Deliveries of midsize business jets edged up in 2011, but the general aviation industry is still grappling with the prolonged economic uncertainty that is keeping buyers at bay. General aviation manufacturers shipped 1,865 aircraft in 2011, a 3.5% drop from the 1,932 shipped in 2010, according to the annual year-end report on the state of the industry from the Washington-based General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
The U.K. Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) was supposed to clarify the country's military plans and industrial agenda. But the reform agenda has turned into a form of Chinese water torture for industry, with an unending trickle of decisions, reports and strategies that so far have failed to spell out a clear path forward. In turn, industry has been left trying to guess what capacities it needs to maintain and where it can rationalize its businesses, with indications now that the bottom line is being hit.
As technologies mature toward more expensive demonstrations, and budget pressures tighten, NASA is restructuring its aeronautics program in a bid to sustain the momentum behind research into environmentally efficient aircraft. Faced with a cut in its fiscal 2013 aeronautics budget, the agency is to reduce its hypersonics research, but maintain spending on technologies for subsonic and supersonic fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
March 7—55th Annual Laureate Awards. Washington. March 7—Innovation Challenge Showcase. Washington. April 2-3—Engine MRO Forum. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 4-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 23-25—NextGen Ahead: Air Transportation Modernization. Washington. May 8-9—Civil Aviation Manufacturing. Charlotte, N.C. May 23-24—MRO Regional: Eastern Europe, Baltics and Russia. Vilnius, Lithuania.
Scott Alvis (see photo) has been named chief marketing officer for North America by Madrid-based Amadeus. He was senior VP-client management of the Airline IT and Distribution group.
F. William Smullen, 3rd, director of national security studies at Syracuse (N.Y.) University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has become a board member of SRC, formerly Syracuse Research Corp.
Even as it mulls a follow-on purchase of Boeing F/A-18E/Fs as a possible gap-filler for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Australian government expects to decide this year on upgrading some of its existing Super Hornets to an electronic-attack role, Defense Minister Stephen Smith says. Australia has taken 12 of the 24 F/A-18E/Fs already delivered for EA-18G Growler capabilities, although a decision has not yet been made, to integrate an electronic attack capability. The mission system will likely be different than the U.S. Navy standard.
James O'Callaghan (see photo), a scientist at Birmingham, England-based Dunlop Aircraft Tires, has received the Sue Panteny Award from the London-based Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He was recognized for developing a tread compound that reduces operating costs for airlines.
March 4—Tyabb (Australia) Airshow 2012. Peninsula Aero Club. See http://tyabbairshow.com.au/ March 5—Southern California Aviation Association's Safety Seminar. Airtel Plaza Hotel, Van Nuys. See http://scaa.memberlodge.com/ March 5—Speednews' Second Annual Aerospace Raw Materials and Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference. Also, March 5-7—26th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference. Both at Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, Calif. See www.speednews.com/conferences
Kay Sears, president of Intelsat General Corp., has received the Women in Technology award from the Government Technology Research Alliance, Washington. The award honors government and industry leaders for contributions to information technology.
The “King of Good Times” is moving from bad to worse. India's cash-strapped privately-owned Kingfisher Airlines is caught in severe financial turbulence and is gasping for additional bank funding or a government bailout to stay afloat.
John Sutton has joined Qinetiq North America, McLean, Va., as general manager and executive VP of its Mission and Information Solutions. He was senior VP-business development and general manager at Global Crossing.
Airlines in traditionally high-cost Scandinavia are watching their business models collapse and are struggling to find the right answers. Only Norwegian Air Shuttle, the fast-growing low-cost carrier, is still profitable.
USAF Lt. Col. (ret.) Jim Mullin and Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) James Perdue have joined Fairfax, Va.-based Salient Federal Solutions' Responsive Mission Support Solutions unit. Mullin will be program manager for the aviation and logistics training program, and Perdue project coordinator of client relationships and government liaison. Mullins was commander and Perdue chief enlisted manager of the 362d Training Sqdn. at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
A Lufthansa Technik technician installs FlyNet broadband connectivity as part of an evolution underway in airline cabin design to make them higher-tech and greener. The main thrust comes from customers demanding more connectivity and inflight entertainment, as detailed in a special report beginning on page 44. Lufthansa Technik photo by Sonja Bruggemann.
Wayne Rogers has been named VP-technical services for San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions' engineering unit. He was Navsea's deputy for weapons engineering. HONORS AND ELECTIONS
Bob Kopas has been named VP-military programs at San Diego-based Z Microsystems. A former U.S. Navy surface warfare officer, he was commander of the USS Makin Island amphibious assault ship.
Russian Helicopters says it expects to deliver 301 aircraft in 2012, up from 262 in 2011, and 214 the year before. The trend marks significant growth from 2006 when deliveries topped out at 94 helicopters and represents a 15% year-on-year expansion, according to officials. It also underlines the continuing recovery of the country's helicopter industry from the steep declines seen after the end of the Cold War.
I agree with reader Hank Caruso that the “From the Web” portion of the Feedback page is a waste of space (AW&ST Feb. 6, p. 12). I can only wonder what comments of substance have been discarded in order to offer the floor to anonymous bloggers. If I want their input, I can look to the Internet. Portland, Ore.
