W. Dennis Gallimore (see photo) has been named vice president of engineering, manufacturing and logistics for Northrop Grumman ’s Naval and Marine Systems Division at the company’s Electronic Systems Sector. He was vice president of engineering and integrated logistic support at the Shipbuilding Sector’s Gulf Coast facilities.
A forthcoming hearing by the Senate Armed Services Committee on a competition-sensitive data-release mishap will not impact the schedule for announcing a winner in the $35-billion competition to build new aerial refuelers for the U.S. Air Force, if USAF Secretary Michael Donley has his way. But the mistake made late last year by officials in the program office has at the very least cast a shadow over a procurement process that senior Pentagon leadership had hoped would be flawless and help regain eroded confidence.
Boeing’s strategy to offer international customers a growth path for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter is taking concrete form with completion of a full-scale mock-up of a more capable and survivable variant to compete with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Conformal fuel tanks, stealthy weapons pod, an infrared search-and-track sensor, and missile and laser warning system are among the upgrade options on offer. Uprated engines and large-area cockpit displays are also part of the growth road map, but not on the mock-up.
A new F-16 life extension, bomber and space-procurement plan will be included in the U.S. Air Force’s forthcoming Fiscal 2012 budget proposal. These efforts are possible during a time of belt-tightening because the service found $34 billion worth of projects to cut in order to fund higher-priority initiatives, says Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.
Steven T. Baldwin, senior vice president of the Louis Berger Group, was elected chairman of the 2011 Airports Council International-North America World Business Partner/Associates board of directors and Kitty P. Freidheim, president of Freidheim Consulting, was elected vice chairman. Other new board members are: Kevin Dolliole, senior vice president, Unison Consulting; Lynn Leibowitz, president, Leibowitz & Horton Airport Management Consultants; Keith Thompson, principal, Gensler; and Loy Warren, National Aviation Leader, Kimley-Horn & Associates.
I strongly agree the overall thrust of your editorial “Remain Watchful of China’s Ascent” (AW&ST Jan. 10, p. 58). However, I was disturbed that you did not point out space as a huge emphasis and priority of the current Chinese regime. You did rightfully point out cyber as a Chinese priority and as an increasingly important domain of potential conflict. However, I believe global power is inextricably linked to the inherently global nature of space and the Chinese have recognized this.
EADS is entering the final phase of a transition period as the European aerospace and defense giant aims to position itself for a more profitable future and prepare for a potentially volatile shift in corporate governance. EADS CEO Louis Gallois has long expressed his unhappiness with the underlying profitability of the company, but he sees 2011 as that condition’s last year. “In 2011, we will prepare for our profitability, with recovery expected for 2012 and beyond,” Gallois says.
American Airlines’ distribution war could become very costly, the airline revealed in a lawsuit it filed against two global distribution system providers. But the airline is not yet showing any signs of backing down. American’s fight with online agencies and global distribution systems has grown to the point where it involves more than 40% of its annual passenger revenue, could add $156 million in annual distribution costs and is diverting executives from work on other key airline initiatives, the airline says.
An ambitious initiative for a large reusable hypersonic demonstrator will be considered by senior U.S. Force leaders amid wider industry concerns that, even if funded, the risky project may become a money pit, hampering rather than helping its longer-term progress.
The euphoria over the initial operating clearance for India’s Light Combat Aircraft, achieved Jan. 10, is dying down as concerns arise over whether the design has lost the edge it promised the Indian air force when it was launched 25 years ago. India’s cabinet has approved 20 purchases of the initial version, the Mk. 1 powered by a General Electric GE-F404-IN20 engine, but it is still considering purchase of 20 of the evolved type the Indian air force wants most, the Mk. 2 powered by GE F414s.
Kevin Dillon has been named vice president of operations for Constant Aviation , a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility based at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. He was managing director at Avantair and before that was sales and acquisitions maintenance manager at Flight Options.
Charles Mayer has been appointed vice president of marketing for Switzerland-based Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. He was vice president of marketing for Hawker Beechcraft.
IndiGo’s plan to field 150 A320 new engine option (NEO) narrowbodies is giving a big boost to the carrier’s ambitions and Airbus’s reengining program. For Airbus, the huge 180-unit order (including 30 non-NEO A320s), is just the first step after launching the reengining effort without a traditional launch customer. But a second commitment—likely for the initial operator—is expected Jan. 17, indicates EADS CEO Louis Gallois.
Leithen Francis (Zhuhai, China), Robert Wall (Zhuhai, China)
The Chinese government is pursuing a dual approach to the industry, both by gradually easing airspace restrictions to slowly boost demand for light aircraft, while at the same time looking to become a supplier of those aircraft.
As a former Northwest Airlines pilot, I strongly disagree with the tone of your obituary for Alfred Khan (AW&ST Jan. 3, p. 33). That arrogant academic never held a job in the real world in his life. Only about 20% of what he proposed had merit, though it was bought 100%. The man almost single-handedly ruined an industry. The gracious comments of American Airlines former President/CEO Robert Crandall about Kahn’s passing are indicative of the person I regard as the last of the “real” airline CEOs.
An article in the Jan.3 issue on p. 40, should have indicated that Europe’s Egnos GPS augmentation system was made available on Nov. 30 for en route and LNAV testing and observation only. An official service declaration is expected later this month.
Jan. 24-26—International Quality and Productivity Center’s “Airport Security Asia 2011.” Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. Call +65 (67) 229-388 or see www.airportsecurityasia.com/Event Jan. 24-27—Institute for Defense and Government Advancement’s “Network-Enabled Operations 2011.” Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington, Va. Call +1 (800) 882-8684 or see www.idga.org Jan. 25-26—Quaynote Communications’ Conference “The Future of Business Jets in the Middle East.” Movenpick Hotel, Bahrain. Call +44 (208) 348-3704 or see www.quaynote.com
L.D. Buerger (see photo) has been promoted to director-G650 initial phase operations from senior manager of G650 production operations at Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. Honors And Elections
Avic Defense will use rapid prototyping centers like the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for future military aircraft developments, with the aim of overcoming what it says are inefficient production processes. The centers are being set up at the fighter plants at Shenyang and Chengdu, the latter of which has just begun test flying the large J-20 combat aircraft.
Virgin Atlantic’s two shareholders are likely rigorously searching for new investors, as both the Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines appear to be willing to sell their interest in the beset British airline.
Richard Christiansen has joined Milan, Ohio-based Sierra Lobo as a vice president. He was vice president of aerospace programs at Crown Consulting and also spent four years as deputy director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center.
Chris Little (see photo) has been promoted to regional engine manager for Pratt & Whitney Canada products at BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul company Dallas Airmotive. He was senior customer service representative for Honeywell programs.
The 45% increase in corporate taxes that Illinois legislators recently voted will not have an appreciable effect on the Boeing Co., it says. While Boeing moved its corporate headquarters to Chicago from Seattle in 2001, it does not have a manufacturing presence in Illinois. Corporate taxes are levied on sales attributable to operations in the state in which they occur on which corporate taxes are based.
Boeing’s second 787 test aircraft, ZA002, was set to return to flight on Jan. 15, six weeks after ferrying back to Seattle following an inflight electrical fire over Texas that prompted a fleet-wide grounding and suspension of test flights. The ramp-up in flight test activity comes amid growing expectation that the FAA is set to sign off on Boeing’s revised flight-test plan, marking the resumption of certification flights and the effective restart of the program.
