A new wave of military spending is looming in the Persian Gulf region, infused by cash generated from high oil revenues and extending from helicopter upgrades to new tanker aircraft. Several important programs are already underway, with about half of Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 60 deliveries to the United Arab Emirates completed this year, and deliveries of 12 F-16 advanced Block 50s to Oman to start next year. But the coming years should see more broad-based acquisitions.
In its storied past, commercial aviation has witnessed its share of narcissistic behavior. Executive suites have had their pirates who gutted airlines of cash, and boardrooms have housed many an incompetent who escaped with a golden parachute. Union leaders have sent their legions down roads that led nowhere.
The program intended to implement Europe's 20-billion-dollar-plus seamless air traffic system will borrow extensively from public-private partnership concepts put in place for the Galileo satellite navigation system, but with tweaks added to avoid the pitfalls of that program. The changes could shed light on European Union public-private partnerships (PPPs) for other industrial ventures, including the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security network to be undertaken, like Galileo, with the European Space Agency (AW&ST Nov. 21, p. 85).
India's carriers are reaping benefits of excess baggage charges. Jet Airways collected $9.5 million for the fiscal year ending in March 2005, compared with $6.5 million for fiscal 2003-04. Air-India earned $11.3 million in the fiscal year 2004-05. On domestic routes, a fee applies if luggage exceeds 30 kg. (66 lb.) for economy class and 40 kg. for business class. Budget carrier Air Deccan is said to have set targets for revenue from excess baggage charges.
Malaysian satcom operator Measat has contracted with Orbital Sciences Corp. to build a new spacecraft to replace its original satellite and expand capacity at its 91.5 E. Long. orbital position. To be equipped with 12 C-band and 12 K u-band transponders, Measat 1R will join Measat-3, a Boeing 601HP spacecraft to be placed in the same slot toward year's end by an International Launch Services Proton rocket.
Several Persian Gulf region militaries are looking to upgrade their multinational sensor-sharing network, aiming to be better prepared to handle ballistic missiles. In parallel, there's also continuously growing interest in adding new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, with procurement of new unmanned aircraft and manned airborne systems on the agenda to extend sensor coverage throughout the region.
Lydia H. Kennard has been named executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. She succeeds Kim Day, who has resigned. Kennard was executive director from 2000-03 before becoming president/principal-in-charge of KDG Development and Construction Consulting.
Space Exploration Technologies' first launch has been delayed until at least the latter half of December. The company's Falcon 1 launcher was set to fly on Nov. 25 (U.S. time) from a new pad on Omelek Island in the Kwajalein atoll, carrying the 43-lb. Air Force Academy FalconSAT-2 payload (AW&ST Nov. 21, p. 81). The mission was delayed one day by a range conflict, then a misset valve caused loss of liquid oxygen propellant and helium pressurant that forced a launch abort.
Regarding Capt. W.B. Slater's opinion that Chip Lawson speaks for a small minority of American Airlines customers (AW&ST Nov. 21, p. 6; Oct. 31, p. 8) about poor passenger service, add me to that minority.
ABX Air is teaming with Innovative Solutions & Support Inc. on a program to install flat panel display systems in Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft and train pilots in their use. IS&S chairman and CEO Geoffrey S.M. Hedrick says the goal is to develop common display systems for Boeing 737, 747, 757 and 767 aircraft, with common parts numbers. The FAA issued a supplemental type certificate to the Exton, Pa.-based manufacturer for the 757-767 program in early November. ABX Air will perform the installations at its base in Wilmington, Ohio.
With average passenger growth exceeding 6%, Asian carriers have reason to be optimistic as they look ahead to 2006. But old constraints--especially the region's resistance to liberalization--remain as big a worry as high fuel prices. "Bilateral systems are still shackling the industry," lamented Andrew Herdman, director general of the Assn. of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which recently held its 49th year-end presidents' meeting here.
It's common for people to buy houses and automobiles on monthly payment plans--but airline tickets? Passengers on low-cost Brazilian carrier GOL may now pay for tickets in up to 36 monthly installments. GOL's goal is to stimulate consumer demand for airline travel in Brazil, where business travelers account for most of the market (AW&ST July 11, p. 48). To qualify for GOL's new "Fly Easy" program, customers must go through a two-week credit approval process. Payment may be made by check, automatic debit or payment books.
Continental Airlines and Compania de Inversiones Aereas S.A. (CIASA), the primary shareholders of Panama's Copa Holdings S.A., intend to sell 14 million Class A non-voting shares. Once the registration statement with the Securities & Exchange Commission for the sale becomes effective, Continental is likely to raise $100 million, according to an estimate by Calyon Securities analyst Raymond E. Neidl. That would build Continental's cash position at year's end to $1.6 billion, which will help shield the Houston carrier against an otherwise looming liquidity crisis.
Mark Ferrari (see photo) has become vice president-sales and marketing for North American business aviation for the Nordam Group, Tulsa, Okla. He was global director of aftermarket sales for Honeywell Commercial Electronics Systems.
With weight and drag savings and performance modifications from General Electric, Boeing has delivered a 777-300ER to Air France (see photo) with a promised 1.4% fuel savings over previous models. The fuel savings equates to 200,000 gal. in typical annual operations, according to Boeing.
Aiming to preserve its market-leading role in aircraft simulation and modeling technologies, CAE Inc. plans to invest C$630 million ($540 million) in research during the next six years. "Project Phoenix" is the largest research initiative ever taken by the Montreal company, which launched a major restructuring earlier this year aimed at improving efficiency and bolstering profit margins (AW&ST Nov. 21, p. 62). The Canadian government has agreed to loan CAE C$189 million toward the research.
Cubic Corp. and Boeing say they will combine Boeing's skills in virtual training systems with the live training expertise of the Cubic Defense Applications Group to pursue Defense Dept. training contracts. In a preliminary agreement, the companies say they want to target networking and simulation training applications, including embedded training technologies.
Todd Inskeep (see photo) has become Scottsdale, Ariz.-based senior vice president of the aerospace and defense practice of Satyam Computer Services. He was principal in the aerospace and defense practice of the Computer Sciences Corp.
I quite agree with "One-Way Street at Boeing" (AW&ST Sept. 26, p. 6). Loyalty is a vanishing characteristic of Americans. In addition to Boeing, consider United Airlines. United has a long history of helping to build the greatest aviation system in the world. It developed better safety procedures and equipment, and it helped finance many of the airports on which the system depends. Despite this history and having been attacked directly by anti-American terrorists, Treasury Secretary John W. Snow informs United that if it goes out of business, it won't be missed.
At a European space summit in Berlin this week, ministers are expected to approve ambitious new space exploration, Earth-observation and technology programs. But some proposals related to launchers and telecommunications could face tough going.
Indian textile millionaire and aviator Vijaypat Singhania has broken a 17-year-old record for hot air balloons by reaching 69,852 ft. in a 2-hr. 14-min. ascent that began from a race track in Mumbai and ended an hour's drive outside the city.
Arms exports in 2005 are expected to reach $5.1 billion, a decrease of $700 million from 2004. Aircraft deliveries are expected to generate 30% of the sales, down from 60%. Deliveries on big-ticket items for next year will include S-300PMU-2 Favorit air defense systems to China and initial Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates. China and Jordan are set to receive Il-76TD transports, while Malaysia will get Su-30MKM fighters.
