Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Integrated Systems Sector has won a $23.6-million, fixed-price contract from the U.S. Navy to produce 78 BQM-74E aerial targets and associated kits. The contract includes options for three additional years of production. The potential total value is $107 million.
Setting the scene for airports to analyze their infrastructure and airlines to reexamine their peak-hour scheduling, the FAA documented last week what has been obvious to air travelers for the past couple of summers--flight operations often exceed capacity at the nation's most congested airports.
General Dynamics' $2.1-billion cash offer to buy Newport News Shipbuilding represents the company's second bid in two years to absorb its main competitor and become the U.S. Navy's chief supplier of aircraft carriers and submarines. The proposed deal, tentatively set to close in the third quarter, would include assumption of $500 million of debt accumulated by Newport News Shipbuilding. Although the boards of both companies have approved the plan, it is subject to government and regulatory review.
With a new Administration in the White House, lighter-than-air proponents are rolling out some new ideas. NORAD is pitching the demonstration of an airship that in large numbers would offer early warning of attack by aircraft or missiles. BMDO is considering missile-carrying airships to fend off cruise missile attacks.
Titan Corp. received an indefinite-delivery/quantity follow-on contract by the U.S. Navy for technical and software engineering services in support of satellite communications systems improvements. The potential value is $127 million over the next five years.
AerotechTelub of Sweden, Aerotech of Denmark and Astec Helicopter Services of Norway have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a logistics support organization for defense helicopters, called the Nordic Support and Service Center. It plans to purchase more than 70 aircraft.
Ron King has been named Houston-based commercial executive for North American marketing operations for Antonov Airlines, the joint venture between Air Foyle Ltd. and the Antonov Design Bureau. He was vice president of Curtis Air Service.
U.S. Navy Capt. David M. Walker (ret.), who commanded three space shuttle missions and was copilot on a fourth, died Apr. 23 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He was 56.
China's two major carriers, China Southern Airlines and China Northern Airlines, have begun a code-share partnership for flights to and from Guangzhou and Shenyang. Plans call for operating 2-3 flights daily on the route. The pact marks a key change in relations between the two airlines, which have been fierce competitors. Revenue will be shared proportionately, according to airline officials.
Airbus' new A340-600, Europe's largest commercial aircraft, successfully completed its first flight on Apr. 23, in Toulouse, France. The A340-600, fitted with flight test instruments and water ballast tanks, took off at a weight of more than 300 metric tons (660,000 lb.). The 380-seat aircraft, powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, has a maximum takeoff weight of 365 metric tons and a maximum range of 7,500 naut. mi.
Canada's CAE has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. to upgrade the Merlin helicopter simulator system to be used by the U.K. Royal Navy. The contract covers changes to the Cockpit Dynamics Simulator.
Eric Wildhagen has been named vice president-engineering and product support for the Pemco Aviation Group Inc., Birmingham, Ala. He was group head of mechanical engineering for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. in Dallas.
BFGoodrich's income for the fourth quarter was $80 million, or 76 cents a share, compared with $76.4 million, or 69 cents a share, a year ago. In the aerospace segment, all four operating groups achieved higher sales and operating income, compared with the year-ago quarter. Operating income increased 12%, to $1 billion.
Robert Patton (see photo) has been appointed president/CEO of Shaw Aero Devies Inc., Shaw Aero Development Inc. and the Dyna-Air Corp., all of Naples, Fla. He was vice president/general manager.
Barry A. Benedict (see photo) has been appointed senior vice president/chief academic officer of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., starting next fall. He is vice president-academic affairs/dean of faculty at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind.
Weaker-than-expected sales and income from Logicon and Electronic Systems and Sensors were primarily responsible for a 43% drop in Northrop Grumman's earnings per share, according to industry analysts. The company reported net income of $103 million, or $1.42 a share, compared with $173 million, or $2.47 a share, in the first quarter of 2000. Sales also came in below some Wall Street estimates.
A TRW/Raytheon-led contractor team completed a Space-Based Infrared System-Low (SBIRS-Low) System Design Review in late March, clearing the second of three major program milestones. While pointedly guarding proprietary aspects of their design for this low-Earth orbital component of a next-generation missile early-warning and tracking system, TRW and Raytheon officials attending the 17th National Space Symposium here were clearly pleased with the review's outcome.
Northrop Grumman is buying Aerojet's Electronic and Information Systems (EIS) business group for $315 million in cash. The sale will reduce the debt of Aerojet parent company, GenCorp, to approximately $240 million, and facilitate growth for the rest of Aerojet's Sacramento, Calif.-based operation, according to company officials. Carl Fischer, the current president of Aerojet, will head the EIS sector in Azusa, Calif., during its transition to Northrop Grumman.
The U.S. National Mediation Board plans to resume negotiations between American Airlines and the Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) on May 3-4 in Washington. Discussions ended in March, and meetings scheduled for this month were delayed. APFA and American have been discussing a new labor contract since 1998.
The Air Force is in the odd position of needing more pilots, but is reducing the number of training slots over the next five years. The training pipeline is full, leaving 500-1,000 officers waiting 6-14 months to start their courses. In recent years, the service has been producing an average of about 1,300 pilot candidates a year, exceeding what the pipeline can handle. As a result, there will be 50-75 fewer pilot slots allocated among the Air Force Academy, Officer Training School and ROTC this year.
FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP OPERATOR Executive Jet Inc. and Ohio State University's College of Engineering are exploring creation of an accelerated flight training program to serve Ohio State students, recipients of Executive Jet scholarships, and experienced pilots seeking advanced instruction. In addition, Executive Jet will study whether to commercially offer products and concepts developed by the university's faculty and students.
