Snecma Services has won a $2-billion extension of its contract with Northwest Airlines to maintain CFM56-5A engines that power more than 150 A319 and A320 aircraft. The contract now runs through 2020.
In the latest tit-for-tat on the Airbus-versus-Boeing commercial aircraft subsidy debate, U.S. and European Union officials have stalled the launch of their World Trade Organization cases for about a month. Each side exercised its prerogative to block the process that would lead to the formation of the dispute settlement board (DSB), which will hear the case. The action can be refiled after 10 days, which means either side can expedite the process this week if it likes.
Rafael is completing trials of its newest Spice wing-and-guidance kit, one intended for 1,000-lb. Mk83 bombs. It should enter service in 2006. The weapon has a range in excess of 33 naut. mi. when launched from high altitude. Terminal guidance will be provided by an imaging infrared sensor. It also uses GPS, but is not dependent on the relatively weak satellite signal. The Israeli manufacturer also is looking at additional Spice kit variants for 250-lb.-class weapons. An unnamed export customer has ordered the Spice-1000.
Stork Aerospace has signed a $148.4-million, long-term agreement with Northrop Grumman for Joint Strike Fighter work. The Dutch company will provide composite parts and subassemblies for low-rate production of doors for the F-35 center fuselage. Meanwhile, Pratt & Whitney has inked a deal with Turkish companies Alp Aviation and KaleKalip. Alp will produce the rear hub for JSF engine F135 while KaleKalip will manufacture the compressor shroud.
Canada and India are soon to reap the benefits of their new liberalized air services agreement that allows a fivefold increase in passenger flights and unlimited all-cargo services. The extended agreement concluded June 7 will allow passenger services to increase to 35 round-trip flights per week for each country, up from seven round-trip flights weekly for each under the previous agreement, according to Canada's transport and international trade ministries.
Summer air travelers should not abandon all hope of arriving at U.S. destinations on time--at least not yet. But conditions appear to be deteriorating rapidly and delays could match, or even exceed, those during the summer of 2000.
T.W. Scott has been appointed chief information officer for Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems business, Garland, Tex. He was director of business operations for the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Electronic Systems Sector.
Alex Miller's in-depth Viewpoint "Future Looks Dim" (AW&ST May 23, p. 78) can easily be summarized: Both political parties' equal opportunity screw-up called airline deregulation tried to fix something that wasn't broken, and now it's badly broken.
Lufthansa Technik's plans to create a global fixed-base operator network to serve the business aviation industry are gelling with the addition of operations at the bottom end of the bizjet market. Last month, the company (LHT) signed up a Berlin-based joint venture, Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS), as the newest member of its Platinet FBO (fixed base operator) network. LBAS supports Learjet and Raytheon Beechcraft models as well as bigger jets such as Challenger 300, 604, Global Express and Global 5000.
The roar of afterburners and market bluster, noticeably muted at the Paris air show in 2003 amid savage economic and political headwinds, returned in a big way to the biennial marketing and technology extravaganza last week. So did attendance, which set a record.
L-3 Communications' Link Simulation and Training division will upgrade the U.S. Army Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (Avcatt) reconfigurable manned simulator suite for the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter. The upgrade includes development and integration of the Longbow's latest core avionics capability into each Avcatt suite. The suites are housed in two mobile trailers with six simulators, a battle master control room and briefing facility. In addition to the AH-64A and AH-64D, the suites are used to train pilots flying the OH-58D, UH-60L and CH-47D.
Dennis Jones has become vice president-U.S. government and North American sales for Denver-based Space Imaging. He rejoins Space Imaging after having been director of the National Information Solution Center of DigitalGlobe.
It's not easy to serve in airline management this season. Alaska Airlines offers a prime example, with its messages a mix of the good, bad and unknown.
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Consolidation in the military radar sector continues apace on both sides of the Atlantic as companies home in on the potential in the active-antenna environment. British diversified engineering company Cobham is bolstering its position in the U.S. radar component sector, while elsewhere in Europe, Swedish and Italian industries are exploring link opportunities. COBHAM CONTINUES to build its portfolio in niche defense aerospace markets, with its largest purchase to date, the $260-million acquisition of Remec Defense, now complete.
Directed and produced by Stephen Low Imax movie; running time: 45 min. www.fighterpilotfilm.com It's not exactly the U.S. Air Force version of the Navy blockbuster, Top Gun, but Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag gives moviegoers a realistic, in-the-cockpit feeling of what it's like to fly a modern fighter in combat.
It will take about a month for Orbital Sciences Corp. to open up the Telkom 2 satellite, fix a power supply problem, retest the satellite and ship it back to French Guiana for launch on an Ariane 5, according to the head of the company's satellite business. Ali Atia, president of Orbital Communications International, says it still isn't clear why the power distribution assembly on the Indonesian spacecraft failed to activate during preflight tests in Kourou, after it had passed rigorous pre-shipping tests at Orbital's plant in Dulles, Va.
Technical Directions Inc.'s small turbojet engine, which is a non-line-of-sight launch system candidate for the Army's Loitering Attack Missile, has won a $1.6-million commitment from the House Appropriations Committee. TDI is a subcontractor for the launch system under a Raytheon/Lockheed Martin partnership. The TDI powerplant employs automotive turbocharger components and uses fuel to lubricate and cool bearings. TDI's J45 engine, a 30-lb.-thrust turbojet, has been tested for the USAF/ Lockheed Martin Low-Cost Autonomous Attack System program.
Bombardier has taken a step forward in making its proposed C-Series aircraft a reality. But even as the company aims to formalize development of its largest and longest-range jet, chief competitor Embraer continues to score orders for its regional jets.
During an ongoing world tour, Boeing is displaying the 777-200LR business-class interior with a "gullwing" design, which calls for eliminating the center storage bins in favor of a starry night ceiling. To make up for the lost carry-on luggage space, three elevators have been installed to carry up to 30 roll-on bags to a storage area above the cabin. The feature, which also will be available on the 777-300ER, positions the elevators at the cross aisles at Door 2 and at the door by the No. 3 galley.
The British Defense Ministry is attempting to be the first export customer for the Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle, with delivery possible in the first half of 2006. Ministry officials are trying to secure funding for the program, which almost certainly would have to be drawn from existing resources, rather than from additional cash.
Yang Yuanyuan, who is minister of the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), has received the Global Aviation Leadership Award from the International Air Transport Assn. He was cited for leading "the development of aviation in China with a great vision. His commitment to progressively liberalize the Chinese aviation market and work to harmonize Chinese air traffic control with global standards demonstrate the leadership" that the award was intended to recognize.
Lockheed Martin and EADS are teaming to provide additional Automated Transfer Vehicles to supplement or replace space shuttle supply missions to the International Space Station. The deal covers ATV flights beyond the single mission per year already covered in agreements with the European Space Agency. ESA officials confirmed that EADS has complete freedom to supply such additional missions. Separately, ESA officials said the flight of the first ATV is now likely to slip from February to May, and that "even this date will be tight."
