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Bombardier Global 7500 Aircraft Mock-up Continues Successful Worldwide Tour with Stop in Olbia, Italy

#Bombardier is thrilled to announce that the full-scale mock-up of its eagerly anticipated Global #7500 #aircraft will be on display in #Olbia, Italy, as of mid-July and throughout the summer, offering guests an exclusive opportunity to experience the aircraft’s unmatched spaciousness first hand. The mock-up continues its successful worldwide tour, following stops in Dubai, Singapore and Shanghai.

“This is a significant year for the Global 7500 aircraft, with its planned certification and entry into service,” said Peter Likoray, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “It’s an ideal time for customers to explore the potential of a true four zone cabin and discover what makes the Global 7500 jet a class-defining aircraft in the industry. It also gives us an opportunity to showcase its unique features as we prepare for the entry into service of the #Global 7500 aircraft.”

The mock-up features a dining area, entertainment lounge, a master suite and an en suite. The fully equipped kitchen includes high-end appliances, with ample room for dinnerware and glassware. The interior of the aircraft is highly customizable, and owners seeking to create the ultimate in-flight experience will be able to configure the interior to reflect their personal tastes. Guests who arrange a special private viewing of the mock-up will be able to explore the full length of the cabin, from the cutting-edge cockpit to the expansive luggage bay at the rear, which was designed to be fully accessible during flight.

The full-size mock-up will be on display at the airport in Olbia throughout the summer. This is the mock-up’s second visit to Italy following a successful showing in Olbia in 2017. The mock-up’s arrival comes on the heels of Bombardier’s triumphant presence at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, one of the most important aerospace exhibitions in the world. During the show, Bombardier announced that its eagerly awaited marquis business jet will enter service as the Global 7500, to celebrate its outstanding performance and its position as the flagship of the new Global aircraft family. Bombardier also debuted its patented Nuage seat, which was meticulously designed for maximum comfort and the revolutionary nice Touch cabin management system, a Bombardier-designed platform developed in collaboration with Lufthansa Technik and found exclusively on the Global 7500 aircraft.

Furthermore, Bombardier’s Global 7500 aircraft is the recipient of a 2018 Red Dot Award for Product Design. Selected by the 39-person jury from among a crowded field, with more than 6,300 submissions from close to 60 countries competing in several categories, the state-of-the art aircraft received the Red Dot in the 2018 Red Dot Award: Product Design in the ships, trains and planes category. The Global 7500 aircraft’s sophisticated styling sets the benchmark for the most exceptional business jet experience. Every detail of the cabin interior has been crafted to create a rich and satisfying experience, from its class-leading and largest kitchen in the industry and forward-thinking lighting to the first-ever dedicated stateroom with a fixed bed.

The Global 7500 aircraft is on track to enter service during the second half of 2018. All five of its test vehicles are in the flight test program, with more than 2,300 hours of flight testing accomplished, demonstrating significant maturity, reliability and a smooth ride.

#cabassi

Airbus: Clearing out space junk, one step at a time

An experimental satellite from Airbus’ SSTL subsidiary will test methods of removing orbital debris

Since the start of the space age, mankind has left its mark on the orbital pathways overhead…and not always for the better. Today, some 7,000 tonnes of artificial debris – a mass equivalent to the Eiffel Tower – orbit the planet.

This detritus, ranging from remnants of defunct or broken-up spacecraft to discarded rocket stages, whizzes by at a dizzying 8 km per second – a speed at which even pieces sized at a few centimetres pose significant hazards to space stations and operational satellites.

An experimental spacecraft built by the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) subsidiary of Airbus and deployed in June 2018 aims to demonstrate innovative debris-removal technologies during the coming months. The spacecraft, named RemoveDEBRIS, was released from the International Space Station and will carry out its Airbus designed-and-built active debris removal experiments, or ADR, in the following nine months.

RemoveDEBRIS, managed by the University of Surrey Space Centre, will test four separate ADR strategies: a capture net, vision-based navigation, a harpoon and a deorbiting drag sail (SSC).

In 1967, there was one man-made object in orbit large enough to be tracked: Sputnik. Fifty years later, there are some 23,000.

Nicolas Chamussy, the head of Airbus Space Systems said: “We have spent many years developing innovative systems to be at the forefront of tackling this growing problem, and to contribute the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for future generations. We will continue to work closely with teams across the world to make our expertise available to help solve this issue.”

The RemoveDEBRIS satellite’s capture net experiment, developed by Airbus in Bremen, Germany, will see a small cubesat deployed from the main mission craft. After moving away, the cubesat will be targeted by the net and captured at a distance of approximately seven metres. The pair will then naturally deorbit, burning up upon re-entry in the atmosphere. This experiment will take place in September.

The mission’s vision-based navigation (VBN) system, comes from Airbus in Toulouse, France and will be tested in October. Relying on 2D cameras and 3D LIDAR (light detection and ranging) technology, RemoveDEBRIS will precisely track a cubesat deployed from the main spacecraft – observing the target’s rotation and movement away. At the same time, the cubesat will transmit its true position to the main spacecraft, enabling the VBN system’s performance to be measured. This will serve as a precursor to developing orbital rendezvous techniques with space debris. Once the VBN system testing is completed, the cubesat’s trajectory will allow it to deorbit naturally.

#cabassi

Airbus Helicopters delivers first H145s to Rega

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first two of a total of six #H145 #helicopters to #Swiss #Air-Rescue Rega. These will replace Rega’s existing fleet of EC145 helicopters, which will be phased out by mid-2019. The first H145 #helicopter is expected to be deployed at the #Bern base in October.

Over a period of 15 years, the six EC145s have proven themselves to be reliable and versatile rescue helicopters, providing airborne medical assistance to around 60,000 patients to date. Thanks in part to these positive experiences, Rega is now opting for the H145, the successor to the EC145. “The H145 represents a continuation of our success story and ensures that we can continue to provide our patients with reliable and professional help in the years to come,” said Ernst Kohler, CEO of Rega.

“We are proud that such an internationally renowned operator as Rega has placed its trust in our H145 family over such a long period of time,” said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of #Airbus #Helicopters Deutschland.

The H145 is the market leader for police and rescue missions with a combined fleet of over 200 helicopters worldwide, which have jointly accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours. The agile H145 is particularly well suited for special intensive care transports thanks to its spacious cabin and a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 tons. The helicopters are equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite, providing user-friendly flight data management and a high-performance 4-axis autopilot, which considerably reduces pilot workload during missions. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.

@airbus helicopter #cabassi

Boeing, FedEx Express Announce Order for 24 Medium and Large Freighters

#Boeing and #FedEx Express today announced a new order for 12 #B767 #Freighters and 12 #B777 Freighters as the world's largest #air #cargo carrier continues to invest in the industry's most capable freighters to better serve its customers.

"We are taking another positive step in our fleet modernization program as we add more efficient, lower emission aircraft to our global fleet," said David L. Cunningham, President and CEO of @fedex Express. "The Boeing 767 and 777 Freighters have brought greater efficiency and reliability to our air operations. The 777, with its tremendous range characteristics, has allowed us to provide faster transit times around the globe. We are excited to add more of these aircraft to our fleet."

The new airplanes, valued at $6.6 billion at list prices, will appear on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries webpage once contingencies have been met.

This order comes as the air cargo industry continues to gather strength. A year after demand grew by nearly 10 percent, global air freight is on track to increase by another four to five percent in 2018.

Air cargo carriers are adding capacity to keep up with demand, either by converting passenger airplanes into freighters or ordering new production cargo jets. With the latest order from FedEx Express, Boeing has sold more than 50 widebody freighters so far in 2018.

"We are honored that FedEx has again placed its trust on the wings of the Boeing 767 and 777. This repeat order is a big vote of confidence in Boeing's market-leading freighter family and the long-term outlook for air freight," said Kevin McAllister, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

FedEx Express and Boeing have a long-standing partnership. The express carrier is a major operator of the Boeing 757 Freighter and the largest operator of the 767 Freighter and 777 Freighter. FedEx is also a customer of Boeing's Global Services business.

The 767 Freighter, based on the 767-300ER (extended range) passenger jet, can carry approximately 58 tons (52.7 tonnes) of revenue cargo with intercontinental range, making it a flexible platform for serving long-haul, regional or feeder markets.

The 777 Freighter is the world's longest range twin-engine freighter. The jet can fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a payload of 112 tons (102 metric tonnes or 102,000 kg). With the 777 Freighter, FedEx has been able to connect Asia with its hub in Memphis, Tenn. non-stop and reduce transit times by up to three hours. This has enabled FedEx to accept packages later in the day and still deliver them on time.

@boeing @fedex #cabassi

AEGEAN Airlines firms up order for 30 A320neo Family aircraft

Greece’s biggest airline, #AEGEAN Airlines, has firmed up an order for the purchase of 30 A320neo Family aircraft at a ceremony in Athens.

The purchase agreement, comprising 10 #A321neos and 20 #A320neos, was signed by AEGEAN Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis and #Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders.

It follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2018. Currently, AEGEAN operates a fleet of 49 Airbus #aircraft (37 A320s, 11 A321s and 1 A319).

Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN stated: “Our agreement with Airbus augments AEGEAN’s capacity for development along with a trusted, long standing partner. We invest in the bestselling A320neo Family to enhance our competitiveness and to further improve our service offering to our passengers. We believe in the ability of our people to excel in what they do and they deserve to have the best hardware for the job.”

“AEGEAN Airlines is a great example of a resilient and superbly managed airline. It has weathered the country’s financial crisis and come out of it much stronger than before. Moreover, AEGEAN’s customer focus and attention to service excellence have made the company one of the most awarded airlines in terms of customer satisfaction,” said Tom Enders, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “We are extremely proud AEGEAN has selected Airbus to boost the efficiency of their future fleet.”

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver at least 15 percent fuel savings at delivery and 20 percent by 2020. With nearly 6,100 orders received from 100 customers, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

#cabassi

Leonardo: Independence of the Board of Statutory Auditors

We hereby inform that the new Board of Statutory Auditors of #Leonardo, appointed by the Shareholders’ meeting held on May 15, 2018, verified that the independence requirements pursuant to law (article 148, paragraph 3, TUF) and to the Corporate Governance Code (articles 3.C.1 and 8.C.1) are met by all its regular members (Riccardo Raul Bauer, Sara Fornasiero, Francesco Perrini, Leonardo Quagliata and Daniela Savi).

Pursuant to the aforementioned Code, the results of the assessment were made known today with the Company’s Board of Directors.

#cabassi

Seafuture 2018, 19 – 23 June in La Spezia (Italy)

IDS will be at the 6th Seafuture, the foremost event in the maritime technologies sector in La Spezia (Italy) from the 19th to the 23th of June.

At Seafuture 2018 IDS will display its full range of Naval products such as ElectroMagnetic Engineering, Satellite Terminal, and air/surface and underwater unmanned systems.

At the entrance to the IDS stand, you will find the IDS IA-17, a small fixed wing UAV designed to maximise the performance for patrol, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. We will also be showcasing the SAND Project including providing an update on the status of this Naval Surface Drone dedicated to Search and Rescue – SAR and Environmental control. SAND is a collaboration between EFFEBI shipyards, MECCANO Engineering ship Design Company and IDS.

#IDS #IDS_Ingegneria_dei_sistemi #cabassi

The ‘Sea at 360 degrees’ will be the undisputed protagonist of Seafuture

La Spezia. 20 June 2018. Analyzing all aspects of the maritime domain to provide a business model that combines industry, science, technology and environmental awareness: this is the goal of Seafuture.

Organized by Italian Blue Growth (IBG) – promoting company together with the Italian Industries Federation for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD), the Region of Liguria and Blue Hub in cooperation with the Italian Navy – the Seafuture 2018 edition will take place from 19 to 23 June in the La Spezia Navy Base,Italy. Seafuture is the only event dedicated to the naval vessel upgrading and life-cycle management based on the use of the most sophisticated technologies available.

During the presentation press conference, Cristiana Pagni, president of IBG as well as creator and promotor of the event, provided facts and figures for the Seafuture sixth edition: 9,000 square meters of exhibition space between the historic buildings of the Navy Base, over 40 foreign delegations, 1,500 bilateral meetings between companies and delegations and between companies themselves, 28 conferences, seminars and workshops regarding both technical and strategic policy issues.

Around 180 major companies and small-to-medium enterprises, together with other maritime cluster organizations and sector associations including State institutions and Government and non-governmental organizations, mainly from Italy, but also from all over the world will participate in the Seafuture 2018 edition. The Italian shipbuilding sector will be represented by Fincantieri, Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, Intermarine, Cantiere Navale Vittoria, Effebi, Ferretti Security and Defence (FSD), Baglietto Navy, Novamarine, Stem Marine, CABI Cattaneo and Zodiac, along with the combat system and naval equipment suppliers including Leonardo, MBDA, Elettronica, Calzoni, GEM Elettronica, Gay Marine, Civitanavi Systems, Ingegneria Dei Sistemi (IDS), Martec, RINA, Seastema, Sitep, Insis, Elsel, Nuova Connavi, Drass, Eurocontrol, Fiocchi Munizioni, MTU, Volvo Pent, Thales Alenia Space Italia, the French shipbuilding giant Naval Group and Thales, NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) and the Ligurian Cluster of Marine Technologies (DLTM).

Foreign delegations and operators will have the opportunity to visit and experience at sea demonstrations not only onboard latest generation warships such as the Italian Navy multi-purpose FREMM frigates in both anti-submarine (ASW) and general purpose or anti-surface warfare (ASuW) configurations but also onboard the newest smaller vessels and boats produced by the Italian shipbuilding sector, in addition to the Italian Navy’s older vessels which could find new life through a proper refitting and upgrade project, to be managed by the national shipbuilding industry.

Besides ITS Virginio Fasan and ITS Luigi Rizzo – respectively ASW and ASuW-configured multipurpose frigates developed and built under the joint French-Italian programme managed by European OCCAR agency – and the Amerigo Vespucci training vessel, foreign delegations will have the opportunity to experience at sea demonstrations, among others, onboard Ferretti Security and Defense (FSD) 20-meters FSD195 fast patrol vessel in a new variant, Baglietto Navy’s 15-meters FFC-15 fast multipurpose transport landing troop vessel and Stem Marine 7.5-meters STEM 750 Jet rescue boat. It will also be possible to see the 12-meters SWAD (Sea Watch Dog) unmanned/optionally piloted surface vehicle (USV/OPV) developed by DLTM-lead group of 8-companies under government funding and L3 Calzoni’s Lyra remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in action. #Leonardo and #IDS Ingegneria Dei Sistemi (IDS) will also exhibit respectively the AWHero short-range tactical rotary-wing and the IA-17 small fixed-wing UAVs.

Foreign delegations will also have the opportunity to visit and experience at sea demonstrations onboard ITS Euro (Maestrale-class frigate), ITS Aviere (Soldati-class fleet-patrol ship), Driade (Minerva-class corvette), and discover how these vessels could find a new life and missions to accomplish in the future, under advice from the Italian Navy and naval shipbuilding industry.

#seafuture #@seafuture #cabassi

Leonardo to supply the next-generation Black Shark Advanced torpedo to the Italian Navy

Leonardo will supply #Black Shark Advanced ( #BSA ) #torpedoes and associated logistic support services to equip the #Italian Navy’s #U212A 2nd Series #submarines. The new equipment will significantly increase the #Anti-Submarine #Warfare capability of the #Navy.

The Black Shark Advanced is an evolution of the Black Shark heavy torpedo, already acquired by many countries including #Chile, #Indonesia, #Malaysia, #Portugal and #Singapore.

This latest version integrates an innovative energy production section that can be optimised, according to the use of the system, for training or operational purposes. When the BSA is used for training activities, a newly developed rechargeable battery is used that allows a higher number of launches - up to one hundred – compared to that of previous versions, providing significant cost savings. In the operational configuration, the BSA is equipped with an innovative battery that ensures an increase in capabilities and performance. The new solution also delivers a significant reduction in life cycle costs.

Made in Italy at Leonardo’s Livorno plant, the Black Shark Advanced torpedo is an example of national excellence in the underwater defence sector and is the result of extensive and successful collaboration between the Italian Navy and industry.

@finmeccanicaweb-blog #leonardo company #cabassi #marina_militare

Boeing Announces Additional $350,000 Grant to "A Better Chance" Nonprofit Partner

Contribution Adds to Previously Announced $500,000 Multi-Year Investment

Boeing recently announced an additional grant award of $350,000 to "A Better Chance" (ABC) – a nonprofit organization working to increase the number of well-educated young minorities in the United States. Grant dollars will help fund the College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) and Alumni Relations program.

"This additional investment, along with our previously announced commitment, will help lift up our young people and in turn improve our local communities," said Tim Keating, executive vice president of Government Operations at Boeing. "Our relationship with ABC is stronger than ever, and we hope this show of support enables the organization to further its impact, bringing educational equity to children across the county."

Boeing's contribution will support programs that increase the number of minority students placed into high-performing college preparatory schools, enabling them to pursue positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. ABC participants have a 99 percent high school graduation rate and 96 percent college graduation rate.

Underscoring the strong partnership, ABC recently awarded former Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney with its Chairman's Award for his commitment to education and education equity for underrepresented youth.

A Better Chance is the oldest and only national organization of its kind changing the life trajectory for academically talented youth of color via access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities for students in grades 6-12. Our mission is to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. We carry out our mission through our signature College Preparatory Schools Program, which annually recruits, refers and supports about 500 Scholars at more than 300 Member Schools in 27 states. We have been opening the doors to greater educational opportunities since 1963 and more than 15,000 Alumni have now gone on to distinguished careers as physicians, artists, educators, lawyers, politicians and corporate executives.

#Boeing @takeoff-news #Cabassi

ROLLS-ROYCE INVESTS IN UK MILITARY ENGINE SUPPORT CAPABILITY

Rolls-Royce has announced an £18 million investment in Bristol, UK, to support the TP400 engine. The TP400, produced by the Europrop International engine consortium in which Rolls-Royce is a senior partner, powers the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft which has just entered service with the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF). The investment will fund the provision of facilities to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the TP400 engines, training for employees, and the conversion of an existing test-bed to be capable of running the engine while on the ground. This will initially be used to support engines in service with the RAF, but will also be available to support service requirements for other A400M customers. Paul Craig, Rolls-Royce President Customer Service – Defence, said: "This is great news for both our customers and the Bristol site. This new capability will enable us to ensure that the RAF enjoys the same high level of engine support for its latest aircraft as it does for the other Rolls-Royce powered aircraft in its fleet. It also ensures that we can maintain military test capability at Bristol into the future. "We have worked in close partnership with our employees and their representatives to secure this investment in the Bristol site and we thank them for their support."

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MASERATI SIGNS AN AGREEMENT TO ACCESS AIRBUS INNOVATIONS

Concluded at Maserati’s Modena headquarters, this agreement enables the company to make in-depth reviews of Airbus Group Innovations’ broad portfolio that covers manufacturing processes, production methods, metallics and composites expertise, systems integration and other know-how. “By evaluating this broad spectrum of technologies, Maserati can benefit from Airbus Group capabilities exploited in several applications, such as airliners, helicopters and fast jets to spacecraft that are exploring the universe,” said Harald Wester, Chief Executive Officer of Maserati, and Chief Technology Officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. “We developed the Technology Transfer Framework with industry leaders such as Maserati in mind, and it is being selectively offered to a limited number of potential partners,” explained Wulf Hoeflich, the Head of Airbus Group Technology Licensing. “Maserati is perfect for an agreement of this type, as the company is a benchmark in high-end automobiles, while having production volume that is flexible enough to implement new technologies.” Hoeflich noted that Harald Wester has been personally involved in establishing the Technology Transfer Framework arrangement. “He recognized the Technology Transfer Framework’s value, and is ready to lead his teams in making the best use of the significant access to Airbus Group Innovations´ know-how that comes with this agreement,” he added. With the Technology Transfer Framework arrangement, overview access is to be provided to Maserati across a wide range of Airbus Group Innovations’ technical areas during a multi-year period, allowing the company to identify technologies that could be “game changers” when utilized under license and applied to its automobile product line. The cooperation between Maserati and Airbus Group Innovations was supported by Cheers Interactive, the global partner of the Airbus Group Technology Licensing initiative.

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AGUSTAWESTLAND: AW189 COMPLETES NORTH SEA DEMO TOUR

AgustaWestland announced today that the new generation AW189 super medium twin engine helicopter has completed a demonstration tour in the North Sea. The tour was deemed a success with more than 60 attendees from leading oil & gas companies, operators and helicopter associations, taking the opportunity to assess the AW189’s outstanding capabilities. The tour, which started in Den Helder in the Netherlands and ended in Stavanger, Norway, included dedicated AW189 presentations, static and in-flight demonstrations to give the attendees a comprehensive insight of its modern design, new technologies, safety features, performance capabilities and the support and training services available. The AW189, the first new generation aircraft in its category in decades in service today, is already flying in Europe, Middle East and Asia providing offshore transport services. Operators based in Europe such as Bristow and Bel Air have already introduced the type into service in the North Sea supporting the oil & gas industry. This operationally demanding region has seen an increasing presence of the best selling AW139 intermediate twin helicopter in recent years, used by many operators for offshore transport duties. The AW189 is an ideal complement to meet longer range, higher capacity requirements while allowing operators to benefit from the unique AW Family advantage, thanks to commonalities across design philosophy, certification and safety standards, mission capabilities, maintenance and training approaches for both types. The AW189 was designed in response to the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole super medium twin engine helicopter. The new 8.3 tonne AW189 is optimized for long range offshore transport and SAR missions and has already received orders for 130 helicopters, including options and framework contracts, making it the outright market leader in its class. Customers in the OGP market include many of the world’s leading large fleet operators such as Bristow Group, Era Group, Gulf Helicopters and Weststar Aviation Services. Other offshore customers based in Europe include Bond Aviation and Bel Air. Additionally major helicopter leasing companies such as Lease Corporation International, Milestone Aviation Group and Waypoint Leasing have placed orders for AW189 helicopters.

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AIRBUS: AZUL ORDERS 35 A320neo

Azul Brazilian Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for 35 A320neo Family aircraft. The airline, which is also leasing another 28 A320neo aircraft, has chosen the A320neo Family to carry out domestic long haul flights and high density routes, including Campinas – Salvador and Campinas – Recife. For Azul, an important driver for selecting the A320neo was the aircraft’s low operating costs and excellent fuel efficiency. Azul has selected CFM engines for their A320neo fleet. “Azul is an airline that truly serves all of Brazil. With more than 100 destinations , Azul will soon offer even more seats on our longer haul flights, allowing us to reduce operating costs,” said David Neeleman, CEO and Founder of Azul. “In addition to its market leading economics, which will allow Azul to stimulate new demand, the A320neo is also a perfect complement to our E-Jet fleet, giving us additional seats and capacity that can be dedicated to strategic projects like TudoAzul, Azul Viagens and Azul Cargo.” “Airbus welcomes Azul to the A320 Family and is proud that they will rely on the A320neo’s unbeatable productivity and fuel efficiency to expand their services,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “We are pleased that Azul recognizes Airbus’ commitment to Brazil and the importance of operating the high performance A320neo in key airports such as Santos Dumont in Rio. This order truly underscores the leading position of the A320neo in the single aisle market.” In April, Azul announced that it would start operating long haul flights by early December. The airline expects to fly new international routes with a fleet of 12 leased wide body Airbus aircraft, including seven Airbus A330-200 and later five Airbus A350-900 equipped with Rolls-Royce engines.

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BOEING: RYANAIR FINALIZE ORDER FOR 100 737 MAX 200s

Boeing and Ryanair have finalized an order for 100 737 MAX 200s, valued at $11 billion at current list prices. The order, originally announced as a commitment in September, includes options for 100 additional 737 MAX 200 airplanes, and makes the Irish low-cost carrier the launch customer for the newest member of the 737 MAX family of airplanes."Ryanair is proud and honored to become the lead operator of Boeing's 'gamechanger' 737 MAX 200 aircraft, which will expand our fleet to approximately 520 aircraft by 2024 and create another 10,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers in Europe, while allowing us to grow traffic from 82 million passengers last year to over 150 million by 2024," said Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary. "These new 'gamechanger' aircraft will allow Ryanair to lower our costs and airfares, while improving our customer experience with more leg room and the Boeing Sky Interior, as we roll out new offers, particularly for our Business Plus and Family Extra customers. As many of Europe's flag carriers cut capacity on short haul routes, Ryanair looks forward to using these new 737 MAX 200 aircraft to grow at many more of Europe's primary airports," said O'Leary. The 737 MAX 200, a variant based on the successful 737 MAX 8, can accommodate up to 200 seats, increasing revenue potential and providing customers up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency per seat than today's most efficient single-aisle airplanes."The 737 MAX 200 will be a excellent addition to Ryanair's all-Boeing fleet, providing the additional capacity, improved economics and high-levels of reliability that are required for its continued expansion," said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Our long-term partnership with Ryanair is a source of immense pride within Boeing and we are delighted to have the airline as the launch customer for the 737 MAX 200." Boeing developed the 737 MAX 200 in response to the needs of the fast growing low-cost sector, which is forecasted to account for 35 percent of single-aisle airline capacity by 2033. While the heart of the single-aisle market will remain at 160 seats, the 737 MAX 200 will provide carriers like Ryanair with up to 11 more seats of potential revenue and up to 5 percent lower operating costs than the 737 MAX 8, driving economic growth and increasing access to air travel. Standard across the 737 MAX family, Ryanair's 737 MAX 200s will be configured with the passenger inspired Boeing Sky Interior, featuring modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

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AIRBUS: BUNDESWEHR TO RECEIVE THE FIRST HELICOPTERS IN THIS SERIES IN LATE 2015

Airbus Helicopters’ newest lightweight military multi-role helicopter, the EC645 T2 (LUH SOF), has successfully completed its first flight. In the presence of representatives of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), which has ordered the first of this new helicopter type, the EC645 T2 demonstrated its capacities at the company’s Donauwörth location in Bavaria. “This first flight is a milestone in the EC645 T2 program and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this event with our customer,” said Ralf Barnscheidt, Head of the German Military Support Center. “We’re right on schedule to deliver the first EC645 T2 helicopters in the coming year. This is also a product of the close-knit collaboration between the Airbus Helicopters and Bundeswehr project teams.” The EC645 T2 is the military version of the civil EC145 T2 that entered into service this past summer. With a maximum takeoff weight of 3.7 tons, the EC645 T2 can be used for a wide range of military operations including transportation, reconnaissance, search and rescue, fire support, and evacuations of wounded personnel. The Bundeswehr has ordered 15 of these helicopters for the German Air Force. The EC645 T2 represents a significant addition to the German Air Force’s capabilities and offers a host of features that make it particularly well suited to missions carried out by the Special Forces Command (KSK). Building on the robustness, low operating costs and the especially high operational availability of the EC145 family, the new EC645 T2 is equipped with the Helionix® digital avionics suite, including the 4-axis autopilot developed by Airbus Helicopters. This aircraft has been optimized for day and night missions as well as for those carried out in treacherous weather conditions. Its mission equipment range also includes a fast roping system for troops, cargo hooks, hoists, various weapons and electro-optical sensors. Ballistic protective equipment and an electronic countermeasures system that detects threats help protect the helicopter and crew. Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E engines, the EC645 T2 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). What’s more, noise emissions significantly below international limits make the EC645 T2 the quietest helicopter in its class. The military version of the EC145 has proven its worth to customers around the world. For instance, the US Armed Forces operates more than 300 of this helicopter type, which Airbus Helicopters delivered on time and on budget.

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FIRST PAVEWAY IV RELEASE FOR RAF TYPHOONS AT RAF LOSSIEMOUTH

The oldest frontline Royal Air Force squadron in the world achieved another first recently. No 1(Fighter) Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, successfully released 2 live Paveway IV weapons at Cape Wrath Training Area as part of the Squadron’s task to deliver the latest Typhoon capability upgrade, known as P1Eb. Officer Commanding 1(Fighter) Squadron, Wing Commander Mike Sutton, said: “This is another landmark moment for the Typhoon Force, and highlights the aircraft’s potent swing role capability. The successful weapon drops are a superb reflection on the dedication and achievement of everyone who has been involved in this capability enhancement. “The swing role capability of the Typhoon ensures that we are well equipped to respond to the challenges of contingent operations across the globe, while also maintaining the security of UK skies through the delivery of Quick Reaction Alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” P1Eb is predominantly an air to ground capability upgrade; it provides enhancements to the Litening III Laser Designator Pod (LDP) and Helmet Equipment Assembly (HEA) (helmet mounted sight) integration, as well as with Paveway IV. The LDP can now also be used seamlessly with the HEA to visually identify air tracks at long range, as well as identifying, tracking and targeting points on the ground. The Paveway IV offers increased precision, stand-off, and flexibility of employment, and the Typhoon can release a number of weapons to different targets in a single pass. 1(Fighter) Squadron has conducted 8 Paveway IV drops this week, with a mix of profiles including GPS and laser guidance; pre-planned and target of opportunity using the HEA; and employing both impact and airburst fusing settings on the weapon. 1(Fighter) Squadron will release a further 20 Paveway IV weapons when they deploy to the USA for Exercise Red Flag in January 2015. The Typhoon aircraft will be conducting full swing role training sorties, day and night, fighting through the hostile air and ground threats, and then conducting the Paveway IV releases as part of the missions. These sorties will also involve full integration with the US Air Force F22 Raptor aircraft, which is a key area for the RAF as it looks to introduce the Lightning II in the coming years.

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