AVIASUR Opens New AgustaWestland Service Centre in Santiago, Chile

8th August 2012

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a new AgustaWestland Service Centre has been opened by AVIASUR to provide maintenance and other support services for AgustaWestland commercial helicopter customers. The service centre is located at AVIASUR’s modern facility at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Chile, where an official opening ceremony was held on 8th August.

The opening of a new service centre in Chile continues AgustaWestland’s strategy to provide customers with greater levels of service close to their operating locations. The opening of AVIASUR’s Service Centre brings the number of AgustaWestland Service Centres worldwide to over eighty, with a programme underway to further expand this network around the world. AgustaWestland is continuing to increase its market share in South America and now has 17 of its helicopters operating in Chile comprising eight AW119 Koalas, seven AW109s, one Grand and one W-3A Sokol. The first GrandNew light twin helicopter is scheduled to be delivered to Chile later this year.


In 2011 AVIASUR were appointed Independent Sales Representatives for Chile and Peru for AgustaWestland commercial helicopters. AVIASUR also provides a wide range of aviation services from its Santiago headquarters including a full FBO service, aircraft sales, charter flights and aircraft management for private and corporate clients.

Eurocopter's EC130 B4 Helicopter Makes Its Debut On Reunion Island Today

10 november 2012

Fresh from receiving permission from the American authorities to fly over Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Eurocopter’s EC130 B4—one of the quietest helicopters in its class—made its debut today on Reunion Island, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010. Delivered to the company Corail Hélicoptères, the aircraft will be used to perform tourism operations and aerial work.

Founded in 2004, when it began operating with an AS355N, Corail Hélicoptères specializes in tourism transport as well as aerial work, firefighting and air evacuation. The company has grown since then and this latest delivery takes its fleet of helicopters to five, all of them from Eurocopter’s Ecureuil family. A second EC130 B4 will join the fleet before the end of the year. Corail Hélicoptères carried more than 22,000 passengers in 2011, and following these latest aircraft additions, the company is planning to add a new transportation link between Reunion Island and Mauritius to its range of missions.

“Aside from the performance of a helicopter that boasts Ecureuil technology, the added safety of the Fenestron rotor and exceptional cabin visibility, the EC130 B4 is out in front when it comes to reduced sound levels—a factor that has earned it global recognition among the most demanding authorities in the field,” commented Alfred Chane Pane, CEO of Corail Hélicoptères. “Our selection of this helicopter is part of the program we have set up to share the splendor of Reunion Island with tourists from all over the world, and to protect that heritage through our aerial work and firefighting operations.”


“In addition to flight safety and technological excellence, environmental performance is a core aspect of Eurocopter’s innovation strategy,” said Olivier Michalon, Eurocopter Vice President Europe and Central Asia. “Thanks to our investments in this area, Eurocopter helicopters are now at the forefront of environmental performance. Eurocopter will continue to make every effort to offer its customers a range of aircraft that are even more environmentally friendly.”

A member of the Ecureuil family, the EC130 combines comfort and performance. Equipped with a Fenestron rotor and an automatic system for regulating rotor speed according to flight phases, it generates sound levels that are 8.5 decibels below the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard and 0.5 decibels below the permissible level for flying over the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. What is more, its carefully designed interior and superb visibility fully meet the expectations of both tourists and corporate passengers alike.

About Eurocopter (www.eurocopter.com)
Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace and defense-related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 20,000 people.
In 2011, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 5.4 billion Euros, orders for 457 new helicopters and a 43 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.
Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33 percent of the worldwide civil and parapublic fleet. Eurocopter’s strong international presence is ensured by its subsidiaries and participations in 21 countries. Eurocopter’s worldwide network of service centers, training facilities, distributors and certified agents supports some 2,900 customers. There are currently more than 11,300 Eurocopter helicopters in service in 149 countries.
Eurocopter offers the most comprehensive civil and military helicopter range in the world and is fully committed to safety as the most important aspect of its business.

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Cessna Aircraft estrena su base de mantenimiento en el aeropuerto de Valencia

04 Sept 2012
 
Valencia.- El pasado domingo aterrizó en el aeropuerto de Valencia la primera de las aeronaves del modelo “Citation” de Cessna Aircraft, para realizar su mantenimiento en la base que ha creado la compañía recientemente en el mismo.

El proyecto llevado a cabo por Cessna en el aeropuerto de Valencia, que ha supuesto una inversión de más de 37 millones de euros, ha consistido en la creación de un centro de servicio de mantenimiento para sus propias aeronaves modelo “Citation” (jets). Las obras, que se iniciaron en 2009 y finalizaron en julio de 2012, han ocupado cerca de 62.000 metros cuadrados, cedidos por Aena.

La base de mantenimiento, que se sitúa en el lado sur del aeropuerto valenciano, a lo largo de la plataforma de aviación general sur y frente a la calle de rodaje M-3, es el primer centro de la íntegra propiedad de Cessna situado fuera de los EE UU.

Con esta instalación, el aeropuerto valenciano se convierte en referente para hangares de mantenimiento y servicio post-venta para este tipo de aeronaves en el ámbito europeo y mundial, potenciando de esta forma el desarrollo de la aviación corporativa, privada y de negocios.

El proyecto ha generado ya numerosos puestos de trabajo de personal de alta cualificación técnica. Además cuenta con los recursos más adecuados con la vocación de llegar a cubrir cualquier necesidad de mantenimiento y/o reparación de emergencia durante las 24 horas del día.

La compañía Cessna Aircraft, con sede en Wichita (Kansas), líder mundial en fabricación de aeronaves de aviación general, cuenta con otros nueve centros de servicio distribuidos en los EE UU y uno más en París.

http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=5044ce929820d&&viewTemplate=1

Yungang Grottoes Museum in Datong / Do Union Architecture

16 marzo 2012

Yungang Grottoes Museum in Datong(approved construction by State Administration of Cultural Heritage and Shanxi provincial government in 2010). Established on the west edge of Yungang Grottoes in Datong, within the scenic spot of Conservation Zone, is one of subprojects at the whole renovation area of Yugang Grottoes. Situated in southwest of the scenic spot, enclosed by Northern Wei Grottoed in north .The project covers a total construction area of 9939.46 square meters, containing an exhibition hall and a multi-functional performing arts center(recovered at the site of the ancient city).

The entire appearance is designed to present the arrangement of several arching-shaped strips in 4 meters wide by 40 meters long each. The exhibition hall is a one layer long-span space, which is 6 meters deep underground while the highest elevation above ground is 5.8 meters. The performing arts center based on the careful recovery of histrionic place in south edge has an underground layer which is as high as 3.6 meters, the height of cornice on ground floor is 7.0 meters. On the front facade,the architect took the design of hollow-out,which is benefit for side and makes the whole building more slim and graceful.

 Courtesy of Do Union Architecture

Design concept
Yungang Grottoes is one of largest grottoes in China. There are 45 main caves,252 niches, and over 51000 stone sculptures, enjoying the fine reputation around the world with its delicacy and eternal beauty. The whole masterpiece reaches the first peak of Chinese Buddhist arts, representing the most outstanding Chinese Buddhist cave arts in 5th and 6th century. Since one thousand five hundred years, Yungang Grottoes has suffered from rigors of time, bad effects of weathering, erosion and earthquakes, the cave and sculptures are dilapidated and incomplete,causing serious damages.
 

drawing 01

For this reason, the new building must stand a clear and positive attitude to the improvement of the scenic spot. Therefore, unlike the usual approach, the volume of construction sinks into ground to avoid the negative changes toward the ancient heritage and its surrounding environment. Applying modern techniques to contemporary architecture, the museum is perfectly integrated into the entire scenic area.

 

drawing 02

As designing, the large dimension building of an area of 6000 square meters is almost hidden under the ground. What’s more, strengthening with its 300-meter-long roof, the building expresses a simple and smooth architectural language, as a fine rhythm into the beauty of land. With the “openness and vast” artistic conception serving as a means for expression, the whole architecture Grottoes’ profound history and brilliant artistry.

drawing 03

A new architectural landscape after 1500 years will bring a bright future for the exquisite cultural heritage and recall its beauty of delicacy and vicissitudes to the whole world. View of top, the roof with the simple rhythm in wave makes the whole building a sense of gravity, since using the match with surroundings, it is perfectly integrated into the entire scenic area.

http://www.archdaily.com/217309/yungang-grottoes-museum-in-datong-do-union-architecture/

haptic architects win riga international airport competition

 02 Julio2012

riga international airport winning proposal by haptic architects, narud stokke wiig architects & planners and griff arkitektur

UK and norway-based firm haptic architects, in collaboration with norwegian firms narud stokke wiig architects & planners
and griff arkitektur have won the open international competition for the new airbaltic terminal at riga international airport, latvia.
their proposal was selected from 125 entries, hailing from 70 countries.

the competition called for 'design concepts, both architectural and functional that best captured the aspirations
and brand identity of airbaltic.' the first phase will accommodate 7-8 million passengers per annum, while the new terminal
will cater 14 million passengers.
 

the hexagonal roof pattern relates to the country's history of geometrical patternwork

winning design features a roof for the airbaltic terminal that is influenced by the gently undulating forms of the latvian landscape,
with peaks and troughs responding to the structure's internal configuration and passenger flows. the internal roof soffit
is composed of a hexagonal timber grid shell, with infill of timber or clear and diffused glass used to control the daylighting
and acoustics of the space, while providing dramatic variation across the entirety of the roofscape. the composition of light, shade,
depth and color is derived from the forest canopies found throughout latvia, while the hexagonal pattern relates to the country's
history of geometrical patternwork.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/19097/haptic-architects-win-riga-international-airport-competition.html

Turbina Trent 1000 ... hecha con piezas de Lego

13  julio 2012

Durante el festival de Farnborough, Rolls-Royce ha presentado un modelo de su turbina
Trent 1000, utilizada en el nuevo B787, hecho con mas de 152.000 piezas de lego y a mitad de tamaño que la turbina original.

La turbina es completamente funcional desde el punto de vista de las partes móviles lo que permite ver el funcionamiento de este motor de cerca.




Via Tecnologia obsoleta

http://www.aerotrastornados.com/2012/07/turbina-trent-1000-hecha-con-piezas-de.html

Proposed future London airport would float atop the Thames

18 Septiembre 2012
 

Lauren Davis  

While the UK government is contemplating building an airport east of London, a handful of architects have already put forth their visions for an airport within the city limits, looking to the River Thames as the site of the new runways. Architecture firm Gensler imagines a future London airport set atop a series of floating platforms, allowing planes to land on top of the river without filling it with earth.

Gensler's vision for London Britannia Airport is an infrastructure project with minimal environmental impact. Four five-kilometer runways would be tethered to the river bed and floating atop the water in the Thames Estuary. The runways could be removed from the river for maintenance and additional runways could be added as needed. Similarly, the airport terminals would be constructed off-site in a shipyard and then floated in upon completion. Underwater tunnels would connect passengers to the central London and the European High Speed Rail Networks.

Full size
Gensler envisions London Britannia not as an addition to Heathrow Airport, but as its replacement. It also proposes Heathrow into an eco city, one that could house 300,000 residents. London Britannia would itself be a fairly green building, providing much of its own power through marine turbines.

But for now at least, this is just a project on paper as the government considers placing its next runways outside of London.

London Britannia Airport by Gensler [dezeen via WebUrbanist]

 

http://gizmodo.com/5941648/proposed-future-london-airport-would-float-atop-the-thames?tag=architecture