.com/Airbuscareers?v=info
Fly Your Ideas website: http://www.airbus-fyi.com/

Airbus will welcome its guests at the EADS HR Lounge on the static display, in front of hall 2A.

Workshops will be held in English and are open to everyone interested in an Airbus aeronautics career. Registration has to be completed on the following website: http://www.parisairshow.eads.com/

CASSIDIAN to protect Canadian Naval Vessels against laser-based Attacks

31 May 2011


  • New technologies counter asymmetric threats
  • Close cooperation between Cassidian and Defence Research and Development Canada at Valcartier


Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, will develop innovative solutions to protect ships of the Canadian Navy against new types of asymmetric threats. Under the designation LOCATES (= Laser Optical Countermeasures and Surveilllance Against Threat Environment Scenarios), the Defence Research Development Canada (DRDC), Valcartier, Québec, awarded Cassidian a contract to apply new technologies to detect and counter laser-based threats in harbors and littoral waters.

The program is the answer to increasing threats by laser designators and laser-guided weapons which are widely distributed and easy to operate. Navy ships are particularly vulnerable in a littoral environment where attacks are difficult to be detected without sufficient pre-warning time.

Therefore, LOCATES aims at the development of a detection and tracking capability together with a reliable laser countermeasure system. A prototype system shall be developed and field tested by 2013. In a close cooperation between Cassidian and DRDC, the programme will include technologies currently under development with the Canadian research and development agency.

"EADS has a longstanding relationship with Canada and especially with the Canadian Research Community," said Pierre Delestrade, President and CEO of EADS Canada. "Together with the DRDC, EADS' defence and security division Cassidian is focused on providing the Canadian Forces with the state-of-the-art technologies they will need to face future threats," he added.

"The Canadian Navy's mission is continuously evolving, and accordingly requires cutting-edge technologies to detect and protect Naval platforms from asymmetric threats," said Simon Jacques, Cassidian Head of Canadian Sales. "Cassidian is proud to further our long-term collaboration with the DRDC, and leverage our know-how and expertise, to develop future laser detection and counter innovations. Technologies developed in partnership with the DRDC-Valcartier will not only satisfy the Canadian Navy's littoral requirements, but also those of allied Navies throughout the world."

Cassidian capitalizes on a wide-ranging experience in the field of platform self-protection in the electro-optic spectrum. The company has developed laser warning devices for ships, aircraft and land vehicles which are in operation with several NATO armed forces. Its MILDS missile launch detection system, with more than 6,000 units sold, is the standard missile warner for helicopters and widebody aircraft on a global scale.

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