Regional rivals to Singapore's Tiger Airways are expanding their fleets. In July, Malaysia's AirAsia ordered 40 Airbus 320s, adding to a 2005 contract for 60 aircraft of the same type, to replace its Boeing 737s. PT Lion Mentari Airlines, Indonesia's biggest budget carrier, ordered 60 737-800s and -900s, and plans to start regional routes to Bangkok and Indian cities.
Aircraft simulator CAE Inc. is starting to feel the benefits of the upswing in commercial aircraft orders. The Montreal-based company had projected it would sell 21 simulators in its current fiscal year, which runs through Mar. 31. Halfway through that period, CAE has notched 19 orders, including a contract from five Boeing 737 simulators recently placed by low-cost European carrier Ryanair. If CAE is able to maintain its sales pace, it will surpass the 35 orders it notched in 2001 at the tail end of the industry's last upturn.
The British Defense Ministry and BAE Systems finally have signed a £450-million ($846-million) contract for the production of 28 Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainers for the Royal Air Force. Hard bargaining over costs appears to have been one cause for the delay in finalizing the deal, which had been expected to close by the end of 2005. The RAF also had considered purchasing up to 44 of the latest version of the Hawk, in two batches. At present, however, there is no indication the ministry will move beyond its order for 28. Two Hawk 128s have been built and are in flight-test.
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos says a deal to sell 12 EADS CASA C-295 twin-engine medium-lift aircraft and CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft to Venezuela is off. The U.S. opposed the deal, calling President Hugo Chavez a destabilizing force in the region. This left EADS without a supplier for some of the aircraft's technology. The cancellation comes as a relief to EADS North America, which has proposed the C-295 for the U.S. Army's Joint Cargo Aircraft competition and was hoping not to have to explain why the U.S.
Governments that want to harass the U.S. or its allies--without becoming entangled in actual conflict--have begun equipping non-state groups with technology that goes far beyond sophisticated weaponry. During the latest fighting in Lebanon and Israel, Iran provided Hezbollah with unmanned aircraft and, it is now being admitted, the intelligence products gathered by an electronic intercept facility it operated in Syria.
Industry may be applauding the intent of the British government's military technology road map, but it's also looking to find a route to additional cash. This is at a time when the Defense Ministry is already facing harsh choices on funding its equipment program. The strategy document also contains a warning for the air sector: It courts becoming so expensive as to be eventually unaffordable.
I hope the recent liquids fiasco has convinced people of the poor condition of our current airline passenger screening program. We are wasting billions of dollars each year for dubious gains. Terrorists must be laughing themselves silly, watching us chase our tails.
The Optus D1 and DirecTV 9S communications satellites were successfully dual-launched by an Ariane 5 rocket on Oct. 13 at approximately 4:56 p.m. EDT, the fourth launch this year for the Ariane 5 from Arianespace's facility in Kourou, French Guiana. Built by Orbital Sciences Corp. for Optus Networks Pty. Ltd. of Australia, Optus D1 will operate in the K u-band frequencies from its orbital location at 160 deg. E. Long., providing fixed satellite services and direct-to-home television broadcasting to Australia and New Zealand.
The successful launch of Europe's first polar orbiting weather satellite, after a string of delays, will reinforce global weather and climate forecasting--and help restore confidence in the venerable Soyuz launcher.
Arianespace affiliate Starsem says negotiations to launch Italy's CosmoSkyMed dual-use surveillance satellite system, the first of which is to be launched in April or May, hinge on talks between Italian and Russian officials. Starsem is closed to military missions, and Rome must convince Moscow of the civil nature of much of CosmoSkyMed's intended scope.
Richard Goglia has been named vice president-treasury and corporate development and Michael J. Wood vice president/chief accounting officer of the Raytheon Co., Waltham, Mass.
The NASA, U.S. Air Force and contractor team that conducted the flight test program for the X-43A hypersonic research aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., has been named winner of the Society of Flight Test Engineers' James S. McDonnell Team Award. The award honors team achievement in the field of flight test engineering.
The University of North Dakota (UND) Flying Team decisively swept the Region V National Intercollegiate Flying Assn.'s "Safecon" [Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference] competition, held Oct. 12-14 at Grand Forks, N.D., racking up 278 points. Runner-up St. Cloud State University followed with 106 points, University of Dubuque was third with 89 and Minnesota State University-Mankato took fourth with 52. The UND Flying Team will represent Region V in a national competition May 7-12, 2007, at Ohio State University.
Look for the Air Force to redraft its request for proposals (RFP) for an airborne refueler because of the concerns of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). McCain, who will become chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee if the Republicans maintain Senate majority in November, has questioned the Air Force's inclusion in the original draft RFP of questions regarding impacts of a dispute before the World Trade Organization (WTO) about subsidies for large commercial airplane programs.
British Airways says environmental performance is front-and-center to its wide-body competition--an effort that could eventually total more than 100 aircraft--but any deal will be as much about lowering its per-seat fuel costs as about going "green." British Airways last week kicked off what will be one of the most closely watched competitions between Airbus and Boeing, with an estimated value of more than $10 billion for the first batch of 34 aircraft.
French space pioneer Michel Bignier died in his sleep on Oct. 12. He was 80. After graduating from the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique and Enac civil aviation school, Bignier in 1953 joined the French defense ministry's flight test center. He soon focused on missiles and participated in early programs that led to development of French nuclear ballistic launchers. In the early 1960s, Bignier joined the newly formed CNES French space agency and became director general in 1972.
Aviation regulators are examining whether to alter long-established procedures for aircraft noise certification with the goal of fostering the introduction of technologies to quiet operations. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, compelled largely in Europe.
Michael A. Taverna and Frank Morring, Jr. (Valencia, Spain)
Robotic missions to Mars promise to provide a space-exploration second front as humans prepare to return to the Moon in the decade ahead. While NASA concentrates on building the human-rated Ares launch vehicles along with the Orion crew carriers and upper stages and landers needed to put four human explorers at a time anywhere on the Moon, the focus in Europe will be on a sophisticated rover that can drill as much as 6 ft. beneath the Martian surface to look for evidence of water and life.
Bill Baumgarten, Bob Buley and John Khoury have been named directors of customer operations for--respectively, North America and Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, and Latin America--for Naverus Inc., Kent Wash. Baumgarten was vice president-commercial aviation sales for Flight Deck Resources. Buley was senior account manager for airports and airlines services with the Lockheed Martin Corp., while Khoury was sales director for airlines in the Central U.S., Latin America and Caribbean for Honeywell Aerospace.
MARKET FOCUS Earnings down at General Dynamics; stock price may have peaked 11 NEWS BREAKS Japanese coast guard taps AW139 for all-weather SAR duties 18 AW&ST names Beijing-based Asia-Pacific editor 19 Successful Metop launch puts to rest Soyuz reliability concerns 19 British Defense Ministry, BAE ink contract for 28 Hawk 128 trainers 20 EADS's space division continues strong performance 22 Obituary for French space pioneer Michel Bignier 22
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary C. Kelly described the airline's third-quarter results as "solid," considering the dramatic rise in fuel costs and last summer's terror threat in London. The airline reported a $48-million net income in the quarter, compared with $210 million in the same period last year. Southwest had a $200-million cash gain from fuel hedging in the quarter, but the price of jet fuel per gallon increased 60% compared to last year. Revenues were impacted by the terror threat. Southwest estimates a more than $40- million reduction for August and September.
Air traffic controllers want to work traffic on concrete runways and assign transponder codes--not strut on fashion runways and adhere to dress codes. But dress code they must, under work rules imposed by FAA on the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. Effective Sept. 4, controllers at all U.S. facilities were told to wear business casual to work. No jeans, no sandals, no sneakers. How many airport travelers are really concerned about the fashion in towers and darkened control centers?
