Amy Butler (Stratford, Conn.), Graham Warwick (Fort Eustis, Va.)
Although it has yet to field a fly-by-wire (FBW) helicopter, the capabilities enabled by advanced digital flight controls are central to the U.S. Army's rotorcraft plans. Improved safety, maneuverability, survivability and durability as well as an optionally piloted capability are key advantages, but the Army has yet to determine whether it can bring those into its existing helicopters or must wait for an all-new aircraft.
Defense companies will not get rich from Latin America's military procurements. But at a time of severe budget pressures in many markets, the small opportunities in this part of the world still draw ample interest. The fact that many of these nations lack cash—Colombia, Chile and Brazil are among the few where the military spending outlook appears attractive to outsiders—is no deterrent. Instead, defense exporters are looking at what lower-cost offerings they can ply here.
The adage goes that good people are hard to find, and many commercial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities are reporting difficulties filling technician positions with skilled workers. Given the outlook for the aviation industry, they have legitimate reasons to worry.
Edison Spencer, a former CEO of Honeywell who led the company's push to become a leader in the avionics business, died March 25 at home in Wayzata, Minn., of progressive supranuclear palsy. He was 84. Spencer joined Honeywell as an aeronautical engineer and rose to become CEO in the early 1970s. Under his leadership, Honeywell moved out of the computer business and refocused on the automotive and aerospace sectors. Spencer engineered the 1986 acquisition of Sperry Aerospace, which made Honeywell a leading integrator of avionics systems. He retired two years later.
Randy Annett (see photo) has been promoted to assistant manager from assistant training director at FlightSafety International's Cessna Learning Center in Wichita.
Italy's Finmeccanica will establish a defense unit in 2013 set to combine all of its U.S. operations, including aeronautics, helicopters and defense electronics and U.S. subsidiaries. The new enterprise will be led by former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. The move, unveiled last week by CEO Giuseppe Orsi, is part of several significant changes to the beleaguered giant's strategy, structure and businesses. The changes are necessary, Orsi says, to return Finmeccanica to profit as soon as this year.
Leonard Olson and George Burns have joined STS Engineering Solutions, Jensen Beach, Fla., along with the addition of the rest of the staff of The Future Jet Group, where Olson was president and Burns was VP-business development. At STS, Olson will be chief of engineering and verification and Burns director of business development.
It is not quite cloaks and daggers and poison pills, but Italy is taking measures to make sure its flagship aerospace and defense companies stay Italian as European neighbors size up the struggling country. To stave off intervention by the European Union, Italy is rolling out new rules governing attempts to acquire stakes in its strategic companies. The rules will affect the proposed sale of shares in propulsion company Avio, as well as any future attempts to gain control of defense giant Finmeccanica.
As a result of one high-profile accident—Air France Flight 447—France and its airline industry are grappling with the emotional aspects of flight safety. Divergent views of the event have sparked angry charges and countercharges, leaving little room for a constructive atmosphere in which to advance the air safety goals that are in everyone's interest.
The number of Russian-made civil aircraft flying is dwindling, even here in their home market. Russian airlines have been phasing out their Soviet-legacy fleets the past 5-6 years and replacing them with Western models. This shift decreases the demand for Russian-built aircraft spare parts and is forcing local parts providers to diversify their stock with foreign types.
Adm. Sir Raymond Lygo, the former chief executive of British Aerospace (now BAE Systems), died March 7. He was 87. The location and cause of death were not available. After retiring in 1978 from a 36-year career in the Royal Navy as a fighter pilot and ship commander, Lygo joined British Aerospace as managing director of its guided-missile manufacturing division. In 1983, he was recognized by Aviation Week & Space Technology for his efforts to promote private enterprise in the defense industry.
To discover where air service is growing in Africa, just follow the money—the yuan, that is. Airline industry observers have said Africa is “the next big story” in aviation, and air travel on the continent is growing, albeit from a very small base. But an examination of that growth shows that it correlates almost in lockstep with China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in the continent.
Giuliano Berretta (see photo) has joined Newtec, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, as an external member of its strategic committee. He is honorary chairman of Eutelsat Communications.
Air Berlin may now have a shareholder with strong financial backing, and it may now be a member of the Oneworld alliance. But Europe's sixth largest airline will have to make substantial changes in 2012 in order to become a viable business. The carrier posted a massive €271 million ($360.4 million) net loss in 2011, by far the worst year in its history. The airline's equity was reduced by more than half and stood at only €253 million at the end of December. The company will not be able to return to profitability until 2013 at the earliest.
After more than a decade of study, the Pentagon is finally moving forward with the development of a new, stealthy, long-range bomber. But the catch is a self-imposed cost goal of $550 million per aircraft, which senior Air Force leaders say they recognize as being hard and fast. Given a lackluster record of cost performance for recent Pentagon procurement programs, is it possible that a department so large and so used to spending so much money can rein in its appetite for something as critical—and potentially cutting-edge—as a new bomber?
USAF Cols. John T. Quintas and Clinton E. Crosier, have been nominated for promotion to brigadier general. Quintas has been appointed senior defense official and defense attache for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency in the U.K. He has been commander of the 48th Fighter Wing of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, RAF Lakenheath. Crosier has been named director of plans, programs and requirements at Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La. He was director of space forces, U.S. Air Forces Central, Air Combat Command, Southwest Asia.
Maintenance costs in the airline aftermarket are in the spotlight as seasoned players shift to different roles. Pemco World Air Services filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and Aveos Fleet Performance closed its doors last month as part of insolvency filing in Canada. Even Lufthansa Technik, one of the largest and most high-tech MROs in the world, needs to improve its declining margin, says its executive board chairman.
Engine spare parts not manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer may become harder to find in the future. While engine OEMs' assertive practices to expand their share of the engine aftermarket plays a big role, leasing companies, which own a growing part of the global fleet, are now playing a more dominant role, too
European Union emission allowance (EUA) prices declined in March on fading expectations that the regulator will intervene to withdraw supply from the market. EUAs for December 2012 delivery under the EU emissions trading system (ETS) fell as low as €6.93 ($9.25) per metric ton on March 22, down from €9.51 on Feb. 27, a drop of 27%. The fall in prices reflects fading expectations that the European Commission will be able to find agreement with EU member states on action to prop up low carbon prices by creating a set-aside of allowances.
I take issue with two recent articles, “Bigger Isn't Always Better” and “Restructuring Required” (AW&ST March 5, pp. 25 and 27), and countless others of this ilk. As one of the thousands of maligned airline pilots blamed for nearly every financial shortcoming in the airline industry, I am tired of reading that “Pilots must accept reality!”
Sanford “Sandy” McDonnell, former chairman and chief executive of McDonnell Douglas, died March 19 at home in Clayton, Mo. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. McDonnell was 89. The nephew of McDonnell Aircraft founder James McDonnell, he joined the company in 1948 and worked his way up to president in 1971 and CEO the following year. McDonnell led the effort to globalize the company and managed its sometimes difficult marriage with Douglas Aircraft.
