October 2008
Bombardier ends the year with a Learjet anniversary celebration
(October 30, 2008)Earlier this month, company employees, customers, and distinguished guests gathered together in Wichita to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the first Learjet flight, which occurred on October 7, 1963. Wichita’s Mayor Brewer, one of the event’s guests, attended a commemorative ceremony for the first Learjet, which will no be permanently in display at the Learjet assembly facility. In a related statement, David Coleal, VP and GM of Learjet said, “The Learjet 35-001 jet played a key role in the development of the Learjet business jet family and the tremendous success of today’s Learjet aircraft.” But the celebration was not all about the past. The future prospects of the Learjet model were also heralded as the all-new Learjet 85 midsize jet was on display. “Now, the new Learjet 85 aircraft brings new excitement and growth to both our amazing product line and our production facilities. Our Learjet heritage is strong and we look towards an even brighter future,” asserted Coleal.
Cessna constructs Citation Columbus Facility in Wichita
(October 30, 2008)Yesterday morning, Cessna President Jack J. Pelton was joined by Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius to publicize the start of Cessna’s new Citation Columbus design and assembly facility in Wichita. The statement was attended by local and state legislative and business leaders, including 12,000 Cessna employees from Wichita. “Being able to call Kansas home for the Citation Columbus is important to Cessna and it wouldn’t be possible without the team effort shown earlier this year,” Pelton stated. “Today is our way of recognizing how big of a victory this is for Cessna, Wichita and Kansas, and to again thank everyone who played a part in making this happen.” Last April, the airline company announced that they are planning to build a mid-continent facility, pending the approval of the Kansas Legislature. Sebelius signed the bill during her previous visit to Cessna on April 23. Sebelius is more than happy to accommodate the aircraft manufacturer to the region. “Landing the Citation Columbus sends a strong message that Kansas will compete to keep and grow aviation jobs,” maintained Sebelius. “But this reaches far beyond aviation and the direct jobs created at Cessna. Research shows that each aviation job creates an additional 2.9 jobs, which means a total of nearly 4,000 future new jobs in Kansas as a result of this new plant.” The facility is located near the intersection of K-42 and Hoover on the Cessna campus beside Wichita Mid-Continent Airport. It spans to 600,000 square feet. The company hired firms McCluggage Van Sickle & Perry and Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A to take care of engineering and architecture. Textron, the owner of Cessna, is investing $780million to develop the Citation Columbus—the company’s newest and biggest aircraft.
Spirit Aerosystems see decline in profit
(October 29, 2008)Spirit Aerosystems, a manufacturer of aircraft structures, recorded a 12 percent profit decrease for the third quarter. Many attribute the drop to the ongoing strike at Boeing—the company’s primary customer. In last year’s quarterly net report, Spirit Aerosystems profited $84 million, and this year the company has a profit of $74million. The ongoing strike at Boeing slowed the deliveries and the services of Spirit Aerosystems. However, that will soon change, because the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to a tentative contract, pending the approval of the labor union members. If all goes well, the Boeing facilities should be back to standard protocols by Sunday afternoon.
Airbus takes part in the European City of Science at the Grand Palais in Paris from Nov 14 to 16
(October 29, 2008)Airbus will be taking part in the European City of Science between 14 and 16 November 2008, at the Grand Palais in Paris. Airbus will present research and innovation projects, carried out in European partnerships, as part of Airbus’ eco-efficient commitment to the environment. Organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research during the French Presidency of the European Union, the European City of Science will be the launch event for the 2008 Science Festival. In order to satisfy the expectations of an ever-greater audience passionate about the sciences and technologies of the future, Airbus has chosen to exhibit eight Research and Technology projects – in progress or already completed – in the framework of far-reaching European or international partnerships, such as: * ILDAS (In-Flight Lightning Strike Damage Assessment System) to monitor aircraft lightening strike. * AWIATOR (Aircraft Wing with Advanced Technology Operation) illustrates the research in the area of wing aerodynamics for designing greener aircraft (reduced noise and fuel consumption). * Clean Sky Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft is one of the components of the Clean Sky research programme aiming to reduce significantly the environmental impact of air transport (integration of new power-plant concepts and of technologies to improve aerodynamic performance). * SILENCE® has led to the development of a new rivet-free – and therefore quieter – engine air intake, used on the A380. * ALCAS focuses on the manufacture of composite material structures, such as the centre wing box, aiming to optimise the manufacturing process and choose the best-suited materials in order to lower production and maintenance costs, while introducing weight savings in the structures. * OPTIMAL examines environmental issues, concentrating on operational aspects such as improving aircraft trajectories in the vicinity of airports in order to reduce the noise footprint on the ground. * The NACRE project on the aircraft of the future studies new concepts for tomorrow’s aircraft, taking into account user demands, respect for the environment and technological advances. * The VIVACE project (Collaborative Engineering at the service of aircraft) has made it possible to improve cooperation between partners with different languages and cultures by putting in place specific tools. It has laid the foundations for a "collaborative" engineering environment particularly well suited to the context of the extended enterprise. Sensitive to its position as an industry leader, Airbus strives to be an eco-efficient enterprise. To that end Airbus is the first aeronautics company in the world to have earned the ISO 14001 environmental certification for all production sites and products for the entire life cycle. Airbus seeks to ensure that air transport continues to be an eco-efficient means of transport, delivering economic value while minimizing its environmental impact.
Boeing Projects China as Worlds Fastest Growing Aviation Market
(October 29, 2008)The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] detailed its 2008 Current Market Outlook (CMO) for the China region today, forecasting a market for 3,710 new airplanes worth about $390 billion over the next 20 years. "China will continue to be the fastest-growing aviation center in the world, requiring 41 percent of the entire Asia-Pacific region airplane demand. This makes China the largest market outside of the U.S. for new commercial airplanes," said Randy Tinseth, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president – Marketing. China air travel and air cargo market growth will cause China’s fleet to more than triple to 4,560 airplanes by 2027-about as many airplanes as are in Europe today. Single-aisle airplanes will account for 70 percent of the new purchases, driven by the world’s fast-growing domestic market. Single-aisle airplanes such as the Boeing Next-Generation 737 will be the largest category, with 2,600 new airplane deliveries. Demand for intermediate twin-aisles, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777, will result in approximately 780 airplane deliveries. When combined, the single-aisle and intermediate twin-aisle market will make up 91 percent of China’s total delivery dollars. Demand will include a limited number of large airplanes (747-size and larger) to connect China with other major world destinations. The market forecast calls for about 100 airplanes in that category. With China’s cargo markets leading the global industry, Chinese air carriers will add about 370 freighter airplanes by 2027, quadrupling its total freighter fleet size. The Boeing 2008 forecast combines today’s market environment with a long-term view that portrays how air transport will be transformed over the next 20 years. It’s an outlook that indicates continued strong fundamentals underlying the need for new airplanes-including economic growth, world trade, aviation market liberalization and new aircraft capabilities. The detailed study enables Boeing to better work with airlines in supporting their fleet plans in conjunction with their future economic growth. The outlook facilitates Boeing’s strategic plans to drive the development of new airplanes and the improvement of existing models. Worldwide, Boeing projects investments of $3.2 trillion for 29,400 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years. The complete forecast is available on the Boeing Web site at www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/index.html.
No order cancellations for Airbus
(October 28, 2008)Louis Gallois, chief of European aerospace group EADS, released a statement on a French radio station last Tuesday. Gallois said that aircraft manufacturer Airbus has not encountered cancellations, unlike other manufacturers, in lieu of the global financial crisis. The chief said, however, the crisis could affect purchases of helicopters, satellites, and other military equipment. “We all know that we are heading towards a very broad economic slowdown… It is clear that it will have consequences on airlines or purchases of helicopters, perhaps even on the budgets of certain states and their orders of satellites or defence equipment," Gallois told the French radio station (RFL).
Boeing says China deliveries will be delayed
(October 28, 2008)Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said that the delivery of its new 787 Dreamliner to China will “probably” be delayed. With the on going strike, the company does not know when it will be able to make the deliveries. Last quarter, Boeing’s profit decreased 38 percent. Corporate reps say that this is due to the seven-week worker strike, which took place in the Seattle facilities. Currently, Boeing has over 900 pending deliveries and orders for the 787 Dreamliner. More than 60 of those orders belong to Chinese airlines. The deliveries to China are due third quarter of next year. In a statement John Bruns, VP of China operations for Boeing, "Because of the strike that is ongoing at Boeing there will probably be some delay to that… But we just don’t know the impact yet."
WTO delays verdict for Airbus to 2009
(October 28, 2008)The highly-publicized dispute between the US and Europe over subsidies for Airbus has been delayed to next year by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Sources say that there are too many complications, so WTO needs more time to study the case. The decision extends one of the most expensive trade disputes of the last decade. This transatlantic divide involves billions of billions of dollars. Both parties are accusing each other of giving unfair support to their civil aircraft industry. "It will not be possible for the Panel to complete its work within six months of the date of composition due to, inter alia, the substantive and procedural complexities of the volume of materials involved in this dispute," commented a panel dispute chairman. He concluded, “"The Panel expects to complete its work in 2009."
Embraer opens third jet service facility in two months
(October 27, 2008)Yesterday, Embraer opened another company-owned jet service center in the US. For the past two months, the company has set up three new facilities—signifying a more proactive customer support. The third facility is located at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fla. The facility spans to 55,500 square feet, and it features state-of-the-art service bays for a host of Embraer models, including the Phenom 300 and the Legacy 600. The other facilities are located at Connecticut and Arizona. “These three new Company-owned service centers are strategically located to offer greater customer convenience for full product support and services, including parts inventory,” said Edson Carlos Mallaco, Embraer Vice President, Customer Support and Services, Executive Jets. “With this facility, which will provide comprehensive support for our Phenom and Legacy customers in Southeastern U.S., Embraer achieves its goal of having seven wholly-owned service centers in operation, worldwide, in 2008.” Mallaco added.
Embraer renews support for French fleet aircrafts
(October 27, 2008)Embraer has renewed its contract for technical and logistical support of the fleet of EMB 121 Xingu Aircrafts of the French armed forces. The new four year contract was arranged by the French Ministry of Defense. The contract covers engineering, on-site technical support, and logistics for 41 EMB Xingu airplanes to be used by the French Air Force and Navy. The Xingu model has been used by the French Air Force since 1983, and the country is expected to carry the same fleet until 2020-2025. “France is a very special customer, and has operated the Xingu fleet for 25 years with high rates of availability. This is the first pressurized aircraft designed and manufactured by Embraer. We will continue providing solid support to this important customer, extending the professional relationship that has been in place since EAI was created, in 1983,” commented Geraldo Ferreira, VP of Customer Support for Embraer.
