Andrew P. Hibbert has been appointed vice president and general counsel of France-based Thales. He was executive vice president/general counsel of Alstom. Hibbert succeeds Pierre Charreton.
Republic Airways Holdings may boost the number of Embraer 170s it will field this year, even as executives devise contingency plans should one of their key customers falter. Indianapolis-based Republic Airways, with its primary subsidiary Chautauqua Airlines, has been operating the Embraer 170 since October. So far, the company has placed 15 of the regional jets in service; another 31 are scheduled to be added this year.
Norma Clayton, vice president-supplier management for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in St. Louis, has been named among the 50 Most Important Blacks in Technology in 2005 by the editors of U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine. Among the others are: Patricia A. Newby, president of Northrop Grumman Corp. subsidiary Xetron Corp.; Joseph Cleveland, Lockheed Martin Corp. chief information officer/Enterprise Information Systems president; and Lockheed Martin Information Technology President Linda Gooden. Six other Northrop Grumman Corp.
For the past 15 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided astronomers with an invaluable research tool--a large, orbiting observatory high above Earth's turbulent atmosphere.
January international traffic showed stronger than expected growth compared to the same period last year in all regions except Asia-Pacific, according to International Air Transport Assn. (IATA). As a result of the tsunami tragedy on Dec. 26, Asia-Pacific traffic growth was "stunted" at 2.5%, says IATA. However, passenger traffic for the rest of the world was up 7.9% and cargo, 15.5%. Passenger capacity rose 7.8%, for a 73.5% load factor in January.
The first test of the Agni III Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile is expected by year-end from India's Orissa test range, a senior defense official says. The trials have been on the way for the past two years, but development problems and--reportedly--political pressure from the U.S. have delayed the launch. Indian officials have resisted comment on the program's progress. When asked about it last June, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee would say only that the Agni III will be tested "as and when required."
Top military officials say there are $13.4 billion in programs that they need but that aren't included in the $419-billion Fiscal 2006 budget request or the $75-billion emergency supplemental, both before Congress. Among the unfunded requirements are $2.9 billion for the Air Force, including $701 million for construction; $89 million for science and technology; a combined $248.5 million for data links, Predator A UAV upgrades and Predator B acceleration; $131 million in C-17 engine spares, $130 million in F-15E procurement and $44.4 million in E-8 Joint-STARS re-engining.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] Mar. 14-17--National Business Aviation Assn.'s 32nd Annual International Operators Conference. The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs. Call +1 (202) 783-9366 or see www.nbaa.org Mar. 15-16--RTCA's Symposium: "Implementing the 21st Century Global ATM System." Washington Convention Center. Call +1 (202) 833-9339 or see www.rtca.org
Link Simulation and Training will build the first Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer (TORT) for the U.S. Navy's P-3C Orion. Link, a division of L-3 Communications, has developed the trainer to incorporate the command, control communications and intelligence upgrades as well as the Orion's ability to conduct anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The TORT will allow crewmembers to acquire information from the aircraft's sensor suites and transmit the data to other aircraft or command centers.
Adm. Michael Mullen has been named by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to succeed Adm. Vern Clark this summer as the chief of naval operations. Mullen, a Naval Academy classmate of author James Webb and television personality Oliver North, has been a sparkplug of Navy innovation as the service tries to stabilize its fleet size within current budgets. Mullen now commands U.S. naval forces in Europe and earlier served as the vice chief of naval operations. He has commanded three ships and the U.S.S. George Washington battle group.
General Electric will supply T700-GE-401C engines for six Sikorsky S-70B helicopters to be operated by Singapore. Engine deliveries are slated for 2007, to support a helo in-service date a year later. Deliveries are to be completed in 2010.
Lufthansa significantly improved its financial performance in 2004, boosting operating profit to 380 million euros ($498 million) from 36 million euros. The airline also made a 400-million-euro net profit, compared with a 984-million-euro net loss in 2003 that was mainly due to writeoffs for its LSG SkyChefs catering division. Lufthansa will publish detailed financial figures including revenues on Mar. 22. The company proposes a 0.30-euro per-share dividend. Lufthansa did not pay a dividend last year because of poor performance.
Icelandair has become Boeing's 16th customer for the 787, placing a firm order for two standard configuration 787-8s to be delivered in 2010. Icelandair operates 19 757s and 767s, which are the two models within Boeing's own product line that the 787 is targeting. The new long-range, mid-sized jets will serve North American routes. The carrier is expanding its transfer traffic. It currently is a hub between six U.S. gateway cities and 16 European destinations. At list prices, the deal is worth $240 million; an engine choice has not been made.
Charles Keegan has been appointed vice president-operations planning in the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. He continues as director of the Joint Planning and Development Office, the interagency organization developing the long-term plan for the Next Generation Air Transport System. Keegan succeeds Norman Fujisaki, who is retiring.
European missile manufacturer MBDA is bolstering ties with India's Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) as it pursues sales opportunities in that country. MBDA is offering a vertical launch version of the Mica medium-range missile for an Indian air force surface-to-air missile requirement. A joint venture between MBDA and BDL is likely to be set up mid-2005, with collaboration not only on Mica, but also possibly the Aster SAM missile system.
The debate over the European Union's intention to lift its 15-year-old arms embargo against China is at a critical juncture, but unfortunately the radical rhetoric is drowning out the constructive multinational dialogue that is needed to prevent the issue from causing long-term damage to transatlantic relations.
Iain Conn has been appointed a non-executive director of Rolls-Royce Group plc. He is an executive director of BP plc for Europe, Russia, the Middle East, the Caspian Sea region and Africa.
Gregory J. Bowles has become manager of engineering and maintenance for the Washington-based General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. He was head of certification and validation program planning for aircraft modifications for the Keystone Helicopter Co.
The lift fan for the GE/Rolls-Royce F136 Short Takeoff and Landing (Stovl) engine for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is wedged between two bell mounts. They are part of the test hardware at GE Aircraft Engines' outdoor evaluation facility at Peebles, Ohio (see p. 48). The GE/Rolls partnership is completing work on the $411-million Phase III system development and demonstration contract. The next phase is expected to begin this summer. GE photo by Scott Yager.
Orbital Sciences Corp.'s net income rose 148% in 2004 to $45.6 million, excluding a tax benefit. Annual revenue increased 16% from the previous year to $675.9 million. In the fourth quarter, Orbital had adjusted net income of $10.6 million, down 5% from a year earlier. Quarterly revenue rose 11% to $175.2 million.
A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL lofted the XM-3 satellite for XM Satellite Radio Feb. 28, putting the 10,346-lb. Boeing 702 satellite into its geosynchronous transfer orbit en route to an operational slot at 85 deg. W. Long. Built as a ground spare for the two Boeing 702s--dubbed "Rock" and "Roll"--already serving the satellite pay-radio startup, the new spacecraft was sent up following delays to fix a technical glitch in the rocket and for weather at the equatorial location in the Pacific Ocean where Sea Launch positioned its Sea Launch Odyssey platform for greater lift capacity.
