Gulf Air was the main carrier of the Persian Gulf region for decades. But now, political unrest and economic turmoil are threatening its very survival. The Bahraini government has been looking at various options that include shutting down the airline in favor of creating a new national carrier or continuing to invest in Gulf Air, but diminishing its scope. After weeks of uncertainty, it appears that Gulf Air will continue to fly, but as a significantly smaller carrier. And the key question remains: How long can it count on government support?

For investors in aerospace stocks, it doesn't get much better than TransDigm. The supplier of aircraft components has seen its share price more than quintuple since going public six years ago, with gains of 67% in 2009, 52% in 2010, 33% in 2011 and about 20% so far in 2012. Sales are on pace to reach $1.5 billion this year—up ten-fold since 2000—and the company has posted operating margins of 44% in a sector where 20% is considered superior.

India may have been the darling of aircraft makers; but with the country's airline sector in turmoil, Indonesia is emerging as the new darling. Indonesia's airline industry is positioned for another phase of massive growth, and the two dominant airlines used the Singapore air show to further bolster their orderbooks. Significantly, they signaled that more is to come.

Boeing estimates the aircraft services aftermarket will be worth $2.3 trillion over the next 20 years.

Warren Persavich has been appointed president and CEO of Wichita-based NASAM, succeeding Aki Sato. Persavich was senior VP-parts distribution of Greenwich AeroGroup.

USAF Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center of Air Force Space Command, has been selected by the Society of Satellite Professionals International of New York, to receive its Stellar Award for Government Service. Pawlikowski is being honored for introducing new satellite communications technologies and exploring ways to acquire space systems.

Ellen Tauscher has been named vice chair-designate of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, which will be inaugurated later this year, by the Atlantic Council of Washington. She was U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. HONORS AND ELECTIONS

Competitive landscape shifts between Mitsubishi MRJ and Embraer E-Jets.