2016 aerospace legislation faces White House hurdle, the ongoing war over Gulf airline subsidies, U.S.-India draw closer on defense and AIA chooses Melcher as new CEO.
COMMERCIAL AVIATION Sierra Nevada Corp. has teamed with Turkish engineering firm STM to restart production of Dornier 328 turboprop and 328Jet regional airliners. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ankara government to build the aircraft in Turkey and develop the 60-70-passenger turboprop TR628 and turbofan-powered TRJ628.
Eileen Drake has been named CEO and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne and a member of the board of directors. She succeeds Scott Seymour, who retired after five years in those positions. Drake joined the company in March as COO. She was president of Pratt & Whitney Aeropower’s auxiliary power unit and small turbojet propulsion business. Her experience includes seven years as a U.S. Army aviator and as airfield commander of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Seeking to capitalize on steady growth in Earth observation, European satellite manufacturers are taking steps to boost output as export customers materialize among emerging space economies.
A spate of Proton launch mishaps has created a de facto duopoly of Arianespace and SpaceX, two companies vying to dominate the global commercial launch market.