Russian industry may be talking a grand strategy of commercial aircraft renewal, but a senior executive cautions that a pragmatic approach is what's necessary. Some in Russia's newly integrated aircraft industry--the Russian United Aircraft Corp. (OAK)--propose a sweeping civil aircraft program, but Aeroflot CEO Valery Okulov suggests near-term focus on a single aircraft family development.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes is continuing to increase its 737 delivery rates. For the first quarter, it delivered 106 aircraft, including 83 737s. The corresponding figures for 2006 were 98 total deliveries and 72 737s. Wide-body deliveries were static--17 777s (same) and three each of the 747 (four) and 767 (same).
Industry is scrambling to respond to the British Defense Ministry's move to abandon a "get-well" upgrade program for mothballed Chinook helicopters, the latest twist in a messy procurement saga. The ministry is ditching its planned "fix-to-field" effort for its Boeing Chinook Mk3s. Instead it is going for a less-ambitious, less-capable and less-costly modification that will gut elements of the model's hybrid digital cockpit to deliver what is akin to an Mk2 Chinook standard.
NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE HAS TAKEN DELIVERY of three Cessna Skyhawks for its flight training program. Another eight are scheduled to be delivered during the next 14 months. Aaron Cook, director of aviation at the college, says all of the Skyhawks will be equipped with Garmin's G1000 fully integrated avionics package. He says the Skyhawk was chosen over five other aircraft because of its safety record, reliability and ease of maintenance. The college offers an associate degree in aviation.
Eaton Corp.'s purchase price for Argo-Tech Corp. was reported incorrectly in a recent Market Focus column (AW&ST Mar. 12, p. 10). The price is $695 million.
Avio and ESA technicians continue investigating the reasons for the anomalous behavior of an Avio Zefiro 9 solid-fuel rocket motor during its second hot-fire test, carried out Mar. 28 at the Italian joint military firing range in Salto di Quirra, Sardinia. Planned for the third stage of ESA's Vega launch vehicle, the Zefiro 9 performed according to expectations for the first 35 sec. of the test. But then sensors registered a drop in the motor's internal pressure. The motor kept burning beyond the planned 105 sec., damaging its nozzle.
Looking to what some think should really be the "next" idea in airplanes, the Boeing Phantom Works is cooperating with a number of European suppliers on a hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator aircraft. Manned test flights of the emissions-free converted Dimona motor glider are expected at mid-year in Spain. The glider will be modified with a Proton Exchange Membrane from U.K.-based Intelligent Energy. A hybrid system, it combines a fuel cell with lithium-ion batteries to power an electric motor driving a conventional propeller.
Julie Ellis, a partner in the Memphis, Tenn., law firm of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Cannada, will be president of the Washington-based International Aviation Womens Assn. (IAWA) for 2007. President-elect is Debra D. Fowler, senior aviation attorney at the U.S. Justice Dept. Other officers and board members elected for 2007 are: secretary, Abby L.
China's People's Liberation Army has agreed to open more airspace around the southern island Hainan, allowing flights to and from Southeast Asia to follow more direct routes.
Compass Airlines has received its FAA certificate as a Part 121 air carrier. Chairman/CEO Neal Cohen says the wholly owned Northwest Airlines subsidiary will begin Washington Dulles-Minneapolis/St. Paul service next month with a 50-seat CRJ200.
Dean McColgan and Liz Vivian (see photos) have become Northwest U.S. regional managers in Boeing's Government Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship (GCC) organization.
Concerns of the airlines and freight forwarders that steps taken thus far to secure cargo are inadequate to the task have led to the formation of the Global Air Cargo Security Industry Task Force. Formed by the International Air Transport Assn. and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Assns., the task force intends to focus on securing the entire supply chain and to develop global security standards. The group hopes to become a forum for all stakeholders including governments.
International Air Transport Assn. Director General Giovanni Bisignani says it was a mistake for Thailand's reopened Bangkok Don Muang Airport to serve partly international and domestic traffic after closing last September for Suvarnabhumi airport's opening. "The airport is not working," he says--thanks to a cracked runway and broken baggage handling system. "It is an embarrassing story for the Thai government."
The European Commission has approved Thales's and Finmeccanica's acquisition of the Alcatel Alenia Space and Telespazio joint ventures. The agreement is part of the broader sale of Alcatel's space business to Thales as part of the Alcatel-Lucent merger.
Bill Hartig has been elected vice president-Midwest U.S. of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. The region represents employees at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems in Kansas and BAE Systems in Irving, Tex. Three vice presidents were elected from the Northwest U.S.: incumbent Jill Rit- chey and Michael Dunn and Tom McCarty. They will represent employees of Boeing and Triumph Composite Systems.
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSN. HAS RELEASED its latest version of the NBAA Oceanic Flying Operations and Procedures Manual in CD-ROM format. The manual guides pilots through advanced planning for international trips, including compliance with laws and procedures in multiple countries as well as government and international documentations required. More detailed information about the CD can be obtained by contacting NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
Lockheed Martin will manufacture components for another five F-2 fighters for Japan under a $150-million contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Japan is to build 94 airplanes. Lockheed Martin now is building parts for 81 of the jets, and the latest contract increases that number to 86.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] Apr. 16-20--University of Westminster Symposium on Airport Economics and Finance. London. Call +44 (207) 911-5000 ext. 3344, fax +44 (207) 911-5057 or see www.westminster.ac.uk/transport/tsgshort.htm Apr. 17-20--Latin America Aero & Defense '07. Rio Center, Rio de Janeiro. See www.laadexpo.com
Security and society's litigious bent combine to make airlines unsuited for figuring out the best place to put a suspected explosive device discovered during a flight, AirTran Airways tells the FAA.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is asking the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to support commercial H-IIA rocket launches, reportedly asking for a ¥2-3-billion ($17-25-million) handout for each ¥10-11-billion launch. Although the company took over Japanese satellite launch operations as a private business Apr. 1, it says it needs public funding to cover activities such as launch pad repairs. It also hopes the agency will pay it for launch data that will contribute to the development of Japanese space technology.
MOONEY AIRPLANE CO. IS MAKING AVAILABLE retrofit kits to install AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints for older Mooney airplanes. The airbags, which install on a seat's safety belts, are standard on the Acclaim, Ovation 2GX and Ovation 3 models and have been available since 2004. The retrofit is being offered in three configurations--front and rear seats, front seat only and rear seat only. Mooney aircraft eligible for the upgrade include M20J, M20K, M20M, M20R and M20S models, depending on serial number applicability.
First-quarter deliveries at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems were a mixed bag compared to last year. They comprised four AH-64D Apache helicopters (nine in 2006), four C-17s (same), two T45TS trainers (four) and 11 F/A-18E/F and EA-18G fighters (10), as well as five CH-47 Chinooks and one C-32/C-40 transport.
U.S. defense electronics giant L-3 Communications has picked up its first big-ticket win in the U.K., where it has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Defense Ministry's Helix program. Project Helix involves upgrading the mission systems on the RAF's Nimrod R1 electronic intelligence aircraft. The company will now carry out an £11.5-million ($22.7-million) risk-reduction study, with approval for the implementation phase, worth up to £400 million, anticipated in mid-2009.
Officials at Bell say the problems that prompted the U.S. Army to allow 30 days to right the wayward Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) program are not akin to those experienced a year ago on a Navy effort. Nor do they mirror troubles in the 1990s manufacturing the V-22 tiltrotor, a company official close to the program is quick to point out.
