Heat adds volume to the carbon fiber production process

Heat adds volume to the carbon fiber production process:

When the Wright Brothers first took to the skies more than hundred years ago they did so with an aircraft made with a fabric skin. Over the years a variety of materials have been used including sheet metals such as aluminum and titanium, and even ceramics. A fabric of sorts has now returned in the form of carbon fiber, a composite material that offers greater strength-to-weight ratio than virtually anything else. While airplane manufacturers have used carbon fiber in airplanes for some time, its use is on the rise due to the material's durability and rigidity ... and with the advent of new manufacturing processes such as Advaero's Heat Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Method (HVARTM), this looks set to continue...
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Plane-mounted camera detects hazardous volcanic ash in the air

Plane-mounted camera detects hazardous volcanic ash in the air:

A new invention out of Norway promises to keep the skies of the world open. When a volcano in Iceland erupted in 2010, it spewed out invisible clouds of ash that spread across Europe–effectively shutting down all civilian and military air traffic, stranding millions of people and costing the world economy billions of dollars. Now, a new camera has been developed that will allow pilots to see and avoid volcanic dust clouds, making similar eruptions in the future much less disruptive...
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Tecnam and Mechtronix to co-operate on development of P2006T aircraft simulator

5 December, 2011
With the Tecnam P2006T Twin firmly established as the first choice for many Flight Training Organisations (FTO’s) around the world, Tecnam are committed to ensuring that FTO’s are also able to offer their customers the most cost effective and the very latest flight simulation technology.

The MOU between Tecnam and Mechtronix establishes a framework for the development and the commercialization of a Tecnam P2006T FNPT II as well as a P2006T conversion kit for existing simulators. The new training platform will be marketed under P2006T Ascent® Flight Trainer™ and will comprise Garmin 1000 avionic suite and all instrumentation necessary for IR training; it will be designed to comply with JAR FSTD A FNPT II requirements.

“We are intrinsically committed to supporting our FTO customers in as many aspects of their commercial activities as possible’’ said Paolo Pascale, Tecnam’s Managing Director. ‘’We believe our co-operation with Mechtronix will benefit greatly the FTO community as we will providing both a cost effective and complete solution to meet flying schools training requirements with respect to both aircraft and simulators.”

“Working with one of the world’s largest General Aviation aircraft manufacturers is a real honor for all of us at Mechtronix and we look forward to cooperating with Tecnam’s team”, added Mechtronix Senior Director Strategy, Mark Dransfield. “Tecnam and Mechtronix share a common value based on levering cutting-edge technologies and expertise to provide customers with affordable solutions, not just products. Furthermore, existing and future Ascent® operators, considering the acquisition of Tecnam P2006T aircraft will be able to select this flight model from our extensive aircraft library.”

The Tecnam P2006T twin is in a class of its own, bringing affordable multi-engine flying to aero-clubs, flying schools, syndicates and private aeroplane owners around the world. The Tecnam P2006T twin offers unbeatable value, coupled with low operating and ownership costs, innovative design and Italian styling. Tecnam’s association with Rotax and its '912S' engine (plus the option of a Garmin glass cockpit) allows the Tecnam P2006T Twin to be environmentally-friendly. With both a remarkable fuel saving offering and much lower noise emissions, it is redefining both the flight training and aircraft ownership experience in one step.

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Astrium will continue to manage the ISS on behalf of ESA

Bremen, 13 December 2011

• Contract valued at €240 million for the period 2011/2012
• Astrium leads industrial consortium responsible for providing all services related to the European components of the International Space Station
• Astrium’s responsibilities include mission control, astronaut training, maintenance and logistics, developments for new space experiments, ground station operations, communication systems and data transfer

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Astrium, Europe’s number-one space company, to manage the continued operation and exploitation of the European components of the International Space Station (ISS) as the lead partner in an industrial consortium. The contract signed today between ESA and Astrium, covering the period 2011-2012, is valued at 240 million euros. It represents the first phase of a long-term service agreement between ESA and Astrium for the entire planned service life of the ISS, through to 2020.

The services included in the scope of the contract are divided into work packages. Astrium is the prime contractor for all services related to the operation of the European components of the ISS. These include mission preparation and delivery, astronaut training, developments for new experiments and research facilities, maintenance and logistics for all European ISS components and the associated ground stations, communications and data transfer.

“This project has been a total success for us,” said Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation. “Since 2004, we have been applying the systems know-how and more especially our engineering experience to offer an end-to-end service to users of the ISS on behalf of ESA.”

He continued: “The direct involvement of industry in the operation of the space station and the long term commitment of the space agencies have allowed investments to be made, operations to be streamlined and costs to be drastically cut, and yet provide an improved service. Combined with our close collaboration with industrial partners and ESA, our ability to manage complex tasks enables us to offer appropriate solutions and tailored services.”

“In Astrium, ESA has found a reliable partner to serve as prime industrial contractor and consortium leader. The company is uniquely placed to manage the operation and exploitation of the International Space Station through its experience in manned orbital systems. By signing this initial contract today, Astrium has accepted the task of delivering services for the operation of the ISS during the period 2011/2012 for a fixed cost of €240 million,” said Thomas Reiter, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations, this Tuesday in Bremen. The two parties have also agreed to implement a series of measures over the next few years aiming to reduce the costs of the programme by some 30 per cent between now and 2016.

In its role as prime contractor for the provision of services to users of the European components of the ISS, Astrium leads a consortium consisting of some 40 industrial partners in the ten European countries participating in the International Space Station.

The Columbus space laboratory is Europe’s main contribution to the International Space Station. It provides facilities for carrying out experiments in numerous scientific disciplines under space conditions. Assembly of the ISS was completed in 2010, and for a minimum of another ten years it will now be devoted to the advancement of scientific knowledge and technological research, with an emphasis on physics, materials science, biology and medicine. Certain experiments are even conducted using instruments installed outside the Columbus module, such as sensors to measure the effects of intense solar radiation. To enable the space laboratory to fulfil its intended purpose, it is important that each series of experiments is precisely coordinated in order to obtain optimal results.

In its capacity as prime contractor for the Columbus space laboratory and its broad range of payloads, and for the ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle, Astrium has made significant contributions to the International Space Station. Now that they have been integrated in the ISS, Astrium continues to play a key role in their operation and exploitation. According to the present plans of the participating countries, the International Space Station will remain in operation until 2020, if not longer.

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CASSIDIAN and Alenia Aeronautica agree on UAS cooperation

14 December 2011

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed
Both companies will become important industrial partners for next-generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) programmes
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Cassidian on behalf of EADS Deutschland GmbH and Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A. to jointly investigate the potential cooperation in the field of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV).

Alenia and Cassidian are aiming to strengthen their technological know-how in order to establish a leading role in the UAS market. Thanks to this agreement, the two companies will analyze the requirements expressed by each of their respective Governments in the UAS sector with the objective to create a strategic partnership and to expand their global UAS market share.

Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi who is also responsible for Finmeccanica's Aeronautics Sector, commented: "The signing of this agreement is important for Alenia Aeronautica because it alllows us to collaborate with a capable player in the sector of UAS, favouring the growth of our ability to design, build, integrate and support a complex system for the global market, both civil and military. The UAS sector has a strategic importance for the future of Alenia Aeronautica's programmes and we are convinced that this agreement will allow us to become even more competitive in this quickly expanding market."

Bernhard Gerwert, Chief Operating Officer of Cassidian, said: "We look forward to investigate further collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica around a next-generation MALE UAS, like for instance, the Talarion which is of outmost importance for Europe's military aviation industry. It will fulfill government security missions and commercial applications which cannot be implemented with current solutions and their derivatives."

Talarion is the European programme for a next-generation Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to fulfil the requirements initially placed by France, Germany and Spain for future unmanned long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions. First flight of the prototype is scheduled for 2015 with first series deliveries starting in 2018

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