Japan Airlines has predicted better revenues and operating profits than originally forecast for the fiscal year that ended Mar. 31. JAL expects revenue to be 1.17 trillion yen ($11.01 billion), about 2% more than predicted at the fiscal year's half-way point last October, and an operating profit of 28.7 billion yen, nearly 8% higher than forecast. Still, JAL said the economic environment for fiscal 1999 was ``very severe due to the sluggish Japanese economy, intensifying competition and the steep rise in oil prices.''
The U.S. could revise ``antiquated'' export regulations by this summer so it will be easier to export military technologies and close the gap between U.S. forces and their NATO allies, a Defense Dept. official told the Aviation Week Aerospace Finance Executive Symposium in New York last week. ``The rules for exporting defense technology haven't changed much since the Cold War,'' said Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs Jeffrey P. Bialos.
Parker Hannifin is partnering with MRO.com Inc., a subsidiary of PSDI, to develop a B2B network for online procurement, product selection and sales and customer service. The goal is to allow distributors to be able to both buy and sell online. Inventory Locator Service Inc., which provides Internet auctions, a supplier directory and request for quotation services, reports that its inventory listing has reached 41.5 million lines representing 5 billion parts. ILS says it has 200 airlines and 600 overhaul companies among its customers, as well as 45 U.S.
Vibra-Metrics Inc. is offering an ultra low-frequency sensor to measure vibrations on semiconductor process tools, electron microscopes, micromachining and similar low-frequency applications. Model 1030 is an extremely high-sensitivity (6,000 MV/g), low-bias sensor with very low noise that is used to monitor stationary or moving structures. The 1030 can monitor vibration on index tables and stepper motors for precision part positioning. The 1030 weighs 430 grams, measures 2.5-in. high X 2 in. across the flats. Vibra-Metrics Inc., 1014 Sherman Ave., Hamden, Conn. 06514.
Lockheed Martin reported first-quarter net earnings of $54 million on sales of $5.6 billion compared with sales of $6.2 billion and a loss of $87 million in the same quarter last year, according to the company. Earnings before taxes and interest for the quarter were $326 million compared with $616 million in the same period last year. Pretax earnings were $99 million--down 77% from the previous year's first quarter. Shareholder price on net earnings was 14 cents per share.
The U.S. Air Force is taking its Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle on its first deployment outside of Edwards AFB, Calif. A Global Hawk will spend several weeks flying out of Eglin AFB, Fla. One of the missions will take the long-endurance system from Eglin on a transatlantic mission to participate in an exercise in Portugal before returning to land again at Eglin. In the mission to Portugal, Global Hawk will traverse the length of the Florida coast because restrictions remain on flying over populated areas.
Most attenuators are designed for one specific wavelength, limiting their use. Another problem concerns temperature changes. As temperatures fluctuate, most attenuators respond by reducing power (thermal drift). As the use of fiberoptics grows, the need for precise delivery of lightwave signals at various power levels is critical. IFT's hermetic sealing process has created a fixed attenuator that performs well over a broad range of temperatures and wavelengths. It's available in Singlemode or Multimode configurations using either bare fiber, 900 micron or 3.0-mm.
Formation Inc. has received a seven-year contract from Rockwell Collins to develop and manufacture a multi-media inflight server unit for In Flight Network that will receive, decode and play over multiple channels.
Anticipating approval of a Switzerland-European Union air transportation accord in the second quarter of 2001, the SAirGroup's stake in Sabena Belgian World Airlines is to grow to a controlling 85%, up from 49.5%. Under the terms of the revised Swiss-Belgian partnership signed in Brussels on Apr. 26, the Belgian government will retain 15% of Sabena's shares and acquire a 3.3% stake in the SAirGroup, Swissair's parent company.
Guenter Riegler, director of the Research Program Management Div. at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and Galileo Project Manager Jim Erickson of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., have accepted the Nelson P. Jackson Aerospace Award for the Galileo mission team. The annual award is granted by the National Space Club for contributions to the astronautics, aircraft and missile industries.
In recent advertising, United Airlines featured an ascending aircraft and the word ``rising.'' But that's how Merrill Lynch's Candace Browning feels about Delta Air Lines, and she's not alone. Merrill Lynch maintained a ``strong buy'' and an earnings per share estimate for this year of $7.30, after Delta last week issued strong first-quarter earnings. During a Delta teleconference, Wall Street analysts, one after another, congratulated Edward H. West, executive vice president and CFO, on the quarter's performance. The stock has been rising ever since.
New Duralco 4525 is 10 times more moisture resistant that silicones, according to the company. Long-term tests show 4525 has less than 10% of the moisture transmission of silicones or competitive epoxies. It bonds, coats and protects to 500F. Glass-lined tanks are protected against hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric and nitric acids; chrome oxide, and caustic solutions. Competitive epoxies disintegrated in less than 24 hr.
Uni-Tech has introduced a new cutting device, the screw and bolt shear Model SBS-1 for cutting screws and bolts to specific lengths. This unique tool will cut all metals including stainless steel or hardened bolts without damage to the tool or thread deformation to the bolt. Cadmium plated for corrosion resistance and laser engraved for operator clarity, it will accommodate screws and bolts in sizes 4-40, 6-32, 8-32, 10-32, 10-24, 1/4-20 and 1/4-28. Uni-Tech Consolidated, 7553 W. 99th St., Bridgeview, Ill. 60455.
The IL1400A Radiometer and CIE LED measurement detector has a light-tight baffled input optic assembly that conforms to the CIE condition ``A'' distance of 316 mm. and antireflection requirements. Available with preprogrammed NIST-traceable detectors, it autoranges to cancel ambient light and operates over a measurement range of 20 microcandela to 5 kilocandela. International Light Inc., 17 Graf Road, Newburyport, Mass. 01950.
Ratification by China of a bilateral with the U.S. this month could double U.S. carriers to Beijing Capital International Airport, China's first publicly traded airport operator, according to Chairman Li Peiying. Li expects U.S. flights to reach 54 a week if the Chinese authorities vote to relax current restrictions, as called for by the bilateral. United Airlines and Northwest are the current U.S. passenger carriers, but Delta and American are bidding for rights. FedEx holds the sole U.S.
Rod Eddington, who takes over as chief executive of British Airways this week, faces the tough tasks of restoring staff morale and investor confidence in the airline which will shortly announce its first annual pretax loss since it was privatized 13 years ago. Born in Perth, the former executive chairman of Ansett is a Rhodes scholar and was trained as a nuclear engineer. Before joining Ansett, Australia's second largest carrier, in 1997, he served for 18 years in senior positions at Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways.
Samuel Venneri has been appointed associate administrator for aerospace technology of NASA. He will remain chief technologist and succeeds Lt. Gen. Spence (Sam) Armstrong (USAF, Ret.), who will become senior adviser to Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. W. Brian Keegan has become chief engineer, Orlando Figueroa deputy chief engineer for systems engineering and Mary Cleave deputy associate administrator for advanced planning in the Office of Earth Science. Keegan was director of applied engineering and technology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He succeeds Daniel R.
Disagreement regarding the number of regional jets and who will fly them has forced negotiators for American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Assn. to abandon discussions aimed at forging a contract extension in advance of next year's deadline.
The Airborne Laser has passed its critical design review. The three-day meeting last week included more than 250 representatives from the Pentagon, and Team ABL partners Boeing, Lockheed Martin and TRW. The 747-400 freighter that will serve as the flying laser platform started an 18-month modification process at Boeing's Wichita, Kan., factory in January. Installation of sophisticated laser and tracking equipment is set to begin next year. Proposed budget cuts could delay initial tests.
These high-current surface mount power inductors deliver high efficiency in a minimum of board space--up to 6 watts per cu. in.The new line of inductors is designed for use in microprocessor and distributed power applications--including power supplies, power regulators and DC-to-DC converters in test and measurement and industrial process control equipment. At 0.650 X 0.800 X 0.600 in. high--with current ratings up to 39 amps and a saturation current to 125 amps--the Power Pod has inductance ranges from 0.10uH-5.6uH with DC resistance starting at 0.0006 ohms.
Under intense pressure to award the Joint Strike Fighter contract before the Administration steps down, Pentagon procurement boss Jacques Gansler is expected to announce the decision this November, the original date. The timing had been slipped to the spring of 2001, but those close to a Gansler study of JSF acquisition alternatives say the current thinking is to get a Pentagon plan in place before a new President takes over. Otherwise, the program might be slowed, leaving competing contractors without the right kind of work or enough of it.
These new infrared thermometers combine digital electronics and fiber optics for efficient operation in harsh environments. The FA models in the Marathon Series have an overall range of 250-3000C. Features include operating software with Windows programs for remote sensor configuration. Outputs are 4-20mA analog and RS 485 digital. User-defined temperature ranges and selectable signal conditions for peak hold, valley hold and averaging are enabled through support software. Programs allow remote sensor configuration, data acquisition and display and data archiving.
