Sea Launch to become Russian-owned

Sea Launch's future could just very well have brightened with the announcement that Russian-based rocket engine maker Rocket & Space Corp. Energia has proposed investing $140 million and thus taking an 85% stake in the rocket venture.  This would be part of a bigger plan to help bring Sea Launch out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy possibly as early as August of this year.  Based in Long Beach, CA, Sea Launch is a Boeing rocket launch venture with several European and Russian companies.  It uses a converted oil-rig located in the Pacific Ocean near the equator from which the rockets are launched.  From this location, the rockets take advantage of the Earth's rotation for additional momentum, enabling the rockets to reach orbit faster and hence burn less fuel, which translates to more savings to the customer.  Currently there are no launches scheduled for this year, but it does have 2 scheduled for 2011, with a total backlog of 4 launches.  Interestingly enough, Sea Launch plans on doubling it's employee numbers to 100 in preparation for the 2011 launches, even though the company still has not come out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Even more interesting is whether Long Beach will continue to have a Sea Launch presence; there is a secondary land-based launch platform based in Kazakhstan.  The thinking is that with majority ownership being transferred to a Russian company, and because the rockets themselves are assembled in the Ukraine, Sea Launch could abandon Long Beach and its Pacific Ocean operations and just use the Kazakhstan facility for future launches.

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Crucial Boeing talent soon to retire

Interesting article from the Seattle Everett Herald regarding Boeing's Technical Fellowship Program, which is essentially the braintrust and cream-of-the-crop of Boeing engineering.  Formed in 1989, it was designed for those Boeing engineers and scientists who were not seeking management positions.  Currently the program comprises less than 5% of the company's engineers and scientists, while 56% are 50 years or older, with the minimum retirement age set at 55.  Suffice it to say, there could be a potential of high-level talent leaving the company due to retirement.  Combine that with the high amount of outsourced engineering that was incorporated with the 787 (though that's being reigned in somewhat) and the recent tendency to layoff young engineers during Boeing's down times in the industry, and you're looking at a big engineering hole that will eventually need to be filled.  And that can't be done just overnight.  Click below to read more on this topic.

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Production begins on 1st 747-8 Intercontinental

Last weekend, production on the first 747-8 Intercontinental (the passenger version of the revamped 747 model) began at the 747 factory in Everett, WA.  I decided to put together some fun facts regarding the 747-8I, which is expected to start carrying passengers worldwide sometime in late 2011.

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* Length: 250' 2" (18.3' more than the 747-400)
* Wing Span: 224' 7"
* Height: 63' 6"
* Range: 8,000 nautical miles
* Seating: 467 in a 3-class configuration (51 more than the 747-400)
* Powerplant: 4 GEnx-2B engines (maximum thrust of 66,500 lbs.)
* Cruise Speed: Mach 0.85
* Maximum Takeoff Weight: 975,000 lbs.
* 16% more fuel efficient than the 747-400; 11% more than the A380
* 30% smaller noise footprint than the 747-400
* 13% lower seat-mile costs than the 747-400; 6% lower than the A380
* 2% lower trip costs than the 747-400; 21% lower than the A380
* 26% greater cargo volume than the 747-400
* Incorporates 787 technology for additional space and comfort and
  improved lighting
* Launch customer: Deutsche Lufthansa AG (20 firm, 20 options)
* Total orders: 32
* Can operate at any airport that currently serves 747-400 flights
* Uses the same pilot type rating as 747-400
* Scheduled delivery date: Late 2011

RwandAir places order for two 737-800's

On May 6th, Central African airline RwandAir (based in Kigali, Rwanda) announced an order for two Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft, which it will use to expand their network across Africa and the Middle East.

Fedex places order for 4 777 Freighters

On May 6th, delivery giant FedEx announced that it has ordered four 777 Freighter aircraft from Boeing.  It will also acquire an additional two 777 Freighters from other sources.  Combined with this latest order, FedEx now operates 38 total 777F's.

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U.S. Navy to proceed with multiyear F/A-18 purchase

Everybody loves a good sale on big ticket items: cars, 3-D TV's, airfare.  And when it's an unbelievable too good to pass up deal, chances are you're opening up your wallet to make the purchase.  So when the U.S. Navy was able to wrangle a 10% price cut from Boeing for their F/A-18 Fighter plane, the taxpayers' collective wallets were effectively opened up to proceed with a multi-year deal for 124 of this sophisticated fighter jet.  The contract is worth about $5.3 billion, with the price per plane at around $50 million, well short of the $57 million sticker price.  The duration of the contract will be from 2010-2013, with an option for a 5th year.  Will there be buyer's remorse afterwards?  Not so much for the folks at Boeing's F/A-18 production line in St. Louis, which would now remain open through 2013 if the purchase is approved by Congress.  It also provides a fallback option for the U.S. Navy in case problems arise with their brand new toy, the F-35 Lightning II (built by Lockheed Martin), which is expected to replace the Navy's fleet of older F/A-18's and other jets.  I wonder if Boeing published a coupon in the local Sunday newspaper for 10% off on their F/A-18 fighter...

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Qatar Airways to order 4 additional 787's

On May 4th, 2010, Qatar Airways announced that they would be increasing their initial order of 787 Dreamliner aircraft from 2 to 6.  Delivery of their new aircraft is expected to begin September 2011.

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Angola Airlines places order for two 777-300ER's

On April 29, 2010, Angola Airlines (or TAAG Linhas Aereas de Angola) announced an order for two 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional two 777-300ER's.  Valued at around $544 million, Angola Airlines (the national flag carrier for that African republic) will utilize the new aircraft for route expansion into Europe.  Currently the airline operates 10 777-200ER aircraft.

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