The focus of debate over rechartering the U.S. Export-Import Bank has turned to the Senate this month. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) are pushing a proposal to extend the bank another five years, but only if existing restrictions on supporting coal-fired power plants overseas are lifted.
Like a bad wedding gift that cannot be offloaded, the FAA indicated last week it is investigating whether a photographer’s UAV-borne video of Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s recent nuptials violated current restrictions on unmanned aircraft in domestic airspace. Maloney, an upstate New York Democrat, is a minority member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure aviation subcommittee that oversees the FAA.
Last week saw a slew of defense-related developments on Capitol Hill. While none of them alone was definitive for military programs, they continue to weave a narrative of tougher decisions to come over the defense budget starting next year and beyond. That is because Senate appropriators put their imprimatur on fiscal 2015 defense spending plans that—like other key legislative branch defense committees—overwhelmingly rebuffs the Pentagon’s first hard proposals to meet congressionally mandated sequestration-level spending caps.
The delayed and controversial request for proposals (RFP) in the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Launched Surveillance and Strike (Uclass) air vehicle competition should be out “within a couple of weeks,” Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the service’s program executive officer for unmanned aircraft and strike systems, said at the Farnborough air show on July 14. The Navy is in the final stages of dialogue with senior Pentagon leadership regarding the specifications in the RFP.
Chris Strong has become senior vice president-conventions and membership for the Washington-based National Business Aviation Association. He has been senior vice president-marketing and member services, and succeeds Kathleen Blouin, who will continue as a consultant.
Anton Lill (see photo) has been named managing director of Air Berlin’s loyalty program Topbonus. He was vice president/general manager for Germany at American Express Global Business Travel and had been managing director of Lufthansa subsidiary AirPlus.
Eija Hakakar has been named senior vice president-human resources for Finnair. She will succeed Manne Tiensuu, who is leaving Aug. 31. Hakakari has held the same position at Stora Enso’s Printing and Living division. Riku Aho has been appointed managing director of Finnair Aircraft Finance Ltd. and its subsidiary Finnair ATR Finance Ltd. He was assistant vice president.
Craig R. Cooning has been appointed president of Boeing’s St. Louis-based Network & Space Systems businesses. He has been vice president/general manager of N&SS’s Space & Intelligence Systems and succeeds Roger Krone, who has left the company.
Mbuvi Ngunze (see photo) has been promoted to group managing director/CEO of Kenya Airways from chief operating officer, effective Dec. 1. He will succeed Titus Naikuni, who plans to retire.
Robert A. Schacht has become CEO of Westfield Hydraulics Inc., Pacoima, California. He was chief operating officer of Ace Clearwater Enterprises and had been president of Hydra Electric.
Allan Goodbrand has been promoted to general manager for Circor Aerospace & Defense Europe from general manager for Circor UK. Don Stinnett has been promoted to general manager for Circor Aerospace & Defense California from product line director for landing gear and actuation. And Paul Devaux has been appointed president of Circor Chemille (France). He was a general manager for United Technologies Aerospace Systems in Indonesia.
