GERMANY PROBES EUROFIGHTER TANK RELEASE
The German air force is investigating a training mishap during which two 1,000 litre (265USgal) external fuel tanks were inadvertently jettisoned from a Eurofighter assigned to its Fighter Wing 74 at Neuburg/Donau air base in Bavaria. The equipment was found about 20km (12 miles) west of Augsburg on 28 March.
ISRAEL NEARS TRAINER SELECTION
Korea Aerospace Industries has stepped up its efforts to supply T-50 advanced jet trainers to the Israeli air force, where it faces competition from Alenia Aermacchi's M-346. Several South Korean purchases, potentially to include Elbit Systems Hermes 450 and Israel Aerospace Industries Heron unmanned air vehicles, could hinge on the outcome of the Israeli selection.
EMBRAER HARBIN FATE RESTS ON ROUSSEFF
Embraer chief Frederico Curado expects a final decision on the fate of its Harbin final assembly line in mid-April, following a forthcoming visit by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. "Our expectation is that an outcome for our industrial presence in China is defined during that visit," he says. Curado hopes for a "positive outcome" in the Harbin final assembly line dispute, transitioning from ERJ-145 production for Chinese customers to either the Embraer 190 or Legacy 650 business jet.
BOMBARDIER FIRMS FOKKER SERVICES PACT
Bombardier has firmed its plans to co-operate with Fokker Services on a support programme for Dash 8-100, -200 and -300 turboprops. The programme, known as Fly, aims to give operators guaranteed availability of components as well as customised component repair. Bombardier says the pact will assist operators "to better predict and budget for material maintenance".
THALES, CCGX TO PROVIDE AIM SYSTEM FOR AFRICA
Thales and CCGx Aero are to provide a centralised aeronautical information management service for the 17 member nations of the Agency for the Security of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar. It will provide ASECNA with easy digital access to all aeronautical data, including aeronautical publications, charts, notices to airmen and flight plans. The system will make ASECNA one of the first African air navigation service providers to move to a transnational system that complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements.
P&W X-51A FLIGHT FACES TECHNICAL HITCH
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne says the second flight of its X-51A waverider scramjet engine was scuttled due to a "last minute mechanical issue" during the first attempt to air-drop the vehicle from a Boeing B-52 on 24 March. "We were up and ready to go and there was a signal from the B-52 that said, 'we're not going to launch'", says P&WR hypersonic programmes director Curtis Berger. "As soon as the assets are available and we get another opportunity we will be ready to fly again."
Source: Flight International
