Boeing

Titlu: Boeing Transfers 1st C-17 to Indian Air Force
Sursa: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2697
Autor: Cindy Anderson
Data: 11.06.2013
 

Citat :

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 11, 2013 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) flew its first Boeing
"The C-17 will equip the Indian Air Force with amongst the world's most advanced humanitarian and strategic capabilities," said Air Vice Marshal SRK Nair, Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Transport and Helicopters). "We have looked forward to this day when our Indian Air Force flies the first C-17 to its new home in India."

Boeing is on track to deliver four more C-17s to the IAF this year and five in 2014. This first aircraft was transferred today after completion of a flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, Calif., that began following the Jan. 22 delivery.

"Congratulations to the Indian Air Force on this milestone as India joins the worldwide community of C-17 operators," said Tommy Dunehew, Boeing vice president of Business Development for Mobility, Surveillance and Engagement. "Nations turn to the C-17 for the capability to perform a wide range of operations, from peacekeeping and disaster relief to troop movements from semi-prepared airfields. This aircraft will provide the Indian Air Force with the versatility to augment airlift capability."

Boeing has now delivered 254 C-17s, including 222 to the U.S. Air Force and a total of 32 C-17s to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

Boeing will support the IAF C-17 fleet through the Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) Performance-Based Logistics contract. The GISP "virtual fleet" arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 59,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

# # #

Contact:
Cindy Anderson
Mobility, Surveillance and Engagement
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Office: +1 562-593-4477
Mobile: +1 562-253-5818
cindy.a.anderson@boeing.com
Amrita Dhindsa
India Communications
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Office: +91-96546-06067
amrita.dhindsa@boeing.com

 

sursa: http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.de/2013/06/dtn-news-india-defense-news-boeing.html

Titlu : Boeing asks for beacon checks on up to 1,200 jets
Sursa: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/29/boeing-dreamliner-idUSL4N0FY0LL20130729
Data : 29.07.2013
Autor : Tim Hepher and Siva Govindasamy

Citat :

Boeing asks for beacon checks on up to 1,200 jets


Seeks checks on models with Honeywell units fitted

* Checks to provide data to regulators

* Airbus to review integration of Honeywell beacons

* Qatar Airways says grounded jet did not catch fire

PARIS/SINGAPORE, July 29 (Reuters) - Boeing has asked airlines to inspect up to 1,200 aircraft across their fleets to gather data on Honeywell emergency beacons that have come under scrutiny following a fire on a parked 787 Dreamliner two weeks ago.

The blaze caused serious damage to the jet owned by Ethiopian Airlines at London's Heathrow on July 12.

Between 1,100 and 1,200 Boeing aircraft of all sizes have been fitted with the beacons. But Boeing is asking that airlines inspect as many as possible and report back within 10 days to help regulators decide what action to take, if any.

"Boeing is asking specific operators of 717, Next-Generation 737, 747-400, 767 and 777s to inspect aircraft with the Honeywell fixed emergency locator transmitters," a Boeing spokesman said in an emailed statement late on Sunday.

"The purpose of these inspections is to gather data to support potential rule-making by regulators," he added.

British accident investigators traced the fire on the Ethiopian plane to the area housing one of the units and recommended worldwide inspections of all lithium battery-powered emergency locator transmitters.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines on Thursday to remove or inspect Honeywell fixed emergency beacons in the model which caught fire, the 787, but has not so far widened its mandatory checks to other models.

On Monday, Honeywell said it fully supports the inspections recommended by regulators and noted that it is cooperating with the ongoing investigation of the Heathrow fire. The company noted the cause of the fire has not been conclusively determined and that its Emergency Locator Transmitters, or ELTs, have been in use since the mid-2000s and "have never before had any fire/heat related issues reported."

The beacons in question are designed to help rescue workers locate aircraft in the event of a crash.

The devices are installed on approximately 20 types of aircraft, including many Boeing and Airbus passenger jets and several types of business aircraft.

"Boeing's recommendation of fleet-wide checks of the Emergency Locator Transmitters suggests that Boeing thinks it is not a 787 problem, but an ELT problem," said Paul Hayes, director of safety at UK-based aviation consultancy Ascend.

The July 12 fire reawakened concern in the industry about Boeing's advanced carbon-composite Dreamliner, which was grounded for more three months this year after two incidents involving overheated lithium-ion batteries.

The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the London fire was not related to those batteries.

AIRBUS REVIEW

Airbus said it would carry out a review of the way the emergency beacons are installed on its planes, but stopped short of asking airlines to inspect them across its fleet.

"Our records do not show any incidents of this nature," a spokesman for the European planemaker said.

"However, as a precautionary measure, we will do an additional review of the integration of the device in order to determine whether there is a need to apply any lessons from the AAIB findings," the spokesman said.

The fire on the Ethiopian-owned jet broke out after it had been parked for eight hours at a remote airport stand. It caused extensive damage in the rear of the plane and scorched the top of the outer skin of the fuselage.

Japan's ANA Holdings Inc, which operates the world's biggest fleet of Dreamliners, said last week it found damage to the battery wiring on two 787 beacons during checks.

Damage was slight, but the beacons have been sent to Honeywell for inspection, ANA said.

Qatar Airways meanwhile denied that one of its Dreamliners had caught fire after industry sources said smoke had been reported near an electrical panel while the plane was on the ground in Doha.

The aircraft has not flown since July 21, according to web tracking data, an unusually long downtime for an active jet.

"I can unequivocally say that there was no fire. It was just a minor issue, not even an incident. We're working with Boeing to get it fixed very soon," an airline spokeswoman said.

No timeline for the repair was available.

Boeing declined to comment.