Tag: process (Page 2 of 5)

Southwest Airlines and The International Association Of Machinists And Aerospace Workers Reach Tentative Agreement

August 23, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

DALLAS, TEXAS – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have reached a Tentative Agreement for Southwest’s more than 5,000 Customer Service Employees.

Composed of the Company’s Customer Service Agents, Customer Representatives, and Source of Support Representatives, these Employees deliver excellent Customer Service by helping our Customers get to their destinations, whether that is taking a phone call to change a Customer’s travel plans or assisting a Customer or fellow Employee on the ground at one of the airports we serve.

The IAM will communicate to its membership the details of the Tentative Agreement and the ratification process.

Boeing KC-46A Tanker for Japan Completes First Refueling Flight

August 16, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

EVERETT, Washington, August 16, 2021 – The first Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-46A tanker built for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) recently refueled another KC-46A aircraft in the skies over Washington state. The Japan-bound tanker also successfully received fuel in return.

Japan is the KC-46 program’s first non-U.S. customer and is scheduled to receive its first aircraft this year.

The Japan KC-46A is capable of refueling U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and JASDF aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a contract for the JASDF’s first KC-46A tanker in December 2017. The agreement was completed through the Foreign Military Sale process between the U.S. government and Japan. A second Japan tanker is already in production.

Boeing is assembling the KC-46A aircraft for both the U.S. Air Force and Japan on its 767 production line in Everett, Washington. Boeing’s Japanese partners produce 16% of the KC-46A airframe structure.

Aeromexico to Add Twelve New Aircraft to Fleet

July 20, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mexico City, July 20, 2021 – Aeromexico is working to continue adding new aircraft to its fleet and plans to add 12 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The arrival is expected to begin next October.

These aircraft are in addition to the 28 that the company announced last April, making a total of 40 new aircraft to increase its fleet, replace other aircraft and improve connectivity.

The agreement to add these 12 aircraft is being negotiated with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and is subject to the approval of the United States Court for the Southern District of New York, in charge of Aeromexico’s Chapter 11 voluntary financial restructuring process.

Aeromexico’s current fleet is comprised of 118 aircraft: 47 Embraer 190’s, 53 Boeing 737’s, and 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The photo was taken from right window of commercial airplane, Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Osaka International Airport Itami (ITM) in the daytime. The center and bottom island is Enoshima Island in Fujisawa city. The bottom sea is Sagami Bay, Northern Pacific Ocean.

Germany Signs Up for Five Boeing P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

June 30, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

BERLIN, Germany June 30, 2021 — The German Ministry of Defense today signed a letter of offer and acceptance for five Boeing (NYSE: BA) P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the multimission maritime surveillance aircraft, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea and New Zealand.

The P-8A Poseidon offers unique multimission capability and is the only aircraft in service and in production that meets the full range of maritime challenges faced by European nations. Deployed around the world with more than 130 aircraft in service, and over 300,000 collective flight hours, the P-8A is vital for global anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations.

German companies that already supply parts for the P-8A include Aljo Aluminum-Bau Jonischeit GmbH and Nord-Micro GmbH. Recently, Boeing signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik to collaborate in systems integration, training, support and sustainment work. By working with local suppliers, Boeing will provide support, training and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to fulfill the German Navy’s missions.

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.

MD Helicopters Secures $43.9 Million in Army Contracts

June 23, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) announces two independent contract awards worth $43.9 million from Army Contracting Command-Redstone supporting the Afghan Air Force’s MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopters.

The first contract, a six-month extension worth $14.5 million, continues MDHI’s longstanding efforts to provide program management, and contractor logistics support (CLS) services, material, and remote operations to support the Afghan fleet. Work will take place in Mesa, Arizona; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. The contract was awarded on May 28, 2021.

The second contract, worth $29.4 million, modifies MDHI’s original maintenance capabilities support contract. Under this six-month contract, MD Helicopters will provide continued maintenance, repairs, updates, and overhauls of the Afghan Air Force’s MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters in Mesa, Kabul, and Al-Ain. The contract was awarded on June 10, 2021.

The enhanced MD 530F Cayuse Warrior is a light armed attack helicopter respected for its power, safety, speed, agility, and unparalleled confined area capabilities. The aircraft supports a wide range of training and operational missions, providing safe, efficient multi-mission support with an increased performance profile.

New Honeywell Turbogenerator Will Run on Biofuel and Power Hybrid Electric Aircraft

March 8, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

PHOENIX, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced it is developing a power source for hybrid-electric aircraft, planned for demonstration later this year. At 280 pounds, the Honeywell 1-Megawatt generator weighs about the same as a motor scooter but delivers enough energy to power an entire neighborhood block. This generator will be combined with the Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary power unit, currently flown on every Airbus A350 XWB, to form a turbogenerator 2.5 times more powerful than the version the company unveiled in 2019.

The new turbogenerator from Honeywell will be able to run on aviation biofuel, including Honeywell Green Jet Fuel, which is chemically similar to fossil fuel but made from more sustainable alternatives, as well as conventional jet fuel and diesel. Honeywell’s turbogenerator can be used to operate high-power electric motors or charge batteries and can satisfy missions from heavy-lift cargo drones to air taxis, or commuter aircraft. The first demonstration of this turbogenerator system will occur in the third quarter of 2021, with ongoing development and qualification to follow.

Traditionally, aircraft use fuel-burning engines to mechanically turn rotors, propellers or fans. Many new designs, however, use a distributed electric propulsion architecture, in which many electric motors can be tilted or turned off for vertical takeoff and horizontal flight. A Honeywell turbogenerator can provide electric power for multiple electric motors anywhere on an aircraft.

In December, Honeywell signed a memorandum of understanding with British startup Faradair Aerospace to collaborate on systems and a turbogeneration unit that will run on sustainable aviation fuel to power Faradair’s Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA). Faradair intends to deliver 300 hybrid-electric BEHAs into service by 2030, of which 150 will be in a firefighting configuration. Honeywell is in advanced discussions with several other potential turbogenerator customers, working to help define power requirements based on mission profiles required by various manufacturers.

Honeywell unveiled its first turbogenerator for urban air mobility (UAM) at the 2019 HAI HELI-EXPO in Atlanta. It combined Honeywell’s HTS900 turboshaft engine with two 200-kilowatt generators. Since then, the company continues to grow its role in the UAM segment, highlighted by advancements in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems.

Honeywell is a major player in the emerging UAM segment, offering a full line of avionics, propulsion and operational systems—all tailored for piloted and autonomous vertical take-off and landing UAM and cargo vehicles. Honeywell also offers aerospace integration and certification expertise for enabling the commercialization of these vehicles.

Honeywell pioneered the sustainable aviation fuel market with its UOP Ecofining process. Honeywell Green Jet Fuel produced by this process is blended seamlessly with petroleum-based jet fuel at commercial scale. When used in up to a 50% blend with petroleum-based jet fuel, Honeywell Green Jet Fuel requires no changes to aircraft technology and meets all critical specifications for flight.

LATAM Announces Freighter Conversion of up to Eight Boeing 767-300ER

March 6, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

LATAM Airlines Group (Santiago: LTM.SN) announced a significant expansion of its cargo operations with the conversion of up to eight Boeing 767-300ER aircraft into Boeing Converted Freighters (“BCF”) in the next three years. This represents a freighter capacity growth of up to 80%. This plan seeks to increase the service options and leverage the synergies of operating a single type of aircraft.

The plan is divided in two gradual stages. The first phase is based on four confirmed conversion slots with Boeing with re-deliveries between 2021 and 2022. Upon completion of that phase, LATAM’s cargo operators’ fleet would reach a total of 15 Boeing 767-300ER freighters. The second phase includes four conversion options with Boeing that would allow aircraft to be added between 2022 and 2023. If all options are executed LATAM would operate a total of 19 767-300ER freighters.

Throughout 2020, LATAM Cargo played an active and vital role in ensuring essential supplies reached Latin American countries, especially in places with extreme and difficult-to-access areas like in countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. LATAM also worked to safeguard the supply from the import and export sectors in South America, even increasing their shipment frequencies by more than 40% in some markets. To achieve these results, LATAM operated passenger planes for the exclusive transport of cargo.

In addition, during the pandemic, LATAM landed for the first time in China, searching for medical supplies for South America, ultimately making more than 80 flights to the Asian continent. LATAM currently continues to make trips to Europe and China to transport COVID-19 vaccines into the region, and the LATAM Group’s Solidarity Plane Program has made its resources available for the free transport of vaccines in domestic markets.

Rolls-Royce Signs MoU with Fermi Energia for Compact Nuclear Power Stations

March 2, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Rolls-Royce (London: RR.L) and Fermi Energia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the potential for the deployment of affordable, compact nuclear power stations, known as small modular reactors (SMR), in Estonia. The study will cover all aspects of deployment including grid suitability, cooling, emergency planning, human resources, licensing feasibility, economics and supply chain.

Rolls-Royce is leading a consortium that is designing a low-cost factory built nuclear power station, known as a small modular reactor (SMR). Its standardised, factory-made components and advanced manufacturing processes push costs down, while the rapid assembly of the modules and components inside a weatherproof canopy on the power station site itself avoid costly schedule disruptions.

Fermi Energia is a company founded by nuclear scientists, energy experts and entrepreneurs to bring small modular reactors to Estonia to meet its climate goals, help the economy develop and gain energy security.

The consortium led by Rolls-Royce is working with its partners and UK Government to secure a commitment for a fleet of factory built nuclear power stations, each providing at least 440MW of electricity, to be operational within a decade, helping the governments around the world net zero obligations.

The consortium members feature the best of nuclear engineering, construction and infrastructure expertise in Assystem, Atkins, BAM Nuttall, Jacobs, Laing O’Rourke, National Nuclear Laboratory, Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Rolls-Royce and TWI. The current phase of the programme has been jointly funded by all consortium members and UK Research and Innovation.

The power stations will be built by the UKSMR consortium, before being handed over to be operated by power generation companies.

Boeing’s First KC-46 Tanker for Japan Takes Flight

February 9, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 9, 2021 – The first Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-46 tanker destined for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) took to the skies on its maiden flight yesterday. This successful flight highlights an important milestone as the aircraft now transitions into the certification phase of development.

“This is an exciting milestone for the JASDF and Boeing,” said Jamie Burgess, KC-46 program manager. “Japan is getting closer to receiving the most advanced air refueling tanker in the world.”

Japan is the KC-46 program’s first international customer and is scheduled to receive its first jet this year.

“Boeing’s KC-46 and its robust defensive systems will play an invaluable role in the security alliance between our two countries,” said Will Shaffer, president of Boeing Japan. “This tanker’s ability to carry cargo and passengers also makes it a critical tool to support humanitarian relief efforts across the Pacific region and beyond.”

The KC-46 refueling certification encompasses U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and JASDF aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $279 million contract for the JASDF’s first KC-46A tanker in December 2017. The agreement was completed through the Foreign Military Sale process between the U.S. government and Japan. Japan is now on contract for a total of four KC-46 tankers.

Boeing is assembling KC-46A aircraft for both the U.S. Air Force and Japan on its 767 production line in Everett, Washington. Boeing’s Japanese partners produce 16% of the KC-46 airframe structure.

Talgo Begins Rail Test for Very High-Speed Avril Train

February 6, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

The first unit of the very high-speed train Talgo Avril began its first rail tests this week, a decisive step in the technical homologation, prior to its commercial circulation by Spanish operator Renfe. This is the final phase in the manufacturing process of 30 units of the Talgo Avril, which has a passenger capacity of up to 581 seats.

The rail tests are aimed at checking the dynamic behaviour of all the elements of the train, and in particular the running gear systems, under progressively more complex operating conditions and up to the speed required for technical homologation of over 360 km/h. Its maximum commercial speed will be 330 km/h.

The homologation tests are planned to be carried out for several weeks on the Madrid-Galicia high-speed rail line, although they could be extended to other parts of the railway network in Spain at a later stage.

Lighter, more sustainable and accessible

Talgo Avril is Talgo’s most advanced very high-speed train, which will become a benchmark of quality in the very high-speed rail segment. Thanks to their high capacity and light overall weight, the Avril trains acquired by Spanish operator Renfe minimise energy consumption and multiply efficiency. This allows them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further enhance the position of rail as the most sustainable means of transport.

One of the outstanding features of this latest generation train is that its composition of 12 passenger carriages and 200 metres long are located on a single deck and at the station platform level, allowing passengers to access the train and move around inside it without steps or ramps. Talgo’s unique accessibility not only facilitates access for people with reduced mobility, but also offers an easy journey for all passengers, from parents with prams to passengers with bulky luggage or bicycles.

New routes, new markets

Talgo Avril is part of a highly flexible technological platform that allows each delivery to be adapted to the increasingly complex needs of the European rail market. In this particular contract, the 30 trains supplied are divided into different blocks according to their internal commercial configuration, their automatic variable-gauge system (Iberian and international), and their equipment to be operated north of the Pyrenees. Thanks to these capacities, Talgo Avril will be able to be used on practically the entire Iberian electrified rail network, bringing even closer those destinations to which the new high-performance rail network has not yet been extended, as well as in international relations between Spain and France.

The interoperability of Talgo trains is one of their most distinctive features, and this has led them to be used on commercial routes throughout Europe: France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Belarus and Poland. The Spanish manufacturer has also recently been awarded new contracts to supply trains to the European operator Deutsche Bahn, which will connect Berlin (Germany) with Amsterdam (Netherlands) and to the Danish company DSB, to link Copenhagen (Denmark) with the German port of Hamburg.

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