World War II Bomber Sports Modern Avionics
Those of you who plan to attend Sun N’ Fun 2000 in Lakeland, Fla., in April are in for a treat. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Oshkosh, Wis., plans to have on exhibit its newly outfitted B-17, called "Aluminum Overcast."
Prior to its showing, the World War II vintage bomber will be outfitted with a new avionics suite, so it can safely fly cross-country. Gulf Coast Avionics, also in Lakeland, was to have received the aircraft in January. The company was selected to install navigation and communication equipment, including a PS Engineering PMA-7000MS audio control system, dual Garmin GNS-430 nav/com with moving map, and a Garmin GTX-320 transponder.
For more information, visit www.gulf-coast-avionics.com.
Duncan Aviation at Battle Creek
Authorized as Raytheon Service Center
Duncan Aviation and Raytheon Aircraft recently signed an agreement that designates Duncan Aviation-Battle Creek (Mich.) as the newest Authorized Service Center for all Hawker aircraft.
With this appointment, both main Duncan Aviation facilities (Battle Creek and Lincoln, Neb.) become authorized Hawker service centers.
For more information, contact the Duncan Aviation Lincoln office at 800-228-4277, or the Battle Creek facility at 800-525-2376.
Airbus to Seek Customer Interest in Proposed A3XX
Following a review of the A3XX program, the supervisory board of Airbus Industrie has reached the conclusion that the technical specification and economic viability of the new 550-passenger aircraft are satisfactory.
Consequently, the board authorized the Airbus management to approach airlines interested in the A3XX family in order to gain an appreciation of the customer commitment to the program and to gauge quantity and timing of future orders.
Further decisions will be made during the first half of 2000 with a view to confirming entry into service in 2005.
For more information visit www.airbus.com on the Web.
Inmarsat Approves Collins’ SAT-2000 Aero-I System
Following the successful completion of comprehensive testing, Inmarsat has awarded access approval to Rockwell Collins for the SAT-2000 system.
The SAT-2000 Aero-I satellite communications system includes a single 8 MCU transceiver, the SRT-2000, and an IGA-2000 intermediate gain antenna system. The system uses Inmarsat’s third-generation satellite spot beam coverage and is certificated for the Airbus A319/320/321 aircraft. Additional aircraft certifications are pending.
See www.inmarsat.org/index3.html or www.collins.rockwell.com.
Dallas Avionics Becomes A Sandia Distributor
Sandia Aerospace of Albuquerque, N.M., appointed Dallas Avionics Inc. as a distributor of Sandia’s avionics product line. Scott Davis of Dallas Avionics accepted the distributor agreement from Sandia’s Dennis Schmidt.
J.A. Air Center Has 35th Anniversary
J.A. Air Center, West Chicago, Ill., celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The company began as Joliet Avionics Inc. and was based in a two-stall rented hangar at Joliet Airport in Joliet, Ill. It was a small avionics shop that largely served the general aviation market.
In 1975 company president Bernie Klotz, a former Litton Industries official, moved Joliet Avionics to DuPage Airport in West Chicago and renamed it J.A. Air Center. Klotz remains president and leads the company with two vice presidents, Rick Milburn and Brad Zeman. They manage a firm that now employs 70 individuals, includes a mail order sales department, and occupies 60,000 square feet.
See the Website www.jaair.com.
Japanese Government Tests Interference Due to PEDs
The Japan Transport Ministry acknowledges that it has been carrying out tests for electromagnetic interference by portable electronic devices (PEDs) on aircraft equipment. These tests have been carried out on an airborne Boeing 777 since 1996.
According to the ministry, there have been 17 reports of interference between 1993 and early 1999. The main suspects are use of cellular phones, digital cameras and CD players.
ILA2000 Makes Room For Exibitors’ Demand
The ILA2000 Berlin-Brandenburg International Aerospace Exhibition, to be held June 6-12, is increasing its display area in order to meet a growing demand from exhibitors. It was originally planned
to meet this demand by providing another 610 feet (2,000 meters) of exhibition space, but this has been extended to 1,220 feet (4,000 meters).
To be opened by Chancellor Gerhard Schr�der, the exhibition will be at Berlin-Sch�nefeld Airport. Four days (June 6-9) will be marked as trade visitors’ days.
See www.ila-berlin.de for details.
BA Chooses SITA for New Network Infrastructure
British Airways (BA) has selected SITA to fulfill a five-year, $250 million contract to design, develop, and implement a fully managed, global network infrastructure based on the latest Internet technologies.
A joint team from SITA and BA has already started working on the design and development of strategic tactical plans to convert BA’s host interface network to a fully integrated infrastructure based on SITA’s IP solutions portfolio.
Visit www.sita.int or www.british-airways.com on the Web.
Quick Access Recorder Approved on the ATR 72
Sextant’s Extended storage Quick Access Recorder (EQAR) has been approved for retrofit on ATR 72 aircraft.
This recorder uses a quick access recorder (QAR) and/or a digital ACMS (aircraft condition monitoring system) recorder (DAR) to cover maintenance and flight analysis requirements. It employs rewritable optical disk technology for optimum storage capacity and high data integrity.
The EQAR has been developed and manufactured by Thomson-CSF Detexis and is integrated and supported by Sextant.
See www.sextant.thomsoncsf.com.
Lightning and Sailplanes
Lightning strikes on aircraft are a common occurrence, usually resulting in little or no damage. But sailplanes are another matter.
A recent accident to a sailplane in the UK spawned recommendations affecting lightning protection for present and future sailplane designs, particularly those that use significant amounts of composite material in their primary and control structures. The full account has recently been published as Report EW/C99/04/02 by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The sailplane, a two seat Schleicher ASK 21, was returning to the home base and flying along the front edge of a large cloud area when lightning struck it in clear air and at a speed of some 80 knots. Large sections of the airframe disintegrated and both crew members, who were wearing parachutes, abandoned the sailplane.
The AAIB report makes the point that the sailplane was constructed almost entirely of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) with foam or honeycomb sections bonded together—materials that are electrically non-conductive. The report goes on to note that the most significant factor in this accident was the formation of lightning arcs within the enclosed volumes of the wings and fuselage. These, in turn, caused damaging shock waves and high overpressures that induced the structural disintegration.
The AAIB suggests the British Gliding Association request manufacturers to develop new methods of providing protection for present and future sailplane design against the potentially critical effects of high energy lightning discharges upon metallic control systems and composite material structures.
The investigation board also recommends that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) seriously consider, during its participation in the current international review of aircraft lightning certification standards, the fact that energy levels from positive polarity charges have been shown to greatly exceed those currently specified.
For more information, visit www.open.gov.uk/aaib on the Web.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Elbit Systems Ltd. of Haifa, Israel, confirmed that it has signed a merger agreement with Elop Electro-Optics Industries Ltd., and shareholders of the company. The arrangement stipulates that the parties will use their best efforts to complete the merger by May 2000; following this, the effective date of the Merger will be Jan. 1, 2000. For additional information, contact Corporate Secretary Arie Tal, or Finance Director Ilan Pacholder, Elbit Systems Ltd., at 972-4-831-6632, send fax to 972-4-831-6659, or visit www.Elbit.co.il on the Web.
- U.K-based Smiths Industries plc has agreed to acquire the aerospace division of Invensys plc for a total of $175 million. Invensys, headquartered in Love Park, Ill., specializes in products for electrical power management and aircraft utilities. Smiths Industries will pay the total consideration in cash on completion, and will fund the purchase from dollar-denominated debt. The book value of net tangible assets being acquired is approximately $50 million, and the balance of the consideration comprises goodwill, which Smiths Industries plans to amortize over 20 years. The deal was expected to be completed by the end of January, subject to U.S. approval. For additional information, see www.smithsind-aerospace.com or www.invensys.com.
- France’s Thomson-CSF in January said it would buy Britain’s No. 2 defense contractor Racal Electronics for approximately $2 billion in cash to expand its access to the British defense market and boost its global competitiveness against U.S. and emerging European giants. The deal would give the $8 billion Thomson, France’s No. 2 defense company and the world’s leading military electronics exporter, control of Racal’s three divisions, Defense Electronics, Industrial Electronics, and Transportation Services. Visit the Website at www.thomson-csf.com for further details.
- Boeing in January confirmed its intent to purchase General Motors’ stake in Hughes Space and Communications for $3.75 billion in cash. The transaction would make this leading commercial jet maker a leading global space player, as well. The unit of Hughes Electronics—with projected 1999 revenues of about $2.3 billion—would greatly expand Boeing’s satellite manufacturing and service business and would join an already-potent launch vehicle and satellite franchise, Boeing says. See www.boeing.com on the Web for more information.
- Leading Spanish aerospace company Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA has joined the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) as a founder member. The agreement to merge CASA, Aerospatiale-Matra SA and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) was signed in Madrid late last year. With a workforce of 96,000 and combined revenues of some $21 billion, EADS will be one of the three largest aerospace companies in the world. See www.m.dasa.de on the Web.
- PCB & Bruel finalized an agreement to unite efforts to distribute and market Boeing Business Jet’s acoustic measuring products from January 2000.
Defense
Four-Year Contract Worth $60.6 Million for Duncan
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., is being awarded $10.5 million (base year total) as part of a firm fixed price with cost reimbursable line items contract worth a combined total of $60,623,525.
The contractor shall provide life cycle contractor support for the C-23 Sharps aircraft. Work will be performed in Lincoln, Neb., and is expected to completed by Dec. 31, 2004. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Egyptian Air Force To Receive New ECM
The Egyptian Air Force is about to receive 39 AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures (ECM) system Block II conversion kits from Northrop Grumman. A spokesman for the company tells Avionics Magazine that the kits will apply exclusively to Eqypt’s F-16 aircraft.
The purchase was the result of a recent $39-million contract that Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector received from Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.
The AN/ALQ-131 provides jamming against surface-to-air and air-to-air threats. Northrop Grumman has delivered 1,350 systems to the U.S. Air Force and to services in 11 other countries.
Visit www.northgrum.com on the Web.
Contract Modification Provides for Lockheed Support of F-16
Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth, Texas, has won a $7.8 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract, F33657-96-C-0034-P00041, to provide for CY2000 time oriented task support for the F-16 aircraft.
Efforts will cover recurring tasks required for aircraft manufacture and delivery, including ancillary aircraft program support, which cannot be identified to a specific Air Force program or foreign military sales country. Aeronautical Systems center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Receives A $200.2-Million Order
Raytheon, El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $200.2 million firm-fixed-price order against a previously awarded basic ordering agreement.
The order is for the procurement of 71 F/A-18 AN/APG-73 radar units for the Royal Australian Air Force and 40 F/A-18 AN/APG-73 radar kits for the U.S. Navy (19) and U.S. Marine Corps (21).
Work will be performed in Forest, Miss. (45%), El Segundo, Calif. (35%), Andover, Mass. (11 %); Dallas, Texas (8%); and Newport Beach, Calif. (1%) and is expected to be completed by October 2002. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Under a separate contract, Raytheon, Wichita, Kan., is being awarded an $11.2 million option to a fixed-price-incentive contract, F33657-94-C-0006-P00129, to provide for one Operational Flight Trainer, two Instrument Flight Trainers, and two Unit Training Devices in support of the Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer System (JPATS) Ground Based Training System. Expected contract completion date is August 2001. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
Boeing Gets $9.1 Million Modification for C-17 Program
The Boeing Co. of Long Beach, Calif., was granted a $9.1 million modification to a cost-plus-award-fee contract to provide for the Period Three (April-September 1999) award fee for performance of the Flexible Sustainment Program in support of the C-17 aircraft. Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity.
Visit the Website at www.boeing.com for more information.
Ericsson Saab Avionics Fits Gripen with EWS 39
Saab AB has ordered from Ericsson Saab Avionics an electronic warfare suite, EWS 39, for the Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen. The order is valued at 1.2 billion kronor ($142 million).
The system represents the second generation of electronic warfare (EW) suites for Gripen. The EWS 39 includes means to discover threats from radar, analyze the signals, validate them against known data, and present the threats to the pilot. It also provides proper counteractions, which can include electronic jamming against radar and radar-guided missiles, flares against IR-guided missiles and chaff against radar and radar-guided missiles.
Ericsson Saab Avionics is responsible for the overall system design and the electronic jammer. CelsiusTech Electronics, of Sweden, is responsible for the radar warning receiver and also provides the chaff and flare dispensers.
For more information, visit www.ericsson.se.com.
ARINC Wins Contract to Support Aging U.S. Military Aircraft
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, in Charleston, S.C., has awarded ARINC Inc. a $71-milllion indefinite-delivery, indefinite quanity Tri-Service Sustainment contract for engineering and logistics support of aging aircraft.
The contract calls for the engineering and manufacturing capability to reverse or re-engineer out-of-production weapon systems, subsystems and components for all U.S. military branches. The work will be performed at ARINC facilities in Charleston; Oklahoma City, Okla., and Annapolis, Md.
See www.aric.com for more information.
MAPS Signs Agreement To Support Romanian MiGs
The German-Russian joint venture MAPS (MiG Aircraft Product Support GmbH) has signed a product support agreement with Aerostar for, initially, four Romanian MiG-21 aircraft.
The intention is to achieve a three-year increase in the times between overhauls of aircraft of the Romanian Air Force by using Western test and maintenance procedures. The German member of the consortium, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA), which holds a 50% stake in MAPS, announced the agreement.
For further information, see www.m.dasa.de on the Web.
Collins Supplies HF Com Equipment to Australia
Rockwell Collins was selected to provide the Australian Defence Force with high frequency (HF) radios for the modernization of the military’s high frequency communications system (MHFCS).
The $10 million contract includes Collins URG-III universal radio group Ground HF products: the RT-2200 Receiver-Exciter, providing conventional reception and transmission of voice and digital data messages, automatic link establishment capabilities, and high performance data modem functions.
The MHFCS will replace current duplicated defense force communication systems with a common usage HF ground network and defense system. The system will be used across the Australian Air Force, Army and Navy. Deliveries began in mid-December 1999 and are scheduled to be completed mid-2001.
In addition to the Australian contract, Collins says it was awarded two U.S. military contracts for electronics for a total of $20.5 million. A $10.5 million contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force to equip 126 Lockheed Martin C-5 aircraft with Collins’ multimode receivers (MMR). The other contract calls for the installation of two GNLU-945 MMRs on each C-5 transport. The MMRs are used in the aircraft’s navigation and landing systems and can be used in instrument and microwave landing conditions. Deliveries will start in 2002 and continue through 2004.
Visit www.collins.rockwell.com on the Web for more information.
Air Traffic Control
Orlando International Airport To Receive SITA’s CUTE System
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority recently awarded SITA a $2.3-million contract for the UK-based telecommunication company’s Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and systems integration at Orlando International Airport, in Florida.
The contract calls for the design, installation and maintenance of CUTE, an information technology (IT) system to facilitate passenger movement and baggage handling.
Estonia Gains New ATM System, ATC Simulator from Airsys ATM
Estonian Air Navigation Services (Lennuliiklusteeninduse) has awarded a contract to Airsys ATM for the supply and installation of a new civil air traffic management (ATM) system for the Tallinn Air Traffic Control Center. The core system consists of automatic flight data and radar data processing, combined with flight monitoring aids and safety facilities.
An ATC simulator as well as a digital data recording and archiving system also are being provided. The new ATM system is expected to enter service during the first quarter of 2002.
For more information, see Website www.airsysatm.com.
Construction Resumes On Narita’s New Runway
Construction of a new runway for Tokyo’s Narita Airport proceeded late last year, following work suspension because of intense opposition from Japan’s farming community. Apparently the farmers have acknowledged the inevitable and conceded defeat.
Work has recommenced and the 7,180-foot (2,189-meters) runway (parallel to the existing runway) is expected to be completed by May 2002 to accommodate the traffic expected for the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Japan and Korea.
It is expected that movements at Narita will increase from 135,000 a year to more than 200,000 after the new runway becomes operational.
However the runway is shorter than originally planned by some 1,050 feet (320 meters) and is displaced some 2,625 feet (800 meters) further north.
Racal Avionics-Led Team To Refurbish Kosovo Airport
A team of UK companies is carrying out an emergency refurbishment program at Kosovo’s Pristina Airport. The intention is to bring the airport up to international civil aviation operating standards. The team, led by Racal Avionics, includes Portakabin and Washburn Fabrications.
The Racal package includes a Category I ILS, Doppler VOR and DME and NDB along with an integrated remote monitoring system. Emergency repairs to the navigation system and ground lighting have already taken precedence over the terminal rebuild, which is scheduled for next spring.
For more information, visit www.ravl.co.uk.
Navia Expands Functionality Of NOVA 9000 in South Korea
Navia Aviation, Oslo, Norway, has won a contract to expand the NOVA 9000 Surface Movement Guidance and Control System at Pusan Kimhae International Airport in South Korea. The system originally was installed in 1998.
The work will include the installation of the NOVA recording and playback system and an additional transceiver for the radar. The recording and playback system will be able to reconstruct surface movements for controller training and provide information for analysis in order to improve traffic patterns.
For more information, see www.naviaav.no on the Web.
Fog Detecting Radar To be Tested in Japan
Kushiro Airport, Japan, is to be the site of trials of a new, fog detecting radar operated by the Meteorological Agency. The radar can detect microscopic droplets of water in a manner not available to conventional radar.
The installation will take place early this year for a two-year trial. It reportedly can cover a radius of some 12.5 miles (20 km).