The Thales board is considering future industrial strategy, with a possible three-way tie-up with Alcatel and Finmeccanica being mentioned as one option.
Stuart F. Gray has been named treasurer of the United Industrial Corp., Hunt Valley, Md. He succeeds James H. Perry, who will remain vice president/chief financial officer. Gray was director of corporate finance for Wm. T. Burnett & Co. and its subsidiary, STX.
First-quarter general aviation aircraft shipments worldwide increased 15.7% to 627 units, and total aircraft billings rose to $2.7 billion, an increase of 14.1% over 2004, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. In 2005, 432 piston aircraft were shipped, compared with 394 in 2004; 57 turboprops, up from 34; and 138 business jets, up from 114.
After failing in a bid to fund initial work on Italy's part of the Fremm/ Renaissance cruise-missile-carrying frigate program through an ad-hoc industry competitiveness bill, the Italian government is now seeking to shift funding over the first three years of the program to the Treasury Dept. (AW&ST Apr. 18, p. 70). The appointment last week of a new Italian government and industry minister, Claudio Scajola--a strong backer of Fremm--is expected to boost this proposal.
Concerned about being overshadowed by U.S. missile systems, India is thinking more aggressively about export markets for its own systems. The concern arose after the U.S. began sending signals that it would make its Patriot PAC-3 anti-ballistic missile system available to India. First, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid a high-profile visit, followed by U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kohler, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, who confirmed how much the U.S. wants to cooperate with India.
European military planners are starting to embrace the concept of fielding a rapid-reaction launch system, both to provide a low-cost micro-satellite launch capability and as a potential counter to anti-satellite (ASAT) systems.
The Japanese space agency's (JAXA's) Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (Oicets) has been sent to the Tsukuba Space Center near Tokyo for pre-flight tests after being reconfigured for a change in its inclination to 98 deg. from 35 deg. The inclination shift was prompted by a change to the mission's Ukrainian Dnepr launch vehicle. A critical design review has been completed, and the launch is expected this summer. From its polar low-Earth orbit, Oicets will test laser beams as a communication medium over distances as long as 45,000 km.
The Airbus A380 flies near the Pyrenees, southwest of Toulouse, France, with its 22-wheel landing gear extended. The European mega-transport's 3-hr. 54-min. maiden flight, on Apr. 27, marked the start of a 12-14-month certification program in preparation for an entry into service, with Singapore Airlines, early in the second half of next year. Fifteen customers have signed orders or commitments covering 154 passenger and all-cargo A380s. Airbus/exm co./H. Gousse photo was taken from an Aerospatiale Corvette business jet chase aircraft at about 10,000 ft.
USAF Lt. Col. (ret.) Robert J. Brun (Redlands, Calif.)
The universal support of British airline and regulatory agencies for a British Airways Boeing 747-400 captain's decision to continue an 11-hr. flight after engine failure on takeoff is both wrong-headed and amazing (AW&ST Mar. 14, p. 68).
Deep-seated contempt among some U.S. missile defense advocates for Canada's decision not to participate in the program continues. The latest demonstration comes from Peter Huessy of the National Defense University, who organizes a series of missile defense issue breakfasts every spring on Capitol Hill. Introducing Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry (Trey) Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency, Huessy emphasizes the need for a missile defense system because, for example, a warhead exploding in Los Angeles or Seattle would result in a tremendous loss of life.
If the U.S. airline industry could trim seating capacity by 6-7%, the decline in supply would boost revenue per seat by 10%, according to W. Douglas Parker, chairman/president/CEO of America West Airlines. Parker told members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at a seminar in Washington that America West has been in crisis mode since 10 days after he was named CEO on Sept. 1, 2001. Parker says a 7% capacity cut industry-wide wouldn't be huge but it would be enough for his airline to post a $250-million profit instead of last year's $100-million loss.
The Aviation Technology Group Javelin two-place civilian jet is expected to begin taxi tests at its Englewood, Colo., final-assembly base within 2-3 weeks, according to ATG officials. Electrical system and ejection-seat ground checks were being conducted last week. The first Javelin will be an unpressurized demonstrator, limited to "high transonic" speeds and dedicated to performance, handling qualities and systems testing, according to George Bye, ATG's CEO. Ultimately, the company plans to build and certify a family of Javelin-type aircraft under FAR Part 23.
The first Bombardier Global 5000 long-range business jet entered service with a customer based in the Middle East. The twin-engine jet will be flown on both intercontinental and transcontinental missions through Asia and Europe. The airplane was completed at Bombardier's facilities in Montreal, where eight other Global 5000s are nearing completion, according to Bombardier Aerospace. In the past 30 days, Bombardier has received orders for three more airplanes from launch customers in New Zealand, Brazil and Honduras.
Howard Benedict, the award-winning dean of U.S. space writers, who served 37 years with the Associated Press, much of it at Cape Canaveral. died of natural causes Apr. 25 at home in Cocoa, Fla. He was 77. Benedict also was the AP's White House correspondent during the Ford administration. Benedict opened the AP's Cape Canaveral bureau in 1959 to begin coverage of the growing U.S. space program. He wrote thousands of news stories about U.S. space achievements and failures.
A looming French "no" vote on the European Union's constitutional treaty threatens to thwart a nascent push to integrate and broaden Europe's military space program, just as it appears to be gathering steam. Such an ominous development would be ironic, because France has been the leading proponent for a stronger military space agenda and has recently appeared to be winning converts.
The MBDA Brimstone air-launched anti-armor missile was finally accepted for service by the British Royal Air Force at the end of March. The millimeter-wave guided missile's entry into service had been delayed by a mixed bag of technical problems, and the availability of suitable Tornado aircraft for initial integration tests. A final series of Defense Ministry test firings were carried out in the U.S. prior to the missile's being cleared for service entry. These included ripple firing of three missiles from a single aircraft against several armored targets.
World News Roundup 18 MDA head cites problems that led to abort of a silo-based interceptor 18 Javelin two-place civilian jet expected to begin taxi tests in 2-3 weeks 18 NASA pushes shuttle's return to flight into summer 19 Britain plans major upgrade for E-3D Sentry early warning aircraft 20 Aerospace companies report another round of robust earnings 20 First flight for prototype Cessna Citation Mustang business jet World News & Analysis
After a three-year restructuring plan, Gulf Air recorded a $4-million profit in 2004--a year ahead of when it was predicted. It had a $53-million loss in 2003.
Honeywell has licensed its patented technology for liquid crystal displays to Sharp Corp. LG. Philips, NEC and Samsung Electronics, among others, are licensees. Honeywell actively sells licenses to its intellectual property and is suing 34 other electronics companies in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., for what it alleges are infringements on this same LCD patent.
I was pleased that Boeing and Hamilton Sundstrand finally discovered that eliminating an entire secondary power system (bleed air) was a way to save cost, weight and space while improving reliability and reducing maintenance cost (AW&ST Mar. 28, p. 47). Now it is time to look at the real need for a hydraulic system. Today the all-electric airplane is a reality but many engineers refuse to recognize it. Virtually all unmanned aerial vehicles are all-electric and much simpler in concept than large manned aircraft.
Europe is considering liberalizing defense trade within the European Union, but political and military officials first face a long list of questions from governments used to nationalistic buying practices. The open market measure in the military sphere would keep in place rules that permit governments to exclude foreign bidders, albeit in a more controlled way.
8-9 Correspondence 10 Who's Where 12 Market Focus 15 Industry Outlook 16 Airline Outlook 17 In Orbit 18-20 World News Roundup 23 Washington Outlook 71 Classified 72 Contact Us 73 Aerospace Calendar
Regarding the article "China Showdown" (AW&ST Mar. 7, p. 20), the U.S. having to defend itself against European weapons is nothing new. In 1953, I was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where the MiG-15 that a North Korean pilot flew across the 38th Parallel was being examined. The aft section was off and the centrifrugal-flow jet engine was on a stand. The nameplate read "Rolls-Royce Nene."
France's Syracuse 3A military communications satellite will be shipped for a late May or early June Ariane 5 launch, DGA says. The flight, initially set for April, has been put off because of payload delays.
