Analyst: A380 A Thorn In EADS' Side

http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=06c913fe-696d-4233-9907-775c33c63edb&Dynamic=1

One Expert Sees It As An Airplane With No Mission

The blog FleetBuzz Editorial reports that, in the 10 years of the A380's existence, its production costs have doubled and it has not attracted a significant number of buyers despite deep discounts on the airplane. 2010 sales targets have already been missed, and are likely to see another downward revision due to labor issues.

EMBRAER’S PHENOM 300 EXECUTIVE JET CERTIFIED BY EASA

Light jet met all original specification targets and surpassed many performance goals

São José dos Campos, May 6, 2010 – In a ceremony held, yesterday, at EBACE 2010

(European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition), in Geneva, Switzerland, Embraer

received the type certificate for the Phenom 300 from the European Aviation Safety Agency

(EASA), which was granted on April 29. This approval came in on schedule, as the program

steadily advances.

"Following certification by Brazil's ANAC and the U.S.'s FAA, last December, EASA has

also certified the Phenom 300, with no restrictions," said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer

Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "The light jet's singular and innovative features

make this aircraft uniquely competitive in the business aviation market."

The overall certification campaign involved five aircraft that performed more than 1,200

flight test hours, certifying the aircraft for RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum),

day and night IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations, and flying into known and forecasted

icing conditions. In addition, there were full-scale static and fatigue tests, and rigs were used

for environmental, avionics, and electrical systems.

The Phenom 300 accommodates up to ten occupants in a spacious and pleasant interior,

designed in partnership with BMW Group DesignworksUSA. Swept wings, with winglets,

and modern onboard systems were developed with outstanding flight performance in mind. A

single refueling port, an externally serviced lavatory, and excellent cabin pressurization are

some of the jet's distinctive features. The Phenom 300 is one of the fastest aircraft in the light

jet category, reaching 521 mph (839 km/h, or 453 knots – KTAS), and it can fly at an altitude

of up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters). Its range of 1,971 nautical miles (3,650 km), including

NBAA IFR fuel reserves, means the aircraft is capable of flying nonstop from New York to

Dallas (U.S.); London to Athens (Europe); or Delhi (India) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

For more information on Embraer Executive Jets, visit www.EmbraerExecutiveJets.com

Embraer Press Release `[http://www.embraer.com.br/institucional/download/2_047-Prd-VAE-Ph300_EASA_Certifiaction-I-10.pdf]

Boeing displays concepts for F/A-18E/F replacement

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/07/341580/boeing-displays-concepts-for-fa-18ef-replacement.html
Boeing has started publicly marketing two concepts for a stealthy, tailless, supercruising strike fighter to replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet after 2025.

Finland Orders C-295 Light Transports

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/finland-orders-c295-light-transports-02232/
Finland will pay EUR 137.6 million million for a military version of the Casa twin-turboprop C-295M transport aircraft from EADS. Presumably, this contract will cover the 5 options from the original order. Finnish Ministry of Defense

Base Aérea de Albacete: el curso TLP 3-2010 en marcha

http://www.defensa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1764:base-aerea-de-albacete-el-curso-tlp-3-2010-en-marcha&catid=54:espana&Itemid=162

Tras la suspensión de los dos primeros cursos programados para este año, el pasado 26 de abril se ponía en marcha el Curso TLP (Tactical Leadership Programme), o Programa de Liderazgo Táctico, 2010-3, que pone fin a más de cuatro meses de paro de las actividades, motivado por una adecuación de las pistas de la Base Aérea de Albacete. Así, de nuevo, las modernas instalaciones han acogido a los 60 pilotos, 530 técnicos de mantenimiento y 20 especialistas en inteligencia, guerra electrónica y otras especialidades

SME-75, Nuevo Motor Para Ultraligeros

http://infoavion.com.ar/2010/05/sme-75-nuevo-motor-para-ultralivianos.html

La sociedad Italiana SME ha presentado un nuevo motor para aviones ultralivianos. Este nuevo motor de cuatro tiempos tiene dos cilindros en línea con 750 cc de cilindrada y entrega una potencia de 77 hp.

[...]

El costo del motor alcanza los 8.800 Euros (unos $11.100 dólares aproximadamente). La empresa también tiene una versión del motor turbocargada de 130 hp y 72 kg.

Cerrados nueve aeropuertos españoles (y contando) por la nube de cenizas

http://www.microsiervos.com/archivo/aerotrastorno/cerrados-nueve-aeropuertos-espanioles-nube-cenizas.html

Innovación y EADS estudian vías de colaboración para el desarrollo de nuevos proyectos conjuntos en Andalucía

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/637006/0/

Manifiesto Ingenierías y Arquitectura

Certification Testing Continues on GE Honda's HF120 Engine

eneva, Switzerland -- GE Honda Aero Engines continues to make steady progress toward certification of the HF120 engine. 

"The HF120 engine has demonstrated that it is meeting design objectives for thrust, fuel burn and operability," said Bill Dwyer, president of GE Honda Aero Engines. 

The HF120 engine has undergone a comprehensive test program in an altitude chamber at GE Aviation's Evendale, Ohio, facility. Testing has included operation to 46,000 feet altitude and high mach, as well as testing for performance, transients, air starts, and extreme hot and cold conditions. Other component tests and full engine tests to verify design robustness have been completed, including tests such as operation in crosswind and hail ingestion at GE Aviation's Peebles, Ohio, facility. 

Thirteen HF120 engines and two core builds will take part in the certification testing at six test site locations. Currently five HF120 certification engines are on test simultaneously with one engine completing 500 durability cycles. GE Honda Aero Engines also plans to test the engine on a flying testbed before flying on a customer certification aircraft. With FAA certification planned in 2011, the HF120 engine will complete more than 15,000 cycles of ground and flight-testing prior to entry into service. 

The HF120 engine has undergone an extensive design verification program prior to the official start of FAA certification, including eight core engine builds and eleven turbofan builds. Design optimization and verification was also conducted via compressor, combustor, fan and mixer rig tests. 

HF120 engine production will initially begin at GE's site in Lynn, Mass. and will later transition to Honda Aero Inc.'s engine production and overhaul facility in Burlington, N.C. 

The GE Honda HF120 engine was launched in 2006 and selected to power Honda Aircraft Company's advanced light jet, the HondaJet, and the Spectrum Aeronautical "Freedom" business jet. 

Rated at 2,095 pounds of thrust, the HF120 engine succeeds Honda's original HF118 prototype engine, which has accumulated more than 4,000 hours of testing on the ground and in-flight. GE and Honda redesigned the engine for higher thrust and new standards of performance in fuel efficiency, durability, and low noise and emissions. 

HF120 technologies include: 

1. A wide chord, compound-swept front fan and two-stage booster along with composite outlet guide vanes.
2. A high-temperature, titanium impellor in the compressor for maximum engine pressure ratio and stall-free performance.
3. A compact reverse-flow configuration combustor and single-stage air-blast fuel nozzles.
4. Advanced materials in the turbine as well as a two-stage low-pressure (LP) turbine and a counter-rotating high-pressure and LP spool shaft system.
5. A key cost-of-ownership advantage of the HF120 will be the ability to operate at a best-in-class 5,000 hours between major overhauls. The advanced airfoil materials and coatings that GE and Honda are maturing for the engine's high-pressure turbine section enable this capability. 

In 2004, GE and Honda formed a 50/50 joint venture, called GE Honda Aero Engines, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The joint company integrates the resources of GE and Honda Aero, Inc., a Honda subsidiary established to manage its aviation engine business. 

Honda (NYSE: HMC) is the world's largest engine manufacturer, annually producing more than 20 million engines for a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and Honda and Acura automobiles. 

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.

http://www.gehonda.com/company/news/general/03may2010.html

Cessna Announces Dates for New European Service Center

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 3, 2010 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, said today at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition it will begin construction of its new Citation Service Center in Valencia, Spain, in January 2011.

Cessna executives also announced Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC), a global company based in California, will design and build the new center, scheduled to begin operations in 2012. Jacobs is managing the project through its office in Madrid.

"There are some 400 Citations within a 90-minute radius of the Valencia airport, making it a prime location that will greatly enhance service options for our European operators," said Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. "The cooperation from Spanish authorities at all levels has been outstanding."

The new facility in Valencia will augment the Cessna Citation Service Center in Paris. It will include 6,000 square meters (64,000 square feet) of hangar space and about 8,200 square meters (88,264 square feet) of office, storage and shop space.

Cessna plans to begin hiring employees next year and will work with FlightSafety International to fulfill maintenance training requirements.

Cessna also announced at EBACE it will activate its first European Mobile Service Unit later this year. The MSU will provide local customer service for southern Europe as part of ServiceDirect, which brings Citation service to the customer's hangar. Additionally, Cessna opened its European Citation parts distribution center in 2009 to offer faster delivery throughout the region.

Cessna Press Release

Sporavia & Aviastec construirá un centro de mantenimiento integral de Aviación Ejecutiva en el Aeropuerto de Ciudad Real

http://www.castillalamancha.es/portal/Contenidos/Actualidad/default.asp?REG=84421&opactualidad=detalle

La compañía Sporavia & Aviastec, actualmente con sede en Cuatro Vientos (Madrid), construirá en el Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real un centro de mantenimiento integral de Aviación Ejecutiva de España

Según informó hoy el Aeropuerto Central Ciudad Real en un comunicado, esta empresa, distribuidora de Honda Jet para el sur de Europa, ha firmado con esta entidad la concesión por 30 años de una parcela de 20.000 metros para abrir a finales de 2011 lo que será el primer centro integral de aviación ejecutiva de España (FBO).

Ingenieros y arquitectos salen a la calle en defensa del visado

http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=4be2de2fca15f&viewTemplate=1

Ingenieros y arquitectos han sido convocados por sus respectivos colegios profesionales, consejos y organizaciones supracolegiales a una manifestación esta mañana por las calles de Madrid en defensa del visado cuya subsistencia peligra en virtud del Proyecto de Real Decreto elaborado por el Gobierno en desarrollo de la Ley Ómnibus.

 

La manifestación partirá a las 12 del mediodía de la madrileña calle de Alcalá, esquina con la de Marqués de Cubas hasta la sede del Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda. La concentración está prevista que concluya hacia las 14 horas.

 

Coincidiendo con esta manifestación pública, las instituciones colegiales han publicado hoy en diversos medios informativos de ámbito nacional el "Manifiesto de la Ingeniería y Arquitectura españolas, Decálogo del 7 de mayo de 2010 en defensa del servicio colegial de visado como garantía de la integridad física y seguridad de las personas".

[Andalucía] FOREM-A lanza cuatro cursos de formación ocupacional del sector aeronáutico

http://blog.aergenium.es/2010/05/forem-lanza-cuatro-cursos-de-formacion.html

 partir del próximo 31 de Mayo se van a impartir en FOREM-A los siguientes cuatro cursos de formación ocupacional del sector aeronáutico:

VERIFICADOR-INSPECTOR (Ref. 41-356)

MONTADOR DE INSTALACIONES (Ref. 41-357)

FABRICACIÓN ELECTRICA (Ref. 41-358)

TECNICO DE PRUEBAS Y SISTEMAS DE AVIÓN (Ref. 41-359)

Norman Surplus has crashed his G-YROX

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/gyrocopter-man-7000-miles-and-a-dozen-countries-an-intrepid-flight-stalls-abruptly-in-a-thai-lake-14792615.html

 

Smash into coconut palms or ditch into a lake? Those were the difficult choices facing intrepid adventurer Norman Surplus after cross winds blew his gyrocopter towards electricity wires in Thailand.
 

EcosimPro expone en la Space Propulsion Conference el software de simulación empleado por la ESA

 

 

Del 3 al 6 de mayo, EcosimPro estará presente en la plataforma dedicada a la Propulsión Aeroespacial para dar a conocer la potente herramienta de simulación, catalogada entre las más sofisticadas del mundo.

 

Madrid, 30 de abril de 2010-. El equipo técnico de EcosimPro  participa activamente en la Space Propulsion 2010 Conference,  del 3 al 6 de mayo en el Centro de Conferencias del Kursaal en San Sebastián (España).

 

EcosimPro  es uno de los principales referentes mundiales en simulación empleado por prestigiosas organizaciones como la Agencia Espacial Europea, NASA, Canadian Space Agency y compañías líderes como EADS, Thales Alenia, Snecma, y Volvo, entre otras.

 

En este importante congreso, Empresarios Agrupados cuenta con una zona de exposición para mostrar a los asistentes el Software desarrollado con EcosimPro  para la Simulación de Sistemas de Propulsión Espacial (ESPSS, por sus siglas en inglés) que emplea la Agencia Espacial Europa (ESA) para el diseño y simulación del funcionamiento de los motores de cohetes y vehículos espaciales.

 

Además, los desarrolladores de la ESPSS, junto con los coordinadores de la ESA, realizarán demostraciones del funcionamiento de esta software durante el Workshops organizado al efecto.  Varios ejemplos de utilización estarán disponibles, en los que se podrá comprobar la rapidez y robustez del software en casos como:

 

• Simulación del llenado de líneas en vacío con combustible líquido (comportamiento de líquidos en bifásico)
• Simulación del comportamientito de los tanques criogénicos durante el vuelo de los lanzadores
• Simulación del comportamiento de los motores cohete, incluyendo los órganos más importantes como son las turbinas , bombas, cámaras de combustión, etc.

 

 

Por su parte, José Francisco Moral Moral, ingeniero en Iberespacio Jefe de Proyecto del ESPSS, impartirá una ponencia titulada "La plataforma de simulación ESPSS" durante el congreso que se desarrollará estos días en San Sebastián explicando las características y las mejoras introducidas en dicho software desarrollado con EcosimPro para la simulación de complejos fenómenos transitorios durante el lanzamiento de cohetes espaciales o en el funcionamiento de sistemas de propulsión y control térmico de satélites.

 

EcosimPro,  se ha consolidado a escala mundial como uno de los principales referentes en simulación, empleado por prestigiosas organizaciones como la Agencia Espacial Europea, NASA, Canadian Space Agency y compañías líderes como EADS, Thales Alenia, Snecma, y Volvo, entre otras.

 

 

Sobre EcosimPro

EcosimPro es una herramienta matemática de modelado y simulación de sistemas dinámicos desarrollada por un equipo de ingenieros de Empresarios Agrupados Internacional S.A. (EAI). Fundada en 1971, Empresarios Agrupados es una organización de ingeniería líder en España y con notable experiencia internacional. Noticias e información disponible en la dirección web www.ecosimpro.com

Hallan las cajas negras del vuelo de Air France que se estrelló en el Atlántico

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/05/06/internacional/1273125509.html?a=8b7ef4ad0589e19a38af7f137f83827f&t=1273128889&numero=

FRANCIA | Murieron 228 personas
Hallan las cajas negras del vuelo de Air France que se estrelló en el Atlántico

Junta destaca la creación de empleo e inversión en I+D del sector aeronáutico

http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=370797

Toledo, 5 may (EFE).- La portavoz del Gobierno regional, Isabel Rodríguez, ha destacado hoy la capacidad de generar puestos de trabajo y la apuesta por la I+D del sector aeronáutico de la región, impulsado ayer por el Consejo de Gobierno con un paquete de ayudas de 14,6 millones de euros a Aernnova y Eurocopter.

Hudson River Landing Illuminating But Not a Miracle

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-negroni/hudson-river-landing-illu_b_563817.html

Kaman Demonstrates Cargo Airdrop Flight Tests with Unmanned Helicopter

video




WASHINGTON, May 4th, 2010 -- Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation [NASDAQ GS: KAMN], has proven in recent tests that the unmanned K-MAX helicopter can resupply troops with cargo airdropped by parachute.
The tests add a new delivery method for the 6,000-pound power lifter, which Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Kaman have successfully transformed into an unmanned aircraft system for autonomous cargo delivery operations.
At its Bloomfield, Conn., facility in late April, Kaman, in partnership with the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), conducted 11 cargo airdrop tests from 300 ft. to 400 ft. above ground level.  Kaman used its four-hook carousel for the drops, and during one flight, demonstrated four airdrops in a single mission.
Kaman performed the airdrops using the Army's low cost low altitude cross parachute, a one-time-use expendable aerodynamic decelerator that costs about $375.  Currently used to airdrop supplies from manned aircraft in Afghanistan, the parachute is designed to handle 80 to 600 pound payloads delivered from 150 ft to 300 ft altitudes above ground level.
"These airdrop tests continue our progress to advance the Unmanned K-MAX helicopter as a battlefield cargo delivery system," said Terry Fogarty, general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Product Group at Kaman Helicopters.  "Airdropping cargo as an option to placing a sling load on the ground can enhance an unmanned aircraft's survivability while delivering critical supplies in combat environments."
The Army NSRDEC personnel collaborated in the airdrops.  "The demonstration exceeded our expectations" said Richard Benney, division leader, Aerial Delivery Equipment and Systems Division.  "This capability will save lives, allowing us to deliver supplies to our troops using unmanned helicopters, while also avoiding the threat to the delivery platform in high-threat areas."
In January, Kaman and Lockheed Martin successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Marine Corps at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah the capability of the unmanned K-MAX helicopter to resupply troops by unmanned helicopter at forward operating bases in Afghanistan.  During the demonstration, the team showed autonomous and remote control sling load delivery over both line-of-sight and satellite-base beyond-line-of-sight data links.
Future tests may include the use of single and/or multiple Joint Precision Airdrop Systems (JPADS) from higher altitudes.  JPADS could be used in higher threat environments to resupply multiple and dispersed ground forces from one unmanned K-MAX release point.
Kaman designed the K-MAX helicopter to deliver sling loads up to 6,000 pounds at sea level, and 4,300 pounds at 15,000 ft.  Lockheed Martin's mission management and control systems give the K-MAX helicopter unparalleled flight autonomy in remote environments and over large distances.
"Autonomous flight will enable military users to fly the unmanned K-MAX helicopter in day or night conditions," said Dan Spoor, Aviation Systems vice president at Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors facility in Owego, NY.  "Adding an airdrop capability to the system gives the Army or Marines another resupply option."
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.
Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets.  The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safing and arming solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters.  The company is also a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates nearly 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America.
Press Release