Airbus boosts its U.S. market presence with American Airlines’ A320 order

American Airlines' milestone A320 Family order marks a key win in the U.S. market, where Airbus' single-aisle jetliners already have established themselves as workhorse aircraft in daily service on short- and medium-haul routes.

 

20 July 2011

With this new firm contract – covering 260 A319s, A320s and A321s – American Airlines will become one of the world's largest operators of the A320 Family, with half of these aircraft being the New Engine Option (neo) versions.  

 

American Airlines joins other U.S.-based carriers and leasing companies that have ordered and/or operate some 2,400 A320 Family jetliners, including Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group, CIT, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, GECAS, ILFC, jetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.  

 

Many of these customers have acquired more than one version from the A318, A319 A320 and A321 product line, taking advantage of the high commonality and interoperability offered only by Airbus' fly-by-wire aircraft family.

 

The U.S. also is a market for Airbus widebody aircraft, where the A330, A340 and A350 XWB have been ordered by airlines and leasing companies.

 

Not only are these jetliners carrying millions of passengers on flights operated by U.S. airlines, the production of such aircraft for Airbus' worldwide customer base provides a major – and expanding – source of business for suppliers across the country.   Airbus is the U.S. aerospace industry's no. 1 export customer, with several hundred suppliers in more than 40 states providing goods and services that range from fasteners to engines and complete fuselage sections – supporting more than 180,000 jobs.

 

As Airbus' order book expands and its jetliner production rates rise, U.S. industry is benefiting from this increased activity.  Airbus has spent approximately $100 billion in procurement with U.S. industry from 1990 through now.

 

The opportunities for current and future suppliers will grow significantly as the Airbus sourcing volume for U.S. companies is expected to increase from 2010 to 2020, driven by the ramp-up in its jetliner production rates and the introduction of new aircraft versions.

 

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First EURO HAWK(R) Unmanned Aircraft System Touches Down in Germany

EURO HAWK®, the first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), signals intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk produced by Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) for the German Bundeswehr, successfully touched down in Manching, Germany, today. The EURO HAWK® took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central European Summer Time) from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and landed at 10:06 Central European Summer Time July 21 in Manching Air Base.

 

The EURO HAWK® will carry a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) and integrated in Manching, Germany.

 

"Today's arrival of the EURO HAWK® on German soil marks a significant step in delivering this highly capable and unique system to the Bundeswehr," said Nicolas Chamussy, head of UAVs, Cassidian Air Systems, and member of the board of directors, EuroHawk GmbH. "Our trans-Atlantic partnership with Northrop Grumman has helped the entire team achieve this outstanding milestone, which also reinforces Cassidian's role as a leader for complex UAS solutions in Europe."

 

Delivery of the first EURO HAWK® demonstrator to the Bundeswehr is scheduled for mid-2012, with another four systems scheduled tentatively between 2015 and 2017.

 

"Soon, the Bundeswehr will be able to independently cover their needs for SIGINT data collection and analysis, thus contributing to NATO, European Union and United Nations operations," said Neset Tükenmez, chief executive officer, EuroHawk GmbH. "EURO HAWK® will also serve as a working model for other programs and countries."

 

The EURO HAWK® marks several important milestones – it is both the first international version of the RQ-4 and the first HALE SIGINT UAS in Europe. NATO's AGS will follow close behind and mark the second international RQ-4 and the second HALE UAS in Europe.

 

"As a leader in advanced UAS, Northrop Grumman has the unmatched experience to provide a strong foundation to produce extraordinarily capable and reliable unmanned surveillance systems," said George Guerra, vice president, HALE Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Today is a wonderful step towards delivering the EURO HAWK® to the German air force, and a great testament to the Northrop Grumman and the EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) team who worked diligently to make it happen."

 

With a wingspan larger than most commercial airliners, endurance of 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet, EURO HAWK® is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the fleet of manned Breguet Atlantic aircraft which was in service since 1972 and retired in 2010.

 

EuroHawk GmbH, a 50-50 joint venture of Northrop Grumman and EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian), serves as the national prime contractor for the German Ministry of Defence through the system's entire lifecycle. Please visit www.eurohawk.de for more information.

 

Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing lead system integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe: air systems (aircraft and UAS), land, naval and joint systems, intelligence and surveillance, cybersecurity, secure communications, test systems, missiles, and services and support solutions. Please visit www.cassidian.com for more information.

 

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

 

 

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Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST System Advances to Next Development Phase

New Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system tracks targets via infrared emissionsApproved for Engineering and Manufacturing Development

ST. LOUIS, July 21, 2011 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program received a Milestone B Acquisition Decision Memorandum from the U.S. Navy on July 13. This allows the program to advance to its next development phase -- Engineering and Manufacturing Development.

 

The IRST system is a passive, long-range sensor that searches for and detects infrared emissions. The system can simultaneously track multiple targets and provide a highly effective air-to-air targeting capability, even when encountering advanced threats equipped with radar-jamming technology.

 

"The IRST sensor system will expand Super Hornet detection and targeting capability in multiple mission profiles, including electronically denied environments," said Tim Adrian, Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST program manager. "The F/A-18E/F features a balanced approach to combat survivability and lethality, employing a variety of onboard sensors that provide aircrews with unmatched situational awareness. The new IRST system will continue to expand the Super Hornet's advanced capability."

 

IRST is a critical element of the Navy's F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet Flight Plan, a series of planned capability enhancements that ensures the Super Hornet will continue to outdistance known and emerging threats over the coming decades.

 

Subcontracted to Boeing on the IRST contract are Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], which is producing the IRST sensor; GE Aviation [NYSE: GE], for the fuel tank assembly that will contain the sensor; and Meggitt Defense Systems Inc., Irvine, Calif., for the unit's cooling subassembly.

 

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

 

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Boeing Delivers First 777-300ER to Air

EVERETT, Wash., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) this week delivered the first 777-300ER (extended range) to Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China. The new airplane is the first of 19 777-300ERs Air China has on order with Boeing. With this new addition to its fleet, Air China becomes the first airline on the Chinese mainland to operate the new generation 777 family member.

 

"The introduction of this brand new aircraft is not only a milestone in the cooperation history between Boeing and Air China, but also an important symbol to deepen our relationship," said He Li, Vice President of Air China. "The 777-300ER will be the backbone of our long-haul international fleet in the coming years and enable us to fulfill our ambition to be a large network carrier with international competitiveness."

 

With this delivery, Boeing is scheduled to deliver an additional three 777-300ERs to Air China by the end of 2011. Air China will use the airplanes for route expansion including direct routes to Frankfurt, London and Paris, as well as for gradual replacement of the Boeing 747-400s currently serving North American routes.

 

"We have witnessed the rapid development of Air China and we're honored to be part of their success by providing our best products and services," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales for Greater China and Korea, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The new generation 777-300ER is a great choice for Air China. Its structural efficiency, industry-leading reliability and brand-new cabin design combine to help the airline remain profitable and provide superior passenger experience."

 

The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat.  To date 34 customers around the world have ordered more than 500 777-300ERs.

 

Air China, a member of the Star Alliance, is the most profitable airline in world as well as the world's largest carrier by market value. Air China owns 158 Boeing aircraft, making up 60 percent of its fleet.

 

 

 

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Boeing Delivers First 737 With Performance Improvement Engines

Performance and drag improvements provided at no additional cost to customers

 

SEATTLE, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737 with the certified performance improvement engines was delivered on a 737-800 to China Southern Airlines at Boeing Field in Seattle last week.

 

The new CFM56-7BE engine configuration, which is now standard on all delivered 737s, is an improved design that includes high and low pressure turbine modification. Coupled with drag reduction improvements that Boeing started phasing into 737 production earlier this year, it will result in lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost savings.

 

The new engine is part of the 737 performance improvement package that Boeing began testing in November 2010 with the goal of reducing fuel consumption by 2 percent. Other fuel performance incorporations will take place into 2012 and data analysis will continue to quantify the final benefit to customers.

 

"We continue to review performance flight test data and collect delivery data," said John Hamilton, vice president and chief project engineer – 737 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The improved fuel savings is part of our commitment to deliver market-leading value to Next-Generation 737 customers."

 

Boeing's continuous efforts to improve the Next-Generation 737 family have resulted in an accumulated 5 percent gain in fuel efficiency since the first airplane delivered in 1998. The new improvements will give operators an airplane that is up to 7 percent more efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered.

 

 

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