Singapore Airlines, in keeping with its strategy to monetize non-core holdings, is selling its 6.3% stake in Air New Zealand to institutional investors. In 2000, SIA acquired Air NZ shares, which at the time represented a 25% stake. Following the recapitalization of Air New Zealand in 2001, through which the New Zealand government acquired majority ownership, SIA's holdings were diluted to the current 6.3%. SIA continues to work closely with Qantas Airways to combine Airbus A380 training and maintenance facilities, according to Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon.
European ground controllers plan a critical maneuver on Wednesday that should put the first Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology (Smart-1) on its final path to capture in lunar gravity after a year-long solar-powered journey to the Moon.
Ronald F. McKenna (see photos), who has been president of the Windsor Locks, Conn.-based Hamilton Sundstrand division of the United Technologies Corp., has been named to become chairman on Jan. 1. He will be succeeded by David P. Hess, who has been president of Hamilton Sundstrand's Aerospace Power Systems unit and 7E7 programs.
On Jan. 15, 2005, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways plan to increase fares 5% for services between Japan and European destinations. High fuel prices are expected to drive the carriers to raise domestic fares in the near future.
The U.S. Air Force initiated a breakthrough more than a decade ago when it promoted the fabrication of some fracture-critical parts using the investment casting process, a method of creating parts from a mold.
Icelandair will open its sixth North American gateway next spring at San Francisco International Airport. In its first direct service from the West Coast, Icelandair will start twice weekly flights on May 18 to Reykjavik, with connecting service to Europe. The schedule will shift to four flights each week in June, continuing through August. The twice-weekly schedule will return on Sept. 14. Long known as a Boeing 757 operator, Iceland's flag carrier recently concluded an agreement with Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services to wet-lease 757 and 767 aircraft.
Of all the comments Robert L. Crandall made in Frances Fiorino's article, the best was that airline pilots only work 22 hr. a week (AW&ST Sept. 27, p. 45).
Gene Roy has been promoted to vice president-operations for Orlando, Fla.-based Aircraft Service International Group from general manager for ASIG's operations at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Roy has been succeeded by Dan Sewell, who was general manager at JFK Terminal 1 for GlobeGround. Shannon Carney has been named senior director for sales and customer service. He was general manager for ASIG at Detroit Metro Airport.
The pre-owned business jet market appears to be stabilizing at a pace parallel to industry recovery. "There are signs of improvement," according to Rick Engles, president of Annapolis, Md.-based Vance and Engles Aircraft Brokers. About 2,000 aircraft or 15% of the 13,800-bizjet fleet is now for sale, he notes. "We [dealers] normally consider a 'balanced' market somewhere around 10%. Two years ago, it was 25-30%, a very strong buyer's market."
The City of Chicago is facing a proposed $33,000 civil penalty from the FAA for failure to provide the agency with 30 days' notice of its 2003 closure of Meigs Field. The FAA requires notification so it can assess what effect such actions might have on the National Airspace System. Under FAA regulations, a maximum penalty of $1,100 per day may be assessed for this type of violation.
Some 25 space agencies from around the world are expected to send representatives to Washington next month for a two-day workshop on how the workload for a long-term deep-space exploration effort can be distributed internationally.
Business flying is experiencing the genesis of a recovery on every front, but manufacturers and operators question the robustness of the revival and whether it can be sustained over the long term.
An agreement between two small Belgian carriers, Virgin Express and SN Brussels Airlines (SNBA), will allow the airlines to enjoy common ownership and coordinate their strategies, while remaining separate companies. The arrangement will reinforce the trend toward consolidation of Europe's second- and third-tier airlines.
Brian O'Keeffe of Australia, long considered an expert in the field of air navigation systems, has received the Edward Warner Award from the Montreal-based Interntional Civil Aviation Organization. O'Keefe has been credited with playing a key role in the development of future air navigation systems worldwide and its successor, communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management.
Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity are continuing to find new evidence of past water at their landing sites, say rover investigators at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. New data from Spirit, which is now perched in the Columbia Hills, indicate that unlike the Gusev Crater valley floor below, the much older higher terrain has been altered by water.
In the Oct. 4 issue, the system involved in a U.S. Navy review was misidentified (p. 24). The study looked at whether to buy a second targeting pod to augment Raytheon's Atflir.
Morgan Advanced Ceramics 10-in. metal-spun foil is a cost-effective alternative to traditional foils, the company says. Manufactured from a variety of alloys, including Pd-based, Cu-based and Ni-based (AMS 4777), the foil can be produced in strips up to 10 in. wide with a thickness of 0.002 in. and can be cut into custom preform shapes. The foil is adaptable to aerospace applications where a brazed assembly with a large cross section is needed, including brazing heat exchanger assemblies, assembling and repairing compressor vanes, stators and hushkits.
Alcatel Space says it has signed up additional operators for its DSL-in-the-sky broadband access network, and has started commercial operation of the network with the Satlynx venture set up by SES Global, Gilat and Alcatel. The new users are Divona Telecom of Tunisia and an unnamed Middle Eastern operator, which join Nanjing Toptry China Spacenet Co. and Satlynx as operators of the two-way satellite system. DSL-in-the-sky is designed to afford very-high-data-rate transmissions (45 Mbps. down and 2 Mpbs.
Singapore's Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a voluntary, non-punitive and confidential incident reporting system. Sincair (Singapore Confidential Aviation Incident Reporting System) will collect information relative to events and safety deficiencies that might not otherwise be reported. According to the AAIB, the information will allow others to learn from the incidents and thus enhance safety. The reporter's identity is confidential, and the information stored in a database.
Marotta Controls Inc. has designed, developed and qualified its Model MV604C 3-way/2-position solenoid valve for the landing gear of the Airbus A380. The valves were contracted by Mecaer, part of the team developing landing gear for the mega-transport. The Model MV604C will actuate a unique steering system on the main gear, enhancing A380's maneuverability on the ground, the company says. The privately held U.S.-based company has facilities in the U.K. and Ireland.
If the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. had three wishes, they'd be for hiring more controllers at Chicago Tracon. The boss, the FAA, on the other hand, wishes to hire more supervisors. Natca, which has long maintained the Tracon is understaffed, slammed the agency's operational assessment of facility (a.k.a. C90) which was released last week. The evaluation, conducted Jan. 21-Feb.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. is creating a Special Missions Aircraft organization to expand the airframe manufacturer's presence in that segment. It will have responsibility for sales, development, production and support. The chief focus will be to ensure that Special Mission operators experience seamless interaction between the four distinct departments. The stand-alone division will be led by Vice President John Brauneis, who will retain his responsibility for commercial and government contract activities.
Europe's Arianespace and the Indian Space Research Organization are near final consensus on an expansion of their backup launch agreement to cover the Geostationary Space Launch Vehicle, according to both organizations. Arianespace already has an arrangement to use the less powerful Polar Space Launch Vehicle as a backup launcher for its payloads. Meanwhile, Arianespace may get a chance to loft 50 nanosats at once in 2007 if a proposal by Russia's space agency is approved. Weighing about 1 kg.
