Soyuz breaks speed record to ISS

sábado, 30 de marzo de 2013

Soyuz breaks speed record to ISS:

Soyuz 34 docking with the ISS after fastest manned rendezvous (Image: NASA)
A manned Soyuz spacecraft set a record for traveling to the International Space Station (ISS), arriving six hours after launch instead of the usual two days. Soyuz 34 lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Friday, March 28 at 4:43 p.m. EDT (08:43 GMT) and docked with the ISS at 10: 28 PM EDT (03:28 GMT). It was able to catch up and match trajectories with the ISS in only four orbits using new techniques previously tested in ISS rendezvouses with Russian unmanned Progress cargo ships...
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How the Sukhoi Superjets Are Being Built

miércoles, 27 de marzo de 2013

How the Sukhoi Superjets Are Being Built: These Superjets are the first passenger jet planes that are built after the formation of new Russia and also that is the first passenger plane of SU company which previously built only well known SU military jets. The 33rd airplane … Read more...

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Review: DJI Phantom quadcopter

Review: DJI Phantom quadcopter:

Gizmag reviews the DJI Phantom quadcopter
Whether you call it a quadcopter, quadrocopter, quadrotor, UAV or (gasp) a drone, DJI’s new GPS-equipped Phantom is certainly a nifty little radio-controlled aircraft. We first heard about the Phantom when it was officially launched this January and since then I've had a chance to try the, uh – let’s call it a quadcopter – out for myself. Here’s a quick look at my experiences with it, and I'll say this right now: the thing was more fun than a barrel full of flying monkeys...
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Miniature hit-to-kill rocket interceptor completes flight test

Miniature hit-to-kill rocket interceptor completes flight test:

The Lockheed Martin Miniature Hit-to-Kill interceptor roaring off the launcher (Photo: Loc...
The U.S. Army is funding Lockheed Martin to develop hardware and software for the Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) program. Under this program, Lockheed Martin has conducted the first guided test flight of the Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor rocket. The MHTK is designed to defeat incoming rocket, artillery, and mortar fire out to ranges of 3 - 4 km (1.9 - 2.5 miles).
..
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US Navy plans to place four UCLASS development contracts

US Navy plans to place four UCLASS development contracts: The US Navy has announced its intention to fund four companies to design candidate UCLASS aircraft ...

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AirTanker to start defensive aids upgrade on RAF Voyagers

AirTanker to start defensive aids upgrade on RAF Voyagers: The UK's Voyager tanker/transports are poised to undergo a self-protection system upgrade at RAF Brize Norton ...

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FAB y Embraer confirman las fechas: Dos prototipos del KC-390 serán construidos en el segundo semestre de 2014

FAB y Embraer confirman las fechas: Dos prototipos del KC-390 serán construidos en el segundo semestre de 2014:

Tras la Revisión Crítica del Proyecto (en inglés, CDR), se confirmaba el pasado viernes que  dos prototipos del KC-390 serán construídos en el segundo semestre de 2014, manteniéndose así el cronograma estimado. Según el Jefe de Estado Mayor del Aire (EMAER) de la Fuerza Aérea de Brasil,  teniente brigadier del aire Aprígio Eduardo de Moura Azevedo, la fecha puede ser considerada histórica. La fase CDR completa un ciclo importante. Los detalles ejecutados consolidan todos los requisitos de la aeronave. "Más que un paso es un salto,y  representa un punto de inflexión en el proyecto, dejando la fase de diseño detallado para comenzar la producción de prototipos que definitivamente van a demostrar la capacidad de este avión ".

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Boeing 787 faces new risk: limits on ETOPS

Losing extended operations, or ETOPS, would deal a blow to Boeing and its airline customers by limiting use of the fuel-saving jet, designed to lower costs on long-distance routes that don't require the capacity of the larger Boeing 777. Such a loss could even lead to cancellation of some routes.

"If the FAA approves (only) over-land operations it would be a very damaging blow to the 787 program," said Scott Hamilton, an aviation analyst with Leeham Co in Seattle.


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Airbus installs Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and Honeywell APU on A350 XWB MSN001

Airbus has installed on the first flight-test A350 XWB (MSN001) its two flight-ready Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and is also installing the new Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary power unit (APU) at Airbus' production facilities in Toulouse (France).

The new Trent engines were both received from UTC Aerospace Systems (formerly Goodrich) which had recently prepared the fully integrated powerplants prior to their installation on the aircraft's pylons. Last month the Trent XWB received Engine Type Certification from EASA, confirming that the engine had fulfilled EASA's airworthiness requirements for flight. The Trent XWB has already powered a series of test flights on Airbus' A380 Flying Test Bed (FTB) aircraft since February 2012, demonstrating a high level of maturity.

In parallel to the mounting of the two Trent XWB engines in Toulouse, the A350 XWB is also this week being fitted with its new specially developed APU – the Honeywell HGT1700 which has greater power density and higher efficiency than the previous generation APUs.

With the installation of its engines and also the APU, the A350 XWB MSN001 becomes essentially a 'completed' aircraft. Following the ongoing ground tests, other preparations and also painting in the coming weeks, MSN001 will then be handed over to the Airbus Flight Test team to commence preparations for ground runs and maiden flight in the summer.

Photo:
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressroom/high-res-photos

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Cassidian produces the world’s most advanced Eurofighter

  • Eurofighter test aircraft equipped with the latest flight test facilities for developing new future capabilities
  • Assembling of cockpit, wings and vertical tail unit with the fuselage completed

The Eurofighter IPA 8 (Instrumented Production Aircraft 8) test aircraft has achieved an important production milestone at Cassidian in Manching: with the mounting of the right wing, the connection between the cockpit, vertical tail unit and wings with the fuselage has been completed. "IPA 8 is based on the latest Eurofighter Tranche 3 construction standard and is furthermore equipped with state-of-the-art flight test instrumentation. That makes the aircraft the most advanced Eurofighter in the world," said Berndt Wuensche, Eurofighter Programme Manager at Cassidian.

"IPA 8 can make essential contributions to further developing Eurofighter capabilities in the coming decades – for example, electronic beam scanning for radar, enhanced weapon integration and improvements to mission equipment," he continued.

After assembling the individual major structural components, the aircraft was transferred to the next production station on the final assembly line in Manching, where the test aircraft's hydraulic, defensive aids and electrical systems and its complex special cabling are being installed. The specialists at Cassidian have equipped the modern Eurofighter with more than 110 km of cable in the past few months and additionally installed pressure, flow and electrical data sensors and the test flight instrumentation and computer into the aircraft. Equipped in that way, all the relevant aircraft parameters can be communicated in real time from the air to the flight test engineers on the ground.

All four of the Eurofighter programme's partner nations have test aircraft available, which they are using to test new capabilities on the basis of their development focuses. Cassidian is responsible primarily for the Eurofighter's flight control system, its flight behaviour, radar and fire control systems and infrared sensor.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is the latest and most capable multi-role combat aircraft presently available on the global market. Currently, seven nations (Austria, Germany, Italy, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the UK) have procured the Eurofighter. To date, the Eurofighter fleet has completed more than 170,000 flight hours world-wide, thus making the aircraft the safest and one of the most reliable combat aircraft in operation. With 719 aircraft under contract, 571 orders and over 355 deliveries, the Eurofighter is currently the largest military procurement programme in Europe and, thanks to its advanced technology, strengthens the European aviation industry's position in international competition. The programme also safeguards more than 100,000 jobs at 400 companies and is managed by Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH on behalf of the Eurofighter partner companies Alenia Aermacchi/Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Cassidian in Germany and Spain.

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Dimite Rafael Sánchez Lozano como consejero delegado de Iberia

En un comunicado remitido a la Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), IAG señala que la dimisión es con efecto inmediato y que le sustituirá Luis Gallego, el actual consejero delegado de Iberia Express.


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Boeing Conducts Check Flight For Dreamliner Battery System

martes, 26 de marzo de 2013

Boeing Conducts Check Flight For Dreamliner Battery System: Certification Flights Planned For Later This Week Boeing on Monday conducted a preliminary test flight in preparation for the recertification of the Dreamliner battery system. A battery fire in January has caused the worldwide fleet of 787s to be grounded for the past several months.

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Aging B-52 bomber gets new Sniper pod upgrade

Aging B-52 bomber gets new Sniper pod upgrade:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (Image: USAF)
Last week, the United States Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing made its first live run with a new Lockheed Martin Sniper pod installed on the wing of a B-52H Stratofortress. Taking off from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, the practice run introduces new combat abilities that will give the aging bomber better integration with ground forces and laser-guided bombs for precision strikes.
..
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Saab gets deal to complete Gripen E development

Saab gets deal to complete Gripen E development: Saab has received a major contract to complete development work on its next-generation Gripen E combat aircraft ...

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El centro de mantenimiento y desmantelamiento de aviones de Teruel empieza a funcionar

Será una filial de Airbus, la empresa Tarmac, la que se encargará de explotar este complejo industrial dedicado al mantenimiento, reparación y reciclaje de aviones, cuya construcción ha liderado en los últimos años el Gobierno aragonés aprovechando los terrenos del histórico aeródromo de Caudé, que el Ayuntamiento turolense compró en su día por 600.000 euros.


Alejandro Ibrahim, director del Aeropuerto turolense, ha indicado que Tarmac quiere empezar su actividad industrial en este complejo cuanto antes, porque el otro centro que gestionan en la localidad francesa de Tarbes «lo tienen totalmente colapsado».

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El pago de tasas judiciales frena la reclamación de clientes de Helitt


El abogado de los trabajadores se reúne hoy en Málaga con responsables de la compañía aérea.

El pago de las nuevas tasas judiciales ha echado para atrás a una veintena de clientes de Helitt que tenía intención de juntarse en una plataforma de afectados por la compañía aérea para reclamar en los juzgados de Melilla la devolución del importe de los billetes de avión que compraron y que no pudieron ni utilizar ni recuperar porque la aerolínea dejó de volar desde la ciudad a finales de enero pasado y aún no les ha devuelto lo abonado.
Así lo explicó ayer a El Faro el abogado Carlos Játiva, promotor de la plataforma de afectados por Helitt. "Ahora mismo no sé si la plataforma va a salir adelante porque si hay que pagar tasas judiciales, a los clientes de Helitt, que no han recuperado el importe de los billetes que compraron, no les interesa reclamar", señaló.


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Saab to provide AEW&C support services for undisclosed country

lunes, 25 de marzo de 2013

Saab to provide AEW&C support services for undisclosed country: Saab has been awarded a contract for provision of support services for the Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system of an undisclosed international country.

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Boeing Delivers 7,500th 737

  • Malindo Air to operate the Next-Generation 737-900ER with Boeing Sky Interior
  • Popular single-aisle is the best-selling commercial airliner family in history

SEATTLE, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has delivered the 7,500th 737 to come off the production line to Malaysia-based Malindo Air. Malindo Air is a joint venture by Jakarta, Indonesia-based Lion Air and Malaysia's National Aerospace and Defence Industries. Malindo Air is using the Next-Generation 737-900ER to launch its low-fares service.

Malindo Air's 737-900ER (Extended Range) with the passenger-pleasing Boeing Sky Interior features new modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

The Boeing 737 is the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time with total orders exceeding 10,500 airplanes. Nearly 85 percent of Boeing's backlog of more than 3,100 Next-Generation 737s will be delivered with the Boeing Sky Interior.

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Vueling takes delivery of its first Airbus Sharklet equipped A320.

Vueling, the largest low cost airline in Spain, has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices, becoming the first Spanish carrier to do so. Including this delivery, Vueling's in-service fleet rises to 61 A320 Family aircraft

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft's aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline's fuel burn and emissions by four per cent on longer sectors. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and standard on all members of the NEO Family. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.
 

Photos are available in high resolution in Airbus press room:
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressroom/high-res-photos

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Graphene aerogel takes world’s lightest material crown

Graphene aerogel takes world’s lightest material crown:

The graphene aerogel can be supported by blades of grass
Not even a year after it claimed the title of the world’s lightest material, aerographite has been knocked off its crown by a new aerogel made from graphene. Created by a research team from China’s Zhejiang University in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering lab headed by Professor Gao Chao, the ultra-light aerogel has a density lower than that of helium and just twice that of hydrogen...
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Fabra, ante su inminente juicio, dimite en Aerocas

Fabra, ante su inminente juicio, dimite en Aerocas:
Castellón.- Carlos Fabra, el creador del aeropuerto vacío de Castellón, no ha logrado ver coronada su obra con la puesta en marcha de las operaciones aéreas como presidente de Aerocas, su empresa promotora, y dimite justo dos años después de la inuguración del aeropuerto. El pasado viernes renunció a su cargo tras la apertura del juicio oral por supuestos delitos de tráfico de influencias, cohecho y fraude fiscal.

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Navy Completes Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) For X-47B Deck Handling Trials

Navy Completes TTNT For X-47B Deck Handling Trials: Tactical Targeting Network Technology Developed By Rockwell Collins The recently-completed deck handling trials of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was assisted by Rockwell Collins Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT). The exercises demonstrated the ability to maneuver the tailless, strike-fighter-sized aircraft quickly and precisely on the flight deck using a wireless handheld controller.

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Sun will cause pause in Mars exploration in April

sábado, 23 de marzo de 2013

Sun will cause pause in Mars exploration in April:

Graphic showing the Sun/mars Conjunction (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
NASA is taking an enforced holiday of sorts in April as it suspends Mars exploration missions for 17 to 21 days. This isn't due to budget cuts, but rather because Mars will be in conjunction with the Sun during April, which will make direct communications with the probes difficult, if not impossible. ..
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Crowdfunding hope for human-powered helicopter project

Crowdfunding hope for human-powered helicopter project:

Kenneth Huff and his team believe that rotor efficiency improvements will allow their desi...
Last September, the Gamera II team from the A. James Clark School of Engineering got so close to claiming the Sikorsky Prize of US$250,000 for human-powered helicopter flight that the American Helicopter Society must surely have been preparing to pull the dust covers off the safe and hand over the cash. Gamera II features a huge cross-shaped frame with enormous rotors at each of its four points, which are powered by sustained hand and foot pumping from a pilot at the center. It's a design that's been used by many of those attempting to nab the elusive prize (including AeroVelo's Atlas), but Georgia's Kenneth Huff has a rather more compact vision for success...
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La sonda Voyager-1 no ha salido aún del sistema solar

La sonda Voyager-1 no ha salido aún del sistema solar:
Washington.- La sonda espacial Voyager-1, lanzada en 1977, no ha salido aún del sistema solar, ha afirmado la NASA. La agencia espacial estadounidense desmiente así el estudio del astrónomo Bill Webber dado a conocer esta tarde.
"Según el consenso del equipo científico, la Voyager-1 no ha salido todavía del sistema solar ni ha alcanzado el espacio interestelar", ha afimado en un comunicado Edward Stone, responsable científico de la misión de la NASA localizada en el Instituto de Tecnología de California (Caltec), en Pasadena.

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Boeing suprimirá entre 2.000 y 2.3000 empleos en su fábrica de Seattle | Economía | elmundo.es

La empresa aeronáutica Boeing ha
anunciado que va a reducir entre 2.000 y
2.300 empleados del programa 787, un
avión que no puede volar por problemas de
batería, y del 747, otra aeronave para
realizar viajes de larga distancia.
En esta reducción de plantilla, están
contemplados 800 despidos y el resto serán
bajas incentivadas, redistribuciones y varios
puestos vacantes para los que no se
buscarán sustitutos.
"A pesar de los esfuerzos para que el
desarrollo de los 787 y 747 siguiera a
delante y que los problemas (de
producción) se han reducido, se necesitan
menos recursos" , explica la compañía en
un comunicado recibido por correo
electrónico.

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/03/22/economia/1363985048.html

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Lockheed receives 100th F-35 centre fuselage from Northrop

jueves, 21 de marzo de 2013

Lockheed receives 100th F-35 centre fuselage from Northrop: Northrop Grumman has handed over the 100th centre fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft to Lockheed Martin at its manufacturing centre in Palmdale, California, US.

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Segula y Teccon reagrupan sus actividades de ingeniería al servicio de EADS

Segula y Teccon reagrupan sus actividades de ingeniería al servicio de EADS:
Madrid.- Segula Technologies y Teccon Consulting & Engineering GmbH han creado dos joint-ventures reagrupando sus actividades de ingeniería aeronáutica al servicio de EADS.
Estas dos empresas, nombradas Teccon Design & Engineering France, and Teccon Design & Engineering Spain, están acreditadas E2S y ofrecen a EADS soluciones técnicas avanzadas, así como mejores capacidades de movilización de recursos.

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Tras varias semanas en reposo, Curiosity reanudó su misión

Tras varias semanas en reposo, Curiosity reanudó su misión:
Washington.- El rover Curiosity,  que viene registrando diversos problemas técnicos desde el mes pasado debido a un fallo en uno de sus dos ordenadores de a bordo, reanudó ayer su misión, según informó la Nasa.
A finales del pasado mes de febrero, los operadores de la misión tuvieron que poner en modo seguro el rover al detectarse un fallo en el ordenador principal de a bordo y tuvo que activarse el de reserva.
“Esperamos reanudar el estudio de las muestras ya en esta semana”,

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Avoiding Asteroid Threats Requires Innovation, Commitment And Diligence

Avoiding Asteroid Threats Requires Innovation, Commitment And Diligence: House Science, Space, And Technology Committee Reviews Government Efforts To Protect Earth The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing Tuesday titled "Threats from Space: A Review of U.S. Government Efforts to Track and Mitigate Asteroids and Meteors." The hearing is the first in a two-part series on what the U.S. is doing to track and monitor Near Earth Objects (NEO) that pose a threat to the planet. It comes one month after an asteroid passed the earth and a meteor exploded over the skies in Russia on the same day.

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Bezos Expeditions Recovers Apollo F-1 Engines

Bezos Expeditions Recovers Apollo F-1 Engines: ROV Submarines Used To Reclaim Artifacts From Three Miles Underwater When the main boosters for the Apollo Saturn V rockets fell into the Atlantic Ocean in the 1960s and 1970s, it was probably expected that they would never be seen again. The hardware that started men on their journey to the Moon sank in 3 miles of water, where they have lain for more than 40 years.

http://www.bezosexpeditions.com/

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Alemania reduce un 30% su pedido de helicópteros a Eurocopter

miércoles, 20 de marzo de 2013

Alemania reduce un 30% su pedido de helicópteros a Eurocopter:


En virtud de dicho acuerdo, el pedido de 122 helicópteros NH-90 se reducen a 82 y los 80 helicópteros militares Tigre encargados pasan a 57.

La reducción del pedido de helicópteros s EADS ha constituido una fuente de tensiones entre el consorcio aeronáutico europeo y el Gobierno de Berlín.

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El BEI presta a EADS 300 millones de euros para I+D

El BEI presta a EADS 300 millones de euros para I+D:


El BEI cita concretamente diversos proyectos, como los destinados a "reducir el impacto de la aviación sobre el medio ambiente en términos de eficiencia energética, emisiones (CO2, NOx) y el ruido".
 Estos programas deben hacer lo posible "para desarrollar soluciones efectivas que afectarán directamente al diseño y producción de aeronaves, incluyendo la mejora de la aerodinámica del avión y la optimización de los sistemas de seguridad y controles de vuelo".

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Boeing Statement on Ryanair's Commitment to Order 175 Next-Generation 737s

NEW YORK, March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) is delighted that Ryanair has announced a commitment today to order 175 Next-Generation 737-800s for the airline's fleet expansion. When finalized, the agreement will be worth $15.6 billion at list prices and will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website as a firm order.

"This agreement is an amazing testament to the value that the Next-Generation 737 brings to Ryanair," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & CEO Ray Conner. "We are pleased that the Next-Generation 737, as the most efficient, most reliable large single-aisle airplane flying today, has been and will continue to be the cornerstone of the Ryanair fleet. Our partnership with this great European low-cost carrier is of the utmost importance to everyone at The Boeing Company and I could not be more proud to see it extended for years to come."

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary and Conner will hold a joint press conference today to discuss the announcement at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (Starlight Roof), 301 Park Avenue, New York, at 10:15am ET.

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RAF's first operational F-35 pilot flies first training sortie

RAF's first operational F-35 pilot flies first training sortie: The first operational UK pilot selected to fly the Lockheed Martin F-35B has performed his first training sortie in the type ...

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US flies B-52 bombers over South Korea

The United States said it was flying training missions of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over South Korea, in a clear signal to North Korea at a time of escalating military tensions.

The flights — part of annual joint South Korea-US military exercises — should be seen as underscoring US commitment and capacity to defend Seoul against an attack from the North, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.



Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/us-flies-b-52-bombers-over-south-korea-47207/

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UPDATED: Boeing Announces Large 737 Order for Ryanair



A little after 5:00am EST this morning, Boeing let the cat out of the bag: Ryanair is set to order 175 Boeing 737-800′s, which is the largest Boeing airplane order in Europe to date. Although an impressive order, the news was surely not breaking, since rumors of the order have been circulating for a while.


http://www.airlinereporter.com/2013/03/boeing-announces-large-737-order-for-ryanair/

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El casino de Eurovegas obligará a cerrar el aeropuerto de Cuatro Vientos

martes, 19 de marzo de 2013

  • Adelson o la Comunidad de Madrid deberán indemnizar a Aena con 20 millones
  • La altura de los rascacielos (250 metros) influye en el espacio aéreo

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Rheinmetall Successfully Tests 50kW High-Energy Laser Weapon

Rheinmetall Successfully Tests 50kW High-Energy Laser Weapon: Rheinmetall has successfully tested its new 50kW high-energy weapon technology demonstrator.

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Boeing propone a la FAA una solución para el problema de las baterías




La solución final que Boeing plantea a la FAA reside en cinco puntos:

  • Más controles y verificaciones durante la producción de las celdas de las baterías en Japón 
  • Definir un nivel de carga máxima admisible más bajo, y un mínimo (el que se usa para decidir si la batería está descargada o no) más alto 
  • Mejora en la instalación de la batería, tanto el cableado como el aislamiento entre celdillas 
  • El ya famoso "blindaje" de acero inoxidable ignífugo, para si hay problemas de fuego, evitar que salga de esta caja 
  • Ensayar las baterías para su certificación bajo nuevos estándares industriales(la norma DO311 de la RTCA, Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics es una organización sin ánimo de lucro que colabora con la FAA para desarrollar estándares para aviación). Estos estándares no existían cuando se ensayaron originalmente las baterías. Esta norma se ha diseñado para permitir ensayar baterías de litio y demostrar que son seguras

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RAF's Tranche 3A Typhoon to start electromagnetic compatibility testing

RAF's Tranche 3A Typhoon to start electromagnetic compatibility testing: BAE Systems has started electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of the UK Royal Air Force's (RAF) first Tranche 3A Typhoon multirole combat aircraft.

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Una nueva compañía Suiza promete reducir los costes de lanzar satélites casi un 80%

Los costes habituales de poner un satélite en órbita rondan los 50M$. S3 (Swiss Space Systems), una nueva compañía suiza promete reducir los costes a solo 10.6M$.

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The Swiss shuttle that launches from the top of a plane: Pioneering plan for low cost satellite launches revealed

  • Swiss Firm S3 claims it can launch satellites for £7m - a quarter of the current price
  • Unmanned shuttle will launch from the top of a modified Airbus A300 at 26,000 feet
  • First test launches scheduled for 2017, with plans for spaceports around the world


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2293382/The-Swiss-space-shuttle-launches-plane-Pioneering-plans-low-cost-satellite-launches-revealed.html#ixzz2Nz64yILl



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Boeing Selects GE As Engine Partner For 777X Studies

Boeing Selects GE As Engine Partner For 777X Studies: Future 777 Models To Enter Market Near End Of The Decade Boeing's development study on improvements to the 777, known as 777X, will include GE as the engine partner on the twin-aisle airplane expected to enter service near the end of the decade. Boeing says the future 777 models will offer increased fuel efficiency and range.

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Embraer Signs Jacksonville, FL Airport Lease For A-29 Assembly Facility

Embraer Signs Jacksonville, FL Airport Lease For A-29 Assembly Facility: Preparation Of The Facility Is Underway In NE Florida Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc. has signed a 10-year lease on a 40,000-square-foot hangar in which the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) program will be assembled. Preparation of the facility is currently underway. The LAS aircraft are urgently needed to support the successful withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

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Evo Morales negocia en Toulouse la compra de aviones y helicópteros

Evo Morales negocia en Toulouse la compra de aviones y helicópteros:
Toulouse.- El presidente boliviano Evo Morales, que visitó la pasada semana la factoría de Airbus en Toulouse y se reunió con los principales directivos de la empresa, estudió con ellos la compra de aviones para la aerolínea estatal Boliviana de Aviación (BoA). También mostró su interés en adquirir helicópteros a Eurocopter.

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Boeing Rolls Out First Next-Generation 737 at Higher Production Rate

RENTON, Wash., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has rolled out the first Next-Generation 737 built at the new production rate of 38 airplanes a month. Panamanian customer Copa Airlines will take delivery of the 737-800 in early April.

The airplane will now undergo functional, systems and flight testing over the next three weeks before being delivered.

Boeing is in the process of increasing the production rate on its 737 program from 35 to 38 airplanes per month because of market demand for the world's best-selling commercial jetliner. Next year, the 737 production rate will increase to 42 airplanes per month.

Copa Airlines operates a fleet of more than 50 Next-Generation 737s.

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Boeing Provides Details on 787 Battery Improvements

EVERETT, Wash., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today that a comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks. New enclosures for 787 batteries also are being built and will be installed in airplanes in the weeks ahead.

These improvements, which continue to undergo extensive certification testing, will allow operators to resume commercial flights with their 787s as soon as testing is complete and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other international regulators grant their final approval.
The improvements include enhanced production and operating processes, improved battery design features and a new battery enclosure. 

"As soon as our testing is complete and we obtain regulatory approvals, we will be positioned to help our customers implement these changes and begin the process of getting their 787s back in the air," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. "Passengers can be assured that we have completed a thorough review of the battery system and made numerous improvements that we believe will make it a safer, more reliable battery system." Battery system changes include changes to the battery itself, the battery charging unit and the battery installation.
Earlier this week the FAA approved Boeing's certification plan, which lays out the discrete testing to be done to demonstrate that the battery improvements address the conditions laid out in the Airworthiness Directive that has suspended 787 commercial operations.

Development Team Created Solution
The enhancements to the battery system address causal factors identified by the Boeing technical team as possible causes of battery failure. The technical team's findings also were verified by an independent group of lithium-ion battery experts from a number of industries, universities and national laboratories.

"We've come up with a comprehensive set of solutions that result in a safer battery system," said Mike Sinnett, vice president and chief project engineer, 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We have found a number of ways to improve the battery system and we don't let safety improvements go once they are identified. We incorporate them into our processes and products."

Enhanced Production Controls and Operating Processes
The first layer of improvements is taking place during the manufacture of the batteries in Japan. Boeing teamed with Thales, the provider of the integrated power conversion system, and battery maker GS Yuasa to develop and institute enhanced production standards and tests to further reduce any possibility for variation in the production of the individual cells as well as the overall battery.
"We've all developed a better understanding of the sensitivities of this technology to variations during the manufacturing process," said Sinnett. "And we all feel the need to increase monitoring of this process on an ongoing basis."

Four new or revised tests have been added to screen cell production, which now includes 10 distinct tests. Each cell will go through more rigorous testing in the month following its manufacture including a 14-day test during which readings of discharge rates are being taken every hour. This new procedure started in early February and the first cells through the process are already complete. There are more than a dozen production acceptance tests that must be completed for each battery.

Boeing, Thales and GS Yuasa have also decided to narrow the acceptable level of charge for the battery, both by lowering the highest charge allowed and raising the lower level allowed for discharge. Two pieces of equipment in the battery system – the battery monitoring unit and the charger are being redesigned to the narrower definition. The battery charger will also be adapted to soften the charging cycle to put less stress on the battery during charging.

Improved Battery Design Features
Changes inside the battery will help to reduce the chances of a battery fault developing and help to further isolate any fault that does occur so that it won't cause issues with other parts of the battery.
To better insulate each of the cells in the battery from one another and from the battery box, two kinds of insulation will be added. An electrical insulator is being wrapped around each battery cell to electrically isolate cells from each other and from the battery case, even in the event of a failure. Electrical and thermal insulation installed above, below and between the cells will help keep the heat of the cells from impacting each other.
Wire sleeving and the wiring inside the battery will be upgraded to be more resistant to heat and chafing and new fasteners will attach the metallic bars that connect the eight cells of the battery. These fasteners include a locking mechanism.
Finally, a set of changes is being made to the battery case that contains the battery cells and the battery management unit. Small holes at the bottom will allow moisture to drain away from the battery and larger holes on the sides will allow a failed battery to vent with less impact to other parts of the battery.

New Battery Enclosure
The battery case will sit in a new enclosure made of stainless steel. This enclosure will isolate the battery from the rest of the equipment in the electronic equipment bays. It also will ensure there can be no fire inside the enclosure, thus adding another layer of protection to the battery system. The enclosure features a direct vent to carry battery vapors outside the airplane.
New titanium fixtures are being installed in the electronics equipment bays to ensure the housing is properly supported.

"Our first lines of improvements, the manufacturing tests and operations improvements, significantly reduce the likelihood of a battery failure. The second line of improvements, changes to the battery, helps stop an event and minimize the effect of a failure within the battery if it does occur. And the third line of improvements, the addition of the new enclosure, isolates the battery so that even if all the cells vent, there is no fire in the enclosure and there is no significant impact to the airplane," said Sinnett.

Testing Status
Testing to gain FAA approval of the battery enhancements has already started, with the FAA's permission.

During engineering testing, which occurs prior to certification testing, the team demonstrated that the new housing could safely contain a battery failure that included the failure of all eight cells within the battery. The "ultimate" load is the equivalent of 1.5 times the maximum force ever expected to be encountered during a battery failure. The housing easily withstood this pressure and did not fail until the pressure was more than three times the ultimate load.

Through another test, the team demonstrated that fire cannot occur within the new enclosure. Its design eliminates oxygen, making the containment unit self-inerting. Inerting is a step above fire detection and extinguishing as it prevents a fire from ever occurring. The design also vents all vapors by venting directly outside of the airplane rather than into the equipment bay.

"We put this new design through a rigorous set of tests. We tried to find a way to introduce a fire in the containment but it just wouldn't happen. Even when we introduced a flammable gas in the presence of an ignition source, the absence of oxygen meant there was no fire.

"We drew from the new industry standard, DO311, established by RTCA, to establish our testing plan," said Sinnett. "These standards weren't available when we set the testing plan for the baseline battery and they helped us ensure the new design is robust and safe. We intend to show, during certification, that the 787 battery meets all objectives of DO-311 and only deviates from specific requirements where the 787-unique items are not covered by the standards." RTCA is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a federal advisory committee in establishing guidelines for the aviation industry.

Working towards Resuming Flights
"We are following all of the necessary protocols to get our new design fully approved and properly installed so that we can help our customers start flying as soon as possible. We're simultaneously moving out on an effort to resume deliveries but completing our certification work and getting the delivered fleet flying again is our first priority," said Conner. "Our customers and their passengers have been incredibly patient as we have worked through this process and we thank them very sincerely for their continued support and confidence in the 787.

"The more-electric architecture of the 787 brings real value not just to the airlines but to our industry. By reducing fuel use, we are reducing our environmental footprint. This battery technology is an important part of the more-electric architecture, which is helping us to cut fuel use by more than 10 billion gallons of fuel over the life of this program.
"New technologies require extra attention and hard work, but the benefits are real."

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European Investment Bank supports EADS innovation programmes

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and EADS have announced the signature of a € 300 million finance contract in support of EADS Group's innovation and R&D programmes. This loan reflects the long-standing quality partnership that has formed between the EIB and EADS over the past ten years. It represents the second tranche of a first agreement signed in August 2011, whereby the EIB already made available € 500 million to EADS. This new finance contract brings the total volume of the EIB support under this agreement to € 800 million.

This is a flagship financing operation for the EIB, one of the first major loans to finance innovation in Europe since the Member States unanimously decided to give the bank of the European Union the means to stimulate the economy by increasing its capital by € 10 billion. This commitment so early in 2013 enables the Bank to step up its support for innovation and projects fostering growth and employment in Europe.

This project is focused on developing innovative products aimed at reducing the impact of aviation on the environment in terms of energy efficiency, pollutant emissions (CO2, nitrogen) and noise. It will serve to develop effective solutions that will have a direct impact on aeronautics design and production, e.g. by improving aircraft aerodynamics and optimising safety and flight control systems.

EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive welcomed the signature: "This first major loan following the EIB's capital increase demonstrates our priority commitment to innovation and R&D in Europe. The Bank aims to help develop a successful and competitive economy by focusing on leading-edge technologies, which hold the key to the future in terms of sustainable economic development. This sector is also a source of employment for young people."

"Innovation and research are at the heart of EADS' mission and essential to guarantee the long-term success of the group. The EIB is one of our privileged finance partners, which has been supporting EADS for several years in developing ever innovative technologies.
We very much appreciate this new agreement which demonstrates the solidity of our relationship and our joint will to accompany the sustainable development of air transport", said Harald Wilhelm, Chief Financial Officer of EADS & Airbus.

About EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

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Turkish Airlines places its biggest order ever with Airbus & Lion Air orders 234 A320 Family aircraft

Turkish Airlines places its biggest order ever with Airbus
Turkish Airlines, the largest airline in Turkey, has signed a contract for up to 117 A320 Family aircraft (25 A321ceo, 4 A320neo, 53 A321neo and options for 35 additional A321neo aircraft). This order is the largest ever placed by a Turkish carrier. The engine selection will be made at a later date.

"We are placing our biggest ever order with Airbus," said Faruk Cizmecioglu, Chief Marketing Officer. "At Turkish Airlines our customers expect the best. The A320 Family with its economic benefits combined with superior cabin comfort will greatly contribute to meet our ambitious growth plans."

"We are delighted with this new order from Turkish Airlines, which takes us above 2,000 NEO orders in a little over two years after launch" said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "This order confirms that the NEO is the most cost effective and profitable solution for airlines with ambitious growth plans. The 15 per cent fuel saving and the widest cabin in its class give Turkish Airlines a big competitive advantage."

Turkish Airlines already operates 75 A320 Family aircraft. The new order will help Turkish Airlines expand their short to medium-haul routes from their Istanbul hub, while the aircraft's commonality with their existing Airbus fleet will generate additional cost-savings.

Incorporating new engines and large Sharklet wing tip devices, the A320neo Family will deliver fuel savings of 15 percent. In addition, the A320neo Family will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise. The A320neo will enter into service from late 2015, followed by the A319neo and A321neo in 2016.

More than 9,150 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,450 delivered to more than 385 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position as the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft Family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

 

Lion Air orders 234 A320 Family aircraft
Indonesia's Lion Air has placed a firm order with Airbus for 234 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 109 A320neo, 65 A321neo and 60 A320ceo. The deal sees the carrier become a new customer for Airbus.

The order was finalised today at a special ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris in the presence of President François Hollande of France, who witnessed the signing of documents by Rusdi Kirana, Co-Founder and CEO of Lion Air Group and Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO, Airbus.

In a single class layout the A320 can seat up to 180 passengers, while the A321 can carry up to 236 with the latest cabin configuration options. Lion Air Group will use the aircraft to meet growth requirements on its expanding domestic and regional route network. The carrier will announce engine selections for the aircraft in the near future.

"The fuel-efficient A320 Family will enable Lion Air to achieve the lowest possible operating costs and continue to offer the most competitive fares in the Asian region," said Rusdi Kirana, Co-Founder and CEO of Lion Air Group. "This landmark order will ensure that the Lion Air Group will continue its expansion with one of the most modern and advanced fleets in the world."

"This announcement marks our first order from Lion Air - one of Asia's fastest-growing and most successful low cost carriers," said Fabrice Brégier, President & CEO, Airbus. "The news underscores the market-leading position of the A320 Family, which continues to attract new customers for both the current and new engine options. We very much look forward to welcoming Lion Air as a major new operator of Airbus aircraft."

Offering the lowest operating costs in its class, the A320 Family is the world's best-selling single-aisle product line. To date, some 9,400 aircraft have been ordered and more than 5.400 delivered to over 380 customers and operators worldwide. The A320ceo and A320neo share over 95 percent airframe commonality, enabling seamless operation of the various models in a single fleet.
Since taking to the skies in 2000, Jakarta-based Lion Air has become one of Asia's fastest-growing airlines. Today the Group operates an extensive network covering over 70 destinations in Indonesia and South East Asia

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Four rivals to enter Danish dogfight

lunes, 18 de marzo de 2013

Four rivals to enter Danish dogfight: Four bidders are to contest Denmark's next-generation fighter requirement, to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16s ...

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Germany finalises cuts to NH90, Tiger helicopter orders

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China sees export potential for Y-20

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EEUU fortalecerá, con una inversión adicional de 150 millones de dólares, su escudo antimisiles en respuesta a las provocaciones de Corea del Norte

EEUU fortalecerá, con una inversión adicional de 150 millones de dólares, su escudo antimisiles en respuesta a las provocaciones de Corea del Norte:

El secretario de Defensa de EEUU, Chuck Hagel, dio a conocer los detalles del nuevo programa de refuerzo del sistema de defensa antimisiles. El anuncio por parte del ex senador republicano coincide con el incremento de las tensiones existentes con Corea del Norte, que sigue amenazando a Washington con la puesta en marcha de un ataque preventivo. De esta manera, el despliegue proporcionará mayor cobertura en la costa Oeste de EEUU, donde se pondrán en marcha hasta 14 nuevos interceptores de tierra de misiles.

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RSAF's F-15SA fighter jet completes first test flight

RSAF's F-15SA fighter jet completes first test flight: Boeing has completed the first test flight of the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF) new F-15 Saudi Advanced (SA) fighter aircraft at its facility in St. Louis, Missouri, US.

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Swiss company aims to fly satellites into space

domingo, 17 de marzo de 2013

Swiss company aims to fly satellites into space:


If you want to launch a satellite in the usual way – on top of a rocket – it will typically cost you at least US$50,000,000. Newly-inaugurated aerospace firm Swiss
Space Systems (S3), however, claims that it will be able to put your small satellite into orbit for about 10.6 million bucks. Why so cheap? S3 is planning on flying satellites into space, using an airliner and an unmanned shuttle.
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Continue Reading Swiss company aims to fly satellites into space

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Boeing outlines additional safety features for 787 batteries

Boeing outlines additional safety features for 787 batteries:


Boeing has announced improvements to the lithium-ion batteries for its 787 Dreamliner. A series of modifications to the batteries and their casings were made in response to battery fires in mid-January aboard two 787s in Boston and over Japan that resulted in all 50 of the planes delivered to customers being grounded. According to a company press release, the modifications along with improved testing regimes should prevent a repeat of the incidents.
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Continue Reading Boeing outlines additional safety features for 787 batteries

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Satélite controlado mediante un teléfono


 
 

Shared via feedly // published on Lo Marraco // visit site
Satélite controlado mediante un teléfono
El programa espacial ha consumido a lo largo de su historia cantidades ingentes de recursos. Aunque el conocimiento,los avances tecnológicos y las aplicaciones prácticas de productos desarrollados inicialmente para su desarrollo en la astronáutica han supuesto asimismo importantísimos avances para la sociedad en general y para sus desarrolladores generando a su vez una gran riqueza, en tiempos de crisis, los recortes drásticos son inevitables.

Un equipo de investigación ubicado en el Ames Research Center de Moffett Field (California), ha desarrollado un nanosatélite cuyo coste ha sido reducido a unos 2700 euros, el precio de un ordenador personal de gama alta.

Leer noticia completa aqui: http://robertopla.net/blog/satelite-controlado-mediante-un-telefono.htm

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Embraer launches KC-390 critical design review

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La Fuerza Aérea de Brasil adjudica su concurso de aviones de reabastecimiento en vuelo a IAI , que convertirá en tanqueros dos Boeing 767-300ER

La Fuerza Aérea de Brasil adjudica su concurso de aviones de reabastecimiento en vuelo a IAI , que convertirá en tanqueros dos Boeing 767-300ER:

El Centro de Comunicación Social de la Aeronáutica, dependiente de la Fuerza Aérea de Brasil, comunicaba ayer el fin del proceso de selección de aeronaves destinadas a sustituir a los aviones KC-137 operados por  el 2° Esquadrão del 2º Grupo de Transporte (2°/2°GT).  La opción seleccionada ha sido la ofertada por Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, que convertirá aeronaves comerciales Boeing 767-300ER en aviones de reabastecimiento en vuelo con capacidad de  transporte estratégico, carga y tropa, y evacuación aeromédica, de acuerdo con los requisitos formulados por la Fuerza Aérea de Brasil.

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Embraer dotará al Super Tucano de un radar

Embraer dotará al Super Tucano de un radar:

En conferencia de prensa en la sede operativa de Embraer Defensa & Seguridad ante los corresponsales especializados extranjeros en Brasil, su máxima autoridad, Luiz Carlos Aguiar, informó que el EMB 314 "Súper Tucano" será dotado de un radar, todo indica que externo.

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Lockheed completes fit check of Norwegian JSM missile on F-35

Lockheed completes fit check of Norwegian JSM missile on F-35: Lockheed Martin has conducted the first fit check of Kongsberg's new joint strike missile (JSM) onboard an F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft at its facility in Fort Worth, Texas, US.

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Ilyushin cancels test flight of Russian Il-476 aircraft

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Los usuarios, contra las nuevas medidas de Bruselas en el transporte aéreo

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Para la OCU, las nuevas medidas empeoran la situación actual: “si prospera la nueva propuesta, los pasajeros sólo tendrán derecho  a las compensaciones en caso de retrasos superiores a 5 horas, siempre que se trate de vuelos nacionales, intracomunitarios o de menos de 3.500 km. Si se trata de vuelos más largos (de 3.5000 a 6.000 km), deben superar las 9 horas, y 12 en el caso de vuelos de más de 6.000 km.

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Galileo fija por vez primera un punto sobre el terreno

Galileo fija por vez primera un punto sobre el terreno:
Noordwijk.- La era de la navegación por satélite en Europa ha alcanzado un nuevo hito: por primera vez en la historia, se ha determinado la posición de un punto sobre el terreno utilizando únicamente los cuatro satélites Galileo actualmente en órbita y su infraestructura de tierra asociada. Este hecho clave confirma que el sistema Galileo funciona según lo previsto.

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Airbus delivers 100th A380

viernes, 15 de marzo de 2013



Sixth aircraft for Malaysia Airlines handed over in Toulouse

 

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Airbus together marked a major achievement, with the hand-over of the 100th A380 to MAS at Airbus' Henri Ziegler Delivery Centre in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the sixth A380 for MAS.

 

"We are delighted that our 100th A380 delivery is to Malaysia Airlines as this gives us an early glimpse into the future shape of aviation," said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. "We see a growing demand from dynamic, competitive airlines such as MAS for larger aircraft, with many markets and routes, and in particular in the fast developing Asia-Pacific region, being ideally suited to A380s."

 

Now in its sixth year of commercial service, the A380 is flying with nine world class airlines. To date, the worldwide fleet has carried some 36 million passengers in 100,000 flights. Previous generation Very Large Aircraft (VLA 400 seats and above) would have required 140,000 flights. This reduction in flights brings essential relief to airport-congestion and the environment. The corresponding saving of 5.7 million tonnes of CO2, demonstrates the A380 generates more revenue whilst minimising emissions and noise.

 

The A380 fleet performs over 140 flights per day and carries over one and a half million people each month. Passengers can hop on board one of the A380s which are either taking off or landing every six minutes at one of the 32 international airports where it operates to date. On top of these, more than 50 other airports are getting prepared to accommodate the A380 and answer the airlines' need for more A380 destinations.

 

Over the next 20 years, more than 1,700 VLA such as the A380 will have been delivered. Asia Pacific leads demand (45 percent) for these high capacity aircraft, followed by the Middle East (23 percent) and Europe (19 percent).

 

Typically seating 525 passengers in three classes, the aircraft is capable of flying 8,500 nautical miles or 15,700 kilometres non-stop, carrying more people at lower cost and with less impact on the environment. The spacious, quiet cabin and smooth ride have made the A380 a firm favourite with passengers, resulting in higher load factors wherever it flies.

 

Since 2006 the A380 has registered repeat orders by satisfied customers every year, bringing the total order book to date to 262 from 20 customers.

 

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Swiss Space Systems unveils small reusable satellite launch system

jueves, 14 de marzo de 2013

Swiss Space Systems unveils small reusable satellite launch system: A Swiss company, Swiss Space Systems (S-3), has released plans for a reusable small satellite launch system, with a first launch planned in 2017. The...

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A400M gets lift with full civil type certification

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MLB demonstrates V-Bat UAV's payload placement capability

MLB demonstrates V-Bat UAV's payload placement capability: MLB has successfully demonstrated autonomous payload delivery and placement capability of its V-Bat vertical takeoff / landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL UAV) during testing at an undisclosed location.

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Oldest U.S. Military Flying Unit Celebrates Centennial

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Boeing Receives FAA Approval of Certification Plan for 787 Battery Solution

miércoles, 13 de marzo de 2013



EVERETT, Wash., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the company's plan to test and certify improvements to the 787's battery system. Successful completion of each step within the plan will result in the FAA's approval to resume commercial 787 flights.

"Our top priority is the integrity of our products and the safety of the passengers and crews who fly on them," said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney. "Our team has been working around the clock to understand the issues and develop a solution based on extensive analysis and testing following the events that occurred in January. Today's approval from the FAA is a critical and welcome milestone toward getting the fleet flying again and continuing to deliver on the promise of the 787," he said.

Ray Conner, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that the company's focus has been on developing a permanent resolution.

"Working with internal and external experts in battery technology, we have proposed a comprehensive set of solutions designed to significantly minimize the potential for battery failure while ensuring that no battery event affects the continued safe operation of the airplane," said Conner.

"Our proposal includes three layers of improvements. First, we've improved design features of the battery to prevent faults from occurring and to isolate any that do. Second, we've enhanced production, operating and testing processes to ensure the highest levels of quality and performance of the battery and its components. Third, in the unlikely event of a battery failure, we've introduced a new enclosure system that will keep any level of battery overheating from affecting the airplane or being noticed by passengers," Conner said.

Design feature improvements for the battery include the addition of new thermal and electrical insulation materials and other changes. The enhanced production and testing processes include more stringent screening of battery cells prior to battery assembly. Operational improvements focus on tightening of the system's voltage range. A key feature of the new enclosure is that it ensures that no fire can develop in the enclosure or in the battery. Additional details of the new design will be provided by Boeing in the days ahead.

Boeing made its certification plan proposal to the FAA in late February. Today the agency agreed that the proposed changes and the detailed test plans address the conditions that resulted in the suspension of 787 operations.

The FAA also granted Boeing permission to begin flight test activities on two airplanes: line number 86, which will conduct tests to demonstrate that the comprehensive set of solutions work as intended in flight and on the ground; and ZA005, which is scheduled to conduct engine improvement tests unrelated to the battery issue. Additional testing may be scheduled as needed.

The certification plan calls for a series of tests that show how the improved battery system will perform in normal and abnormal conditions. The test plans were written based on the FAA's standards as well as applicable guidelines published by the Radio Technical Commission on Aeronautics (RTCA), an advisory committee that provides recommendations on ways to meet regulatory requirements. The RTCA guidelines were not available when the original 787 battery certification plan was developed.

"We have a great deal of confidence in our solution set and the process for certifying it," said Conner. "Before 787s return to commercial service, our customers and their passengers want assurance that the improvements being introduced will make this great airplane even better. That's what this test program will do."

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Ryanair negocia con Boeing la compra de 200 aviones

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Russian Satellite Rendered Useless After Collision With Space Junk

Russian Satellite Rendered Useless After Collision With Space Junk: Debris From Chinese Missile Test Suspected In 2007, the Chinese government destroyed its Feng Yun 1C weather satellite in a missile test. Now, a piece of debris left over from that test is thought to have collided with a Russian satellite, rendering it useless.

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Los aeropuertos españoles perdieron 13,5 millones de pasajeros en 14 meses

martes, 12 de marzo de 2013

Los aeropuertos españoles perdieron 13,5 millones de pasajeros en 14 meses:


Estas pérdidas aún pueden ser mayores en los próximos meses, según los analistas, ya que a la crisis económica y a la subida importante de tasas aeroportuarias se suman las promociones con que desde el Ministerio de Fomento se están defendiendo otros modos de transporte, como el AVE, con grandes descuentos y rebajas de precios, lo que repercutirá negativamente en el tráfico aéreo doméstico y, en consecuencia, en los aeropuertos peninsulares.   


    El tráfico aéreo doméstico cayó un 15% en enero
    Aena cobrará un euro por los carros portaequipajes

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    Ambiente mayoritariamente favorable al acuerdo en Iberia

    Ambiente mayoritariamente favorable al acuerdo en Iberia:

    Madrid.- El mediador en el conflicto entre Iberia y sus sindicatos, el catedrático Gregorio Tudela, confía hallar mañana una respuesta mayoritaria favorable a su propuesta y que ésta sirva para "encauzar la situación en Iberia".

    Aunque la respuesta definitiva al acuerdo propuesto por el mediador en el conflicto entre Iberia y sus trabajadores estaba prevista para ayer, el mediador amplió el plazo dos días más. 

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    Los usuarios de avión se desploman un 15% en enero y los de tren un 2,2%



    El número de viajeros que optaron por el avión para sus desplazamientos por el interior del país cayó un 15% en enero, mientras que los que optaron por el tren lo hicieron en un 2,2%, informa este lunes el Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE).

    En total, más de 102,9 millones de viajeros utilizaron el transporte interurbano en el primer mes del pasado año, un 1,2% menos, con caídas en todos los tipos de transporte.


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    Empresas españolas tendrán presencia conjunta en JEC Composites



    JEC Composites es la feria más importante a nivel europeo de materiales compuestos.

    El pabellón español estará integrado por Aernnova, tier-1 español especializado en el desarrollo y fabricación de estructuras aeronáuticas; Tecnatom, con más de 50 años de experiencia en los ensayos no destructivos, que ofrece sus capacidades a la industria tecnológica hace ya una década; Future Fibres, proveedor mundial de jarcias en materiales compuestos para el sector naval de ocio y competición;y Aesicom, clúster de la industria de composites, que explica su presencia en JEC Composites por el objetivo propuesto para este año de impulsar el networking entre sus asociados, en colaboración con Aimplas, el Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico


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    Boeing moves closer to 777X launch | ATWOnline

    Boeing is getting closer to bringing a next
    generation 777 to the market, a senior
    executive said Monday.
    Speaking at the ISTAT Americas 2013
    conference in Orlando, Boeing Commercial
    Airplanes VP-marketing Randy Tinseth said
    there had been "a lot of movement on this
    airplane in the last couple of months and
    we are working hard on our business case."

    http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines-components/news/boeing-moves-closer-777x-launch-0311?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AtwDailyNews+%28ATW+Daily+News%29

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    China blamed for EADS and ThyssenKrupp hack attacks

    lunes, 11 de marzo de 2013



    Two more major organisations have gone public about, what they claim, were attempts by Chinese hackers to infiltrate their networks and steal sensitive information.

    EADS, the European Aeronautic Defense and Space company, and steelmaker ThyssenKrupp are said to have become the targets of hack attacks originating in China, according to Der Spiegel.


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    AgustaWestland Unveils “Project Zero” Tilt Rotor Technology Demonstrator

    AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica Company, today unveiled its “Project Zero” tilt rotor technology demonstrator, giving an insight into what advanced rotorcraft of the future may look like. This, however, is no paper study. The technology demonstrator was designed and built in less than 6 months and has already secretly flown several times in 2011 and 2012, demonstrating AgustaWestland’s advanced rotorcraft technology.

    The tilt rotor technology demonstrator is completely electric powered; designed to hover like a helicopter and convert to a fixed wing aircraft in forward flight thanks to its two integrated rotors which can be tilted through more than 90 degrees. The demonstrator performed its first unmanned tethered flight in June 2011 at AgustaWestland’s Cascina Costa facility in Italy and has since performed untethered hovering flights inside a secured area.

    Daniele Romiti, AgustaWestland’s CEO, said “The ‘Project Zero’ technology demonstrator program brings together many of the advanced technologies AgustaWestland has been researching in recent years and demonstrates our strong technological base from which we will develop new products to meet the needs of our customers in the future. We strongly believe in the tilt rotor concept as the future of high speed rotorcraft flight as it offers much greater speed and range than compound helicopter technology.”

    “This is a wonderful achievement of the AgustaWestland Advanced Concepts Group. A team of passionate and brilliant engineers worked extremely hard in a secure facility to conceive, design, build and test this technology demonstrator in an exceptionally short period of time,” said Dr. James Wang, Vice President of Research and Technology at AgustaWestland. “This group lives to dream, and if it can be dreamed, it can be built. The team did not just build an electric powered airplane or helicopter; that would have been too easy. They went all out and built a twin rotor electric tiltrotor with no transmission or swashplates.”

    The demonstrator’s rotors are driven by advanced electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries; future hybrid solutions have also been investigated using a diesel engine to drive a generator. All of the aircraft control systems, flight control and landing gear actuators are electrically powered, removing the need for any hydraulic system.


    During cruise, the wings will provide most of the lift, with the blended fuselage and shroud also making a contribution. ‘Project Zero’ has been designed with detachable outer wings for missions that will be performed primarily in helicopter mode. Elevons provide pitch and roll control in forward flight while the V-tail provides longitudinal stability. The aircraft has very low noise and thermal signature in flight and does not require oxygen, thereby permitting it to fly at altitude or in heavily polluted conditions, such as volcanic eruptions. The demonstrator’s rotors when on the ground can be tilted forward and the aircraft pointed into wind to allow the rotors to windmill and recharge the aircraft’s electrical storage device. The electrical drive system also has the advantage that it does away with the complex and heavy transmission system required by conventional rotorcraft.

    The ‘Project Zero’ technology demonstrator programme is being entirely funded by AgustaWestland as part of its ongoing research and development activities.

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    "Proyecto Zero", el nuevo VTOL eléctrico de Augusta Westland de rotores basculantes

    Augusta Westland ha presentado en reino unido su último VTOL de rotores basculantes o Tilt-Rotor. Los de Augusta Wesland no son precisamente novatos en estos desarrollos, pues llevan mucho luchado con elAW609. La principal novedad del Proyecto Zero radica en el uso de motores eléctricos.


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    Taiwan receives upgraded E-2K early warning aircraft from US

    Taiwan receives upgraded E-2K early warning aircraft from US: Taiwan has taken delivery of the last two upgraded E-2K airborne early warning (EWC) aircraft from the US, at Kaohsiung International Airport Station in southern Taiwan.

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    SpaceX considering a new commercial spaceport in Texas

    SpaceX considering a new commercial spaceport in Texas:

    SpaceX headquarters in Southern California
    SpaceX founder and all-around renaissance man Elon Musk told the packed crowd at his keynote at the South By Southwest Interactive (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, that he didn't make the trip to the Lone Star state just for them. Musk said he's also in the state capitol to chat with lawmakers about the possibility of opening a new commercial launch facility in the state...
    Continue Reading SpaceX considering a new commercial spaceport in Texas

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    La NTSB norteamericana organizará en abril dos debates públicos sobre las baterías de litio del B787

    La NTSB norteamericana organizará en abril dos debates públicos sobre las baterías de litio del B787:



    La Agencia Federal también anunció dos iniciativas originales. A mediados del próximo mes de abril organizará un debate público sobre la tecnología de iones de litio y la seguridad aérea. Y a finales de ese mismo mes convocará a una gran audiencia  en el marco de la investigación para explicar el rediseño y la certificación del sistema de baterías del B787.

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    IAG acepta la propuesta del mediador en el conflicto de Iberia

    IAG acepta la propuesta del mediador en el conflicto de Iberia:


    En una sesión extraordinaria celebrada ayer para evaluar la propuesta del mediador, el consejo de IAG se pronunció a favor del acuerdo propuesto, lo que significa reducir 666 de los 3.141 despidos propuestos, retirar el ERE presentado actualmente y mantener la vigencia del que viene rigiendo desde el año 2001, lo que supondrá una indemnización para los trabajadores excedentarios de 35 días en vez de los 20 que impone la última reforma laboral.

    Si los sindicatos aceptan hoy también el acuerdo propuesto por el mediador, se desconvocarán inmediatamente los parlos previstos para la próxima semana y desaparecerá la amenaza de huelga de la Semana Santa.

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    Bombardier’s CSeries Rocks (and Rolls Out) – PART 2 | Airline Reporter | Blogging on the airline business

    http://www.airlinereporter.com/2013/03/bombardiers-cseries-rocks-and-rolls-out-part-2/

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    Bombardier’s CSeries Rocks (and Rolls Out) – PART 1 | Airline Reporter | Blogging on the airline business

    http://www.airlinereporter.com/2013/03/bombardiers-cseries-rocks-and-rolls-out-part-1/

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    EADS (ie Eurocopter) Bids for Army's JMR

    sábado, 9 de marzo de 2013

    EADS (ie Eurocopter) Bids for Army's JMR:
    EADS North America confirms it has submitted a bid to build one of two advanced-rotorcraft technology demonstrators planned under the the US Army's Joint Multi Role (JMR) program - putting its foot on the first rung of a ladder that could lead to replacing all of the Army's UH-60 Black Hawks and AH-64 Apaches beginning in the mid-2030s.
    EADS is not saying what configuration it has proposed for JMR, but the Army's Aviation Applied Technology Directorate has called for a cruise speed of 230kt - 50% faster that a conventional helicopter - so it is likely to be based on Eurocopter's X3 hybrid helicopter technology demonstrator, which has reached 232kt in flight tests.
    Concept: Eurocopter

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    El aeropuerto de Vitoria sólo abrirá de día bajo demanda

    El aeropuerto de Vitoria sólo abrirá de día bajo demanda:
    Vitoria.- El aeropuerto de Vitoria se estrena bajo la nueva fórmula de abrir sólo bajo demanda. Las instalaciones de Foronda, que desde el pasado 23 de agosto opera exclusivamente en horario nocturno por el bajo tráfico, podrán abrir de día si se programan vuelos chárter de pasajeros o mercancías, según anunció ayer Aena.

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    Vueling rechaza la opa de IAG

    Vueling rechaza la opa de IAG:

    El documento indica que los analistas conceden un precio "claramente superior" a Vueling, cuyo presidente, Josep Piqué, que suma unas 40.000 acciones de la aerolínea, también expresa su opinión de "no aceptar" la oferta de la matriz de Iberia y British Airways.

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    Patents - Variable-Geometry Airbuses

    jueves, 7 de marzo de 2013




    Airbus has been granted US patents for two configurations that tackle one of the fundamental limitations of most aircraft designs – the wing is fixed to the fuselage. Other than variable-geometry, or swing-wing, designs where the objective is to combine the lower high-speed drag of a swept wing with the higher low-speed lift of an unswept wing, there might not seem much advantage to a moveable wing. Not so, it seems.

    In  the first configuration (US patent 8,360,357 B2, filed in 2010), the wing is movable longitudinally along the aircraft
    In the second configuration (US patent 8,336,811 B2, filed in 2010), the wing, tail and engines are combined into something Airbus calls the "aero-propulsive unit", which is mounted above the fuselage and attached via a system of rods.


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