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June 18, 2009

CMC Electronics Satcom Antenna Certified on A380

The CMC Electronics CMA-2102SB high-gain satcom antenna has been certified on the A380 and A330/340. The new-generation antenna supports Inmarsat Aero-H+, Swift64 and SwiftBroadband services and is intended for installation atop the fuselage. Inmarsat mobile satellite service enables long-range, oceanic communications between pilots and controllers as well as e-mail, SMS messaging and phone-callin more

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Sabena Wins P.180 Avanti Paint Work

Piaggio Aero has signed an memorandum of understanding with Sabena Technics that sets the framework for a contract to paint part of its P.180 Avanti twin business turboprop aircraft.
Under the terms of the proposed contract, Sabena would carry out painting services on new aircraft that roll out of Piaggio Aero’s facilities in Genoa, Italy. Sabena expects to start painting its first livery more

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Civilians can check out this Mirage themselves

By David Donald

“Une fois Mirage, toujours Mirage!” insists Thierry Goetschmann. “Once you have flown the delta you never want to fly anything else,” said the pilot of the Mirage IIIDS-EMIR that graces the Paris Air Show. Goetschmann is the world’s only civilian-rated Mirage III pilot, and a veteran of 1,100 hours in the type. He will fly the Mirage in the air display over the weekend, which will be nos more

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Dubai Airshow expects record exhibitor turnout

By Charles Alcock

The organizers of this year’s Dubai Airshow (November 15 to 19) expect to break all existing exhibition space records with the addition of a fourth hall, sponsored and hosted by Dubai-based Emirates. The biennial airshow will feature a new Emirates Hall, which will cover 75,616 sq ft, including 53,820 sq ft for exhibition stands. The additions will raise the total airshow area to 3.5 million squ more

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Airbus adds Spice to save weight

By Ian Goold

Economic pressure on airlines has led Airbus to work with them along with caterers and galley suppliers to develop what it has dubbed space-innovative catering equipment (Spice). The airframer said Spice reduces weight, increases revenue space and improves cabin ergonomics, while also anticipating new food hygiene and recycling requirements.
To save weight, the Spice system puts standard A more

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Boeing joins sales parade

Boeing joined in the sales action yesterday at the Paris Air Show when MC Aviation Partners (MCAP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., finalized an order for two Next-Generation 737-800s valued at $153 million at list prices. The order marks MCAP’s first direct purchase of airplanes from Boeing.
“We consider this a very memorable event for MCAP and Boeing,” said MCAP CEO T more

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F-35 Partner nations gather at paris

Another airshow, another photo opportunity with the F-35 partner nations. Lockheed Martin assembled this group of representatives from the nine countries that are part of the program here yesterday. They all received a newly minted coin mounted in a plaque.
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Mitsubishi keeps MRJ on course; critical design review under way

By Gregory Polek

Development of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation’s MRJ regional jet continues on schedule, as some 800 engineers, designers and subcontractors in Nagoya, Japan, work to complete the project’s critical design review by year-end. The engineering team finished with the project’s preliminary design review in April and aims to ready the first of four MRJ90 prototypes for first flight near the end o more

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Flying the Airbus A380

By Robert Mark

Airbus engineers are never satisfied, and customers of the European airframe builder should have only one response: thank goodness. While many point to the A380’s size as the achievement of which they are most proud–a maximum takeoff weight of roughly 1.2 million pounds and room for 525 passengers in typical long-haul configuration–the leviathan also incorporates radical new systems includin more

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Lynx goes wild as first flight approaches

By David Donald

After a difficult period in which the whole program’s future lay in doubt, AgustaWestland’s Future Lynx has emerged with a new name–AW159 Lynx Wildcat–and renewed optimism. The aircraft was selected by the UK Ministry of Defence in May 2006 to fulfill its battlefield reconnaissance helicopter requirement for the British Army, and a surface combatant maritime rotorcraft requirement for the more

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