Space : http://www.aviationnews.eu Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle

Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle

Published December 16, 2011 | By Marcel van Leeuwen

The launch of ESA's IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle on Europe's new Vega rocket is now in detailed planning, a major step towards the craft's flight in 2014.
Launched into a suborbital trajectory from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, IXV will return to Earth as if from a low-orbit mission, to test and qualify new critical technologies for future reentry vehicles.


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Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle

16 December 2011   The launch of ESA's IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle on Europe's new Vega rocket is now in detailed planning, a major step towards the craft's flight in 2014.

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About participation of Sabca in the project : http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMP9ZFTFQG_Belgium_fr_2.html

SABCA (Belgium) to Extend Co-operation with USAF for Another Five Years

As a conclusion of a full competitive Request For Proposal, the US Government, Ogden Air Logistic Center (OO-ALC), has awarded S.A.B.C.A (Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques) with a new five-years Indefinite Delivery contract for Depot-level Maintenance Support to the F-16 fleet operated by U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), covering Fiscal Years 2012 to 2016.

S.A.B.C.A. started its common history with the F-16 more than 30 years ago, by the assembly and in-flight delivery of 222 new F-16 A/C, on behalf of three different end-users. Since then, more than 1150 F-16 A/C rolled out of the Charleroi flightline after having been either assembled, upgraded, inspected, repaired or re-painted. A long-time partner of the USAF - more than 330 F-16 A/C were processed in Charleroi on their behalf since 1983 - SABCA started its current co-operation with OO-ALC in 2001, after winning a competition for the implementation of the NVIS-IDM program on the USAFE Blk 40 F-16.

In March 2005, as a conclusion of another competitive Request For Proposal, the US Government awarded S.A.B.C.A with a first seven-years Indefinite Delivery contract for in-theater depot-level support to the USAFE F-16 fleet.

The new contract awarded last week in conclusion of a one-year long re-competition procedure will extend this successful partnership for another five years.

The choice made by the US Government demonstrates its confidence in S.A.B.C.A.'s abilities to provide accurate, on-time, competitive answers to the most demanding requirements from its customers and strengthens S.A.B.C.A.'s undisputed leadership in F-16 Depot-Level Support in Europe.

This workload will come in addition to the other programs currently performed by S.A.B.C.A. for the. Belgian Defence, USAF and several other foreign customers. 

 Source: SABCA; issued Nov. 22, 2011

 

European Commission to grant Belgium aid for SABCA

The European Commission has granted Belgium €32.8 in aid to enable research and development of flap support structures for the future Airbus A350 XWB passenger aircraft.

  The Commission deemed EU state aid rules applicable, and authorised a repayable advance to Belgium for the aeronautics company SABCA.

  State aid was granted because the Commission viewed the technology's positive effects as outweighing potential distortions of competition. Additionally, the research on flap supports will make them lighter and increase performance, thereby reducing the carbon footprint which is a long-term goal of the EU.

"Sabca's research project focuses on innovative technical solutions for a new architecture of flap support structures that will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of aircraft. The aid for this challenging project will benefit the knowledge base and innovative capacities of the European aeronautics industry without unduly distorting competition," said Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia.

Belgian authorities proved that their own financial sector was reluctant to give funding for the project with evidence showing a genuine market failure, causing the Commission approval of the state aid.

If successful, SABCA will repay the loan with interest to the EU. Should sales go over the success threshold, Belgium will receive royalty-fees. Only a small share of the aerostructures' market is held by SABCA, so the aid should not create an unfair advantage in research and development.

Source: NewEurope