Aviation Partners Inc. (API) is offering to refit any Boeing Business Jets with its split scimitar winglet (see photo). The modification is already being adapted by airlines operating the Boeing 737, from which the BBJ is derived. The modification is said to improve fuel burn by 2.5-3% and thus increase range by 200 nm. Gary Dunn, API's vice president of sales and marketing, says he expects operators of “a very healthy percentage” of the roughly 130 delivered BBJs to adopt the signature modification.
One of the unintended consequences of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) and its annual threat of sequestration—the automatic, widespread budget rescissions plaguing federal agencies since March—is the turnabout that will occur in the ratio of Defense Department procurement to research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E). According to analyst Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments think tank here, since fiscal 1955, the ratio has averaged 2.1, meaning the Pentagon was spending more than $2 in procurement for every $1 of RDT&E.
Jim Meier has been named vice president-government business development for the Greenwich AeroGroup of Wichita. He was senior vice president-aviation services for the Sabreliner Corp.
The Center for New American Security (CNAS) recently released a report entitled “Game Changers: Disruptive Technology and U.S. Defense Strategy.” That study considered additive manufacturing (3-D printers), autonomous vehicles, directed energy, cyber capabilities, human performance modification and other emerging technologies that the center believes need to be factored into U.S. security policy and planning.
The National Business Aviation Association annual convention, held last week in Las Vegas, is the largest industry event in the world, drawing more than 20,000 attendees. Manufacturers, suppliers and service companies typically use the show as a platform for news. A sampling follows. Additional coverage appears on pages 26-30.
USAF Maj. Gen. (ret.) Douglas Raaberg (see photo) has become the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s chief executive for the United Arab Emirates. He was director of the battle management command and control campaign within Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems Sector.
The Mexican air force has a follow-on order for a second batch of six Beechcraft T-6C+ turboprop trainers to continue replacing its Pilatus PC-7s. An initial six aircraft ordered in January 2012 are to be delivered soon, pending export licenses. The T-6C+ has a glass cockpit and wing hardpoints for external stores and practice weapons.
Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Cygnus demonstration resupply capsule departed the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to Earth with 2,850 lb. of trash, concluding a 24-day stay that brings the Dulles, Va.-based company's participation in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems (COTS) program close to its conclusion. Orbital plans to begin regular cargo deliveries to the ISS in December under the terms of a $1.9 billion, eight-flight Commercial Resupply Services contract signed with NASA in late 2008. The resupply ship carried out a delayed berthing on Sept.
The last-minute Oct. 16 law to restart U.S. government spending and debt authority mentioned few programs specifically, but did aim to protect two weather satellites that are nearing key phases of development. Since Congress could only pass a stopgap measure, which continues funding at fiscal 2013 levels until Jan. 15, 2014, the law does not allow necessary approvals for changes to programs, or new ones to start.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is slowly lifting the veil on its global expansion plans, and the next steps are bold. Just months after beginning long-haul operations from its bases in Scandinavia to Bangkok and the U.S., the Oslo-based low-cost carrier (LCC) confirmed it will launch transatlantic services from London Gatwick Airport next summer. Norwegian was the first of the current generation of European LCCs to enter the long-haul market, and now will be the first to do so from a base outside its home market.
If GE Aviation's use of direct metal laser melting is any indication of how additive manufacturing could radically change parts production and supply chains, the industry should be on alert. GE has used additive manufacturing technologies over the years, but its purchase of Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing (RQM) in November 2012 provided a quantum leap into direct metal laser melting (DMLM), which it views as a disruptive manufacturing technology.
Jerome Bendell (see photo) has been appointed CEO of ThalesRaytheonSystems France in Massy. He succeeds Philippe Duhamel, who is now CEO of international joint venture ThalesRaytheonSystems. Bendell was director of naval communication systems for Thales and had been vice president-defense and security strategy for the Alcatel-Lucent Group.
The death Oct. 18 of Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young (R-Fla.) is hitting defense hawks in Congress at a particularly bad time, considering the recent shutdown, continuing resolution and ongoing sequestration threat. Widely respected as one of the staunchest advocates and friends of the military, Young was the chief defense appropriator in the House of Representatives where he served since 1970. “He will be greatly missed for his willingness to work across the aisle and his advocacy for veterans,” says politically opposed Rep.
In the wake of Lockheed Martin's protest, the U.S. Navy issued a stop-work order Oct. 23 on the contract it gave Raytheon earlier this month for its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). “We submitted a technically compliant solution at a very affordable price,” Lockheed spokesman Keith Little said last week. “We do not believe the merits of our offering were properly considered.” Lockheed was believed by many industry observers to be the incumbent as it is the Aegis combat system prime contractor.
Avianca Brasil has selected Byogy to supply renewable biofuel and signed an offtake agreement for alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel. The U.S. biofuel developer already has an agreement in place in Brazil to convert ethanol produced from sugarcane into jet fuel. In March 2012, the company announced a feedstock agreement with Brazilian sugarcane ethanol producer Itapecuru Bioenergia. ATJ is expected to be approved for use in aircraft during 2014, and Byogy CEO Kevin Weiss says commercial production is on tap to begin in Brazil between late 2015 and mid-2016.
