News Clips

Raytheon Aircraft's newest special mission aircraft, the T-6A primary trainer, is making its third appearance at the Paris Air Show this year. Since winning the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) competition, the T-6A has started production and first deliveries to the US Air Force will begin this summer. In addition to the more than 700 aircraft scheduled for the JPATS programme, Raytheon Aircraft has sold 24 aircraft for use in the NATO Flying Training in Canada programme, and is currently negotiating with Greece for the sale of 45 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has selected Meggitt Avionics Secondary Flight Display System (SFDS) for installation as part of the Reconnaissance Avionics Maintainability Programme (RAMP) on the U2 aircraft. The Mark II SFDS will be fitted to the entire fleet, with the first systems to be installed mid 2000. The Meggitt Avionics Mark II Secondary Flight Display System supplied for this programme offers a higher resolution display, faster update rates and other benefits. The system includes a display of heading, provided by a new solid state magnetometer also made by Meggitt Avionics. Meggitt Avionics has also been working with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works on the JSF programme, and is contracted to supply the Secondary flight Display System for the Concept Demonstrator Aircraft.

L-3 Communications' Communication Systems-East division has introduced the Privatel Personal Telephone Security Device, a portable secure communications product for consumer and commercial use at the Paris Air Show. The Privatel unit is a tamper resistant moulded-plastic box that is compact and light enough to fit in a purse, briefcase or coat pocket for on-demand secure communications. To activate Privatel, a user connects it between the handset and telephone, dials a call and presses a button to activate the 'secure' mode. For total conversation security, Privatel's secure ID display prevents eavesdropping and unauthorised recording. Unlike other secure telephone devices, Privatel provides users with clear voice quality and nearly universal phone compatibility. Derived from state-of-the art encryption technology, originally developed by L-3 for United States government and military customers, Privatel uses strong commercial 128-bit cryptography to encrypt telephone conversations with a robust key exchange protocol that randomly generates a new key each time a call is made.

Gulf Air has taken delivery of the first of six A330-200s, becoming a new operator of the type. It will put the aircraft into service later this month. The aircraft was handed over to Gulf Air President and CEO His Excellency Dr Sheikh Ahmed bin Seif Al Nehyan, by Airbus Industrie CEO Noël Forgeard, at a ceremony held at the Paris Air Show on 15th June. The A330-200 and an Avro Anson, the first aircraft operated by Gulf Air, provided a colourful backdrop to the ceremony. Gulf Air's A330-200s are powered by Trent 700 engines.

Socata has signed a partnership agreement with French airline Air Open Sky to launch the freight version of the TBM 700 high-performance turboprop. Socata will provide Air Open Sky with a TBM 700 - initially under lease - to validate the TBM 700 Freight concept. The TBM 700 has been used either as a pressurised, 6/7-seat business aircraft, or as a multirole aircraft, performing military liaison missions, aerial photography, navaid calibration and advanced civil and military pilot training. The first TBM 700 Freight version will join the Air Open Sky fleet in November.