Spain signs new deals with EADS Casa
PRODUCTION EADS Casa is to manufacture an additional C-295 tactical transport for the Spanish air force as part of a €1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) package of procurements announced last month. The service, which already has 10 C-295s, will also have six of its 20 CN-235 transports converted for maritime patrol and search-and-rescue tasks with the installation of EADS Casa's Fully Integrated Tactical System mission suite. Contracts were signed on 20 December.
Stork wins 747-8 contract
SUPPLY Stork Aerospace's Stork Fokker AESP unit has won a contract to design, develop, manufacture and manage the supply chain of the initial series of inboard flaps for the Boeing 747-8 programme. The division is already a Boeing supplier for major complex aerostructures on military programmes. Although other Stork units work on Boeing commercial aircraft programmes, this is the first such contract for the Stork Fokker AESP division. Components will be manufactured in Papendrecht and Hoogoven in the Netherlands, and the two-year contract will include the design and build of all tooling and the initial series of inboard flaps.
New functions at Lufthansa Technik
APPOINTMENTS Bernhard Conrad has become German maintenance specialist Lufthansa Technik's chief technology officer in addition to his function as head of the European Aviation Safety Agency-approved design organisation. He will also act as senior vice-president design organisation and innovation. Dr Hans Schmitz will head the business's new VIP and executive jet solutions division as senior vice-president. The new product division combines the completion centre and the maintenance, repair and overhaul services of the former VIP and government jet services unit.
Beijing to install surveillance systems
MONITORING China's civil aviation authority this week signed contracts to install two multilateration surveillance systems built by Czech-Spanish consortium and Rannoch subsidiary ERA at Beijing International airport. The ground-based systems will be used for surface surveillance and for monitoring operations on parallel runways, believed to be the first time such a system has been deployed for parallel runway surveillance. The sensor systems will cover all manoeuvring areas with the ability to cover a future undeveloped fourth runway. The work comes as Beijing prepares for a traffic surge related to the 2008 Olympic Games, in addition to double-digit increases in passenger numbers. The airport reported 17.5% growth in passenger traffic in 2005.
Christiansen returns to NetJets
FRACTIONAL Jim Christiansen has been appointed president of fractional provider NetJets Aviation for the second time in his career. Christiansen first joined the company in 1990 as president of Executive Jet Aviation, which later became NetJets Aviation. He served in the position for two years before moving on to become president of K-C Aviation Transportation Services, president of Wayfarer Ketch, and chief operating officer at Tag Aviation. He returned to NetJets in 2001. Christiansen has also served as chairman of the National Air Transportation Association and the Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee that developed the new Part 91 subpart K, which regulates fractional operators.
Icelandair 757 slide deploys on approach
INVESTIGATION Danish investigators have been inspecting an Icelandair Boeing 757 after one of its emergency escape slides deployed while the twinjet was on approach to Copenhagen airport on 11 January. Details of the incident are sketchy, but it is known the left wing slide was involved. The Danish accident investigation board says the slide deployed while the jet was airborne, leaving the aircraft with structural damage.
Source: Flight International
