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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, June 8, 2015

VOL. 177 NO. 22 June 08, 2015

Paris Air Show 2015

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Dassault Rafale Export Sales Seeing New Life

Jun 04, 2015
Recent export orders for Dassault’s Rafale, after many disappointments, are good news for aerospace suppliers in France.
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Production Ramp-up Reshaping How Industry Builds Aircraft, Engines

Jun 05, 2015
With commercial aircraft output continuing to rise and military aircraft production set to increase, Aviation Week looks at the pressures facing the global aerospace industry.
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Small Firms Ready Big Developments for Paris Air Show

Jun 03, 2015
Leading-edge technologies and groundbreaking products highlight offerings from four small exhibitors in Paris.
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Airbus Mulls A320neo Production Hike

Jun 04, 2015
Airbus pushes ahead with A320neo schedule despite temporary flight-test halt.
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Boeing Begins Production Of First 737 MAX

Jun 05, 2015
MAX 737 production is underway at Boeing, along with enhancements to assembly efficiency.
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New Questions Facing the F-35: A Block Buy And A Block 4

Jun 04, 2015
As the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin work to line up firm foreign F-35 commitments, questions loom about Block 4.
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Firming Up Partner Contracts Is Key To JSF Cost Cuts

Jun 04, 2015
Lockheed Martin projects 260 international sales in the next five years—but has only 30 on contract so far.
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Airbus Close To Helicopter Deals In Poland, Mexico

Jun 04, 2015
Airbus is challenging Sikorsky for a greater share of the military helicopter market.
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Why Boeing’s McNerney Is Feeling Bullish

Jun 07, 2015
Boeing CEO talks with Aviation Week editors about the state of his company and his legacy.
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Bombardier CEO Bellemare: Focus On Execution

Jun 09, 2015
Months into his job as Bombardier CEO, Alain Bellemare is focused on meeting current challenges.
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Mammoth Building Projects Underpin 777X Plan

Jun 04, 2015
Boeing makes billion-dollar investment in new composite wing center and productivity enhancements for the 777X.
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Boeing 787-10 Running Ahead Of Schedule

Jun 04, 2015
The double-stretch may help Boeing by blazing a trail toward unprecedented levels of commonality in its future widebody line-up.
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SCAC Seeking To Improve SSJ 100’s Sagging Fortunes

Jun 03, 2015
Restructuring of marketing efforts and stretched version are ongoing projects for Sukhoi’s Superjet 100, as sales lag expectations.
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Airbus: Huge Production Backlog Is ‘Tremendous Opportunity’

Jun 02, 2015
It allows the company to negotiate better terms with suppliers, thus lower costs, and adapt its operating system in ways that will drive efficiency internally.
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Boeing’s Path To KC-46A First Flight Is Aggressive

Jun 05, 2015
Delay from wiring harness debacle ripples through the KC-46A tanker testing plan.
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Arming the Fighter

Jun 05, 2015
Fighters are weapon platforms, and adding new or better weapons is essential if an operator is to make best use of the massive initial investment in the airplane. The choice of weapons has never been wider, reflecting different national approaches to mission requirements, but as we see in the following pages, the high cost of integrating missiles means that not everything is available on every aircraft.
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With Russia Sidelined, It’s Falcon 9 Versus Ariane 5

Jun 03, 2015
A spate of Proton launch mishaps has created a de facto duopoly of Arianespace and SpaceX, two companies vying to dominate the global commercial launch market.
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Airbus, Thales Streamline Satellite Manufacturing To Meet Growing Demand

Jun 03, 2015
Seeking to capitalize on steady growth in Earth observation, European satellite manufacturers are taking steps to boost output as export customers materialize among emerging space economies.
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Satellite Makers Learning From, Investing In Silicon Valley Approach

Jun 05, 2015
Established satellite manufacturers, including Airbus and Thales, are moving toward mass production to meet demand for small sats from Silicon Valley.
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CNES's Le Gall Seeks New Ventures In Space

Jun 05, 2015
A number of new and potential partners are helping CNES expand the range and scope of its mission in space.
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60 Years At The Paris Air Show

Jun 05, 2015
See Aviation Week’s reports from Le Bourget, 1953-2013.

First Take

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First Take (June 8, 2015)

Jun 05, 2015
COMMERCIAL AVIATION Sierra Nevada Corp. has teamed with Turkish engineering firm STM to restart production of Dornier 328 turboprop and 328Jet regional airliners. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ankara government to build the aircraft in Turkey and develop the 60-70-passenger turboprop TR628 and turbofan-powered TRJ628.

Technology

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Leaf-Inspired Venus Rover Would Float Down, Then Fly

Jun 01, 2015
An atmospheric rover that floats down from space like a leaf, then flies for up to a year is being studied by Northrop Grumman and partner L.Garde.
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ARA Wind Tunnel Tests Transonic Gust Capability

Jun 01, 2015
The transonic wind tunnel at ARA in the U.K. is being upgraded to generate accurately shaped gusts that last mere milliseconds, to help with the design and certification of commercial aircraft.
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The Week in Technology, June 1-5, 2015

Jun 01, 2015
Multirotors that fly for longer; CarterCopter stops tinkering, gets serious; airport robots could handle bags, move aircraft; drone industry tries some financial self-help.

Commercial Aviation

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Delays Intensify In Chinese Aviation System

Jun 05, 2015
Chinese flight delays are worsening. Only 68.4% of scheduled flights were on time last year—the third straight year of declining performance—demonstrating that palliatives, such as opening temporary airways, are not coping with industry growth.
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Mueller Oversees Malaysia Airlines Rebirth

Jun 05, 2015
New manager Christoph Mueller ushering in big changes to revive fortunes of Malaysia Airlines, viewing it as a startup opportunity.
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Airport Gains Slot Capacity Via Simulation Data

Jun 05, 2015
Heathrow managers use simulation to increase airport capacity.
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Air New Zealand Predicts Transit Gains From New Routes

Jun 05, 2015
Transpacific expansion and an extensive airport lounge renovation project are in play at Air New Zealand.
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WSI’s TAPS Weather System Could Provide Tracking

Jun 02, 2015
Airlines using WSI’s TAPS for weather forecasts and to avoid turbulence may get 15-min. tracking updates as an added benefit.
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Airlines, Airports Disagree On How Best To Set Charges

Jun 02, 2015
Carriers and airports grapple with adoption of dual-till or single-till revenue models when setting charge structures.

Space

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Bidders Submit Harm Letters On EELV Breach

Jun 05, 2015
Before the RFP was even issued, USAF incurred a possible Procurement Integrity Act violation in the EELV competition.
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Aerojet Rocketdyne Starting SSME Follow-on For SLS

Jun 03, 2015
Aerojet Rocketdyne seeks sole-source contract to produce expendable engines for NASA’s heavy-lift Space Launch System.

Defense

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Boeing Plans P-8 Ramp-up As Upgrades Stay On Track

Jun 05, 2015
Demand for Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon aircraft grows with orders from the U.S. Navy, India, Australia and, possibly, the Royal Navy.
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Airbus Faults Quality Control For A400M Accident

Jun 05, 2015
Investigation finds that software glitch caused three engines of the stricken A400M to idle on takeoff.

Up Front

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Opinion: LRS-B Won’t Lead To A Reshuffling Of Military Aircraft Primes

Jun 05, 2015
The Long-Range Strike Bomber program will not be the seismic event for defense manufacturers that many analysts are predicting.

Going Concerns

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Government Services Providers Continue To Feel the Pain

Jun 05, 2015
Federal spending cuts and declines in stock value signal a rocky road for the government IT and services providers.

Inside Business Aviation

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Despite Europe’s Economic Malaise, EBACE 2015 Was A Strong Show

Jun 05, 2015
A full static ramp and crowded exhibition halls at the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition this year belied the financial woes of much of Europe.

Airline Intel

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Caution Advisable For Airlines And Manufacturers

Jun 05, 2015
Analysts warn that overcapacity might soon become a serious issue for airlines again, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.

Commander's Intent

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Opinion: Time To Define The F-35 Upgrade Plan

Jun 05, 2015
The Pentagon has many ideas about running the F-35’s upgrade program. It needs to pick one and stick with it.

In Orbit

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Instrument Selection Shows SLS Utility For Europa

Jun 03, 2015
NASA’s planned mission to Jupiter moon Europa will use new instruments to look for conditions suitable for life.

Washington Outlook

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Looming Vetos, Gulf Carrier War, U.S.-India Cooperation and AIA’s New CEO

Jun 05, 2015
2016 aerospace legislation faces White House hurdle, the ongoing war over Gulf airline subsidies, U.S.-India draw closer on defense and AIA chooses Melcher as new CEO.

Editorials

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Editorial: A Healthy Industry Requires Investment

Jun 05, 2015
A&D should use production windfall to invest in innovative processes.
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Editorial: U.S. Needs ATC Reform

Jun 05, 2015
Other countries’ efforts led to more financial stability, technological nimbleness and responsiveness to airspace users.

Who's Where

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New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections (June 8, 2015)

Jun 05, 2015
Eileen Drake has been named CEO and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne and a member of the board of directors. She succeeds Scott Seymour, who retired after five years in those positions. Drake joined the company in March as COO. She was president of Pratt & Whitney Aeropower’s auxiliary power unit and small turbojet propulsion business. Her experience includes seven years as a U.S. Army aviator and as airfield commander of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Feedback

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Letters From Our Readers (June 8, 2015)

Jun 05, 2015
Add loiter time to CAS debate; keep Viewpoint exchanges civil; questioning tanker requirement facts; decrying costs of U.S. bombers

Aerospace Calendar

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Conferences & Exhibitions (June 8, 2015)

May 08, 2015
June 17—Commercial Aerospace Manufacturing Briefing, Paris. Oct. 13-15—MRO Europe, London. Nov. 3-5—MRO Asia, Singapore. Nov. 3-5—Aerospace Defense Chain, Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Upcoming Events (June 8, 2015)

May 08, 2015
June 7-9—ASA-Aviation Suppliers 2015. Scottsdale, Arizona. See aviationsuppliers.org/ASA-2015-Hotel June 7-9—71st IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. Miami. See iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2014-06-03-2.aspx June 15-21—Paris Air Show. Le Bourget, France. See siae.fr/EN