U.S. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has received the first Sentinel of Safety award and Boston Terminal Radar Approach Controller Ken Hopf the first President's Award for the most outstanding flight assist of 2004, from the Washington-based National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. Oberstar was cited for championing legislation and a provision in the FAA reauthorization bill in 2003 to prohibit the transfer of air traffic separation and control functions from the federal government to the private sector.
To determine the rankings among publicly traded aerospace/defense companies, the Aviation Week project team analyzed four principal measures including operating performance, strategy and financial health. Each element comprises ratios widely associated with superior performing businesses. The fourth, independent research and development (IR&D), is also used to gauge the importance companies place on technology and new product development, which are vital to long-term growth.
The merger of two medium-sized German space contractors could multiply Europe's options for supply of satellite/launch vehicle hardware and services, while further consolidating its space industry. Bremen-based OHB Technology last week revealed that it had agreed to take over MAN Technologie of Augsburg. OHB provides small satellite and launch systems and services for communications, imaging and telematics; MAN supplies components for the Ariane 5 rocket and tanks systems for air transports.
The revolutionary MP-RTIP radar could be ready for the field in about two years, but Air Force advocates worry that they have no platform to carry the device. The radar will be able to detect a cruise missile, analyze its physical dimensions and electronic emissions, identify its weaknesses and recommend the best way to attack it, says a senior USAF official. The attack could be conducted by jamming (from the big radar itself), by special Amraam missile variants designed for small, slow targets, or with anti-radiation missiles.
Alteon Training has chosen Thales to provide training equipment for the Boeing 787 scheduled to enter service in 2008. Alteon, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, placed an initial order for an FAA Level D full-flight simulator, two brief/debrief stations, a virtual flight training device and classroom training aids. The equipment is scheduled to be installed at various Alteon training facilities in 2007. In addition, the subsidiary will provide Boeing with a simulator for engineering development of the 787.
The recent squeeze on the Air Force's F/A-22 program, which suffered a crippling budget cut late last year, has not made the Air Force desperate enough to shop around for allies to help support the program. Prepping for the Paris air show, the service has no intention of reversing its policy against sharing the stealth fighter abroad. Bruce Lemkin, deputy under secretary for international affairs, says the service is barred by law from marketing the Raptor overseas and doesn't intend to ask for relief from that legislation.
In this year's competitiveness study, a handful of publicly traded aerospace/defense contrac- tors and airlines rose to the top of their respective peer groups by doing a better job of focusing on these imperatives. In almost every case, there was a relentless drive to improve efficiency, wring more cash out per dollar of assets, and optimize business strategies in response to changing market conditions.
United Airlines reached agreement on more contract concessions with unions representing its 27,000 mechanics, ramp workers and other ground employees, averting a threatened strike and a bankruptcy court showdown in which the carrier would have tried to impose contract revisions unilaterally. United seeks further non-personnel cost reductions and hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the fall.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. plans to implement Dassault Systemes Enovia Life-Cycle Automation program throughout its engineering and manufacturing departments by year-end. The product life-cycle management software is at the heart of the system and will help Sikorsky's Stratford, Conn., facility transform business practices in support of the engineering, manufacturing and supply chain process. In addition, the helicopter manufacturer is changing its enterprise resource planning systems to software from SAP AG.
Bell Helicopter Textron's candidate for the U.S. Army's Armed Reconnais- sance Helicopter competition, a commercial Model 407 modified to basic ARH configuration, made its first flight June 2 at the company's XworX facility in Arlington, Tex. A decision on the ARH contract winner is expected later this summer.
Following the lead of the U.S., France appears to be moving closer to revising its long-standing policy not to resort to first strike in order to preempt a potential threat. Preemptive strike is one of a number of nuclear policy changes that France has been considering since the U.S. decided against ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1999 (AW&ST Mar. 20, 2000, p. 79). Others include anti-ballistic missile protection and use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Inmarsat has confirmed that it will issue an initial public offering in mid-year to reduce debt, and seek a full listing on the London Stock Exchange. The IPO is part of a general return of private equity-owned satellite operators to the market, following their massive move into the industry two years ago (see story, p. 53).
Michael A. Taverna (Paris), Robert Wall (Brussels)
European officials fear that the French and Dutch rejection of the European Union's constitution could weaken efforts to elaborate common defense, foreign and space policies, although the extent of the repercussions remains uncertain.
French brass remain convinced Paris will maintain or perhaps even increase its commitment to defense spending, despite a vote against the European Union constitutional treaty that suggested a change in course might be in order.
Ryanair, one of the world's most successful airlines in terms of profitability and growth despite persistently high fuel prices, expects an even stronger operating and financial performance in 2006. The low-fare carrier anticipates its fiscal year (Apr. 1, 2005-Mar. 31, 2006) could reap the benefits of network carriers readjusting their operations to reflect increased competition and fuel costs.
Peter Warry has been reappointed chairman of the U.K.'s Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). New members are: Trevor Cross of e2v Technologies, Prof. Jim Hough of the University of Glasgow, Colin Paynter of EADS Astrium and Prof. John Zarnecki of Open University. New appointments to the PPARC Science Committee are: Prof. Roger Davies of Oxford University, Prof. Monica Grady of Open University and Prof. Diana Worrall of the University of Bristol.
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Australia has signed a contract for 12 multirole NH90 transport helicopters, to be delivered in 2007-09. Eight of the units, known as MRH90s, are to be assembled by Australian Aerospace, which is also to assemble 18 Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helos.
Petr Balabuev, the 74-year-old chief designer at the Antonov Design Bureau, has quit the company over the Ukrainian government's decision on restructuring its aerospace sector. Officials in Kiev have decided to merge three leading aerospace companies--Antonov, Aviant Plant and Kharkov Aircraft Manufacturing Co.--into a single venture. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko signed the decree to go forward with the consolidation plan, which should be ready by the middle of this month. Balabuev's resignation was promptly accepted.
Finmeccanica has obtained the long-awaited government go-ahead and initial funding to start building the secure, mobile communication network for the Italian government's security, civil protection and emergency forces. Using Tetra (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) technology, the system is designed to blanket the entire country. The total value of the program is estimated at more than 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion); the initial effort is worth 260 million euros and will cover mainly southern Italy.
USAF Maj. Gen. Terry L. Gabreski has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general with assignment as vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He is commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB.
Dennis J. Reimer has been named president of Washington-based DFI International Government Services. He was director of the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism in Oklahoma City.
NASA's efforts to accelerate retirement of the space shuttle fleet get a boost from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which finds the agency didn't take a hard enough look at alternatives to the shuttle last year.
