The fixed satellite service (FSS)outlook remains buoyant as operators continue to reap the benefits of heavy investment in new capacity and sustained demand for TV and broadband, particularly in emerging economies.
There’s a little bit of Honeywell in Apple’s iPad. The company’s active matrix liquid crystal display technologies are, of course, quite well known in the aerospace and defense sector (on Boeing 777s, F/A-18s, et al.), but it might come as a surprise to learn they are also favored in consumer electronics. An online teardown report from ifixit.com turns up the iPad evidence, noting that Honeywell patent 5280371 is marked on the interior of Apple’s newest product.
A California company has a bright idea for deorbiting spent spacecraft that otherwise would turn into space junk. Dubbed GOLD for Gossamer Orbiter-Lowering Device, the Global Aerospace Corp. concept is a lightweight balloon that would increase drag on potential debris and pull it back into the atmosphere to burn up. The company says a 100-meter-dia. envelope could be folded and stowed in the volume of a medium-size suitcase, attached to a spacecraft or upper stage before launch and deployed at the end of the mission.
NetJets founder Richard Santulli is re-entering the aviation business, this time to help finance long-range helicopters to service the offshore oil exploration and production industry. He and investment partners are providing financing through Milestone Aviation Group, an all-new entity with offices in Dublin, Ireland, and Columbus, Ohio.
Could it be that after nearly a decade of botched attempts by the U.S. Air Force to buy KC-135 replacements, the latest project will be delayed again over a dispute about a proposal that may—or may not—have arrived five minutes late? Stranger things have happened in the KC-X competition. The Pentagon is assessing only two bids for the U.S. Air Force KC-135 replacement competition because a last- minute proposal from U.S. Aerospace/Antonov was not received before the deadline, according to Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is being designed to go into the threat ring of the world’s best antiaircraft defenses, but its formula for survival will work only if the right improvements and upgrades have been added.
Cobham has identified elements it plans to divest as part of a broader plan to realign the company and strengthen the business through acquisitions, according to new CEO Andy Stevens. The divestitures will likely represent 10-15% of technology division revenues.
Just as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. nears selection of its international technology partner for the proposed Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), details are coming to light about requirements for the rotorcraft.
Tina W. Jonas has been named executive vice president-operations of Passur Aerospace Inc. , Stamford, Conn. She was director of operations planning and analysis for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
With a shrinking military budget and changing threats, Israeli officials are wrestling with where to allocate future spending. The yearly debate between the treasury and the defense ministry is now underway, and the nation’s existential angst is reflected in a wide range of opinions. The speed with which the Israeli administration can respond to new threats, and the evolving definitions of war and victory, are triggering new concerns.
The U.S. Air Force is planning to launch the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communications satellite Aug. 12. The satellite will require about three months to shift into a testing orbit. Another 3-4 months is required to perform trials. It will be the first of a constellation of spacecraft to replace the Milstar system now in orbit; early in its operational life, it will use low and medium data rates. When the second AEHF is launched next year, a faster extended data rate capability will be added.
Aug. 16-19—National Defense Industrial Association’s 13th Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference and Exhibition. Huntsville, Ala. Call +1 (256) 382-5823 or see www.smdconf.org Aug. 16-20—Terrapinn’s Aviation Outlook Africa. BMW Pavilion Convention Center, Cape Town, South Africa. Call +27 (11) 463-6001 or see www.terrapinn.com/2010/aviationza Aug. 24-27—Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Unmanned Systems North America. Colorado Convention Center, Denver. See www.auvsi.org
Stefan Hansen has become CEO of Lufthansa Systems . He succeeds Wolfgang F.W. Gohde, who has left the company. Hansen headed the Infrastructure Services Div.
Israeli strategic planners paint a future for the Middle East as one that is shifting rapidly as a result of the introduction of advanced weaponry, refined tactics by non-state military forces, unstable governments and the strengthening of what has been dubbed the “radical axis.”
Ray Sisson is scheduled to become CEO of Dublin-based aircraft leasing company AWAS on Aug. 26. He has been president/CEO of Titan Aviation and was senior vice president/regional manager for the Middle East, Africa and Russia/CIS for GE Commercial Aviation Services.
SkyWest Holdings is aiming to solidify its position as the largest U.S. regional carrier with a $133-million bid to acquire ExpressJet Holdings and merge it with its Atlantic Southeast subsidiary. Continental Airlines and United Airlines, ExpressJet’s mainline partners, have signed off on the merger and SkyWest has drawn up a plan to integrate Atlantic Southeast’s fleet of Bombardier aircraft with ExpressJet’s fleet of Embraer jets and plans an aggressive 12-18-month timetable to earn a single operating certificate.
Israel faces many tough operational and defense budget decisions. The following articles—the first part appeared in the Aug. 2 issue, pp. 64-66—look at the extreme difficulties of fighting against stateless threats. Those threats change with great technological speed but have few leadership targets against which to retaliate. Additional tank battalions and fighter wings are no longer seen as the best response.
Steve Loranger, the chairman, president and CEO of ITT Corp., has had a tough couple of weeks. On July 30, the company reported declining profits and sales in its Defense & Information Systems unit, a 49% drop in new orders and said 2010 revenues would be $500 million lower than previously forecast. ITT’s stock dropped 7% on the news and is down about 20% since late April. “Our basic defense portfolio is strong,” argues Loranger, who attributes much of the decline to contract delays. “It’s just not growing as much as we would like right now.
The Canadian government and Sikorsky have agreed on a contract on how to handle the latest delays in developing the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter program. They are forcing a scaleback of an interim standard due to be delivered this year. Those six CH-148s will not feature fully compliant mission system software, with some sensor integration being deferred; the helicopters also won’t have full engine performance, although that is due to a prior program delay. The goal remains to start delivery of helicopters that fully meet requirements in 2012.
Ralph G. D’Ambrosio has been appointed senior vice president of New York-based L-3 Communications . He remains chief financial officer. Dan Azmon has been promoted to vice president. He will remain controller/principal accounting officer. Todd W. Gautier has been appointed head of the Precision Engagement Sector. He was vice president-business development for the Sensors and Simulation Group.
Sept. 28-30—MRO Europe. London. Nov. 1-3—A&D Programs Conference. Phoenix. Nov. 2-3—A&D Supply Chain Conference. Phoenix. Nov. 2-4—MRO Asia Conference and Exhibition. Singapore. Dec. 8-9—A&D Finance Conference and Exhibition. New York. You can now register ONLINEfor Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/events or call Lydia Janow at+1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only)
Michael A. Taverna (Farnborough and Paris), Douglas Barrie (Farnborough and Paris)
The future of the U.K.’s heavy-lift rotary force is further taking shape with the Julius cockpit upgrade heading toward its first flight and a follow-on deal for 24 more CH-47s possible by year-end. The Julius cockpit is also believed to be the configuration baseline for the additional Chinook order. The additional 24 helicopters will be designated as Chinook Mk6s in Royal Air Force Service. Those undergoing the Julius upgrade will be known as Mk4s.
To understand the size of the chasm between the U.S. Transportation Department and airlines over the impact of its new tarmac-delay rule, consider two numbers: 41 and 5,226. The first is the additional cancellations the department concluded its rule would cause each year because airlines would fear hefty fines. The second is the number as calculated in a new analysis by two aviation consultants.
Air Berlin is starting a live experiment as the world’s first low-fare airline to enter a global alliance. Germany’s second largest carrier was invited officially to join Oneworld at a ceremony in Berlin last week. The process is expected to be completed by early 2012, but ahead of this the airline plans to introduce bilateral cooperation agreements with American Airlines, British Airways and Finnair.
