Aviation Manufacturer Magazine by Aviation Manufacturer Magazine

magazine

2017 Issue 3

Aviation Manufacturer

airbus:

a growing family

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the editor

Bigger, slower, lower

Editor

The

Martin Ashcroft

itius, altius, fortius is the motto of the Olympic movement, but it might easily apply to aviation, too, where a culture of continuous improvement sees aircraft becoming faster, higher and stronger with every innovation. The pages of this magazine are brimming (as always) with reductions in fuel consumption and maintenance costs, improvements in safety systems, passenger comfort, engine power, composite materials, and all kinds of electronic wizardry, but the innovation that has captured my imagination over all others this month is the hybrid airship. A small number of innovators around the world are developing their own versions of the hybrid airship, but the one making the news in this issue is the LMH-1 being developed by Lockheed Martin at its iconic Skunk Works in California. If a camel is a horse designed by a committee, this airship is the aviation equivalent, with a clever combination of features from lighter-thanair vehicles, helicopters and hovercraft. It has a helium-filled envelope inspired by its ancestors, and aerodynamic lift from its airfoil shape. Four diesel powered propellers provide thrust and directional control. It’s being sold as a go-anywhere, cargo-carrying workhorse – an airborne pick-up truck. Longer

than a jumbo jet, it will crawl across the sky at around 65 mph but it will carry a 22-ton load (comparable to a C-130 Hercules cargo plane), plus 19 passengers. One of the trickiest challenges for this type of craft (as British company Hybrid Air Vehicles discovered on a test flight last summer when the nose of its Airlander 10 was damaged in a dodgy landing) is how to get it to stop, and once stopped, how to keep it stationary. After consultation with hovercraft experts in the UK, the Skunk Works team came up with an air cushion landing system which gives the airship the ability to land on and ‘stick to’ any flat surface anywhere in the world (water, ice, rock or sand) without the need for roads, runways, mooring towers or any other kind of infrastructure. It won’t be as fast or as versatile as a helicopter, of course, but it will have ten times the capacity, infinite range, and it will be a great deal faster and more direct than road or sea transport. The concept has been around for a long while without progressing past the prototype stage. Lockheed Martin has spent 20 years perfecting the technology. Early indications are that the hybrid airship could make its commercial debut at mines and drill sites in Alaska or northern Canada in a couple of years’ time. I can’t wait.

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Cover story: airbus: a growing family Page 30 Page: 3 • The Editor: Bigger, slower, lower 9 10

• Boeing debuts 787-10 Dreamliner • Juneyao airlines orders five 787-9 Dreamliners

• Safran Nacelles creates MRO Centre of Excellence • TransDigm acquires Takata Corporation’s aerospace business

• Precision Aviation Group expands MRO capabilities in Australia • Magellan Aerospace to construct new plant in India

• Mayo Aviation adds CJ3 to charter fleet • Jeppeson agrees contract with Air Baltic

• Turkish utility helicopter program to use Sikorsky S-70i • Honeywell Engines to power Eagle Copters 407hp conversions

• Straightline to Asia for Lockheed Martin hybrid airship

• Pratt & Whitney to expand facilities in Columbus, Georgia

• metaAir offers laser protection for Airbus • Mesa Airlines secures engine financing

• Mixed reactions to Bombardier’s ‘repayable’ funding

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bombardier: the evolution of mobilty page 68

contents 18

• Liberty Hall Capital Partners acquires Quatro Composites • Composites One acquires Canadian- based BMB Solutions Composites

• Global aerospace control surface market • Bell Helicopter unveils 505 Jet Ranger X

• FEAM to be first US-based Boeing GoldCare MRO

21 • Sikorsky announces ab initio pilot training with Bristow Group 23 • Magellan Aerospace secures multi-year Airbus contract • Chinese leasing company orders 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft 24 • Outlook: Honeywell forecasts reduction in new global helicopter deliveries 26 • Outlook: Canadian airline industry 30 • Airbus: A growing family 54 • Leonardo: One company 68 • Bombardier: The evolution of mobility

news & features page 6

leonardo: one company Page 54

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“Eurofighter take-off ” courtesy of Paul Howe Photography

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news, outlook & features Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 7

Have a news story or press release you would like to be considered for publication in the next Aviation Manufacturer Magazine? Please contact Martin Ashcroft at martin@aviationmanufacturer.com www.aviationmanufacturer.com

news BOEING SHOWS 787-10 DREAMLINER IN SOUTH CAROLINA

he Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, the third member of the 787 Dreamliner family, has made its first public appearance at Boeing South Carolina. Thousands of employees at the site in North Charleston turned out to celebrate the event, together with US President Donald Trump and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “What’s happening here at Boeing South Carolina is a true American success story,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. “In just a few short years, our team has transformed a greenfield site into a modern aerospace production facility that is delivering 787s to airlines all over the world and supporting thousands of US jobs in the process.” The 787-10, built exclusively at Boeing South Carolina, will now be prepared for its first flight in the coming weeks.

“This airplane, the most efficient in its class, is the result of years of hard work and dedication from our Boeing teammates, suppliers and community partners in South Carolina and across the globe,” said Kevin McAllister, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO. “We know our customers, including launch customer Singapore Airlines, are going to love what the 787-10 will do for their fleets, and we can’t wait to see them fly it.” The airplane has won 149 orders from nine customers across the globe, and Boeing will commence delivery in 2018. The 787-10 is the longest model of the Dreamliner family and is expected to grow the non-stop routes opened by the 787-8 and 787-9 with extra efficiency. As an 18-foot stretch of the 787-9, the 787-10 will deliver long range flights with up to 10 per cent better fuel use and emissions than competitors.

JUNEYAO AIRLINES ORDERS FIVE 787-9 DREAMLINERS

oeing and Juneyao Airlines have finalized an order for five 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at about $1.32 billion at current list prices. The order includes options for five more 7879s, and represents the Shanghai-based private airline’s first Boeing and first widebody airplane order, The 787 is often he first choice for singleaisle operators starting widebody operations.” “Our strategic vision is to develop into an international airline that provides high quality service with an extended network, while ensuring excellent profitability,” said Wang Junjin,

Chairman, Juneyao Airlines. “Today’s order is set to play a key role in our growing business in the years to come, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Boeing into the future.” Juneyao Airlines, one of China’s largest private carriers, was founded in 2005 and started operation in 2006. It currently operates domestic routes and short-haul international flights to neighbouring countries including Japan, South Korea and Thailand. The carrier plans to open new routes to North America, Europe and Australia by 2020.

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MIXED REACTIONS TO BOMBARDIER’S REPAYABLE FUNDING T he Government of Canada is to provide $372.5 million in repayable contributions to Bombardier Inc. to support the development of the Global 7000 business aircraft through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) and the C Series, under existing contribution programs. The funding is to be provided over four years.

Assent

“This contribution from the Government of Canada will secure the highly skilled, well-paying jobs for middle-class Canadians who work in the aerospace sector,” said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “It will also ensure that Canada has a strong, stable and competitive aerospace industry, which is a major driver of economic activity and innovation across the country.” “We welcome the continuing partnership with the Canadian government,” said Alain Bellemare, CEO, Bombardier Inc. “The repayable contributions announced today will help to ensure that Canada remains at the centre of Bombardier’s research and development activities, which are focused on developing the most efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly aircraft in the world. While we compete globally, we are proud of our Canadian home, our heritage and our position as one of Canada’s leading high-technology manufacturers and employers.” Aéro Montréal, a strategic think tank that promotes Québec’s aerospace cluster, understandably welcomed the Government’s action. “With this financial assistance, the federal government is sending a positive message to the entire Québec and Canadian aerospace industry to

encourage innovation,” said Suzanne M. Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal. The aerospace sector in Québec represents more than 40,000 jobs and

“The federal government is sending a positive message to the Québec and Canadian aerospace industry to encourage innovation” 200 companies, including nearly 180 SMEs. More than 70% of Canadian aerospace R&D takes place in the Greater Montréal area.

Dissent

The Montreal Economic Institute, on the other hand, argues that corporate subsidies create distortions in the economy. “Once again, the government is artificially favouring one company or economic sector at the expense of other, more cost-effective projects,” maintains Mathieu Bédard, Economist at the MEI. “The Quebec government already gave the company US$1 billion in October 2015 in order to ensure the development

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and marketing of the C Series. And since 1966, when it collected its very first subsidy, Bombardier has received over $4 billion in public funds.”

The MEI argues that even though the contribution is reimbursable, loans and guarantees offered by governments include a form of subsidy by way of preferential rates and conditions. If this were not the case, they say, private financial institutions would offer the same conditions. The fact that they don’t means that they consider the loan too risky. “Taxpayers have been generous enough,” says Mathieu Bédard. “It’s time to think about completely eliminating corporate subsidies so that the most successful and the most innovating would distinguish themselves, instead of those chosen by government.”

news SAFRAN NACELLES S CREATES MRO CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

afran Nacelles has strengthened its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) expertise with the creation of an MRO Center of Excellence at the company’s Pont-Audemer facility in France’s Normandy region. The new Center’s responsibilities include: managing the global network of Safran Nacelles’ MRO facilities; serving as the operational reference in terms of repair procedures and industrialization; overseeing the company’s MRO-related research and technology activities, as well as advancing its overall competence in repair

methods and engineering. The Center’s expertise covers complete engine nacelle systems, including complex structural repairs, line replaceable units (LRUs), engine subassemblies, outlet guide vanes (OGV) and onsite support. “This latest enhancement of our MRO capabilities provides benefits for customers through increased reactivity, greater technical proficiency, improved workflow and even stronger ties to the resources of Safran Nacelles as a world-leading nacelle manufacturer,” said CEO Jean-Paul Alary. “It also will improve our responsiveness as a provider

of choice for maintenance, repair and overhaul services worldwide.” The new MRO organization leverages Safran Nacelles’ expertise as an OEM in being fully ready, anywhere in the world, to support the complete nacelle system it supplies for the Airbus A320neo jetliner. Safran Nacelles is the world’s second leading supplier of aircraft engine nacelles, with more than 17,000 in service, logging over 100,000 flight-hours per day. It supplies nacelles and components for all segments of the aviation market, from business and regional jets to mainline commercial jets. As well as the Pont-Audemer facility, the company’s global MRO network includes Safran Nacelles Services Americas in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Dubaibased Aerostructures Middle East Services (AMES), a joint venture of Safran Nacelles and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance.

into business jet, general aviation, helicopter, military and racing markets. Located in Arnsberg, Germany and Pompano Beach and Orlando, Florida, the business employs approximately 260 people and is estimated to have revenues of approximately $43 million for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2017. W. Nicholas Howley, Chairman and CEO

of TransDigm, stated, “SCHROTH has built a solid reputation based on technical expertise and product excellence. The company has significant and growing aftermarket on attractive high use platforms. SCHROTH fits well with our consistent product and acquisition strategy. As with all TransDigm acquisitions, we see opportunities for significant value creation.”

TRANSDIGM ACQUIRES TAKATA CORPORATION’S AEROSPACE BUSINESS

ransDigm Group Incorporated, a leading global supplier of highly engineered aircraft components, has acquired the stock of SCHROTH Safety Products GmbH and Takata Protection Systems from subsidiaries of Takata Corporation for approximately $90 million in cash. Both businesses will be known going forward as

SCHROTH. The businesses specialize in technical restraints, passenger belts covering Airbus and Boeing platforms, structural monument airbags for Airbus and Boeing platforms including the Boeing 787, and cockpit security components for the Airbus A350 and A380 platforms. SCHROTH also provides restraint systems

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PRECISION AVIATION GROUP EXPANDS MRO CAPABILITIES IN AUSTRALIA

recision Aviation Group, a leading provider of products and value-added services to the worldwide aerospace and defence industry, has completed the third expansion in four years at the Brisbane, Australia based EASA, CASA & FAA Approved Repair Station. The expansion will accommodate the growth of the company’s wheel and brake, starter generator and accessory maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services, doubling the size of its facility from 10,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. “The expansion includes installation of a larger paint booth, NDT area, product specific work cells, upgrading of the inspection and test rooms within the existing repair station and expansion of the spare parts inventory warehouse,” said Chris Slade, Director of Operations of PAG-AU. “This expansion will allow us to accommodate future growth and better serve our customers, which supports PAG’s strategic global plan.” “Our facility in Brisbane, Australia is strategically important, both in support of the Australian and New Zealand markets in addition to the wider Asian market,” said David Mast, President & CEO of PAG. “This investment is in response to an increase in demand for local MRO services. By creating greater capacity within the repair station we have combined expansion and efficiency at the facility, both of which will benefit our customers.” Precision Aviation Group provides MRO and

supply chain solutions for fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. It has has ten locations and more than 250,000 square feet of sales and service facilities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil. PAG subsidiaries have MRO capabilities on over 35,000 products, including avionics, engine components, hydraulics, instruments, NDT, starter/generators, and wheels/brakes.

MAGELLAN AEROSPACE TO CONSTRUCT NEW PLANT IN INDIA

agellan Aerospace is planning to construct a new manufacturing and assembly facility in India. The 140,000 sq ft building will be constructed on seven acres in the Aerospace Special Economic Zone near the Bangalore International Airport. Magellan expects to break ground for the new facility in June 2017. Magellan will invest more than CDN $28 million in the state-of-theart plant, which will be constructed in three phases. When the first phase is commissioned near the end of 2017, it will employ approximately 120 engineers, machinists,

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procurement professionals, and quality and management personnel and be equipped with a full suite of 5-axis machining centres. “Magellan’s expanding footprint in India reflects the company’s commitment to provide competitive solutions for major commercial customers,” said President and CEO Phillip Underwood. The new manufacturing and assembly facility will enable Magellan to support the production of larger work packages for major structural assemblies, fabrications, and machined components for the global market.

news MAYO AVIATION ADDS CJ3 TO CHARTER FLEET

ayo Aviation, Inc., a private jet management company headquartered at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado, has added a stunning Cessna Citation CJ3 to its expanding charter fleet. The economical eight-passenger

aircraft can be used on short runways, providing the opportunity to take customers closer to their desired destinations by being able to fly into more airports. The aircraft is one of only two light jets based in and equipped for night and all weather ops into and out of

“This new aircraft provides a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat in the light jet class”

Aspen, and is operated by two long-time Aspen pilots with more than 50 years of Colorado mountain flying experience combined. The top of the line CJ3 offers fast speeds paired with great travel comfort, providing an excellent option for business trips and weekend getaways alike. “I am very excited for the addition of the CJ3 to our fleet,” said Bill Mayo, President and CEO of Mayo Aviation. “This new aircraft provides a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat in the light jet class, and I am eager for our customers to be able to benefit from this latest addition.”

JEPPESON AGREES FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH AIR BALTIC Jeppesen, part of the Digital Aviation business unit of

Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, has agreed a fiveyear service contract with Air Baltic, the flagship carrier of Latvia. The agreement includes both digital Jeppesen charts and navigation services and several crew solutions that use data analytics to optimize planning and decision making. “We are pleased to start cooperation with Jeppesen, which is well known for the quality of its service in the navigation and crew management arenas,” said Alla Struchina, Flight Support manager, Air Baltic Corporation. “Jeppesen combines the best coverage with high information accuracy, which are of paramount importance for flight operations. Their digital charting solution will allow us to eliminate paper charts from

aircraft, reduce fuel consumption and optimize flight preparations.” Air Baltic will continue its digital transformation through integration of electronic Jeppesen charts, airport obstacle databases and flight management system (FMS) navigation databases for its Boeing 737 fleet. For more efficient crew operations, the airline will put Jeppesen Crew Pairing, Rostering and Boeing Alertness Model services into operation. Jeppesen Crew Pairing simplifies the complex process of creating efficient fleetwide crew pair assignments, while Crew Rostering connects bidding and planning operations that consider crew member preferences while creating advance rosters in a single view format. Boeing Alertness Model tools use scientific principles to guide fatigue risk management and alertness of crew members.

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TURKISH UTILITY HELICOPTER PROGRAM TO USE SIKORSKY S-70i

ikorsky has transferred to defense electronics firm Aselsan an S-70i Black Hawk helicopter to use as the prototype for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP). The aircraft will enable Sikorsky to integrate an Aselsan-developed avionics suite into the Republic of Turkey’s new T70 utility helicopter, and later into Turkish-built Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk aircraft to be sold internationally. Called the Integrated Modular Avionics System (IMAS), the new avionics suite is a collaborative design by Aselsan, Sikorsky, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and pilots serving the Turkish Armed Forces to meet the requirements of Turkish T70 operators and other potential customers. TAI leads a team of Turkish aerospace

companies that will build at least 109 helicopters with the T70 designation for the Turkish Utility Helicopter Program. The IMAS suite is expected in time for initial deliveries of T70 aircraft to Turkish end users in 2021. The Sikorsky-owned S-70i aircraft arrived at Aselsan facility in Ankara on February 25 after nine hours of flight from Sikorsky’s PZL Mielec aircraft factory in southern Poland. Sikorsky TUHP Program Director Jason Lambert presented the aircraft’s keys to Aselsan President and CEO Dr. Faik EKEN during a March 1 arrival ceremony. The TUHP program is valued at approximately $3.5 billion for 109 T70 aircraft, inclusive of the work to be performed by Sikorsky, TAI and other suppliers.

HONEYWELL ENGINES TO POWER EAGLE COPTERS 407HP CONVERSIONS

oneywell will deliver ten HTS900 helicopter engines to Eagle Copters Ltd. in 2017 after Eagle placed a new order for eight additional engines in January, adding to the two engines from a previous order which are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter. “This order is proof positive that the global helicopter market recognizes the many benefits of replacing the standard engine on the Bell 407 helicopter with the more powerful and reliable Honeywell HTS900,” said Rick Buchanan, senior director of retrofit, modifications and upgrades, Honeywell Aerospace. “The HTS900 has a 17 per cent reduction in fuel consumption compared with the

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standard engine and a 22 per cent increase in shaft horsepower, making it ideal for lifting heavy loads under hotand-high flying conditions.” “Demand for our Eagle 407HP conversions is growing. We have already completed eight conversions, have more in the pipeline, and are in regular conversation with other operators looking to upgrade their fleets either by converting their existing Bell 407 or acquiring a new Eagle 407HP from Eagle Copters,” said David ‘Spyke’ Whiting, vice president, Technical Sales, Eagle Copters. “With this new order of Honeywell engines, we’ll be ready to meet our customers’ needs and deliver a more capable helicopter that can help them accomplish their missions.”

news STRAIGHTLINE TO ASIA FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN HYBRID AIRCRAFT “This new aircraft is ideally suited for operations in China and will revolutionise the way we handle freight”

traightline Aviation Ltd, operators of Lockheed Martin’s revolutionary new Hybrid aircraft, is specifically targeting the Chinese and Asia-Pacific markets. The company, which already has offices in the UK and US, is now looking to expand its global presence with a base in the region. The hybrid aircraft is being heralded as a game changing aviation milestone and is the result of hundreds of millions of US dollars of research and development being focused on reducing the costs of moving freight, particularly in remote locations. The Hybrid aircraft combines technology from fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and hovercraft and does not need an airport to operate from. It can land on almost any unprepared surface

including, water, ice or sand. The first aircraft will carry up to twenty tons of cargo with a range of 1400 miles, with 30% less fuel burn and 80% less carbon emissions than traditional heavy lift helicopters. Straightline Aviation has already signed a US$850m memorandum of understanding to provide Canadian mining company, Quest Rare Minerals, with seven aircraft and having had significant expressions of interest from customers and investors in the Asia-Pacific region, believes that the Chinese market is ideally suited for the deployment of the Hybrid for similar applications. The Chairman of Straightline, Brian Kessler, who has over thirty years of experience working in China, stated, “This new aircraft is ideally

suited for operations in China and will revolutionise the way we handle freight. China is a vast country not only comprising large hubs and congested commercial centres but also many remote locations. “The Lockheed Hybrid can service main business centres but can also, economically and effectively, move freight to more remote areas, without the need for expensive infrastructure like roads and airports.” The Lockheed Hybrid is uniquely suited for China’s ‘Silk Road’ initiatives where roads and airports are not available. “I have enjoyed my experience in China, working with innovative and technology led companies and I am sure that the area will embrace the advantages that this new aircraft offers,” added Kessler.

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PRATT & WHITNEY TO EXPAND FACILITIES IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA

ratt & Whitney is to invest approximately $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia, facility to increase the production of parts and maintenance services and to reduce costs for new and existing engine programs. The investments will go toward the purchase of automated machinery and equipment upgrades and the construction of two new buildings on the property. The building construction will include a 200,000-square-foot facility to overhaul geared turbofan (GTF) engines. A 20,000-square-foot specialized manufacturing facility and related infrastructure will also be built to house a new isothermal forge press that will be used to manufacture turbine disks and compressor rotors for Pratt & Whitney engines. Other upgrades to equipment and machinery are also planned. “We’re investing heavily in our Columbus facility to support the increased production and services planned for our F135 and GTF engines,” said Chris Calio, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. “This investment will help ensure that we have the appropriate infrastructure, tooling and trained workforce in place to provide the best products and services to our customers worldwide. The tremendous support we receive from the community and state have contributed to our success in Georgia.”

Pratt & Whitney has also expanded its relationship with Columbus Technical College to provide new and existing employees with robust training programs. The school will offer fourto nine-week programs focused on aerospace mechanics and advanced manufacturing technologies to better support the company’s growth. This is one of several skills development

“We’re investing heavily in our Columbus facility to support the increased production and services planned for our F135 and GTF engines” programs the company has in place with community colleges and technical schools throughout the United States. The Columbus Engine Center maintains PW1100G-JM, V2500, PW2000, F117 and F100 engines. Columbus Forge produces compressor airfoils and nickel and titanium forgings, which are machined into critical rotating components for Pratt & Whitney’s military and commercial engines. Both facilities are located on one campus about 90 miles south of Atlanta.

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news metaAIR OFFERS LASER PROTECTION FOR AIRBUS M etamaterial Technologies Inc (MTI) and its optical filters division, Lamda Guard, have entered into a new agreement with Airbus to validate, certify, and commercialize its laser protection product metaAIR™ for aviation. In 2014, MTI signed its first agreement with Airbus to test and tailor metaAIR, which is a flexible metamaterial optical filter, engineered to protect vision against harmful laser beams aimed at aircraft. Laser strikes on commercial aircraft are rising globally and laser pointers are increasing in power and decreasing in price. Lasers can distract pilots during critical phases of flight and can cause temporary visual impairment. In 2015, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the number of reported laser incidents nearly doubled to 7,703 in commercial aviation. In 2015, there were 1,439 laser incidents

reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK and there were almost 600 reported by Transport Canada. “We know from facts and conversations with clients that cockpit illuminations are real, immediate and increasing in frequency, and metaAIR will benefit our customers,” said Pascal

“In 2015, the number of reported laser incidents nearly doubled in commercial aviation” Andrei, Vice President, Chief Product Security Officer at Airbus. “We also see an increasing number of possible applications for metaAIR, beyond the commercial aircraft division.” “We look forward to continuing our

relationship with Airbus as we move to commercialize metaAIR,” said Maurice Guitton, MTI Board Chairman. “Together we will be able to make a positive impact on the aviation industry around the world.” “Today marks another milestone in our strategic partnership with Airbus,” said George Palikaras, MTI Founder and CEO. “We are given the opportunity to propel our platform technology and learn from some of the top aerospace engineers while understanding the rigours of developing a product for the aerospace industry. metaAIR will provide vision protection to pilots in the aviation industry and can offer solutions in other industries including the military, transportation and glass manufacturers.” Metamaterial Technologies Inc is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia with offices in London, England and Pleasanton, California.

MESA AIRLINES SECURES $100 MILLION ENGINE FINANCING

os Angeles based alternative investment firm Tennenbaum Capital Partners (TCP) has agreed to provide a $100 million engine financing facility to the regional airline Mesa Air Group. The facility will be used to purchase a portfolio of new General Electric CF34-8C5 engines and will provide Mesa with additional financing capacity to support its growing business. “We have a long history and deep track record in aviation investing and Mesa is a best-in-class operator that serves our nation’s leading airlines,” said Rob DiPaolo, Managing Director of TCP. “We are pleased to provide capital to support Mesa’s fleet requirements and expand our relationship with the airline.”

Founded on a mesa in New Mexico in 1982 by Larry and Janie Risley, Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines operates as American Eagle from hubs in Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth and as United Express from Washington Dulles and Houston. “We are investing in Mesa’s long-term growth and operational success through the purchase of these new engines,” said Mesa Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein. “With a fleet of 133 large regional jets and industry-leading performance, Mesa is in a unique position in the airline industry. We thank our finance group for their work on this transaction and TCP and Imperial Capital for their continued support.”

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LIBERTY HALL CAPITAL PARTNERS ACQUIRES QUATRO COMPOSITES

iberty Hall Capital Partners has announced the acquisition of Quatro Composites, LLC, a leading supplier of highly engineered advanced composite structures, components and assemblies for the aerospace industry. Quatro will be integrated into AIM Aerospace Corporation, an independent supplier of composite ducting, substructural and interiors parts for the commercial aerospace industry. AIM was acquired in 2016 as the foundational asset of Liberty Hall’s strategy to build a fullyintegrated, diversified composites supplier through organic investments and strategic acquisitions. “The acquisition of Quatro is a critical step in executing our strategic plan for AIM,” said Rowan Taylor, Liberty Hall’s founding partner. “Composites represent one of the fastest growing and evolving segments within the aerospace industry, and we have been seeking to identify and acquire businesses that serve emerging segments of the composites landscape.

“Quatro not only provides AIM further customer, platform and geographic diversification but also extends AIM’s capabilities into structural composites and thermoplastics, two of the fastest growing areas within composites. The insertion of Quatro’s proven design, development and production capabilities when combined with AIM’s and Quatro’s existing engineering capabilities, will allow the combined company to enter new composite market segments and deliver a new generation of complex products to meet ever increasing customer demand.” Founded in 1997, Quatro supplies several of the leading aerospace platforms, including the Boeing 787, Gulfstream G650 and Insitu X300, and Quatro’s largest customers include The Boeing Company, Gulfstream, Insitu and United Technologies. Quatro operates from a Manufacturing Center in Orange City, Iowa, and a Business Innovation Center in Poway, California.

COMPOSITES ONE ACQUIRES CANADIAN-BASED BMB SOLUTIONS COMPOSITES

omposites One, a North American supplier of composites raw materials and value added services, has completed the purchase of Canadian-based BMB Solutions Composites, a supplier of composites materials to the Canadian aerospace and advance composites markets. “We are looking forward to combining the experience and values of both organizations and creating an even stronger platform to service Canadian customers who produce products using advanced and traditional composites products,” said Leon Garoufalis, President and COO of Composites One. “We will continue to work diligently to

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position ourselves as the supplier of choice by partnering with customers to help them grow their business.” Founded in 2006, BMB Solutions provides composite materials and ancillary supplies to the aerospace, transportation and industrial markets in Canada, from two locations, one in Quebec and the other in Ontario. “BMB Solutions has been committed to expanding our business by providing valued solutions to our customers over the last decade,” said BMB Solutions Composites President Patrick Morin. “Now with the strength and resources of a combined business, we will be even better positioned to drive that commitment in the market place.”

news GLOBAL AEROSPACE CONTROL SURFACE MARKET EXPECTED TO REACH $4.3 BILLION BY 2021

he future of the global aerospace control surface market looks good with opportunities in commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, general aviation, and military aircraft segments, according to a new market report published by global management consulting and market research firm Lucintel. The aerospace control surface market is expected to reach an estimated $4.3 billion by 2021 at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2016 to 2021. The major growth drivers of this market are increasing demand for commercial aircraft and the launch of several new aircraft including the Comac C919, Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), and Sukhoi Super Jet 100. North America is expected to remain the largest region due to the number of aircraft manufacturers and aircraft component manufacturers that create the largest customer

base for aerospace control surfaces. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period. The study includes a forecast for growth opportunities in the control surface market by product type (flaps, slats, spoilers, ailerons, elevators and rudders), aircraft type (divided into commercial, regional, general and military), control surface type (primary and secondary), material type (composite, aluminium and others), and region.

BELL HELICOPTER UNVEILS FIRST 505 JET RANGER X FROM MIRABEL PRODUCTION LINE

ell Helicopter is celebrating the assembly of the first model of its latest aircraft since its new assembly line was established in Mirabel, Québec last year. The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, took part in a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the first new 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter from the production line. More than 100 highly skilled jobs in Québec were secured following the Texas-based helicopter manufacturer’s decision to assemble its new 505 helicopter in Mirabel.

The decision represents a vote of confidence in the highly skilled workers at the Mirabel plant who carry out flight testing, certification and final assembly of the new model. It also secures opportunities for future models of Bell’s commercial helicopters to be tested, certified and assembled at the Mirabel plant. Bell Helicopter, a subsidiary of Textron Inc, has 900 employees in Canada, with a majority of them based in Mirabel. Canadian aerospace manufacturing is the top investor in research and development across the country’s manufacturing industries.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 19

FEAM TO BE FIRST US-BASED MRO AS A BOEING GOLDCARE LINE MAINTENANCE SUPPLIER

EAM Maintenance / Engineering has signed a multiyear agreement with The Boeing Company as the first US-based MRO to provide GoldCare line maintenance services. The strategic partnership calls for FEAM to provide full line maintenance support on new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft under its EASA 145 authorization. FEAM joins a number of global GoldCare specialists already providing the aftermarket support services, including UK providers Monarch Aircraft Engineering and British Airways Engineering and Singapore-based SIA Engineering Company. “We are very excited to be selected as a Tier 1 supplier

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to the GoldCare program,” said Dan Allawat, COO, FEAM Maintenance / Engineering. “We are thankful to the GoldCare team at Boeing for entrusting FEAM in the handling of their customers’ new aircraft, and to our employees who helped make this possible with their phenomenal dedication to making our company an industry leader in aircraft line maintenance services.” Founded in 1992, Miamibased F&E Aircraft Maintenance (FEAM) is an MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) company providing aircraft line maintenance services to major domestic and international air carriers flying transport category aircraft.

news

SIKORSKY ANNOUNCES AB INITIO PILOT TRAINING WITH BRISTOW GROUP

ikorsky and Bristow Group are working to enter into a long-term agreement that establishes Bristow as Sikorsky’s preferred supplier for ab initio pilot training for Sikorsky aircraft customers at Bristow Academy. The announcement came at the 2017 Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo show. The intent of the agreement is to allow Sikorsky BlackHawk, S-70i, S-92, S-76 and light helicopter customers to complete a Sikorskycertified training curriculum conducted by Bristow Academy’s highly skilled and experienced core of former military and commercial instructor pilots. Bristow’s training programs offer Sikorsky customers a customizable, turn-key training solution that is developed around individual end user mission objectives. Training programs include initial entry rotor wing, high altitude training, night vision goggle, initial and

advanced training, and commercial pilot training, for Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency requirements. Following completion of the agreement, training courses are expected to begin later this year. “We are honored that Sikorsky has selected Bristow Academy to be a certified provider of pilot training for Sikorsky helicopter customers worldwide,” said Bristow Group President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Baliff. “These discussions reflect the strength of our longstanding partnership with Sikorsky, and confidence in the high standards of Bristow Academy’s military flight training programs.” Bristow Academy is one of the world’s largest commercial helicopter training providers. It conducts training at its main base in Titusville, Florida, and at a satellite location in Carson City, Nevada.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 21

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news MAGELLAN AEROSPACE SECURES MULTI-YEAR AIRBUS CONTRACT “Magellan has worked diligently to align with Airbus’ production requirements for the A350 XWB” Photo credit: Magellan Aerospace

agellan Aerospace has signed an agreement with Airbus to supply complete crown module assemblies for all variants of the A350 XWB aircraft. This contract extension, valued at approximately CDN $140 million, will see the provision of complex assemblies from Magellan facilities in the United Kingdom, Poland and India to the Airbus assembly lines in Germany and

France. “With an emphasis on investing in innovative manufacturing technologies and developing a cost competitive global supply chain, Magellan has worked diligently to align with Airbus’ production requirements for the A350 XWB,” said Phillip Underwood, President and CEO of Magellan. Magellan has a long history working with Airbus and in addition to supplying

crown modules for the A350 family of aircraft, also supplies precision machined aluminium and titanium structural wing components for use on the A320, A330, and A380 aircraft programs. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with facilities throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Poland.

CHINESE LEASING COMPANY ORDERS 30 BOEING 737 MAX 8 AIRCRAFT

oeing and CDB Aviation Lease Finance (CDB Aviation) have announced an order for 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes. Valued at $3.3 billion at current list prices, the order was previously unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. Both sides agreed to take this opportunity to broaden communication and strengthen cooperation in various fields, bringing the partnership to a new level. “Our commitment to our customers is to provide them with the most efficient and reliable products,” said Peter Chang, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDB Aviation. “The 30 Boeing 737 MAXs in our portfolio provide the competitive advantages of fuel efficiency, reliability and passenger experience they are looking for in the single-aisle airplane.” Based in Dublin, Ireland, CDB Aviation operates as a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co Ltd (CDB Leasing). With registered capital of US$50 million and a fleet of over 200 aircraft, CDB Aviation has over 10 years’ experience in the business and is one of the

largest and most influential Chinese-owned aviation leasing companies. “We are very pleased to expand our partnership with CDB Aviation with this announcement,” said Rick Anderson, vice president of Northeast Asia Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “As we work together with the new management team at CDB Aviation to address the opportunities presented in a rapidly growing market for commercial airplanes, we look forward to strengthening and growing our partnership in the very near future.” The 737 MAX family has been designed to offer customers exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, with lower per-seat costs and an extended range that will open up new destinations in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX will be 14 per cent more fuel-efficient than today’s most efficient NextGeneration 737s – and 20 per cent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service. With broad market acceptance, the 737 MAX has more than 3,600 orders to date from 83 customers worldwide.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 23

HONEYWELL FORECASTS REDUCTION IN NEW GLOBAL HELICOPTER DELIVERIES OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS I

mpacted by a slow global economic growth environment and volatility in oil and gasrelated markets, the helicopter industry is reacting with a cautious outlook for near-term new purchases. In its 19th annual TurbinePowered Civil Helicopter Purchase Outlook, Honeywell forecasts 3,900 to 4,400 civilianuse helicopters will be delivered from 2017 to 2021, roughly 400 fewer than the 2016 five-year forecast. Latin America led all global regions in the rate of new aircraft purchase plans, but is down year over year and impacted by weak economic performance in Brazil and Venezuela. Latin American respondents currently favour light single-engine models, representing almost 60 per cent of their planned acquisitions, followed by intermediate and medium twinengine platforms. The Middle East and Africa region has the second-highest new purchase rate among the

regions, with up to 22 per cent of respondent fleets slated for turnover with a new helicopter replacement or addition. However, purchase plans are 8 per cent lower compared with 2016 survey results. Close to 80 per cent of planned new helicopter purchases are intermediate and medium twinengine models. Light single-engine models are the second-highest-mentioned platform in the survey by operators. Purchase expectations in North America fell by more than 2 per cent in this year’s survey. The purchase plans are down for a second year since 2015. More than 75 per cent of planned North American purchases were identified as light single-engine models, while just under 13 per cent of new purchases were slated as intermediate or medium twin-engine models. Purchase plans in Europe decreased by more than 3 per cent in this year’s survey, down for a second year in a row. Excluding heavy-twin

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outlook

helicopters, European purchase intentions currently tend to favour all classes in nearly equal shares. APAC operators tended to focus more on corporate and oil and gas end uses for their new purchase plans, and consequently, intermediate and medium twin-engine helicopters were the most popular models in their new aircraft plans. India held fairly steady year over year based on very small sample input. There are a number of countries contributing more relative and absolute new helicopter purchase plans in the region, including China, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. In the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), purchase plans are lower for all countries except Russia in this year’s survey. Overall, BRIC plans are down more than 11 per cent compared with 2016 results. Brazilian purchase plans are down significantly, by almost 20 per cent in 2017, reflecting the impact of the economic recession in the country. Small sample sizes in Russia and India

make it difficult to draw conclusions. Planned Chinese purchase rates slipped, reflecting nearterm slower economic growth prospects.

Methodology

The 2017 outlook presents a snapshot of the helicopter business at a point in time and reflects the current business and political environment. This year’s survey queried more than 1,000 chief pilots and flight department managers of companies operating 3,746 turbine and 362 piston helicopters worldwide. The survey excluded large fleet or “mega” operators, which were addressed separately. Input received from large oil and gas support and emergency medical service fleet operators is factored into the overall outlook in addition to the individual flight department responses. The survey detailed the types of aircraft operated and assessed specific plans to replace or add to the fleet with new aircraft.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 25

outlook CANADIAN AIRLINE INDUSTRY “The outlook for Canada’s air transportation industry will remain strong in 2017, but some of the main tailwinds that benefited the industry over the past two years will slowly reverse”

deal conditions continue to fuel strong profitability for Canadian airlines this year, according to The Conference Board of Canada’s latest Canadian Industrial Outlook: Canada’s Air Transportation Industry. Growth is expected to be more subdued going forward, however, as temporary factors that have recently boosted industry demand slowly dissipate. “The outlook for Canada’s air transportation industry will remain strong in 2017, but some of the main

of jet fuel and weigh on industry profitability, although the low-flying loonie will continue to make Canada a cheaper destination for both foreign and domestic travel. With fuel prices accounting for as much as 30 per cent of industry costs, the dramatic drop in oil prices in past years had a positive impact on airlines’ bottom line. However, the benefits are expected to begin to trail off over the next two years as fuel prices are forecast to rise, driving up industry costs. Oil prices have already risen

in 2016. The Canadian dollar is expected to appreciate modestly but steadily over the next five years, however, removing some of the incentive for foreign travellers to visit Canada and reducing the cost for Canadians wishing to fly out of US airports. An added risk for the industry could be the increasingly protectionist mood taking hold in several high-income countries which could curtail global trade and dampen demand for business travel. The threat of new low-cost carriers will

tailwinds that benefited the industry over the past two years, primarily low fuel costs and the weaker loonie, will slowly reverse, starting this year,” says Todd Crawford, principal economist at the Conference Board. “However, this reversal will not be severe enough to threaten the industry’s profitability and demand for the industry’s services will continue to grow.” Higher oil prices will lift the cost

significantly from their lows and are projected to average US$54 in 2017, up from US$43 last year. Despite generally weak economic conditions last year, Canadian airlines experienced the strongest demand on record in 2016. The low value of the loonie made travel to Canada relatively cheap and was a key reason why the number of Americans flying to Canada is estimated to have reached 5.5 million

keep price increases subdued for the next five years, but even modest gains would be an improvement over the falling prices seen in the past two and half years. Following a drop of three per cent in 2016, prices are expected to rise by 0.5 per cent this year. Overall, Canada’s air transportation industry pre-tax profits are expected to grow another 2.4 per cent in 2017 to reach $1.5 billion.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 27

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airbus

a growing family

With a series significant achievements, 2016 proved to be a tremendous year of growth for Airbus. Growth in orders, growth in deliveries, a growing number of customers, additions to its manufacturing and assembly plants, and more new ideas for future developments. Here we do our best to keep pace with family affairs.

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 31

y any standards, Airbus had an awesome year in 2016. Commercial aircraft deliveries rose for the 14th consecutive year, reaching a new company record of 688 aircraft delivered to 82 customers, an eight per cent increase over the previous record of 635 set in 2015. These included 545 aircraft from the single aisle A320 Family (of which 68 were A320neo models), 66 A330s, 49 A350 XWBs and 28 A380s.

The company also achieved 731 net orders from 51 customers, of which eight were new. These included 607 single aisle and 124 wide-body aircraft. At the end of 2016, Airbus’ overall backlog (the number of jetliners on firm order that remain to be delivered) stood at 6,874 aircraft valued at US$1,018 billion at list prices – equivalent to approximately 10 years of production. “We delivered on our objectives in a challenging environment, proving our ramp-up readiness for the future. I salute all our teams on this outstanding achievement,” said Fabrice Brégier, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus and President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “Our strong operational performance combined with a robust market eager to place orders and take deliveries of aircraft in all sizes are now an excellent springboard for our next steps: boosting deliveries, harnessing the advantages of Digital and extending our service portfolio globally.” History was made on 25 April 2016 with the first-ever delivery of a jetliner from the new Airbus US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama – a singleaisle A321 for operation by US-based carrier JetBlue. With the Alabama site now in operation, Airbus has final assembly lines for the A320 jetliner on three continents: North America, Europe (at Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany), and Asia (at Tianjin, China). Construction for Airbus’ A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China began on 2 March 2016 – where activities will include cabin installation, fuselage painting, engine run, production flights and delivery to customers. The Tianjin-based C&DC will benefit from its co-location with the existing A320 Family final assembly line in the northern Chinese city. Aircraft processed here will be built at Airbus’

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airbus a growing family

“We delivered on our objectives in a challenging environment, proving our rampup readiness for the future. I salute all our teams on this outstanding achievement”

A330 final assembly line in Toulouse, France, and then flown to Tianjin. Customer deliveries of finished A330s from Tianjin are scheduled to begin in September 2017. The same year also marked the start of commercial service for Airbus’ A320neo (new engine option), which offers airline operators two new-generation engine choices: Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM and the LEAP-1A from CFM International. On 20 January, the Lufthansa Group took delivery of the first NEO aircraft – an A320neo powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. This was followed up in July with the handover of a LEAP-1A-powered A320neo version to Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines. The maiden flight of the Airbus A3501000, the longest-fuselage version of the A350 XWB, took place in November 2016 from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southwest France, home to the A350 XWB final assembly line. Airbus is targeting a mid-2017 commercial service entry for the aircraft which has already been ordered by customers from the Middle East, North America, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Measuring nearly 74 metres from nose to tail, the A350-1000 is powered by the latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 turbofan jet powerplants – the most efficient large aero engines flying today – and offers a maximum range of 7,950 nautical miles, seating 366 passengers (+40 seats compared to the A350-900) with best-in-class comfort in the ‘Airspace by Airbus’ cabin. Introduced in the A330neo as well as the A350 XWB, the ‘Airspace by Airbus’ cabin concept is based on four dimensions: comfort, ambience, service and design. Airspace by Airbus cabins will offer a more relaxing, inspiring, attractive and functional environment for travellers, while optimising cabin space for operators, and allowing them to project their brands to create next-generation flying experiences for passengers. Air Asia’s order for 100 A321neo (new engine option) jetliners was a major commercial highlight of the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow in the summer. Airbus won $35 billion worth of new business at the show,

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 33

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airbus a growing family with firm orders for 197 aircraft and commitments for 82 others. Airbus also used Farnborough to launch its new ‘I fly A380’ booking assistant – a unique website enabling passengers to book flights on the iconic double-deck A380 aircraft. Other notable milestones in 2016 included the delivery of Airbus’ 10,000th aircraft – an A350-900 XWB – handed over ceremonially to Singapore Airlines on 14 October, and the first flight of the largest member of the programme: the A350-1000.

History

“History was made on 25 April 2016 with the first-ever delivery of a jetliner from the new Airbus US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama”

The A300 became the world’s first twinengine widebody jet with its commercial service entry in 1974. It was followed in the early 1980s by Airbus’ shorterfuselage A310 derivative, then later by the company’s single-aisle A320 – which has developed into one of the most successful aircraft families in history with the A318, A319, A320 and A321. The 1990s saw Airbus introduce its long-range A330/A340 Family, and a new era of airline travel started in 2007 when the 600-plus-seat A380 began commercial operation. Responding to market requirements, Airbus launched its A350 XWB twin-engine jetliner in the 2000s. This highly-efficient aircraft entered commercial service in 2015, bringing together the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies. To maintain its competitive edge, Airbus continues to invest in improvements across its market-leading, modern product line – including development of the A320neo (new engine option) version, the A330neo variant and more. The company’s international production network has also been significantly expanded over the years, highlighted by its singleaisle final assembly line in Tianjin, China, along with the Airbus US Manufacturing Facility for A320 Family jetliners – which commenced aircraft deliveries in 2016.

Design & engineering

An Airbus jetliner is the product of highly efficient cooperation across the company’s global supply and manufacturing chains. Airbus relies on a network of regional facilities for design

and engineering activities across the company’s full family of modern aircraft. This high-tech work is divided across design offices and engineering centres throughout Europe and North America, along with additional sites in India and China. The design office at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France gathers such top-level competencies as architecture integration, general design, structural design and computation, integration tests and systems, and propulsion. Five additional Airbus design offices and engineering centres are located throughout Europe, with sites operating in Spain, the UK, Russia and Germany – the latter of which includes two facilities in Hamburg and Bremen. Airbus’ Filton, UK location focuses on design, engineering and support for Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear integration, with additional teams working on systems, structures and aerodynamics projects. In Spain, the company’s Getafe facility handles composites design, development and manufacture, as well as the design and manufacturing of tooling. The Engineering Centre Airbus Russia (ECAR) is a joint venture facility with the Russian industrial group Kaskol. ECAR design teams support Airbus engineers in Hamburg and Toulouse, focusing primarily on fuselage structure, stress and systems installation, as well as the design of cabin interiors and freight compartments. This centre employs some 200 engineers who have completed large-scale projects for the A320, A330/ A340, A380 and A350 XWB. Airbus’ first North American design and engineering facility was opened in Wichita, Kansas during 2002. Beginning with an initial staff of 40 people, this location – which is involved in wing design for the A380 and other longrange Airbus aircraft – employed more than 400 highly-skilled engineers as of May 2013, with additional growth anticipated during the following years. The location was expanded in 2010 with a second engineering centre to focus on wing work for Airbus aircraft, as well as to house a team of in-service repair engineers specializing in critical support for customers around the world. Southeast of Wichita in the US is the Airbus Americas Engineering

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 37

Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family

“On 20 January 2016, the Lufthansa Group took delivery of the first NEO aircraft – an A320neo powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. This was followed up in July with the handover of a LEAP-1A-powered A320neo version to Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines”

facility in Mobile, Alabama, which is responsible for various interior elements of Airbus’ A350XWB, A380 and A330-200 widebody jetliners. This work includes design and engineering for the passenger cabin, crew rest area, lavatories and galleys. As part of its pledge to support the development of India’s aviation sector, Airbus in 2007 opened its Bangalore engineering centre, which cooperates closely with the company’s other engineering sites around the world, as well as with the country’s growing aerospace industry. As part of Airbus’ fully-owned Airbus India subsidiary, the Airbus Engineering Centre India Pvt. Ltd. (AECI) focuses on the development of advanced capabilities in the areas of modelling and simulation, covering such areas as flight management systems, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), as well as digital simulation and visualization. The Bangalore facility’s cooperation with other Airbus sites includes the development of a simulated A380 flight management system that allows system engineers to provide mature specifications for suppliers of flight management systems, which are key elements in such modern jetliners as Airbus’ A380, A350 XWB, and A320neo jetliners. Inauguration of the Airbus (Beijing) Engineering Centre (ABEC) in 2005 marked a new phase in the decades-long industrial partnership between China and Airbus, with the goal of making China a full risk-sharing partner of up to a 5 per cent airframe work share on a new-generation Airbus aircraft. This strategy has since been applied to the A350 XWB, which entered commercial service in January 2015. The Beijing-based facility is a joint venture between Airbus and China’s two largest aviation companies – China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVICI) and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVICII), and its core activities centre on specific design packages for new aircraft programmes.

Manufacturing

Airbus’ mission is to meet the needs of airlines and operators by producing the most modern and comprehensive aircraft family on the market,

complemented by the highest standard of product support. The company’s manufacturing operations around the world set industry benchmarks in both quality and efficiency standards. Airbus was the first manufacturer to make extensive use of composites and other advanced materials for producing large commercial aircraft, beginning with the A310 jetliner – which entered commercial service in 1983 equipped with a composite-based fin box. Composites typically are 20 per cent lighter than aluminium, and are known to be more reliable than other traditional metallic materials – leading to reduced aircraft maintenance costs and a lower number of inspections during service. Additional benefits of composite technologies include added strength and superior durability for a longer lifespan. At Airbus sites around the world, the application of lean manufacturing activity – which focuses on achieving the highest throughput with the least inventory – has shortened lead-times and improved efficiency of products and processes. On a larger scale, this approach also has led to standardization of parts and components, and has eased the definition of structure and system interfaces. Airbus is a truly global enterprise, with facilities around the world and a supply chain that includes more than 2,000 primary contractors in over 20 countries. Leveraging its multicultural teams, Airbus is perfectly placed to understand the needs of customers, suppliers and industry stakeholders in every corner of the globe. During an aircraft’s development phase, Airbus’ own production network is fully involved to ensure that manufacturing processes are validated and assembly procedures are confirmed. Beginning with the A300/A310, primary production responsibilities were distributed throughout Europe based on capabilities within the Airbus network. France’s expertise in systems integration, instrumentation and human-machine interface resulted in the country’s responsibility for the forward fuselage, cockpit and flight control systems, and it also produced the lower centre fuselage section. The British were well-known for

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family

“Measuring nearly 74 metres from nose to tail, the A3501000 is powered by the latestgeneration RollsRoyce Trent XWB97 turbofan jet powerplants – the most efficient large aero engines flying today”

their capabilities in wing design, therefore were given duties for the new jetliner’s wings. Germany’s strength in manufacturing and processes resulted in the company’s assignment to build the forward and rear fuselage “barrel” sections, along with the upper portion of the centre fuselage, while Spain was chosen for the horizontal tailplane. The emphasis on cooperation continued with each Airbus jetliner programmes that followed, from the best-selling A320 Family to the company’s 21st century flagship A380 and the next-generation A350 XWB. Throughout the product line’s development, responsibilities within Airbus’ own production network have evolved to reflect the evolution of technology and materials, manufacturing processes and the expertise of each Airbus-operated facility. With the A350 XWB, Airbus implemented an extended enterprise approach to partnerships with its suppliers, which enabled all key parties to be ‘on board’ up to one year earlier than with previous programmes. In addition, the use of common processes, methods and tools – including a single integrated 3D digital mock up and unified planning tool – resulted in more efficient information sharing, allowing Airbus and suppliers to work effectively in parallel. The newest Airbus final assembly line, located in Toulouse, builds the A350 XWB. Conceived with eco-efficiency in mind, this 74,000-square metre factory houses the initial stages of final assembly for the A350 XWB, involving the join-up of fuselage and wings. A streamlined aircraft assembly process for the A350 allows teams to work in parallel, reducing the time from start of final assembly to aircraft delivery by 30 per cent. Aircraft testing and cabin equipping then will be completed in the nearby A330/340 facility. Toulouse also is the home to Airbus’ A380 assembly line – a massive 490 metre-long by 250-metre facility that provides 150,000 square metres of assembly area for the flagship doubledeck jetliner. In 2013, Airbus implemented a new production organisation to manage the steep and steady ramp-up of industrial activities to meet continued

strong demand, while also achieving higher performance levels across the company’s series and development programmes. Primary changes to the production organisation focused on the empowerment of Airbus’ production sites – co-locating key contributing functions like engineering, procurement and quality, and putting them under the operational leadership of a plant head. The production activities previously performed by Airbus’ Centres of Excellence are now under responsibility and management of the individual plants, which interact directly with the Central Programme Organisations. The larger Airbus production organisation has accountability for final assembly line commitments.

France

Toulouse, France, as well as housing the design functions described above, is host to final assembly lines for the A320, A350 XWB and A330 – including the cabin furnishing and painting – as well as the A380’s final assembly and preparation for flight. Toulouse Saint-Eloi is responsible for delivering equipped and tested pylons to the final assembly lines. Its primary activities include the design of pylon and propulsion systems, integration and manufacturing of pylon and nacelle components including hard metal transformation, pylon sub-assembly and pylon integration for all Airbus aircraft. The Saint-Nazaire plant specialises in structural assembly, equipping and testing of front and central fuselage sections for the entire Airbus family. It receives sub-assemblies to be fitted for the forward fuselage for the A320 Family, the forward and central fuselage for the A330 and A380 families, and the nose fuselage for the A350 XWB. Saint-Nazaire is also in charge of equipping and testing these sections before delivering them to various final assembly lines. Nantes specialises in the manufacturing and assembly of the centre wing boxes for all Airbus aircraft, and is a leader in the manufacture of carbon fibre reinforced plastic structural parts – such as the A350 XWB keel beam. Nantes is also responsible for manufacturing the radomes for the entire Airbus family, the ailerons for the

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family A330 and A380 families and air inlets for the A350 XWB, A380 families and A320neo.

Germany

Airbus’ Hamburg site manages structural assembly and outfitting of fuselage sections, as well as final assembly for A320 Family aircraft. This plant is also home to Airbus’ A380 major component assembly hall – which houses the structural assembly, equipping of the forward and complete rear fuselage sections, along with cabin furnishing, painting and delivery to customers in Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the Hamburg plant manufactures and equips the rear fuselage sections for Airbus’ A330 and A350 XWB programmes. The company’s Bremen site is responsible for design and manufacture of high-lift systems for the wings on all Airbus aircraft. Wings for the A330 and A350 XWB are delivered to Bremen from Airbus’ plant in Broughton, UK, and are fully equipped with all relevant systems. The vertical tail planes of all Airbus aircraft are produced at Stade. The site also makes other carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components – such as flaps for single-aisle A320 Family aircraft, and spoilers for the A330. Pressure bulkheads for the A330 and A380 are part of Stade’s production responsibilities. For the A350 XWB, this site produces the upper wing shell, along with the jetliner’s vertical tail plane and CFRP fuselage shells. All the electronic communications and cabin management systems needed by both crew and passengers are designed and produced at the Buxtehude site in Germany. They include the cabin intercommunication data system used to control cabin functions, and the passenger service units for passenger seating system controls.

Located in North Wales, Airbus’ Broughton site assembles wings for the entire family of commercial aircraft, producing over 1,000 wings per year. Its activities include wing skin milling, stringer manufacture, full wing equipping and wing box assembly. Filton is the other UK-based site

for Airbus, with its engineering and research & technology groups responsible for wing design, landing gear and fuel systems design and testing; and manufacturing of components.

Spain

Getafe, in central Spain, specialises in aeronautical component engineering, design, production and assembly. The plant is the delivery centre for final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg for all programmes with the exception of the A380 – a role it shares with the Puerto Real plant in Cádiz. Getafe uses metallic material and advanced composite materials to manufacture the fuselage for all Airbus aircraft and specialises in the final assembly and testing of all horizontal tail planes for all Airbus aircraft; rear fuselage and tail cone of the A380 and rear fuselage of the A350 XWB. Getafe is also responsible for the A380’s main landing gear doors. Airbus’ Illescas site is a leader in the manufacture of composite aeronautical components, mainly large-scale or complex shaped parts as the A350 XWB’s wing lower cover. The components manufactured in Illescas for Airbus models are: the stabilisers, rudders and spars, sections of rear fuselage and landing gear components for the A380, sections of the rear fuselage and internal skin of the wing for the Airbus A350 XWB. Located in the south of Spain, Puerto Real specialises in automated assembly of movable surfaces (rudders and spars) for all Airbus jetliner programmes. It is also responsible for final equipment and delivery to the final assembly line of large, complex structural components – such as the horizontal tail plane and belly fairing of the A380 fuselage, and produces the horizontal tail plane boxes of the A350 XWB.

Transporting parts

Airbus has developed its own transportation system to airlift the large, pre-assembled sections of its jetliners from their production locations to final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg. This service is performed by a fleet of five A300-600ST Super Transporters. These modified A300600s, nicknamed the ‘Beluga,’ have a

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family

“The A380 offers the lowest cost per seat of any widebody aircraft. This includes the use of advanced aluminium alloys for the wing and fuselage, along with the extensive application of composite materials in the centre wing box’s primary structure, wing ribs, and rear fuselage section”

bulbous main-deck cargo cabin, which enables the loading of complete fuselage sections and wings. Operated by Airbus Transport International, the Super Transporter is able to carry a 47 metric tonne (103,616 lb) payload over a range of 900 nautical miles (1,667 km). To support planned production rate increases, Airbus is expanding its existing A300-600ST fleet with the development and production of five new Beluga aircraft – which will be derived from the company’s versatile A330 widebody product line, with a mid-2019 service entry. As for other Airbus aircraft programmes, production of the A380 takes place in different sites across Europe. Each site produces completely equipped sections, which are transported to the final assembly line. The sheer size of the A380, however, means its fuselage and wing sections are shipped via a surface transportation network to carry the sections from production sites in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom to the French city of Bordeaux. Wings, for example, travel by barge along the River Dee from Broughton in North Wales to the Dee estuary, where they are loaded onto a large capacity roll-on roll-off vessel. The craft is used to move aircraft sections by sea to the French port of Pauillac, near Bordeaux. Here, the components are transferred to specially designed barges, which carry them on the penultimate part of their voyage up the Garonne River from Pauillac to Langon. Four river journeys are required to transport fuselage sections and the horizontal tail plane of one aircraft. In Langon, aircraft sections are transferred to outsized-load trucks to complete their journey to Toulouse by road.

A380

The double-deck A380 is a marvel of science and engineering. It is the largest commercial aircraft flying today, with capacity to carry 544 passengers in a comfortable four-class configuration, and up to 853 in a single-class configuration. With a superior range of 15,200 km, the A380 is the ideal solution to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports and maximize profitability on the

busiest routes in the world. It has two full-length passenger levels with true widebody dimensions. With more seats than any other aircraft, the A380 offers solutions to airport congestion, fleet plan optimization and traffic growth. By incorporating the latest advances in structures and materials, the A380 offers the lowest cost per seat of any widebody aircraft, over 15 per cent lower than its nearest competitor. This includes the use of advanced aluminium alloys for the wing and fuselage, along with the extensive application of composite materials in the centre wing box’s primary structure, wing ribs, and rear fuselage section. The A380 also uses Glare™ material in the pressurised fuselage’s upper and lateral shells. Glare is a laminate incorporating alternate layers of aluminium alloy and glass fibre reinforced adhesive, with its properties optimised by adjusting the number of plies and orientation of the glass tapes. This offers a significant reduction in weight and provides advanced fatigue and damage resistance characteristics. Two new-generation engine options (the Engine Alliance GP7200 and RollsRoyce Trent 900), combined with an advanced wing and landing gear design, make the A380 significantly quieter than today’s largest airliner – enabling this very large aircraft to meet strict local regulations at airports around the world. With a new wing design and composite materials accounting for 25 per cent of its structural weight, the A380 is the most efficient aircraft all around. By producing only about 75 grams of CO2 per passenger kilometre, the A380 is helping the aviation industry’s commitment to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. A380 reliability and maintainability is further increased with modern technology, including an enhanced onboard central maintenance system and variable frequency generators – which simplify the large aircraft’s electrical generation network. Hydraulic power is provided by two fully independent systems with an operating pressure of 5,000 psi, instead of the conventional 3,000 psi. This capacity for higher pressure results in smaller and lighter hydraulic system equipment, as well as less hydraulic fluid on board,

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family

“An aircraft draws more on its power reserves during takeoff than at any other time. An assisted take-off – using some form of propelled acceleration – would mean aircraft could be lighter, with smaller engines consuming less fuel”

showing how Airbus innovations continue to deliver efficiency in every area of aircraft design and manufacture. Airbus introduced its innovative Brake to Vacate technology on the A380, allowing flight crews to more effectively manage approach and landing by preselecting the optimum runway exit. This can reduce runway occupancy time by up to 30 per cent – significantly increasing the number of aircraft that can be handled by the world’s airports. Cabin arrangement flexibility allows airlines to differentiate their products and develop solutions for specific market mixes. Passenger comfort is further enhanced by a number of additional technologies equipped on Airbus’ A380, including advanced lighting systems and new standards of in-flight entertainment. Cabin air is recycled every three minutes to keep the atmosphere fresh, while 220 cabin windows provide natural light. Four high-level air outlets – as opposed to the industry standard of two – keep customers refreshed during all phases of flight.

Smarter Skies

Gazing into the future, Airbus has a vision of sustainable aviation in 2050 that looks beyond aircraft design to how the aircraft is operated on the ground and in the air, to meet the expected growth in air travel in a sustainable way. Called Smarter Skies, this is the latest instalment in a concept known as The Future by Airbus. Already today, if the air traffic management (ATM) system and technology on board aircraft were optimised (assuming around 30 million flights per year), Airbus research suggests that every flight in the world could on average be around 13 minutes shorter. This would save approximately 9 million tonnes of excess fuel annually, which equates to over 28 million tonnes of avoidable CO2 emissions and passenger savings of over 500 million hours of excess flight time on board an aircraft. Add to this new aircraft design, alternative energy sources and new ways of flying and you could see even more significant improvements.

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family The Smarter Skies vision consists of five concepts which could be implemented across all stages of an aircraft’s operation to reduce waste in the system.

Eco-Climb

An aircraft draws more on its power reserves during take-off than at any other time. The power needed to take off is determined based on a number of factors - including runway length, wind speed, temperature, and the weight of the aircraft itself, but this take-off power is required only for a very brief portion of the total flight. Cruising at height, an aircraft doesn’t need as much power to maintain altitude. So why not source the energy required at take-off from an innovation installed on the ground? Can the burden (and weight) be removed from the aircraft itself? An assisted take-off – using some form of propelled acceleration – would mean aircraft could be lighter, with smaller engines consuming less fuel. All of which means an optimised aircraft could climb to its most efficient cruising altitude more quickly. Aircraft could be manoeuvred onto a track system and accelerated using either electromagnetic motors built into the track or an inductive circuit within the aircraft itself. With less time and distance required for take-off, runways could be shortened by up to 1/3rd, minimising land use, and enabling airport capacity to increase or new micro-airports to emerge. These could be located near city centres – or the mega-cities that will become a reality – with space becoming even more of a premium.

Express Skyways

Today, the term ‘direct flight’ is something of a misnomer. While borders have fallen at ground level, the same can’t be said for the sky. As flights transit a patchwork quilt of international airspace they are passed between disparate air navigation service providers and diverted into sets of air corridors. The result is circuitous, zigzag flight patterns. And the more time in the air, the greater the chance of delay, with both leading to unnecessary fuel burn and emissions. What if the skies were stitched into one seamless blanket? Aircraft could navigate more directly and thus more

quickly, efficiently and safely through optimal gate-to-gate flight paths or express flyways. In addition, a generation of intelligent aircraft could use 4D navigation capability to selfselect the most efficient route, making optimum use of prevailing weather, atmospheric conditions and each other. Trailing planes could ‘surf ’ on the energy coming from the wing tip vortices of the preceding aircraft. This would reduce drag, which increases fuel efficiency and minimises engine emissions. Flights to and from similar geographic areas could rendezvous in mid-air before continuing their journey. For example, trans-Atlantic departures from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas to the UK might meet over Utah and fly to England in formation. This would also offer the potential to streamline air traffic control workload by treating each flock as a single entity while in cruise. It won’t take the wing-tip precision of the Red Arrows or Blue Angels either. A safe flight separation of about 20 wingspans – far less than the four nautical miles that separates civil aircraft today but still over 1 nm – is sufficient to reap the benefits. Airbus is already looking into cooperative flight scheduling and conducting research into aircraft stability and control. In parallel, a new breed of sensors able to detect the wake of the previous aircraft and rapid state changes must be developed. Avionic technologies already make this possible in principle. Lightweight remote sensing equipment such as LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and infrared cameras allow aircraft to detect the wake vortex – which is the turbulence produced by an aircraft in flight – of those ahead.

Free-glide approaches and landings

Aircraft today descend in stages and are often forced to wait in the air, circling in holding patterns to avoid congested airspace or while awaiting a landing slot. However, levelling off during descent requires an increase in thrust. That means extra fuel burn and emissions – as well as unnecessary delays for passengers.

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

airbus a growing family

“Aircraft today descend in stages and are often forced to wait in the air, circling in holding patterns to avoid congested airspace or while awaiting a landing slot. That means extra fuel burn and emissions”

With better air traffic management, aircraft could enter a fuel-efficient descent based on when best to leave cruise level – with no risk of getting stuck in traffic. Just as when climbing, a continuous descent would see aircraft use only the minimum thrust needed. Aircraft featuring technology to optimise landing positions with pinpoint accuracy could glide smoothly into airports with their engines running in idle, for significantly reduced fuel burn, emissions and noise. Slower landing speeds would lead to shorter runways – by up to 1/3rd – a viable possibility on arrival just as with departure. The ultimate idea, likely beyond 2050, would be to use the same renewablypowered system on landing as at takeoff, receiving aircraft and removing the need for landing gear. This would require all alternate/diversion airports to have the same system. Either way, as the aircraft touches down, kinetic energy can be captured for future use. For example, it might power on-board systems during taxiing or the groundbased propulsion system used for takeoff.

Ground operations

The stored energy mentioned above could also power autonomous receiving vehicles. These would be ready and waiting to taxi aircraft to the terminal using the fastest route, clearing runways and making it a quicker process for passengers to disembark. It would also mean a faster turnaround for the aircraft. Simply switching engines off sooner on

the ground would make a big difference. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), up to six million tonnes of CO2 could be saved each year by reduced engine taxiing.

Power

The use of sustainable aviation fuels and other potential alternative energy sources (such as electricity, hydrogen, solar and more) will be necessary to secure supply and further reduce aviation’s environmental footprint in the long term. Renewable energy could be regionally-sourced from plantations or farms on or near airports to feed both future aircraft and infrastructure needs. Through innovation and out-of-thebox thinking, Airbus will ensure that air travel continues to be one of the safest, and most eco-efficient, means of transportation. As the air transport sector continues to grow, Airbus believes that the industry as a whole must concentrate on technological advances, to produce solutions that will meet passenger and market demands and respect the environment. After celebrating its own four decades of innovation, Airbus now is looking to the next 40-plus years – actively working with other industry stakeholders and experts to anticipate the global needs of a better-connected and more sustainable world.

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YO U R PA R T N E R F O R S E A L I N G T EC H N O L O GY

“Eurofighter take-off ” courtesy of Paul Howe Photography

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leonardo one company

Leonardo is the culmination of a deep process of renewal that has turned the Finmeccanica Group from a financial holding company to a single, integrated industrial entity, to ensure better governance of industrial processes and stronger relationships with customers and suppliers Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com 55

hile Christopher Columbus was sailing West to discover the New World, Leonardo da Vinci was dreaming of flying machines. Although the first helicopter flight did not occur until the early 20th century, it is believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches from the late fifteenth century were the predecessor to the modern day machine. Handicapped by the lack of an internal combustion engine (amongst other things), Leonardo could never build or test his design – but his notes and drawings mapped out how he expected the device to operate, a legacy that still inspires anyone who shares his passion for flight. Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

leonardo one company

“The Italian multinational aerospace, defence and security company we used to know as Finmeccanica, has chosen Leonardo as its new brand identity – picking up his legacy as a universal symbol of innovation, research and creativity”

How fitting it is, then, that the Italian multinational aerospace, defence and security company we used to know as Finmeccanica, should choose Leonardo as its new brand identity – picking up his legacy as a universal symbol of innovation, research and creativity. Finmeccanica is itself a contraction of Società Finanziaria Meccanica, the organisation established in 1948 by the Italian Institute for Industrial Reconstruction to restructure and reorganise Italy’s manufacturing industry after the war. Many of the country’s best known industrial companies blossomed under the umbrella of the Finmeccanica holding company, and in some cases their individual histories go back much earlier than this. Ansaldo, the ancestor of a family of companies in the railway and thermalelectro-mechanical sector, started in Genoa way back in 1853, whereas Officine Galileo, the original nucleus of Leonardo’s current Airborne & Space Systems Division, started in Florence in 1864. OTO Melara, which merged into the Defence Systems Division, was founded in La Spezia in 1905, and San Giorgio, itself an ancestor of the Security & Information Systems Division, started in Genoa in 1906. In 2013, Alenia Aermacchi, nucleus of the current Aircraft & Aerostructures Divisions, celebrated one hundred years in business; its forerunner, NieuportMacchi, was founded in Varese in 1913. The ancestor of WASS, Torpedo Fabrik von Robert Whitehead, whose

activities also merged into Leonardo’s Defence Systems Division, began the manufacture of torpedoes in Fiume in 1875. The UK’s Plessey Company and Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company, the latter founded by the great Italian scientist Guglielmo Marconi, started out, respectively, in 1917 and 1897; both are at the origin of a number of industry trends which, through different routes, have now converged into Leonardo’s Airborne and Space Systems, Security & Information Systems and Land & Naval Defence Electronics Divisions. Finally, although it was not involved in helicopter manufacture until the 1950s, Agusta was founded in northern Italy by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. As the scope of its activities diversified, however, the name that had identified the Group for over 60 years was no longer adequate to represent its new image. Finmeccanica was no longer a financial (FIN) but an operating company, focused on high-tech products and services that no longer reflected the original mission (MECCANICA). Leonardo is the culmination of a deep process of renewal, carried out in the last two years, that has turned the Group from a financial holding company to a single, integrated industrial entity, to ensure better governance of industrial processes and stronger relationships with customers and suppliers. 1 January 2016 marked the beginning of this new chapter in the company’s history. After being a holding company of independent businesses, Finmeccanica transformed into a

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single entity, absorbing its subsidiaries (AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, Selex ES, OTO Melara, WASS) to become an integrated operating company with seven divisions corresponding to its business segments. In April 2016 the company adopted the transitional name of LeonardoFinmeccanica but changed its name to Leonardo S.p.A. on 1 January 2017. After making some divestments in the transport sector, this one company is now firmly focused on the aerospace, defence and security sectors. Leonardo is organised into seven divisions (Helicopters, Aircraft, Aerostructures, Airborne & Space Systems, Land & Naval Defence Electronics, Defence Systems, Security & Information Systems) and is also part of a network of joint ventures and product partnerships, including such programmes as Eurofighter (with BAE Systems and Airbus Group) to build the supersonic multi-role Typhoon and ATR (with Airbus Group) to build the family of turboprop regional aircraft of the same name.

“Società Finanziaria Meccanica was established in 1948 by the Italian Institute for Industrial Reconstruction to restructure and reorganise Italy’s manufacturing industry after the war”

HELICOPTERS

In the helicopter market, Leonardo is active from development to production, pilot training and after sales support,

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producing a range of helicopters for the commercial and defence markets, including all the main weight categories, from 1.8-tonne single-engined to 16-tonne three-engined helicopters. Finmeccanica and GKN set up AgustaWestland in1999, a 50-50 joint venture combining the Italian helicopter business with the UK’s Westland Helicopters, which started military aircraft production at its historic Yeovil plant in 1915. Finmeccanica subsequently acquired GKN’s stake in 2004, and in 2009 it acquired a majority interest in PZL – Swidnik, a Polish

leonardo one company company that manufactures helicopters and aerostructures. The Helicopter Division has facilities in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States, organised around ‘centres of excellence’ that support the final assembly lines, which are located in Vergiate and Tessera (Italy), Yeovil (UK), Świdnik (Poland) and Philadelphia (United States). The AW139, AW169 and AW189 models are part of a family of new generation helicopters, all featuring the same design philosophy and the same certification and safety standards. The family’s models also share many component parts and the same approach to maintenance and training. This translates into significant advantages in terms of operational efficiency and a reduction in through life costs for the users. The AW139 is the market-leading intermediate twin-engine helicopter - the benchmark for safety design features, performance capabilities and productivity in challenging multi-role operations all over the world. The aircraft features leading edge technology, including a Honeywell Primus Epic fully integrated avionics system. Passengers and mission operators benefit from the

“The Helicopter Division has facilities in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States, organised around ‘centres of excellence’ that support the final assembly lines”

largest, most comfortable cabin in the intermediate twin-engine class. The AW169 is the latest-generation 4.6 tonne twin-turbine helicopter. The aircraft exceeds the most demanding market and regulatory requirements, including the most recent FAA and EASA Part 29 standards for performance and safety. The AW189 is the latest-generation, high performance 8.3 / 8.6 tonne twin-engine helicopter, designed to answer the growing market demand for a versatile, affordable, multirole platform. New products being developed include the AW609 Tiltrotor, which combines the benefits of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft into one. Taking off and landing vertically, flying above adverse weather conditions with up to nine people in comfort in a pressurised cabin at twice the speed and range typical of helicopters, the AW609 TiltRotor represents the next generation of aircraft transport for civil, government and para-public roles. This multi-role aircraft can be configured for passenger transport, search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime surveillance, training and other government applications. An extensive network of international

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

leonardo one company collaborations developed over the years has also helped to expand the company’s range of products. The main international partners in the helicopter sector are: • Boeing (USA) for licensed production of the Apache AH Mk.1, as well as the integration and final assembly of the ICH-47F for the Italian Army. The Apache AH Mk.1 is developed from the US AH-64D Apache, built under licence by the Helicopter Division for the British Army. • Airbus Helicopters (France/ Germany) and Fokker (The Netherlands) for the NH90 programme, an 11 tonne military helicopter for naval and land use • TAI (Turkey) for the T129 combat helicopter for the Turkish Land Forces Command. TAI and the Polish company PZL-Świdnik also make helicopter airframes for different models • Russian Helicopters (Russia) for the final assembly line of AW139 and AW189 civil helicopters in Russia through the HeliVert joint venture • AVIC II (China) for the assembly, marketing and support of the AW109 Power for the Chinese commercial market through the Jangxi Change Agusta Helicopter (CAH) joint venture • Kawasaki Heavy Industries ((Japan) for assembly of the AW101 in Japan.

“The Aircraft Division designs, develops and produces a range of aircraft that cover the entire pilot training syllabus, from initial screening with the SF-260 to basic training on the new M-345 HET and into the basic-advanced phase with the M-346”

The Helicopter Division also delivers integrated operational support (IOS) for the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence Sea King, AW101 Merlin, Apache AH.1 and AW159 Wildcat fleets, as well as the Italian Army’s NH90s. A worldwide network of service centres linked with logistics centres and storage sites for components and spare parts has locations in Europe, the United States, Brazil, the Middle East and Asia. The Division also offers a wide range of training courses for aircrew and maintenance personnel. Advanced level D flight simulators are used and courses delivered through the ‘A Marchetti’ Training Academy in Sesto Calende (Italy), the training centre in Yeovil (UK) and those in Philadelphia and Morristown (United States) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia).

The Division is also engaged in research and development for unmanned rotorcraft RUAV (rotary wing unmanned air vehicles), capable of meeting the operational needs of the future. In addition to its own research and development activities, the Division is actively involved in many collaborative research programmes with major European aerospace companies, high-tech SMEs and with prestigious academic institutions. Furthermore, under the European ‘Clean Sky’ initiative, the Division is co-leader of the ‘Green Rotorcraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator’ project, aimed at the reduction of external noise, a more environmentally friendly and efficient energy and propulsion system, and the development of flight paths with low environmental impact.

AIRCRAFT

As a world leader in the training sector, the Aircraft Division designs, develops and produces a range of aircraft that cover the entire pilot training syllabus, from initial screening with the SF-260 to basic training on the new M-345 HET and into the basic-advanced phase with the M-346. This unique range allows the training syllabus to be tailored to the requirements of pilots assigned to flying with any Air Force. The SF-260 is the most successful military primary trainer available on the market today, with over 900 aircraft delivered to 27 different military operators, as well as private pilots, commercial flying schools and aerobatic teams. The SF-260 has flown over two million hours in every possible scenario, a record unmatched in its category. Performance and handling make the SF-260 an effective screener capable of selecting student pilots in the first training phase. This minimises costs and helps select the best suited students. As training progresses, the SF-260 allows students to achieve the proficiency required for a smooth transition to basic and advanced phases. The Aermacchi M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET) is the latest military pilot trainer aircraft developed by Leonardo’s Aircraft Division. Aimed at the basicadvanced phases of the training syllabus, it offers low acquisition and operating

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

leonardo one company

“The Aircraft Division has been a major manufacturer of nacelles for Airbus and Boeing airliners for many years, as well as for Embraer, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the ARJ regional aircraft and the Dassault Falcon business jets”

costs. As a replacement for the current Italian Air Force MB.339A fleet, it will also re-equip its famous ‘Frecce Tricolori’ aerobatic team. The Aermacchi M-346 is the most advanced trainer aircraft available and the only one specifically designed to prepare pilots for high performance new generation aircraft. The M-346 entered service in 2013 with both the Italian Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force. It has also been in service in Israel since 2014. Poland, which signed a contract for 8 aircraft in February 2014, will receive its first aircraft this year. The modern concept of training is not limited to aircraft, but extends to a complete range of ground-based training and learning systems, designed in parallel with the aircraft. Leonardo’s Aircraft Division has over 50 years of experience in this field, and today these systems are based on modelling and simulation technologies. The synthetic learning environment makes it possible to learn to operate and maintain aircraft while reducing overall training costs. The Division offers customers a product portfolio comprising interactive courseware, flight training devices, full mission simulators, mission planning and de-briefing systems, which together constitute the ground based training system. An industrial presence established in the field of defence aircraft has enabled the Aircraft Division to produce increasingly advanced products including the tactical airlifter C-27J Spartan, a twin-turboprop multimission aircraft for roles covering battlefield support, cargo and troop transport, humanitarian and civil protection roles, surveillance, patrol, rescue and support for Special Forces. All versions have the ability to operate from short, unpaved runways and in difficult environmental conditions. The Division also offers a wide range of supporting services and training for the C-27J, including simulators. The MC-27J Praetorian is the multi-mission version, capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and tactical support for Special Forces, covering a wide range of specific tasks without sacrificing its tactical transport capabilities. International collaborations in the

main European military and civilian aircraft programmes have helped build a wealth of technology and expertise of great value. The Eurofighter Typhoon, the most advanced multi-role fighter available on the global market, is a collaboration between Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. The final assembly line of the Italian Air Force Eurofighters and those exported by the Division are based at the Caselle site (Turin). In addition to the four partner countries that have so far ordered 472 units, international customers include Saudi Arabia, Austria, Oman and Kuwait. The ATR family (developed by a joint partnership with Airbus Group) is the most successful in the global market for regional twin-engine turboprop aircraft. The aircraft is currently offered in two models, with 50 seats (ATR 42) and 70 seats (ATR 72, with stretched fuselage). All fuselages, complete with empennage, are built and equipped by Alenia Aermacchi in its Pomigliano d’Arco site, near Naples. The fuselages are then shipped to France, where they are completed with French-built wings and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 engines driving six-blade propellers. The Aircraft Division has also been a major manufacturer of nacelles for Airbus and Boeing airliners for many years, as well as for Embraer, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the ARJ regional aircraft and the Dassault Falcon business jets. The Division builds nacelles both directly (through the MHD joint venture with Aircelle) or in partnership with recognised leaders such as Goodrich Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.

AEROSTRUCTURES

Leonardo’s Aerostructures Division is a partner of major civil aircraft programmes in Europe and in North America. From the Boeing 787 made from composite materials, to the Airbus A380, and the regional turboprop ATR, the Division brings the ability to design, build, test and integrate structures and components to support any programme. Collaboration with the US aviation industry for the production of aerostructures dates back more than 50 years. Currently, the most important programme is the twin-engine Boeing

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Aviation Manufacturer Magazine www.aviationmanufacturer.com

leonardo one company 787, to which the Division contributes a significant part of the design and technology, building sections 44 and 46 of the fuselage and the horizontal stabilizer, made entirely from advanced composite materials. Other programmes in collaboration with Boeing include the manufacture of both the 767 rudder and radome and the outside flaps of the 777, all entirely produced in composite materials. Within the collaboration with Airbus Group, spanning more than 30 years, one of the most important programmes is the A380, where Alenia Aermacchi played an important role since the programme began in 2001, producing a significant part of the middle section of the fuselage. Alenia Aermacchi also designed and builds the A321 forward fuselage section 14A.

AIRBORNE & SPACE SYSTEMS

“The Airborne & Space Systems Division designs, develops and produces a wide range of products and solutions for aircraft platforms that include integrated mission systems, airborne radars and sensors, electronic warfare systems, on-board avionics, aerial target systems and simulation systems”

The Airborne & Space Systems Division designs, develops and produces a wide range of products and solutions for aircraft platforms that include integrated mission systems, airborne radars and sensors, electronic warfare systems, onboard avionics, aerial target systems and simulation systems. The Division also develops and produces remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). The Division provides solutions for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) based on integrated and agnostic architectures, ie, capable of operating on any platform and with any onboard equipment to ensure a constant situational awareness at the tactical level and interoperability with any other operational environment. The Division produces and integrates systems for communication, navigation and identification (CNI), as well as developing technologies for manmachine interface for use on fixed and rotary wing platforms. Its offering includes a wide range of avionic equipment, and is completed by control panels and displays, produced by the subsidiary Sirio Panel. In the field of airborne radars, advanced surveillance features are guaranteed by the range of multimode Seaspray radars, based on AESA technology (active electronically

scanned array) and by the range of the Gabbiano radars family which relies on an advanced mechanically scanning array antenna. The Airborne & Space Systems Division is among the leading European and international operators in the space industry, thanks to its wide range of instruments, subsystems, sensors and high-tech products for Earth observation, planetary exploration, navigation and telecommunication missions. At present, its products are used onboard the most important European space missions such as Rosetta, ExoMars, Galileo, Copernicus, COSMO-SkyMed, METOP, MeteoSat Third Generation, within other European Space Agency and NASA missions as well as for other international customers. The commercial electronics line of business provides human to machine electronic controls, display solutions and lighting systems for commercial and military aircraft, in support of many of the most advanced fixed and rotary wing programs, including the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF/F-35) and Airbus A320, A400M and A350XWB. Based on more than 40 years of outstanding expertise, the main activities encompass two main products families ‘Human to Machine Electronic Controls and Display Solutions’ and ‘Interior & Exterior Lighting Systems’, each including a wide range of products:

LAND & NAVAL DEFENCE ELECTRONICS

The Land & Naval Defence Electronics Division offers all the necessary expertise to guarantee land and naval Armed Forces a qualified and fast information superiority, situational awareness, command and control capability, weapon systems management and network communications. The Division has absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES, and boasts more than 50 years of experience in systems integration, digital architectures, combat management systems and sensors, and communications. These capabilities allow the design and manufacture of flexible, modular and scalable systems that meet any operational requirement on board vessels and vehicles and in the

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leonardo one company sector of land and coastal surveillance fixed systems. The offering is complemented by integrated logistics support solutions that provide full training, including simulation of operating environment functions and after sales support service, aimed at ensuring a long life cycle for the products and optimisation of customer investment.

DEFENCE SYSTEMS

“The Defence Systems Division’s products are the heirs of a 100-year old legacy of historic Italian factories that still today design, develop and produce artillery, weapons and torpedoes”

The Defence Systems Division’s products are the heirs of a 100-year old legacy of historic Italian factories that still today design, develop and produce artillery, weapons and torpedoes. The Division absorbed the activities of OTO Melara and WASS from 1 January 2016. The Defence Systems Division is among the largest industrial partners of Armed Forces around the world and is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of small, medium and large calibre (12.7mm to 127mm) naval guns that have been successful worldwide, especially the 76mm gun, sold in its various versions, to 58 foreign Navies. The Division offers a range of land artillery, including small unmanned land vehicles and aircraft (TRP2 and Horus), and armaments for helicopters and military aircraft (TM197B tower, Pintle Mount and the new Gunship). In the land defence sector, through a joint consortium with Iveco, Leonardo contributes to the design, development and manufacture of new generation tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles (VBM Freccia and Centauro). The Defence Systems Division also holds a niche position in the field of underwater defence systems: the design, production and integration of heavy and light torpedoes, antitorpedo countermeasure systems for submarines and surface ships, sonar systems for underwater surveillance. Heavy torpedo construction includes the new generation Black Shark torpedo, designed to counter any type of surface or underwater threat. The Division also develops both surface and underwater protection systems for naval platforms that could be subject to potential attacks by torpedoes; furthermore, it is also active in the field of underwater surveillance systems for ports, coastal areas and

strategic sites thanks to the experience gained in the field of sonar.

SECURITY & INFORMATION SYSTEMS

The Security & Information Systems Division absorbed part of the activities of Selex ES and is a world leader in safety-through-technology, providing tailored solutions for customers in public administration, public safety and security, critical infrastructure, services, transport and logistics. With experience in information technology, communications, automation and physical and digital security, the Division generates synergies by joining its expertise, processes and technology across these areas. Competitive solutions and services, including integrated systems, are available to support territory security and control, for public and private critical infrastructure protection and for the security of major events. Its offering also includes integrated networks and secure communications that enable reliable and efficient information management. These are ideally suited for public safety and security organisations, emergency services, civil protection agencies and transport infrastructures. Having evolved from Finmeccanica into ‘one company’, Leonardo’s excellence is based on its continual development of key technologies. Microelectronics for advanced radar sensors, unmanned surveillance and environmental monitoring activities, advanced and innovative materials, software and systems competencies; these are just some of the areas Leonardo works on every day to improve and enhance its technological assets, looking to the future with dual use applications in aerospace and electronics for defence and security. Leonardo invests mainly in strategic technologies that allow the Group to foresee market demands, fulfil customer expectations and increase industrial efficiency; technologies that must be protected and improved because they represent a distinguishing feature of its products and technologies in which to invest for “new and future” market needs.

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Bombardier: The evolution of mobility

Bombardier is one of the world’s leading aircraft and rail manufacturers. Delivering today while looking ahead at tomorrow, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere.

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“Bombardier’s highperformance aircraft and services set the standard of excellence in several markets”

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bombardier the evolution of mobility

ombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with more than 31,200 employees and a leadership position in global markets. Bombardier Aerospace designs, manufactures and supports innovative aviation products for the business, commercial, specialized and amphibious aircraft markets. It has the most comprehensive aircraft portfolio and holds the number one position in business and regional aircraft. Bombardier’s highperformance aircraft and services set the standard of excellence in several markets, including: •

Business aircraft: Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft families

•

Commercial aircraft: new C Series program, CRJ Series and Q Series aircraft families

•

Aerostructures & engineering services: aircraft structures, component repair and other services

•

Specialized aircraft solutions: Bombardier aircraft modified for special missions

•

Aircraft services and training: aircraft parts, maintenance, comprehensive training, technical support and publications, and online services

develop aircraft and systems that define the industry – it works in close partnership with the best in the world.

Aerostructures and engineering

As the world leader in the design and manufacture of complex aircraft structures, Bombardier provides design, manufacture and aftermarket support for primary metallic and composite structures, such as fuselages, doors, wings and horizontal stabilizers. The company is a centre of excellence for composites, featuring such processes as resin transfer infusion and automated fibre placement and it also has a diversified fabricated metal parts capability which supports primary structure manufacturing. Bombardier operates state-of-the-art automated assembly processes to deliver best-in-class time to market and has industry-leading expertise in systems components fabrication and in tooling. Key to Bombardier’s service provision are its testing services, offered as part of its support programme. Work in partnership is Bombardier’s strategy to enable it to offer its clients and suppliers the best support and the prolonging of aircraft life.

BUSINESS AIRCRAFT FAMILY

Building strong supplier relationships

Maintaining its world-class performance, competitiveness and track record of excellence and innovation requires strong collaboration across Bombardier’s value chain. That’s why the company works with high-performing suppliers to build rewarding partnerships based on trust, respect and recognition. Bombardier’s suppliers focus on delivering superior engineering, quality and supply chain excellence. They are driven to be the best in their field. Their rigour allows Bombardier engineers to design and manufacture leading-edge aircraft at optimal life-cycle cost, while providing an amazing customer experience. Bombardier has in place key supplier relationship managers, and supplieraccessible systems that allow them to work on projects remotely. This high level of cooperation has helped Bombardier

Learjet aircraft: small business jets For years the industry’s pacesetter, Bombardier’s Learjet family of aircraft is where the business jet experience and innovation truly begins. Over 50 years of revolutionary achievement with exceptional style, performance and reliability, today’s Learjet aircraft continue the tradition for raising the bar as a dependable business tool. Bombardier’s experience and expertise ensure that with each evolution, the Learjet family of

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finishing is only the beginning TNM is specialized in surface finishing for the aviation industry and its goal is to provide their customers with “one stop shop”.TNM is a fully approved facility for Bombardier, Airbus and Boeing along with many other major OEMs and we’re in the process of also getting fully approved for Lockheed Martin. Our Mission “Our mission is to be amongst the elite processors for surface finishing. We are committed to providing superior value and service to our customers and sustained profitability to our stakeholders by investing in our people and services. At TNM “FINISHING IS ONLY THE BEGINNING”. Why TNM?

• Approvals for all Major OEMs • Capacity for small, medium and Large Parts • Various Type of treatments • Aggressive Lead Time • On Time Delivery, Quality and Services are guaranteed • Certified for ISO 9001, AS9100, NADCAP

TNM has been awarded as one of Top Shops in North America for a second consecutive year and are a finalist for the Gilles Demers 2016 Award attributed by the Québec aerospace community for being a leader in commitment to innovation, wealth creation and outreach and business development and internationalization.

21 Chemin de l’aviation, Pointe -Claire, QC, H9R 4Z2, Tel: (514) 429-7777 Fax : (514) 429 -5108 www.tnminc.ca General Manager, Michel Martel : 514-209-1024

bombardier the evolution of mobility aircraft passengers travels in maximum comfort - faster, farther and ever more efficiently.

“Bombardier’s Challenger 350 is the most successful business jet of the last decade”

The Bombardier Learjet 70 fully leverages Bombardier’s efficient high speed aircraft experience, carrying six passengers with full fuel. Class-leading technology features, such as a high definition cabin management system featuring an Ethernet backbone, an iPod interface and touch-screens make the Learjet 70 business jet cabin highly appreciated by business travellers. The Learjet 70 aircraft provides six passengers with spacious seating in a forward club configuration, and an interior that is significantly wider and more comfortable than passengers expect. The Bombardier Learjet 75 business jet delivers a class-leading high speed cruise of Mach 0.81. Powerful engines and evolutionary aerodynamics featuring a new winglet design allow travel with eight passengers and full fuel. The spacious cabin is complemented by 16 windows that fill this exceptional environment with natural light. The Learjet 75 aircraft is the only jet in its class that offers touch-screen controllers in the cockpit, decreasing pilot workload while increasing situational awareness and enhancing safety.

Challenger aircraft: mediumsized jets

The Challenger 350 business jet is the widest purpose-designed super midsize aircraft with both a flat floor and safe access to baggage. With the lowest direct operating costs in its class, charter operators and corporations depend on the Challenger 350 aircraft. It has industryleading connectivity, immersive sound, ergonomically-positioned touch screens and a cabin management system that effortlessly brings it all together. Bombardier’s Challenger 350 is, simply put, the most successful business jet of the last decade. With its redefinition of the ultimate in-flight experience, industry-best overall value, proven reliability and efficiency, and new performance capabilities, the Challenger 650 aircraft is another example of Bombardier’s industry leadership. A better standard equipped aircraft than any other business jet in its class provides customers with everything they need and more. A comprehensive technology offering sets the Challenger 650 aircraft ahead of all in its class, with business aviation’s most advanced flight deck experience, best equipped cabin management system, largest-in-class HD monitors, audio video on demand,

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“In early November Bombardier Business Aircraft announced the successful maiden flight of the first Global 7000 flight test vehicle”

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bombardier the evolution of mobility Bluetooth integration and industryleading connectivity capabilities among its many advantages. In August this year Bombardier delivered its first Challenger 650 aircraft to be operated from Germany. This aircraft joins the Bombardier business jet fleet in Europe comprised of more than 430 aircraft in service. “This first German customer delivery of a Bombardier Challenger 650 jet confirms the aircraft’s leadership in Western Europe,” said Christophe Degoumois, vice president, sales, Europe, Russia and CIS, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Challenger aircraft series, and the Challenger 650 jet in particular, are leaders in their category in Europe, with a market share of over 40 per cent. With the Synthetic Vision System offered as baseline, its cabin almost six inches wider than the closest competitor, as well as the latest entertainment and productivity solutions, the Challenger 650 aircraft is the right choice for customers seeking uncompromised performance.” In service since 2015, the Challenger 650 jet builds on the legacy of the Bombardier Challenger aircraft series, which set the business aviation standard for reliability, efficiency and productivity for timepressed executives and VIPs for over 30 years. Featuring a completely new and innovative cabin redesign, the Bombardier Vision flight deck technology and optimized engine thrust, the Challenger 650 aircraft delivers the industry’s best overall value, proven reliability and efficiency.

Global aircraft: large business jet

Global leaders are Bombardier’s inspiration for the Global aircraft family. The most exceptional aircraft experience available allows world business leaders to meet at the juncture of sophistication and synergy. An advanced aircraft in every way, Bombardier’s Global 5000 aircraft flies passengers faster than any super-large business jet of its closest competitor. It will carry eight passengers and three crew members, nonstop, from continental Europe to the US west coast. Certified to the highest standards, the Global 5000 aircraft boasts advanced avionics and systems technologies, with the greatest

level of system redundancy of any true corporate jet. Bombardier’s Global 6000 aircraft is the performance benchmark in the ultra-longrange jet category. This jet was purposebuilt to fulfil the desires of the most sophisticated and demanding business travellers without compromise. With a cabin responsive to customer needs, the Global 6000 aircraft offers the ultimate in spaciousness, privacy, luxury and comfort. From a well-appointed aft stateroom, to the separate and generous main cabin, the Global 6000 provides the ideal 12-hourplus environment.

Global 7000: First flight

The Global 7000 business jet will fly farther unrefuelled to more destinations, and connect more key cities faster than any jet in business aviation today. It is uniquely designed from the inside out to deliver a cabin experience like no other. The first and only business jet to offer four unique living spaces and a dedicated crew area, the Global 7000 aircraft will set the standard for a new category of large business jets, offering unparalleled comfort and interior design flexibility. Engineered with a next-generation transonic wing design, the Global 7000 aircraft offers not only a smooth flight, but also a steep approach capability and short field performance, coupled with highly efficient engines, the largest cabin and the most advanced cockpit, to get you closer to your final destination. The Global 7000 business aircraft will also be able to connect London to Singapore, or New York City to Dubai non-stop, and will feature a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925. Passengers flying on the Global 7000 business jet will experience an impressive long-range capability of 7,400 NM (13,705 km) at M 0.85 with eight passengers. In early November Bombardier Business Aircraft announced the successful maiden flight of the first Global 7000 flight test vehicle. This first flight marks the start of a flight test program for the newest member of Bombardier’s flagship Global aircraft family, which is scheduled to enter into service in the second half of 2018. “The first flight is the culmination of

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“Purposedesigned to balance productivity and pleasure, and crafted with luxury and lifestyle in mind, the cabin of the Global 8000 aircraft provides an unparalleled environment from which to lead the world”

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bombardier the evolution of mobility an incredible amount of knowledge and experience from our dedicated employees, partners and suppliers,” said David Coleal, President of Bombardier Business Aircraft. “This is a very proud moment for Bombardier and confirms the Global 7000 aircraft program development is on schedule. It is the industry’s most innovative and uniquely designed business jet and the only aircraft on the market to offer four living spaces for unparalleled comfort and flexibility, creating an unforgettable experience for our customers. The Global 7000 business jet’s impressive capabilities promise to establish a whole new category for large business jets,” he added. “This is a great day for Bombardier and a very proud moment for the thousands of employees who made this significant milestone a reality,” said Michel Ouellette, senior vice president, Global 7000 and Global 8000 program, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Hard work and dedication from the entire team, including our suppliers, went into this amazing milestone of the development program. With today’s first flight successfully completed, all teams remain focused on meeting the program’s development and certification schedule and the aircraft’s

entry-into-service in the second half of 2018.” “It was very exciting to see our Global 7000 aircraft take to the skies,” said François Caza, vice president, product development and chief engineer, Bombardier Product Development Engineering. “Our world-class product development team, supported by our suppliers, followed our rigorous first flight readiness process, which included systems, structures and aerodynamics technical reviews, as well as the extensive use of test rigs and state-of-the-art simulation. The successful conclusion of this process clears the way for the start of our comprehensive flight test program leading to certification.” Also in development is the Global 8000, which will comfortably seat up to 19 passengers plus a crew of up to four, depending on configuration. The Global 8000 business jet will deliver unsurpassed range, speed and short field capabilities, connecting travellers to more destinations faster, and with greater efficiency than has ever previously been achievable. Purposedesigned to balance productivity and pleasure, and crafted with luxury and lifestyle in mind, the cabin of the Global

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“The C Series aircraft is moving the industry forward by leveraging over 40 years of experience in advanced materials in a quest to reduce weight, optimize cost of ownership and lessen environmental impact”

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bombardier the evolution of mobility 8000 aircraft provides an unparalleled environment from which to lead the world. The Global 8000 reaffirms the leadership position of this jet family in business aviation. It also advances the Global aircraft reputation for ingenuity. When it becomes a reality the Global 8000 will be an aircraft to inspire.

COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT FAMILY C Series

The C Series is the only single-aisle aircraft specifically designed to serve the 100- to 150-seat market. This drives the aircraft’s phenomenal economic proposition and performance, opening up new opportunities for single-aisle operations. The C Series cabin was designed from inside out to provide the widest seats on a single-aisle aircraft, largest windows and one roller bag per passenger.Since the early days of powered flight, aircraft have been built using traditional materials, mainly aluminium. Today, however, the C Series aircraft is moving the industry forward by leveraging over 40 years of

experience in advanced materials in a quest to reduce weight, optimize cost of ownership and lessen environmental impact. Built from a clean sheet 21st century design, the C Series is the only single aisle aircraft with a composite wing and aluminium-lithium fuselage. The C Series aircraft wing, centre wing box, wing-to-body fairing, empennage, aft fuselage, and nacelles are all made of composite materials allowing for over 2,000 lb. of weight savings. Composites not only make the aircraft lighter, they also reduce the number of components in the assembly and allow for greater simplicity and lower costs. The C Series fuselage is manufactured using third generation aluminiumlithium, one of the most advanced aluminium alloys on the market. It is a lot lighter, about 40% more fatigue resistant and 250% more resistant to corrosion than traditional aluminium.As a clean sheet design, the C Series jet is free from the constraints of the past. By using advanced materials, airlines can reduce costs of operation while increasing operational efficiency.

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“Providing the lowest seatmile cost of any regional jet, for medium-haul applications, the CRJ Series family of aircraft is the benchmark for regional jet efficiency in the 60- to 100-seat segment”

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bombardier the evolution of mobility CRJ Series

replaces. Simply put, the Q400 has the lowest fuel consumption per passenger of any turboprop in the industry, making it an efficient and greener option. During a 500-mile journey, the Q400 consumes 3 litres of fuel per seat per 100km, which is comparable to any other modern nextgeneration aircraft flying today.

With over 1,900 CRJ Series aircraft ordered worldwide, Bombardier’s CRJ Series family of regional jets is recognized as the most successful regional aircraft program in the world. The CRJ Series performance on reliability is over 99.5% thanks to its mature systems and robust technology. The CRJ Series shares commonality benefits from being an integrated family, providing flexibility to operators and allowing them to optimize their fleet to specific market demands. No other regional aircraft delivers this capability.

Specialised Aircraft

Providing the lowest seat-mile cost of any regional jet, for medium-haul applications, the CRJ Series family of aircraft is the benchmark for regional jet efficiency in the 60- to 100-seat segment, with reduced environmental impact and enhanced cabin interiors.

Q Series

Inside and out, the Q400 has been continuously improved to make it the largest and most comfortable turboprop in the world. Passengers enjoy a quieter cabin thanks to the Q400’s unique active noise and vibration suppression system, which results in noise levels lower than those of some jets. Displaying turboprop economics with jet-like performance, the Q400 offers the best of both worlds because it is able either to fly slower to minimize fuel burn or faster to maximize productivity. At lower speeds, it offers the same tripcost as competing turboprops, with up to 14 more seats. At higher speeds, the Q400 delivers over 30% cost advantage compared to the jet aircraft it often

Ever since the first Shorts S.26 and S.27 aircraft rolled off the line in 1910 and were delivered to the United Kingdom’s Royal Naval Air service, Bombardier has helped governments and other special mission providers meet their requirements. It has expertly adapted its class-leading platforms to provide a comprehensive range of specialized aircraft that are counted on to perform as promised. Bombardier has over 375 specialized aircraft in service today around the world and civil aircraft in more than 40 countries. From leading light jets, to superior Global aircraft, it can be said that no one puts more resources at the command of military, scientific and governmental agencies than Bombardier. In conclusion, a history that spans more than 100 years makes Bombardier a proud member of the centennial club. From biplanes to supersonic fighters, it has helped to define modern aviation. Bombardier created the first business jet, invented the regional jet, and has produced thousands of technological innovations that have advanced aviation. Its leadership position today continues a long-standing tradition. With orders from global clients including Air Canada, Swiss Global Air, Zetta and Zenith among others, Bombardier is set to continue as a global leader.

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ATA ENGINEERING PROCESSES LTD

CNC ROUTERS ROUTER CUTTERS WOODWORKING MACHINERY AEROSPACE TOOLING Gage Bilt has provided Riveting Solutions and Industrial Fastener Tools since 1956. Their Installation Tools, are constructed from aircraft quality materials to provide years of service. They are robust, heavy duty production riveters. Gage Bilt tools are crafted to install a wide variety of aerospace and commercial fasteners. Gage Bilt manufactures more than 70 different models of Riveting and Fastener tools and owns several patents for innovative and ergonomic systems. Please call us to find the solution for your industry.

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proven engineering capabilities TJW has been manufacturing precision metal components for the world’s most demanding markets since 1983. Using cutting edge technology and advanced engineering techniques to provide outstanding services all from locations Dursley, Gloucestershire and Stourbridge, West Midlands. TJW provides a “one-stop shop” for finished components for the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, nuclear, medical, OEM and metrology industries.

TJW offers: • Flexible production quantities through • CNC Milling & Turning • Wire Erosion • Spark Erosion • CNC Waterjet cutting • Anodising (ABP1 1023 & Nylon Coating ABP1 4045)

*** TSA (AIPS 02 01 003) capability from January 2017 ***

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