AIRSHOW-WRAPUP 1-Wizz Air order doubles Airbus show tally

* Airbus show tally 112 planes worth $11.8 billion
* Wizz Air signs commitment for 50 A320s
PARIS, June 18 (Reuters) - Airbus almost doubled its tally of plane orders and commitments at the Paris Air Show on Thursday with a pledge from European low-cost carrier Wizz Air to buy 50 A320 aircraft worth about $3.8 billion.
Sales chief John Leahy, struggling to ink new orders in a tough economic environment and an industry downturn, told Reuters at the show that he was hopeful of announcing another significant order on Friday at Le Bourget.
"We are still in the middle of negotiations with the company concerned," Leahy said.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) from Hungary-based airline Wizz took the deals announced by Airbus at the world's biggest air show to 112 aircraft worth about $11.8 billion, based on list prices.
"The MoU should be signed very quickly," Leahy said. "If we had waited a few hours, we would have signed a firm order. There are still some details to finalise."
Expectations were low in terms of orders for Airbus and U.S. rival Boeing (BA.N) at this year's air show in Paris as airline customers tighten their belts in the face of a global economic downturn, declining air travel and tougher credit conditions.
The world's carriers are expected to lose some $9 billion this year, according to industry group IATA.
Airbus has unveiled 57 firm orders worth about $6.3 billion at the Paris Air Show. The biggest deal was to supply 10 A350-900s worth $2.4 billion to Malaysian long-haul, low-cost carrier AirAsia X, with options on five more of the planes.
At last year's air show in Farnborough, which alternates each year with Paris, total orders and commitments for Airbus and Boeing amounted to over $64 billion, with new announcements for 186 firm orders worth $26.39 billion.
Leahy said this week he was still targeting just 300 gross orders this year. Airbus had 777 net orders last year.
Privately-held Wizz Air, which has ordered 132 Airbus A320s and already operates a fleet of 24 of the planes, said earlier this year it planned to double its fleet over the next two years as it takes on rivals SkyEurope, EasyJet (EZJ.L) and Ryanair (RYA.I). [ID:nLJ379563] Airbus customer China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) (0670.HK) said separately on Thursday that it would stick with a plan to buy 20 Airbus A320s in coming years after postponing or cancelling half of the deliveries it had expected this year.
The purchase was part of a bulk order of 150 aircraft placed with Airbus by the Chinese government in November 2007. The order does not count towards Airbus' 2009 target and is still pending regulatory approval.

AIRSHOW-Air France crash sparks black box debate

PARIS, June 18 (Reuters) - While search teams scour the Atlantic ocean for the black boxes of Air France flight AF447 before their signals die out, aviation experts are considering satellite data streaming to collect vital flight data in future.
An airliner's black box -- which is made up of a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder -- is designed to withstand a crash and emit a signal for about 30 days afterwards. If it is not found by then, the data is unlikely to be recovered.
Many military aircraft already use data streaming, sending flight information real-time via satellite to ground stations.
But the massive bandwidth and sophisticated infrastructure needed to manage and process data from tens of thousands of commercial flights per day could make it prohibitively expensive.
"There have been studies on this for years. There are arguments both for and against, and also there are costs," Paul-Louis Arslanian, France's chief air disaster investigator said, after reporting that the search was progressing, but hampered by difficult search conditions.
"Data streaming is currently technologically possible, but technologically impractical," Dan Elwell, Vice President Civil Aviation of the U.S.-based Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) industry group, told Reuters at the Paris Air Show.
"There are opportunities there to improve the data stream and how we get it on and off the aircraft," said Bob Smith, Vice President for Advanced Technology at Honeywell, which made the black box that was on the Air France aircraft.
Bruce Coffey, President of the Aviation Recorders division of L-3 Communications -- the world's largest supplier of crash-survivable recording units -- told Reuters the use of data streaming in conjunction with traditional recording units could provide a "belt and suspenders" approach.
However, only one of L-3's black boxes has ever been lost after a crash -- from the American Airlines flight that ploughed into the World Trade Center on September 11 2001.
CRUCIAL INFORMATION
Richard Hayden, President of Canada's Aeromechanical Services Ltd, thinks he has an answer to the question of cost.
The company's automated flight information recording system compresses data, allowing it to send 10 times more from an aircraft in the same bandwidth than with a standard satellite communication, dramatically cutting the cost to the operator.
Hayden said the system can be programmed to start transmitting data non-stop as soon as there's a problem on board, and that this could have sent crucial information about the June 1 Air France crash that killed all 228 people on board.
"Today we have a situation where there's a possibility, if not a probability, that the FDR won't be recovered. All we have left is a very small set of messages," Hayden said, referring to the automated maintenance messages the A330-200 sent in its final moments, charting problems in all onboard systems.
Data streaming may be able to supplement black boxes, but not replace them, L-3's Coffey said. "If you're not able to recover the black boxes, there are going to be a lot of questions that remain unanswered, that should be answered."
But industry specialists want guarantees that the highly sensitive data -- in particular the cockpit conversations -- will be properly protected, and pilots' privacy preserved.
"There is a huge sensitivity among pilots at the thought of every utterance being recorded and transmitted to some faraway place," said AIA's Elwell.

Derco Aerospace Signs Exclusive Five-Year C-130 Total Logistics Support Agreement With Thai Aviation Industries

Press Release
Source: Sikorsky Aerospace Services
On Thursday June 18, 2009, 4:00 am EDT
MILWAUKEE, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Derco Aerospace, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, announced today it has signed an exclusive five-year total logistics support agreement with Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) in support of TAI's contract with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). Sikorsky Aerospace Services is the worldwide aftermarket business of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News).
TAI is the public / private corporation responsible for C-130 maintenance for the RTAF.
Under the new agreement, Derco will be responsible for total logistics support of TAI's maintenance activities supporting RTAF's C-130 fleet. Derco will manage all logistics and repair activities associated with flight line, intermediate, and depot-level maintenance activities.
"This agreement is significant in strengthening our relationship with TAI and the RTAF," said Brian Holt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Derco Aerospace. "Under this comprehensive logistics program, Derco will be able to offer TAI and the RTAF increased parts availability and improved turnaround time for component repair and overhaul work in support of all maintenance activities. This total logistics support program will ensure the RTAF's C-130 fleet is mission ready."
For more information regarding this logistics support program, or to learn more about Derco, call (414) 355-3066 or visit www.dercoaerospace.com.
Founded in 1979, Derco Aerospace, Inc. is based in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a world leader in providing aircraft spares, services, and solutions to customers around the globe. Through solid relationships with premier original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Derco maintains one of the largest and most diversified aircraft spares inventories in the world. Today, Derco is a full-service logistics and solutions provider, supporting military and commercial fleets in more than 65 countries. Derco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., USA, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Its Sikorsky Aerospace Services business designs and applies advanced logistics and supply chain solutions for commercial rotary, military rotary and fixed wing customers. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

Raytheon Celebrates One Year of Training Support to the U.S. Army

RESTON, Va. and PARIS, June 18, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) has demonstrated flexibility, speed and innovation to customers around the world during the first year of the Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (FOCUS) program.
The Raytheon-led Warrior Training Alliance (WTA) team has processed more than 2,600 task orders during the past year.
"This shows our ability to surge quickly to immediately meet the needs of our customers," said Mike Edwards, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC vice president and program manager for the WTA. "Our fully automated management information system allows for the speedy delivery of task orders. Our open business model provides versatility and flexibility to select the best companies to support the evolving requirements of our customers."
Raytheon was awarded the contract in June 2007 and began work for the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation in May 2008. The purpose of the 10-year, indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract is to consolidate the Army's legacy live, virtual and constructive training programs. The estimated value during the life of the contract is $11.2 billion.
Raytheon demonstrated its innovative approach to addressing warfighter readiness requirements during a recent training exercise. A team of engineers helped bring full-scale combat training technologies to soldiers who would otherwise be required to travel long distances to a combat training center for the same experience.
In the past year, Raytheon has also expanded into new areas. These included Fort Huachuca, Ariz., home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center, where the team provides training and training support in the human, analytical, imagery, signal and geological intelligence domains. Raytheon also provides training on unmanned aerial systems.
"Throughout the successes of the past year and the delivery of innovative training support, we have been able to provide efficiencies to our customer through manpower reductions, process improvements and cross-utilization of employees," Edwards said.
The Raytheon-led WTA includes major teammates Computer Sciences Corporation, General Dynamics Information Technology, MPRI and more than 130 other companies. These training industry leaders bring proven, current and relevant experience across all training environments, including live, virtual and constructive. With a combined legacy of executing large-scale and complex programs, the WTA is organized to apply the right resources to accomplish each task and to deliver the best-value, lowest risk solutions.
Raytheon Technical Services Company provides technical, scientific and professional services, as well as a full spectrum of training services and outsourcing for defense, federal and commercial customers worldwide. It specializes in Mission Support, training, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, range operations, product support, homeland security solutions and customized engineering services.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
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Lockheed Martin Solar X-Ray Imager to be Launched on NOAA GOES-O Spacecraft

PARIS, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- The Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) at its Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) is ready for flight.
Built for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Md., SXI is awaiting launch - scheduled for June 26 - on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-O spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. SXI is one of a suite of instruments that resides on the current generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).
"We are extremely proud to have our second SXI instrument ready for launch and look forward to seeing it operating on-orbit," said George Koerner, SXI program manager at the ATC. "While the main GOES instruments provide near-constant viewing of the Earth, SXI is designed to view the Sun and provide vital information regarding solar activity."
The SXI will be used to aid NOAA and U.S. Air Force personnel in issuing forecasts and alerts of "space weather" conditions, and in developing a better understanding of sun-related phenomena that affect the Earth's environment.
Turbulent "space weather" can affect radio communication on Earth, induce currents in electric power grids and long distance pipelines, cause navigational errors in magnetic guidance systems, upset satellite circuitry and expose astronauts to increased radiation.
SXI will observe solar flares, coronal mass ejections, coronal holes and active regions in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum from 6 to 60 A (Angstroms). These features are associated with solar wind shock waves, which if directed towards the Earth, can lead to geomagnetic storms. SXI will also examine flare properties, newly emerging active regions, and X-ray bright points on the Sun.
SXI will provide continuous, near real-time observation of the Sun's corona, acquiring a full-disk image every minute. The images cover a 42 arc-minute field of view with five arc-second pixels.
The solar disk, as viewed from Earth, is approximately 32 arc-minutes in diameter. By recording solar images every minute, NOAA observers will be able to detect and locate the occurrence of solar flares. This is the name given to the explosive releases of vast amounts of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere. Since scientists are not yet able to predict the occurrence, magnitude or location of solar flares, it is necessary to continually observe the Sun to know when they are happening.
When a flare occurs, it may also result in the eruption of large clouds of ionized, or electrically charged, gas. A small fraction of the cloud is very energetic and if it travels towards the Earth, it can reach the Earth within a few minutes to hours of the flare being observed. These energetic particles pose a hazard to both astronauts and spacecraft.
Space weather events have resulted in large-scale failures of the North American power grid, greatly increased oil pipeline erosion, and have resulted in the loss of communication satellites. SXI also will monitor coronal holes -- persistent sources of high-speed solar wind. As the Sun rotates every 27 days, these sources spray across the Earth like a lawn sprinkler and may be associated with recurring geomagnetic storms.
The Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory at the ATC has a long heritage of spaceborne solar instruments including the Soft X-ray Telescope on the Japanese Yohkoh satellite, the Michelson Doppler Imager on the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the solar telescope on NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer, the Focal Plane Package on the Japanese Hinode satellite and the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager instruments on NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft. The laboratory also conducts basic research into understanding and predicting space weather and the behavior of our Sun including its impacts on Earth and climate.
The ATC is the research and development organization of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC). LMSSC, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs and develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security and military, civil government and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; ballistic missiles; missile defense systems; and nanotechnology research and development.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.
Media Contact: Buddy Nelson, (510) 797-0349; e-mail, buddynelson@mac.com, pager: 1-888-916-1797
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Raytheon Delivers Operational Test Decoy to U.S. Air Force

PARIS, June 18, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN - News) delivered its first Miniature Air Launched Decoy initial operational test and evaluation unit to the U.S. Air Force.
During IOT&E, the U.S. Air Force will conduct numerous flight tests on the MALD(TM) to evaluate the system in operationally realistic and demanding scenarios.
MALD is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles). MALD protects aircrews and their aircraft by duplicating the combat flight profiles and signatures of U.S. and allied aircraft.
"Raytheon will begin full rate production of MALD following the successful IOT&E program," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "We expect the program to go well because Raytheon has earned a reputation for reliability and meeting its commitments to the warfighter."
In November 2008, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine named Raytheon's MALD the winner of the 2008 Program Excellence Award in System Research and Development.
"The delivery of the first IOT&E unit means the warfighter is one step closer to gaining the incredible capabilities MALD brings to the fight," said Ken Watson, the U.S. Air Force's MALD program manager. "The men and women going into harm's way need MALD because it is a modular, versatile and affordable system that will shape the battlespace through a spectrum of effects."
MALD is currently in low rate initial production; the first LRIP unit was delivered March 16.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
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More than 125 Raytheon employees design and build the MALD and MALD-J in Tucson, Ariz.; Goleta, Calif.; and El Segundo, Calif.
Hundreds of employees in scores of businesses across the U.S. design and manufacture MALD and MALD-J components. Major suppliers include: AUSCO, Port Washington, N.Y.; BAE, Berthoud, Colo.; CEI, Sacramento, Calif.; Celestica, Austin, Texas; Eagle Pitcher, Joplin, Mo.; EDO, Bohemia, N.Y.; Enser, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Engineered Fabrics Corp, Rockmart, Ga.; GDOTS, Redmond, Wash.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, Rockford, Ill.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, San Diego; LaBarge, Joplin, Mo.; Moog, East Aurora, N.Y.; Tecom, Westlake Village, Calif.
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UPDATE 2-China Eastern confirms Airbus buy as merger nears

* Agrees to buy A320s with list price of $1.45 billion
* Deal follows progress on Shanghai Air merger, mkt pick-up
* Planes part of order announced by Beijing in Nov. 2007
(Adds details, background and Airbus comments)
SHANGHAI, June 18 (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines said on Thursday it would stick with a plan to buy 20 Airbus aircraft in coming years, worth $1.45 billion at list prices, after postponing or cancelling half of the deliveries it had expected this year in the face of a severe industry downturn.
The purchase of the A320 aircraft by China Eastern (600115.SS) (0670.HK), one of the country's top three carriers, was part of a bulk order of 150 aircraft placed with Airbus by the Chinese government in November 2007.
After racking up big losses last year, China Eastern is currently discussing a merger with rival Shanghai Airlines (600591.SS) that would bolster its position in China's financial hub. An update on the merger plan is due in about two weeks.
"The 20 A320 planes will put the new enlarged carrier in a better position to cope with domestic air travel demand which has been picking up since the start of the year," said Li Lei, an industry analyst with China Securities.
Airbus, a unit of European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA), and rival Boeing (BA.N) have been struggling as travel demand dries up in the global economic downturn, prompting several airlines to cancel or defer orders.
Airbus said earlier this month it was sticking to its 2009 sales target of 300 gross orders, but it was becoming more difficult to accomplish. The China Eastern order does not count towards Airbus's 2009 target.
CHINA AIRLINES STRUGGLING
After years of double-digit growth, China's airlines were hit badly last year as the global financial crisis struck home.
Its top three players, which also include Air China (601111.SS) (0753.HK) and China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) (1055.HK) lost more than $4 billion in 2008. [ID:nSHA21260]
To pull itself out of the red, China Eastern previously announced drastic cost-cutting initiatives, including postponing or cancelling half of the 29 plane deliveries it had expected to receive this year.
No Chinese carriers had so far cancelled any orders for deliveries due further out, an Airbus spokesman in China said.
But neither had the European aircraft maker -- scheduled to celebrate the delivery of its first A320 plane assembled at its China plant next week -- managed to get any new Chinese orders since late 2007, the spokesman said.
In a statement, China Eastern said the 20 aircraft will be delivered between 2011 and 2013, pending regulatory approval. It did not disclose the actual amount it would pay for the aircraft, but said it would be less than the catalogue price. The airline recently received 7 billion yuan in cash aid from the government.
The single-aisle jets will help improve its competitiveness in the short-to-medium range routes, China Eastern said.
The deal, which will be funded mostly by bank loans, will increase China Eastern's debt ratio in the short term but will not affect its daily cash flow or operations, it added. ($1=6.837 Yuan) (Reporting by Fang Yan and Edmund Klamann; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

U.S. arms sales seen topping $40 billion

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. government-to-government arms sales are growing fast and will likely exceed the bullish estimate of $40 billion for 2009, the Pentagon's top arms sales official said on Wednesday at the Paris Air Show.
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa, head of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told Reuters it was unclear if arms sales would keep rising, but noted that was possible since several large weapons competitions were underway, and many countries had aging equipment to replace.
Arms sales were at a "pretty unprecedented level" after averaging $8 billion to $13 billion per year in the early 2000s, Wieringa said in an interview.
Sales in the first half reached $27 billion, some 60 percent of the year's expected total, making it likely the actual 2009 total would top $40 billion, he said.
Wieringa said the Obama administration was committed to building international partnerships, and arms sales were an important instrument of that policy.
"We sell stuff to build relationships," he said, noting that U.S. partners needed the right equipment and training to carry out their security missions.
Wieringa said he participated in 40 separate meetings at the world's largest air show, where U.S. companies display their latest hardware and vie with global competitors for billions of dollars of commercial and military orders.
The show generated less commercial orders than in years past, with the focus on large weapons competitions underway in India, Brazil, Japan and across the Middle East.
Wieringa said the increased focus on global arms sales came at an opportune time for U.S. companies, which face cutbacks in some weapons programs and a flatter overall defense budget.
"Foreign military sales can be a stabilizing factor that keeps jobs stable and production lines stable," he said.
One of the biggest deals on the table is an Israeli order for Lockheed Martin Corp's (NYSE:LMT - News) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Wieringa said Israeli officials told him at the air show that they expected to submit a letter of request for the weapons program within days, but he had no yet received it.
Brigadier General David Heinz, who heads the Pentagon's F-35 program, told reporters on Wednesday that development and testing of the new fighter jet was going well, and that 6,000 of the new fighter jets could be sold over time as world fleets of F-15, F-16, F-18 and other fighter jets need replacements.
Heinz said the United States and its eight foreign partners on the programs were expected to order more than 3,100 fighters and initial foreign military sales to other countries such as Israel, Spain, Greece, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Finland could add at least 1,000 more orders.
Heinz said he was confident the F-35 would do well in Japan's FX fighter competition, noting that the Pentagon had repeatedly said it was not offering the F-22, in which Japan has expressed interest in the past, for export.
Bruce Lemkin, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, told Reuters there was also strong interest in transport planes built by Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - News), L-3 Communications Holdings Inc (NYSE:LLL - News), and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT - News).
Lemkin said "quite a few" nations were on the verge of ordering Boeing's C-17 cargo plane, which could help keep the plane in production for one to two more years. A number of European countries could also buy C-17s as part of a strategic airlift alliance, adding to three sold to the group.
There was also strong continued interest in Lockheed's C-130J transport and 25 countries were "seriously interested" in the smaller C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft being built by L-3 and Alenia, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica Spa (Milan:SIFI.MI - News).
Lemkin underscored the Obama administration's commitment to expanding partnerships around the world.
"We cannot go it alone in this world," Lemkin said.
"We need friends and partners with the right capabilities to take care of their own security, to contribute to regional security, and through that relationship have the ability when it is appropriate ... to join us in operations against common threats and enemies," he said.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Brian Moss and Richard Chang)

Universal Detection Technology Analysis of the al-Qaida Biological Weapon Threat From the Mexican Border

The Anthrax Threat Was Aired on an al-Qaida Video
LOS ANGELES, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 17, 2009 -- Universal Detection Technology (www.udetection.com) (OTC BB:UNDT.OB - News), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, today issued an analysis of the al-Qaida biological weapon threat from the Mexican Border.
U.S. counterterrorism officials have authenticated a video by an al-Qaida recruiter threatening to smuggle a biological weapon into the United States via tunnels under the Mexican border, the latest sign of the terrorist group's determination to stage another mass-casualty attack on the U.S. homeland.
The video aired this year as a recruitment tool makes clear that al-Qaida is looking to exploit weaknesses in U.S. border security and also is willing to ally itself with white militia groups or other anti-government entities interested in carrying out an attack inside the United States, according to counterterrorism officials interviewed by The Washington Times.
"It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that terrorist organizations would utilize the border to enter the U.S.," said a DEA official who also asked not to be named because of his involvement in ongoing intelligence operations. "We can't ignore any threat or detail when it comes to al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations bent on attacking the U.S."
UNDT is a supplier of biological weapon detection systems that can detect agents such as anthrax, ricin and botulinum toxins in as little as three minutes. UNDT's customers include the DOD and the Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Services.
"The threat of terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida smuggling biological weapons such as anthrax through the Mexican border is very alarming," said Mr. Jacques Tizabi, UNDT's Chief Executive Officer. "First responders should be equipped with the latest technologies to detect such weapons before they can harm anyone," he added.
For more information, please visit our website at www.udetection.com or
Email us at info@udetection.com.
About Universal Detection Technology
Universal Detection Technology is a developer of monitoring technologies, including bioterrorism detection devices. The Company on its own and with development partners is positioned to capitalize on opportunities related to Homeland Security. For example, the Company, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a bacterial spore detector that detects certain biohazard substances. The Company is also a reseller of handheld assays used for detection of five bioterrorism agents, radiation detection systems, and antimicrobial products. For more information, please visit www.udetection.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievement in the future to differ materially from forecasted results, performance, and achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the Company's plans or expectations.
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AIRSHOW-UPDATE 1-Boeing sees strong role in military planes

* Rejects view Boeing being edged out of military planes
* Unmanned vehicles meet different needs
* Boeing says company positioned for growth
(New throughout; adds quotes, detail, byline)
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
PARIS, June 17 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) will remain a strong force in the military aircraft market, the head of the company's defense unit said on Wednesday, rejecting speculation that the Pentagon's No. 2 contractor is being edged out of that business.
Jim Albaugh also defended his leadership of Boeing's defense segment, which was hit particularly hard by a series of defense cuts announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in April.
"The numbers are pretty darn good," Albaugh said in an interview with Reuters at the Paris Air Show, reacting to questions about the health of Boeing's defense sector, which has faced setbacks even as the commercial sector is grappling with production delays and deferred plane deliveries.
Boeing has lost several key defense contracts in recent years, and others have been scaled back by the Pentagon, but the company has taken steps to offset those losses -- even before they happened, Albaugh argued.
He cited a strong focus on three growth areas: cybersecurity, unmanned vehicles and intelligence.
"There may be a flat spot for a year or two, but we're positioned for growth," he said, noting that Boeing had weathered previous cyclical downturns by changing its focus.
The company has branched out into other government business such as intelligence and homeland security to avoid being too dependent on Pentagon and NASA orders, Albaugh said.
He said the two agencies accounted for about 95 percent of business eight to nine years ago, but now stood at 60 to 65 percent after hard work to move into other sectors.
Boeing is fighting hard to win a multibillion-dollar U.S. Air Force contract for new refueling aircraft, after losing the contract in an earlier round to rival Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) which partnered with Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA).
"Obviously, this is a very important program, but there's no one competition that makes or breaks this company," he said.
STRONG AIRCRAFT DEMAND
Albaugh said there was continued strong demand for Boeing's F/A-18 fighters and cited a potential market of about 500 airplanes. He said the P-8 maritime surveillance plane could generate over 100 international orders, and Boeing also had a range of different unmanned vehicles to meet customers' needs.
Boeing is also continuing to market different variants of its F-15 fighter, and announced on Wednesday that it would spend its own money to further develop the partly stealthy F-15 Silent Eagle version, with an eye to a flight demonstration in the third quarter of 2010.
The announcement came at the air show following meetings with potential customers.
"Making this commitment to get the program through to a flight demonstration will ultimately help international customers understand how this aircraft meets their need for a flexible, long-range, large-payload, high-speed, multi-role strike fighter with reduced observability," Albaugh said in a statement.
Boeing said it would continue discussions with a number of international aerospace companies about potential co-development opportunities.
Bruce Lemkin, deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs, told Reuters that the government had not received any formal request for information on the fighter plane variant.
Albaugh said the company's C-17 transport plane was also still generating international interest, a statement echoed by Lemkin, who said "quite a few" countries were on the verge of ordering the large military transport, which could help extend the plane's production line for one to two years.
Big orders are in the offing from Taiwan and Turkey, among others, Boeing's C-17 chief said this week.
Albaugh acknowledged that the Pentagon's decision to end the ground vehicle portion of the Future Combat Systems program cut into the potential revenues, but said Boeing would continue to play an important role in the overall program.
The Pentagon's decision to scrap the Transformational Satellite communications program also hurt, but wasn't unexpected, he said. He said Boeing could benefit from additional orders for its Wideband Global SATCOM satellites, as the Pentagon replaced the expected TSAT capacity.
He said he and other top Boeing leaders were committed to remaining in the space business, despite the lack of big new government satellite programs, and were aggressively going after a big commercial satellite deal,
Also poised for growth was Boeing's rotorcraft business, which includes the popular Chinook and Apache helicopters, as well as the V-22 Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a plane. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

NASA heads to moon as panel weighs its future

*Options for commercial launch service to station
* Moon probe set to launch Thursday
* Panel to issue report in August
By Irene Klotz
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., June 17 (Reuters) - As NASA prepared to launch its debut mission in a program aimed at returning astronauts to the moon, a presidential panel on Wednesday began looking at alternative ways to get there and whether the United States should even go.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:12 p.m. (2112 GMT) on Thursday, is designed to map the lunar surface so NASA can find safe and scientifically interesting landing spots for future human missions.
The United States is shifting the focus of its human space program from research and technology development in low-Earth orbit with the space shuttle and International Space Station to an exploration initiative. That would culminate in the return of U.S. astronauts to the moon in 2020 -- a half-century after the pioneering Apollo lunar landings of 1969 to 1972.
NASA plans to retire the shuttle fleet in 2010 after eight more missions to complete space station construction. It would then shift funding to ramp up development of a pair of expendable rockets, known as Ares, and a beefed-up Apollo-style capsule called Orion that can ferry crews to the moon and other destinations.
Orion's debut flight to the space station is targeted for 2015 -- five years after the shuttle stops flying.
With costs estimated at more than $100 billion for a lunar excursion and concerns about the five-year gap, President Barack Obama has ordered a top-level review of the U.S. human space program.
Hearings in Washington opened on Wednesday with commercial companies, NASA and other space advocates laying out options for flying astronauts to the space station and getting to the moon.
Panel members will also consider whether the moon should even be a destination. The panel, headed by retired Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Norm Augustine, is expected to issue a report in August.
PROPOSING ALTERNATIVES
At the meeting, United Launch Alliance, a Boeing (BA.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) joint venture that markets the unmanned Atlas and Delta rockets, pitched an upgraded version of its rockets to replace NASA's planned Ares booster, an option a NASA-backed study found to be less expensive.
But the consultancy that prepared the study cautioned that would only be cheaper if NASA dropped plans for a second Ares rocket, a heavy-lifter that could carry cargo to the moon.
NASA's original plan for the new exploration initiative, known as Constellation, was a complete program that folded together the cost of developing both versions of the Ares rocket, using one as a predecessor for the other.
"When one starts contemplating replacing pieces of that architecture, all kinds of things begin to happen," said Gary Pulliam of The Aerospace Corporation.
Another company, Space Exploration Technologies, known as SpaceX, proposed another alternative to carry crews.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said his firm's Dragon capsule, already purchased by NASA to haul cargo to the space station, could be used to transport astronauts by adding an escape system and making minor upgrades.
"The whole purpose of SpaceX from the beginning has been human space flight. That's why I created it," said Musk. "Dragon has five windows. You don't need windows for cargo." (Editing by Jane Sutton and Peter Cooney)

Magellan Aerospace Receives Order For F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Horizontal Tails

PARIS AIR SHOW, Le Bourget, June 17 /CNW/ - Magellan Aerospace has been awarded a contract this past month to produce F-35 Lightning II horizontal tail components in the third lot of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). It is the initial contract awarded to Magellan by BAE Systems for F-35 components, valued at $11M Cdn. over a two year period.
Magellan has been participating on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft program from the earliest stages in 2001. Machined details and complex assemblies have been delivered throughout the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. Magellan is currently producing components for all three of the F-35 variants. The horizontal tails produced at Magellan will be used on the Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) variant. Currently up to 1038 ship sets of horizontal tails are planned to be produced by Magellan over the life of the F-35 (also known as the Joint Strike Fighter) program.
"As the F-35 program deliveries ramp up, Magellan will be producing half of the CTOL horizontal tails required each year. With program delivery requirements targeted at one a day by 2015, a steady increase in production rates will take place over the next six years," said Jim Butyniec, President and Chief Executive Officer, Magellan Aerospace Corporation. The U.S., and eight nations partnering in the project, plan to acquire 3,173 F-35 fighters.
"Whilst this initial contract is small in its relative size, it establishes the critical first steps on the journey that BAE Systems and Magellan have commenced, which is aimed at developing a robust capability and affordable manufacturing solution at Magellan that will have the essential capacity to support and produce F-35 Horizontal Tail components in Canada", says BAE Systems' International Industrial Participation Programme Manager, John Dunstan.
With estimated revenues in excess of $250 to 300 billion over 25 years, the Joint Strike Fighter program will develop and manufacture the next generation fighter aircraft for the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marines and for export to U.S. allies. In 2001 the U.S. Department of Defense named the Lockheed Martin JSF team as the winner of the contract to develop the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, is the F-35 prime contractor while Northrop-Grumman in El Segundo, Calif., and BAE Systems (British Aerospace) in Samelsbury, U.K. are principal partners in the project.
About Magellan Aerospace Corporation:
Magellan Aerospace Corporation is one of the world's most integrated aerospace industry suppliers. Magellan designs, engineers, and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure assemblies and components for aerospace markets, advanced products for military and space markets, and complementary specialty products. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MAL - News), with operating units throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and India.
Forward Looking Statements:
This press release contains information and statements of a forward-looking nature and is based on assumptions and uncertainties as well as on management's reasonable evaluation of future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and/or are beyond the Corporation's control. A number of important factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.

UPDATE 1-US eases process for GE India to import technology

* US eases licensing process for GE India
* Aims to smooth trade in technology
* US seeks more protection of intellectual property rights
(Adds details from Commerce Secretary speech, GE release)
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department will this month give General Electric's (GE.N) India division a standing license to import controlled technology, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Wednesday.
"That means the company will be allowed to enter a pre-approved, export express lane as a trusted end user. No more need for a license," Locke said in a speech to the U.S.-India Business Council.
GE will use its new status, known as "validated end user authorization," to exchange technology with its security, aviation and energy infrastructure businesses in India, the company said in a statement.
"It will not only permit technology exchange on energy and aviation between GE and our research facilities in India, but will also permit the sale of advanced security systems to the Indian Ministry of Defense, Indian police and other Indian security organizations," said Tejpreet Chopra, Chief Executive of GE India.
The deal will help trade in technology move more efficiently between the two countries, Locke said.
Last year, U.S. companies exported $18 billion worth of goods to India, and India shipped the United States $25 billion worth of goods, Locke said.
The United States wants India to loosen foreign direct investment restrictions in the financial services, retail and cable and satellite television sectors, Locke said.
India also needs to boost its protection of intellectual property rights, he said.
"Piracy and counterfeiting is still a serious problem and India's criminal enforcement regime remains weak." Locke said.
"U.S. businesses also need more clarity on guidelines and procedures for doing business in India, which can be every bit as difficult a barrier to entry as onerous tariffs," he said. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton)

Global Zero Commission to Make Recommendations Before Obama/Medvedev Nuclear Weapons Summit

Commission Meeting in Washington, D.C. June 28-29
WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Zero Commission, a group of political and military leaders from the U.S., Russia and other key countries, will outline a step-by-step process to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons -- a goal called for by Presidents Obama and Medvedev at their first meeting on April 1. The outline will include specific recommendations for the Obama and Medvedev administrations in advance of the July 6-8 Moscow Summit.
The press briefing will take place Monday, June 29 at 1:30 pm EDT at the St. Regis Hotel, 923 16th St. NW, Washington, DC, in the Astor Ballroom on the first floor.
The Commission is part of the Global Zero initiative (globalzero.org) -- an international, non-partisan effort formed in response to the growing threats of proliferation and nuclear terrorism and dedicated to achieving the phased, verified elimination of all nuclear weapons. Global Zero is spearheaded by a group of more than 100 leaders worldwide, including many who have worked at senior levels with issues of national security such as former heads of state, former foreign ministers, former defense ministers, former national security advisors, and more than 20 former top military commanders.
Global Zero Commissioners
Dr. Jacques Attali, Honorary Member, Council of State, and Fmr. Advisor to the President, Republic of France
Amb. K. Shankar Bajpai, Chairman, National Security Advisory Board, Fmr. Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, India
Amb. Alexander Bessmertnykh, Fmr. Foreign Minister, the Soviet Union
Amb. Richard Burt, Fmr. United States Chief Negotiator, Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)
P.M. Yasuo Fukuda, Fmr. Prime Minister, Japan
Sen. Chuck Hagel, Fmr. United States Senator
Amb. Wolfgang Ischinger, Fmr. Ambassador of Germany to the United Kingdom and the United States
Gen. (Ret.) Jehangir Karamat, Fmr. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Fmr. Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States
Amb. Shaharyar Khan, Fmr. Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of Pakistan to Jordan, the United Kingdom and France
Anthony Lake, Fmr. National Security Advisor, the United States
Sen. Mikhail Margelov, Senator and Chairman, Committee for Foreign Affairs, Council of Federation, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Col. Gen. (Ret.) Evgeny Maslin, Fmr. Chief of the Main Directorate, Ministry of Defense, Russian Federation
Amb. Brajesh Mishra, Fmr. National Security Advisor, India
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Guangqian Peng, Strategist, Academy of Military Science, the People's Republic of China
Amb. Thomas Pickering, Fmr. Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, Russia and India
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Fmr. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and Fmr. Secretary of Defense, the United Kingdom
Amb. Yukio Satoh, Fmr. Ambassador of Japan to the United Nations
Gen. (Ret.) Jack Sheehan, Fmr. Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Command
Air Chf. Mshl. (Ret.) SP Tyagi, Fmr. Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force
Dr. Evgeny Velikhov, President, Kurchatov Institute
Amb. Jianmin Wu, Fmr. Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, and Ambassador to France and the Netherlands
Dr. Jiemian Yang, Senior Fellow and President, Shanghai Institute for International Studies, the People's Republic of China
Mr. Igor Yurgens, Chairman of the Management Board, Institute of Contemporary Development

Quasar Aerospace Industries, Inc. Announces an Agreement for Its Third Acquisition

On Wednesday June 17, 2009, 11:19 am EDT
Quasar Aerospace Industries, Inc. (Pinksheets: QASP) (formerly) Equus Resources, Inc. (EQUR).
Quasar Aerospace Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to acquire a third aviation/aerospace company. The full Board of Directors of the company to be acquired unanimously approved recommending to the shareholders that they accept the offer of One Dollar per share for the 32,000,000 shares outstanding. The members of the Board hold over 80% of the outstanding stock so shareholder approval is certain to be obtained.
The company's name for the obvious reasons must remain anonymous until the transaction is closed, which is scheduled for the middle of August of this year. This acquisition will add approximately $18,000,000 to our annual revenues and $3,750,000 to the bottom line. The current management team will remain intact. Quasar's management team has been closely associated with this company for over three years, and is extremely pleased that they have elected to join our family of companies.
Chief Executive Officer Dean Bradley said that this acquisition will open other opportunities that we will pursue in coming months that could conceivably double the forecast for 2010.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and Equus Resources, Inc. and Quasar Aerospace Industries, Inc. under take no obligation to update such statements.
Contact:

Contacts:
Dean Bradley
904-612-8485
deanbrad@bellsouth.net
Scott Martin
770-521-9410
scott.martin@jpccapital.com

AIRSHOW-Aerospace execs see easier financing in 2010

PARIS, June 17 (Reuters) - Global aerospace companies are seeing early signs that financing conditions could improve next year, but executives cautioned at the Paris Air Show that the economic situation remained tense.
General Electric (GE.N) Vice Chairman John Rice said on Wednesday he expected credit conditions to improve by 2010, though he added that it could be too early to say the economy had reached a trough.
"The environment continues to be difficult. People talk about green shoots and stabilisation -- I don't know that we've seen enough yet to say that we've bottomed out, although certainly we expect that to happen," he said. [ID:nWEA7106]
GE's Aviation unit makes large jet plane engines, each one of which costs millions of dollars. Companies around the world have been squeezed by tight credit markets in the global economic crisis, and airlines have found it difficult to finance expensive aircraft purchases.
An improvement in the availability of funds would be seen as a sign that the downturn could be nearing its end.
Customers of planemaker Bombardier (BBDb.TO), whose corporate jet business has been hurt by a drop in spending by companies, still face difficult financing conditions.
"It's very challenging right now," Bombardier Aerospace President and Chief Operating Officer Guy Hachey told Reuters Television in an interview at the air show. [ID:nWEA6952]
But the rate at which customers are cancelling orders has peaked, and the company now has fewer so-called "white tails," he said. White tails are planes that have been built but not yet sold and so are not painted in any airline's livery.
The sales chief of EADS unit (EAD.PA) European planemaker Airbus said at the air show that financing had been secured for remaining deliveries this year but that the jury was still out on 2010.
POSITIVE MESSAGES
"Essentially, (2009 deliveries) are now financed. The question is whether they will stay financed," John Leahy said, adding that well over half of anticipated 2010 deliveries had been financed. [ID:nWEA6821]
European credit agencies have been asked to raise the amount of finance offered to support aircraft deliveries to 50 percent of the total from 20 percent last year. Airlines are currently getting about 40 percent of their finance from such agencies, Leahy said, adding "we will put some money in ourselves".
German engine maker MTU Aero Engines (MTXGn.DE) sees a light at the end of the tunnel next year as early signs of an improvement on credit markets emerge.
"Compared with a few weeks and months ago, when we had a lot of bad news on financing, we have been getting a lot more positive messages," MTU Chief Executive Egon Behle said.
MTU, which builds military and civil aircraft engines and offers maintenance services to airlines, has had to offer support to some suppliers who are exposed to the weak automotive industry to help them weather the downturn, Behle said.
In another segment of the aerospace market, EADS (EAD.PA) unit Astrium Satellites said commercial satellites were also feeling the squeeze of tight credit markets.
"Because of the financial crisis the commercial market is very volatile," division Chief Executive Evert Dudock said, adding that he was urging governments to help stabilise the market by providing loan guarantees.
"For 2009, the market is still looking stable, but from what I am seeing at the moment, it will be more critical next year," he said.

Avnet Electronics Marketing and White Electronic Designs Sign Americas Distribution Agreement

On Wednesday June 17, 2009, 11:00 am EDT
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business region of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT - News) has inked a distribution agreement with White Electronic Designs Corporation (NASDAQ: WEDC - News). White Electronic Designs’ full line of advanced multi-chip package products is now available from Avnet in the Americas.
WEDC designs and manufactures multi-chip semiconductor packages, high-efficiency memory devices and build-to-print electromechanical assemblies for defense and aerospace applications. Their products are primarily used in aircraft, defense communications, guidance/fire control, missile and radar/electronic warfare applications.
“WEDC products offer defense and aerospace customers unique package solutions with extended environmental performance,” said Bryan Brady, vice president of defense/aerospace for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. “This strengthens our ability to offer distinct product size, weight and performance advantages for high reliability applications.”
“Avnet's design and supply chain expertise will enable us to better support and service our customers and to expand our presence in the defense electronics market,” said Dan Tarantine, interim office of the president and executive vice president of sales and marketing for White Electronics Design. “By combining our specialized microelectronics technology with Avnet’s advanced logistics, we’re able to streamline operations while more efficiently focusing our resources on new business development.”
For more information about Avnet and WEDC products, please visit www.em.avnet.com/whe.
About Avnet Electronics Marketing
Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at www.em.avnet.com. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT - News), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
Contact:
Avnet Electronics Marketing
Jody LaRoque, Public Relations, 480-643-2547
jody.laroque@avnet.com

Air China and Pratt & Whitney Set Milestone for Operation of Engine Model

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Air China's Boeing 777 fleet powered by PW4000 engines has surpassed 550,000 hours, or the entire operational span of the Air China Boeing 777 fleet, without an in-flight shut-down setting a new standard for operational excellence for the carrier's PW4000 112" engines. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News) company.
As a whole, PW4000-112" engines have accumulated more than 10 million hours of flight time on 14 airline fleets, including Air China. Air China installed PW4077D engines on its Boeing 777-200 aircraft in 1998.
"It is an honor to help Air China rank first among the world's fleet of similar aircraft for dependable engine operation," said Aki Nakano, vice president, Sales, Greater China, P&W. "This is an important milestone and significant benchmark of safety."
Air China senior management recently expressed its satisfaction with the 112" PW4000 engine's reliability and performance at the Excellent Operation Performance Award presentation ceremony in Beijing, China. Pratt & Whitney provides a full range of customer support service for Air China including field representatives, overhaul services and lowering cost of ownership.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.
Greg Brostowicz Matthew Perra
Commercial Engines & Global Services Pratt & Whitney
+1-860-565-1655 Int'l Mobile: +1-860-595-6515
gregory.brostowicz@pw.utc.com matthew.perra@pw.utc.com

Air Austral Selects Engine Alliance GP7200 Engines and Associated Fleet Management Agreement

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Austral has selected Engine Alliance GP7200 engines to power its two Airbus A380 aircraft. Air Austral has also selected the Engine Alliance as its service provider to maintain, repair and overhaul the engines with a 10-year Fleet Management Agreement. The total value of the deal is worth $240M (USD) at list prices.
"We have selected the Engine Alliance's offer and the GP7200 engine because the Engine Alliance's proposal presents the assurances that suit our requirements for the success of our new economical concept," Air Austral's President of the Executive Committee Gerard Etheve said.
Based in Saint Denis, La Reunion, Air Austral has provided service over the Indian Ocean since 1975. The airline flies to nearby Indian Ocean islands as well as locations in France, Australia, South Africa and Thailand. In January, Air Austral announced plans to have its new A380 aircraft operated in a single, economy class configuration on its high-density route from La Reunion to Paris, France, through a subsidiary airline working under a "low-cost" model.
"Air Austral's use of the A380 in a high density configuration demonstrates the flexibility of the A380," Engine Alliance President Jim Moravecek said. "We're delighted they've chosen our fuel efficient GP7200 engines to help them increase the value of this remarkable aircraft."
The GP7200 is derived from two successful wide body engine programs, the GE90 and the PW4000. It benefits from the two programs' latest, proven technologies and the lessons learned from more than 25 million flight hours of successful operation. Certified at 76,500 pounds (340 kN) of thrust, the engine has the capability to produce more than 81,500 pounds (363 kN) of thrust. In addition to being the quietest, most fuel efficient engine for the A380, the GP7200 engine has emissions that are well below current and anticipated regulations.
The GP7200 is manufactured at GE and Pratt & Whitney, with GE assembling the core in Durham, NC (North Carolina), and Pratt &Whitney manufacturing the fan module, low pressure compressor and low pressure turbine. Final engine assembly is conducted at Pratt & Whitney's Engine Center in Middletown, CT (Connecticut). GP7000 Engine Program participants include SNECMA (France), Techspace Aero (Belgium) and MTU Aero Engines (Germany).
The GP7200 entered revenue service in August 2008, with the first Emirates A380. Since entering service, the GP7200-powered A380 has not had an in-flight shutdown and has demonstrated a departure reliability rate greater than 99.9%.
In addition to Emirates, the Engine Alliance GP7200 has been selected to power A380 aircraft for Air France, Korean Airlines, Etihad Airways and the International Lease Finance Company (ILFC). Air France is scheduled to receive its first GP7200-powered A380 aircraft in October.
The Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric (NYSE: GE - News) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News).
For further information, contact:
Deb Case, U.S.: 513.243.0094, email: deborah.case@ge.com
Katy Padgett, US: 860-565-3433, email: kathleen.padgett@pw.utc.com

Pratt & Whitney Endorses Industry Research That Could Lead to Biojet Fuel Certification

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Pratt & Whitney signed the executive summary released today by Boeing highlighting the positive results of a pioneering industry flight test and research program that should lead to future certification of sustainable biojet fuels. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX - News) company.
The results indicate sustainable sources of bio-derived oils and processing methods can produce a Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK) jet fuel. Bio-SPK fuel was tested in current commercial aircraft at a blend ratio of up to 50 percent with normal jet fuel (Jet A or Jet A-1).
The flight tests of Bio-SPK fuels were conducted by an industry team. In 2009, Pratt & Whitney, Japan Airlines and Boeing completed a successful flight test of a second-generation biojet fuel on a Pratt & Whitney-powered 747 aircraft. The flight test used a biofuel primarily refined from the sustainable crop, camelina.
"The flight test and research program generated valuable data to support certification of Bio-SPK at a 50 percent blend ratio," said Alan Epstein, Pratt & Whitney vice president, Technology & Environment. "These flight tests provide further evidence that biojet fuels are technically viable and represent a promising path to reducing aviation greenhouse gas emissions."
Pratt & Whitney is a leader in the testing and certification of alternative jet fuels and has been working with industry groups, customers and aircraft manufacturers to explore alternative fuel options that improve fuel supplies and reduce environmental emissions. Pratt & Whitney Canada is also working with industry experts to develop and test alternative fuels for general aviation, business jets and the Virgin Galactic spaceship program.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.
Jeffrey Jurgensmier Matthew Perra
Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney
+1.860.565.4490 Int'l Mobile: +1.860.595.6515
jeffrey.jurgensmier@pw.utc.com matthew.perra@pw.utc.com