February 23, 2017 - No. 016 In This Issue Lockheed carries out first test flight of second T-50A aircraft Airbus urges European countries to ease penalties for aircraft delays Etihad and Emirates to face action from UK aviation watchdog over late flights SpaceX waves off space station cargo delivery for a day Textron Aviation Enhances 1Call Support for European Customers Safran Enhances Jet Engine Nacelle Support Capabilities STS Aviation Unveils Repair And Modification Division UPS Tests Residential Delivery Via Drone Launched from Atop Package Car India's first heliport to open in Delhi next week Boeing's New Chopper to Replace Iconic Apache Lockheed carries out first test flight of second T-50A aircraft Lockheed Martin has conducted the test flight of its second T-50A aircraft, which is the company's offering for the US Air Force's (USAF) advanced pilot training (APT) competition. The second production-ready T-50A performed its inaugural flight in Greenville, South Carolina, on 20 February. Developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), T-50A will replace the T-38, and train the next-generation of pilots to fly fifth-generation aircraft, including F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The aircraft can also be used to train pilots for frontline fourth-generation aircraft. The T-50A is claimed to deliver the fighter-like performance and capabilities needed to eliminate fifth-generation training gaps and inefficiencies. The company's T-50A ground-based training system features technologies that deliver an immersive, synchronised ground-based training platform. The aircraft was manufactured at the company's final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility in Greenville, South Carolina, US. The T-50A FACO and operations centre was opened in August 2016. The T-50A aircraft configuration is based on South Korea's FA-50, which is equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, along with an avionics suite that contains an electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode radar and an advanced data-link. To date, more than 1,800 pilots have been trained in over 150 T-50s that are currently in service. The aircraft has recorded 200,000 flight hours so far, Lockheed stated. http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newslockheed-carries-out-first-test-flight-of-second-t- 50a-aircraft-5745916 Back to Top Airbus urges European countries to ease penalties for aircraft delays Airbus called on Wednesday for new talks with European governments to ease "heavy penalties" for delays to its A400M military aircraft, after taking a fresh €1.2-billion ($1.3-billion) charge for Europe's largest defence project. The appeal comes seven years after Airbus won what at the time was regarded as a definitive €3.5- billion bailout for the delayed project, plagued from the start by political wrangling over the choice of new European engines. Airbus said recent problems with engine gearboxes and delays in supplying defensive aids had led to severe penalties, bureaucratic arguments and cash being held back by governments. "We cannot go on like that. This is unacceptable and puts a huge burden on Airbus and we need to do something about it," Chief Executive Tom Enders said. The A400M was ordered in 2003 by seven NATO nations - Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Britain and Turkey - to grant Europe an independent military transport capability. An unusual fixed-price contract worth €20-billion reflected efforts by Airbus at the time to win a major military contract to add to its growing jetliner business. But it foundered over problems with the West's largest turboprop engines, which were to be supplied by a European consortium instead of Airbus's preference for a Canadian supplier, as well as tight deadlines for military hardware. Speaking after reporting lower 2016 profits, Enders argued Airbus was still paying for the "original sin" of striking an unrealistic deal 14 years ago, despite having reset the program with the 2010 bailout deal. The pan-European agency representing the buyers was not available for comment. But Germany, the largest A400M buyer which has been most critical of the project, expressed little immediate appetite to help Airbus cope with the latest issues. "It is important that the manufacturer resolves the current problems in the program," a defense ministry spokesman said. Tobias Lindner, a Green lawmaker and member of the German parliament's budget committee, urged the government to press for "a new and resilient" agreement without reducing penalties. Call for reassurance Enders, who is said to privately regret not canceling the project before the bailout in 2010, declined to say if Airbus would threaten to stop building the plane. Airbus shares fell about 1 per cent on news of the 1.2 billion euro charge, which brings the total amount it has written off on the A400M towards €7-billion. Raymond James analyst Harry Breach wrote that Airbus needed to reassure investors the stream of charges was nearing an end. Several others questioned how easily Airbus would be able to strike a new A400M deal in the midst of budget austerity, French and German elections and political distractions in a group of nations dealing with Brexit and conflict in Syria. "I am not sure that the states will agree to put their hands in their pockets once again," said Chloe Lemarie, director of aerospace and defense research at Mainfirst Bank in Paris. The A400M overshadowed a narrower-than-expected drop in 2016 core earnings as Airbus delivered a record 688 jetliners. Core operating income fell 4 per cent to €3.955-billion on revenues up 3 per cent. Analysts had expected a 7 per cent drop in core profit due to weaker pricing of old models. Airbus said bottlenecks in the supply chain for its A350 jet had improved, but called for a "huge effort" from engine maker Pratt & Whitney to ease delays in A320neo output. It predicted more than 700 jetliner deliveries in 2017. It did not give a formal target for orders but executives say they will lag deliveries for the first time since 2009 as the aircraft market slows. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/european- business/airbus-urges-european-countries-to-ease-penalties-for-aircraft-delays/article34108066/ Back to Top Etihad and Emirates to face action from UK aviation watchdog over late flights DUBAI // Five international airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, are to face enforcement action in the UK for not paying compensation to passengers whose flights were delayed, said Britain's aviation watchdog. The two carriers, along with American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines, were highlighted by British authorities as having breached European Union consumer law after a review of airline policies. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, Emirates was the most complained about airline for non- payment of compensation for missed connecting flights. However, Etihad has described the CAA's decision to blame the airline in public as "unprofessional and unacceptable". The CAA estimates more than 200,000 passengers travelling on the five carriers could be at risk of missing connecting flights due to delays. The regulator began enforcement action following an extensive review of policies for the top 31 airlines operating in the UK. "Etihad Airways has been engaged in constructive dialogue with the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK on the issue of compensation over several months," said a spokesman. "We take such matters very seriously and in no way look to breach the law. Therefore, before even completing the dialogue, we find the CAA's approach wholly 'unprofessional and unacceptable' to publicly blame Etihad Airways for infringements to passengers' rights which we unreservedly deny." Following its own review the airline said it "categorically" states it has not contravened the law and pledges to maintain dialogue with the CAA to make sure they have robust compensation policies. The two UAE airlines confirmed to the CAA that they did not pay compensation to passengers delayed on the first leg of a flight that caused them to miss a connecting flight and, as a result, to arrive at their final destination more than three hours late. Failure to compensate passengers in this manner breached passengers' legal rights for flight disruption, said the regulator. European guidelines on passengers' rights during disruption are clear that the final destination of a connecting flight is the last airport listed on the passenger's ticket, it said. The airlines were also criticised for not having Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services, which are independent and provide quick binding resolutions to complaints. "Any disruption to a flight is frustrating for passengers, but delays that cause people to miss connecting flights have a particularly damaging effect on people's travel plans," said Richard Moriarty, director of Consumers and Markets at the CAA. "That's why there are clear laws in place to make sure passengers that experience this type of disruption are looked after by their airline and compensated when the disruption was in the airline's control. "Airlines' first responsibility should be looking after their passengers, not finding ways in which they can prevent passengers upholding their rights." He said it was disappointing a small number of airlines continue to let their passengers down by refusing to pay compensation they were entitled to. "Where we see evidence of passengers systematically being denied their rights, we will not hesitate to take the necessary action to ensure airlines change their policies and their customers get the assistance they are entitled to," said Mr Moriarty. Under European rules, passengers are legally entitled to compensation if they arrive at the final destination of their journey more than three hours late - including if booked on a connecting flight - unless the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances, said the CAA. These rights apply to any flight departing an EU airport, regardless of the nationality of the airline. However, Etihad said the issue of non-EU airlines liability under EC261 for delays caused by a missed connecting flight outside of the EU was currently subject to a case that will be heard by the UK Court of Appeal. "Etihad Airways will, of course, abide by any decision of the Court of Appeal," said the airline. Emirates had not responded at the time of publishing. http://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/etihad-and-emirates-to-face-action-from-uk-aviation- watchdog-over-late-flights Back to Top SpaceX waves off space station cargo delivery for a day SpaceX's Dragon supply ship, loaded with nearly 5,500 pounds of cargo and experiments, aborted an approach to the International Space Station on Wednesday after encountering a problem in its GPS navigation system. The gumdrop-shaped, solar-powered spacecraft was about 1,200 feet, or 365 meters, from the space station when it automatically bailed out of the rendezvous, escaping the immediate vicinity of the research outpost as its safety system intended and setting up for another approach as soon as Thursday. NASA said SpaceX's mission director at the Dragon control center in Hawthorne, California, reported the aborted rendezvous at 3:25 a.m. EST (0825 GMT) when the spacecraft ran into trouble processing GPS navigation data. "The SpaceX engineers are tracing this issue to an incorrect value that was detected in the spacecraft's Relative Global Positioning System hardware, which basically tells Dragon's computers, for its burn plan, where it is in the sky relative to the International Space Station," said Rob Navias, a NASA spokesperson providing commentary on NASA TV. "Dragon itself is in excellent shape," Navias added. "Its Global Positioning System hardware is also in excellent shape." The Dragon spacecraft's navigation system works by comparing position data derived from the GPS satellites to determine the range, direction and closing rate between the visiting supply ship and the space station. Once the cargo craft gets closer to the complex, the navigation system switches to inputs from a pulsed laser ranging instrument and a thermal camera to determine how far Dragon is from the space station. The rendezvous is fully automated, with the exception of some manual abort, retreat and hold commands. "SpaceX mission officials are fully confident that that issue can be mitigated, and that the spacecraft can be protected from an incorrect value during the re-rendezvous attempt on Thursday morning," Navias said. "That will allow Dragon to safely approach the station for a grapple and a berthing to the Earth-facing port on the Harmony module." Wednesday's abort was the first such wave-off by a SpaceX supply ship in 10 cargo deliveries since 2012. NASA's other cargo transportation provider, Orbital ATK, had to upload a software patch to one of its Cygnus logistics freighters on a flight in 2013 to correct a GPS error, delaying its arrival at the space station by a week. NASA said the Dragon spacecraft went into a so-called "race track" course in front, above, and then behind the space station to set up for another rendezvous attempt Thursday, part of a predetermined trajectory to be used in case a problem prevents an on-time arrival. "At no time was the station or the crew in any danger," Navias said. "Dragon did exactly what it was supposed to do and broke out of its approach." Astronaut Mike Hopkins in space station mission control in Houston passed the news on to space station flight engineer Thomas Pesquet, who was preparing to capture the Dragon spacecraft with the lab's robotic arm. "I just want let you know that Dragon is on a 24-hour safe trajectory," Hopkins said. "We had an RGPS filter unconverged, and we're currently in the works for planning a re-attempt for tomorrow." "OK, I copy, thanks for the explanation, and I look forward to welcoming Dragon on-board tomorrow then," Pesquet replied. Shortly after 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT), Hopkins radioed space station commander Shane Kimbrough that mission control aims to try for another rendezvous Thursday. If the rendezvous goes ahead, the Dragon cargo craft should be grappled by the station's robotic arm around 6 a.m. EST (1100 GMT). "Dragon has plenty of propellant," Navias said. "Its other systems are in excellent shape, and all of the science on-board the Dragon can withstand a 24-hour re-rendezvous." The Dragon spacecraft would approach the space station from below, pausing at several hold points before reaching a "capture box" around 30 feet, or 10 meters, from the outpost. Pesquet will maneuver the robotic arm to snare the free-floating spaceship, and then ground controllers will take command of the arm to berth Dragon to the station's Harmony module for unpacking. The astronauts will unload scientific gear, food and other items stowed inside Dragon's pressurized compartment, and the station's robotics systems will pull two experiment packages out of the spaceship's external payload bay for mounting outside the research complex. One of the external experiments developed by NASA will monitor changes in Earth's ozone layer, and the other payload hosts more than a dozen NASA and U.S. military investigations, including a lightning imager and a testbed to gather data for future satellite servicing missions. Wednesday's Dragon rendezvous wave-off came a few hours after a Russian Progress refueling and resupply freighter launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Progress MS-05 spacecraft is on track to dock with the space station's Pirs module at 3:34 a.m. EST (0834 GMT) Friday, less than 24 hours after Dragon's new arrival time. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/22/spacex-waves-off-space-station-cargo-delivery-for-at- least-a-day/ Back to Top Textron Aviation Enhances 1Call Support for European Customers WICHITA, Kan. (February 20, 2017) - Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced it has strengthened its 1Call support offering to further meet the unique needs of its European customers. Now with increased capabilities during peak hours in Europe, the 1Call team has enhanced its multi-lingual support for customers who speak English, German, French and Spanish. "Since launching just one year ago, customer response to 1Call has been extremely positive. The service has been so successful that customers who utilized 1Call over the past 12 months have seen a reduced duration of aircraft downtime by more than 60 percent," said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Customer Service. "We continue to implement customized solutions that deliver value to our customers around the world. Strengthening the support 1Call provides our European customers is just the latest example of that commitment." Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air and Hawker customers around the world needing immediate support can contact the 1Call team 24/7 by dialing +1.316.517.2090. 1Call provides a single point of contact during unscheduled maintenance events and offers prioritized technical support, expedited parts ordering, alternative lift solutions or mobile service unit scheduling. Each AOG and unscheduled maintenance event is managed by AOG specialists through successful resolution. Textron Aviation serves its European customers with six company-owned service centers, five line maintenance stations and a team of more than 400 employees, comprised of engineers, service technicians, field service representatives and sales representatives. In the last year, the company's focused investments in Europe have resulted in three dedicated support aircraft serving the region and a European parts distribution center located in Düsseldorf, Germany, which houses more than 225,000 parts. About Textron Aviation Service Textron Aviation, through its Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, is renowned for its unrivaled global service network dedicated to complete life-cycle support. Textron Aviation's support organization includes a global footprint of company-owned service centers staffed with expert service engineers offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, avionic upgrades, equipment installations, refurbishments and other specialized services. In addition to its company-owned footprint, Textron Aviation's jet and turboprop customers have access to a global network of nearly 200 authorized service facilities. Textron Aviation also offers a mobile support program featuring more than 60 mobile service units, six dedicated support aircraft, and on-site service technicians and support. Find additional information about Textron Aviation's service programs at txtav.com/en/service. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12307429/textron-aviation-enhances-1call-support- for-european-customers Back to Top Safran Enhances Jet Engine Nacelle Support Capabilities LE HAVRE, France, February 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Safran 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. Expanding on the existing MRO industrial resources in Pont-Audemer's current facilities, this new Center of Excellence brings numerous advantages to customers that utilize and maintain the product line of jet engine nacelles produced by Safran Nacelles - which covers aircraft from business jets and regional airliners to the largest mainline jetliners. The new Center of Excellence'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 MRO Center of Excellence's expertise covers complete engine nacelle systems, including complex structural repairs, line replaceable units (LRUs), engine subassemblies, outlet guide vanes (OGV) and on-site 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 (original equipment manufacturer) in being fully ready, anywhere in the world, to support the complete nacelle system it supplies for the Airbus A320neo jetliner. With the creation of Safran Nacelles' MRO Center of Excellence, Jean-Hugues Cousin has been named as Managing Director. He has the additional responsibility for leading the company's global MRO network - which includes the Pont-Audemer facility, along with Safran Nacelles Services Americas in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; and the Dubai-based Aerostructures Middle East Services (AMES), a joint venture of Safran Nacelles and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance. Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace (propulsion and equipment), Defence and Security. Operating worldwide, the Group has 70,000 employees and generated sales of 17.4 billion euros in 2015. Safran is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC40 index, as well as the Euro Stoxx 50 European index. 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. For more information: http://www.safran-group.com and www.safran-nacelles.com / Follow @Safran and @SafranNacelles on Twitter http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12308135/safran-enhances-its-jet-engine-nacelle-support- capabilities-with-a-new-center-of-excellence-for-maintenance-repair-and-overhaul Back to Top STS Aviation Unveils Repair And Modification Division U.S.-based maintenance provider STS Aviation has launched a new aircraft repair and modification services unit. The new division will operate as STS Repair and Modification, and will utilize existing STS teams of technicians and engineers. The new venture is part of a strategic partnership between Florida-headquartered STS and Cannon Aviation. In addition to offering structural aircraft repair and modification services, STS Repair and Modification also excels at delivering cost-effective avionics repair and modification solutions to customers. Sonny Cannon, vice president of operations for STS Repair and Modification, said along with interior and exterior structural modifications, the new unit will be able to execute custom avionics repair and modification programs while working in areas such as Wi-Fi modification, satellite communication systems and flight data recorders. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/sts-aviation-unveils-repair-and- modification-division Back to Top UPS Tests Residential Delivery Via Drone Launched from Atop Package Car MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced today that it has successfully tested a drone that launches from the top of a UPS® package car, autonomously delivers a package to a home and then returns to the vehicle while the delivery driver continues along the route to make a separate delivery. UPS conducted the test on Monday in Tampa, Fla. with Workhorse Group (NASDAQ: WKHS) an Ohio-based battery-electric truck and drone developer. Workhorse built the drone and the electric UPS package car used in the test. "This test is different than anything we've done with drones so far. It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural locations where our package cars often have to travel kilometres to make a single delivery," said Mark Wallace, senior vice-president of global engineering and sustainability, UPS. "Imagine a triangular delivery route where the stops are kilometres apart by road. Sending a drone from a package car to make just one of those deliveries can reduce costly kilometres driven. This is a big step toward bolstering efficiency in our network and reducing our emissions at the same time." UPS has about 102,000 delivery drivers on the road each day. Rural delivery routes are the most expensive to serve due to the time and vehicle expenses required to complete each delivery. In this test, the drone made one delivery while the driver continued down the road to make another. This is a possible role UPS envisions for drones in the future. "Drivers are the face of our company, and that won't change," Wallace said. "What's exciting is the potential for drones to aid drivers at various points along their routes, helping them save time and deliver on increasing customer service needs that stem from the growth of e-commerce." The drone used in yesterday's test was the Workhorse HorseFly™ UAV Delivery system. It is a high- efficiency, octocopter delivery drone that is fully integrated with Workhorse's line of electric/hybrid delivery trucks. The drone docks on the roof of the delivery truck. A cage suspended beneath the drone, extends through a hatch into the truck. A UPS driver inside loads a package into the cage and presses a button on a touch screen, sending the drone on a preset autonomous route to an address. The battery-powered HorseFly drone recharges while it's docked. It has a 30-minute flight time and can carry a package weighing up to 10 lb. For this test, Workhorse preset the route for the drone. But in the future, routes could be determined by UPS's On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation (ORION), which is the company's proprietary routing software. "It's wonderful to see this technology applied in such a practical way," said Stephen Burns, Workhorse founder and CEO. "The drone is fully autonomous. It doesn't require a pilot. So the delivery driver is free to make other deliveries while the drone is away." UPS has been testing automation and robotics technologies, including drones, for years. Last September, UPS staged a mock delivery of urgently needed medicine from Beverly, Mass. to an island three miles off the Atlantic coast. Additionally, UPS is using drones extensively for humanitarian relief, partnering with third-party organizations to deliver life-saving blood and vaccines to hard-to-reach locations in Rwanda. UPS also is utilizing drones to check inventory on high storage shelves in its warehouses. Unlike all of the previous tests, the most recent UPS drone test shows how drones might assist in making non-urgent residential deliveries as part of the day-to-day operation. Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued small unmanned aircraft systems rules that allow for some commercial use of drones and paved the way for future expanded applications. UPS was one of 35 selected from a cross section of key stakeholders to serve on the FAA's drone advisory committee. The committee will provide the FAA recommendations on key drone integration issues that will ultimately allow for safe and secure operations of drones within the National Air Space System. About UPS UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_Canada. About Workhorse Group Inc. Workhorse Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS) is a U.S. - based original equipment manufacturer of medium duty EPA-approved battery-electric delivery vehicles and fully integrated truck-launched, FAA compliant unmanned aerial systems (UAS) delivery drones. Workhorse trucks have historically been sold to the largest fleets in the USA and Canada for last-mile delivery and related uses. For additional information visit www.workhorse.com http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12307793/ups-tests-residential-delivery-via-drone-launched- from-atop-package-car Back to Top India's first heliport to open in Delhi next week India's first heliport, built by state-owned Pawan Hans in the northern part of the capital, is set to become functional next week, a year after successfully undergoing trial runs. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju will inaugurate the new facility on February 28, which has come up at an investment of Rs 100 crore, Pawan Hans Ltd Chairman and Managing Director B P Sharma told PTI. The heliport, set up at Rohini area of North Delhi, consists of a terminal building having capacity of 150 passengers, four hangars with parking capacity of 16 helicopters and nine parking bays. Besides, it has a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility also for the upkeep of Pawan Hans fleet as well as for third-party maintenance work. "Rohini facility is India's first integrated facility for rotor wing aircraft including their landing and takeoff. It has a terminal building that can cater to 150 passengers per day besides separate air traffic control (ATC), fire and fuelling services," Sharma said. Pawan Hans had successfully carried out trial sorties from the heliport in February last year and had planned to go for full scale chopper operations from May. The commencement of services from here is also expected to reduce congestion at the Delhi Airport, which currently handles about 40-50 helicopter arrivals and departures on an average per day besides the large-scale fixed-wing operations, Sharma said. Pawan Hans has carried out the Rohini heliport project for the Civil Aviation Ministry. The heliport will also be used for operating services for disaster management, emergency medical services, law and order surveillance as well as a centre for the skill development of pilots and engineers. Rohini heliport will also promote regional air connectivity through helicopters in the northern region. "We anticipate the traffic from this heliport to jump manifold once the government's regional connectivity scheme goes full throttle," he said. http://indianexpress.com/article/business/aviation/ministry-of-civil-aviation-indias-first-heliport-to- open-in-delhi-next-week-4536559/ Back to Top Boeing's New Chopper to Replace Iconic Apache Feb. 21--ABU DHABI -- A flight-worthy technology demonstration version of Boeing's highly- advanced Future Vertical Lift (FVL) project helicopter will likely be ready in 2018 or 2019, according to a company representative at Idex. The FVL is designed to replace some of the most iconic military helicopters currently operating, such as the AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk, all of which are currently in the arsenal of the UAE. Boeing's concept for FVL is a unique coaxial dual-rotor design. "It's in its formative stages," said Steve Barlage, Global Sales and Marketing, Vertical Lift. One version of FVL is being built by Bell and Lockheed Martin, while Boeing has teamed with Sikorsky. "Both are building flight demonstration airplanes to be flown in 2018 or 2019," Barlage said. The FVL might eventually replace about 4,000 airframes, Barlage added, noting that it will still be many years until the aircraft begins to be adopted operationally. "It's under a programme to develop a flight test vehicle. The production won't be out until the late 2020s or early 2030s," he added. "The fielding is way out there....it's a long technology demonstration program to take technologies, seeing if their applicable to this airplane, and then as the technologies are developed, maybe they can peel them back off to existing airplanes." "It's a long science project, and it's going very well," he added. Barlage noted that, from Boeing's perspective, some countries are currently working to understand how best to cope with economic challenges, such as falling oil prices. "It's interesting times, both in Europe and in the Middle East in terms of budgets," he said. "The Middle East is taking a cost perspective to try to understand where they're going to be in the future in terms of oil. It's ongoing, and we're watching how that develops and working with our customers....it's a regional issue here." "It's not a pause in purchases, but I think they're taking a long breath to understand what the long impact could be, not just in defence," he added. "I think the customers have long enough vision, they understand the need to continue (with investment in aircraft)." Barlage noted that, from Boeing's perspective, some countries are currently working to understand how best to cope with economic challenges, such as falling oil prices. "It's interesting times, both in Europe and in the Middle East in terms of budgets," he said. "The Middle East is taking a cost perspective to try to understand where they're going to be in the future in terms of oil. It's ongoing, and we're watching how that develops and working with our customers....it's a regional issue here." "It's not a pause in purchases, but I think they're taking a long breath to understand what the long impact could be, not just in defence," he added. "I think the customers have long enough vision they understand the need to continue (with investment in aircraft)." ___ (c)2017 the Khaleej Times (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) Visit the Khaleej Times (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) at www.khaleejtimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12307789/boeings-new-chopper-to-replace-iconic-apache Curt Lewis