First A350 XWB Upper Wing Cover being loaded on to the Beluga at Airbus’ Hamburg site

The first flyable A350 XWB wing upper cover manufactured at Airbus’ Stade (Germany) site was loaded on to the Beluga today to be transported to Airbus’ Wing Assembly site in Broughton (UK). The A350 XWB lower wing cover made in Illescas (Spain) will arrive in Broughton in the coming days. The A350 XWB wing covers measure 32 metres long by six metres wide, making them the biggest single civil aviation parts made from carbon fibre ever.

PR & photo

El helicóptero Eurocopter EC225 gana el concurso de SASEMAR

Tras resultar adjudicataria, hoy 5 de septiembre se ha procedido a la
firma del contrato de adquisición con Eurocopter España de un
helicóptero Eurocopter EC225 destinado al salvamento marítimo y lucha
contra la contaminación en el mar.

La Sociedad Estatal de Salvamento Marítimo SASEMAR, Entidad Pública
Empresarial adscrita al Ministerio de Fomento a través de la Dirección
General de la Marina Mercante, inicia así su plan de Salvamento
Marítimo en cuanto a medios aéreos con la incorporación de
helicópteros de gran porte para misiones en el Cantábrico y las Islas
Canarias.

El nuevo helicóptero EC225 sustituirá a uno de los actuales Sikorsky
S-61N y aportará a SASEMAR un medio de altas prestaciones en el
rescate y la vigilancia marítima en todo tiempo, con mayor capacidad,
alcance, autonomía y dotado de los avances técnicos en materia de
navegación, búsqueda y rescate más modernos del mercado.

El EC225 SAR es el helicóptero más idóneo para esta misión como así se
atestigua en todo el mundo donde está presente, en escenarios de
difícil operación como el Mar del Norte, el Sudeste Asiático, Brasil,
China, Taiwán y Japón, principalmente.

EAA AirVenture 2011 Oshkosh: Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision Award Given to PC-Aero's Elektra One

Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision Award Given to the Electric Aircraft ELEKTRA ONE from PC-Aero

The seventh Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft focuses on the vision for integrated electric power.

Oshkosh, WI (July 29, 2011)

PC-Aero is the winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft Vision Award for their integration of Solar World's solar technology into their ELEKTRA ONE aircraft and the supporting hangar. Their vision is for the energy from the rooftop solar cells to not only provide power to the aircraft but also the hanger itself and excess energy to feed back to the power grid. Today at the World Electric Aircraft Symposium at EAA's AirVenture, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the 2011 AirVenture winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Electric Aircraft.

LEAP's programs recognize, inspire and incentivize the innovation that drives our culture, economy and future. The LEAP Electric Flight Program is accelerating the development of the electric aircraft industry through a range of activities, from prizes to advocacy.

This year LEAP chose to focus on a different aspect of electric aircraft propulsion than past Lindbergh Prizes by awarding a Vision Award. The Award focuses on innovation with a "vision" for integrated electric power for an aircraft and its supporting infrastructure. Having a complete plan for energy management is the key to widespread adoption of electric propulsion.

 

LEAP is grateful to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. for its continuing support of the LEAP Electric Flight Program. The heritage of the collaboration between the Lindbergh and Sikorsky families continues to shape the future of flight. "Aviation provides a terrific community to foster the great innovators of the future," said Chris Van Buiten, Director, Sikorsky Innovations. "The LEAP organization shares our enthusiasm for exploring exciting and creative solutions that will transform our industry, and we applaud Erik's efforts to raise awareness and educate today's students who are our future engineers, designers and inventors."

 

 

BIO: Calin Gologan

Calin Gologan graduated in 1977 from the Aeronautical University in Bucharest/Romania.

He is the founder and CEO of PC-Aero based in Germany. Calin has more than 30 years of experience in aerodynamics, flight mechanics and simulation, CAD, FEM, load assumptions, structural analysis and tests and certification.

 

His core competencies are aircraft layout and design, aerodynamics? , flight, mechanics and simulation, aircraft loads, structure calculations and tests, and certifications.

 

He has worked for leading aircraft companies like Grob Aerospace, EADS and Dornier.

 

PC-Aero offers consulting services to companies like: Solar Impulse, Quest Aircraft, Diamond Aircraft (Austria and Canada) and DLR Germany, Calin Gologan is the designer of the two-seater Pretty Flight aircraft, certified in Germany in the ultralight class.

Marugan Aero Meeting CANCELADO

 

El evento, que iba a celebrarse este fin de semana (30-31 de Julio) ha sido CANCELADO debido al accidente mortal de ayer, con dos fallecidos.

Airbus boosts its U.S. market presence with American Airlines’ A320 order

American Airlines' milestone A320 Family order marks a key win in the U.S. market, where Airbus' single-aisle jetliners already have established themselves as workhorse aircraft in daily service on short- and medium-haul routes.

 

20 July 2011

With this new firm contract – covering 260 A319s, A320s and A321s – American Airlines will become one of the world's largest operators of the A320 Family, with half of these aircraft being the New Engine Option (neo) versions.  

 

American Airlines joins other U.S.-based carriers and leasing companies that have ordered and/or operate some 2,400 A320 Family jetliners, including Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group, CIT, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, GECAS, ILFC, jetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.  

 

Many of these customers have acquired more than one version from the A318, A319 A320 and A321 product line, taking advantage of the high commonality and interoperability offered only by Airbus' fly-by-wire aircraft family.

 

The U.S. also is a market for Airbus widebody aircraft, where the A330, A340 and A350 XWB have been ordered by airlines and leasing companies.

 

Not only are these jetliners carrying millions of passengers on flights operated by U.S. airlines, the production of such aircraft for Airbus' worldwide customer base provides a major – and expanding – source of business for suppliers across the country.   Airbus is the U.S. aerospace industry's no. 1 export customer, with several hundred suppliers in more than 40 states providing goods and services that range from fasteners to engines and complete fuselage sections – supporting more than 180,000 jobs.

 

As Airbus' order book expands and its jetliner production rates rise, U.S. industry is benefiting from this increased activity.  Airbus has spent approximately $100 billion in procurement with U.S. industry from 1990 through now.

 

The opportunities for current and future suppliers will grow significantly as the Airbus sourcing volume for U.S. companies is expected to increase from 2010 to 2020, driven by the ramp-up in its jetliner production rates and the introduction of new aircraft versions.

 

First EURO HAWK(R) Unmanned Aircraft System Touches Down in Germany

EURO HAWK®, the first high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), signals intelligence (SIGINT) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk produced by Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) for the German Bundeswehr, successfully touched down in Manching, Germany, today. The EURO HAWK® took off on July 20 at 2:50 PDT (11:50 Central European Summer Time) from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and landed at 10:06 Central European Summer Time July 21 in Manching Air Base.

 

The EURO HAWK® will carry a new SIGINT mission system developed by EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) and integrated in Manching, Germany.

 

"Today's arrival of the EURO HAWK® on German soil marks a significant step in delivering this highly capable and unique system to the Bundeswehr," said Nicolas Chamussy, head of UAVs, Cassidian Air Systems, and member of the board of directors, EuroHawk GmbH. "Our trans-Atlantic partnership with Northrop Grumman has helped the entire team achieve this outstanding milestone, which also reinforces Cassidian's role as a leader for complex UAS solutions in Europe."

 

Delivery of the first EURO HAWK® demonstrator to the Bundeswehr is scheduled for mid-2012, with another four systems scheduled tentatively between 2015 and 2017.

 

"Soon, the Bundeswehr will be able to independently cover their needs for SIGINT data collection and analysis, thus contributing to NATO, European Union and United Nations operations," said Neset Tükenmez, chief executive officer, EuroHawk GmbH. "EURO HAWK® will also serve as a working model for other programs and countries."

 

The EURO HAWK® marks several important milestones – it is both the first international version of the RQ-4 and the first HALE SIGINT UAS in Europe. NATO's AGS will follow close behind and mark the second international RQ-4 and the second HALE UAS in Europe.

 

"As a leader in advanced UAS, Northrop Grumman has the unmatched experience to provide a strong foundation to produce extraordinarily capable and reliable unmanned surveillance systems," said George Guerra, vice president, HALE Systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Today is a wonderful step towards delivering the EURO HAWK® to the German air force, and a great testament to the Northrop Grumman and the EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian) team who worked diligently to make it happen."

 

With a wingspan larger than most commercial airliners, endurance of 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet, EURO HAWK® is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the fleet of manned Breguet Atlantic aircraft which was in service since 1972 and retired in 2010.

 

EuroHawk GmbH, a 50-50 joint venture of Northrop Grumman and EADS Deutschland GmbH (Cassidian), serves as the national prime contractor for the German Ministry of Defence through the system's entire lifecycle. Please visit www.eurohawk.de for more information.

 

Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing lead system integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe: air systems (aircraft and UAS), land, naval and joint systems, intelligence and surveillance, cybersecurity, secure communications, test systems, missiles, and services and support solutions. Please visit www.cassidian.com for more information.

 

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

 

 

PR

Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST System Advances to Next Development Phase

New Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system tracks targets via infrared emissionsApproved for Engineering and Manufacturing Development

ST. LOUIS, July 21, 2011 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program received a Milestone B Acquisition Decision Memorandum from the U.S. Navy on July 13. This allows the program to advance to its next development phase -- Engineering and Manufacturing Development.

 

The IRST system is a passive, long-range sensor that searches for and detects infrared emissions. The system can simultaneously track multiple targets and provide a highly effective air-to-air targeting capability, even when encountering advanced threats equipped with radar-jamming technology.

 

"The IRST sensor system will expand Super Hornet detection and targeting capability in multiple mission profiles, including electronically denied environments," said Tim Adrian, Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST program manager. "The F/A-18E/F features a balanced approach to combat survivability and lethality, employing a variety of onboard sensors that provide aircrews with unmatched situational awareness. The new IRST system will continue to expand the Super Hornet's advanced capability."

 

IRST is a critical element of the Navy's F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet Flight Plan, a series of planned capability enhancements that ensures the Super Hornet will continue to outdistance known and emerging threats over the coming decades.

 

Subcontracted to Boeing on the IRST contract are Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], which is producing the IRST sensor; GE Aviation [NYSE: GE], for the fuel tank assembly that will contain the sensor; and Meggitt Defense Systems Inc., Irvine, Calif., for the unit's cooling subassembly.

 

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

 

PR

 

Boeing Delivers First 777-300ER to Air

EVERETT, Wash., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) this week delivered the first 777-300ER (extended range) to Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China. The new airplane is the first of 19 777-300ERs Air China has on order with Boeing. With this new addition to its fleet, Air China becomes the first airline on the Chinese mainland to operate the new generation 777 family member.

 

"The introduction of this brand new aircraft is not only a milestone in the cooperation history between Boeing and Air China, but also an important symbol to deepen our relationship," said He Li, Vice President of Air China. "The 777-300ER will be the backbone of our long-haul international fleet in the coming years and enable us to fulfill our ambition to be a large network carrier with international competitiveness."

 

With this delivery, Boeing is scheduled to deliver an additional three 777-300ERs to Air China by the end of 2011. Air China will use the airplanes for route expansion including direct routes to Frankfurt, London and Paris, as well as for gradual replacement of the Boeing 747-400s currently serving North American routes.

 

"We have witnessed the rapid development of Air China and we're honored to be part of their success by providing our best products and services," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales for Greater China and Korea, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The new generation 777-300ER is a great choice for Air China. Its structural efficiency, industry-leading reliability and brand-new cabin design combine to help the airline remain profitable and provide superior passenger experience."

 

The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat.  To date 34 customers around the world have ordered more than 500 777-300ERs.

 

Air China, a member of the Star Alliance, is the most profitable airline in world as well as the world's largest carrier by market value. Air China owns 158 Boeing aircraft, making up 60 percent of its fleet.

 

 

 

Boeing Delivers First 737 With Performance Improvement Engines

Performance and drag improvements provided at no additional cost to customers

 

SEATTLE, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Boeing (NYSE: BA) Next-Generation 737 with the certified performance improvement engines was delivered on a 737-800 to China Southern Airlines at Boeing Field in Seattle last week.

 

The new CFM56-7BE engine configuration, which is now standard on all delivered 737s, is an improved design that includes high and low pressure turbine modification. Coupled with drag reduction improvements that Boeing started phasing into 737 production earlier this year, it will result in lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost savings.

 

The new engine is part of the 737 performance improvement package that Boeing began testing in November 2010 with the goal of reducing fuel consumption by 2 percent. Other fuel performance incorporations will take place into 2012 and data analysis will continue to quantify the final benefit to customers.

 

"We continue to review performance flight test data and collect delivery data," said John Hamilton, vice president and chief project engineer – 737 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The improved fuel savings is part of our commitment to deliver market-leading value to Next-Generation 737 customers."

 

Boeing's continuous efforts to improve the Next-Generation 737 family have resulted in an accumulated 5 percent gain in fuel efficiency since the first airplane delivered in 1998. The new improvements will give operators an airplane that is up to 7 percent more efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered.

 

 

Beguiner's Guide to Aircraft Efficiency

Beguiner's Guide to Aircraft Efficiency

VIDEO: Lufthansa shows off VIP A380 concepts

The Future, by Cassidian (video)

Gyrocopter man resumes world record gyrocopter flight in the Philippines

Hemos seguido las aventuras de Norman Surplus desde que comenzó a volar su autogiro para dar la vuelta al fin del mundo. Reproducimos íntegramente el email que acabamos de recibir sobre él:

 

 

Norman Surplus who is attempting to be the first person to fly a gyrocopter around the world has resumed his flight after being stalled for a year in the Philippines due to bad weather. This is a particularly challenging undertaking because of the aircraft's open cockpit harking back to the early days of flying in the 20's.  This is further complicated because the unusual nature of his aircraft means aviation authorities often are perplexed about how to handle it. This combined means that his flying is subject to weather and flight permissions on going.

Norman enters Japanese airspace later this week and he will be the first person to fly the length of the country in modern times because of tight restrictions on gyrocopter flying.  They are usually restricted to within a few miles of their airfield in Japan but he has been given special and exceptional permission to fly long distances.

Photos are available from Agency France Press (Noel Celis) and you can view a report from Al Jazeera at this link (click on link to view) http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia-pacific/2011/07/20117176013345860.html 

Kind regards,

Tommy Byrne

Oferta de trabajo para AYA Aerospace (sector aeronáutico)

 

En la empresa en la que trabajo ahora (AYA Aerospace)  tenemos nuevas necesidades de personal para los departamentos de cálculo y diseño en  Madrid y disponibilidad de desplazamiento al extranjero. Así que aprovecho www.Noticias-Aero.info para haceros llegar esta oferta de empleo. Si hay algún interesado, que contacten conmigo en el mismo correo de esta web (jose.manuel [arroba] noticias-aero.info) , y hago llegar los CVs a RRHH

 

Diseño

 

1.       Experiencia aeronáutica mínima de 4 años ( en no ingenieros se requiere más años de experiencia)

 

Conocimientos deseables

2.       Compuesto

3.       Metálico

4.       CPD

5.       Enovía

6.       PDM-link

7.       Se valorará conocimientos Herramientas Airbus

8.       Se valorará conocimiento Herramientas Boeing

9.       Disponibilidad a trabajar en el extranjero.

 

Sistemas

 

1.       Experiencia aeronáutica mínima en instalación de sistemas, de 4 años

2.       Experiencia en diseño e instalación de "Provisión for" (brackets….etc)

3.       Disponibilidad a trabajar en el extranjero.

 

 

Cálculo

 

1.       Experiencia aeronáutica mínima de 4 años (Se valorará experiencias menores)

Conocimientos deseables

1.       Cálculo

2.       FEM

3.       Fatiga

4.       MRB

5.       Abaqus

6.       Compuesto

7.       Se valorará conocimiento de ISAMI

8.       Se valorará conocimiento herramientas de Boeing

9.       Disponibilidad a trabajar en el extranjero.

 

 

 

Vídeo: conferencia "Volar entre cenizas, ¿pudo hacerse mejor?"

SAE

Clark School's Gamera Human-Powered Helicopter Team Completes Second Step Toward Sikorsky Prize With New 12.4-Second Unofficial Flight Duration

COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On July 13, the students on the Gamera human-powered helicopter team from the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering completed their scheduled summer flight session with a new unofficial flight duration of 12.4 seconds. If verified by the National Aeronautic Association, this new time will shatter the team's previous 4.2-second U.S. national record set in May.

Between the May flights and yesterday's, the students enhanced Gamera's cockpit and transmission and added LEDs to its landing gear that turn on when the vehicle is off the ground. Judy Wexler, the biology student who piloted the record-setting flight in May, was also on board in the most recent session.

"Our students demonstrate the combination of technical expertise and determination to succeed that will bring continued technological progress to our nation and our world," stated Clark School Dean Darryll Pines. "During these flight tests they faced formidable obstacles when Gamera suffered its first significant structural problems, but they worked through the night to repair these and the next day achieved our best flights. Their spirit fills me with pride."

The team plans further flights in the fall to move closer to winning the Sikorsky Prize, established by the American Helicopter Society in 1980. The prize requires a flight of one minute, during which the vehicle attains an altitude of three meters at some point and remains within a 10 square meter area. No team has yet come close to winning the prize, now valued at $250,000.

Low-res video available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzuXMbtSIpk

Higher-res video will be available online in: http://www.eng.umd.edu/html/media/release.php?id=118

About Gamera

"Gamera" is the name of a giant flying turtle in Japanese science fiction movies, and was selected as the name for the Clark School vehicle because the University of Maryland's mascot is the diamondback terrapin and because the team wanted to give homage to the Nihon University team. Detailed information about the craft may be found at http://www.agrc.umd.edu/gamera/index.html.

About the Gamera Team

For more than two years, a team of 50 Clark School graduate and undergraduate students has worked on the design, construction, and testing of the Gamera human-powered helicopter. For the names of team members, see http://www.agrc.umd.edu/gamera/team.html.

About the Sikorsky Prize

The Sikorsky Prize was established by the American Helicopter Society, International, to inspire teams and individuals to advance knowledge of helicopter flight and to honor helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky. The prize has never been awarded to date. For more information about the Sikorsky Prize, see http://www.agrc.umd.edu/gamera/sikorsky-prize.html.

About the A. James Clark School of Engineering

The Clark School of Engineering, situated on the rolling, 1,500-acre University of Maryland campus in College Park, Md., is one of the premier engineering schools in the U.S., with graduate and undergraduate education programs ranked in or near the Top 20. In 2010, the Clark School was ranked 13th in the world by the Institute of Higher Education and Center for World-Class Universities in its Academic Ranking of World Universities. Three faculty members affiliated with the Clark School were inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2010.

The school, which offers 13 graduate programs and 12 undergraduate programs, including degree and certification programs tailored for working professionals, is home to one of the most vibrant research programs in the country. The Clark School garnered research awards of $171 million in the last year. With emphasis in key areas such as energy, nanotechnology and materials, bioengineering, robotics, communications and networking, life cycle and reliability engineering, project management, intelligent transportation systems and aerospace, the Clark School is leading the way toward the next generations of engineering advances.

Visit the Clark School homepage at www.eng.umd.edu.

Award-Winning X2 Technology™ Demonstrator Takes Its Final Flight

Program paved the way for upcoming S-97 Raider™ helicopter

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.'s X2 Technology™ demonstrator has flown for the last time, the company announced today. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110714/NE35522 )

In an early morning demonstration flight conducted from the company's new Sikorsky Innovations Center within its Development Flight Center, the X2 Technology demonstrator gave invited guests one last look at its technology in flight before officially being retired and transitioning to its first application, the S-97 Raider™ helicopter.

It was the 23rd test flight of the award-winning X2™ aircraft, which flew approximately 22 total hours and achieved a maximum cruise speed of 253 knots in level flight at its peak point in the program. That milestone, an unofficial speed record for a conventional helicopter, was achieved on Sept. 15, 2010.

"This flight is the culmination of a five-year, internally funded program to expand the operational envelope of helicopters," said Sikorsky President Jeffrey Pino. "The results of this program speak to the success of a rapid prototyping environment, where a small empowered team was able to meet a specific number of very challenging goals. We met these within a small budget and a compressed schedule.

"The X2 program also has helped to develop the next generation of Sikorsky engineers, including some who are now in key positions on the S-97 Raider™ program and the Firefly™ electric helicopter program. Today, the entire Sikorsky workforce stands proud of this accomplishment and what it means for the future of rotorcraft aviation," Pino said.

The S-97 Raider helicopter program is the follow-on program to the X2 Technology demonstrator initiative. Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering Mark Miller said the S-97 Raider program will design, build and fly two prototype light tactical helicopters to enable the U.S. military to evaluate the viability of a fast and maneuverable next-generation rotorcraft for a variety of combat missions. A number of Sikorsky's military and commercial customers were on hand to observe today's final X2 Technology™ demonstrator flight.

"This program will produce two prototype assault/attack aircraft with six-passenger cabins and the ability to carry armament," Miller said. "In addition to the superior speed and maneuverability of X2 Technology, these aircraft are designed to be capable of 10,000-foot hover out of ground effect on a 95-degree day. The future awaits this technology, and today we can say that we see it on the horizon."

The X2 Technology program began in 2005 when Sikorsky first committed resources and full funding, ultimately $50 million, for the program's development. Earlier this year, the X2 Technology™ demonstrator team won the 2010 Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded annually to recognize the greatest achievements in aeronautics or astronautics in America.

In addition to winning the 2010 Collier Trophy, over the past two years the X2 Technology demonstrator received numerous accolades including the 2010 Hughes Award from the American Helicopter Society and Aviation Week's "One of the Top 10 Technologies to Watch" for 2010. In 2009, it won a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award, and a Popular Science "Best of What's New" award. It also was named "One of 2009's Best Inventions" by Time.

Like the X2 Technology demonstrator, the S-97 Raider helicopter will be designed to feature twin coaxial counter-rotating main rotors and a pusher propeller that enables an X2-designed helicopter to cruise at 220 knots. Other innovative technologies include fly-by-wire flight controls, hub drag reduction, active vibration control, and an integrated auxiliary propulsion system.

The X2 design is scalable, opening up a variety of potential mission uses including joint-multi-role such as combat search and rescue, armed aerial scout, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), attack, VIP transport, and offshore oil.

The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent low speed handling, efficient hovering, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

Among the innovative technologies the X2 Technology demonstrator employs are:

* Fly-by-wire flight controls
* Counter-rotating rigid rotor blades
* Hub drag reduction
* Active vibration control
* Integrated auxiliary propulsion system


Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

Cenizas volcánicas y Aviones ¿se pudo hacer mejor?

Publicamos las notas tomadas por un amigo aerotrastornado durante la conferencia organizada por la SAE:

 

 

Os paso unas notas sobre la conferencia de ayer

 

El título de la conferencia era "Volar entre cenizas volcánicas ¿Pudo hacerse mejor?", la mayoría de conferenciantes opinan que no pudo hacerse mejor por los medios y la información que había, sí que en el futuro esperan que este tipo de crisis se puedan gestionar mejor.

- Vulcanólogo de la Complutense: sólo el 4 % de las erupciones afectan al tráfico aéreo, las cenizas no son detectables por el radar meteorológico (ni de tierra ni de a bordo). Los mapas son sólo modelos numéricos teóricos. Desde que hay aviación ha habido 84 eventos con ceniza volcánica, en la mayoría de los cuales la tripulación no supo
que volaban en ceniza. En 1982 (el famoso British que se le apagaron los 4 motores) las pérdidas por este tipo de incidencias fueron de 250 MUSD, en 2010 2.500 MUSD. En el 2010 se cancelaron 95.000 vuelos por las cenizas. Hay diferentes tipos de erupciones, en la mayor parte la columna no alcanza mucha altura por lo que los efectos son locales, en una minoría sí (el de nombre impronunciable por ejemplo).

- Ingeniero aeronáutico motores: sólo el 10 % de las cenizas se quedan en el estátor de la HPT (High Pressure Turbine), el resto pasan por el motor. Con sólo ese 10% el motor entra en pérdida (surge). En las primeras etapas del compresor las cenizas producen mucha abrasión pero al llegar a la cámara de combustión se funden y pasan a estado líquido, después se pegan en los álabes de la HPT y se solidifican, los álabes pierden su forma aerodinámica y la turbina entra en pérdida. Al pararse el motor la temperatura desciende, hay vibraciones, se hace un descenso de emergencia y entonces la capa de cenizas solidificadas sobre los álabes se rompen y el motor vuelve a arrancar. No se va a cambiar el diseño de los motores para incrementar el margen para volar con ceniza, consumiría más fuel y es un evento altamente improbable.

- Piloto y geólogo: siempre hay 20 volcanes activos en el mundo en cualquier momento. La velocidad de salida de la columna de ceniza es de MN1.8. Se habla de si volar por encima o por debajo de la nube volcánica, por encima si hay fallo de motor o despresurización te metes en la nube, por debajo te encuentras las partículas en descenso.
La ceniza puede rayar los parabrisas, en vuelo no hay problema pero en aterrizaje sí.

- Responsable NOP Eurocontrol: según el procedimiento establecido VAAC London avisaría a Eurocontrol antes de publicar mapas de cenizas volcánicas, no lo hicieron. Las decisiones de cerrar o no cerrar un espacio aéreo las toman los estados, no Eurocontrol. Eurocontrol y CAA UK empezaron a generar mapas con códigos de colores para poder abrir secciones del espacio aéreo. Hubo confusión porque cada estado decidía si añadir un buffer de 80 NM a la zona que VAAC London decía, y luego cada estado hacía una cosa. Eurocontrol se ha visto abocado a realizar
una tarea de coordinación en la que están inmersos ahora para evitar este tipo de diferencias en el futuro, pero Eurocontol no puede obligar a los estados, es la UE la que tiene poder legislativo, Eurocontrol sólo asesora.

- Director AEMET: si hubiera habido la típica baja presión de las Azores el volcán de nombre impronunciable no hubiera afectado a Europa, sin embargo había un anticiclón y la cosa se complicó. VAAC London emite mapas según modelos numéricos, estos modelos no tenían validación porque no tenían experiencias reales para ir afinándolos,
ahora sí que los hay por lo que en el futuro espera que los mapas sean mejores.

800th A330 delivered – an A330-200F for HNA Group

 

The 800th A330 has been delivered today at a ceremony in Toulouse. The aircraft is an A330-200 Freighter, received by Aircastle Advisor Ltd for operation by HNA Group. This is the third A330-200F for its fleet. To date, over 1,140 A330s have been ordered.

 

Thanks to the introduction of numerous product improvements, it is the most cost-efficient aircraft in its class. Today the A330 fleet has accumulated nearly 18 million flight hours and over four million landings. With over 80 operators today, the aircraft is achieving an average dispatch reliability above 99 percent.

 

 

PR

Refurbished Boeing 737 Paint Hangar Opens to Meet Rate Increase

SEATTLE, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has opened a new paint hangar near its Renton, Wash., facility that will help increase its Next-Generation 737 production capacity. The 737 program currently produces 31.5 airplanes per month and expects to go to 35 per month in early 2012, 38 per month in second quarter 2013 and then to 42 per month in the first half of 2014.

 

One of the first airplanes to be painted in the facility, a 737-700 for Southwest Airlines, was completed yesterday. Paint crews began work in the facility at the beginning of this month and now have incorporated the facility into the 737 production system. The state-of-the-art facility was refurbished in collaboration with the city of Renton.

 

"The City of Renton is working very closely with Boeing to ensure its ramp up of production of the 737 is seamless," said Renton Mayor Denis Law. "Coupled with Boeing's signing of a 20-year lease agreement for the Renton Municipal Airport, we view the capital improvements such as those at the paint hangar as important signals that Renton will continue to be a center of commercial airplane manufacturing for many years to come. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure Boeing's continued success."

 

Boeing expects that the market for single-aisle aircraft will continue to grow over the next decade and beyond. With that outlook, the 737 program is taking several steps to ensure enough capacity to meet market demand.  

 

"We identified this paint hangar as a key piece of infrastructure to support our future plans for increased 737 production several years ago," said Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager, 737 program. "We have a measured approach to meeting rate increases on the program. Bringing this facility online demonstrates our progress."

 

The paint hangar was originally built in the late 1950s at the start of the 707 program. The hangar also was used to paint 727s and 757s until 1994. The refurbished hangar is 165,000 cubic feet (4,672 cubic meters) by volume. The state-of-the-art environmental control and fire suppression systems meet all environmental and safety requirements. The hangar is equipped to paint all Next-Generation 737 models: -600, -700, -800 and -900. A crew of about eight painters can paint an entire 737 in about three days, depending on the detail of the customer's livery.