June 21, 2007

Boeing hi-tech research has many irons in the fire

By Ian Sheppard

Hummingbirds are incredibly aerobatic, can hover, fly backward and can even hover and fly upside down. But the most amazing thing about hummingbirds is their endurance–these tiny birds, weighing little more than five grams, fly for 20 hours as they migrate across the Gulf of Mexico.

Endurance is a key requirement of many of the technology projects under way at aerospace giant Boeing, no more

---

Sundstrand supplying APUs to Lufthansa

By Bernard Fitzsimons

Lufthansa has selected Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies company, to supply its APS 3200 auxiliary power unit (APU) for 30 new single-aisle Airbus aircraft. The company has also recently delivered the first production-configuration secondary electric power distribution center (SEPDC) chassis assembly for the Airbus A400M military airlifter.

Subsidiary Kidde Aerospace & Defe more

---

Thales satcom will be put on new corporate aircraft

By Bernard Fitzsimons

The TopFlight satellite communications terminal that Thales launched at last year’s Farnborough airshow will be installed later this year on new-build corporate aircraft produced by an as-yet unidentified OEM and should be certified to support WiFi-based passenger use by the second quarter of next year.

Peter Hitchcock, director of avionics systems with Thales Aerospace, said here Tuesd more

---

Tanker competition a real dogfight

By Chris Pocock

The rival contenders for the huge U.S. Air Force KC-X competition for a new aerial tanker have been briefing the relative merits of the KC-30 and the KC-767 all round the show this week. But political considerations apart–and there are plenty of those–it all boils down to a simple fact: size matters.

The KC-30 that is proposed by the EADS/Northrop Grumman team can be viewed at the end o more

---

Singapore Airshow: casual dress urged

By Bernard Fitzsimons

Visitors to next February’s Singapore Airshow–35,000 professionals is the organizers’ target–will find a spanking new show site and a relaxed atmosphere to help them focus more keenly than ever on the booming business of aerospace.

Up to 100 chalets, some of them beachfront in the new, purpose-built Changi North site, will have roof gardens. Gentlemen will be encouraged to leave their n more

---

Orsi wants to speed up BA609 program

By Thierry Dubois

“Why don’t my Bell colleagues take this question?” AgustaWestland CEO Giuseppe Orsi suggested when asked why Bell would not accept his company’s additional money into the protracted BA609 Tiltrotor program, during a press conference on Wednesday here at the Paris Air Show. The innovative hybrid aircraft, which performs daily in the flying display, has its certification now pegged for late 2010 or more

---

BBJ across the way was testing EMS Satcom

By Stephen Pope

A Boeing Business Jet parked at a Le Bourget FBO this week has recently completed 300 hours of testing of a SwiftBroadband-capable satellite communications system supplied by EMS Satcom.

The company’s eNfusion satcom system has been undergoing testing for several months in anticipation of the commercial start of Inmarsat SwiftBroadband service later this year. Testing of Internet link more

---

Saudi NAS buys four Falcon 2000LX bizjets

By Stephen Pope

Saudi Arabia’s National Air Services (NAS) signed an agreement yesterday to buy four Dassault Falcon 2000LX business jets plus options for an additional 16 airplanes in a deal potentially worth more than a half billion dollars.

At a signing ceremony yesterday, Dassault Falcon president and CEO John Rosanvallon celebrated with NAS president Taher Agueel and NetJets Middle East chairman V more

---

Embraer says airline deal could could net $1.26B

By Stephen Pope

Embraer yesterday said it has signed a “preliminary commercial agreement” with a Brazilian airline for dozens of airliners in a deal potentially worth $1.46 billion. The regional jet manufacturer also said it converted $285 million worth of previously disclosed airliner options into firm commitments.  

Brazil’s BRA Transportes Aereos plans to buy 20 Embraer 195s worth $730 mi more

---

Air France-KLM admits to previous Boeing 777, 737 order

By Greg Polek

The Air France-KLM Group revealed itself yesterday as the customer that placed a previous order for nine Boeing 777-300ERs and seven 737-700s. Air France will add the 777s to its existing fleet of 46 of the type, while KLM replaces older 737s and expands its European short-haul operations. KLM plans to align the interior specification and operation of the -700s with its low-fare affiliate, Transav more

---