Nine-blade prop starts flight testing

Germany's MT-Propeller has reported initial flight testing of the world's first nine-blade propeller. Initial results are described as very promising.

Stratégies

Rolls-Royce tests hybrid-electric propulsion system

Rolls-Royce has successfully completed ground testing of a hybrid-electric propulsion system using the M250 gas turbine.

Stratégies

Missile integration starts on UK F-35s

BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and MBDA start work to integrate next-generation weapons on the UK’s fleet of F-35 Lightning aircraft.

Défense

French AF releases Chammal, Barkhane data

Figures released by the French Air Force air defence and air operations command (CDAOA) for 2018 show a high level of activity in Africa and the Middle East, as well as in French airspace.

Armées & opérations

Air France KLM Cargo adopts DG AutoCheck

Air France KLM Cargo has become the first airline group to adopt a new IATA digital solution for the acceptance of dangerous goods shipments.

Aviation civile

Airbus’ Skyways drone goes to sea

Airbus has begun shore-to-ship trials in Singapore with its Skyways parcel delivery drone, transporting small packages to working vessels at anchorage.

Drones & mobilité aérienne avancée

ESA green light for air-breathing rocket engine

The European Space Agency, together with the UK Space Agency, has reviewed the preliminary design of the demonstrator engine core of the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE).

Espace

Cathay Pacific flies out of the red

The carrier reported an attributable profit of HK$2.3bn (€260m) for 2018, compared with a loss of HK$1.2bn for 2017.

Aviation civile

EasyJet gets first FANS-C Airbus A320

EasyJet is one of seven airlines taking part in a project to demonstrate the operational and environmental benefits of FANS-C technology.

Aviation civile

Airbus, Embry-Riddle team up on aviation education

The Airbus AirBusiness Academy and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Singapore have signed an MoU to collaborate on aviation education and management training in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aviation civile

China launches 300th Long March

The Chinese launcher family, the first of which entered service in April 1970, has performed its 300th mission, following the successful launch of a new geostationary telecommunications satellite.

Espace

CAAS, Thales to research Open ATM architecture

Open Air Traffic Management (ATM) system architecture seen as the cornerstone of Singapore’s future ATM system.

Aviation civile

Safran Reosc wins ELT contract

Safran Reosc has signed a contract with the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to design and produce the M5 mirror for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).

Espace

Thales, Aireon to expand collaboration

The two companies aim to improve aviation efficiency using the space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) service.

Aviation civile

The European Commission has adopted EU-wide rules.

EU harmonises drone regulations

The European Commission, supported by EASA, has adopted common EU-wide rules setting technical requirements for drones.

Drones & mobilité aérienne avancée

Airbus H160 completes cold weather testing in Finland

Airbus Helicopters has announced the successful completion of the certification programme of cold-weather testing of the H160 in northern Finland.

Aviation civile

Safran, HeliDax, AMS team up on digital chain for helicopters

HeliDax, AMS (Aircraft Maintenance Systems) and Safran Electronics & Defense have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on a complete digital chain based on the Cassiopée range of flight data analysis services.

Aviation civile

Airbus Helicopters announces 43 orders at Heli-Expo

Airbus Helicopters booked a total of 43 orders at the 2019 edition of Heli-Expo including 21 H125/H135s from Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH).

Aviation civile

Le troisième prototype de l'AW609 en vol. L'appareil devrait décrocher la certification FAA cette année.

Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor eyes Japanese market

Leonardo and Nakanihon Air Service of Japan are setting up a joint working group to study requirements for introducing the AW609 commercial tiltrotor into service in Japan.

Aviation civile

Airlines see positive start to 2019

Led by Europe and Asia-Pacific, global passenger traffic rose 6.5% in January 2019 year-over-year — the fastest growth in six months.

Aviation civile

Airbus plans A380 transition

Airbus has started discussions with employee representatives from across its European sites on the A380 programme transition and the redeployment of employees.

Entreprises & marchés

The F-35 will operate alongside the F-15SG.

Singapore details F-35 plans

The Minister of Defence for Singapore, Ng Eng Hen, has further clarified the country's plans to modernise the Royal Singapore Air Force combat aircraft fleet.

Défense

France, India sign maritime surveillance agreement

French space agency CNES has signed an agreement with India's ISRO to establish a maritime surveillance centre in India.

Satellites & applications

Go-ahead for Europe/China space mission

The European Space Agency has given the green light for a mission to explore the Sun-Earth connection in collaboration with China.

Espace

Arriel 2H ready for service in China

Safran Helicopter Engines has received CAAC certification for its Arriel 2H engine powering the Avicopter AC312E.

Aviation civile

French carrier deploys to Middle East

The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier set sail from Toulon on 5th March for a one-month mission following its mid-life refit.

Armées & opérations

Honeywell releases global helicopter market forecast

The company forecasts 4,000 new civil helicopter deliveries over next five years, slightly down from the previous year's survey.

Entreprises & marchés

Airbus opens new flight academy

Airbus is opening its own flight academy and adding “ab-initio” to its training services offering.

Aviation civile

International passenger traffic climbed 8%.

Strong start for Asia-Pacific airlines in 2019

Preliminary AAPA traffic figures for the month of January showed robust growth in international air passenger demand.

Aviation civile

Airbus Helicopters unveils new H145

The version displayed at Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta, features a new five-bladed rotor, increasing useful load by 150kg.

Aviation civile

Dassault reports profit boost

Dassault reported a 66% jump in net profit for 2018, at €681m, on sales of €5.1bn (+4%).

Stratégies

Konnect satellite featuring Spacebus Neo all-electric platform.

First Spacebus Neo platform from Thales Alenia Space takes shape

Thales Alenia Space reports that the platform and payload of Eutelsat’s all-electric Konnect communications satellite have been successfully mated.

Espace

First Falcon 2000 cockpit front section assembled in India.

French industry bolsters presence in India

The following is an extract from an interview with Eric Trappier — chairman of French aerospace industry association GIFAS and chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation — about Aero India 2019 and the implications of the Make in India initiative for the French aerospace and defence industry. The full interview will appear in an upcoming issue of our online magazine Air & Cosmos International.

Stratégies

Arianespace launches first batch of OneWeb satellites

In Arianespace’s second launch of the year, a Soyuz launcher carried six OneWeb satellites into a circular low Earth orbit at 1,000km.

Espace