EADS North America awarded $212 million production contract for 39 UH-72A Lakota helicopters

Herndon, Virginia and Huntsville, Alabama,  10 January 2012

Lakota program remains on budget and schedule as it enters its seventh program year

The U.S. Army has awarded EADS North America a $212.7 million contract to deliver 39 UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) as part of its total acquisition plan. Thirty-two of these Lakotas will be produced in the Army's Security and Support (S&S) Battalion configuration. EADS North America has already delivered 198 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.

"We're extremely proud of our track record of on time and on budget deliveries of the UH-72A Lakota to the U.S. Army, Navy and Army National Guard," said Sean O'Keefe, EADS North America CEO. "The successful execution of this critical program is a result of the strong partnership we've built with the Department of Defense over the past seven years. The S&S Battalion-equipped Lakotas further demonstrate this modern platform's flexibility for growth to support an even broader range of demanding missions."

The Lakotas equipped with the S&S Battalion Mission Equipment Package (MEP) will be operated by Army National Guard units across the country. The S&S Battalion MEP, integrated by American Eurocopter, will expand the capabilities of the Army's UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters, and reflects the platform's adaptability for an increasing number of missions. The current total program of record calls for 345 UH-72A Lakotas to be delivered to the Army and Army National Guard through 2015, along with five already delivered to the U.S. Navy.

Lakota helicopters in the S&S Battalion configuration enable Army National Guard units to seamlessly support state and local law enforcement and federal homeland security agencies in responding to natural disasters, law enforcement and border security operations.

The UH-72A Lakota is manufactured at EADS North America's American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss. The S&S Battalion MEP was integrated and tested at American Eurocopter's Grand Prairie, Texas facility.

The S&S MEP contains a centerline electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) sensor, a 30 million candle power search light, analog/digital video downlink, rear observer's console with a 15-inch display, an enhanced tactical communications suite, an onboard digital video recorder, 10.4-inch auxiliary displays for the pilot and co-pilot, and a video management system.

The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program for the U.S. Defense Department, and it marked one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army's history. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army replace UH-60 Black Hawks.

Read more...

Boeing, Air France-KLM Finalize Order for 25 787s

PARIS, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air France-KLM Group have finalized an order for 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options. The order was signed in late December 2011 and was recorded on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website, attributed to an unidentified customer. A preliminary agreement was first announced on September 16, 2011.

"By making the 787 a key part of its fleet renewal, Air France-KLM strengthens its position as a worldwide leader," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Reaction to the Dreamliner's entry into service has been phenomenal and we look forward to seeing passengers of Air France-KLM fly on this revolutionary airplane."

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a slightly larger version of the 787-8 and will carry 250-290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers). The 787 provides airlines with incredible fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane uses 20 percent less fuel than today's similarly sized airplanes. It also travels at a speed of Mach 0.85, which is similar to the speed of today's fastest wide-body airplanes.

The order increases the number of 787-9s on order to 305 airplanes. The 787 Dreamliner family, including the 787-8 and 787-9, has accumulated a total of 860 orders from 59 customers located all over the world.

Eight French companies partner with Boeing on the 787 Dreamliner. They include Dassault Systemes (software solutions), Labinal (wiring), Latecoere (passenger doors), Messier-Bugatti-Dowty (main and nose landing gear, electric brakes), Michelin (aftermarket tyres), Radiall (connectors), Thales (electric power conversion system, flight display, in-flight entertainment system), and Zodiac Aerospace (primary power management system, emergency slides, water and waste systems, cabin interiors, galley inserts and seats, and other equipments).

The Air France-KLM Group is a long-time and valued customer with a large Boeing fleet of 188 airplanes in operation, including 74 for Air France and 114 for KLM. Air France-KLM is one of the world's largest 777 operators.

Read more...

Boeing Achieves 737 Rate Increase

-Company delivers first 737 built at the new rate of 35 airplanes a month

- Celebrates employee achievements and Renton site selection for 737 MAX

RENTON, Wash., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today successfully achieved a production rate of 35 airplanes a month for the Next-Generation 737, with the delivery of the first airplane produced at the new rate to AWAS Aviation Services, Inc. Norwegian Air Shuttle will lease the airplane from AWAS. The 35th airplane to be built at the new rate is on schedule to roll out of the factory today which demonstrates that the production system has been operating successfully at a rate of 35 airplanes a month.

Employees will focus on stabilizing the production rate at 35 a month while investments are underway to go up in rate to 38 737s a month in second quarter 2013 and 42 a month in the first half of 2014.

Leaders of the 737 program acknowledged employees' contributions to achieving the record rate at an employee celebration at the Renton factory today. Employee teams implemented new lean improvements to create production capacity.

"Working as a team, we have achieved production levels never previously reached," Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager of the 737 program, told employees. "It's because of the focus and dedication of 737 employees that we've reduced waste in our production system and identified opportunities to further increase our productivity.

"The first airplane at the 35-a-month production pace rolled out of the factory the smoothest ever. Only eight jobs were completed outside of our production sequence out of thousands and we only experienced three part shortages during production," Wyse said.

The program also celebrated securing production of the 737 MAX at the Renton factory. "The capability of this team played heavily into the decision to keep the 737 MAX here in Renton," Wyse said. "With the years of dedication and experience our employees have, there's no one better at designing and building the 737."

Read more...