Boeing’s 45-year history of optimism about commercial jet sales continues in its latest 20-year forecast: It expects the current global fleet of 18,800 aircraft to reach 35,600 in 2028 with 29,000 new deliveries and 14,250 airplanes removed, mostly because high fuel prices will make them too expensive to operate.
Patrick Major has been appointed vice president-flight operations, air carrier certification, training, and organizational development for SH&E in Washington.
Robert Candler has been named vice president/general manager of the Reno (Nev.) Service Center of Dassault Aircraft Services . He was a vice president of Landmark Aviation.
Bruno Cervia has been appointed head of research and development for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. , Stans, Switzerland. He was head of new product development and succeeds John Senior, who has left the company.
Italian-based Sorem is contracted to deploy a pair of Bombardier CL-215 amphibian water bombers to Bastia, Corsica, for three months beginning July 1. The airplanes will complement Northrop Grumman S-2 Trackers operated by the French Civil Defense. Sorem, which operates 17 turboprop-powered CL-415s for the Italian Civil Protection Agency, will take delivery of another two airplanes by year-end. In addition, Giuseppe Spadaccini, chairman of the Aeroservices group that controls Sorem, says the company is discussing a firefighting agreement with the U.S.
U.S.-based Globalstar has clinched a French government-backed $586-million credit facility financing package for deployment of its second-generation mobile satellite system and ground segment. The agreement with a syndicate of French banks led by BNP Paribas and insured by France’s export credit agency, Coface, is subject to execution of certain conditions that Globalstar says will be satisfied shortly.
David J. McComas has been promoted to assistant vice president from senior executive director of the Space Science and Engineering Div. at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) is yet again looking at placing large aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus once its sale to a private equity consortium led by Onex Corp. and Greenbriar Equity is finalized. Despite the renewed optimism expressed by ILFC founder, Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy at the International Air Transport Assn.’s annual general assembly here, the leasing giant is considering canceling its order for 10 Airbus A380s because of concerns about the aircraft’s market outlook.
Thai Airways International is close to canceling its order for six Airbus A380s, arguing that it cannot economically deploy the aircraft. The airline is ready to pay a cancellation penalty, but could negotiate for other Airbus aircraft.
The paperless boarding pass is spreading rapidly with benefits mounting for the airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and for travelers using web-enabled cell phones or personal mobile devices. Under a system developed by the International Air Transport Assn., travelers can receive electronic boarding passes on the screens of their devices when they check in on an airline web site. The image contains a two-dimensional bar code established under an IATA standard. The service is available at 20 U.S. airports.
American Airlines has boosted its Boeing 737-800 orders, even as it decides to cut capacity further this year. The carrier has updated its agreement with Boeing, and has increased its 737-800 order by eight to 84. It will receive 76 through 2009 and 2010, and eight in 2011. American has financing for its 737 deliveries well into the second half of 2010. These aircraft will replace MD-80s. Meanwhile, the carrier this fall plans to reduce mainline capacity by 7.5% year-on-year in 2009, compared to a previously announced 6.5% cut.
The Airborne Laser (ABL) missile defense program may have been drastically cut, but it’s far from dead, says the head of the Missile Defense Agency. In fact, MDA plans to explore putting ABL technology on an aircraft smaller than its current jumbo jet platform, says Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly. The high-powered laser, designed to destroy an attacking missile shortly after launch, flies on a modified Boeing 747-400 freighter now.
Anthony Albanese has been promoted to vice president from assistant vice president of the Systems Technology Business Area of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Research Corp. (SRC) . Joanne Shumaker has been named Hanover, Md.-based federal market account director. She was president of SciTech Services Inc. Tom Wilson has been named vice president/chief strategy officer of subsidiary SRCTec. He was SRC’s vice president-systems technology.
Japan justifies its bid to acquire high-tech F-22 Raptors by pointing to China’s growing fleet of advanced fighters like the Su-30MKK and a new, high-performance, air-launched cruise missile. But Japan’s major threat is “Chinese ballistic missiles, and no fighter is going to solve that problem,” notes a veteran Washington analyst.
France will consider leasing or buying C-130J transports as part of a plan to meet urgent airlift requirements until it receives its first A400Ms—assuming the troubled program survives a looming ministerial facedown.
Jack Lawless has become president of Standard Aero ’s Associated Air Center in Dallas and Chris Swan vice president/general manager of the company’s Component Services in Cincinnati. Lawless was vice president-aerospace global sourcing and vice president-original equipment manufacturers for Honeywell. Swan was commercial field service director for the Americas for GE Aviation.
The U.K. has secured 17% of the 2008 defense export market, worth £4.2 billion ($6.97 billion) to the U.K. economy, according to figures from the government’s Trade and Investment’s Defense and Security Organisation. The figure still places the U.K. second in terms of in-year sales to the U.S.
The global aerospace industry meets this week at Le Bourget for the 48th Paris air show. The first of the now-biennial events took place 100 years ago at the Grand Palais in downtown Paris. With our cover, we remember the historic significance of this year’s gathering, but also highlight what the industry looks like today. Inside this issue, we address the state of major aviation programs and have asked several industry leaders to reflect on where the industry needs to go in the future (see p. 80). Photo of activity at the 2007 show by Mark Wagner/aviation-images.com
UPS and the Independent Pilots Assn. say they have averted furlough of 300 pilots through measures that will save $131 million over three years. The union agreed to a series of steps that include short- and long-term leaves of absence, military leaves, job sharing, reductions in flight pay guarantees, early retirement and sick-bank contributions. In exchange, UPS says there will be no pilot furloughs through April 2010.
It all may come down to the big rocket. The Augustine panel on the future of U.S. human spaceflight begins work this week with a NASA-funded study finding that a human-rated Delta IV heavy rocket could be a cheaper route to the International Space Station than NASA’s Ares I crew launch vehicle.
Millie H. Becker has been appointed vice president-business development at First Aviation Services , Teterboro, N.J. She was vice president-marketing and sales for Landmark Aviation.
The first of the South African Air Force’s 17 single-seat Saab Gripen C aircraft was flown on its maiden flight June 11. Prior to delivery to South Africa in October, the aircraft will go through a short flight-test program in Sweden. SAAF has begun to take delivery of its two-seat Gripen Ds, of which nine are on order.
Carl E. Walz has become vice president-human spaceflight operations in the Advanced Programs Group of the Orbital Sciences Corp. , Dulles, Va. He was director of the Advanced Capabilities Div. in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate of NASA in Washington.
Jason Noll has become head of Cessna Conquest sales and marketing for Avmats Spirit , Chesterfield, Mo. He was chief architect of the Cessna Aging Aircraft Support Program for Thunder Aviation Services Inc.
