Elbit Systems, an Israel-based defense electronics company, rose to the top of the ``mid-size'' rankings on the strength of its high operating margins. They improved 50% on a 35% increase in sales last year, thanks to a merger with privately held El-Op Electro-Optics Industries Ltd., making Elbit the largest non-government-owned defense contractor in Israel, with annual sales of about $700 million.
CAE has been selected to upgrade the U.S. Army's AH-64A Combat Mission Simulator under a $9-million work order. CAE will provide its Medallion visual system with sensor capabilities, develop visual databases and integrate its Interactive Tactical Environment Management System application.
EchoStar Communications Corp. will be adding three satellites to its DISH Network direct broadcast television service, and has signed with Integral Systems to provide the primary and backup control software for them. A single control system will be used, even though the satellites are of different types--EchoStar VII is a Lockheed Martin A2100, while EchoStars VIII and IX are Space Systems/Loral FS1300 satellites. Integral's off-the-shelf Epoch 2000 software handles real-time command and control as well as navigation and offline analysis.
Stuart Oran, who has been senior vice president-international of United Airlines, will become president and Thomas E. Davis chief operating officer of the carrier's business jet subsidiary. Davis has been president of DaimlerChrysler Aviation Inc. Graham Atkinson, who has been senior vice president-marketing, will succeed Oran, and Larry DeShon, who has been vice president-customer satisfaction, will succeed Atkinson. Montie Brewer, who has been vice president-alliances, will become senior vice president-planning.
U.S. Air Force planners are preparing what is likely to be the service's next major, multibillion-dollar bill for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance--a multirole, manned aircraft that would be capable of attacking targets electronically. Detailed plans for the Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft are still being developed, but USAF officials have sketched an ambitious timeline for fielding the system. They hope to introduce the first of the aircraft into service around 2009, according to program documents.
Boeing and the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reached a tentative agreement for the St. Louis facility late last week, but details of the proposed contract were not available. Union members rejected a company offer in May, claiming it was inferior to contracts forged with workers at Boeing's Wichita and Seattle facilities.
One of the largest formations of B-25 Mitchell bombers seen in years appeared at ceremonies in California last month in honor of survivors of the 1942 Doolittle Raid.
Turkey has dropped the number of A400M military transports it plans to acquire to 20 from 26 as a result of the nation's severe economic problems. That brings the stated requirements of the eight countries involved in the airlift program down to 224 aircraft. There have been reports that Germany could reduce its total buy to 55 of the transports due to budget constraints. But the German Defense Ministry says the official number still stands at 73.
Airbus has established Airbus Japan--a Tokyo-based subsidiary whose purpose is to demonstrate the manufacturer's commitment to the Japanese market while forging closer links with Japan's aerospace industry. Patrick Carroll, a former BAE Systems executive, will lead the business. Airbus officials recently failed to convince Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki to join the A380 transport initiative as partners by acquiring an 8% share of the $12-billion program.
W. James Farrell has been appointed to the board of directors of the UAL Corp. He is chairman/CEO of Illinois Tool Works. Farrell succeeds John F. McGilli- cuddy, who has retired from the board.
Northrop Grumman and EADS' Sogerma subsidiary opened a heavy maintenance/modification facility for large commercial transports on May 16 at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, La. The joint venture allows EADS to support Airbus aircraft operating in North, Latin and South America. The $14-million operation employs 100 workers and has completed six C checks on A320 transports. Northrop Grumman also operates a modification business at the airport for U.S. Air Force Joint-STARS aircraft.
David Albers has been named vice president-financial planning/treasurer of Trans World Airlines. He was managing director of financial performance analysis.
In the past, deicing has required spraying lots of glycol on aircraft--a costly, time-consuming and potentially environmentally hazardous operation. Last winter, Continental Airlines used an infrared (IR) alternative at its Newark International Airport hub. The system, developed by Radiant Energy Corp., is called InfraTek. After loading passengers, the aircraft taxis into a specially built hangar, where IR energy is directed down on the aircraft, melting ice and snow (see photo). Suspended inside the structure, ``energy process units'' convert natural gas into IR energy.
Having received the Pentagon's blessing, the U.S. Navy is preparing to start developing its next major satellite constellation, a $3-4-billion program to field a new generation of UHF military communications systems. The move comes despite inter-service haggling over the program structure, which could cause a bumpy start while differences over schedule and financing are resolved.
F414 technology upgrades now being proposed to the U.S. Navy by General Electric could save the service as much as $2 billion over the 20-year operational life of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, according to company estimates.
SabreTech reports that the FAA has agreed to reduce the company's civil fine to $1.75 million from $2.25 million for alleged hazardous materials violations linked to the 1996 crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Everglades. In addition to dropping 10 of the original allegations against the now-defunct aviation maintenance company, the FAA also agreed not to pursue SabreTech's parent company, Sabreliner Corp.
Dietmar Loose has been appointed director of business applications of Fairchild Dornier, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. He was head of information technology and e-business applications at Hilti Germany.
The battle continues in Southern California to convert the closed El Toro military air base to a commercial airport. Orange County, the Local Redevelopment Authority for the conversion, is attempting to develop the dormant airfield into a 29-million-passenger-per-year facility. Those plans, however, have met with a barrage of safety, environmental and quality-of-life challenges over the last seven years, spearheaded by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), an anti-airport coalition funded by eight nearby cities.
Jefferson Davis (see photo) has been promoted to director of sales and marketing from regional manager for Europe and Africa for the Transparency Div. of the Nordam Group, Tulsa, Okla. Other promotions are: Bob Weiss (see photo) to group director of hushkit marketing from manager of hushkit administration; Mere- dith Siegfried (see photo) to director of international operations for the Repair Div. from manager of strategic marketing development; Deryl Blunt (see photo) to director of operations for the Repair Div.
Joanne Simpson, chief scientist for meteorology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., has won the Charles F. Anderson Award of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The award recognizes the promotion of educational outreach and service and diversity in the AMS and broader communities.
The Belgian government is poised to take a 2.5% stake in the Helios-2 surveillance satellite program, a first step toward transforming this French effort into a European initiative. Belgium and Germany had planned to take part in Helios-2, which, unlike the existing Helios-1, will offer day/night imaging capability, as had Italy and Spain, France's partners in Helios-1. However, they were scared off by budget considerations. Spain's defense ministry said last week it planned to decide by summer whether to join the program.
An O'Hare Delay Task Force, the second in a decade for Chicago, will begin work next week to identify means of reducing airline delays and increasing airport capacity at the nation's busiest airport. In this early stage, the task force is focusing on the controversial addition of runways, but that could change.
