After a 26-year absence, American Airlines began long-haul flights from Love Field on May 1 as part of its strategy to compete with startup Legend Airlines by attracting and retaining lucrative business passengers at the downtown airport.
Odie C. Donald has been appointed president of DirecTV Enterprises Inc. and vice president of the Hughes Electronics Corp., both in El Segundo, Calif. He succeeds Eddy W. Hartenstein, who has been promoted to global chairman of DirecTV and senior executive vice president of the Hughes Electronics Commerce Sector. Donald was president of BellSouth Mobility. Bill Casamo has become president of DirecTV Merchandising Inc. He will remain executive vice president-distribution, marketing and customer service.
Nancy J. Kellner has become vice president/general counsel of Astrolink, Bethesda, Md. She was a partner in the Washington law firm of Hogan and Hartson.
International passenger traffic at British airports was up by more than 6% and and total air traffic movements, up 5% in 1999. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority said the increase in international passenger traffic was spearheaded by rapid expansion at London Stansted airport where passenger traffic grew by 42% last year. The U.K.'s six main airports bucked the trend toward increasing air traffic delays in Europe, with an overall average delay of 16 min. in 1999, unchanged from the previous two years.
NASA's Terra Earth Observing System satellite has begun full operations in its quest to chart global climatic change (AW&ST Oct. 4, 1999, p. 54). Its initial views showed everything from air pollution and vegetation near India's population centers to Sahara Desert dust sweeping over the Canary Islands. Project Scientist Yoram Kaufman of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center says that by 2005 scientists will be able to complete the first climatic model of Earth using data from Terra, other spacecraft and ground sites.
Loral Skynet intends to become a customer of AssureSat, a Los Angeles area venture with plans to lease dedicated in-orbit spares to geosynchronous operators that have suffered satellite or launch vehicle failures. The AssureSat organization, which includes several former Hughes Communications executives, plans to begin offering in-orbit backup service in 2002 for communications satellite operators providing geostationary fixed satellite service (AW&ST Sept. 13, 1999, p. 29).
Jack Carmola has been appointed president of the Engine and Safety Systems Group, Michael Piscatella president of the Electronic Systems Group, John Grisik president of the Landing Systems Group and Bud Wetzler president of the Aerostructures and Aviation Services Group, all of the BFGoodrich Co., Charlotte, N.C. Grisik was president of Electronic and Engine Systems, Wetzler president of the Aerostructures Group, Carmola president of Engine Systems and Piscatella president of Braking Systems.
Inflatable seat belts may be installed on aircraft within a few years. BFGoodrich expects its new SmartBelt system, which feels like a traditional seat belt, to be available to the public within two years and become a standard feature not only in cars, buses and trains, but in aircraft as well. The ultra-high thermal-efficient design of the belt's inflator requires less propellant than traditional inflators and makes for a smaller size. BFGoodrich said the belt's bladder expands 6-in. wide and has more cushioning than seatbelt/airbag combinations now in use.
The U.S. Air Force has rejected an unsolicited Boeing proposal to extend the multiyear buy for the C-17 and reduce the aircraft's price from $198 million to $149 million. The Air Force took issue with some of the details of the offer for 60 aircraft.
A proposed stretch of Boeing's 747-400 freighter would have several advantages over a planned cargo version of the Airbus A3XX, according to James R. Edgar, regional director for Boeing cargo marketing. The stretched 747 would be highly common with existing freighter fleets and accommodate six pallets and 25 tons more than the current 747-400F. This would make both payload and cargo volume about the same as for the A3XX, although the European-built aircraft would have more pallet positions.
LOT said it plans to lease 10 additional aircraft in what would be the biggest expansion of its fleet in any one year. The leases, involving seven Embraer ERJ-145s and three Boeing 737s, are intended to reinforce the position of LOT's Warsaw hub as the major regional gateway in Central Europe. The airline already operates two Embraer and 16 737 aircraft. SAirGroup recently bought a 37% stake in the Polish flag carrier, which carried 2.6 million passengers last year.
The intelligence community is conducting an assessment to determine what the geopolitical consequences would be of a U.S. decision to proceed with the deployment of a national missile defense system, including whether it would spur a market for countermeasures. The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) is intended to help U.S. policy makers decide later this year whether to proceed with NMD. One of the concerns with developing the system is that a deployment decision could have serious international repercussions among allies and adversaries.
American Airlines has ordered 20 more Boeing 757-200s, boosting the manufacturer's shrinking 757 order backlog and pushing total orders for the aircraft past the 1,000 mark. The order, worth $1.5 billion at list price, will be used for growth as well as to help American replace five MD-90s and five MD-87s the carrier obtained with its Reno Air acquisition. Deliveries will begin next year and continue through 2002. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-535 engines.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. delivered the 4,000th F-16 on Apr. 28 to the Egyptian air force. The F-16C, built to Block 40 specifications, is part of an order for 21 of the fighters. The last two aircraft are scheduled for delivery at the end of this month.
Southern California Aviation in Victorville, Calif., is marketing its capabilities as an aircraft storage location. The facility, which is in the state's high desert and only a 90-min. drive from Los Angeles International Airport, has hard parking surfaces for more than 250 aircraft and 24-hr. security, according to John M. White, president of asset management programs. It is served by two 10,000-ft.-long runways, a full-time tower and has a heavy maintenance service on the field.
Global Outlook takes an in-depth look at aerospace topics of importance worldwide, focusing on North America, Europe, Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Civil, military or space sector stories from each region focus on a single, timely subject that could have significant ramifications for the aerospace industry. Most of the stories include data pages with economic information and listings of representative airlines and aerospace manufacturers in those areas.
The carrier formerly known as Virgin Australia has a new name: Virgin Blue Airlines. Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson's Brisbane-based low-budget domestic carrier got its new name in a recent radio station competition that garnered more than 3,000 entries. One reason for choosing the word ``blue'': to prove how ``true blue'' Virgin is in delivering low fares. Branson, in announcing plans for an Australian carrier late last year, said one-way fares between most cities would cost A$100 ($60) (AW&ST Dec. 6, 1999, p. 51).
Cessna Aircraft Co.'s Citation Encore business jet received FAA certification Apr. 26. The airplane is an upgraded version of the Citation Ultra, and is powered by two Pratt&Whitney PW535A each rated at 3,400 lb. static thrust at 80F. at sea level.
Two dozen aircraft were involved in hostile action, accidents and serious incidents in Africa during 1999, according to the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Assns. (IFALPA). The number of accidents represented 15% of total worldwide fatal events and 13% of the fatalities, while Africa contributes only 1% of total aviation activity. A majority of the downed aircraft came from the former Soviet Union. The trend continued in the first two months of this year during which three accidents occurred (AW&ST Mar. 6, p. 43). Accidents in 1999:
NASA's Ames Research Center has awarded to Raytheons Systems Co., a $150-million contract to supply air traffic management system development and integration for research, development and analysis of advanced air transportation technologies and concepts.
Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit is seeking a replacement for Debby Hopkins, who abruptly resigned as chief financial officer last week, but he's not looking for ``a Debby.'' ``We're recruiting for someone with fundamental strengths versus a specific person, because you build your management team around those strengths,'' he said. Walt Skowronski, vice president of finance and treasurer, will serve as acting CFO until Hopkins' replacement is hired.
Acting President Vladimir Putin signed a radically revised Russian military doctrine last week which was approved by the country's Security Council. The changes were driven by harsh realities, according to Security Council Secretary Sergey Ivanov, including recent conflicts in Chechnya and Kosovo. The doctrine allocates new priorities to a set of specified threats, and allows Russian forces to use nuclear weapons if other means fail when facing ``widescale aggression and evident threat to Russia's sovereignty.''
Northrop Grumman's net income of $173 million for the first quarter represented a 66% increase over the comparable period in 1999, according to the company's financial results. First-quarter sales of $2.1 billion were basically unchanged from the same period a year ago, company officials said.
BAE Systems will employ Aspect Development's E-Source strategic sourcing software to streamline its global purchasing of parts and supplies, worth 5.4 billion pounds ($8.5 billion) annually. Aspect's E-Commerce program will also be employed in BAE Systems' recently announced strategy to jointly develop an e-commerce exchange with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon using Commerce One technology (AW&ST Apr. 3, p. 27). Aspect had already been employed by Marconi Electronic Systems, which merged with British Aerospace to form BAE Systems last year.
The explosive growth of regional airlines will continue, fueled by strong passenger demand and major carriers' interest in capturing feed traffic. Recent federal legislation eliminating or relaxing slot restrictions at several large U.S. airports should intensify competition still further. Smaller 35-seat jets also have the potential for creating a whole new tier of U.S. and even international air service, flying point-to-point between smaller cities and bypassing hubs.
