Category: Joint Venture News (Page 11 of 34)

Airbus renews transatlantic fleet with lower emission ships

October 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, October 25, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) will renew the entire fleet of chartered vessels that transport aircraft subassemblies between production facilities in Europe and the United States with three modern, low-emission roll-on/roll-off vessels, supported by wind-assisted propulsion.

Airbus has commissioned shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs to build, own and operate these new, highly efficient vessels that will enter into service from 2026. The new vessels will be powered by a combination of six Flettner rotors – large, rotating cylinders that generate lift thanks to the wind, propelling the ship forward – and two dual-fuel engines running on maritime diesel oil and e-methanol. Additionally, routing software will optimise the vessels’ journey across the Atlantic, maximising wind propulsion and avoiding drag caused by adverse ocean conditions.

The new fleet is expected to reduce average annual transatlantic CO₂ emissions from 68,000 to 33,000 tonnes by 2030. This will contribute to Airbus’ commitment to reduce its overall industrial emissions by up to 63% by the end of the decade – compared to 2015 as baseline year.

Airbus signs 1.2 billion Euro contracts for support of France’s A330 MRTT fleet

October 24, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Spain – 23 October 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) Defence and Space has signed two contracts valued at 1.2 billion euros in total with France’s Direction generale de l’armement (DGA) and Direction de la Maintenance Aeronautique (DMAe) for the Capability Enhancement and the In-Service Support of the French A330 MRTT’s (Multi Role Tanker Transport) fleet.

Standard 2 contract: Stepping stone of the Multi Role Tanker Transport of the future

The Standard 2 contract provides for the capability extension of the French MRTTs, focused on connectivity as a key pillar and also self-protection capabilities. With the aim of being connected in all circumstances, including jammed environments and extreme weather conditions, the aircraft will be equipped with the MELISSA satcom station.

These new capabilities will convert the French A330 MRTT into a high bandwidth communication relay node, with command and control capabilities, and will build the stepping stone of the A330 MRTT’s integration into the future air combat cloud within the FCAS.

10 years In-service support

The second contract covers the In-Service Support of the ‘Phénix’ fleet for 10 years, plus two optional years, at the Istres Air Base, southern France, home to the 31st Strategic Air Refuelling and Transport Wing. Airbus, as the prime contractor, together with its preferred partners in France, will be responsible for fleet modernisation, maintenance, logistics and technical support to ensure the aircraft’s operational availability. The local Airbus team in France will be doubled to support these activities.

DHL fulfillment network adds capacity with new warehouse in Euskirchen

October 23, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Bonn, Germany, October 23, 2023 – As part of the expansion of the DHL (Deutsche Post AG-Xetra: DHLn) Fulfillment Network (DFN), DHL Supply Chain has now commissioned its fourth dedicated e-commerce warehouse in Germany. The fulfillment warehouse in Euskirchen will store, pick and pack orders from both large as well as small and medium-sized customers before shipping them within Germany, Europe or even to the rest of the world.

All customers benefit from an existing infrastructure that enables the integration of webshops and customer systems as well as connection to a range of parcel service providers. In this way, new companies can quickly and easily be integrated into the network. In addition, DHL provides its customers with a wide range of data and digital tools enabling them to drive their business with minimal effort. This allows inventory to be managed, each order to be monitored and sales trends to be tracked. Furthermore, all DFN fulfillment centers are run by trained DHL employees.

The DFN model was developed in Germany and currently has a global network spanning 30 locations around the world. The new Euskirchen site has a total storage area of over 60,000 square meters and has excellent connections to parcel centers and both Cologne/ Bonn and Duesseldorf Airport. Fluctuations in order numbers and inventory levels can be handled flexibly through specialist technology and dynamic staff deployment.

Marathon Airlines expands Embraer pool program agreement for seven E-Jets

October 18, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 18, 2023 – Embraer SA (NYSE: ERJ) announced that it has signed a contract amendment with Marathon Airlines for the Pool Program to include additional two E195s. Now, seven E-Jets will receive support for a wide range of repairable components – three E175, one E190, and three E195. The Greek airline started the Pool Program contract last year, with its first E175, and has seen steady fleet growth since. Currently, Embraer’s Pool Program supports more than 60 airlines worldwide.

Embraer provides support to airlines worldwide, with its technical expertise and its vast component services network. The results are significant savings in repair and inventory carrying costs and a reduction in warehousing space and resources required for repair management, while ultimately providing guaranteed performance levels. Embraer Services & Support’s portfolio offers a wide range of competitive solutions designed for each customer to support the growing fleet of Embraer aircraft worldwide and deliver the best after-sales experience in the global aerospace industry.

About Marathon Airlines

Marathon Airlines is an EASA-approved airline based in Greece providing customer-centric, safe, and reliable Wet Lease (ACMI) services to well-established EU carriers and Charter flights. We are also specialized in a range of solutions including private jet charter and aircraft management. The current fleet also includes 2 Legacy 600 aircraft.

For more information, visit www.flymarathon.aero.

Royal Jordanian Airlines sign pool program agreement with Embraer for E2 fleet support

October 18, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 17, 2023 – Embraer SA (NYSE: ERJ) has signed a multi-year contract with Royal Jordanian Airlines to support a total fleet of eight E190-E2 and E-195-E2 jets with the Pool Program. The agreement will provide support for a wide range of repairable components for the jets that will be added to Royal Jordanian’s fleet. Currently, Embraer’s Pool Program supports more than 60 airlines worldwide.

Maersk signs deal with Starlink for its ocean fleet

October 12, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Copenhagen, Denmark, October 12, 2023 – A.P. Moller – Maersk (London: 0O77) is embarking on a collaboration with Starlink, the pioneering satellite internet constellation developed by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly referred to as SpaceX. SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk of Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) fame.

Maersk, the global leader of integrated container logistics, will have Starlink installed on more than 330 own operated container vessels. This will enabling high-speed internet with speeds over 200 Mbps, service that is a leap forward in terms of internet speed and latency bringing significant benefits in terms of both crew welfare and business impact.

The agreement comes after a successful pilot phase where crew members on more than 30 Maersk vessels have had the opportunity to test the Starlink technology – resulting in very positive feedback.

Airbus and Republic of Singapore successfully complete air to air refuelling flight test

October 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Getafe, Madrid, Spain, October 11, 2023 – Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) worked together to successfully complete the automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) flight test campaign with the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and F-15 fighter, ahead of its certification in the first half of 2024.

Over the course of three weeks in August, a RSAF A330 MRTT made more than 500 automated wet and dry contacts with the air force’s full fleet of receiver aircraft, including the F-15SG aircraft, a customised variant of the US-built F-15E Strike Eagle air-to-ground fighter jet.

The flight tests with F-15SG were conducted in Singapore, covering the whole operational AAR envelope in different weather conditions under the supervision of the Spanish certifying authority, called INTA (National Institute for Aerospace Technology).

Tri-Cities Intermodal moves forward to develop intermodal center

October 10, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Wallula, Washington, October 10, 2023 – Tri-Cities Intermodal (TCI) has signed a lease/purchase agreement to acquire the former Cold Connect warehouse and property, with plans to develop an adjacent intermodal ramp in Wallula, WA. The plan represents a revival of the plans previously announced by Tiger Cool Express before they shut down operations in June. Tri-Cities Intermodal is an entirely new company – and the transaction had no connection to Tiger Cool.

Tri-Cities signed the lease/purchase agreement on Sept. 27, 2023, with Union Pacific Railroad Corporation (NYSE: UNP).

The envisioned Tri-Cities Intermodal Center will benefit the entire agricultural community in the three-state region by providing cost-effective and sustainable transportation capacity. Initially, service is intended to be offered between: Wallula and the Northwest Seaport Alliance on-dock facilities for dry imports and exports (in ISO equipment.) It will also support Union Pacific’s intermodal customers moving between Wallula and Chicago and beyond.

Boeing and Nammo Ramjet 155 test sets distance record

October 9, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Arlington, Virginia, October 9, 2023 – A Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Nammo team set a record for longest indirect fire test of a ramjet-powered artillery projectile alongside officials from the U.S. Army — firing a Ramjet 155 munition from a 58-caliber Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The test advances development efforts for the Army’s top modernization priority, Long Range Precision Fires.

The success follows last year’s Boeing-Nammo test recording the longest-ever indirect fire test of a Ramjet 155 munition. That test was completed using a 39-caliber towed artillery cannon at the Andøya Test Center in Norway.

The Boeing-Nammo solution is being developed under the Army’s XM1155 program. Considered a powered guided artillery munition, Ramjet 155 utilizes an air-breathing engine design that uses the cannon firing to provide the speed needed for combustion.

In an upcoming test, Boeing and Nammo will integrate a precision guidance system, leveraging a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) mission computer onto the Ramjet 155. The demonstration will evaluate the system’s maturity and effectiveness against stationary and moving targets, and readiness to transition into the next phase of development.

THEOS-2 satellite for Thailand successfully launched

October 9, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

The Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) THEOS-2 Earth observation satellite has been successfully launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand (GISTDA) selected Airbus as partner for its next-generation national geo-information system in 2018.

THEOS-2 follows the Airbus-built THEOS-1 satellite launched in 2008, which still continues to deliver imagery well beyond its 10-year operational lifetime. In the frame of THEOS-2 programme, GISTDA’s geo-information system benefits from satellite imagery collected by the Airbus constellation of optical and radar Earth observation satellites such as Pléiades and TerraSAR-X.

The contract also includes a second Earth observation satellite – THEOS-2 SmallSAT – from Airbus’ subsidiary SSTL, combined with a comprehensive capacity building programme involving Thai engineers in the development of applications, ground segment and the SmallSAT spacecraft itself. THEOS-2 SmallSAT is based on SSTL’s CARBONITE series of Earth observation spacecraft and has been delivered to Thailand.

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