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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 0059.PDF
HEADLINES SATELLITES TIM FURNISS / LONDON Alcatel set to scrap Skybridge project Lack of demand and funding hits space-based internet Alcatel has halted development of its $6 billion, 80-satellite Skybridge intemet-in-the-sky project because of a lack of demand for the broad band service. Although the French telecom munications and internet specialist says the project is being postponed not abandoned, industry sources suggest that it will never go ahead due to unfavourable market condi tions, the need for more capital and the fact that broadband require ments are being met by leased capacity on existing satellites. Alcatel holds a 49.9% stake in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite project with other partners includ ing Boeing, Thomson Multimedia and Toshiba. Alcatel's interest in the expensive programme has been waning for some time, with the manufacturer last year suggesting that rather than launching its own LEO satellites, Skybridge could lease capacity on other geostation ary orbiting satellites (Flight International, 6-12 March 2001). The programme was established in 1997 in response to the launch of Bill Gates's Teledesic system, when the future of LEO systems looked bright. Initially expected to cost $3.5 billion, Alcatel predicted the system would have 15 million customers by 2006. The project has hit numerous delays, while costs have ballooned. Originally due for a 2002 service start, the first satel lite launch slipped to 2004, while the number of planned satellites rose from 64 to 80. The Skybridge move comes as Alcatel makes cuts across its busi ness to reduce operating costs, and may shed a third of its workforce worldwide, including 450 space staff. The loss of Skybridge is a blow to Boeing and the Euro-Russian Starsem company. Starsem was booked to launch 32 Skybridge satellites on 11 launches of the Soyuz Fregat, starting this year, while Boeing was assigned the launches of at least 40 satellites, on two Delta III and four Delta IV Medium launches. DEFENCE 'Malfunction' over Afghanistan loses USAF second Global Hawk The US Air Force has lost one of its five Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned air vehi cles (UAV) while it was returning from a high-altitude surveillance mission over Afghanistan. The UAV was lost on 30 December as the result of a "main tenance-related malfunction" rather than enemy action, says the USAF. The Global Hawks are believed to have been operating from a base within the region, but the location of the crash site was not revealed because of "host nation" sensitivi ties. The air force plans to retrieve the wreckage. With the UAV still under devel opment, low rate initial production is limited to only two a year - a rate set to remain until 2008 when it is due to double. While not yet operational, the radar and electro-optical sensor- equipped UAV has been pressed into service to improve surveillance coverage of Afghanistan. Previously the USAF had planned to make limited operational use of the RQ-4A from fiscal year 2003. The previous loss of a Global Hawk, in March 1999, was attrib uted to the UAV receiving a flight termination signal intended for another system. Another Global Hawk was damaged in a landing accident. The USAF is likely to order 60 RQ-4As for surveillance duties. Briefing ICAO figures reveal 11 September impact TRAFFIC Preliminary traffic figures for 2001 released by the International Civil Aviation Organisation show a marked fall, the first since 1991. Overall traffic up to September was virtually unchanged, with passenger traffic rising slightly and freight falling. After 11 September, dramatic falls in traffic meant that overall traffic for the year fell 6% compared with 2000. The airlines were unable to reduce capacity quickly enough to cope, causing average passenger load factor to fall from 71 % in 2000 to 68% in 2001. US Airways returns to talks with pilots SCOPE CLAUSE US Airways and its Air Line Pilots Association branch resumed discussions on 3 January on contract scope clause revisions. The talks are crucial to the airline's recovery plan, which is based on using regional jets on trunk routes. The carrier wants to use 245 regional jets, while the pilots will not permit more than 189 - still higher than the current limit of 70. With around $1 billion cash reserves, US Airways has ruled out applying for any of the $10 billion in federal loan guarantees now available. Boeing/Russian team prepare regional plans DEVELOPMENT Sukhoi, llyushin and Boeing have drawn up a business plan for the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) programme, following agreement on development of a family of 50-90 seaters signed during last year's Paris air show. According to Sukhoi general director Mikhail Pogosyan, the project will not be launched until it has secured sufficient funding - the equivalent of orders for 200 aircraft. Alitalia and Air France plan board swap ALLIANCE Alitalia and Air France are expected to reinforce their alliance by swapping board members. Alitalia joined the Air France-Delta Air Lines- led Sky Team alliance last year. Industry sources say that Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta will join Alitalia's board, while Alitalia's chief executive Francesco Mengozzi will sit on the Air France board. The move will allow the two top managers to better follow their partner's operations. By 2003 the alliance may exchange up to 3% of the capital of the two airlines. Aermacchi picks up A380 work CONTRACT Aermacchi is following Finmeccanica-Alenia into the Airbus A380 ultra-large aircraft programme. Hurel-Hispano of France has won the contract to design and build nacelles for Rolls-Royce Trent 900 and the General Electric and Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Aermacchi will design and produce carbonfibre nacelle components. Aermacchi puts the contract at €310 million ($281 million) over A380 programme life. Alenia Aerospazio is becoming a 4% risk-sharing partner in the A380, responsible for a fuselage section. Washington Reagan Airport builds up traffic AIRPORTS Washington DCs Reagan National Airport, shut down between 11 September and 4 October, added more flights in the first week of January and by 1 March is expected to be handling up to 75% of pre-11 September services. Closed longer than any other US airport, its incremental phase-in reached the half way mark at year-end. Restrictions on the size of aircraft and security requirements will remain in place. Snowbirds seek Tutor replacement TENDER Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) has request ed bids to replace Canadair CT-114 Tutors, operated by the Snowbirds national aerobatics team. Although nine Tutors are used, the tender specifies as few as four aircraft. Options being considered are retention of the 31-year old Tutor beyond 2006, surplus Boeing CF-18 Hornets, or the BAE Systems Hawk or Raytheon T-6 Harvard turboprop, both operated by Bombardier in the NATO Flying Training in Canada scheme. The DND finance committee will receive an analysis of options by April. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 8-14 JANUARY 2002 5
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