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.
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin won't be making any deals with Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian Federal Space Agency Roskosmos, at the Paris air show. Perminov has told Russian reporters he wants to talk about what will happen when Russia's agreement to supply Soyuz lifeboats to the International Space Station (ISS) expires next April. But Griffin's spokesman says NASA sees Paris as more of a chance for the new administrator to "meet and greet" Perminov and other current and potential international partners.
World News Roundup 18 Sikorsky to showcase X2 coaxial rotor technology 19 X-37 reusable launch vehicle demonstrator begins taxi tests 19 Engine problem causes unintended Global Hawk debut in Afghanistan 20 Boeing alters wing design for P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft 20 Microcosm progressing on its Small Launch Vehicle design World News & Analysis 22 Analysts fear subsidy case may make losers out of Airbus and Boeing
Arianespace will resume its 2005 launch schedule with Spaceway 2 and Telkom 2 on June 25. The 6-metric-ton K a-band Spaceway 2 will provide direct broadcasting services for DirecTV, while Telkom 2 will serve Indonesian satcom customers.
Departments 8 Correspondence 9 Who's Where 10 Market Focus 13 Industry Outlook 15 Airline Outlook 17 In Orbit 18-20 World News Roundup 21 Washington Outlook 71 Classified 72 Contact Us 73 Aerospace Calendar
Capt. Pat Fitzpatrick (Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Wash.)
The Viewpoint by Alex Miller entitled "Future Looks Dim . . ." was an epiphany (AW&ST May 23, p. 78). As the employee of a labor group embroiled in a bitter dispute with our management, it is easy to see them as our adversary. Miller's characterization makes it clear the entire industry is faced with a no-win situation under the present economic circumstances, whether we work for a legacy or low-cost carrier.
Boeing affiliate Alteon has selected Thales to provide training equipment for the Boeing 787, for delivery starting in 2007. The award covers six training suites, each of which comprises a full flight simulator, two brief/debrief stations, a virtual flight training device and flight/maintenance trainers.
Partner companies have begun final integration of the European Sostar-X active electronically scanned array surveillance radar. Flight tests of the air-to-ground radar demonstrator will begin in 2006.
Suzanne Boda, who has been Northwest Airlines' vice president-station operations, will succeed the retiring Hector Adler as vice president-inflight services.
Justice Dept. antitrust watchdogs are using the FAA's rulemaking on Chicago O'Hare International Airport congestion to advance a pro-competition measure no one will like--adoption as soon as possible of an auction process for allocating all of the airport's capacity.
Satcom companies are scrambling to maximize shareholder value and rein in capital expenditures amidst signs that the pending return of private equity firms to the stock market could trigger a new round of industry consolidation.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. plans to build a demonstrator by the end of 2006 to showcase its X2 coaxial rotor technology program. A coaxial helicopter has two main rotors mounted on the same vertical axis with the rotors turning in opposite directions, to cancel torque. The model shown represents one of a number of coaxial designs unveiled by the company last week at the American Helicopter Society International's Annual Forum and Technology Display in Grapevine, Tex.
Eurofly has closed the books in 2004 with a 40% jump in revenue, to 252 million euros ($307 million) from 178 million euros in 2003. Net profit reached 6.8 million euros, including extraordinary tax items, compared with 2.7 million the previous year. Passenger count also grew sharply, to 1.5 million from 850,000. But 2005 has started out badly, with the company likely to suffer from the tsunami that struck in late December. Its aftereffects are expected to depress the leisure airline business, although airline executives hope to at least remain in the black.
Delta Air Lines is discontinuing seven daily flights at Mid-Continent Airport in Kansas after the Wichita City Council rejected the airline's request for a subsidy equal to what AirTran Airways is receiving. "Our basic position is that we cannot compete on a route where a competing carrier is being subsidized," Delta spokeswoman Benet J. Wilson says. "The FAA has made it clear that the subsidy is 'economic discrimination.'"
Aermacchi has completed the first flight of its M-311 trainer. The mission lasted 70 min. and allowed chief test pilot Olinto Cecconello to reach the maximum load factors of +7.5g and -3.5g. The aircraft is configured as an avionics demonstrator. Deliveries will begin in 2008.
Canada's National Defense Dept. has created a program to boost wide-area surveillance of its Arctic region from space. Project Polar Epsilon will use information from the new Radar- sat 2 satellite, scheduled for launch in 2006, to provide all-weather, day and night observation of the Canadian Arctic and its ocean approaches.
The Senate Armed Services Committee calls a June 7 hearing on the Defense Dept. inspector general's (IG) review of the ill-fated Boeing KC-767A tanker leasing program. The document is not yet public, but those with insight into it say it's a "nasty report" that criticizes many. Most targeted appear to be former Pentagon acquisition chief, Pete Aldridge, and his acting replacement, Mike Wynne, with slaps on the wrist for former Air Force Secretary James Roche and Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper. Also cited is Gen.
You can now register ONLINE for Aviation Week Events. Go to www.AviationNow.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only) Oct. 18-20--MRO Europe. Estrel Hotel & Convention Center, Berlin. Nov. 8-10--MRO Asia, Suntec City, Singapore. Nov. 14-16--A&D Programs & Productivity Conference, Phoenix. PARTNERSHIPS Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Seminars:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved Loral Space & Communi-cations' disclosure statement for its plan of reorganization, keeping it on track to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company says. The court is to consider confirmation of the plan July 13.
Gary Bartek (see photo) has been elected chairman of the U.K.-based International Air Cargo Assn. He is marketing manager for cargo development of Kansas City (Mo.) International Airport. Bartek succeeds Dora Kay, head of international marketing for the Airport Authority of Hong Kong. Elected vice chairman was Jack Boisen (see photo), who is vice president-cargo for Continental Airlines and chairman of the Air Cargo Council of the Air Transport Assn.
