Category: Manufacturing & Assembly News (Page 13 of 51)

Airbus upgrades A400M firefighter prototype kit

December 5, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Spain, December 5, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has conducted a new flight-test campaign of the A400M Roll-on/Roll-off firefighting prototype kit, dropping 20,000 litres of retardant and creating high concentration lines over 400 metres long on ground.

Over a period of two weeks, the A400M carried out a ground and flight-test campaign in south-western and central Spain, including six drops, three of which used red-coloured retardant and three using water.

An easy-to-install solution

This roll-on/roll-off kit does not require any modification to the aircraft and, therefore, is interchangeable to any aircraft in the A400M fleet. The water or retardant is stored in a tank in the cargo hold of the aircraft and, by using a mechanical lever, a door is opened to allow the liquid to flow out of the aircraft by gravity means through a discharge pipe. The current design of the prototype is capable of dropping 20,000 litres in a single discharge.

The tanks can be filled in less than 10 minutes using standard high-pressure pumps on ground. The A400M is characterised by its ability to take off and land on short and unpaved runways, and a wide range of air bases and airfields.

During the campaign, the 43rd Firefighting Squadron of the Spanish Air Force has been involved as technical advisors and assuring that this capability in the A400M has operational value for any potential operator.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Siemens and Intel to collaborate on advanced semiconductor manufacturing

December 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Siemens AG (ADR: SIEGY), a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC), one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.

The MoU identifies key areas of collaboration to explore a variety of initiatives, including optimizing energy management and addressing carbon footprints across the value chain. For instance, the collaboration will explore use of “digital twins” of complex, highly capital-intensive manufacturing facilities to standardize solutions where every percentage of efficiency gained is meaningful.

The collaboration will also explore minimizing energy use through advanced modeling of natural resources and environmental footprints across the value chain. To gain more information on product-related emissions, Intel will explore product and supply chain related modeling solutions with Siemens that drive data-based insights and help the industry accelerate progress in reducing its collective footprint.

Sustainable practices across the entire semiconductor lifecycle, including design, manufacturing, operation, efficiency, and recycling, are critical for meeting growing demand for powerful, sustainable chips. Technology has the power to accelerate solutions to reduce computing-related climate impacts across the technology industry and the rest of the global economy. Automation and digitalization hold the key to addressing the challenges as the industry drives toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. By combining their strengths and expertise, Siemens and Intel are poised to lead the way in driving positive change.

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Dassault Aviation Falcon 6X Enters Service

December 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Saint-Cloud, France, December 4, 2023 – The Dassault Aviation SA (Paris: AM) Falcon 6X entered service on November 30. The type certification was granted last August 22nd by both EASA and the FAA. Since that time, post-certification upgrades that were applied required EASA approval.

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2022, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €6.9 billion. The company has 12,700 employees.

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Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea - January 29, 2022: Aerial and morning view of Lotte World Tower with apartments near Han River

South Korea selects the Embraer C-390 Millennium

December 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Seoul, South Korea, December 04, 2023 – South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced the Embraer SA ADR (NYSE: ERJ) C-390 Millennium as the winner of the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to provide the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) with new military transport aircraft. South Korea is the C-390 Millennium’s first customer in Asia.

Under the signed contract, Embraer will provide an undisclosed number of C-390 Millennium aircraft specially configured to meet ROKAF’s requirements, as well as services & support including training, ground support equipment and spare parts. The value of the contract will be included in Embraer’s backlog in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Embraer will also provide a comprehensive consortium and offset package including a significant amount of C-390 Millennium parts to be locally manufactured by Korean partner companies and the development of a local Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider.

South Korea is the seventh nation to select the C-390 after Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic. The C-390 is redefining military airlift and challenging the thinking behind current and future generation platforms, with multi-mission capability, reliability and interoperability built by design.

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easyJet collaborates with RTX to enhance operations

December 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, December 4, 2023, PRNewswire – Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, is working with EasyJet PLC (London: EZJ) to activate GlobalConnect^SM connected aircraft services on more than 330 Airbus aircraft in its fleet. easyJet will become the largest A320 operator in the world to deploy GlobalConnect. This new capability enhances safety oversight, pilot training and operational efficiencies.

The Collins GlobalConnect solution enables the already-installed Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger system (FOMAX), jointly developed with Airbus, to provide easyJet valuable insights into its fleet operations, enabling proactive decision-making and more efficient airline operations.

The adoption of this data exchange and analytics capability also brings the potential to simplify the avionics architecture, leading to further fuel efficiency gains through the gradual removal of quick access recorders. The airline projects that cutting this additional weight could save up to 500 tonnes of carbon per year when rolled out fleet-wide.

GlobalConnect services across easyJet’s fleet will be progressively activated in the coming months, starting before year-end 2023. This marks a significant milestone in easyJet’s digital transformation journey and underscores the airline’s dedication to embracing cutting-edge technologies that benefit its passengers and the environment.

Forward-Looking Statements

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 carries ARJ21’s 10 millionth passenger

December 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 from Guangzhou to Jieyang on November 24th of 2023 rang in the 10 millionth passenger carried so far by China’s ARJ21 aircraft.

The ARJ21 aircraft is the first turbofan regional jet independently developed by China. Since the first ARJ21 aircraft was officially put into commercial operation in June 2016, a total of 117 aircraft have been delivered to customers Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Genghis Khan Airlines, Jiangxi Air, China Express Airlines and TransNusa. The aircraft has successfully served more than 400 routes in more than 140 cities at home and abroad. The airplane has also operated nearly 1,800 flights per week covering regions such as North China, Northeast China, East China, Southwest China, Northwest China and Central-South China, and launched overseas operations to Indonesia.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) has focused on the core competences of customer training, spare parts, engineering, maintenance, technical publications, flight operations, and market and commercial support. This has allowed it to establish an operation support system to ensure the large-scale development of ARJ21 aircraft.

Bell announces delivery of third 429 to Swiss helicopter rescue company Air Zermatt

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Madrid, Spain – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced at European Rotors 2023, the delivery of its third Bell 429 to Swiss-based helicopter rescue company, Air Zermatt.

With its 75-person medical personnel and flight crew, Air Zermatt provides transport, tourist flights, and rescue operations in the Swiss Alps and surrounding communities. Each year, Air Zermatt carries out around 2,000 rescue missions, the majority of which are with the Bell 429.

In addition to the delivery of their Bell 429, Air Zermatt has opted to add their entire Bell 429 fleet under Bell’s Customer Advantage Plan (CAP) that protects direct maintenance costs and aircraft value over time and helps to keep aircraft in service longer.

Forward-Looking Statements

United Airlines expands in Houston with $2.6B terminal project

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Houston, December 1, 2023, PRNewswire – United Airlines Holdings Inc (Nasdaq: UAL) today announced growth plans in Houston that include a $2.6 billion renovation and expansion of Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a new United Club^SM location and Early Bag Storage facility (EBS) as well as a new direct flight to Georgetown, Guyana*.

These investments are part of the airline’s United Next growth plan and include the expansion of 40 gates at IAH to accommodate larger aircraft, resulting in a 40% increase in the overall number of people who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 compared to 2023.

United’s Terminal B Transformation Program, pending final approval from Houston’s city council, will play an important part in the estimated 54 million future passengers that will annually travel throughout the Houston hub and aims to improve the travel experience from arrival to departure.

Project highlights include:

A three-level, 765,000 sq. ft. Terminal B North Concourse with 22 mainline, narrow-body gates
Converting 30 existing small regional jet gates to 18 gates to accommodate larger, two-class regional jets in the Terminal B South Concourse
Boarding via jet bridge for all flights
Two major concessions hubs with more than 115,000 sq. ft. of food and retail space
A new, state-of-the-art baggage handling system equipped with advanced tracking technology
The largest United Club in our system
Expanded curbside and roadway capacity with a ground-level check-in area, including the addition of a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A to allow Terminal B customers to exit the airport without having to drive past Terminal A as they do today
A new sensory room for passengers with disabilities

*flights subject to government approval.

Forward-Looking Statements

Rolls-Royce unveils micro reactor space model for moon exploration

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

The UK Space Conference was the ideal place for Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (London: RR) to reveal the Micro-Reactor model, which generated cross-industry interest that included a visit from European Space Agency Astronaut Major Tim Peake. The Rolls-Royce Novel Nuclear team were delighted to talk Tim through the model and the applications of our technology in Space.

In March 2023, Rolls-Royce secured funding of £2.9m from UK Space Agency, backing our research into how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base for astronauts. The technologies presented at the UK Space Conference are the culmination of this year’s research.

Scientists and engineers at Rolls-Royce, alongside strategic partners, have been working on several work packages under the UK Space Agency funded programme, to further strengthen its knowledge of these complex systems. The work packages have specifically focused on three key features of the Micro-Reactor; the fuel used to generate heat, the method of heat transfer and technology to convert that heat into electricity.

All space missions depend on a power source and, as a self-contained and power-dense solution, a Micro-Reactor can provide power for the habitation and exploration of a planetary surface, or power and propulsion for spacecraft. Continuous power and efficient propulsion can also provide satellites with more flexible movement to protect and defend key orbits.

Forward-Looking Statements

Porter Airlines orders 25 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, 29th November 2023 – Porter Airlines has exercised purchase rights to place a firm order for 25 Embraer SA ADR (NYSE: ERJ) E195-E2 passenger jets, adding to their 50 existing firm orders. Porter will use the new aircraft to extend its award-winning service to destinations throughout North America. The deal, valued at US$2.1bn at list price, will be added to the Q4 backlog, and brings Porter’s orders with Embraer to 75 firm, with 25 purchase rights remaining.

Porter, the North American launch customer for Embraer’s E195-E2, has already taken delivery of 24 E195-E2’s, and recently announced new destinations including Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; with destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean also planned. The aircraft are currently deployed from Eastern Canada, with a focus on Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa. Halifax and Montreal are also seeing new services with the E195-E2. Porter has chosen to configure the 146-seat aircraft in a comfortable 132-seat all-economy configuration, with a variety of seat pitches on offer for their guests: 36, 34, and 30 inches.

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

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