Mounting order cancellations and deferrals are leading Embraer and Airbus to implement sweeping changes in production plans. Less than a year ago, both manufacturers were scrambling to boost output to keep up with surging demand. Now, the question is whether cuts are being made fast enough to keep pace with the shrinking orderbooks.
Air Arabia reports that its profit for 2008 increased 35.6% to 510 million United Arab Emirates dirhams ($139 million) on a 61% increase in revenue. The airline’s management saw a 33% increase in passenger volume, delivering an average load factor of 85%. Total passenger numbers reached 3.8 million. Chairman Abdullah bin Mohammad Al Thani acknowledges the effect current economic turmoil is inflicting on the financial performance of airlines globally this year, but the carrier has not provided guidance on its expected performance for 2009.
Mar. 3—Aviation Week Laureate Awards Dinner. Andrew Mellon Auditorium. Washington. Mar. 11-12—Defense Technology & Requirements. Washington. Apr. 22-23—Aviation Week MRO Military Conference. Dallas. Oct. 1—Green Europe. Hamburg, Germany. Dec. 8-10—Aviation Week MRO Asia. Hong Kong. Mar. 18-19—Aircraft Data Management. San Diego/Phoenix. Mar. 26-27—ADS-B Management Forum. Washington.
Peter B. Teets, former U.S. Air Force undersecretary and director of the National Reconnaissance Office and retired president of the Lockheed Martin Corp., has been named to receive the Colorado Springs-based Space Foundation ’s Gen. James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award on Apr. 1, during the 25th National Space Symposium. Teets was selected for contributions to manned and unmanned access to space that have benefited national security and space programs. Hill was a longtime chairman of the foundation.
Lockheed Martin says more than 70 partnerships with Italy’s industrial base have been implemented and are projected to provide more than $2 billion in long-term economic impact to the Italian economy. The Italian Defense Ministry confirmed that the company met related requirements for Italy’s acquisition of 22 C-130J aircraft five years ahead of schedule, the company said Feb. 17.
Mar. 3-4Technology Training Corp.’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Conference. San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina. Call +1 (310) 563-1210, fax +1 (310) 563-1220 or see www.ttcus.com Mar. 4-6—University of Westminster Aviation’s Seminar: “Marketing & Market Research for Air Transport: Practical Techniques and Strategies.” London. Call +44 (207) 911-5000 ext. 3344, fax +44 (207) 911-5057 or see www.westminster.ac.uk/transport
Whether an engine is burning 100% kerosene or a 50-50 mix with alternative fuels, it will still produce essentially the same amount of carbon dioxide. So how can one conclude that “alternative fuels will be the only way to achieve zero emissions growth” (AW&ST Feb. 2, p. 35)?
South African Airways is facing tough challenges beyond just achieving a financial turnaround, as the airline tries to leave behind scandals including the ouster of its chief executive over alleged corruption and drug-trafficking by crew.
As the Obama administration considers the best strategy for conducting the war in Afghanistan, former top Pentagon leaders advise a go-slow policy—at first. Shifting U.S. spending, military and political priorities from Iraq to Afghanistan will probably take a couple of years and it is important to “start with a strategy first,” says Jack Keane, a former Army vice chief of staff. The retired four-star general, an early proponent of the U.S. surge in Iraq, notes that previous officials did not get the strategy right at first in Iraq.
Hido Egawa has been appointed to succeed Nobuo Toda as president of the Japan-based Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. as of Apr. 1. He has been a director and senior executive vice president of parent company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Toda will become vice chairman of MHI.
David Bailey (see photo) has been appointed Burbank, Calif.-based senior director/chief engineer for the 787 program at Crane Aerospace & Electronics , Lynnwood, Wash. He was head of engineering for Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems.
Debates on the future of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps VH-71 presidential replacement helicopter program could be a “key” test for U.S.-exposed companies, according to analysts at Exane BNP Paribas Capital Goods Team. “This could imply that more programs could come under scrutiny as the U.S. state deficit rises under the pressure from the economic downturn and the U.S. stimulus plan.” For instance, they said, it could impact BAE Systems and Cobham. The analysts in a Feb.
Italy, France and Germany are starting work on the radar and optical components of Europe’s next-generation satellite surveillance system, which is expected to enter service toward the middle of the next decade.
Former FAA Associate Administrator William F. Shea of Woodland, Calif., has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Aviation Management Assn. He was the association’s first president, as commissioner of the Binghamton (N.Y.) Regional Airport.
Despite mounting aircraft cancellations and deferrals, French aerospace supplier Safran expects to maintain deliveries of engines at or near current record levels.
Previous letter writers have listed the direct benefits and negatives that offshoring produces, but none has mentioned the indirect economic pluses. Creation of jobs in other countries raises the standard of living there, increasing consumer demand, which eventually manifests itself as increased business for U.S. products, more commercial travel between partner countries, greater trade and a potentially lower trade deficit for the U.S.
Chinese commercial aircraft maker Comac has begun volume production of the ARJ21 regional jet, aiming to deliver five of the aircraft next year. A further 10 will follow in 2011 and 15 in 2012, the company says.
Hong Kong businessman Joseph Lau has canceled a 787 VIP order, reducing Boeing’s firm order count to 878 for the aircraft type from 53 customers. Lau’s cancellation was the 33rd for the program. It also left Boeing with 32 fewer orders for 2009 than it had at the end of last year. Boeing recorded a single 737 order from Alaska Airlines as of Feb. 19.
Better test ranges, more flexible threat simulations and the latest foreign surface-to-air missile systems will be needed to maintain the U.S. Air Force’s combat edge in the 21st century.
Snecma and Europropulsion, a joint venture of Snecma and Italy’s Avio, will supply the cryogenic propulsion system and solid rocket motors for 35 additional Ariane 5 launch vehicles. The venture’s $1.5-1.7-billion contract for the work was awarded by Ariane 5 prime contractor EADS Astrium, which received an award for the 35 launchers, known as Batch PB, in early February (AW&ST Feb. 9, p. 21). Snecma provides the Vulcain 2 main stage and HM7B upper stage for the Ariane 5 ECA—the object of the PB Batch purchase—along with main and upper-stage equipment and subsystems.
British and French naval experts are attempting to determine how two nuclear-powered ballistic missile-carrying submarines collided in early February, and how to prevent such occurrences. The French defense ministry indicated on Feb. 6 that the Triomphant—the first in a new generation of nuclear subs that will carry France’s new M51 ballistic missile—had been forced to return to its home port after striking an undisclosed immersed object. On Feb.
Reader Chip Lawson questions the water landing/ditching passenger information card found on Airbus A320s (AW&ST Feb. 2, p. 8). He says the card shows (or suggests) the A320 will float in a level position, but US Airways Flight 1549 ended up tail down, with water entering the aft portion of the aircraft when the rear door was mistakenly opened. Lawson forgets that one of the nacelles containing a big old, heavy CFM56 engine was ripped off during ditching, thereby drastically altering the center of gravity and making the aircraft immediately tail-heavy.
Sea Launch has postponed liftoff of Italy’s Sicral 1b military communications satellite until further notice because of unspecified payload issues. Launch of the spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space and partially financed by sister company Telespazio, already has been pushed back several times. Industry sources say an April launch is now likely.
Peter Lengyel has become vice president-business development support for Safran USA . He was director of naval affairs for defense cooperation in the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
