The Iridium global communications company last week had some investors who were interested in bidding on the satellite system, according to program officials. Whether these parties would be able to step in and keep the system in operation was to be determined by late last week in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing. Iridium has been operating under bankruptcy protection since last summer.
Wall Street is trying to gauge the likely impact of the current strike by Boeing Co. engineers and technical workers on the company. Near-term, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown analyst Chris Mecray thinks first-quarter earnings could be 15-20 cents a share less than they would have been otherwise. His estimate is based on the assumption that 50-75 of the 128 aircraft that were supposed to have been delivered by the end of March will be delayed. He is also assuming striking workers will be back by early April.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Image spacecraft (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration) is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., on Mar. 25 on board a Delta II. Built for Lockheed Martin Space Systems under subcontract by the Southwest Research Institute of San Antonio, Tex., the spacecraft is part of NASA's Medium-class Explorer Mission program and will image the magnetosphere as it changes shape.
Washington Dulles International Airport security officials arrested FAA safety inspector Joseph Gore during a routine check of a United Airlines aircraft. Gore was authorized for the job, but police wouldn't accept his identification. Local and FAA security forces have been at odds and Gore apparently was a victim of that strife. He was charged with trespassing and released on bond after several hours.
Kim E. Wertheimer has been appointed executive vice president-North American international business development of Eagle USA Airfreight Inc. of Houston. He was executive vice president-logistics for the Circle International Group.
Airline, airport, pilot, controller, regulator and tourism organizations have formed a coalition to protect vital radio frequencies from reallocation at the World Radio Conference 2000 in May. The aviation community fears part of these frequencies could be shifted to mobile telecom applications (AW&ST Jan. 10, p. 37).
Technology upgrades and commercial potential fuel aggressive pace at historic launch site. A 50% increase in flight rate is predicted. The rapid growth in launches for commercial and scientific space missions and the advent of major new rocket systems are forcing long overdue changes to the federal policies and hardware that govern the schedule and cost of operations at Cape Canaveral, increasingly the world's busiest launch site.
Bolstering suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) capabilities is one of several initiatives being pursued by the Royal Air Force as a result of the air campaign in Kosovo. SEAD was a crucial ``pacing'' element for the air operation, according to Air Marshal Sir John Day, deputy chief of defense staff for commitments. Many sorties were geared around the availability of such assets, which were largely provided by the U.S., he said. ``We need to invest more heavily [in SEAD] than we have in the past.''
C.T. (Tom) Burbage has been named executive vice president-customer requirements, Robert T. Elrod executive vice president-programs, John C. McCarthy executive vice president-finance and Ralph D. Heath executive vice president-operations, all of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. of Fort Worth. Burbage has been president of the Marietta, Ga., facility and will continue as site manager. Elrod was president of the Palmdale, Calif., facility and will continue as site manager.
Grey Brock has been named flight support for Atlanta-based flightserv.com. He was a director of inflight service scheduling and administration for Delta Air Lines.
The BBC claims there was a mole in NATO headquarters during the Kosovo conflict supplying Belgrade information on targets to be bombed. NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson refutes the claim. But in October, both U.S. Air Force Gen. John Jumper and Vice Adm. Daniel Murphy said they had doubted NATO security (AW&ST Nov. 1, 1999, p. 33). ``I was convinced they had that information,'' Jumper said then of the Serbs' knowledge of what was to be hit. Murphy said Tomahawk and air-launched cruise missiles and stealth technology were targeted solely by the U.S.
Giant all-cargo seaplanes could significantly ease the mounting lack of runway capacity at major hubs, reduce congestion on Europe's highway system and slash transportation costs, according to a French working group.
William C. Haight has been named president of Lockheed Martin Energy Programs, Cherry Hill, N.J. He was vice president-technology for Lockheed Martin Services.
Despite conceding Airbus a two-year lead, Boeing could equal the European consortium's order book for the A340-500/600 within two months of the formal introduction of its 777-200X and -300X program.
The Belgian government's ill-fated plan to ban nighttime operations at Brussels-Zaventem airport has recently evolved into a political dispute that now involves the Belgian air force. In an attempt to determine a compromise agreement, Prime Minister Guy Verhoofstadt recently proposed the strict enforcement of stringent environmental regulations. This would include penalizing operators who violate noise-limitation flight procedures as well as the banning of Stage 2 and hushkitted commercial transports from Brussels.
The Airbus Industrie consortium is on schedule to evolve into a unified company by the end of the year, according to French and British industry executives.
India's Research and Analysis Wing failed to ``accurately monitor and report'' on a Pakistani troop buildup along the line-of-control in the Kargil region that resulted in the border war with Pakistan last year, a government inquiry has charged. The Kargil Committee Report, led by K. Subrahmanyam, also cited a long-standing problem of a lack of cooperation between India's intelligence agencies.
The Italian transport ministry has finalized the revised plan to transfer flights from Milan's Linate airport to Malpensa 2000 (AW&ST Mar. 6, p. 17). Beginning Apr.
Kenya Airways has signed a firm purchase contract for three Boeing 767-400ERs and two 737-700s. The order is valued at about $500 million based on list prices. The 737s are scheduled for delivery in December 2002, while the 767-400s begin arriving in May 2004. Kenya also has leased three 767-300ERs and two 737-700s with deliveries beginning in mid-2001. The new and leased aircraft will phase out Kenya's two 737-200s and three Airbus A310-300s. The carrier also operates five 737-300s.
Russia's long-awaited air transport recovery failed to materialize last year, as overall air passenger traffic declined for the eighth straight year despite a slight increase in domestic traffic.
OFFICIALS OF FORECAST INTERNATIONAL expect the market for business aircraft through 2009 will be worth $84.6 billion, with 5,600 jets, 1,600 turboprops, more than 2,350 piston-powered airplanes and 700 helicopters projected to be produced worldwide. ``Of all the aircraft markets out there, business jets are the most robust,'' said Bill Dane, senior analyst for the Newtown, Conn.-based company.
RACAL AVIONICS HAS RECEIVED two avionics upgrade contracts from the U.K. Ministry of Defense valued at 60 million pounds ($96 million) with options worth another $64 million over the next five years. One involves installing Saturn dual V/UHF radio systems and AMS 2000 control display navigation units on the Royal Navy's fleet of Lynx HMA Mk. 8 helicopters. Under the second, Racal will provide AMS 2000 navigation units with embedded GPS for Royal Navy Chinook helicopters.
British Airways is disappointed by Air Liberte's weak financial results and may soon decide to sell its long-troubled French subsidiary. Despite strong cost-cutting plans, Air Liberte in the last few years has not been able to regain profitability and is expected to announce heavy losses for 1999. Air France and Swissair are believed to be interested in buying Air Liberte, to acquire a larger share in France's robust domestic market and obtain more slots at Paris Orly airport.
