The Spanish state-owned rail operator RENFE has awarded Stadler a contract to deliver 59 commuter trains, which also includes the spare parts and maintenance for 15 years. This award is one of the batches in the bidding for the high-capacity trains tendered by the Spanish operator. Stadler proposes to maximize the capacity by using double-deck coaches with a scalable length from 100 to 120 meters and from 160 to 240 meters. The Iberian-gauge trains will operate on 3 kV DC overhead lines reaching a maximum speed of 140 km/h. They will provide the commuter service in the largest Spanish cities.
This is the first time that RENFE will order trains from Stadler. The new trains shall be developed and produced in Stadler’s plant in Valencia. The contract envisages an option for 44 additional units as well as their maintenance.
Iñigo Parra, CEO Stadler Valencia, said: “We’re excited about the decision from RENFE and their trust in Stadler. We were chosen to provide trains in our factory in Spain for the Spanish commuter service – this makes us proud.”
Stadler Cal Train rendering of the double decker coaches
FORT WORTH, Texas ― American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL) is on a journey of building a terminal for tomorrow, a substantial multi-year commitment to modernize our hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and improve the customer experience at LAX’s two busiest domestic terminals to make traveling as easy as possible.
The airline, which will celebrate 75 years of service to Los Angeles later this year, recently celebrated a significant milestone in its construction journey at LAX, in which team members signed their names onto a piece of history that will prominently live atop of the Terminal 4 and 5 CORE. The CORE is the primary, centralized structure that connects the terminal areas with the screening checkpoint, ticketing and baggage claim areas, as well as the Automated People Mover (ATM) train system, curbside and parking areas.
In a topping out ceremony, team members and leaders from American were joined by executives from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to celebrate the final steel beam being raised into place and secured by its construction partners.
Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, American has continued operating in both Terminals 4 and 5 alongside its construction partners, who have worked hard to ensure an on-time completion in October 2022.
The new state-of-the-art facility will have more efficient check-in and security screenings to reduce wait times, lessened roadway congestion with the new ATM and include increased seating and power outlets at the gates. The new departure halls will be spacious, and modern signage will make it easier for travelers to comfortably navigate the airport.
Some of the benefits and features of the redesigned terminal experience include:
Fully upgraded and modernized Terminal 4.
Unified 300,000-plus square-foot, 28-gate complex for Terminals 4 and 5.
A spacious new departure hall that allows direct natural sunlight throughout the building to reduce energy consumption.
Reconfigured ticket counter and check-in areas to reduce wait times before security screening.
Seamless access from check-in area directly to security screening areas.
16 lanes for security screening with automated technology.
Transparent design with modern signage to intuitively guide passengers to their gates.
Modern, state-of-the-art finishes and restroom facilities.
Upgraded amenities at gate areas, including more access to power outlets and world-class dining and retail options.
London, 9 March 2021 – Airbus, Fujitsu and Thales UK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work collaboratively on the upcoming Systems Integrator (SI) opportunity for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems programme – known as LE TacCIS.
Following the signature of the MOU, the partners have formed team ICELUS led by Airbus that will bring together a trusted collective of MOD strategic partners who have a unique breadth of expertise of defence communications networks. ICELUS will offer pioneering change through a coherent systems integration approach to ultimately deliver operational effectiveness and information advantage to the end user, whilst sustaining a UK centric, defence industrial base. The three partners will be able to jointly explore how their respective unique expertise and solutions can be combined in order to put forward the best-possible proposals with regard to capabilities and competitiveness for this major programme.
ICELUS will focus on the upcoming LE TacCIS System Integrator (SI) opportunity to lead on the design and integration of the products & services for applications, infrastructures and networks. The LE TacCIS System Integrator is expected to be contracted by 2023/2024.
The LE TacCIS programme consists of multiple sub-programmes and projects with the aim to deliver the next generation of tactical military communications in the land environment, providing the means to make informed and timely decisions enabled by agile Communication Information Systems (CIS).
LE TacCIS is designed to be resilient, working securely in a congested and contested cyber battlespace. It will degrade gracefully and recover when attacked, continuing to provide essential Command and Control (C2) services and capabilities. It will integrate with other systems to allow the quick and easy sharing of information between platforms and weapon systems, delivering full-spectrum, multi-domain effects.
In contrast to the current system’s single source prime supplier model, elements of the LE TacCIS programme will be competed from industry who will be incentivised to deliver increased system agility, capability and value for money.
MIAMI – March 8, 2021 – Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines this week takes off with three new, nonstop routes from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Cancun, Mexico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In addition, next month, the airline will launch its maiden service to Central America from Miami with nonstop flights to Guatemala City and San Salvador.
Frontier now offers 28 nonstop destinations from Miami, including six international routes. The new flights to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico represent Frontier’s commitment to expanding travel opportunities to exciting destinations while maintaining its ‘Low Fares Done Right’ approach.
“We’re pleased to expand in Miami with new flights to Cancun, Punta Cana and St. Thomas,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. “Frontier has grown rapidly at Miami International in recent years and we look forward to launching our first flights to Central America next month with nonstop service to Guatemala City and San Salvador. We’re bringing our ultra-low-fares and customizable travel options model to these new flights to offer our customers unprecedented affordability and value to these highly sought destinations.”
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.
LAS VEGAS – March 8, 2021 – Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines this week takes off with four new, nonstop routes to Las Vegas from El Paso, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas. Plus, later this month, Frontier begins nonstop service from McCarran International Airport (LAS) to two popular vacation destinations in Mexico: Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.
Frontier now offers 44 nonstop destinations from Las Vegas, including two international routes. The new flights to Mexico represent Frontier’s commitment to expanding travel opportunities to exciting destinations while maintaining its ‘Low Fares Done Right’ approach.
“We’re very excited bring more new flights to Las Vegas and offer an affordable travel option for folks from El Paso, Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Wichita to visit the Entertainment Capital of the World,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. “Frontier has quickly become a preferred airline in Las Vegas with an established crew base, robust flight schedule and ultra-competitive fares and we look forward to welcoming Nevadans on our two new international routes later this month to the sunny beaches of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.”
Saint-Cloud, France, March 8, 2021 – It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Olivier Dassault, at the age of 69, in a helicopter accident on 7 March 2021. An aviation enthusiast, like his grandfather Marcel Dassault and his father Serge Dassault, he was always keenly interested in developing the business of our company. He was born on 1 June 1951 in Boulogne-Billancourt. He was an engineering graduate from the Ecole de l’Air, held a DEA diploma in Mathematical Decision Sciences and a Doctorate in management computing.
He was born on 1 June 1951 in Boulogne-Billancourt. He was an engineering graduate from the Ecole de l’Air, held a DEA diploma in Mathematical Decision Sciences and a Doctorate in management computing. Following his solid scientific training, Olivier Dassault’s first steps in professional life helped him to gain experience of the communication sector, notably as a film producer and then by creating his own advertising agency.
He was a professional pilot since 1975, and jointly held world speed records – with Hervé Le Prince-Ringuet in 1977 from New York to Paris on a Falcon 50 and in 1987 from New Orleans to Paris on a Falcon 900 – and with Guy Mitaux-Maurouard and Patrick Experton in 1996 on a Falcon 900EX from Paris to Abu Dhabi and Paris to Singapore.
In 1986, his father Serge Dassault entrusted him with a number of roles and responsibilities within the Dassault company, appointing him Deputy Vice-President for Europe Falcon Service, and then Vice-President of Civil Aircraft Strategy in 1993.
He was Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Marcel Dassault industrial group (GIMD) until 2017 and Director at Dassault Aviation since 1996. Throughout his life, he was a determined defender of our company and of French aeronautics. Moreover, on Thursday, March 4, 2021, during the last Board of Directors meeting, he gave his full support to the company in its management of the covid 19 crisis.
He was also a media man, holding the position of Chairman of the Valmonde group, where he created the hunting magazine Jours de Chasse (2000) devoted to another of his passions. He became a Director of Socpresse (now Groupe Figaro) after the latter was bought out by GIMD in 2004.
While continuing to be professionally active, he entered politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (RPR party) in 1988, winning back the Oise first district during the parliamentary by-elections. He was an MP in the Oise department from 1988 to 1997, and then again since 2002.
An artist at heart, Olivier Dassault was an accomplished musician and notably composed the anthem for Parliament, showing this institution another side of his creative personality. He was also a well-known photographer. He published many books of photographs and regularly exhibited his work successfully, in France and abroad.
Southwest Airlines Company (NYSE: LUV) today announced an intention to bring the flexibility and value of Southwest Airlines® to three more new airports in 2021. Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly today is sharing the following message with the Employees of Southwest:
I’m pleased to share with you all that today we’re announcing our intention to serve three more destinations and continue our focus on putting our aircraft to work to pursue more Customers and much-needed revenue.
And the destinations are (drum roll!) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington—three very different and appealing locations to both serve our existing Customers and places where we feel Southwest can make a real difference for local travelers.
We’re looking to start Myrtle Beach service in time for summer vacations and we expect our arrival to appeal to travelers who currently drive to this very popular coastal area in the Southeast. ‘Golf bags fly free’* should be very popular for Myrtle Beach service!
Eugene is about two hours south of Portland, and it’s ripe for the Southwest Effect, our Hospitality, and our flexible policies, with no hidden fees, and low fares.
Southwest service in Bellingham positions us just south of metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Following the reopening of the Canadian border, we expect a return of the value-minded travelers who already drive to this alternative airport to escape high fares and taxes—and that’s very, very typical for Southwest destinations. Southwest provides a great value for them.
Service to both Eugene and Bellingham is something we’ve anticipated in the second half of the year.
That makes 17 new airports that either we have opened or announced since the pandemic began. And for those that have commenced service, they’re performing very well. In fact, we just shared with the airports serving Steamboat Springs and Telluride that we’re extending our service beyond the winter season to continue serving both through the summer of 2021.
Colorado Springs, Savannah, and our Long Beach service to Hawaii all start-up this coming Thursday.
That’s a lot of work, a lot of new destinations, and a lot of options for our Customers and so I want to thank all of the Teams that have a hand in continuing to grow the Heart of Southwest while better positioning us to capture more Customers as the travel demand rebounds.
*Golf bags fly free as one of two checked pieces of baggage offered to every Southwest Customer (weight and size limitations apply)
