July 19, 2006

Eurocopter partnership boosts Chinese helo biz

By Gunter Endres

Last December’s agreement between Eurocopter and China for the codevelopment of a new medium-size helicopter, the EC 175 (known in China as the Z-15), marks a step change that raises Sino-European cooperation on helicopters to a new level.

But the Franco-German rotorcraft maker is not new to China. Past relationships with its Aerospatiale precursor have produced the Z-8, a version o more

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MyTravel takes next step toward paperless cockpit

By Ian Goold

British charter airline MyTravel is using an electronic technical log (ETL) to manage its aircraft fleet data, including maintenance requirements and trip reports. This is another step in the goal to achieving a truly paperless cockpit, according to Data Systems & Solutions (DS&S), UK-based developer of the CoreWing ETL. The firm also offers a product called CoreAlert, which monitors engine health more

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SBAC enters Farnborough with a renewed sense of focus

By Charles Alcock

The Society of British Aerospace Companies has sharpened its priorities and its structures since the last Farnborough show in 2004. Soon after that event, the London-based group published the findings of a long-awaited strategic review, prompted by a UK government Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AIGT) report. The SBAC review called for more effective links with the UK’s regions, a higher lev more

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Quebec aerospace industry rides out the ups and downs

By Jeff Apter

French-speaking Canadian province Quebec claims to be the world’s sixth-ranking player in aerospace after the U.S., France, the UK, Germany and Japan. But Quebec’s aerospace industry has seen setbacks over the past year, with Montreal-based Bombardier nearly abandoning its C-Series airliner project, suspending production of its 50-seat CRJ200 regional jet and making a poor showing in the 70- to 90 more

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Switzerland relies on Ruag for defense work

By Thomas Stocker

Aerospace and defense group Ruag (Hall 1 Stand A21) currently has two major domestic defense orders in process. The first is for upgrading Switzerland’s Boeing F/A-18 fighter force with a new friend/foe recognition system and error-resistant air-to-air and air to-ground datalinks.

The second is the implementation of a C4ISTAR system (command, control, communication, computer, intell more

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Boeing's GoldCare program offers Midas touch for 787s

By Matt Thurber

Three years ago, Boeing product support experts started thinking about new ways to take care of the 787 fleet. Many small airlines and startups were placing orders for the new airplane, and Boeing figured some airlines might want to focus more on getting customers to destinations and less on the logistics of operating and maintaining complex jet airliners. The U.S. airframer’s new GoldCare support more

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Helisureste a firefighting outfit that can never lower its guard

By Andrew Healey

Fires are a huge and growing problem in Spain and its islands, as they are throughout southern Europe. As many as 250 aircraft–the vast majority of them helicopters–are currently involved in fighting bush and forest fires around Spain. One of the country’s biggest contributors to this annual effort is Helisureste (HS), based in Alicante on the country’s Mediterranean coast. The company has built a more

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Emirates signs for son of 747 as Boeing gets on sales roll

By Ian Goold

Boeing has made a start here at Farnborough International toward fulfilling its recent prophecy of airlines spending $2,600 billion, over the next 20 years by revealing orders worth almost $7.9 billion. More business is scheduled to be unveiled today.

After an almost $4.9 billion Qatar Airways order announcement for 14 777-300ERs and six -200LRs was canceled, Emirates Airline unvei more

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It may be ‘back to the future’ in next-generation jet engines

By Julian Moxon

CFM International is including a contrarotating ducted fan engine in studies of concepts that might provide the quantum leap in fuel efficiency, noise reduction and emissions being demanded for the next generation of single-aisle aircraft.

The engine would draw on lessons learned by CFM partner General Electric during the unducted fan (UDF) program carried out with NASA in the earl more

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JSF briefing soothes the nerves of partner nations

By Chris Pocock

Yesterday’s briefing here by senior F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program officials provided some assurance that the international partners won’t be burdened in the production and operational phases by U.S. restrictions on technology transfer. Today, BAE and Lockheed Martin will add more detail, with a carefully crafted statement on the aircraft’s in-service support. Still, the devil is in the detail, more

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