In March of 2015, the Boeing’s 757 ecoDemonstrator took its first flight out of Seattle’s Boeing Field following a several months-long test program of wing and vertical tail technologies. The goal is to improve efficiency by reducing environmental effects on natural laminar flow. To do so, Boeing has teamed up with NASA and the TUI Group in order to refine the new technologies that will most improve the aircraft’s environmental performance. TUI Group, the world's largest integrated tourism group, is excited to be collaborating with Boeing. The main goal of their collaboration is to find a way to reduce carbon emissions. Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainability at TUI Group said in a statement,
Moving away from the norm, AgustaWestland plans to release the AW609, one of the first commercial tilt-rotor, vertical take-off helicopters. Previously, the V-22 Osprey comprised as the primary rotor aircraft for military use. In addition to the AW609’s vertical takeoff capabilities, this machine shares the qualities of both a fixed-wing airplane and a helicopter. With its de-icing system, heated composite blades, pressurized cabin, and fly-by-wire flight control system, this aircraft has increased capability to withstand harsh weather conditions. The AW609 can fly at a maximum speed of 510 km/h with a maximum range of 1389 km-2036 km. However, the nine-seat interior and soundproof cabin makes this helicopter more tailored for private and commercial operators.
The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, announced in March 2015 that they have stopped taking orders for their single engine product line and is considering selling it. Sikorsky is still producing the S-300 and S-333 helicopters at the Coatesville factory in Pennsylvania, but they have terminated the S-434 program due to technical issues. According to a spokeswoman for Sikorsky, the company is
Headquartered in Fairfax County, Virginia, General Dynamics is an aerospace and defense company offering a wide range of products and services to many platforms including business aviation, combat vehicles, shipbuilding, and weapons systems and munitions. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary Jet Aviation is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. At the beginning of the week, the Switzerland-based Jet Aviation announced that they have been selected by Boeing Business Jets to complete the interiors of two Boeing 777-300ER planes following an intense and competitive bidding process. Work on the two aircraft, which belong to an undisclosed Asian customer, will begin immediately. The project is expected to take over three years to complete. Matthew Woollaston, director of Market Development & Completions Sales for Jet Aviation Basel is excited to score the contract.
The Boeing Company’s Space Exploration division has submitted a bare bones version of its CST-100 commercial crew vehicle in a contract for NASA’s space station cargo mission denoted Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2). The contract is currently undergoing its second round of bidding in seeking an unmanned, reusable (up to a projected 10 times) vehicle for carrying supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The cargo version is derived from Boeing’s crewed CST-100 which recently won a contract along with SpaceX for manned missions to the ISS – the Commercial Crew Program. By providing the same capsule for both CRS-2 and Commercial Crew missions, Boeing hopes to drive down costs with economies of scale. The Commercial Crew Program anticipates two flights a year once the CST-100 is operational.
Headquartered in Paris, Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional, and business jets and is a subsidiary of Dassault Group. The company was founded in 1929 by Marcel Bloch as Societe des Avions Marcel Bloch, but after World War II he changed his name to Marcel Dassault and the company name eventually became Dassault Aviation. In February 2015, the European Neuron unmanned combat air system (UCAS) demonstrator led by Dassault Aviation and French defense procurement agency DGA finished its testing in France. First debuting in December of 2012, the USD$439.8 million multinational Neuron technology demonstrator marked the first flight of a European stealth aircraft as well as the first European UCAS. France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Greece and Switzerland are all involved with this aircraft.
A new next-generation, military rotary-wing simulator has been unveiled at Aero India 2015 by Rockwell Collins and Zen Technologies. As a joint venture, the two companies have partnered to offer innovative and high-fidelity military flight simulation solutions. The new Rotary Wing Simulator is a flexible, cost-effective way for training on situations such as routine flights, emergencies, and practice missions.
BAE Systems has completed production of the latest F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft for the United States Marine Corps—the 50th of its kind for the branch. Over the last decade, BAE has made approximately 200 F-35 aircrafts since production of the rear aft and tails for each jet began in 2004. BAE has taken a real sense of honor in being such a reliable producer of this aircraft for the US Marine Corps. “Reaching milestones like this gives the whole team a real sense of pride,” said Ryan Pearce, F-35 program former apprentice and production team leader. “We've delivered nearly 200 aircraft sets whilst at the same time constantly looking to improve the way we do things so that we deliver the quality and value that the program demands." BAE Systems teamed with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to deliver the F-35 Lightning II. It is the world’s largest defense program, which has a current requirement for over 3000 aircraft. BAE brings the expertise when it comes to the airframe, systems, and military and technical services. The F-35 Lightning II JSF is the world’s first and only fifth-generation supersonic, all-weather, stealthy, multi-role fighter. There are three variants of the F-35: the Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant, the Carrier Variant (CV), and the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version. Characteristics of the F-35A include:
L-3 Aviation Products has launched their Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) products, part of their Lynx MultiLink Surveillance System (MSS) line. They also announced their formal plans for the authorization of the Lynx NGT-9000, submitted through Technical Standard Order (TSO). It is one of many models from the new line. This would bring them up to seven models: The NGT-9000, NGT-9000+, NGT-9000D, NGT-9000D+, NGT-2500, NGT-2000, and NGT-1000. The latter three are the more straightforward and inexpensive models for ADS-B equipage and cockpit integration. L-3 boasts affordability for their systems, but not at the cost of effectiveness. According to L-3: “The Lynx MultiLink Surveillance System are available to meet a variety of cost sensitive applications with full FAA January 1, 2020 compliance. All Lynx models feature an internal rule compliant position source (WAAS-GPS) and can re-use existing wiring and antennas to reduce installation times and costs. Designed for 14V or 28V installations, the Lynx MSS family of products offer an ADS-B solution to fit almost any cockpit and budget.” There have already been 10,000 Lynx NGT-1000s ordered by the NextGen GA Fund as part of their “Jumpstart GA 2020” program. The program has the intent of accelerating the general aviation community’s use of ADS-B Out avionics that are rule-compliant. “Lynx is unlike anything the marketplace is currently offering,” said Larry Riddle, L-3 Aviation Products Vice President of Marketing and Sales for business, regional, and general aviation.
Headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, GE Aviation is one of the leading aircraft engine suppliers for commercial aircrafts. It is a subsidiary of General Electric which is one of the world’s largest corporations.In 2011, Fortune ranked GE the 6th-largest firm in the U.S. as well as the 14th-most profitable and for 2012, GE’s brand was valued at an estimated USD$28.8 billion. Earlier today at an undisclosed location, GE Aviation successfully tested the F414 turbofan demonstrator engine’s rotating low-pressure turbine blades which were made up of lightweight, ceramic matrix components. The purpose of the test was to confirm the temperature and durabilities of the heat-resistant CMC turbine blades and it did just that. The test resulted in record-breaking temperature and fuel burn achievements. As the engine changes, the CMC components are changed from a static state to a rotating one, and this is where the challenge lies.
At the beginning of the week, Thales announced that they have been awarded a contract to support Northrop Grumman in the US Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk cockpit upgrade program. Thales will supply Northrop with its i-FMS200 flight management system software for integration into the avionics mission equipment package being developed to modernize the UH-60L cockpit. Thales and Northrop have been working over the past three years to improve the i-FMS200 software. The improvements, which are set to be integrated into the UH-60L helicopters, include decreasing pilot workload, increasing operational capability, and improving efficiency through mission specifics. In addition to the improved software, Thales will also supply the civilian-certified TOP Star 200 GPS system, which is expected to upgrade more than 750 helicopters under the UH-60V program.
Airbus Helicopters has seen steady ordering in their heavy-class helicopters over the last few years. The end of year results for 2014 show that heavy-types are continuing to dominate the order book. The order size was “more or less stable in comparison to the previous two years,” according to chief executive president Guillaume Faury. Over the last three years (2012 to 2014), their helicopter deliveries totaled 475, 497, and 471. This is, however, a slight decline from their peak total of the last eight years, when they delivered 588 in 2008. Of the 471 total helicopters delivered last year, 101 of those were heavy-class. These were split between 53 NH Industries (NHI) NH90s and 48 Super Pumas. This is a big development in the helicopter industry, but one that Faury believes will last for the next couple years. Faury is quoted as saying “It is a significant change in mix. There are lots of heavy helicopters required at the moment. I see this as a trend for a few years to come.” The NH90 has two pilots, can hold up to 20 troops or 12 medevac stretchers, can fit 2 NATO pallets, can carry over 4 tons externally, and uses 2 Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM332-01/9 turboshaft engines.
At the beginning of 2015, Northrop Grumman received a contract with the U.S. Air Force to supply Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The contract is worth USD$963.5 million dollars over 5 years with an initial award value of USD$4.4 million. They are the sole award recipient and will provide an indefinite quantity of missiles. This contract extends the 50-year partnership between Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force on ICBMs. Northrop Grumman is uniquely qualified to perform the necessary activities because of their 17-year experience as the ICBM prime integration contractor. The contract stipulates that Northrop will provide program management support, engineering services and emergency response. The agreement encompasses weapon system analyses, system and subsystem assessment, and technical advisement and assistance to the ICBM Systems Directorate on ground systems-related programs, risk management and mitigation. The Minuteman-III was first deployed in 1970. At the time, it was armed with a W62 warhead with a yield of 170-kilotons of TNT. It was also the first Multiple Independently Target-able Reentry Vehicles missile. In other words, a single missile is able to target 3 different locations.
In 2015, the American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is set to debut several new aircraft engines. After several failures in the oil systems along with failed ground runs, their now successful designs set the Pratt & Whitney-powered Airbus A320neo and the Bombardier CSeries for service entry—respectively bringing the PW1100G and PW1500G into official use. This will allow Pratt & Whitney to bring their commercial engine PW1000G to life along with the first flight of the PW1200G-backed Mitsubishi Regional jet. Gulfstream will also start to see the first flight tests of their new large cabin, long range business jets which are powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines. The PW800 is based on the same core as the CSeries PW1500G but does not include the fan drive gear system. The G500 is due to be in service come 2018, while the G600 will debut in 2019. The largest new military engine program remains Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Securing a nearly USD$1 billion contract, Pratt & Whitney has been tapped for an eighth production lot of 48 engines along with an implementation of a production line and retrofitting fixes. Coming 2016, Pratt & Whitney looks to increase production of F-35 and KC-46A tanks with a goal of 200 engines per year by 2020.
Rockwell Collins, an avionics and IT systems company, recently unveiled their all-new MultiScan Threat Track weather radar, which is now able to provide atmospheric threat assessment capabilities for air transport aircraft, a feat that is unprecedented. In addition to increasing safety and efficiency, the system’s advanced capabilities are able to predict hail and lightning within a thunderstorm cell, which alerts pilots to potential threats. The system is able to warn the aircraft which storm cells will be in the aircraft’s flight path.Furthermore, this new technology features turbulence protection, both in severe and ride-quality. Rockwell Collins is working with Boeing on the project and has American Airlines on board to debut the radar on its new Boeing 737 fleet, assisting in the rigorous flight testing that is required. Statistics as per the NASA Weather Accident Prevention Project indicates that over the past several decades, there have been averages of 750 encounters involving aircraft and turbulence, resulting in a cost of $30-$60 million per year in the industry and $28,000 to $167,000 per incident. This certified airborne weather radar is expected to drastically mitigate these costs.
Bombardier Aerospace, the third largest aircraft manufacturer in the world behind Boeing and Airbus, ended the 2014 calendar year on a strong note with an increase in aircraft orders and deliveries, particularly its many business jet lines.In the third quarter of 2014 alone, Bombardier successfully delivered 45 business jets. 8 of those were Learjets (7 Learjet 70/75s, 1 Learjet 60XR), 18 were Challengers (12 Challenger 300/350s, 6 Challenger 605s), and 19 were the Global 5000/6000 Series. This represents an increase from the 36 deliveries in the third quarter of 2013, one calendar year earlier. As of the third quarter of 2014, Bombardier had delivered 126 business jets. New aircraft orders on the other hand, have remained relatively steady as compared to previous years. Overall, including order backlogs, the company has made steady growth and increases in revenue from previous years. The company, in the 4th quarter of 2014, solidified its progress by securing new orders for Global 6000s worth $293 million and for Learjet 75s worth $81 million.
On January 2, 2015 the Aerospace and Defense company, Boeing, was awarded a contract by the Naval Air Systems Command for the procurement of recurring Advanced Airborne Sensor Capability Platform Integration Kit In-Line modifications in support of the P-8A Poseidon . Contract work will be performed in Washington, California, New York, North Dakota, and is expected to be complete in April 2017. This $60 Million contract is an addition to Boeing’s $2.4 Billion contract for the production of P-8A Poseidon Aircraft that was awarded by the Navy on February 26, 2014. Based on Boeing’s next-generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A Poseidon gives the Navy improvements to anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. In addition, the P-8A is able to drop and monitor weapons such as sonobouys, torpedos, and depth charges. It is planned for Boeing aircrafts to provide a total of 117 P-8As to replace the current fleet of P-3 aircrafts.
