EADS Defense & Security is regrouping all of its Paris-area facilities at a single plant in Elancourt, west of the capital, as part of an ongoing push for lower costs and greater efficiency. The plant, which previously belonged to Thales, will house the division's defense electronics, communications, unmanned aerial vehicle, homeland security and test equipment businesses, along with its Netcos battlefield laboratory.
Alan M. Foonberg (see photo) and Diana M. Johnson have been promoted to principal directors in the Communications and Networking Div. of The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif. Foonberg was systems director for Mission Operations Systems within the Transformational Satellite Communications System. Johnson was director of the Communication Systems Engineering Dept. Ranwa N. Haddad (see photo) has been appointed principal director in the Navigation Div. She was principal engineer in the Navigation Div. Rufus A. Fulton, Jr.
Alenia Aermacchi is to overhaul and upgrade Nigeria's MB-339A jet trainers under an $84-million program. Twelve aircraft were delivered in the 1980s, but in recent years the fleet has been all but grounded as a result of maintenance and support problems. The Italian company is carrying out a similar program aimed at returning to operational status Nigeria's G-222 tactical transport aircraft.
USAF Maj. Gen. Kenneth M. DeCuir has been named vice commander of Air Combat Command (ACC) at Langley AFB, Va. He was director of air and space operations at ACC Headquarters at Langley and will be succeeded by Maj. Gen. Roy M. Worden, who has been director of operational plans and joint matters/deputy chief of staff for air, space and information operations at the Pentagon. Worden, in turn, will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, who has been commander of ACC's 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad AB, Iraq. Maj. Gen. Vern M.
Iridium Satellite says the installed base has more than doubled to 7,500 aeronautical terminals in the past year, with an average of more than 300 terminals being added monthly. "Much of our current growth is in helicopter fleets, especially air ambulance and rescue services," says Executive Vice President Don Thoma. But Iridium is also gaining sales from commercial carriers that want the company's connections on long-distance, overwater routes for safety reasons. Passengers also are using the services.
Thomas Trisco (see photo) has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the European Operations of ZKM, a subsidiary of Ladish Co. Inc., Cudahy, Wis. He was international sales manager for the Cudahy Forging Div. of Ladish.
The multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is supposed to be the poster child for international cooperative programs. Instead, during the last year, the aircraft has served only to highlight the shortcomings of the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which govern the export of defense goods and services. Articles beginning on p. 82 examine the pitfalls of technology transfer and failures of ITAR, particularly as it affects the international defense industry and cooperative programs. Photos from Image Source and Lockheed Martin.
The U.S. Air Force has scrapped the Joint and Combined Air Dominance (JCAD) center at Lakenheath AB, England, after less than a year. The arrangement was supposed to assure better interoperability between allies in future conflicts by training mid-level pilots and instructors from various air forces to provide a common understanding of air combat. But, USAF has had a change of heart. Classes, which had barely begun, have been relocated to other facilities, including the Joint Fires Center of Excellence at Spangdahlem, Germany.
Todd Kallman will succeed Steve Heath, who is retiring, as president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, effectively immediately. Kallman was vice president for corporate strategy and development for Pratt's parent, United Technologies Corp. Heath assumed the post in 2004 after heading International Aero Engines. Kallman previously was a vice president at UTC subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand.
"Very encouraging" is London's latest take on its negotiations with Washington over participation in the Joint Strike Fighter. David Gould, the Defense Ministry's deputy chief executive for procurement, says: "We are working in great detail with them and we are moving in the right direction. . . . The crucial point . . . is that we must have that [agreements on operational sovereignty] in place before a production investment decision is taken, otherwise we cannot proceed with the program, and that is a pretty good way of rattling their cage."
David Biegler has been named to the Southwest Airlines board of directors. He is chairman/CEO of Estrella Energy of Dallas. June Morris and Rollin King have retired from the board.
Russian experts have completed decoding data from the Airbus A320 operated by Armenia-based Armavia, which crashed on landing at the Sochi airport on May 3, killing all 113 on board (AW&ST May 8, p. 39). The experts say the data show the aircraft, its systems and engines were working normally and there was an adequate fuel reserve. During the last minute of the flight, the aircraft was operating with the autopilot switched off.
Arianespace is well on the way to surpassing its launch-order goal for 2006 and to meeting its mission objectives. Early this month, the European launch firm signed up Badr-6 (Nilesat 4AR) for launch in the first half of 2008. Also booked, according to industrial sources, were two Satcom BW2 military communications spacecraft ordered on July 4 (AW&ST July 10, p. 42). The sales brought the number of 2006 orders to eight--the goal set earlier this year by CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall.
The International Telecomunications Union (ITU) and Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co. will provide portable satellite terminals to assist disaster-stricken areas in mitigation and relief operations. Under the agreement, Thuraya will contribute Geostationary-Meteorological-Satellite-capable dual-handheld voice/data terminals equipped with solar chargers and Global Positioning System. The ITU will cover the cost of transporting equipment to and from affected areas, along with airtime, to be offered by Thuraya at discounted rates.
THE SINGLE EUROPEAN SKY ATM RESEARCH (Sesar) program team has completed its first air traffic management report and sent it to Eurocontrol for approval and public release later this month. The team includes airlines, air navigation service providers, airports and systems suppliers. Their 90-page document presents the Sesar consortium's view of key aspects of the air transport value chain, how it's influenced by the various stakeholders, and how progress could be made in improving air traffic system capacity.
Steve Greenhalgh (see photos) has been named London Heathrow-based finance director for the U.K. and Ireland for Worldwide Flight Services. He was controller for Plane Handling. Chris Rix has been promoted to general manager from operations manager of WFS's Building 550 at Heathrow.
Brad Pedersen (see photo) has been named chief operating officer for Airborne Systems, Pennsauken, N.J. He was head of mergers and acquisitions for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn.
The Pakistani cabinet grounded Pakistan International Airlines aging Fokker 27s when a July 10 crash--the carrier's second involving the aircraft type in two years--killed 45 people. Investigators expect the 1964 aircraft's flight recorders, which were recovered last week, will yield answers to what happened to Flight 688 (AP-BAL) minutes after takeoff from Multan (Pakistan) airport en route to Lahore.
Boeing has signed Aernnova of Vitoria, Spain, to help design the forward fuselage section between the wing and nose, and the wing structure, on its 450-seat 747-8. Aernnova (formerly Gamesa Aeronautica) will be the first Spanish supplier to the third-generation of the long-haul aircraft. The 747 contract is its second this year: it also is a member of the design team for the swing-zone area of the 747LCF that will transport fuselage and wing sections of the 787 in Boeing's global supply network.
Schweizer Aircraft Corp.'s new, 1,600-sq.-ft. overhaul and repair facility is reducing turnaround times by 66% and improving parts availability by 30%, according to the Elmira, N.Y.-based helicopter manufacturer. In addition, the company has received certification as an FAA Part 145 repair station for its product line from the TH-55 to the Model 333.
Tracine Anderson and Alphonso James have been appointed general managers of Landmark Aviation fixed-base operations at the airports for Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Greensboro, N.C., respectively. Anderson held the same position for Aero Sport Inc. in St. Augustine, Fla. James was general manager at the Albany, Ga., FBO. Bob Candler has been appointed vice president/general manager of the Springfield, Ill., maintenance, repair and overhaul operation. He was director of operations at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Denver service centers of Bombardier Business Aircraft.
Stork Aerospace's Fokker Services is buying Fairhope, Ala.-based Airinc, which provides component repair and overhaul services. AeroMark Group sold the unit. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Robert Wall (Paris and Geneva), Douglas Barrie (London)
The high cost of oil is driving air transport officials to consider alternative fuel arrangements. Serious questions remain, however, over what viable options to kerosene really exist. Moreover, the industry faces a catch-22 when it comes to kerosene replacement. As long as aircraft and engine designs are focused on burning kerosene, new fuel sources won't emerge; however, these designs will only change once a clear fuel alternative is identified.
