Germany's airline sector is undergoing rapid structural changes, with Air Berlin's announcement of an initial public offering (IPO) and the launch of close cooperation between DBA and LTU that could lead to a merger. Air Berlin's IPO comes after months of speculation about how the airline will finance its ambitious growth plans. The carrier plans to sell shares to fund its order for 60 Airbus A320s, a move welcomed by most analysts and observers.
The marriage of Beechcraft's Bonanza G36 and Garmin's G1000 digital, fully integrated avionics system gives an already classic airplane a new lease on life that will help keep it abreast of the competition.
The Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has named three honorary fellows for 2006 and 30 fellows. The honorary fellows are Donald Fraser of Boston University, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Alan Mulally.
Andy Nativi (Singapore), Douglas Barrie (Tel Aviv)
Singapore is preparing to revamp its air defense missile inventory, and India is about to do the same as many in the region refurbish their surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.
There is a renewed impetus in the U.S. and in Europe to try to get military satellite communications right--to provide more capacity and manage development and operations better (see p. 46). One of the most aggressive efforts is the U.S. Air Force's multi- billion-dollar Transformational Satellite project, which aims to introduce laser communications to provide ground troops high bandwidth information rapidly. Artist concept by Associate Art Director Lisa Caputo.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is conducting ground-based structural tests of the first pre-production F-35A Joint Strike Fighter. The tests will center on structural coupling, which is the interaction between the flight control system and the dynamics of the airframe, to verify that vibrations will not induce a flutter condition throughout the airplane's performance envelope. First flight is scheduled for this autumn. The F-35A is one of 15 airplanes being built for flight testing. Another seven airframes will undergo static and fatigue testing.
The Agency for the Safety of Aerial Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna) has concluded a long-term deal with Intelsat intended to improve Africa's air navigation communications network. Asecna will use capacity on the satellite operator's IS 10-02 spacecraft to expand its Africa Indian Ocean Satellite Network and enhance interconnections with VSAT systems in Southern and Northeastern Africa.
McGraw-Hill Aerospace & Defense's Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) has won the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award in the category of best web site with 25,000-100,000 monthly visitors. www.aviationweek.com/awin includes content from Aviation Week & Space Technology as well as MHA&D's other magazines, newsletters and the World Aerospace Database. It features tools that allow users to find information on commercial and military aircraft fleets and suppliers in more than 1,000 product and service categories.
British and Irish air safety officials are looking into an incident last week where an Eirjet Airbus A320 was landed at the wrong airfield in Northern Ireland. The Mar. 29 flight was operated on behalf of Ryanair by Eirjet, and was due to land at Derry airport, having departed Liverpool. Instead, the pilot landed at Ballykelly, a base used by the British Army Air Corps, several miles from the intended airport.
EDWARD M. BOLEN, PRESIDENT of the National Business Aviation Assn. (NBAA), says business aviation leaders need to present a united front to fight proposals by the FAA to implement user fees to help pay for the national airspace system. "Some of the most effective and dedicated voices for our industry are the people outside NBAA's Washington offices, who make up the business aviation community." The association vigorously opposes the fees, calling them a form of taxation.
Norman H. Wood has become manager of North American operations for New York-based SecureLogic. He was director of aviation business for EG&G Astrophysics and senior vice president/ chief operating officer of International Total Services.
The Greek government is making another effort to salvage Olympic Airlines, with the help of outside investors. A consortium of five private groups is promising to boost Olympic's finances with 100 million euros ($120 million), with the government providing another 60 million. As part of the deal, the airline's operation will be cut back, and the name changed to Pantheon Airways. The latter would operate 33 leased aircraft and fly to 92 destinations.
Airbus has developed an environmentally friendly fire-extinguishing agent to overcome performance shortfalls that have existed since "Halon"-based devices were outlawed because of their ozone layer-depleting effects. The system has completed tests and is now undergoing assessment by the FAA Technical Center. Once the concept is approved, Airbus wants to work on packaging to have the product ready for the A350 and offer it as retrofit.
The Aeroflot board has OK'd the terms and conditions of purchase of 30 Russian Regional Jets, preparing the way for final approval at the shareholders meeting on May 15. Assuming shareholders are in agreement--National Reserve Corp., the second largest equity owner, has been opposed--Aeroflot will become a launch customer for the 95-seat twinjet, which is to begin delivery in 2008 (AW&ST Mar. 13, p. 62).
Soyuz TMA-8 and its launch vehicle roll to the pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in preparation for its successful Mar. 30 launch to the International Space Station with a three-man crew. Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov of Russia and NASA's Jeff Williams, the flight engineers, were joined by Brazilian test pilot Marcos Pontes on the flight, which was scheduled to deliver them to the ISS on the Zarya module's nadir port late on Mar. 31. Liftoff came at 8:30 a.m. Mar. 30 in Kazakhstan (9:30 p.m. Mar. 29 EST), and the Soyuz vehicle reached orbit 9 min. later.
Burgeoning space power China will donate data-receiving stations for its weather satellites to seven nations around the Pacific Rim and Indian Ocean. The stations, which can receive data from Chinese polar- and geosynchronous-orbit weather satellites (see photo), will go to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru and Thailand.
Chile is making the International Air Transport Assn.'s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) part of its airline certification process--the first country to take that step. Within this year, Chile will change its regulations to make IOSA "a requirement for AOC applications," says Gen. Enrique Rosende, director general of civil aviation for Chile. IATA says it is working with governments such as Madagascar, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico and Ethiopia to make IOSA part of the certification process.
Royal Jordanian Airlines, Middle East launch customer for the Embraer 195, signed an agreement with the aircraft manufacturer on Mar. 22 to acquire seven of the aircraft type, with deliveries to start in the fourth quarter. The aircraft will be configured for 100 passengers, with 12 42-in.-pitch seats in first class and 88 33-in.-pitch seats in economy. The airline, which aims to develop Amman as a hub for the region, will use the aircraft to increase frequencies and add new routes.
GROEN BROTHERS AVIATION IS APPLYING to the FAA for an exemption to the experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) rule. It is asking the agency to allow the company to certify, produce and sell ready-to-fly, experimental gyroplanes. Existing E-LSA rules prohibit certification of gyroplanes, but the FAA says it will consider creating a category for the aircraft after an assessment. If an exemption is granted, Groen and other manufacturers would be allowed to produce an aircraft that meets E-LSA requirements and would be eligible for certification.
Delta Air Lines pilots will strike if their contract with the airline is rejected, according to Delta Master Executive Council Chairman Lee Moak. To prove the point, hundreds of them conducted a practice strike at Hartsfield Jackson-Atlanta airport last week. Delta's fate lies in the major decisions to be made in April: On Apr. 4, the union's strike vote closes. On Apr. 10, the Air Line Pilots Assn. Executive Committee is to decide whether to grant $10 million from its major contingency fund to aid Delta's pilots in executing a walkout. And by Apr. 15, a U.S.
Mitchell B. Rambler has been named president of the Support Services Group of Engineered Support Systems Inc. of St. Louis. He was senior vice president of BAE Systems Military Operations.
Air Combat Command says over- compensation on the refueling boom flight control stick, as an operator tried to avoid a rapidly rising F-16, caused $75,000 damage to the KC-10's boom and $930,000 worth to the F-16C. Both aircraft landed without further incident. An investigation determined the incident was caused by "abrupt and excessive stick inputs" that first avoided the fighter, then avoided KC-10 impact, but finally hit the F-16's right aft fuselage.
The British Defense Ministry has conducted imagery transmission trials from a UAV to a helicopter as part of its Joint UAV Experimentation Program. Imagery from a Boeing ScanEagle was sent to a Lynx helicopter at what was described as "operationally useful ranges." Reception was via an antenna developed by QinetiQ, a defense technology specialist. An experimental version of the antenna was installed on the Lynx, and offers both high gain and wide beam width. These characteristics were required because of weak signals produced by the UAV's transmitters.
ASSOCIATED AIR CENTER IN DALLAS HAS SIGNED a contract to complete its 10th Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ). The twin-engine transport will be operated by an Asian customer. Associated Air Center is outfitting six ACJs and has delivered four. Last year, the company completed the first five-year maintenance check of an ACJ.
April sees the formal establishment of the first frontline RAF Eurofighter Typhoon unit, 3 Sqdn., which had operated Harrier GR7s in the ground-attack role. A ceremony at RAF Cottesmore also marked the reformation of 800 Naval Air Sqdn. as part of the Defense Ministry's air force and navy Joint Force Harrier. The unit, disbanded as a Sea Harrier F/A2 Sqdn. in 2004, is reforming as a GR7/GR9 operator. 3 Sqdn. moves from RAF Cottesmore to RAF Coningsby, the first Typhoon base. The event also noted the setup of expeditionary air wings.
