dubai airshow news 11-15-11

DubaiAirshow News

Vol. 43 No. 27

11•15•2011

PUBLICATIONS

TUESDAY

Need defense news? Sign up for AIN Defense Perspective.

More sales for ATR MA600 debuts in Dubai Fire Scout on the warpath Quick makeover for C-130 A400M delivery in 2012

ATR72-600 orders prompt -500 phase-outRussia’s NordStar Air is the latest regional airline to sign up for the ATR 72-600 in a record year for the European airframer. Page 5

Avic’s MA600 set for delivery after display hereThe Chinese MA600 twin turboprop is an upgrade from Avic’s MA60 model and is set to be joined by a new MA700. Page 8

Northrop Grumman rotary drone gets ready for naval serviceThe MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV has already done active duty in Afghanistan and Libya and now it’s now ready for deployment with the U.S. Navy. 2

SABIR package gets C-130 ready for special opsHighland Integrated Surveillance Systems is adding features such as new sensor mounts and surveillance windows to C-130 transports. Page 18

Europe’s new military transport completes testingIt’s been a long and winding road for the Airbus A400M aircraft but certification is almost complete even as fresh budget worries loom large. Page 22

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

®

Airbus deals 50 A320neos to lease firmby Gregory Polek

Both Boeing and Airbus were bene-ficiaries of airshow orders in Dubai yes-terday. At approximately $7.4 billion, the combined value of their respective deals with Kuwaiti leasing group Alafco was nothing like the magnitude of those seen on the event’s opening day but they were welcome nonetheless.

With Airbus, Alafco finalized a pur-chase of 50 the new A320neos worth an estimated $4.6 billion based on list prices. The deal, which included options on another 30 of the re-engined Airbus

Dassault still optimistic for Rafale in UAEby Chris Pocock

Has the Eurofighter Typhoon really unseated Dassault’s Rafale as the UAE Air Force’s fighter-of-choice for a 60-plane order? After last week’s leak that the Typhoon team has received a surprise request for proposal (RFP) that would effectively re-open the contest, the French have maintained a certain insouciance after their top brass met the Emirati hierarchy here at the Dubai Air Show on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Americans know

Continued on page 21 u

Continued on page 21u

TAKING A LONG VIEWLike so much of the growth seen in the Middle East, aviation has raced ahead at an alarming pace. Super-size airline orders have been practically commonplace, manufacturers of military hardware flock to the region, and business aviation is a natural fit for those who must make themselves mobile on a global scale. The Dubai Air Show continues to fulfill the role of showplace for all things aeronautical, as is evident from this wonderful aerial view made possible by Eurocopter.

Excellent plane with advanced technology.Kamal

Air

bus

, its

log

o an

d t

he p

rod

uct

nam

es a

re r

egis

tere

d t

rad

emar

ks.

lovea380.com

54920_108AIRBUS_AinDubai_Nov.indd Pg1 Mundocom UK 08/11/2011 11:36

4 Dubai Airshow News • November 15, 2011 • www.ainonline.com

FOUNDED IN 1972

James HolaHan, Founding editor

Wilson s. leacH, managing director

editor-in-cHieF – R. Randall Padfieldinternational editor – Charles AlcockPressroom managing editor – Ian Sheppard Production director – Mary E. MahoneytHe editorial team Bill Carey David DonaldThierry DuboisCurt EpsteinBernard FitzsimonsIan GooldKirby J. HarrisonMark HubertHe Production teamMona L. BrownJane CampbellAlena KorenkovJohn Manfredo Mark PhelpsColleen RedmondAnnmarie Yannaco

PHotograPHersDavid McIntoshMark Wagner

Press room administrator – Lysbeth McAleerWeb designer – Joseph W. DarlingtonWeb develoPer – Mike Giaimo eXecutive vice President & online Product develoPment – John F. McCarthy Jr.PublisHer – Anthony T. Romanoadvertising sales – nortH americaMelissa Murphy – Midwest (830) 608-9888Nancy O’Brien – West (530) 241-3534Anthony T. Romano – East/International Philip Scarano III – Southeast Victoria Tod – Great Lakes/UK

advertising sales – international – Daniel Solnica – ParisProduction/manuFacturing manager – Tom Hurleyaudience develoPment manager – Jeff HartfordgrouP brand manager – Jennifer Leach Englishsales/Production administrator – Susan Amissonmarketing consultant – Maggi Finlaysonadvertising/sales secretary staFFPatty Hayes; Cindy Nesline

director oF Finance & neW Product develoPment – David M. LeachHuman resources manager – Jane Webb

accounting/administration manager – Irene L. Flannaganaccounting/administration staFF Mary Avella; Erin Fogelstrom; Rosa Rivera

u.s. editorial oFFice:214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432Tel: (201) 444-5075; Fax: (201) 444-4647

WasHington, d.c. editorial oFFice:Bill Carey; [email protected] Tel: (202) 560-5672; mobile: (202) 531-7566Paul Lowe; [email protected] Tel: (301) 230-4520; Fax: (301) 881-1982

euroPean editorial oFFice:Charles Alcock8 Stephendale Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9QP UKTel: 44 1 252 727 758; [email protected]

u.s. advertising oFFice:81 Kenosia Ave., Danbury, CT 06810Tel: (203) 798-2400; Fax: (203) 798-2104

euroPean advertising oFFice:Daniel Solnica25 rue Saulnier, 75009, Paris, FranceTel: 33-1-42-46-95-71 Fax: [email protected]

russian advertising oFFice:Yuri Laskin, Gen. Dir., Laguk Co. Ltd.Russia, 115172, MoscowKrasnokholmskaya Nab., 11/15 - 132Tel: +7-05-912-1346, 911-2762Fax: +7-095-912-1260 [email protected]

tHe convention neWs comPany, inc. – ain PublicationsPresident – Wilson S. LeacheXecutive vice President – John F. McCarthy, Jr.vice President oF oPerations – R. Randall Padfieldtreasurer – Jane L. Webbsecretary – Jennifer L. English

Dubai Airshow News is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432; Tel.: (201) 444-5075. Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of The Convention News Co., Inc. is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc. also publishes Aviation International News, AINalerts, AIN Defense Perspective, AIN Air Transport Perspective, AINmx Reports, Business Jet Traveler, ABACE Convention News, EBACE Convention News, HAI Convention News, MEBA Convention News, NBAA Convention News, Dubai Airshow News, Paris Airshow News, Singapore Airshow News.

Printed in Dubai by Emirates Printing Press Computer Services: Smart AV, Dubai.

Vladimir Karnozov Julian MoxonChris PocockGregory PolekMatt ThurberChad Trautvetter Paolo Valpolini James Wynbrandt

Airshow News®

Dubai

CE

L E B R A T I N

G

F

OR T Y Y E A

R

S

L-3 cites 60 years’ experience in systems integration résuméby Chris Pocock

So what makes L-3 mission integra-tion the best choice for implementing an ISR conversion of the King Air twin-tur-boprop? No fewer than six U.S. companies are staking a claim, including airframer Hawker Beechcraft, whose offering is parked right next to the L-3 SPYDR in the static park here at the show.

According to Greg Smith of L-3, it is the company’s unrivaled experience of systems integration. Under various ownerships over the past 60 years, the Greenville, Texas-based outfit has con-verted no fewer than 125 types–a total of more than 15,000 aircraft. It is prob-ably best known for the U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and Combat Sent SIGINT conversions. It employs 1,500 engineers with hard-won experience of making sensors work together. “This is rocket science–and we’ve got it figured out!” he told AIN.

By way of proof, he offers Proj-ect Liberty, the company’s quick-reac-tion program for the U.S. Air Force that developed and delivered 37 King Air 350ERs for service over Iraq and Afghanistan from 2009. These aircraft are designated MC-12W, and they carry a Wescam Mx-15 EO/IR video sen-sor and a SIGINT suite. According to Smith, the trick is to integrate these two types of sensor in an automated mission

management system so that they can cross-cue. “If they don’t work together, things don’t work out,” he said.

L-3 Mission Integration is completing a further five MC-12Ws. It has also deliv-ered nine of an eventual 14 King Airs that

it is operating under contract for another customer Smith declined to identify.

The SPYDR aircraft here is similar to the MC-12W, but Smith claims that L-3 is unique in being both sensor and plat-form-agnostic. “We are ready to partner

in-country to meet specific requirements, using different sensors,” he said. In fact, substitution of the SIGINT system may become necessary if the U.S. does not permit wide export of the company’s Rio suite, which features added UHF scan capability.

L-3 has already agreed to add the Selex Galileo PicoSAR AESA radar to the SPYDR demonstrator. Moreover, it will install a second Wescam sensor ball in an extended nose. The additions will be done by next April, in time for a second round of customer demonstrations. The aircraft

here was recently demonstrated in South Africa, where it was touted as a low-cost maritime patrol aircraft.

As for alternative platforms, L-3 has been talking to Bombardier about an ISR version of the Q400 turboprop airliner. o

four decades of service

Dassault Falcon president and CEO John Rosanvallon , left, congratulated AIN co-founder and current managing director Wilson Leach last night on the publishing company starting its 40th year in business. Leach and founding editor James Holahan launched AIN in 1972, and the 40th anniversary celebration continues throughout the coming year.� n

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

VistaJet adding three new bizjets

VistaJet is committing three new long-range aircraft to the Middle East market, with an order for a pair of Bombar-dier Challenger 850 business jets and a Global 5000.

Chairman and founder Thomas Flohr said the company is seeing strong demand for its flexible-use programs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He believes that by the end of 2012 the Middle East will account for 15 percent of VistaJet revenues.

“The [Middle East] market was impacted in the first quarter of 2011 by political upheaval, but in the last six months we have seen impressive growth, not only in regional traffic but in inter-national traffic,” Flohr told AIN. Vista-Jet stands to benefit from the decision by fractional ownership provider NetJets to end its franchise arrangement with Saudi Arabia’s NAS group. –C.A.

L-3’s SPYDR ISR platform is similar to the 37 USAF MC-12W surveillance aircraft used in Iraq and Afghansitan.

MA

RK

WA

GN

ER

ATR 72-500 bows out as -600 orders flow inby Chad Trautvetter

Russia’s NordStar Air ordered three ATR 42-600s yesterday, adding to the Siberia-based car-rier’s previous commitment for a pair of the 48-seat twin turbo-props and options for two more. This takes ATR’s orders tally for

2011 to an impressive 148, and the European airframer now claims an 80-percent share of the market for 50- to 90-seat regional airliners sold this year.

ATR will cease production of the 68-seat ATR 72-500 next

year, as production of the mod-el’s successor–the 72-600–takes off, company CEO Filippo Bag-nato said yesterday at the Dubai Air Show.

The European Aviation Safety Agency certified the -600 in late May, and the new model entered service this summer with launch customer Royal Air Maroc; three more have since been delivered to customers in the Americas. According to ATR, which is a 50:50 joint ven-ture between Italy’s Finmecca-nica (Alenia Aeronautica) and EADS, the ATR 72-600 fleet is on the verge of surpassing 1,000 flying hours, and dispatch reli-ability has been “very close to 100 percent.”

Of its planned 53 aircraft deliveries this year, ATR expects to hand over a total of 10 ATR 72-600s to customers, Bagnato told AIN, but those figures will drastically change next year, when the manufacturer is sched-uled to ship sixty-seven -600s (a mix of 42-600s and 72-600s) and five 72-500s. Barring any pop-up orders for the 72-500, these five will be the last ones produced by the company. o

www.ainonline.com • November 15, 2011 • Dubai Airshow News 5

ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato had good news on new orders for his 50- to 90-seater.

M346 iMpresses in dubai display, but still no sale here

Remember the saga two years ago here, when Alenia Aermacchi thought that the M346 trainer was a near-certtainty for an order from the UAE Air Force? It never happened. Nevertheless, the Italians are back, pressing the merits of the M346 in the daily flying display. However, an informed source told AIN here yesterday that the UAE, in fact, may ditch the requirement for a new advanced jet trainer. They are just introducing the Pilatus PC-21 as their basic trainer, as a replacement for some rather old PC-7s. Because the PC-21 is much more pow-erful, we hear that future Emirati pilots may move directly from the PC-21 to the air force’s BAE Hawk Mk 102s, which would be retained. At present, student pilots proceed from the PC-7 to the older Hawk Mk63s, which would be retired without replacement. –C.P.

CoMlux plaCes aCj321 launCh order

Comlux Aviation placed the first-ever order for an Airbus ACJ321 at the Dubai Air Show on Monday, expanding the Airbus Corporate Jet family. Taking part in the signing ceremony (left to right) were Richard Gaona, Comlux CEO; John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer for customers; François Chazelle, Airbus Corporate Jets vice president of worldwide sales; and Habib Fekih, president of Airbus Middle East. The ACJ321 will have the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet and more floor space and baggage capacity than the ACJ318, ACJ319 and ACJ320, Air-bus says. The Comlux ACJ321, which will enter service in 2014, will be outfitted by Comlux America. � n

MA

RK

WA

GN

ER

MA

RK

WA

GN

ER

OnAir cellphone service for Falcon 7X cabin useby Thierry Dubois

OnAir is working on a sup-plemental type certificate for the Dassault Falcon 7X, which will be the first purpose-built busi-ness jet to receive the on-board cell phone service specialist’s sys-tem. So far, the system has been installed only in “bizliners,” such as Boeing BBJs or Airbus ACJs. OnAir allows passengers to use their phone in flight just as they would on the ground, at afford-able cost.

For the passenger, “noth-ing changes, and that changes everything,” said OnAir’s head of VIP, corporate and govern-mental aircraft David Bony. This is different from using a satellite telephone, he pointed out. The passenger can also receive calls on his or her personal cell phone while flying and thus can use the contact directory that it contains.

The first Falcon 7X to receive

the system will be one operated by Geneva-based Dasnair, the com-pany that manages the Dassault family’s aircraft and offers them for charter. According to Raphael Salamanca, the operator’s head of sales, OnAir’s service will be avail-able in Dasnair’s aircraft from March next year. Any authorized Falcon service center should be able to retrofit a 7X with the new equipment.

The package, which costs close to $250,000 (not including installa-tion man-hours), has been installed aboard about 15 bizliners, in addi-tion to airliners operated by Emir-ates and other carriers.

The passenger pays for the in-flight calls as extra lines on his regular telephone bill. Per-minute cost ranges from $4 to $5.60, Bony said. The sys-tem can accommodate up to 14 simultaneous calls. o

MA

RK

WA

GN

ER

ExecuJet, NAS partner on Riyadh FBO projectby Thierry Dubois

Dubai-based business avi-ation services group ExecuJet Middle East and NasJet, the private aviation arm of Saudi Arabia’s National Air Services (NAS), are to jointly operate a new FBO at King Khalid Inter-national Airport in Riyadh. The facility will occupy some 16,000 sq ft in the airport’s pri-vate aviation terminal.

“By forming a joint venture with NAS, we have won a large captive client base given its position as the leader in Saudi private aviation,” explained Mike Berry, managing direc-tor of ExecuJet Middle East.

According to NAS Holding CEO Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, services at the new FBO will include assistance with per-mit requests and full concierge services. FBO clients also will have access to NAS’s aircraft management and charter ser-vices. Swiss-based ExecuJet is active in aircraft manage-ment and charter, and recently

added a Challenger 850 and 650 to its Dubai-based fleet.

NasJet owns a fleet of 18 business aircraft and has another 60 under man-agement contracts. Until earlier this month NAS was the operating partner for the NetJets Middle East fractional ownership program, but NetJets has now terminated this fran-chise agreement.

ExecuJet already operates 14 FBOs across five continents. It is due to open a new FBO at Frankfurt, Germany, on December 1 in partner-ship with fuel supplier Shell Aviation.

In addition to provid-ing handling services in Riyadh, ExecuJet and NasJet will be cooperat-ing on the maintenance, repair and overhaul side of their busi-nesses. Through a partnership between NAS maintenance

subsidiary NAS Tech and Lufthansa Technik, ExecuJet and NAS customers are to be offered support for most busi-ness aircraft types.

Here at the Dubai Air Show yesterday, ExecuJet (Stand E370) celebrated the recent launch of another joint-ven-ture FBO in Turkey. At Istanbul Ataturk Airport, the company

runs an FBO with local com-pany Bilen Air Service, which has seen a 30-percent rise in traf-fic over recent months. o


news clips

z Eurocopter EC175 Certification ImminentEurocopter is in the final stages of its certification effort for

the EC175 medium-twin helicopter, which is aimed mainly at the offshore oil and gas market. The company appears confident that it can meet its target of gaining European approval by year-end.

The manufacturer’s pilots and engineers are still performing test flights. “We’ll release performance numbers very soon,” operational marketing team leader Daniel Cottard told AIN.

Demonstration flights, with customer pilots on board, have begun. The first delivery should thus happen late in 2012.

z Raytheon’s AutoTrac Radar Installed and ReadyRaytheon (Stand E320) has completed delivery and

installation of its latest generation AutoTrac III (AT3) air traffic management system at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

The automated system, which has 60 air traffic controller stations, will provide approach control services for Al Maktoum International, Dubai International, Sharjah International and Al Minhad Air Base. It will also support tower operations at the Dubai and Al Maktoum international airports.

In a press briefing on Monday here at the Dubai Air Show, Stephen Dumont, Raytheon director of international ATM, said the AT3 system for Dubai had completed site acceptance testing and awaits operational approval from the UAE government. The system comes with an advanced conflict-probe software tool and integrated arrival and departure management. This past summer, Raytheon trained about 20 controllers in the system’s operation; in turn, they will train another 100 to 150.

z Qantas Airliners Bio-coated by PermagardQantas Airlines has signed up for Permagard’s bio-coating

technology, making Australia the first country in the world to have all of its commercial airliners protected by the French company’s product. The core benefit, it claims, is the ability to preserve the aircraft’s exterior for a longer period, and defer repainting. It also translates into less frequent washing–the scarcity of water in Australia being a factor in the decision.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which has already coated its aircraft with Permagard (Stand E147), saved “millions of liters of water [in 2010] by reducing by 325 the number of exteriors washed,” said the company.

Permagard repels a wide range of contaminants ranging from runway grime to bugs and hydraulic fluid stains, while having the added benefit of reduced drag. The company quotes an Airbus publication, which asserts that a smooth skin can save, “at today’s fuel prices, $300,000 of fuel per aircraft per year.”

z CFM Prevails in Lufthansa Power CompetitionLufthansa has chosen CFM56-5Bs to power four new

Airbus A320s on firm order, CFM International announced at the Dubai Air Show yesterday. The announcement comes just a day after CFM revealed a $2 billion order from Republic Airways of the U.S. covering Leap-1A engines to power 20 A319neos and 60 A320neos.

Lufthansa signed its $60 million order for A320s in September and plans to take delivery in 2012 and 2013. It now operates a fleet of 80 CFM-powered A319s/A320s/A321s and 26 A340-300s. It also flies 62 CFM56-powered Boeing 737 Classics. Approximately 390 CFM engines power its operational fleet.

All of Lufthansa’s new engines will come equipped with the CFM56-5B performance improvement package (PIP) configuration. The new production standard for the CFM56-5B, the PIP-equipped engines entered service earlier this month. The PIP, which includes improvements to the core, fan and compressor blades and vanes, delivers a 0.5-percent fuel burn improvement.

The big order from Republic accompanied a rate-per-flight-hour agreement with CFM to support a total of 172 Leap-1A engines. Valued at some $3.9 billion over its 18-year term, the services and support arrangement guarantees engine maintenance costs on a dollar-per-engine-flight-hour basis.

Irkut announces orders for 235 MS-21 aircraft by James Wynbrandt

Russian aircraft manufac-turer Irkut announced here yes-terday that its MS-21 family of short- and medium-range twin-engine passenger jets (MS-21-200, -300 and -400) has now recorded orders for 235 airplanes. Among the customers are Rus-sia-based Aeroflot, Ilyushin Finance and Rostechknologii, as well as Malaysia’s Crecom. Kirill Budaev, Irkut vice president, sales and marketing, said the aircraft is on schedule for its maiden flight in 2014, with European certifica-tion and first customer deliveries expected in 2017.

The MS-21 will compete with the new Airbus A320neo and Boeing’s 737 MAX, both using next-generation engines on their legacy airframes, but Irkut says its clean-sheet design will offer superior econ-omy in purchase and operat-ing costs over both aircraft. “A clean-sheet design is [what is needed] for competitiveness,” Budaev said. “You’re not able to achieve that where you just

improve a program that is 50 years old.”

The Russian twinjet will feature composite wings and empennage and an aluminum fuselage. The fuselage is 25 per-cent wider than that of a 737 and 11 percent wider than an A320, and will still be lighter than either aircraft. The ques-tion most often asked about the design, Budaev said, is why the MC-21 doesn’t have winglets, given the design’s emphasis on efficiency. The high-aspect-ratio composite wings obviate the need for them, he said, the same reason the composite Boeing 787 has no winglets.

The second most frequently asked question, he said, was: given that Russia’s renown for aerodynamic engineering is not matched by a reputation for pro-duction quality and customer support, what is Irkut doing to address potential manufacturing and aftermarket support con-cerns? Budaev said the company is seeking international partners

to assist in those areas.The MS-21 series will have

two engine options: the Rus-sian PD-14, being developed by Aviadvigatel, and the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G, the same engine family that will power Bombardier’s CSeries.

In the cabin, the aisle width has been optimized to enable faster embarking and disem-barking, reducing turn times and increasing flight time up to 142 hours annually on the -200 models. Larger cabin bins will take bigger carry-on luggage, reducing the need for passengers to check baggage and thereby reducing their travel time.

The cockpit will feature sidestick controls and an avi-onics suite with optional head-up display. Budaev also said the next-generation flight system would reduce pilot workload and be capable of supporting single-pilot operations, should they be approved in the future. The hold, with more space for revenue-generating cargo, is designed for easy loading and unloading.

The MS-21-200, with a 150-passenger capacity, is priced at $69 million, and the MC-21-300, with a 180-pas-senger capacity, is priced at $78 million. o

Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, left, CEO of NAS Holding Group, celebrates completing a joint-venture FBO agreement with ExecuJet CEO Niall Olver.

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

ACCORDING TO THE ORANGE BOOK, ONE ENGINE

IS NOW EVEN BETTER AT SQUEEZING

THE MOST OUT OF YOUR JUICE.

Airbus has notably revised its performance handbook, or “orange book” for the Engine Alliance GP7200 powered A380. Fuel figures for the Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 are now amended. There in black and white, is proof that the GP7200 burns less fuel than anyone predicted. Far less. In fact, the Engine Alliance GP7200 beats its fuel specifications by 1.4%. Saving over 244,000 US gallons of fuel per aircraft, per year, which is more than $700,000 USD or about 28,000 free miles. Proving you don’t need extra juice to fly further. Just an extra special engine. See it at www.enginealliance.com

Engine Alliance, LLC, a joint company of General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney. THE FUEL SAVING ENGINE FOR THE A380

AIN_OrangeBook_352x275.indd 1 13/10/2011 09:31

Engine Alliance leads the race between A380 engine suppliersby Bill Carey

Engine Alliance (Stand E240), the joint venture between engine manufac-turers General Electric (GE) and Pratt & Whitney (P&W), claims pole position so far in supplying engines for the giant Airbus A380. The Hartford, Connecti-cut-based group says it has been selected for 55 percent of A380 engine sales com-pared to Rolls-Royce’s 45-percent share with its Trent 900.

There are currently 27 GP7200-pow-ered A380s in service, with four more to be delivered by the end of this year, Mary Ellen Jones, Engine Alliance president, reported Monday at a Dubai Air Show press briefing. The main customer for the engine is Dubai-based Emirates Airline, with 17 A380-800s now in service and three more expected to enter service by year-end.

Since the engine entered service, it has experienced only one in-flight shut-down, on an Emirates A380. An Engine Alliance executive attributed that to “an assembly issue, not a design issue. [It was] a quality issue that we corrected.”

Customers Around the WorldKorean Air, another GP7200 engine

customer, started service with the A380 in June this year, taking four aircraft in quick succession. The carrier will receive a fifth A380 this month, Jones said. Air France is operating six GP72000-pow-ered A380s. The next engine selection is anticipated from Qatar Airways, which has ordered five A380s.

The GP7200 is certified at 70,000 pounds of thrust on the base A380. Jones said Airbus is adding a 72,000-pound-thrust rating to its catalog, which will enable additional takeoff weight on short runways. According to Engine Alliance, the rating allows for around a 7.5-metric-ton increased takeoff weight on an 8,200-foot runway, translating into a choice of either an additional 240 nm in range or allowing more payload in passengers and cargo. “It’s really a software change,” Jones said. “It’s an easy change to make, but it’s one we want to be able to offer our customers on an as-needed basis.”

Well SupportedEngine Alliance has established an

initial MRO facility for the GP7200 at the GE overhaul facility in Wales (UK), which also does work on the GE90 engine. Emirates has announced that it will break ground early next year on its own maintenance facility for GP7200 and GE90 work, while Air France-KLM plans to maintain the engine in Paris.

Jones said Engine Alliance has a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, part of Mubadala Aerospace, to support GP7200 engines in Abu Dhabi. “We obviously have a large concentration [of engines] in this part of the world between Emirates and Etihad for the time being, so it’s nice to have regional capability located very close to the cus-tomer,” she said. o


DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

Mubadala and boeing Strengthen

induStrial tieS

Mubadala Aerospace and Boeing signed a pair of agreements here at the Dubai Air Show yesterday. The first contract involves Strata Man-ufacturing, Mubadala’s advanced composites facility in Al Ain, UAE, which aims to become a “Tier 1” sup-plier of composite aerostructures to the U.S. manufacturer. The second agreement sets up a strategic partner-ship between Mubadala’s Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Over-haul Center (AMMROC) and Boeing Defense, Security & Space, whereby AMMROC will support Boeing DSS military aircraft platforms in the UAE. Both agreements are aimed at fur-thering Mubadala’s ambitions to make further inroads in civil and defense aerospace, and follow the November 2009 strategic framework agreement signed by the two companies. n

Avic’s MA600 bows in on the Dubai stageby Thierry Dubois

China-based manufacturer Avic has brought its MA600 twin turboprop to Dubai Air Show and the aircraft is per-forming daily in the flying display, mak-ing its international airshow debut.

Two aircraft are now operating in China for training purposes and delivery of the third–the one that is performing here at the show–will be to Lao Airlines. That delivery is scheduled for the first quarter of 2012.

The first two MA600s already deliv-ered went to the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (Cafuc) in December 2010 (seven months after Chinese certifi-cation) and in September this year. Avic has received a total 16 orders so far.

Multiple ImprovementsThe new 50- to 60-seater MA600 is

claimed to be heavily improved over the MA60, its predecessor. Avic said here at the show that the airframe has enhanced fatigue life and maintainability, while the empty weight has been reduced and stairs have been integrated into the pas-senger door.

In the cockpit, Rockwell Collins has supplied its Pro Line 21 avionics suite. The aircraft is certified for 120-min-ute extended twin-engine operations. Pratt & Whitney Canada is providing the PW127J engines, which contrib-ute to better runway performance, and Honeywell is supplying the auxiliary power unit.

Asked about certification in other countries, an Avic official answered that

“the MA600 will be certified in those countries where it will operate.” This would see it following in the footsteps of the MA60, which is certified in countries such as Zimbabwe, Congo, the Philip-pines, Sri Lanka and Bolivia.

Additional RolesThe MA600’s maximum takeoff

weight is 48,200 pounds. It can cruise at up to 277 knots and has a maximum range (at 232 knots) of 1,320 nm. In addi-tion to the passenger version, the com-pany is offering a variant for maritime patrol, rain seeding and rescue.

Preliminary design is said to be com-plete and Avic has interviewed 120 oper-ators as to their preferences, officials said here at the airshow. Entry into service is planned for 2017, and Avic is now work-ing on a follow-on–the MA700–with a first flight scheduled for 2015. o

Avic Pitches Y-12F Aircar for 19-seat Market

Avic unveiled the Y-12F Aircar 19-seat twin turboprop, an upgrade from the Y-12E with a glass cockpit and retractable landing gear. The cockpit is fitted with Honeywell Apex avionics; Pratt & Whitney Canada is supplying 1,100-shp PT6A-65B turboprops.

Fast cruise and long-range speeds stand at 230 and 210 knots, respectively. Takeoff distance is predicted to be 1,770 feet. Full passenger range is said to reach 700 nm.

Efficiency, if measured in pounds-per-mile-per-hour, is 2.25 times better than that of the Y-12E, according to chief de-signer Li Xianzheng. –T.D.

The MA600 ‘Modern Ark’ taking part in the flying display this week is destined to be Lao Airlines’ first example of the type.

Pictured L-R at the signing of the new agreements: Homaid Al Shemmari, executive director of Mubadala Aerospace, Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing, and Dennis Mullenburg, president & CEO of Boeing Defense, Security & Space.

PH

OTO

S: M

AR

K W

AG

NE

R

With Gulfstream ownership comes the backing of top-rated product support and an

unprecedented commitment to professionalism and customer service. Twenty-four hour

technical support paired with field-service representatives strategically located around

the world ensure that every aspect of your ownership experience is rewarding.

Ruedi KRafT +41 52 317 4305 [email protected] GulfsTReam.com

an excepTionaloWneRship expeRience aWaiTs.

The WoRld sTandaRd

Visit Gulfstream at chalet #9 to learn more.

Fleet_AIN_Dubai_Day3.indd 1 10/18/11 3:21 PM

Lockheed Martin unit enhances AH-64’s roleby David Donald

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (Stand E450) is continuing to expand the capa-bilities of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Block III attack heli-copter with sensor upgrades, a new weapon option and greater networking capabilities. The lat-ter is being achieved through the Longbow unmanned aerial sys-tem tactical common data link assembly (UTA), a product of Longbow LLC (a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman).

Longbow UTA is a two-way, high-bandwidth Ku-band data link that is installed in a mast-mounted assembly in place of the Longbow fire-con-trol radar. It is fully integrated into the mission computer, and can be used to control UAVs and to receive data from them.

The Longbow UTA first flew

in January 2009, with trials being undertaken in tracking UAVs and receiving data from them. Just recently the team achieved a major milestone when a General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle was completely controlled from the Apache cockpit in a series of tests. Success in these trials will smooth the way for UTA to enter service with the Block III Apache next year.

Lockheed Martin is also implementing a series of capabil-ity improvements to the Apache’s mission equipment, including the VUIT data link that allows sharing of full-motion video from air and ground imagery sources. Improvements are also being made in the modernized target acquisition designation sight/pilot night-vision sensor (M-TADS/PNVS). A modern-ized day sensor assembly

(M-DSA) replaces an older unit, offering enhanced performance and better reliability. The VNsight has been integrated into the M-PNVS to provide low visible light/near-infrared imagery to the forward-looking infrared imagery to enhance flight safety and pro-vide tactical advantages. o


news clipsz DHL Taps Maximus for European Lift

Maximus Air (Stand C200) has signed an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance lease agreement with express package carrier DHL. The deal calls on Maximus to operate two newly converted Airbus A300-600RP2F freighters across Europe for DHL.

“We are delighted to have been selected by one of the world’s foremost logistics companies to provide them with these aircraft under an ACMI agreement,” said Fathi Buhazza, Maximus Air president and CEO. “Going beyond the shores of the UAE and the region, and further into international airspace, is part of our new growth strategy.”

Maximus has also extended its current ACMI arrangement with Etihad Crystal Cargo Air, for which it also flies the A300-600 freighters, until August 2012. Three Airbus A300-600s that Maximus acquired in early 2011 have undergone freighter conversions at EADS to support such charter and ACMI lease contracts.

In addition, the company has extended by five years its current component supply contact with Lufthansa Technik and has added new aircraft to that deal. Lufthansa Technik also will carry out line maintenance in Europe for Maximus Air’s Airbus A300-600 freighters.

z Risk Management Seminar On for TomorrowTomorrow at the Dubai Air Show the Middle East Business

Aviation Association (MEBAA) and Gates & Partners, the London-based international law firm, will hold a free one-day seminar covering emergency preparedness, liability issues and other topics related to operator risk management. The seminar will take place in Conference Room 4 at the Dubai Airport Expo.

MEBAA chairman Ali Al Naqbi and representatives from Kenyon, the disaster management company, will join seminar chair Aoife O’Sullivan, lead partner with the law firm. Kenyon recently signed an MoU with MEBAA allowing members to take advantage of Kenyon’s expertise when preparing for a crisis or handling an accident.

Themes to be presented include an analysis of where liability falls should an incident occur, how to fully prepare for unexpected situations and emergencies, exploring the potential legal consequences of grey charters and how to select the most suitable insurance policy, said the organizers in a press release.

The seminar, which is free of charge, is aimed at operators, brokers, financiers, insurers and other members of MEBAA.

z ELBAT Joint Venture Shows Range of ProductsItalian electronic defense company Elettronica and

Abu Dhabi-based Baynunah Aviation Technology recently established the ELTBAT Electronic Systems Development joint venture to act as a center of excellence in the Gulf region in the electronic warfare field. Here at the Dubai Air Show, Elettronica (Stand C330) is showing a range of the company’s products, including the ELT/572 directional infrared countermeasures set. This is a laser-based system that is housed in a small, agile turret that is primarily tasked with providing defense against shoulder-launched MANPADS weapons.

Elettronica is also showing the ELT/800 system that gathers electronic intelligence across a wide signal domain, and the ELT/243 PET (passive emitter tracking) system that uses time difference of arrival (TDOA) techniques to accurately track noncooperative emitting targets.

Company expertise across a range of electronic defense applications has been brought together in its new Virgilius offering. This draws on the latest equipment and signal processing techniques to provide a fully integrated electronic warfare system for both fixed- and rotary-wing applications. It is modular so that it can be tailored to customer requirements, and can provide a detection and classification capability across a wide spectrum of threat radars.

Technology upgrades help keep the Apache Block III relevant.

desert longbow

The capabilities of the Boeing Apache Longbow are well known, and upgraded sensors and weapons sys-tems keep a mature design effective in modern combat scenarios. Here in Dubai, one of the UAE army’s AH-64Ds is on display. For details on this aircraft’s new technology, see the story above. n

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

Weapon Systems

Lockheed Martin is nearing the completion of the develop-ment of DAGR (Defense Ad-vanced GPS Receiver), which adds laser guidance to exist-ing Hydra 70 unguided rockets. It will shortly enter the system qualification phase, leading to readiness for delivery next year. The weapon has been fired 31 times so far, including 21 airborne launches from the AH-64D, AH-6 Little Bird and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. As well as new applications, DAGR is compatible with all platforms capable of launching the widely used Hellfire missile. n

Fire Scout preps for voyage; looks back on eventful 2011by David Donald

Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8 Fire Scout rotary-wing unmanned air vehicle is gearing up for a new at-sea deployment in January, sailing aboard the frigate USS Simpson as it moves closer to U.S. Navy operational evaluation next Spring. For the Fire Scout, 2011 has been an event-ful year, including combat deployments to two theaters, a combat loss and the Navy’s first unmanned flight using bio-fuel, undertaken in late September with a JP-5/camelina-based fuel mix.

In August the frigate USS Halybur-ton completed a seven-month deploy-ment during which it had embarked two MQ-8B Fire Scouts for operations along-side manned Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawks. During the cruise, the Fire Scouts of HSL-42 Det 2 undertook numerous mis-sions, including anti-piracy duties and classified payload trials.

The Halyburton cruise greatly matured the MQ-8 system, leading to the type’s deployment from the vessel during Oper-ation Unified Protector over Libya. The Fire Scouts performed regular ISR/tar-geting missions, during which one of the aircraft was shot down on June 21 by pro-Ghaddafi forces. Details of the event have not been released, but it has been offi-cially confirmed as a combat loss rather than an operational one.

In May, three MQ-8Bs were deployed to northern Afghanistan to provide ISR coverage, specifically around 300 hours of full-motion video (FMV) surveillance per month. After six months in which the system proved itself to be a valuable force-multiplier, Northrop Grumman received a follow-on $18.65 million con-tract from Naval Air Systems Command in late September to maintain the detach-ment for a further year.

Deployment to Afghanistan validated the Fire Scout’s capabilities while oper-ating in an overland role. This has been of great value as Northrop Grumman strives to explain to potential custom-ers the advantages of rotary-wing UAVs for ISR tasks as opposed to fixed-wing. The MQ-8’s ability to use unprepared landing zones and reduced manpower

requirements are key attributes. The Fire Scout is being offered to a

number of countries, and opportunities exist in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates. Around a year ago, the MQ-8 was demonstrated here, while also undergoing trials of hot-tem-perature modifications.

Weaponizing the MQ-8BIn terms of ongoing development,

Northrop Grumman received a $17 mil-lion contract on September 23 to weap-onize the MQ-8B with the BAE Systems APKWS laser-guided rocket. This pro-gram is a Navy special-interest item for rapid deployment within 18 months. Test firing is likely to commence in mid-2012, leading to delivery by March 2013.

Funding has been approved, but has yet to be allocated, for installation of radar in the form of the Telephonics RDR-1700B maritime search sensor. This was one of the key sensor systems envisioned for the MQ-8 from the outset. “We’ve been try-ing to get radar on the Fire Scout for years,” remarked Mike Fuqua, Northrop Grumman BD tactical unmanned sys-tems, “so we’re very happy.”

Perhaps the biggest development to the Fire Scout is the migration of the advanced control and avionics system from the Sch-weizer 333 platform (MQ-8B) to the Bell 407 helicopter (MQ-8C). Last December Northrop Grumman and Bell’s Xworx flew the Fire-X demonstrator (a modified, unmanned Model 407) for the first time. Since then it has been busy on work to val-idate the adaptation of the Fire Scout sys-tem to the larger helicopter. “The aircraft’s flying regularly at Yuma,” added Fuqua, “and we’re eager to get funding.”

The MQ-8C has been developed to meet an urgent operational need from U.S. Special Operations Command, with an anticipated total of 28 air vehicles. It had been expected that all future procure-ment would switch to the larger platform, but the Navy is “not clear on its require-ments yet,” said Fuqua, and may still require the smaller MQ-8B for the Litto-ral Combat Ship program. o


Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned rotary-wing UAV has matured through operational use.

FLIGHTPLANNING

COMPLETE

www.hadid.aero

[email protected]

dossier : BOM-11135 client : Bombardier date/modif. rédaction relecture D.A. épreuve à

description : Annonce magazine Octobre

124/10/11

95%titre : « A relationship built on land... »

sc/client infographe production couleur(s)publication : A.I.N. Magazine

4cformat : 10,8125” x 13,875” infographe : DS

3530, boulevard Saint-Laurent, bureau 400, Montréal (Québec) H2X 2V1 t 514 844-2624 tc 514 844-5041

A RELATIONSHIP BUILT ON LAND AND PROVEN IN THE SKY

For 35 years, Bombardier and TAG have landed the world’s best aircraft at your doorstep. Discover intelligent, business-driving assets that surpass expectations. Bombardier Challenger super-midsize and large aircraft. Global super-large and ultra-long-range jets. The newest Global 6000 aircraft that will take you further and faster than any business aircraft flying today. Experience the best in the sky: built by Bombardier, distributed by TAG Aeronautics.

Your ideal aircraft awaits. Talk to a TAG sales representative today at 514-855-7771.

TAG Aeronautics is the exclusive representative and distributor of Bombardier Global and Challenger series business jets in most of the Arab League countries and Turkey.

www.tagaeronautics.com

Bombardier, Challenger, Global and Global 6000 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. © 2011 Bombardier Inc. All rights reserved.

max

ime

engl

and

BOM_11135_AIN_SP.indd 1 11-10-28 13:19

Telemetry system also helps to locate downed aircraftby Thierry Dubois

Astrium Star Airborne Data Service (Stand W860) is at the Dubai Air Show promoting a new air-to-ground link that is

designed to be faster and more relevant to airline safety eco-nomics, while also playing an important role in accident

recovery and investigation. The UK-based company,

which is a partnership between EADS subsidiary Astrium and Star Navigation of Toronto, Canada, hopes this equipment will become mandatory for use in events such as the Air France 447 crash, when it took almost two years to find the wreckage of an Airbus A330. Indeed, the

system can stream position data via satellite, said Paul Fisher, who is responsible for the firm’s design authority.

Triggered by an unusual air-craft attitude, for example, the stream of information keeps trans-mitting regardless of the attitude. The antenna has been designed to stay “in sight” of Iridium satel-lites even when the aircraft rolls. In

case it becomes inverted, a second antenna, under the aircraft’s belly, takes over for the upper antenna.

Besides this triggered stream-ing feature, two other trans-mission protocols are active continuously. They are geared toward optimizing operating economics. Performance infor-mation is transmitted every five minutes, and each minute, a “data burst” sends the aircraft’s position. All this is supposed to help operations specialists on the ground optimize fuel use and monitor aircraft system trends. In addition, some speci-fied maintenance events in flight can trigger additional “bursts.”

“Our point is not to send a lot of information but rather to send the information the customer wants,” Fisher stressed. Some data sorting and analysis is done on board, prior to compressing and sending. In that regard, the new product is said to be better than the existing, widely used ACARS system, Fisher said.

Asked about cost, he said there are an installation charge and a license fee on top of a charge for data transmission, but he would not give further details.

The company is now testing its system on two aircraft: an Airbus A310, which is in regu-lar service with an airline, and a Sorrell Hyperbipe, a light aero-batic biplane.

The EADS subsidiary also has been in touch with the French air accident investiga-tion office (BEA). “Our system meets the BEA’s requirement for six-nautical-mile location pre-cision anytime [even before an event triggers continuous trans-mission],” Fisher said.

Astrium Star has also been in contact with the Interna-tional Civil Aviation Organiza-tion (ICAO), which may consider making such systems mandatory. They would greatly help in locat-ing the wreckage of downed air-craft. As the AF447 probe proved so cruelly, flight data and cockpit voice recorders are useless if they cannot be located. o


News NoteHoneywell to support APUs for Dubai operatorsHoneywell has signed a 10-year, $20 million mainte-nance cost agreement to sup-port its 131-9B APUs ( auxil-iary power units) on flydubai’s fleet of Boeing 737-800s. The contract provides flydubai with a “stable, predictable maintenance cost structure,” Honeywell said. The airline operates 20 Boeing 737s and has another 30 on order. n

®

Don’t miss out - book your presence online at

www.bahraininternationalairshow.com or call +44 (0) 1252 532 800

Join us for the second Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Air Base in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This global aviation event offers a

proven platform for high level business opportunities. The inaugural show was sold out, hosting 40 participating companies, 94 aircraft and visiting delegations from 25 countries. Deals worth approximately one

billion dollars were signed by the international participants.

BIAS is a unique and innovative exhibition that has been tailored for maximum business return.

“Where the world of aerospace comes together”

International AirshowBahrain

19 - 21 January 2012

In association with

Raytheon’s standoff weapon okayed for F-35 deploymentby David Donald

Raytheon (E320) has successfully completed fit-checks for the AGM-154C-1 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW C-1) in the internal carriage bay of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The checks ensured that the weapon fitted into the bay with suf-ficient clearance for the doors to oper-ate unhindered.

JSOW C-1 will add a significant attack capability to the JSF’s repertoire. It is the latest member of the modular JSOW family, and Raytheon claims it is the world’s first net-enabled standoff weapon. The weapon uses an integrated GPS inertial navigation system with imaging infrared terminal guidance, and has been used widely in combat in both its AGM-154A version (with com-bined effects warhead) and the AGM-154C (with a unitary Broach warhead). The weapon is unpowered, but has a glide range of over 60 miles.

Also known as JSOW Block III, the C-1 version was developed using com-pany funds and adds a two-way strike common data link. This gives the

weapon a maritime moving-target capa-bility, enabling it to perform anti-ship attacks as well as its primary land-attack duties. The first free-flight test was per-formed on July 26 this year, the weapon being launched from a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Separately, Raytheon has developed a wireless interface for the Enhanced Pave-way dual-mode (GPS/IMU and laser) guided bomb, enabling the weapon to be carried by aircraft that cannot currently support it without major wiring modifi-cations and changes to the stores man-agement system.

Called WiPak, the system comprises a small wireless transmitter and pilot inter-face in the cockpit, and a small receiver unit on the Paveway weapon. They con-nect using technology similar to that employed in consumer devices.

WiPak has completed testing, and has already been integrated into the Embraer Super Tucano light-attack aircraft. Raytheon is now working on testing and deploying WiPak on other aircraft types. o


Raytheon’s AGM-154C-1 joint standoff weapon (JSOW) has been approved for use on the F-35 joint strike fighter. The unpowered weapon can glide 60 miles.

real-time in-flight coordination from jetex

Jetex Flight Support has upgraded its Flight Explorer so that the product’s operations control center can link with FBOs to “coordinate aircraft movements in real time.” The company said it is “an essential flight operations management decision support tool that incorporates multiple data feeds, dynamic weather overlays, situational alerts and air traf-fic tools.”

The Jetex Web portal allows users to track their aircraft and to commu-nicate with crews. “This system takes the client experience to another level and provides a cutting-edge solution enabling real-time aircraft flight track-ing and direct communication between the OCC and the flight deck crew,” said Djamal Nedjadi, Jetex flight oper-ations director.� o

HATESHARING?Yes you can share, but you do not have to. Not when what you really want is your very own jet, flown by your own crew, and available solely for your use. Now a new program from ExecuJet makes experiencing your own aircraft as simple, and as predictable, as it could possibly be - from acquisition, through financing, management, operations, maintenance, and ultimately disposal. Contact ExecuJet today and discuss the availability of non-recourse and off balance sheet financing of the SimplyFly Program. A quick and simple approval and contracting process which gets you flying.

Contact us today on +41 44 876 [email protected] www.execujet.net

A F R I C A A S I A AU ST R A L A S I A E U RO P E L AT I N A M E R I C A M I D D L E E A ST

Imag

e pr

ovid

ed b

y B

omba

rdie

r Inc

.

Visit us at Stand E370

www.bellhelicopter.com

You didn’t get to where you are by compromising. Neither did Bell Helicopter, which is why there are no compromises in a 429. With impressive range and speed, plus an astonishingly smooth and quiet ride, the 429 gets you where you need to go in comfort and style. Spacious and adaptable, it was designed precisely for your fast-paced, high-stakes world.

© 2011 Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Your Mission: smart business

Rolls-Royce goes still greener with fuel-efficient Trent 900by Charles Alcock

Rolls-Royce has introduced the first phase of a two-phase performance improvement for the Trent 900 engines that power the Airbus A380 airliner. Turbofans now being delivered to A380 operators have a one-percent improve-ment in specific fuel consumption (sfc) compared with the initial units. Second-phase improvements that are due to enter service during 2013 will deliver a further 0.8-percent reduction in fuel burn.

Trent 900 program director Rosie Toogood explained that all the improve-ments introduced focus on improving air flow and cooling the engines. The first per-formance improvement package includes new elliptical leading edges (ELEs), greater low-pressure blade tip clearance and a new hard coat for the high-pres-sure compressor drum. The second per-formance improvement package now being finalized will cover the following ele-ments: optimized fan-blade tip clearance, improved cooling of the turbine case, improved sealing for the low-pressure tur-bine, ELEs for the engine section stators, reprofiling of engine frames and improve-ments to the air system.

Toogood said the Trent 900 improve-ments have been engineered directly as a result of progress made with Rolls-Royce’s new Trent 1000 and Trent XWB engines (to power the Boeing 787 and A350XWB, respectively). On October 18, Airbus installed the first Trent XWB test engine on an A380 testbed being used for the A350XWB development. Other

new features have been derived from the Trent 700EP turbofan, and also from the V2500Select and the latest versions of the AE3007. More than half the improved fea-tures will be retrofitable during overhauls.

According to Peter Johnstone, Rolls-Royce’s head of marketing for Airbus programs, the Trent 900 is now the most environmentally friendly powerplant available to A380 operators. He claimed that it now promises the lowest lifetime fuel burn, the smallest carbon footprint (in terms of carbon dioxide), and the lowest emissions levels for nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocar-bons (but not yet for smoke emissions).

To date, 11 of the 16 A380 operators have selected the Trent 900, and so far 30 Trent-powered A380s are in service. Those operators include Malaysia Airlines, which is to start taking delivery of the six A380s it has on order in the second quarter of 2012 (the first of those six made its first flight on October 20). The Trent 900 has logged almost one million flight hours and more than 103,000 flight cycles.

Last week, Rolls made the 1,000th delivery of the Trent 700 engine that pow-ers the Airbus A330. It has been supplied for an aircraft to be operated by Cathay Pacific, which was the first Trent 700 operator back in 1995.

The Trent 700 also has been upgraded with an enhanced performance package, which delivers a one-percent reduction in fuel burn. It is based on changes similar to those now offered for the Trent 900. o

Quick-change sensor station gives C-130 a SABIR packageby Chris Pocock

A novel means of adding surveillance sensors to the C-130 quickly and with minimum modification is on display here at the Dubai Air Show. Highland Inte-grated Surveillance Systems (HISS) can replace the paratroop door on the Her-cules with a roll-up door that includes a mount for sensors that retracts for take-off and landing; a large bubble window; collapsible workstation for an observer/operator; and an equipment rack.

The Special AirBorne Mission Instal-lation and Response (SABIR) system has already been fitted to some U.S. Navy C-130s when flying special operations missions, and to a U.S. Marine Corps C-130 in Japan. The system is attract-ing interest from the UAE and other air forces, according to HISS president and CEO Roger Smibert. The mount can take EO/IR sensor balls, small radars, SIGINT or electronic warfare equipment. When extended, it provides 360-degree coverage. An ejection tube for sonotubes or other SAR stores is also included. Two people can fit or remove the SABIR sys-tem in only one hour.

The modified door does not affect the C-130’s cargo-carrying capacity in any way. Moreover, a C-130 operator might fit SABIR doors to both sides of the fuselage to provide a multi-sensor capa-bility. According to Smibert, the installa-tion overcomes the weight limitation and turbulence issues of a nose-mounted sen-sor installation. The maximum payload is 400 pounds, and maximum sensor length is eight feet. The installation costs $1- to $1.5 million, exclusive of the payload.

The SABIR was originally designed by Airdyne for fitting to Canadian Armed Forces C-130s, for the carriage of a FLIR Systems EO/IR sensor ball. HISS (Stand E504) is another Canadian company that specializes in the fitting of

airborne surveillance systems to helicop-ters and fixed-wing aircraft, and has the marketing rights to the SABIR. When the Canadian program was delayed, air-worthiness certification was done by the U.S. Air Force.

Smibert told AIN that the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has endorsed the mod. The SABIR has also been fitted to the U.S. Air Force LC-130 that flies in the Antarctic for the National Science Foun-dation. It carries an X-band radar that is used to survey landing strips in case snow has covered a developing crack in the ice.

Prompted by one potential cus-tomer, HISS has done preliminary design for a CH-47F Chinook helicop-ter door installation.

HISS specializes in fitting surveillance equipment to aircraft and helicopters. It has added sensors on many differ-ent platforms, ranging in size from Fen-nec helicopters to an F-27. The company established a subsidiary in the Emirates in 2008 and lists a number of customers in the region, including the Bahrain, Dubai and Oman police forces; the UAE Border Guard; the Qatar Air Force; and the Paki-stan Army, Navy and Air Force. o


Maximum payload of the sensor system is 400 pounds; maximum length is eight feet. Two crew members can remove or install the unit in an hour.

bahrain to host air fair early next year

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Sakhir Airbase is set to host its second Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) early next year (Jan. 19-21, 2012). As of press time, the event was almost completely sold out in terms of exhibit space with just one remaining chalet unit available.

The show is purposely restricted to just 40 exhibiting firms, each of which occupies a VIP chalet with immediate access to its own static display area. It also presents a daily flying display.

BIAS 2012 will feature a new VIP gala dinner, hosted by HH Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is chairman of the show’s new sponsor, Batelco, a Bahrain-based provider of integrated communications. Among the companies confirmed as exhibitors for the 2012 show are: Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Cessna, Bombardier, General Electric and Sikorsky. Other sponsors include BMW, Gulf Air and fuel group GPIC.

“There are still opportunities to take part in the show in terms of sponsorship and cor-porate hospitality and I would urge interested parties to contact us as soon as possible,” said Amanda Stainer, events and exhibitions director of show organizer FIL. The UK-based company organizes the biennial Farnborough International airshow and promotes BIAS in partnership with Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs. –C.A.

HISS offers this C-130 sensor kit... ...seen here from the operator’s perspective.

CIVIL DEFENCE FUTURESSPACE UAS SECURITY

AIN_MASTER_275x352.indd 4 15/09/2011 07:29

Korea set to kick off a series of radar-retrofit competitions by Chris Pocock

South Korea is expected to issue a request for proposals for an F-16 radar ret-rofit this week. It could be the first country to decide between the Northrop Grumman Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) and the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR). Taiwan will follow, and Singa-pore is another prospect, according to Larry Smeeley, Raytheon’s APG-79 international capture manager.

But now that the U.S. Air Force has revealed its own plan for an F-16 radar retrofit, it’s possible that inter-national customers could await its choice, Smeeley told AIN. Although the service recently outlined the F-16 upgrade to Congress, “I haven’t yet seen a budget line item,” Smee-ley cautioned. Raytheon is not the incumbent supplier of F-16 radars, but it has flight-tested the RACR on a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The RACR has been designed as a drop-in fit for both the F-16 and F-18A/B/C/D Hornets. For the latter, the RACR antenna can be larger and the equipment racks are mounted on the aircraft’s two-rail slider, rather than the hard mount with gull-wing panel access that the F-16 provides.

In both designs the line replaceable units have 90 percent commonality with

the Raytheon APG-79 AESA radar of the F-18E/F Super Hornet. Modes can be ported between the APG-79 and both versions of the RACR. Another key fea-ture, according to Smeeley, is that the upgrade involves changes only to the radar’s operational flight program, not to that of the airframe.

The U.S. Navy has not yet expressed interest in retrofitting its legacy Hornets with an AESA such as the RACR, but Raytheon sees export possibilities among the eight international F/A-18A-D coun-tries, all of which have received presenta-tions via their user group. Smeeley said a fit-check of the RACR has been done on a U.S. Marine Corps F-18C. The installation process took only 42 minutes, he added. o


your own ‘total eclipse,’ on demand

Eclipse Aerospace has received a United Arab Emirates type certificate for its Total Eclipse twin-engine light jet. The approval is based on its existing U.S. certification. The company has secured commitments and contracts for five Total Eclipse aircraft from customers who will register their aircraft in the UAE.

An example of the Total Eclipse is being shown on the Dubai Air Show static display by the aircraft’s Middle East distributor, Turkey-based EA Aerospace. Demonstration flights are on offer.

A new version of the aircraft, the Eclipse 550, is currently in development, for delivery from 2013. –I.S.

you went to the dubai air show and you saw...what?

Was it the latest design concept from “Belikorsky?” The ultimate in shipborne mission flexibility? Blink twice. Maybe it was just something you ate the night before.

Rizon Jet on to ‘city of light’ by Charles Alcock

After completing development of executive terminals at Doha Interna-tional Airport in Qatar and at London’s Biggin Hill Airport, Rizon Jet is laying plans for a further FBO development at Paris Le Bourget Airport. According to the Qatar-based company’s acting CEO, Harold Stoddard, the site for the new development could be agreed by early

next year and the facility’s planned open-ing is in 2014.

Rizon’s maintenance, repair and over-haul facility at Doha is in the final stages of getting European approval to work on aircraft in Bombardier’s Global Express and Challenger families, as well as Hawker Beechcraft jets. It will then seek the same approvals from authorities in the United

Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ber-muda. The Biggin Hill facility already holds European, Qatar, Bermuda and Cayman Islands approvals for the same aircraft types, as well as for the Hawker Beechcraft Premier I and Cessna Citation 560 series.

The next aircraft to join Rizon’s man-agement fleet will an Airbus ACJ319 and a Bombardier Global 6000, which are due to arrive in 2013, when they will join a pair of Challenger 605s, a Hawker and a Global XRS. In the UK, Rizon is partnered with Oryx Jet, which operates a

Hawker 900XP and a Premier I. Stoddard told AIN that, over the next

two years, Rizon wants to add a dozen or more aircraft. “The economic down-turn has impacted everyone’s plans in terms of the amount of business we get,” he said. “I am not sure we will ever get back to previous levels, but we see some stabilization and I have seen an uptick in our own business.”

The main investor in Rizon Jet is Qatar-based private company GSSG Holdings. The total investment in the new Doha and London FBOs was $50 million. o

Gama launches charter ops in Saudi Arabia

Business aviation services group Gama Group is expanding its services to Saudi Arabia through a new joint venture company with Imitiaz Co. of Jeddah. The partnership will be known as Gama Avi-ation and the plan is for it to be opera-tional early next year at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport.

Gama Aviation will specialize in air-craft management and aims to oper-ate charter services under its own Saudi GACA Part 135 air carrier certificate. The next step will be to add mainte-nance and consultancy services, repli-cating Gama’s services in Europe, the U.S. and the UAE.

Dave Edwards, Gama’s regional

managing director, will oversee Gama Aviation in Saudi Arabia. “This is a sig-nificant milestone for Gama and is the culmination of a substantial period of planning and negotiation,” said Marwan Khalek, Gama CEO. “Breaking into the important Saudi market, the biggest market for business aviation in the Mid-dle East, is a huge achievement and a long-held wish of Gama,” he added.

Gama Aviation obtained its UAE GCAA air operator’s certificate in Febru-ary 2010 and now supports a staff of 25 people and five managed aircraft at both Sharjah International and Dubai Inter-national airports, including a newly deliv-ered Airbus ACJ318.

The UK-based company said it is on track to obtain its UAE GCAA CAR 145 maintenance approval and is work-ing to complete a new hangar facility at Sharjah that will provide hangar space and maintenance facilities for business jets in the region. The facility also offers FBO services. –B.C.

Raytheon’s RACR package fits F-16s and F/A-18s.

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

MA

RK

WA

GN

ER

www.ainonline.com • November 15, 2011 • Dubai Airshow News 21

news clipsz Space Travel Champion Burt Rutan Visits Dubai

General aviation design guru and space pioneer Burt Rutan was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Dubai Air Show yesterday, though the founder and ex-CEO of Scaled Composite protested, “I haven’t done anything for months.” Rutan retired from his company earlier this year and moved to a home in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, but the feet-up posture lasted just a few months until, “I got bored,” he said.

Over the 46 years he operated Scaled Composites, the company turned out an average of more than one aircraft per year, from design concept to completed flight test. Rutan is perhaps best known for his work in civil space flight, winning the X-Prize with his suborbital design (funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen), and designing Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic craft, SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo.

z Pilatus Selects AMAC As Exclusive DistributorPilatus Aircraft has selected Amac Aerospace as its fully

authorized service center and exclusive sales center for the Pilatus PC-12 NG single-engine turboprop in the Middle East. Amac will commence sales activity on Jan. 1, 2012, from an office in Beirut. Maintenance will be performed at AMAC’s service center in Istanbul commencing in the second half of 2012. “We are very happy to be selected for such a prestigious partnership,” said Kadri Muhiddin, executive chairman and CEO, Amac Aerospace. “As an operator of two Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft ourselves, we believe devoutly in the excellent performance of this aircraft.”

z GE Aviation Helps with Emirates Overhaul ShopGE Aviation will help oversee the design and construction

of a new $120 million engine overhaul shop that Emirates Airline plans to build in Dubai. Plans call for construction to begin on the 226,000-sq-ft shop in the first quarter of 2012 and for operations to start in the fourth quarter of 2014. To be situated on a piece of land adjacent to Emirates’ test cell facility, the new shop will have the capacity to perform 300 engine repairs per year on GE90 and GP7200 engines that power Emirates’ Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s, respectively.

By the time the building goes into operation, GE Aviation and Emirates will be two years into a 12-year OnPoint maintenance contract covering the carrier’s fleet of Boeing 777s. The agreement, also announced yesterday, will include maintenance and inventory support services of various avionics, electrical power and mechanical products.

Separately, GE Aviation signed another OnPoint agreement covering the GEnx-2B engines that power the 747-8 Freighters ordered by Cargolux. Valued at $1 billion over the life of the agreement, the 15-year deal covers 52 engines.

z EC130 To Go To Pakistan’s Princely JetsPakistani private charter firm Princely Jets yesterday

ordered a Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter. The deal, which also includes support and spares, was signed at the Dubai Air Show and calls for delivery in June 2012. The operator currently operates three BO105 helicopters. It will base the new EC130 in Pakistan’s main business city Karachi. Princely Jets, which also operates fixed-wing aircraft, claims to be the only private charter provider in Pakistan.

z Dubai’s Medrar Set To Buy DiamondDubai’s Medrar Financial Group has agreed to buy a

majority interest in Diamond Aircraft Holdings of Austria. The agreement includes Diamond’s piston airplanes as well as its under-development single-turbine D-Jet.

“The current state of the economy highlights the need and potential for aircraft like the D-JET,” said Jamil Marmarchi, CEO of Medrar, in a statement late on Monday. “As a specialized asset management and investment firm based in Dubai, Medrar will ensure the company’s capital needs are met and Diamond continues to lead the industry with emphasis on enhancing the D-JET market status.”

nothing about a formal RFP being issued, leaving observers to speculate that the two-page request for the Typhoon issued to the UK last week will serve only as a stalking horse, as nego-tiations for the Rafale continue, or even conclude successfully.

The French delegation to the Sunday meeting included defense minister Gerard Longuet and Joint Chief of Staff Admi-ral Edouard Guillard. French air force commander Jean-Paul Palomeros subsequently told AIN: “The Rafale is our fifth-generation fighter, and we are eager to share this future with the UAE.” He added that, “Dis-cussions are going well, and they are happy with what they see.” Longuet was quoted here yes-terday as remaining confident that the UAE would sign for the Rafale by the end of the year. Dassault refused to comment on the negotiations.

Not Enough Power?According to Palomeros, the

UAE’s earlier concern that the Rafale’s two Snecma M88 tur-bofan engines were not powerful enough had been overcome. Two years ago, Dassault told AIN that the Rafale had demonstrated that it could take off from a hot Al

Dhafra airbase here with a full long-range strike combat mis-sion load (two Scalp ASMs and three fuel tanks), with the exist-ing 17,000-pound-thrust engines. Palomeros said the negotiations are now about the cost of main-tenance and manpower.

The French defense minis-try has also been negotiating a

costed, long-term support con-tract with Snecma for the M88.

The French have been reluc-tant to fund some other upgrades to the Rafale that were sought by the UAE. But Palomeros said, “We would like to achieve a common standard, and invest in new capabilities.” He mentioned systems (the UAE has sought additional radar modes), elec-tronic warfare and, especially, communications. “They are not buying an aircraft, they are buy-ing a system, and France is a real

partner,” he added.There is no indication that the

UAE has decided to widen its search for a new fighter to U.S. candidates, notably the F-15 and the F-18, on which it previously received classified briefings. Euro-fighter said that it received an RFP after giving a formal brief-ing on the Typhoon to the UAE last month. It is now “working hard to deliver a response.”

In addition to the Typhoon model painted in the colors of the UAE aerobatic team, the Eurofighter pavilion here also features a full-scale model of the MBDA Marte ER (extended range) anti-ship missile. This tur-bojet-powered weapon has not previously been associated with the Typhoon, and is not sched-uled for integration by the four partner nations.

MBDA unveiled the Marte ER two years ago as a heli-copter-borne weapon with two rocket boosters for launch. They are deleted from the possi-ble Typhoon-launched version, which AIN understands has been proposed to India as an alterna-tive to the Saab Rbs15 that is Eurofighter’s baseline proposal to meet the anti-ship require-ment in the MMRCA competi-tion. It is not known whether the UAE requires an anti-ship mis-sile on its new fighter, but the lat-est version of Rafale can already be equipped with the AM39 Exocet Block 2. o

Dassault remains optimisticuContinued from page 1

French air force commanderJean-Paul Palomeros

DAV

ID M

cIN

TOS

H

The Airbus A380 has been a success in the region, but now other models are making inroads into airline fleets in the Middle East. Kuwaiti leasing firm Alafco ordered 50 A320neos, and also has a total of 18 A350XWBs on order.

narrowbodies, sealed and aug-mented a 30-aircraft commit-ment signed by Alafco during this past June’s Paris airshow.

According to Airbus COO for customers John Leahy, Air-bus expects Alafco to convert its options for the 30 additional air-planes by the end of this year, potentially raising the value of this order alone to above $7 billion.

Also on hand for the con-tract signing was Alafco chair-man Ahmad Al Zabin, who said deliveries would begin in 2017 and run into 2021. Alafco has already ordered a total of 26 A320s, 25 of which Airbus has

delivered to lessees. Separately, Al Zabin con-

firmed that Alafco has exer-cised outstanding options for six A350XWBs, raising its total firm order count to 18. It has already placed 12 of the airplanes with operators, he said.

Meanwhile, Oman Air finally inked a $1.2 billion order for six Boeing 787-8s yesterday, complet-ing a deal with Alafco to transfer existing orders for the six Dream-liners to the Omani flagcarrier.

“Our decision to order the 787-8 is part of Oman Air’s long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient air-planes,” said Peter Hill, chief executive officer, Oman Air. “We see direct benefits because of the Dreamliner’s fuel efficiency and

operating economics as well as the enhanced travel experience that Oman Air will be able to offer its customers aboard this airplane.”

Schedules originally called for delivery of Oman Air’s aircraft in 2012, 2014 and 2015, but program delays have postponed the arrival of the first 787 until the second half of 2014. Other airlines in the region that have ordered the 787 have also expressed concerns about losses caused by the long delays to the program.

The Oman Air 787s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The car-rier awarded the contract to the UK-based engine maker yesterday and Rolls has now won eight of the last nine powerplant contests for the new Boeing widebody. o

Airbus deals 50 A320neosuContinued from page 1

A400M testing is on track; first deliveries set for 2012by David Donald

While the A400M program enters a new phase of turbulence, with Germany looking to slash its purchase to 40 from 53 and France looking to renegotiate a maintenance deal, the flight-test cam-paign is forging ahead with the aim of getting the European airlifter delivered by the end of 2012. The engine problems that surfaced earlier this year have been solved, clearing the path for European civil type certification to be achieved in the coming weeks.

By October 20 the four-aircraft A400M test fleet had flown 2,380 hours in 784 flights, with 1,653 takeoffs and landings. The aircraft had been flown by 60 pilots, including those from the French, German, Turkish and UK air forces. Operating from the flight test cen-ters at Seville and Toulouse, the aircraft are equipped with telemetry systems that allow specialists at other locations (Bre-men, Filton, Getafe and Hamburg) to receive test data in real time.

Rejected TakeoffIn recent weeks, the aircraft has com-

pleted several major tests, including two of the most iconic performance tests: the HERTO and water-trough trials.

HERTO (high-energy rejected takeoff) tests involve using only the brakes to stop a fully laden aircraft from high speed. To satisfy certification requirements, the HERTO must be performed after several minutes of taxiing so that the brakes are already warm, and with the brakes pre-worn to 90 percent.

With the aircraft at its maximum take-off weight of 141 metric tons, the brakes are applied at liftoff speed, with 24 mega-joules of energy being applied per wheel. After the aircraft has come to a stop it has to be left for five minutes without inter-vention before the fire crews are allowed in to cool the wheels. The A400M test demonstrated not only the ability of the brakes to absorb such punishment with-out a fire developing, but also the opera-tion of the fuze plugs that deflate the tires to prevent damage to the wheels.

Water trough tests were recently per-formed at Istres, with the A400M operat-ing at various speeds up to 90 knots and with some use of reverse-thrust. These trials were conducted to ensure that no water was ingested by the engines, and were successful in that respect. They did reveal a minor problem concerning a pad mounted on the main landing gear door,

requiring a minor redesign.Other recent achievements have included

crosswind landings, conducted at Hyères, with up to 25-knot winds with gusts to 37 knots. Chief test pilot Ed Strongman reported no problems with these. The A400M uses a crabbing technique for cross-wind landing, facilitated by a head-up dis-play mode that presents a vector symbol to indicate the path of the aircraft relative to the ground.

At the end of last year artificial ice shape tests were undertaken to deter-mine the effectiveness of the hot-air de-icing system. Representative ice shapes were installed on the unheated sections of the leading edges and handling quali-ties checked. These tests led to a redesign of the anti-ice protection system, which is being installed on trial aircraft MSN2 and will be fitted to all production aircraft.

Aircraft MSN4 recently completed hot fuel tests at the Filton plant. The air-craft flew five times with JP4 fuel heated to up to 55-deg C to ensure that all the pumps and transfer systems worked with hot fuel. The gravity feed ceiling was established at 37,000 feet.

Flight Test GoalsPerformance tests have been com-

pleted and other areas are progressing well. Flight-control test completion is awaiting the final iteration of FCS soft-ware, while anti-icing trials have been delayed by the unusually benign Fall weather in Europe.

MSN6 is the fifth test aircraft, and it has yet to fly. It is virtually complete, and should fly around the end of the year. When it takes to the air is largely a ques-tion of whether it is kept on the ground to await the latest modifications, or whether it receives them after its first flight.

Whereas the other four aircraft are filled with instrumentation, MSN6 has a clear cabin, and has already been used for evacuation certification tests. These dem-onstrated that 115 paratroops and the crew could evacuate the aircraft with only two of the doors available and in complete

darkness in less than 90 seconds. The tests were successfully repeated with a mixed cargo/passenger configuration, and 66 stretchers and crew were also evacuated successfully, albeit over a longer time.

Military TestingWith civil certification behind it, the

team is gearing up toward military tests next year to clear the aircraft for initial service. “We have good visibility of the risks in the military activities,” said Fer-nando Alonso, head of flight opera-tions and senior vice president of flight and integration tests. “There is still a lot to do next year, but we believe we have removed much of the risk. We are in as good a shape as we can be at this point.”

Among the trials planned is climatic envelope expansion, using MSN6. The A400M has already operated in -35-deg C at Kiruna in Sweden. MSN6 and its clean cabin are also to be used for ground-loading trials, and a 300-hour function-ing and reliability test campaign. It will also be the main customer demonstration vehicle. Consequently it will spend some time “on the road,” visiting airshows and potential customers as part of the reli-ability tests.

Further military tests required next year are air-dropping, including a full load of 114 paratroops to be conducted with the Turkish army, and defensive-aids tests to validate safe chaff/flare sep-aration and no inter-system interference. Work will also cover the operation of the military mission management system, and the communications suite, including MIDS datalink.

Following 15 dry contacts with a UK Royal Air Force VC-10 made earlier this year, further refueling trials will be undertaken. Airbus hopes to receive the first Cobham 908E hose-drogue units in the Spring so that tanker trials can get under way. Rough-field trials will be undertaken, beginning with grass run-way operations to be performed at the former East German MiG-29 base at Preschen, near Cottbus. o


Royal Saudi aiR foRce Set foR a330 mRtt deliveRieS

The first of six A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs) is due for delivery to the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) later this month. Aircrews began conversion at Airbus Military’s Getafe, Madrid facility late last month. RSAF Col Al Burikan (right) and Lt. Al Majed (left) are two of the pilots being trained there over the next two months. Meanwhile, the UAE Air Force has also ordered three A330MRTTs, with deliveries due next year.� n�

The A400M plows through a water trough at Istres, with a minimum depth of 2 cm (just under an inch). The maximum spray-wave height was recorded at 75 to 80 knots, but with no water ingestion by the engines.

Airbus Military has four test aircraft flying, with a fifth to join the fleet shortly. This aircraft will have a representative cargo hold, and will be important for various load tests.

1136AIN352x275EagleNov_Path.indd 1 11/2/11 4:58 PM

TIME TO RAISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Finally, a large-cabin aircraft with the airfi eld agility and effi ciency of a smaller jet at a midsize price. This is the one you’ve been waiting for.

The new Falcon 2000S has it all. Unparalleled comfort. Unrivalled performance. And unbeatable value.

Raise your expectations. Visit falcon2000S.com

INTRODUCING THE NEW 3,350 NM FALCON 2000S

2000S Intro_275x352_GB_042011.indd 1 28/10/11 09:48

dubai airshow news 11-15-11

Documents

dubai airshow news

airbus a400m aircraft

new a320neos

excellent plane

reengined airbus dassault

airshow orders

avics ma600

new ma700