Berlin should have opened its new international airport two years ago. But not only has the launch now been delayed a fourth time, the airport operator has conceded for the first time that it has no idea when the facility will be ready.
Sharon Weinberger's “Mining The Gap” (AW&ST Dec. 24, 2012, p. 36) was very informative as to how data extracted from social media and other databases can be intelligently manipulated and “real” threat data extracted. However, using Benghazi as an example illustrates how often we rely on computer algorithms while ignoring common sense. The overthrow of the Libyan government resulted in a country with a very weak regime not fully in control of a large portion of their territory and opposed by a number of armed factions equally hostile to Western governments.
The gridlock and political temper tantrums of the U.S. Congress as 2012 drew to a close threatened to derail America's fragile economic recovery. Now, the specter of weeks of debate on the government's debt ceiling and deep, automatic spending cuts known as “sequestration” promises more chaos.
Michael DiGeorge has been named managing director of Arinc's Singapore-based Asia-Pacific Div. He was senior director for e-enabled programs and based in the company's Hong Kong office.
Jesco von Puttkamer, a protege of Wernher von Braun whose NASA career ranged from the Apollo manned lunar landing project to the International Space Station, died Dec. 27, of a flu-like illness at home in Alexandria, Va. He was 79. At his death, von Puttkamer was still active at the U.S. space agency, producing a daily online rundown of activities on the International Space Station.
June 1, 2012 Tom Enders officially becomes CEO of EADS, succeeding Louis Gallois. Early summer 2012 Initial merger talks begin between EADS and BAE Systems, and European governments are briefed. Mid-August Tom Enders suffers a sporting accident injury that prevents him from accompanying German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a trip to China. Aug. 29
The Welsh government is looking for ways to turn around the fortunes of its capital's long-suffering international airport. Since passenger numbers peaked at just over 2 million in 2007, the number of people using the airport—which sits 15 mi. to the west of the Welsh capital—have fallen by half. Passenger numbers for 2012 were expected to barely break the 1-million mark.
Alex Battaglia (see photo) has been promoted to senior vice president for system operations from vice president-airports and operations of JetBlue Airways.
USAF Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach has been selected for promotion to major general and appointment as commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan of Air Combat Command/deputy commander-Air of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan/deputy chief of staff-Air of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Kabul. He has been deputy director for operations at U.S. Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Brig. Gen. Jay B.
Europe's network airlines are finally realizing that low-cost carriers are here to stay. More importantly, they are also conceding that passengers are willing forgo some creature comforts and pay extra for add-ons such as checked baggage, seat selection and food.
Scott E. Kuechle and H. Jay Winship have been appointed to the board of directors of the Esterline Corp., Bellevue, Wash. Kuechle is former executive vice president/CFO of the Goodrich Corp., and Winship is principal/senior managing director of Relational Investors.
Steve Cass (see photo) has been appointed vice president-communications for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Ga. He was director of sales support. Brian Schank and Darwin Stout have been named East Coast and West Coast U.S. product support sales directors, respectively. Schank will be based in Savannah, and Stout in Southern California. Schank was director of business and program support for product support sales, and Stout was a West Coast-based national sales manager for product support sales.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan has become a procurement “fixer” for the service, which has endured a decade of acquisition foul-ups resulting in thorny relations with top contractors.
Richard Baudouin, co-founder of Aviation Capital Group and a principal in Infinity Aviation Capital, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Air Transport Services Group, Wilmington, Ohio. He succeeds Jeffrey A. Dominick, who has resigned to join an aviation investment unit of Blackrock Inc.
The U.S. Navy is expected to spend $31.9 billion for F/A-18-related programs in fiscal 2008-17, which would be about the same amount that the service spent for all fixed-wing aircraft in the previous decade. The biggest chunk of expected F/A-18 spending will be for the production of E/Fs, about $14.1 billion, according to an exclusive Aviation Week Intelligence Network analysis of data provided by Avascent050. Likewise, the Air Force will spend about $5.8 billion on F-15 programs, with F-15E Strike Eagles accounting for $3.2 billion.
For a glimpse of China's commercial aviation future, take a look at Shenzhen, the mainland's most developed city. The immediate outlook for the metropolis of 10 million, and therefore the more distant future for the rest of the country, is slower commercial aviation growth and less urgent need for new infrastructure.
The U.S. Army is leaning toward starting a competition to replace the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior with a new Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) rather than upgrading the fleet. But, Vice Chief of Staff Lloyd Austin, 3rd, has requested more information, adding to a delay to kick it off. He wants more analysis of how the AAS will fit into forthcoming Army technologies. If a competition commences, the Army is slated to buy up to 368 new rotorcraft.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is Aviation Week & Space Technology's Person of the Year, selected for the degree of her influence on the aerospace and defense industries in 2012. It was Merkel who ultimately stopped a merger of EADS and BAE Systems. She also pushed through a German state ownership in EADS to balance her country's stake with France's. EPA/Landov file photo.
The U.S. Navy has delayed plans until spring to kick off a long-awaited competition for the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike aircraft. A draft request for proposals was slated for release this month. Ongoing discussions on requirements are to blame for the slip.
