Despite the travel downturn due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the war in Iraq, Thai Airways International firmed plans last week to order five A340-600s and three A340-500s for delivery in 2005-06. In a potentially big win, industry sources report that Japan Airlines is ready to order its first Airbus transport--the A380. How many and when has not been disclosed.
SHORTER WEEK Lufthansa said it plans to introduce shorter work hours for ground staff starting in mid-April in anticipation of a worsening outlook that's expected to lead to an operating loss for the first quarter. The airline declined to provide figures, but Uwe Weinreich, an analyst with HypoVereinsbank, estimated the loss could reach 300 million euros ($324 million).
Now that moving-map displays are available to reduce runway incursions, the airlines are so strapped for cash that they can't afford to invest in highly capable systems to navigate on the airport surface. And the FAA and industry are engaged in a heated debate about a more affordable version of the display.
Continental Airlines reported a loss of $221 million in the first quarter as weak passenger revenues, soft bookings and rising fuel prices combined to give the nation's fifth-largest carrier its first bloody nose of the year. The Houston-based airline was "severely impacted" by the war in Iraq, bad winter weather, the escalating cost of fuel, and the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that decimated Asia traffic, said Gordon Bethune, chairman/CEO. He said fuel costs alone rose 63.7% ($135 million) compared with the same quarter in 2002.
Airbus still believes it can weather growing market uncertainties and preserve a stable rate of deliveries. However, executives of the European manufacturer acknowledge they are considering actions to take in case commercial transport deliveries decrease further.
Bill Fife, who is vice president/aviation business line manager for DMJM+Harris of New York and former general manager of aviation planning and technical services for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has received a certificate of appreciation from the FAA Eastern Region. For the past 15 years, Fife has chaired a Peer Review Group of Airports within the U.S., Canada and U.K., which offers airport owners and consultants the opportunity to exchange information and discuss issues and solutions to challenges.
A hybrid rocket engine with self-pressurizing oxidizer is one of the keys to low cost for Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne. A hybrid engine sprays oxidizer into the long case holding the rubbery fuel and, unlike normal solid rocket motors, can be shut off by closing the oxidizer valve. Because the fuel is separate from the oxidizer, it is not a hazardous substance, eliminating the expensive precautions required for solid rockets.
Steve Lee has been promoted to senior vice president/chief financial officer from senior vice president-marketing and business development of Signature Flight Support, Orlando, Fla. John (Cy) Farmer has been promoted to vice president-operations from vice president-Southeast U.S. He succeeds Doug Crowther (see photo), who has become vice president-Eastern U.S. David Vaughan has been promoted to vice president-sales and marketing from vice president-Western U.S.
USN Cdr. Timothy J. Block has been appointed commanding officer of Carrier Airborne Sqdn. 121 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. He succeeds Cdr. Thomas J. Quinn, who is now assistant air officer on board the USS Ronald Reagan. Block was executive officer of VAW 121 and will be succeeded by Cdr. Jeffrey L. Bay. He has been action officer in the C4 Directorate of the Joint Staff.
AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, averted filing for bankruptcy protection last week following a last-minute voting extension that resulted in the Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) approving pay concessions of $340 million.
A new kid has moved into the low-fare carrier neighborhood. On Apr. 15, Delta Air Lines launched service of its low-fare subsidiary, Song, from New York JFK International Airport to West Palm Beach, Fla., with a Boeing 757-232. Airport neighbor JetBlue Airways is likely sizing up the competition.
"GAIN"-ING MOMENTUM The sixth Global Aviation Information Network (GAIN) World Conference is scheduled for June 18-19 in Rome. Steve Predmore, chair of the GAIN steering committee, said the conference will focus on sharing of safety information between airlines as well as exploring solutions to technical, legal and economic challenges facing carriers around the world.
Vicki Bretthauer (see photo) has been appointed president/chief operating officer of DHL Airways Inc. She had been interim CEO/senior vice president-operations. Ray Lutz has been named vice president-business development and strategic planning. Steve Rossum has been promoted to executive vice president/general counsel and head of business transactions from senior vice president-corporate finance/general counsel. Phil Wegescheide has been promoted to vice president-finance/controller from senior director of financial planning and analysis/controller.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Lufthansa Technik has bought half the equity in Airfoil Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) from MTU Engines. Formerly known as MTU Maintenance Malaysia, the company will focus on repair of low-pressure turbine blades for the CF6-50, CF6-80, CFM-56-3 and V2500 engines. ASSB, located near Kuala Lumpur, overhauls compressor blades for the V2500. The new business arrangement expands ASSB's base to include customers of Lufthansa Technik's Engine Parts & Accessories Repairs operation.
Each year, Aviation Week & Space Technology gives special awards of recognition to young people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and academic skills, and have chosen to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. These are the people who will take over where today's leaders and visionaries leave off. Outstanding cadets at the service academies, with a demonstrated interest in aviation, receive Breitling Aerospace watches, courtesy of Breitling USA. This year's Outstanding Cadets are:
OBITUARY: W. Brandt Goldsworthy, a pioneer in the fabrication and application of composites, died from complications following cancer surgery, on Apr. 3 in Torrance, Calif. He was 87. Goldsworthy's wide-ranging work included devising methods to make composites from lunar soil, development of pultrusion techniques, composite tape placement on the V-22 tiltrotor, designing the Convair flying car, creating machinery to build tapered fishing rods, making composite 155-mm. shells for the Army and helping to develop the Chevrolet Corvette.
The French government has agreed to increase funding for European Space Agency programs and transfer engineering responsibility for launcher development from national space agency CNES to ESA, while transforming its Mars Sample Return project into an ESA effort. The government also acknowledged it may sell some or all of its holdings in the Arianespace launch company.
HIP, HIP, ARRAY! Astrium has opened a fully integrated solar array facility in Ottobrun, Germany, that will allow activities related to production of arrays, testing and inspection to be located under one roof. The 14,000-sq.-ft. building includes three parallel assembly lines for panels and halls for integration that are sized to accommodate up to six solar wings, each measuring 23 meters (75 ft.) in length. The new facility is capable of developing and producing a full array in 12 months.
Delta Air Lines, facing what CEO Leo F. Mullin described as the greatest financial crisis in its history, reported a $466-million net loss in the first quarter, or $3.81 loss per share. Excluding unusual items, which included $27 million in pension benefits as a result of workforce reductions, the airline posted a net loss of $426 million or $3.49 per share.
Apr. 27-30--75th Annual American Assn. of Airport Executives Conference & Exposition. Los Angeles Convention Center. Call +1 (703) 824-0500, fax +1 (703) 820-1395 or see www.airportnet.org Apr. 29-30--Air Cargo Management Group's First Air Cargo & Freighter Aircraft Workshop. Elliot Grand Hyatt Seattle. Call +1 (206) 587-6537 or e-mail [email protected] Apr. 29-May 1--National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. & Air Line Pilots Assn. Conference. Doubletree Hotel, Denver. Call +1 (800) 266-0895, ext. 4846 or see www.natcadc.org
TARGETING ROSETTA The European Space Agency favors a fallback scenario that would send its Rosetta comet mission toward Churyumov-Gerasimenko in February 2004. That option--one of three identified late last month for further study (AW&ST Mar. 31, p. 17)--has already been inscribed in the Ariane 5 launch manifest, and "is the most likely scenario," according to ESA science director David Southwood.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT CO.'S THIRD PRE-PRODUCTION HAWKER Horizon recently completed a flight lasting 7.6 hr. to check operation of various airframe and engine systems. In addition, pilots and flight engineers validated performance projections and evaluated navigation and communication equipment as well as autopilot function. The mission covered 2,227 naut. mi. Plans call for making another flight of longer duration to demonstrate the business jet's range capability of 3,400 naut. mi.
THE NUMBER OF GENERAL AVIATION ACCIDENTS DECLINED to 1,494 in 2001--the lowest since 1938. According to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Nall Report published by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn., there were 298 fatal accidents, with takeoff and landings accounting for 58% of all pilot-related events. Loss of control was the chief reason for more than 30%. The second leading cause was wind. The fatality rate in takeoff accidents was 20.5%, while fatalities during landing accounted for only 1%.
