An interesting quid-pro-quo military equipment deal between Israel and Italy may jeopardize Israel's future contracts with South Korea, but it has also solidified Jerusalem's relationship with Rome. Israel is opting for the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainer over Korea Aerospace Industries' T-50 in an estimated $1 billion deal that will cover 25-30 aircraft plus ground-based training systems. This month, the director general of Israel's defense ministry, Maj. Gen. Udi Shani, recommended his government authorize the order.
Washington has assumed a prime position among U.S. cities likely targeted for attack—cyberattack, that is. The capital city leads the list in a new annual report on cities with the most cybercrime risk factors. The city's ranking, compiled by Symantec's Norton in partnership with research firm Sperling's BestPlaces, is up from third place last year, because of the region's hyper-connected denizens.
Interior modification is a hot segment of the maintenance, repair and overhaul market, and MRO and airframe companies are coming up with novel ways of dramatically reducing turnaround times for installation of interior components. At the MRO Middle East conference this month, ICF SH&E Vice President David Stewart said interior upgrades and modification and demand will be responsible for growing heavy maintenance at a compound annual growth rate of 3.3% through 2021, even in the midst of new aircraft platforms and deliveries to airlines.
Armed with new funding tools recently approved as part of the FAA reauthorization act, Kent Statler, executive vice president for commercial systems at avionics supplier Rockwell Collins, sees airlines beginning to phase in NextGen on a regional basis. High-density airports, possibly in the Northeast, could begin to require aircraft flying in and out to be compliant with certain NextGen technologies, Statler tells Aviation Week editors on a swing through Washington.
Brad Tilden (see photo) has been named CEO of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group, parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. He will remain as president of Alaska Airlines. Tilden succeeds Bill Ayer, who will continue as chairman. Mark Eliasen has been appointed VP-finance and treasurer.
Orbital Sciences Corp. estimates it will take a $10-15 million hit this year with NASA's decision not to fly its replacement Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) on the Taurus XL launcher. Orbital hopes to recycle the solid-fuel rocket motors it acquired for the mission, says CEO David Thompson. But after fairing-separation failures sent the first OCO and NASA's Glory satellite to watery graves, he concedes there are no more launch contracts for the Taurus XL.
The partnership between major airlines and regional carriers has long been based on the premise of “seamless service,” although the only thing seamless about it has been a common reservation system and a shared airline International Air Transport Association code. For passengers transferring to a regional airliner from an intercontinental jet, cabin comfort and amenities often defy comparison. But that could be changing, as global carriers vie for the lucrative first and business classes and some coach passengers show a willingness to pay more for greater room in economy.
To bolster Norwegian industry content on the F-35 program, Oslo has established a funding pool to help companies secure production workshare. The funding program will run during 2012-15 and has a budget of around 50 million Norwegian kronor, or $8.8 million. The Norwegian defense ministry notes that other governments, notably Canada and Australia, have created similar funding support mechanisms. Companies are expected to provide at least an equal amount when they tap the government's subsidy.
Deliveries of midsize business jets edged up in 2011, but the general aviation industry is still grappling with the prolonged economic uncertainty that is keeping buyers at bay. General aviation manufacturers shipped 1,865 aircraft in 2011, a 3.5% drop from the 1,932 shipped in 2010, according to the annual year-end report on the state of the industry from the Washington-based General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
The U.K. Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) was supposed to clarify the country's military plans and industrial agenda. But the reform agenda has turned into a form of Chinese water torture for industry, with an unending trickle of decisions, reports and strategies that so far have failed to spell out a clear path forward. In turn, industry has been left trying to guess what capacities it needs to maintain and where it can rationalize its businesses, with indications now that the bottom line is being hit.
As technologies mature toward more expensive demonstrations, and budget pressures tighten, NASA is restructuring its aeronautics program in a bid to sustain the momentum behind research into environmentally efficient aircraft. Faced with a cut in its fiscal 2013 aeronautics budget, the agency is to reduce its hypersonics research, but maintain spending on technologies for subsonic and supersonic fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
March 7—55th Annual Laureate Awards. Washington. March 7—Innovation Challenge Showcase. Washington. April 2-3—Engine MRO Forum. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 4-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 23-25—NextGen Ahead: Air Transportation Modernization. Washington. May 8-9—Civil Aviation Manufacturing. Charlotte, N.C. May 23-24—MRO Regional: Eastern Europe, Baltics and Russia. Vilnius, Lithuania.
Scott Alvis (see photo) has been named chief marketing officer for North America by Madrid-based Amadeus. He was senior VP-client management of the Airline IT and Distribution group.
F. William Smullen, 3rd, director of national security studies at Syracuse (N.Y.) University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has become a board member of SRC, formerly Syracuse Research Corp.
Even as it mulls a follow-on purchase of Boeing F/A-18E/Fs as a possible gap-filler for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Australian government expects to decide this year on upgrading some of its existing Super Hornets to an electronic-attack role, Defense Minister Stephen Smith says. Australia has taken 12 of the 24 F/A-18E/Fs already delivered for EA-18G Growler capabilities, although a decision has not yet been made, to integrate an electronic attack capability. The mission system will likely be different than the U.S. Navy standard.
James O'Callaghan (see photo), a scientist at Birmingham, England-based Dunlop Aircraft Tires, has received the Sue Panteny Award from the London-based Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He was recognized for developing a tread compound that reduces operating costs for airlines.
March 4—Tyabb (Australia) Airshow 2012. Peninsula Aero Club. See http://tyabbairshow.com.au/ March 5—Southern California Aviation Association's Safety Seminar. Airtel Plaza Hotel, Van Nuys. See http://scaa.memberlodge.com/ March 5—Speednews' Second Annual Aerospace Raw Materials and Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference. Also, March 5-7—26th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference. Both at Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif. See www.speednews.com/conferences
Kay Sears, president of Intelsat General Corp., has received the Women in Technology award from the Government Technology Research Alliance, Washington. The award honors government and industry leaders for contributions to information technology.
The “King of Good Times” is moving from bad to worse. India's cash-strapped privately-owned Kingfisher Airlines is caught in severe financial turbulence and is gasping for additional bank funding or a government bailout to stay afloat.
John Sutton has joined Qinetiq North America, McLean, Va., as general manager and executive VP of its Mission and Information Solutions. He was senior VP-business development and general manager at Global Crossing.
