November 13, 2007

LM Pathfinder sees through dust and snow

By David Donald

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is promoting the ability of its Pathfinder thermal imager to provide pilots of support aircraft with the kind of brownout/whiteout imaging currently available to combat crews.

Pathfinder is a long-wave infrared seeker based on the modernized pilot night-vision sensor from the AH-64 Apache’s Arrowhead system. The seeker turret mounts easily on a more

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Dubai Debutant: Cirrus SR22-G3

By R. Randall Padfield

Cirrus Design Corporation announced last week that its fleet of more than 3,500 SR20 and SR22 composite, single-engine piston airplanes has passed two million flight hours–or the equivalent in distance of two trips to the sun and back.

With that much accumulated experience, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the four examples of the third-generation SR22-G3, making a rather dramatic deb more

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New V2500 on track for FAA approval by year-end

By David Donald

The new build standard of the International Aero Engines V2500 engine for the Airbus A319/320/321 family remains on schedule to meet FAR 33 engine certification by the end of the year, the company announced Saturday. Known as SelectOne, the improved engine promises to reduce fuel burn by 1 percent, improve time-on-wing by 20 percent and reduce workshop visits by 40 percent, at the same time meetin more

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Iraqis build proud new air force

Having acquired its first aircraft in 2004, the reborn Iraqi air force is now performing routine missions alongside coalition fleets in the country. Further procurement is expanding the air force inventory in key mission areas, and U.S. forces are extremely pleased with the progress that the young air arm has made in a short time.

“We are very excited to be working alongside the Iraqi more

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Saudi Arabian to take 22 A320s

By Thierry Dubois

Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a MoU for 22 A320 narrowbodies, heralding the eventual signing of the first order by the Kingdom’s flag carrier for Airbus airplanes in some two decades, Airbus announced here yesterday. The agreement allows the flag carrier to increase the order by eight aircraft of the same type.

The airline has also leased, for eight years, ten A320s from General El more

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Air Arabia orders 34 Airbus A320s

By R. Randall Padfield

UAE low-fare carrier Air Arabia yesterday ordered 34 Airbus A320 single-aisle airliners, with delivery to begin in 2012, and took options on an additional 15. Delivery of the aircraft will eventually more than triple the carrier’s current fleet of 10 leased A320s. Chief executive Adel Abdullah Ali, said Air Arabia’s fleet will double by 2010 and grow to 50 by 2015.

Based in Sharjah, Air more

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Reflections of the Last Hurrah

By all accounts, the 2007 edition of the Dubai Air Show has been a resounding success. A record number of aircraft lined the static display and billions of dollars in aircraft and engine orders were tallied. Yet this 10th airshow will be the last at what is now Dubai International Airport (DXB). When the aerospace industry next comes to the desert, it will be at the new Dubai World Central Airport more

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