Embraer plans to spend $2.6 billion during the next five years on product development. The increase should be noticeable this year, when spending would reach $500 million from around $280 million as Embraer launches two new business jets. Also, the aircraft maker and the Brazilian air force have signed an agreement for development of the Link-BR2 data network, which is aimed at satisfying the service's vission for network-centric operations.
Virgin America, Sir Richard Branson's proposed low-cost airline for U.S. domestic service, doesn't come close to qualifying as a U.S. citizen and won't receive certificate authority, the Transportation Dept. said in a tentative decision subject to appeal.
Early bidding in the upcoming congressional budget negotiations gives NASA exploration managers plenty of heartburn. Amid signs the incoming Democratic leadership intends to pass a full-year continuing resolution (CR) for Fiscal 2007 and move on to the Fiscal 2008 budget request early in the year, the space agency's legislative office warns that exploration accounts face deep hits.
The first dedicated commercial K a-band broadband spacecraft will commence operation early this year, underscoring the sudden maturing of this long-awaited new satcom application.
Two spaceborne solar observatories have started returning data to Earth, raising hopes of new discoveries on the closest star in the months ahead. One of NASA's twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories (Stereo) spacecraft has already returned images of a coronal mass ejection (CME), the powerful eruptions scientists hope to observe in 3D beginning in April as the spacecraft get far enough apart in heliocentric orbit.
Kevin Laughlin (see photo) has been named vice president-sales for North America for Intense Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland. He was vice president-sales and marketing at Nuvonyx Inc.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) this year has taken a big step to expanding the alliance's responsibility in Afghanistan and aid in rebuilding the war-torn country. British Army Gen. David J. Richards has overseen the growth of ISAF's role, including expansions in July and October that have put NATO in charge of some of the most dangerous parts of the country. ISAF has confronted a growing insurgency, while continuing to provide relief to the local population, even in the face of insufficient troop provisions by NATO members.
Clive J. Beddoe, chairman/CEO of Calgary-based WestJet, was a guiding light in the carrier's creation 10 years ago and continues to lead its expansion across Canada. He is a private pilot who was looking for something new and different in an airline, especially one suited for Canada's West. Beddoe threw out the book of rules for running an airline. WestJet invests in high technology when it's beneficial. Passengers are "guests" and employees are owners.
CANADIAN FORCES TRIALS OF 3D SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING show the potential to reduce maintenance training as much as 60%, according to CAE of Montreal and NGRAIN Corp. of Seattle and Vancouver. The Canadian Forces are using 3D simulations from these companies to accelerate aircraft maintenance training and ease demand on hardware training devices. The new system is also capable of providing distance learning. Maintenance trainees are reaching mandated performance levels much faster with the new system than with traditional methods, says Lt. Col.
Jean Lydon-Rodgers, president of the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, and Thomas Hartmann, team senior vice president, led the group that has designed and developed the F136 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This collaboration has worked outstandingly. GE brings its expertise in the hot section and extensive military background, while Rolls-Royce places its unique hollow titanium fan blisk into military application and also brings Stovl (short takeoff/vertical landing) technology to this versatile engine.
In the 30 years Rep. Ike Skelton has been in Congress, the U.S. has engaged in 12 military expeditions--from Grenada and Panama to Somalia and Afghanistan--but the Missouri Democrat says the war in Iraq has him worried about U.S. counterinsurgency capabilities. Counterinsurgency "over a period of years has become lost in the shuffle," the incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says, adding that when Democrats assume control of Congress this month, they will take "a hard look" at both conventional warfare and counterinsurgency.
Contrary to a story in the Dec. 18/25, 2006, issue (p. 31), Boeing officials say the company has suffered no production delays in 777s this year. Boeing expects to meet its projected target of 395 deliveries in 2006.
Capt. Dennis J. Dolan, President (Chertsey, England)
Pierre Sparaco's column "Unwarranted Criminalization" (AW&ST Nov. 13, 2006, p. 43) is "spot on," and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Assns. fully supports the conclusions. IFALPA has been concerned for some time about the growing tendency to pursue criminal actions against pilots and other aviation professionals who are involved in avation accidents. If those who are involved in accidents fear criminal prosecution, they will be reluctant to be candid and acknowledge deficiencies and failures that contributed to the accident sequence.
Airbus's re-launch of the A350 with models ranging from 270-350 seats is another strategic blunder that will further erode Airbus's position in the wide-body market. While Airbus was concentrating on the white-elephant A380, Boeing's upgrade of the 777 made the A340 obsolete, and the 787 has done the same to the A330. Meanwhile, the updated 747 has trounced the A380 in sales for the past two years. The A380's double-deck design without nose-loading probably never will be accepted by cargo carriers as a 747 replacement.
Add Washington Dulles International to the list of airports from which general aviation operators are allowed to fly directly into Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) barred general aviation flights in and out of Reagan National after 9/11, but lobbying by industry and area lawmakers convinced the TSA in July 2005 to allow some GA flights to return, under certain restrictions. Flight crews, passengers and aircraft must all be screened before flights from the approved gateway airports are allowed to fly into DCA.
Now a car man at Ford, Alan R. Mulally nonetheless is Aviation Week & Space Technology's 2006 Person of the Year because of the critical leadership role he played for two decades at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Mulally's emphasis on analyzing world trends to establish a vision of the market--and then matching that vision with lean manufacturing, continuous product improvement, supplier partnerships and mastery of Internet tools--has reshaped commercial aviation. Our profile begins on p. 50. Tom Wojnowski photo.
Linda R. Gooden (see photo) has been named executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Information and Technology Services, Bethesda, Md. She succeeds Michael F. Camardo, who has retired. Gooden was president of Lockheed Martin Information Technology.
The British government has killed a probe by its Serious Fraud Office into alleged bribery by BAE Systems representatives in Saudi Arabia. The review had irked Saudi officials, who threatened to scuttle a deal to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoons. Prime Minister Tony Blair defended his decision as protecting national security.
U.S. aerospace companies are hoping warming relations between Washington and New Delhi will help them win a larger share of India's growing defense spending. The Aerospace Industries Assn. (AIA) led a trade delegation of 18 companies to New Delhi and Bangalore in December and is planning another visit in 2007. Participants in the first trip included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Pratt & Whitney.
Orders for the Chinese-developed ARJ21 regional aircraft have reached 71 units. All the orders are from local airlines, but that isn't surprising. The aircraft, sporting unusually big engines--General Electric CF34 turbofans--for a capacity that begins at 70 seats, has been tailored for hot-and-high operations from the country's western plateau. Airlines that don't face such operating challenges would naturally avoid the weight and expense of the ARJ21's engines.
Kuwait Airways remained in the red last year, but cut losses 30% despite increasing fuel prices. Year-end losses stood at $54 million. For 2007-08, the company is planning near-term fleet renewals.
Steve Anderson took first prize in the Military category of the American Society of Aviation Artists' (ASAA) Annual International Aerospace Art Exhibition with his painting "Highest Tradition" (top), which depicts a Korean War mission. Jim Koepnick won first prize in the General Aviation category of Aviation Week & Space Technology's annual photo contest for his image of an Extra 300LP flying over Lakeland, Fla. ASAA joins AW&ST, for the seventh year, in presenting the best entries in their aerospace art and photography contests, starting on p. 40.
The German army has taken delivery of the first NH90 helicopter, which will be followed soon with handovers to Greece and Finland and other customers. Delivery is more than two years behind schedule, in part because of requirements changes and development and certification problems.
The increasingly likely series of merger agreements among the biggest U.S. airlines would challenge Washington's legislative and regulatory institutions as much as the managers of the carriers. An aide to James Oberstar (D-Minn.) says the incoming chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee fears that mergers such as ones proposed or being talked about--US Airways-Delta, United-Continental, American-Northwest--would lead to less competition, higher fares and reduced service, especially to small communities.
Former Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-in-Chief David M. North last week received the 2006 Lauren D. Lyman Award for excellence in aviation journalism, from the Washington-based Aerospace Industries Assn.
