Among foreign aircraft manufacturers, General Electric Aviation has some of the deepest roots in Brazil and is growing them deeper with an expansion of its industrial presence in this hillside city of 300,000 people. It was here where aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont lived after his Belle Epoque flying exploits in France.
America overreacted after 9/11, put-ting some useless or extreme measures in place, and a similar scenario could play out if the nation doesn't wake up to the threat of a catastrophic cyberattack, says a former director of national intelligence (DNI). “When we overreact, we will reengineer the Internet and do a lot of draconian things,” Booz Allen Vice Chairman Mike McConnell, President George W. Bush's last DNI, told Bloomberg's Cybersecurity Conference April 19. He believes the Obama administration and Congress are not taking the threat of a cyber 9/11 seriously enough.
Brazil's new entrants in aviation design and manufacturing are specializing in niche markets for domestic consumption and are receiving support from industry, academia and government agencies.
Sometimes divorce is best, as seems to be the case with business aviation's most intriguing flying machine. Bell Helicopter launched the 609 tiltrotor in 1997 as the civilian counterpart to the larger V-22 Osprey. Agusta (now AgustaWestland) joined as a partner the following year.
Ronald Williams has joined Yingling Aviation of Wichita as customer and administrative specialist. He recently completed 27 years with Stinson Morrison Hecker.
High operating costs and scheduling conflicts prompted Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to think that Tennessee was maybe not the best place to do ice certification testing. It was time to find a locale where it is really, really cold.
Tom Trenga has been promoted to senior VP from VP-revenue management and Devon May to VP from managing director of financial planning and analysis for US Airways.
Maintenance outsourcing plays an increasingly important role in the business model of airlines around the world. Cathay Pacific Airways has a unique perspective on outsourcing, having taken the concept further than almost any other carrier. Cathay's Engineering Director Christopher Gibbs talks to Aviation Week's Adrian Schofield about the challenges and benefits of an outsourced maintenance model and Cathay's relationship with long-time MRO provider, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (Haeco).
While it serves as an industry advocate, lobbyist and information provider, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) gets much of its wherewithal for all that from playing quite another role: Showman. The association's annual convention has grown to become one of the largest and richest industry gatherings in the U.S. That signal, three-day event is now complemented by a host of other NBAA-sponsored meetings including conventions for schedulers and dispatchers, maintenance managers and international operators, plus regional forums and seminars.
The German government's cuts to military spending could lead to a contraction of the industry particularly with smaller suppliers, warns the country's aerospace lobby group, BDLI. “The Bundeswehr [German armed forces] reform already has small and medium-size businesses at the very front of the supply chain fearing for their survival today. Our survey indicates that some businesses will withdraw from the military market segment in the future,” says Arndt Schoenemann, vice president for equipment and materials, as BDLI released its latest data on the state of the industry.
As the calendar inches closer to May 31, when the Export-Import Bank's operating authority will expire, signs of a compromise are beginning to emerge. Industry sources on both sides of the debate say the discussion is less about whether the bank should or should not continue to exist and more about discussing the details of a compromise. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who supports a long-term extension of the Ex-Im Bank, believes House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who has opposed a long-term extension of the bill's authorities, is ready to make a deal.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. (ret.) Robert A. Carr (see photo) has been appointed corporate lead executive for Northrop Grumman Corp.'s business at Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. He was director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Humint Center at the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Nancy Ritter (see photo) has been promoted to manager of FlightSafety International's academy in Vero Beach, Fla., succeeding Daniel Greenhill, who is leaving the company. Ritter was assistant manager for Parts 141, 142 and 61 flight training.
John Rainey has been named executive VP and CFO of United Continental Holdings, succeeding Zane Rowe, who is joining Apple Inc. Rainey was senior vice president of financial planning and analysis.
Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Unfortunately, there are too many followers in today's defense industry.
For a self-professed naval power, the U.K. has seen surprisingly large gaps develop in its maritime surveillance capability in recent years, a trend the Defense Ministry is setting out to reverse.
David M. Van Buren has been appointed Washington-based senior VP-business strategy for L-3 Communications. He was the company's U.S. Air Force service acquisition executive and has held program management positions at Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
Michael Stevens (see photo) has been appointed CEO of Cassidian Ltd., Newport, Wales. He has held senior defense and security positions in engineering, manufacturing and project/business management.
Argentina's modest aerospace ambitions have centered on FAdeA (Fabrica Argentina de Aviones), its main aircraft manufacturer, but have been on the brink of extinction for some time. The country is hoping that FAdeA's nationalization in 2010 will breathe new life into the business and put it on a sustainable footing. Many of Latin America's arms makers were built as national prestige projects during eras of military leadership, and they have seen sharp declines in recent years as democracy has broadened.
It has been through some tough times, but now the James Webb Space Telescope project has pulled up its socks and is slogging through one of the most complex space engineering efforts ever attempted.
