Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has successfully completed the first full powering on of the main electrical distribution system on the first CSeries flight test vehicle (FTV1). Additionally, Bombardier confirmed that the wing down-bending static test was successfully concluded on the Complete Airframe Static Test (CAST) article at the company’s Saint-Laurent, Québec facility in late March 2013. Together with the wing up-bending static test that was completed earlier in March 2013, the two most significant wing 
static tests required for first flight are now complete.

The company also confirmed that safety-of-flight tests are progressing well on “Aircraft 0” – the on-the-ground integrated systems test rig (ISTCR) for the CSeries aircraft.

“The powering on of the main electrical distribution system on FTV1 was one of the most exciting milestones so far in the CSeries aircraft development program and will now allow powering of all sub-systems and for the avionics suite testing,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President and General Manager, CSeries, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “As well, the last significant test on the CAST article − the down-bending test on the wing − was completed in late March, and we are thrilled with the analysis and feedback from the team, which allows progression to the next experimental phase. These are all important activities that will lead to the CSeries aircraft’s safety-of-flight permit.”

“The build of the flight test vehicles, the static airframe testing and the systems tests are all advancing to schedule. We are very satisfied with the CSeries aircraft’s excellent progress and weekly achievements as we advance solidly towards first flight,” added Mr. Dewar.

Bombardier Aerospace Media Centre

Details on 787 Battery Improvements

Boeing has developed a comprehensive set of improvements to the 787 lithium-ion batteries that add several new layers of safety and reliability to the design. These improvements are undergoing extensive certification testing. Once testing is complete and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other international regulators grant their final approval, operators will be able to safely resume commercial flights of their 787s.

“We will be positioned to help our customers implement these changes and begin the process of getting their 787s back in the air,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “Passengers can be assured that we have completed a thorough review of the battery system and made numerous improvements that we believe will make it a safer, more reliable battery system.”

Improvements include enhanced production and operating processes, improved battery design features and a new sealed battery enclosure.

Battery system enhancements address possible causes of battery failure identified by the Boeing technical team. The technical team’s findings were verified by an independent group of lithium-ion battery experts from industries, universities and national laboratories.

“We have found a number of ways to improve the battery system, and we don’t let safety improvements go once they are identified. We incorporate them into our processes and products,” said Mike Sinnett, vice president and chief project engineer, 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Boeing teamed with Thales, the provider of the integrated power conversion system, and battery maker GS Yuasa to develop and institute enhanced production standards and tests to further reduce any variation in the production of the individual cells as well as the overall battery.

Four new or revised tests have been added to screen cell production, which now includes 10 distinct tests . The batteries have eight cells, each of which will now go through more rigorous testing in the month following its manufacture. This will include a 14-day test during which readings of discharge rates are being taken every hour. The new design, processes and test will ensure that every battery cell meets the highest quality and reliability standards.

To further improve reliability, Boeing, Thales and GS Yuasa will lower the highest charge allowed in the battery monitoring unit and charger and raise the lower  level allowed for discharge. The battery charger will also be adapted to soften the charging cycle to put less stress on the battery during charging.

Inside the battery charger, each cell will be better insulated. An electrical insulator is being wrapped around each battery cell to electrically isolate cells from each other and from the battery case, even in the event of a failure. Electrical and thermal insulation installed above, below and between the cells will help keep the heat from the cells from affecting one another. This helps isolate it from the rest of the battery in the unlikely event that a cell fails.

The wire sleeving and the wiring inside the battery will be more resistant to heat and chafing, and the metallic bars that connect the eight cells of the battery will be attached with new fasteners that include a locking mechanism.

Small holes at the bottom of the battery case will allow moisture to drain away from the battery. Larger holes on the sides of the battery will allow a failed battery to vent with less effect on other parts of the battery.

Lastly, the battery will now be enclosed in sealed stainless steel. The enclosure isolates the battery from the rest of the equipment in the electronic equipment bays. It ensures that there can be no fire inside the enclosure, thus adding another layer of protection to the battery system. Any fumes or heat that builds up in the enclosure will be vented outside the airplane. Testing to gain FAA approval of the battery enhancements has already started, with the FAA’s permission.

New Design Ensures Airplane Safety

Before certification testing, during engineering testing, the team demonstrated that the new housing could safely contain the failure of all eight battery cells. The “ultimate” load is the equivalent of 1.5 times the maximum force ever expected to be encountered during a battery failure. The housing easily withstood this load and did not fail until pressure was at more than three times the ultimate load. In another test, the team demonstrated that fire cannot occur within the new enclosure. This means that even in the rare situation a battery does fail, the airplane can continue on safely to its scheduled destination.

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

Boeing Press Release

Lufthansa is expanding its product portfolio and will equip the entire Lufthansa long-haul fleet with a Premium Economy. The Supervisory Board has approved the investment capital for the introductory project to achieve this. At the beginning of next year, a project group will be formed to manage the introduction and define the precise features of the product as well as a detailed timetable.


Premium Economy will be installed on the entire intercontinental fleet. This substantially up-graded Economy product will fill the gap between the superior Business Class segment, which features a seat that can be converted into a fully flat bed, on one side and the classic Economy Class on the other. This will appeal to both leisure travellers seeking additional comfort and business travellers.

Lufthansa Group Press Release

We continue with the update about the deliveries of the new A320 family aircraft with sharklets, last week was the turn of Swiss International Airline, that received it's first A320 modified.

While today Airbus announced that Germany's airberlin group took delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with fuel saving wing tip devices, called Sharklets. The aircraft will join the fleet of the Austrian based airline NIKI, which is owned by the airberlin group. Between now and 2015 the airberlin group, Germany’s second biggest airline, will receive 13 more A320-Family aircraft with Sharklets.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices, measuring 2,4 metres and replacing the A320’s current wing tip fence. They improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and standard on all members of the NEO Family. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

As of today, over 9,150 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold worldwide and over 5,450 aircraft delivered to more than 385 customers and operators, making it the world’s best-selling 
commercial jetliner ever.


Airbus Press Release

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

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

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

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

Airbus Press Release

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (26 Mar) announced a new collective agreement with all its cabin crew, which will result in pay increases and favourable rostering arrangements across the airline, as well as new pilot agreements at the majority of those Ryanair bases whose long term pay deals were due to expire in April this year.



Following negotiations between Ryanair and cabin crew representatives, using its long-established collective bargaining structures, cabin crew at all Ryanair bases have voted to accept a four-year agreement which, from 1st April 2013, will deliver:

• Average pay increases of 10% over four years.
• Pay increases for all cabin crew groups including supervisors and junior crew.
• Maintenance of a stable ‘home every night’ roster, practically unique in European aviation.
• Increases in supervisory and other allowances.

Ryanair has also negotiated new five-year agreements with pilots at its Alicante, Bristol, Cork, East Midlands, Luton and Shannon bases (replacing existing agreements which were due to expire in April this year) which, from 1st April 2013, will deliver:

• Pay increases of up to 10% over five years.
• A five day on, four day off roster.
• Allowance and pension increases.

Ryanair pilots at its Manchester and Valencia bases have also negotiated a five day on, four day off roster prior to the conclusion of their existing five-year agreement. Ryanair looks forward to negotiating new agreements at its other bases as and when their existing five year agreements finish over the next three years.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“These agreements recognise the outstanding productivity delivered by Ryanair’s people, whose hard work and dedication is key to Ryanair’s ability to expand and grow by offering more competition, ultra-low prices and a greater choice of routes.

It is a considerable success for Ryanair’s cabin crew and pilots to secure pay increases and favourable rosters at a time when unions in Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK are currently negotiating job cuts, pay cuts and pension cuts.

These contrasting circumstances demonstrate yet again the success of Ryanair’s business model and of its policy of dealing directly with cabin crew and pilots through the long-established collective bargaining structures within Ryanair.

At a time when high-fare airlines around Europe are cutting jobs and slashing pay and benefits, Ryanair will continue to offer stability, job security and outstanding promotional opportunities as the airline grows to carry over 100 million passengers per annum by 2019, with the acquisition of 175 new Boeing 737-800s.”

Ryanair Press Release

Airbus had increased the average list prices of its aircraft by 3,6% from January 1 2013.

Here below you can find the list of the prices:

Type:
A318 70.1 $ million
A319 83.6 $ million
A320 91.5 $ million
A321 107.3 $ million
A319neo 92.0 $ million
A320neo 100.2 $ million
A321neo 117.4 $ million
A330-200 216.1 $ million
A330-200F 219.1 $ million
A330-300 239.4 $ million
A350-800 254.3 $ million
A350-900 287.7 $ million
A350-1000 332.1 $ million
A380-800 403.9 $ million

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), today (19 Mar) signed an agreement with the Boeing Company to purchase 175 new Next Generation 737-800 airplanes.  When finalised, the deal will be worth nearly $15.6 billion at current list prices, and will allow Ryanair to grow its airline to more than 400 airplanes, serving more than 100 million passengers per year across Europe by the end of the delivery stream in 2018.  

The agreement was signed by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President CEO Ray Conner in New York (19 Mar). Upon approval by Ryanair’s shareholders, the purchase will become Boeing’s largest deal to date in 2013 and will be the largest ever aircraft order from a European airline. It will sustain thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs in Boeing and its supplier companies and will represent the largest ever capital investment by an Irish company in U.S. manufacturing and U.S. jobs.

These Boeing airplanes will create more than 3,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers at Ryanair’s growing number of aircraft bases across Europe. Approximately 75 of these new aircraft will replace some of Ryanair’s existing fleet of 305 Boeing 737s, but the remainder will drive new growth of  Ryanair’s fleet of young, highly efficient airplanes. These airplanes will allow Ryanair to grow its low-cost airline service by about 5 percent per annum over the next several years, taking Ryanair’s traffic to over 100 million passengers by March 2019.

As Ryanair continues to plan its future as Europe’s low-cost airline leader, it continues to evaluate the benefits of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft which enters service in 2017.

Announcing the order, Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary, said:

“Ryanair is pleased to sign this agreement with Boeing to purchase 175 new 737-800 jets, which will expand our fleet to over 400 units, creating over 3,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers, while allowing us to grow our low-cost airline service by about 5 percent per annum over the next several years and take our traffic to 100 million passengers by March 2019.

Ryanair is proud to buy Boeing, who have always made great aircraft and the 737-800 has been the cornerstone of Ryanair’s success due to its great engineering and phenomenal reliability. These 175 new airplanes will enable us to lower cost and airfares even further, thereby widening Ryanair’s cost and price leadership over other airlines in Europe. They provide Ryanair with the additional capacity to exploit substantial growth opportunities that currently exist as many of Europe’s flag carrier and smaller airlines are restructuring and reducing their short-haul operations.

Ryanair has the largest fleet of Boeing airplanes in Europe, and today’s order will enable Ryanair to expand and grow by offering more competition, lower prices, and better choice across the continent of Europe. Ryanair is proud to be investing in high-quality US manufacturing and jobs.”
 
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Ray Conner, said:

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


Ryanair Press Release

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

The order was finalised today at a special ceremony at the Elysée Palace in Paris in the presence of President François Hollande of France, who witnessed the signing of documents by Rusdi Kirana,

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

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

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

Offering the lowest operating costs in its class, the A320 Family is the world's best-selling single-aisle product line. To date, some 9,400 aircraft have been ordered and more than 5.400 delivered to over 380 customers and operators worldwide. The A320ceo and A320neo share over 95 percent airframe commonality, enabling seamless operation of the various models in a single fleet.

Since taking to the skies in 2000, Jakarta-based Lion Air has become one of Asia’s fastest-growing airlines. Today the Group operates an extensive network covering over 70 destinations in Indonesia and South East Asia


Airbus Press Release

Saint-Cloud, 14 March 2013 – The Board of Directors, chaired by Mr. Éric TRAPPIER, closed yesterday the financial statements for the year 2012. These consolidated financial statements were certified by the Statutory Auditors who expressed an unqualified conclusion.

Éric TRAPPIER, Chairman and CEO of DASSAULT AVIATION, stated :

«The year 2012 started well with the RAFALE selection by India. This choice based on technical, operational and financial criteria confirms our aircraft superiority.

The technical success of the nEUROn was added to this RAFALE selection. We marked the history of aeronautics with the flight of the first European furtive aircraft. With the nEUROn, we show at the same time our technical skills and our know-how as prime contractor in a multinational partnership.

These skills and this know-how are also implemented in the manner we currently develop our SMS. Technologically and commercially very ambitious, this new business jet will be released within a few months.

In France, an important Defense budget cut is announced, due to the national debt crisis. This reduction of the military budgets, which is observed in many other countries, reinforces the aggressiveness of our competitors, especially Americans.

Concerning business jets, the uncertain evolution of the world economy and in particular of our historical markets, United States and Western Europe, encourages us to remain vigilant.

Finally, the dollar weakness remains a strong and not easily controllable constraint because of the spasms of the international financial system».

Order intake and backlog
2012 orders amounted to EUR 3,325 million compared to EUR 2,863 millions in 2011. Export represented 78 % of the total order intake.

New orders, net of cancellations, stood at 58 FALCON in 2012 compared to 36 FALCON in 2011.

Commercial activity increased compared to 2011, in particular at the end of the year. Asia remained very active, as well as South America. North America market showed some encouraging signs, but wait and see policy still applies.

Defense orders amounted to EUR 793 million in 2012 compared to EUR 931 million in 2011 and corresponded to support and development. They decreased by 15% compared to 2011 which included, in particular, the contract for the upgrade of the Indian Air Force’s MIRAGE 2000 fleet.

As of December 31st, 2012 consolidated backlog amounted to EUR 7,991 million compared to EUR 8,751 million as of December 31st, 2011, down by 9%.

Net sales
Consolidated net sales increased by 19% to EUR 3,941 million in 2012 from EUR 3,305 million in 2011.

Export net sales represented 75% of the 2012 total net sales.
FALCON net sales increased by 16% reaching EUR 2,797 million in 2012 from EUR 2,415 million in 2011. 66 FALCON were delivered in 2012 (compared to 63 in 2011). FALCON net sales represented 71% of the 2012 total net sales.

11 RAFALE were delivered to the French Air Force and Navy in 2012, as in 2011. Defense net sales showed an upturn of 29% due to an increase in RAFALE development activity.

The book-to-bill ratio reached 0.84.

Operating income
2012 operating income reached EUR 547 million compared to EUR 377 million in 2011, up by 45%. Operating margin improved to 13.9% from 11.4% in 2011.
This improvement is due to the increase of net sales and a better currency hedging.
Adjusted financial income

In 2012, adjusted financial income amounted to EUR 16 million, compared to EUR 32 million in 2011. This fall- off results mainly from the following factors :

- the Group made a profit of EUR 12 million on the sale of some available-for-sale marketable securities compared to a profit of EUR 38 million in 2011,
- borrowing costs are EUR 2 million compared to EUR 13 million in 2011.

Adjusted net income
Adjusted net income stood at EUR 524 million compared to EUR 419 million in 2011, up by 25%. Adjusted net margin reached 13.3%, versus 12.7% in 2011. 

Dassault Press Release