Tomorrow 14 January, Airbus will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Airbus A350 XWB jetliner’s final assembly line facility. The event, presented by Tom Enders, Airbus President & CEO, will take place in Toulouse, France.
Airbus is providing live video streaming on its website!
Live streaming at airbus.com
Scheduled start time: 14:30 (GMT+1) [Your local time here]
Enjoy!
Image: Airbus
The state department of civil aviation of the United Arab Emirates has issued a decree banning flights of Antonov An-12 cargo aircraft from January 13, the head of the department said on Monday.
The document says that the decision was made “in the interests of ensuring the safety of the population and the airspace of the UAE.”
On January 2, an An-12 plane skid off a landing strip in the country’s Sharjah international airport. No one was injured in the incident.
The department advised air companies at Sharjah, Dubai and other airports, which currently have some 30 An-12 planes in use, to begin getting rid of this type of aircraft.
Another news from Embraer this week – The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer yesterday confirmed the sale of 8 Super Tucano to the government of the Dominican Republic through a contract that was finalized at the end of last year. The aircraft will be operated by the Dominican Air Force to perform internal security and border patrol missions, within an operations theater focusing on fighting the drug traffic.
This is the third export contract for the this aircraft, after sales that were made to the Air Forces of Colombia (FAC) and Chile (FACH).
To date, 63 units of the Super Tucano have already been delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira – FAB) and 25 to the FAC, and they are successfully used for border surveillance and other operational missions. In all, 144 aircraft have been sold to four Latin American customers. The Air Forces of Colombia received its 25th Super Tucano in August of last year, thus finalizing the deliveries begun to this customer, in December 2006. The contract was the first export of this aircraft, and the agreement included TOSS (Training and Operation Support System), an advanced training and operational support system with ground stations. The FACH agreement for the sale of 12 aircraft was also announced by Embraer in August 2008.
The Super Tucano went into operation with the FAB in December 2003, to be used for pilot training, as well as for operational missions. This capability ranks the Super Tucano as the world’s only aircraft in production that is able to handle advanced pilot training and surveillance and counter-insurgency missions, even at night, using night vision goggles and electro-optical and infrared sensors.
Source: Embraer
Photo: Embraer
Embraer last week announced that they have signed a contract with the Royal Thai Army for a second ERJ 135 jet. This third airplane for the Government of Thailand will be used to carry civilian and military officials, and the delivery is scheduled for 2009.
At the end of 2008, Embraer delivered one ERJ 135 to the Royal Thai Army and other to the Royal Thai Navy. They will be
used in Thailand to transport government officials and to handle Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions by the Royal Thai Navy.
The airplane for the Royal Thai Navy is based at the U-Tapao Air Base, and the Royal Thai Army’s aircraft in Bangkok.
Source: Embraer
Photo: Embraer
CBS4 today published this video showing a close up look on the wreckage of Continental flight 1404. You get a good picture of the damage including the landing gear and a view inside the partially destroyed cabin.
The Government of India has selected the Boeing Company to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy. The P-8I is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
India is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing will deliver the first P-8I within 48 months of the contract signing, and the remaining seven by 2015.
The P-8I is a true multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that features greater flexibility and a broader range of capabilities than MPAs currently in service. The P-8I can operate effectively over land or water while performing anti-submarine warfare missions; search and rescue; maritime interdiction; and long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance.
The aircraft features an open system architecture, advanced sensor and display technologies, and a worldwide base of suppliers, parts and support equipment.
The P-8 is a militarized version of the 737-800. The P-8 is unique in that it has 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on 737NG variants. It also includes 6 additional body fuel tanks, three in the forward cargo compartment and three in the rear, for extended range.
Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing
India recently completed the upgrade of 120 Soviet-origin MiG-27 aircraft, giving the aircraft better navigational technology and a pilot friendly cockpit. The project was initiated in the year 2002 through a tripartite memorandum of understanding between Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) under the aegis of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Nasik and the Indian Air Force.
“The upgraded MiG-27 aircraft is equipped with Inertial Navigation and Global Positioning System (INGPS) providing accurate navigation. Advanced avionics on the aircraft has been interfaced on MIL-STD-1553B Dual Redundant Bus,†a senior DRDO official said.
“To enable weapon aiming, accurate ranging sensors such as Laser Designator Pod (LDP) and Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) are integrated. A digital map generator has been integrated to improve situational awareness. The digital video recording system provides mission analysis and debrief support,†he said.
The avionics system is built around a modular mission computer termed Core Avionics Computer (CAC), developed by DARE. The CAC built on open system principles and houses functional modules using contemporary processors and devices. These functional modules are powering the mission computers on Jaguar and Su-30 MKI aircraft as well.
DARE developed algorithms for navigation and ranging including a weapon delivery algorithm, which was developed along with Software Development Institute of IAF enabling precision weapon delivery.
“The upgraded aircraft has a pilot friendly cockpit with state-of-art multi function display and head up display (HUD). The pilot flies “Head Up†with all the necessary navigation and attack guidance symbology presented on the HUD and superimposed on the outside world-view.
Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/upgrade-of-mig-27-…
Yesterday evening an American Airlines MD80 skidded of the runway during landing at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR/KSYR), NY. The incident was most likely caused by freezing rain. Nobody was hurt.
Date & Time: 01/02/2009 15:35
Location: Atlanta, GA
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-232/ER Registration: N864DA
Operator: Delta Air Lines Flight: 55
Phase: Takeoff
Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: Delta Airlines flight 55 rejected takeoff due to an engine malfunction and taxiied back to the gate – damage reported to right engine fan and cowling
Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.
