Airbus woes drag down EADS earnings
Results EADS has reported third-quarter losses and a sharp drop in nine-month earnings largely because of charges related to the extensive delays to the Airbus A380 programme. The group posted a net loss of €195 million ($250 million) in the third quarter, compared with a net profit of €279 million in the same period last year. The losses came despite 14% growth in group revenues in the quarter, to €8.48 billion. Airbus revenue increased 14%, to €5.41 billion, but the manufacturer suffered a pre-tax loss of €350 million, compared with a €410 million gain in the same period last year.
Australia to sign MoU for JSF
Production Australia will sign the production sustainment and follow-on development (PSFD) memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in December after the government gave first pass approval to the fighter's planned procurement. The purchase is set to be Australia's largest defence acquisition. Twenty Australian companies have won A$118 million ($90 million)-worth of work on the programme.
Alliant to be lead contractor for K-1
Launch vehicle Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is to become lead contractor for the Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) K-1 reusable launch vehicle, to be developed with $207 million in funding support from NASA under its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration programme. RpK needed to find a new partner, and additional private financing, after Orbital Sciences withdrew. ATK will develop, assemble, integrate and test the K-1 develop launch and landing sites and perform launch vehicle preparation build composite structures for the pressurised and unpressurised cargo modules and recover and refurbish the K-1. NASA has awarded RpK and SpaceX contracts to demonstrate the capability for commercial delivery of cargo to the International Space Station by 2010.
Williams FJ44-3AP to power PiperJet
Engine Piper Aircraft has confirmed its single-engined PiperJet will be powered by a Williams FJ44-3AP, derated to 2,400lb (10.7kN) take-off thrust. The FJ44-3AP is a close derivative of the FJ44-3A. "The 3,000lb-thrust FJ44-3 is our largest to date," says Williams International president and chief executive Gregg Williams. "There will be a 3,500lb engine [the -4] that's now in the works." The first PiperJet is set for delivery in 2010.
Flight debut for second BA609 tiltrotor
Test flight The second Bell Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor prototype completed a 52min maiden flight on 9 November from AgustaWestland's facilities at the Italian air force's Cameri base near Novara, in north-west Italy.
Diamond D-Jet sales climb above 120
Training Sales of the Diamond D-Jet single-engined very light jet have jumped above 120 with an order for 20 from Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) to expand its flight-training programmes that also includes five Diamond flight training devices. ATP has 23 training centres in the USA.
John Cochrane
Obituary Concorde test pilot John Cochrane has died, aged 76. Scotsman Cochrane joined the Royal Air Force in 1949 where he flew Canberras and Valiants. Upon leaving the RAF in 1962, he joined Vickers Armstrong as an experimental test pilot. He became deputy chief test pilot for Concorde at BAC in 1968 and was alongside Brian Trubshaw aboard the first UK-assembled example for its maiden flight. Cochrane was later assistant director of flight operations at BAe and then flew for Cyprus Airways.
Source: Flight International
