European aerospace giant EADS is rekindling speculation about whether it may attempt to strike a deal later this year to acquire the 20% of Airbus it doesn't own from BAE Systems plc. EADS officials are making little secret of their desire to see their company become the sole owner of the commercial airplane manufacturer, which accounts for about 80% of EADS' revenues and most of its profits. The question is whether BAE Systems is willing to deal. Top executives there are playing coy.
Transport Canada has granted provisional certification for the Thales enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) on the Bombardier Global 5000 and Global Express XRS. The European Aviation Safety Agency is also expected to certify the system by Sept. 30.
USAF Brig. Gen. John C. Koziol is among the officers of his rank who have been nominated for promotion. He is commander of the 55th Wing, Air Combat Command (ACC), Offutt AFB, Neb. Others are: William T. Lord, commander of the 81st Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler AFB, Miss.; Arthur B. Morrill, 3rd, director of resources/deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics, USAF Headquarters; Larry D. New, deputy commander of Combined Air Operations Center 7, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, NATO, Larissa, Greece; Richard Y.
Members of the House Science Committee meet this week to mark up their version of a five-year NASA authorization bill, increasing the chances that Congress will actually authorize the agency's appropriation for the first time since Fiscal 2000-02. Spending since then has been enacted without authorization by the appropriations committees in both chambers. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved an authorization bill last week that follows the Bush administration budget request in Fiscal 2006-07 and tracks with inflation after that.
CSC Investment Group of suburban Chicago has acquired ATA Airlines subsidiary Chicago Express for $1.25 million. The deal includes the operating certificate, aircraft parts and ground equipment. Two Chicago Express Saab 340B aircraft remain in ATA's hands and will be sold.
Alcatel has completed technical qualification of the Egnos GPS/Glonass augmentation system, the company says. Egnos is a forerunner of the Galileo satellite navigation system that will provide much higher resolution and signal integrity information needed for air navigation and other critical positioning applications. Egnos will now be cleared for routine operations, although safety-critical use will have to await certification, set for 2007.
Abu Dhabi is increasing the stakes in its bid to have flag-carrier Etihad Airways rival neighboring Dubai's Emirates Airlines. The small sheikdom is expanding its aviation spending spree with the announcement of plans to build a new airport and with the looming purchase of new twin-aisle aircraft. Abu Dhabi's aggressive strategy has raised eyebrows before, most notably when it stated it would become an Airbus A380 customer soon after the airline's launch a mere two years ago.
Rolls-Royce has added Air China to its customer list with an $800-million order to power its 20 Airbus A330-200's. The order includes a long-term service agreement.
EADS is planning to build a final assembly facility for its Airbus A330 tankers at Mobile, Ala., about 2,000 ft. from a deep-water port that company officials say was the primary factor in their decision.
India is expected to see about $30 billion in investment in aviation-related infrastructure by 2010 to support its aviation boom, according to the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) at its first Aviation Investor Summit. Airport ground-handling, air traffic and navigation systems, overhaul and repair facilities, and training of manpower are the main areas likely for investment. CAPA Managing Director Peter Harbison said: "Human resources are reaching a crisis in supply.
Rolls-Royce is eyeing the U.S. Air Force Personnel Recovery Vehicle (PRV) program to supply engines to helo bidders--it is already on the V-22 with the AE 1107C. Rolls was shut out from the VXX U.S. presidential helicopter program in favor of General Electric. But the PRV politics aren't as sensitive as the presidential program, so Rolls officials believe they may have a chance this time around. Moreover, the program is large enough that it may warrant establishing a U.S. production site to meet U.S. content requirements established by Congress.
Shannon Alberts has become managing director of investor relations and Kris Kutchera managing director of applications development for Alaska Airlines. Alberts was managing director of board and shareholder services. Kutchera was vice president-information technology for F5 Networks. Marne McCluskey has been promoted to vice president from director of employee resources for Alaska Air Group subsdiary Horizon Air.
An expected denouement to the ugly management dispute that has plagued EADS for months, combined with a move by Dassault Aviation to sell its holdings in Thales, may be the spark needed to kick off the next phase of European defense and aerospace consolidation.
Regarding "Chopper Blues" (AW&ST May 30, p. 28), I piloted UH-1N Huey helicopters with the 1st Helicopter Sqdn., 89 MAW, Andrews AFB, Md., from 1983-86.
Europe's Mars Express orbiter is set to begin looking for underground aquifers and other features beneath the surface of the red planet following deployment of the final boom on its Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (Marsis) instrument. The instrument sent its first test signal to the surface on June 19 and is scheduled to complete checkout and begin scientific research on July 4.
After several years of deliberations among European Union member states on how to foster increased cooperation on military matters, the European Defense Agency formally opened for business at the beginning of this year. Backed by 24 EU states--Denmark opted out--the EDA has a broad agenda to become involved in shaping capabilities development, armaments efforts, research and technology spending, and matters related to the defense market.
The FAA has selected Thales for a 12-year, $60-million contract for the production of next-generation Category 1, 2 and 3 instrument landing systems. Three prototypes will be developed during the first phase, and 300 ILS 420 systems will be delivered over six years. Thales has provided ILS systems to the FAA for 40 years.
India has another low-cost carrier. InterGlobe Enterprises Ltd. says it will start operations in 6-9 months with New Delhi as its home base. The carrier has a firm order for 100 A320s, according to Airbus.
Engineers are cautiously exploring the terrain that the Mars rover Opportunity was stuck in for five weeks, seeking clues on how to avoid such traps in the future. After twirling and twirling its wheels in powdery soil, Opportunity finally gained good traction on June 4. It is now starting to carefully approach the trapping dune, named "Purgatory," with the instruments on the robot arm to understand thoroughly what they were stuck in. Officials don't expect the rover will continue its southward journey to the Erebus crater until at least late June.
Continental Airlines plans to double the number of first-class seats on its expanding Boeing 757-300 fleet to meet demand. The current nine-aircraft fleet will increase to 17 and the first-class cabin will be equipped with 24 seats instead of the current 12. Economy seats will shrink to 192 from 210. The first of the reconfigured aircraft is scheduled for completion this summer; the remainder, in 2006.
The multi-national consortium de- veloping an airborne ground-surveillance system for NATO expects to finalize its joint venture structure later this year and begin design and development in 2006, with the goal of fielding two 321s and three Global Hawk unmanned aircraft in late 2010. An integrated schedule that should harmonize development of the radar and remainder of the system is to be put before NATO for approval in October.
Boeing's board of directors has a short list of candidate chief executives from within and outside the company, but is still some months away from making its decision. The board can afford to wait because James Bell, the acting CEO and full-time chief financial officer, has done a "great job" of calming the turmoil that followed the resignation four months ago of Harry Stonecipher, Chairman Lewis E. Platt said. Stonecipher was forced out after e-mails surfaced revealing he had a personal relationship with a female company executive.
Although it switched airframe manufacturers, AirAsia kept CFM International as its engine supplier, ordering 120 CFM56-5B/Ps to power the 60 Airbus A320s it bought in March. The value of the sale is $750 million. AirAsia's current fleet of 26 Boeing 737-500s is under pressure as the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier continues to expand. "The business climate is incredibly healthy," says Chief Executive Tony Fernandes, noting only 6% of Malaysians, 1.5% of Thais and 0.8% of Indonesians have traveled by air. The carrier's first A320 is due in December.
