AIRBUS TARGETS 1% AERO GAIN FOR A340
Airbus is redesigning the A340-500/600 belly fairing to provide a 1% reduction in aerodynamic drag in cruise. The upper part of the fairing at the wing root will be "refaired", says A330/A340/A350 product marketing director Alan Pardoe. Verification flights will be conducted on Airbus's A340-600 test aircraft from mid-2009 and the modification will be introduced on production A340s from late 2009. It will also be available as a retrofit for in-service aircraft.
CZECH REPUBLIC SIGNS FOR C-295S
Airbus Military has signed a deal to provide the Czech Republic with four C-295 transports for delivery between the end of this year and late 2010.The aircraft will replace its air force's remaining five Antonov An-26s.
ARIANE SUCCESS GIVES EUROPE THE LONG VIEW
The European Space Agency's Herschel and Planck space telescopes were put into orbit last week via the 30th-straight successful Ariane 5 launch, from Kourou in French Guiana. Herschel is the largest mirror telescope in space. Planck will search for light evidence from the Big Bang.
EADS PROFITS SAG IN FIRST QUARTER
First quarter net profit after interest, taxes and research and development spending was down 40% to €170 million ($230 million) at EADS, as revenue fell 14% to nearly €8.5 billion. The largest division, Airbus, saw revenue fall 21% to €5.88 billion and earnings before interest fall 86% to €89 million. "Price deterioration" on fewer delivered aircraft (116 versus 123) and "an unfavourable product mix" were cited by EADS.
UK CONTINUES TYPHOON TRANCHE 3 TALKS
The UK government has not abandoned plans to acquire a third batch of Eurofighter Typhoons for the Royal Air Force and hopes to sign a contract this year. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency- which represents partner nations Germany, Italy, Spainand the UK - continues to negotiate on the procurement and support costs and the number of aircraft.
PROFIT GROWTH NO SIMULATION FOR CAE
Simulation systems maker CAE net earnings grew 30% to C$199.4 million ($170 million) as revenue rose 17% to C$1.66 billion for its fiscal year to the end of March, which saw its military orders top C$1 billion for the first time.
THAILAND DELAYS GRIPEN BATCH
Thailand is to delay thepurchase of an additional six Saab Gripen fighters for delivery from 2013 because of a deepening economic crisis. The government has cut its defence budget for the next fiscal year to 151 billion baht ($4.38 billion) from 171 billion baht. Most is from money set aside for the follow-on Gripen order.
SR TECHNICS TO PART OUT DUBLIN BUSINESS
SR Technics will sell its Dublin-based landing-gear and auxiliary power unit maintenance operations to an undisclosed bidder. It has set deadlines of later this month for bids for the rest of the facility. Irish reports say it is unknown whether the 250 jobs linked to the assets will be retained in Ireland by the new owner.
Source: Flight International
