Ireland's defense ministry has contracted for four Bell/Agusta AB139s for the Irish Air Corps. The helicopters would be used for troop transport, medical evacuations, search and rescue operations and VIP missions. Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. reports 80 orders from customers in more than 40 countries.
Smiths Aerospace has delivered the first mission systems avionics for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth. The Tactical Data Equipment avionics will be used in the airplane's mass memory and file system for mission planning and systems health debriefing. The first preproduction F-35A is tentatively scheduled to fly in 2006.
Delta Air Lines is seeking U.S. Transportation Dept. authority to serve Moscow daily from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Delta now operates daily service between New York JFK and Moscow Sheremetyevo International. The airline, which is undergoing a vast transformation from a legacy to low-cost carrier model, plans to start services in May to Chennai, India, via Paris Charles de Gaulle, and to Berlin Tegel International from JFK.
Bombardier says it is eliminating 60 corporate positions, part of its restructuring (AW&ST Dec. 20, 2004, p. 16). Richard Bradeen succeeds Michael Denham as senior vice president-strategy while maintaining responsibilities for corporate audit services and risk assessment.
Aspen 30, the Lockheed/USAF SR-71 Blackbird designated as "primary" for an unusual intelligence reconnaissance mission, was already on the runway at Beale AFB, Calif., when I taxied into the nearby "last-chance" inspection area. As backup pilot, I didn't expect to get airborne that day, though. The primary aircraft had maintained a very high launch-rate record, and this mission should be no exception.
USN Rear Adm. Carlton B. Jewett has been named deputy assistant chief of staff for defense planning at the Supreme Allied Command for Transformation, Mons, Belgium. He was commander of Carrier Strike Group One, North Island, Calif. Rear Adm. Michael P. Nowakowski has been appointed commander of the Naval Surface Force for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va. He was commander of the Mine Warfare Command, Corpus Christi, Tex. Nowakowski has been succeeded by Rear Adm. (lower half) Deborah A. Loewer, who was vice commander of the Military Sealift Command in Washington.
United Airlines' Master Executive Council last week recommended ratification of the tentative contract between the Air Line Pilots Assn. and the carrier. The vote will close Jan. 31.
Thales Chairman/CEO Denis Ranque says the company's selection as supplier of the Flight Management System for the A400M will allow it to enter a bid as an alternate FMS provider on the Airbus A380. That aircraft's primary FMS supplier is Honeywell. Ranque says the A400M model, based on technology developed for the Rafale fighter, would present a more cost-effective basis for developing an A380 model than the company's existing commercial FMS, designed with Smiths Aerospace.
Joni Hunt has been appointed director of air show events at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. She was executive director of the International Council of Air Shows Foundation and director of public relations for Airshow of the Stars.
George E. Wilson has been appointed vice president/director of flight operations for World Airways. He was director of flight standards and flight operations training. Wilson succeeds Gary Goodpaster, who has returned to being a captain and check airman.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority is seeking comments from pilots, aircraft owners and operators and airlines on the planned introduction of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. ADS-B will provide radar-like surveillance in many parts of Australia that have no radar coverage now. The system, which relies on GPS positions being transmitted by aircraft to the ground, is considered more accurate. When equipped with a full suite of technology the position of other aircraft in the area can be displayed in the cockpit to enhance safety.
Middle East carrier Gulf Air has signed a joint venture agreement with Sabre Airline Solutions for passenger management, operational software and consulting services. Sabre will hold a majority stake. Gulf Air President/CEO James Hogan says his company has reduced costs by more than $1 million during the past year and improved on-time performance by 7% by using Sabre's decision support software. Gulf Air carried 3.34 million passengers in 2004, up by 20.4% over 2003.The average load factor was 70.2%, a 67.3% increase from 2003.
Robert J. Gillette has been appointed president/CEO of Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace. He has been president/CEO of Honeywell Transportation Systems and will be succeeded by Adriane M. Brown. Gillette succeeds Robert D. Johnson, who plans to retire in January 2006. Johnson will remain as non-executive chairman of the aerospace business. Brown was vice president/general manager of Honeywell Aerospace Engine Systems & Accessories.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has awarded a $15-million contract to Sanchoon Builders to design and construct Asia's first dedicated low-cost terminal at Singapore Changi International Airport. The total cost, including taxiways, car parks and aprons, is expected to be about $27 million. Construction is to start soon and be completed by early 2006. The terminal has two linking single-story buildings designed to facilitate arrivals and departures. Initially, the terminal is to handle about 2.7 million passengers a year.
Murray Smyth has been named vice president-Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Southlake, Tex.-based Sabre Airline Solutions. He was head of Australia-based Transport and Technology Consulting. Smyth succeeds Vinay Dube, who is now vice president-portfolio management.
EasyJet has awarded Pratt & Whitney a three-year maintenance and overhaul contract covering General Electric/Snecma CFM56 turbofans. They power the British low-fare carrier's Boeing 737-300s.
The first of South Africa's BAE Systems' Hawk Mk.120s to be locally assembled was flown on Jan. 13. Denel Aviation is carrying out final assembly of the advanced jet trainer under contract to BAE. The aircraft was flown for 80 min., with checks being carried out on the flight controls and other key systems. Denel will assemble 23 of the 24 advanced jet trainers on order for the South African Air Force. Delivery is due to start in mid-2005, with two aircraft a month to be produced until mid-2006.
Douglas Barrie (London), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Beyond the immediate concern of avoiding any damaging World Trade Organization ruling, the issue of reimbursable loans is beginning to force potential funding alternatives onto the European aerospace agenda. While Washington and Brussels have brokered a 12-week breather in the Boeing-Airbus wrangle, some European industrialists and government officials are starting to consider whether repayable launch assistance has a long-term future.
The U.S. Navy has accepted the F/A-18C Distributed Mission Training (DMT) system built by L-3 Communications' Link Simulation and Training division, and marks the introduction of the first full-fidelity system that allows four Hornet pilots to train as a tactical team. The initial DMT for the F/A-18 is in operation at NAS Oceana, Va., and a second DMT is set to go to NAS Leemoore, Calif., in September.
Let's see now: Fuel prices are out of sight. We have way too much capacity, however you measure it; seats, planes or employees. Consumers are wary and traffic's not growing much. Yields are shot to hell, and there's no relief in sight. What to do . . . I know! Let's start a fare war! We know we won't stimulate traffic much, so we're really just trying to steal some market share from the LCC's . . . or anyone we can do it to. And, let's do it system-wide; no point in picking our targets carefully.
John Sams, Jr. (see photo), has become vice president-Air Force systems for Boeing's St. Louis-based Integrated Defense Systems. He was Boeing program manager for the U.S. Air Force 767 tanker.
Michael Romanowski has been named vice president-civil aviation and J.P. Stevens vice president-space systems of the Arlington, Va.-based Aerospace Industries Assn. Romanowski was vice president-special projects. Stevens continues as executive director of the Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Meanwhile, a team of Thales and EADS Defense and Security Systems was chosen to develop a common information and communications network for the French army to facilitate interoperability with allied commands, and lay the groundwork for network-centric warfare (NCW) ops. Under the 230-million-euro ($299-million) award, the team is to ensure an initial operating capability by 2008, in time for trials of the BOA air-ground NCW demonstrator (AW&ST June 21, 2004, p. 35).
Rance Walleston has been named head of the BAE Systems Intelligence and Information Operations Initiative, Rosslyn, Va. He was business development director for the Information and Electronic Systems Integration Sector's information warfare business, Hudson, N.H.
