Tag: windows

Gulfstream G700 and G800 engines earn FAA certification

September 11, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Savannah, Georgia, September 8, 2023 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the all-new Gulfstream G700 and Gulfstream G800 Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines have earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, bringing the aircraft program another step closer towards entry into service and customer deliveries.

The G700 and G800 feature high-speed, aerodynamic Gulfstream wing design as well as an all-new winglet designed for the two new aircraft. Along with the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, these innovations help reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and can fly 6,650 nautical miles/12,316 kilometers at Mach 0.90 or 7,750 nm/14,353 km at Mach 0.85, and its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935 makes it the fastest aircraft in the Gulfstream fleet. The G800 can travel 7,000 nm/12,964 km at Mach 0.90 and 8,000 nm/14,816 km at Mach 0.85, the longest range in the business aviation industry.

The G700 and G800 both include the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with the industry’s only electronically linked active control sidesticks, the most extensive use of touch-screen technology in business aviation and Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System.

In the cabin, the G700 and G800 feature the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, the industry’s lowest cabin altitude, whisper-quiet noise levels and abundant natural light from iconic Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows.

JetBlue Orders 30 Additional Airbus A220-300 Raising Firm Order to 100

February 16, 2022 / WIL BALDWIN

JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) has signed a firm order with Airbus (OTC: EADSY) for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft. This takes the airline’s firm commitment for the A220-300 to 100 aircraft. This latest agreement lifts the total firm order book for the A220 to 740.

Jetblue started A220-300 operations in April 2021 and currently operates eight A220s in a 140-seat configuration, with USB-C, USB-A and AC power at every seat. The A220 also offers the largest cabin, highest ceiling, biggest windows and most spacious overhead bins in its class.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market, bringing together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. The A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

Tesla Unveils Electric Pickup Truck with Futuristic Design

November 22, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Click to make your fully refundable $100 Tesla deposit

Starting price of $39,900
Most expensive version offers a range of more than 500 miles
Production expected to begin in late 2021 (Recasts and writes through)

Nov 21 (Reuters) – Tesla Inc on Thursday unveiled its first electric pickup truck that looked like a futuristic angular armored vehicle in gunmetal gray, as the California company took aim at the heart of Detroit automakers’ profits.

At a launch event in Los Angeles, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said the Cybertruck will have a starting price of $39,900 and production is expected to begin in late 2021.

Other versions will be priced at $49,900 and $69,900 with the most expensive offering a range of more than 500 miles.

“We need sustainable energy now. If we don’t have a pickup truck, we can’t solve it. The top 3 selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks. To solve sustainable energy, we have to have a pickup truck,” he said.

The truck, which Musk claimed “won’t scratch and dent”, was described as having windows made from armored glass. But the glass cracked like a spider web when hit with a metal ball during a demonstration. Musk appeared surprised but noted that the glass had not completely broken.

Reactions on Twitter ranged from love to hate of the sharply angled vehicle. “I just watched tesla release the #cybertruck and honestly? My life feels complete,” wrote @aidan_tenud, while @nateallensnyde wrote “Its nice to see Elon Musk make a cardboard box car he drew in kindergarten,”.

Musk earlier tweeted the design was partly influenced by the Lotus Esprit sportscar that doubled as a submarine in the 1970s 007 film “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

The truck marks the first foray by Tesla, whose Model 3 sedan is the world’s top-selling battery electric car, into pickup trucks, a market dominated by Ford Motor Co’s F-150, along with models by General Motors Co, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV .

The pickup shifts Tesla more toward trucks and SUVs. The automaker has so far sold mostly Model S and Model 3 sedans, but also offers the Model X SUV and starting next year the Model Y compact SUV.

A focus on the high-performance end of the market is only natural given the success of Ford’s 450-horsepower F-150 Raptor truck, which launched in 2009 and whose sales have since risen annually, according to Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

While Ford does not disclose Raptor sales, Levine said annual demand is well above 19,000 vehicles and the No. 2 U.S. automaker has never had to offer incentives on the model, which costs in the high $60,000 range. Ford also offers the more expensive F-150 Limited, its most powerful and luxurious pickup.

Ford and GM are also gearing up to challenge Tesla more directly with new offerings like the Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV as well as electric pickups.

Electric pickups and SUVs could help Ford and GM generate the significant EV sales they will need to meet tougher emission standards and EV mandates in California and other states.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back those standards, but electric trucks are a hedge if California prevails.

Demand for full-size electric pickup trucks in the near term may not be huge, however.

Industry tracking firm IHS Markit estimates the electric truck segment – both full- and mid-sized models – will account for about 75,000 sales in 2026, compared with an expected 3 million light trucks overall. The Tesla truck is not part of that estimate.

Ford aims to sell an electric F-series in late 2021, sources familiar with the plans said. It also will offer the Mach E next year as part of its plan to invest $11.5 billion by 2022 to electrify its vehicles.

In April, Ford invested $500 million in startup Rivian, which plans to build its own electric pickup beginning in fall 2020.

GM plans to build a family of premium electric pickup trucks and SUVs, with the first pickup due to go on sale in the fall of 2021. It plans to invest $8 billion by 2023 to develop electric and self-driving vehicles.

(Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu in Tokyo and Peter Henderson in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Miyoung Kim in Singapore and Joseph White in Detroit; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Cirrus Aircraft Revolutionizes Passenger Safety through Autonomous Flight with Safe Return Emergency Autoland

November 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Duluth, Minn. and Knoxville, Tenn. (30 October 2019) – Cirrus Aircraft, the global leader in personal aviation, ushered in a new era of innovation today with the introduction of Safe Return^TM – a revolutionary emergency autoland system that enables passengers to land the Vision Jet^TM with just the touch of a single button. Once activated when available, Safe Return assumes control of the aircraft and transforms the Vision Jet into an autonomous vehicle that navigates to the nearest suitable airport for landing, communicates with air traffic control, lands and brings the aircraft safely to a complete stop. The Vision Jet, with both Safe Return and the award-winning Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), provides a comprehensive, must-have total safety solution unique to G2 Vision Jet operators.

“Our mission is to make personal aviation more accessible by continuing to improve passenger comfort and safety,” said Zean Nielsen, Cirrus Aircraft Chief Executive Officer. “Safe Return delivers the next step towards autonomous flight, bringing a new level of confidence to the overall flying experience by providing the ultimate level of safety and control to passengers. Together, with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), we have once again set a new standard for safety in personal air travel.”

Easily accessible by passengers in the Vision Jet cabin, Safe Return is activated by the touch of a button when available. Once pressed, the autonomous system analyzes terrain and datalink weather to determine the optimal airport for landing, and simultaneously begins communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC). Powered by the Perspective Touch+^TM by Garmin® flight deck, Safe Return utilizes all available aircraft data streams, including available fuel, to safely navigate the Vision Jet to the identified airport and transition on to final approach for the appropriate runway based on ground winds. Autothrottle – launched earlier this year on the new G2 Vision Jet –and the automatic flight control system manage the aircraft’s speed, altitude and path, while the system automatically lowers the flaps and landing gear on final approach. Safe Return culminates in the aircraft making a fully autonomous landing on the intended runway and coming to a complete stop, allowing passengers to exit the aircraft.

Included during this entire process is constant communication with ATC – another layer of autonomy that provides assurance to passengers experiencing a critical situation. Upon activation, Safe Return immediately transmits an emergency message to ATC. Using text and speech technology, the system communicates the aircraft’s intentions over the appropriate ATC frequency, the 121.5 emergency voice frequency, and also switches to the universal emergency transponder code. ATC is automatically updated at regular intervals of the aircraft’s location, emergency situation and intended airport landing location. These communications begin the process of activating emergency services at the airport of intended landing to assist the passenger and pilot upon arrival. Safe Return can be easily disengaged by the pilot with a simple press of the Autopilot disconnect button on the yoke if a passenger inadvertently activates the system.

In 2016, Cirrus Aircraft ushered in a new era in personal transportation with the FAA certification of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet – the Vision Jet. The turbine aircraft defined a new category in aviation – the Personal Jet^TM – with its spacious pilot and passenger-friendly cabin featuring panoramic windows, reclining seats, comfortable legroom for five adults and two children and the only turbine aircraft with a whole airframe parachute system as standard equipment. Earlier this year, Cirrus Aircraft unveiled and began delivery of the G2 Vision Jet, offering enhanced performance, comfort and safety with increased cruise altitude, speed and range, and a newly-upgraded Perspective Touch+^TM by Garmin® flight deck. The company expects to begin delivery of Vision Jets equipped with Safe Return in early 2020.

More information on Safe Return and the G2 Vision Jet can be found at www.cirrusaircraft.com/visionjet.

First Egypt Air A220-300 Makes Maiden Flight

August 25, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The first A220-300 for EgyptAir has successfully completed its inaugural test flight from the Mirabel assembly line. The first of 12 aircraft EgyptAir has on order is due to be delivered to the Cairo-based airline in the coming weeks.

The A220 for EgyptAir will provide passengers with superior comfort, its innovative cabin design featuring the widest economy seats of any single-aisle aircraft, and panoramic windows for more natural light. The aircraft, which is outfitted with a brand new cabin layout of 134 seats, will now enter its final phase of completion before delivery.

The A220 delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and true wide-body comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. With a range of up to 3,400 nm (6,300 km), the A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft.

More than 80 A220 aircraft are flying with five operators on regional and transcontinental routes in Asia, America, Europe and Africa, proving the great versatility of Airbus’ latest addition.

Bombardier wins Dresden contract for 30 Flexity trams

August 22, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Innovative lightweight concept allows wider trams to use existing infrastructureBombardier wins contract to supply and maintain 30 FLEXITY trams for Dresden’s transport authority
Contract includes the FlexCare maintenance management system and the Obstacle Detection and Assistance System

Mobility solution provider Bombardier Transportation and Dresden’s transport authority Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB), have signed a contract to supply and maintain 30 BOMBARDIER FLEXITY trams, equipped with the Obstacle Detection and Assistance System (ODAS) for preventing collisions. The contract also includes the FlexCare maintenance management system for a 24-year period. The value of the order is 197 million euro ($219 million US). In addition, an option for ten additional FLEXITY trams and eight more years of servicing and maintenance are included in the contract.

The new FLEXITY trams are wider than DVB’s current vehicles and offer significantly greater comfort for passengers with 2+2 seating and large panorama windows. The new trams will be able to carry up to 290 passengers, which is around a 10 percent increase. To allow barrier-free access while using the existing infrastructure, only the portion of the carbody which is above platform level is wider. The new fleet will be delivered by the end of October 2023.

“I am pleased that Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe is counting on the employees’ competence, know-how and the quality of Bombardier’s products here in Saxony and that these modern light rail vehicles are being built at the Saxon sites. The future of both factories and Bombardier’s long-term commitment are very close to my heart. I am confident that Saxon products will also increasingly prevail in many tenders outside Saxony due to their quality, which combines innovation and sustainability,” emphasized Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Dulig.

“We urgently need the new light rail vehicles, which provide larger capacity, in order to offer sufficient space for the rapidly growing number of our passengers,” said Andreas Hemmersbach, DVB’s Board Member for Finance and Technology. He added, “In a multi-stage selection process, criteria such as technology, price, service and design were evaluated on a points-based system. Of all the manufacturers, Bombardier offered us the best overall package.”

“We are proud to support our long-standing partner and customer DVB in their transport service expansion by supplying our innovative, reliable and air conditionedFLEXITY trams, offering generous multi-purpose areas and the highest safety standards. Our FlexCare maintenance management system not only ensures high availability and reliability, but also guarantees cost security over the entire term of the contract. Hand in hand with DVB, we will carry out servicing and maintenance of these FLEXITY trams together,” explained Alexander Ketterl, responsible for the urban transport business at Bombardier Transportation in Germany.

Michael Fohrer, Head of Bombardier Transportation Germany, added, “This contract will be carried out at our two sites in Saxony. The carbodies will be produced in our center of competence for carbodies in Görlitz. Final assembly and commissioning will be carried out at our industrial lead site in Bautzen.”

More than 4,000 trams and light rail vehicles from Bombardier are already successfully in operation or on order worldwide.