Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 16, 2008 - (Page 82)

FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 GE, Safran Aim High With Nacelle JV In an evident effort to challenge Goodrich for the No. 1 slot in engine nacelles, Safran (Aircelle) and GE (Middle River) said here Tuesday that they are launching a joint venture targeting next generation single-aisle aircraft. The partners say the next-gen single-aisle won’t show up until 2016, 2017 or 2018, so the team may be working on upgrade projects in the interim. In addition, it takes about five years to develop an all-new nacelle and related equipment, and the ones in the next generation will employ advanced technology and be more tightly integrated with the engine, the joint venture partners say. The combination will provide customers with highly competitive offerings, according to David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation. And the joint venture will begin operating at a time when airlines are insisting on more environmentally friendly solutions for the next generation single-aisle aircraft, says Safran CEO Jean-Paul Herteman. However, the 50-50 agreement doesn’t constitute a merger, the two pointed out along with the executives who lead the individual business units involved. Jean-Pierre Cojan is president and CEO of Aircelle, and Sagar Patel is president and general manager of Middle River Aircraft Systems. Formation of the joint venture will occur later Safran CEO Jean-Paul Herteman, GE Aviation president and CEO David Joyce, Aircelle CEO Jean-Pierre Cojan, Middle River president Sagar Patel, Safran evp Yves Leclère, and GE Aviation’s Aviation Systems president John Ferrie. this year, with a corporate identity, headquarters location and other details yet to be determined. But the entity will use the existing design and manufacturing capability of the two partners. Middle River has 1,000 employees, and Aircelle has 3,500. Aircelle has a broad market presence ranging all the way from wide-body airline aircraft to business jets and is a systems integrator. Middle River is a supplier of thrust reversers, inlets, fan cowlings, and engine mounts as well as nacelle systems. The joint venture will pursue business opportunities with all engine and aircraft manufacturers. The enterprise will spread program and financial risk, develop innovative technology and provide integrated systems to customers. —David Hughes Kiwi Over Farnborough: the View from Eurofighter’s Cockpit pier.”A former pilot with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Matthews came to fly with the RAF when the decision was made that New Zealand would no longer operate a front-line jet fighter. Matthews started out flying in the Panavia Tornado F.3, but says it is no comparison to the experience of flying the Typhoon. “The F.3 is like driving an MG or some other mid-range car, and the Eurofighter is like being behind the wheel of a Ferrari or a Lamborghini,” he says. “Everyone in the RAF wants to fly this airplane.” “The main strengths of this airplane are that the engines and wings are very solid, and there is a very well-integrated suite of sensors and on-board computers. The equipment that the pilot has is also a great help. During the entire routine, I am seldom pulling less than 4g, which can be very physically demanding.” He notes, however, that the anti-g overpants along with the pressure vest and a positive-pressure breathing system make it much easier. Matthews is also complementary of the ease of flying the Eurofighter. He became an instructor on the aircraft after having had only 40 hours of flight time. The only problem with the aircraft—if one wants to call it this—is that it has so much power. “I have to modulate power during routines because if you are not careful, you will accelerate into the supersonic regime. The aircraft is so well-pow“I am seldom pulling less than 4g,” says RAF Eurofighter pilot Charlie Matthews. ered that it literally runs away on students,” he said. —Reuben F. Johnson RAF Flight Lieutenant Charlie Matthews is piloting the Eurofighter over Farnborough this year, and the New Zealand native could not be hap- 82 July 16, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

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Bombardier, Shenyang $5 Billion for Composites 787 and Seven V-22s for Export Sale? Saving Fuel at SFO Raytheon Roars Into UAVs Bell Eyes ARH-70A Costs All According to Plan We Fly the PC-12NG Russia’s T-50 PAK-FA Optimistic in Israel ICAO Sim Classifications Pratt to Power New Drone Russian Conglomerate

Farnborough 2008 Show News - July 16, 2008

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