NASA's inspector general (IG) says the far-flung agency is scrambling to meet aggressive real estate reduction goals outlined by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress, largely because of uncertainties over its future human exploration missions and budget outlook. The 53-year-old agency has grown to become the federal government's ninth-largest property holder, possessing more than 5,000 buildings, laboratories, wind tunnels, launch pads and test stands from coast to coast with a combined replacement value exceeding $29 billion.
European Union emission allowance (EUA) prices sank to €6.95 per metric ton ($9.08 per metric ton) on Dec. 14, 2011, a new low for the 2008-12 Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading System. The price weakness in November and December reflected ongoing troubles in the EU economy as several member-state governments struggle to deal with sovereign debt problems.
Akbar Al Baker (see photo) has been elected to the board of governors of the Geneva-based International Air Transport Association. He is CEO of Qatar Airways and recently was elected to the executive committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
Fresh troubles are delaying India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft program, with final operational clearance slipping by more than a year to December 2014.
One year ago, with a newly elected Republican-majority House of Representatives, Rep. John Mica picked up the gavel of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and vowed that the 17th extension of the FAA's funding authority would be the last. Congress has since approved five more extensions, with Mica at the forefront of negotiations that led to a two-week shutdown of the aviation agency.
All Nippon Airways plans to use its Boeing 787 deliveries to open two services to the U.S. in late 2012, which will be its second and third international routes created for the 787. The carrier intends to begin Tokyo Narita-Seattle flights in October and Narita-San Jose, Calif., flights soon afterward. However, ANA stresses that launch dates will depend on the timing of 787 deliveries. The airline has already had to delay some 787 route plans due to the late arrival of its third 787.
Jetstar still has some unfinished business to deal with in Southeast Asia, but in the future will increasingly be honing in on Northeast Asia, with Jetstar Japan as a key part of that strategy. This joint venture among Japan Airlines, Mitsubishi Corp. and Jetstar's parent Qantas group will be based at Tokyo Narita International Airport and will initially have a fleet of three Airbus A320s. The overall plan calls for 24 aircraft within a few years.
The two largest space powers outside the U.S. had wildly divergent records in 2011, with Beijing boasting 19 launches and demonstrating in-orbit docking for a future space station while the Kremlin ordered an investigation into a string of high-profile engineering failures plaguing Russia's space program.
Neil G. Siegel (see photo) has been selected to receive the 2011 Government Contractor Chief Technology Officer Innovator Award, presented by the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Washington Technology magazine. Siegel is VP and chief engineer of Northrop Grumman Information Systems. The award recognizes CTOs within the region's government contracting community for contributions to achieving results for customers and leadership within their companies.
In another example of tight competition, even for adjacent markets, Lockheed Martin is replacing competitor Raytheon for a potential $2 billion, 12-year support award for the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). The contractors will complete their handover by March 31, when Raytheon's contract, which started in 1999, runs out. The National Science Foundation's USAP program has three year-round research stations supported by ski-equipped Air National Guard LC-130s.
Wes Norris (see photo) has been appointed director of aftermarket business at Vero Beach, Fla.-based Piper Aircraft. He joins Piper after a 31-year career at Hawker Beechcraft.
Sherrie Zacharius (see photo) has become a corporate officer of the board of The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif. She is general manager of the company's Physical Sciences Laboratories.
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Jan. 24-25—SMI Conferences' Joint Forces Simulation & Training. Grange City Hotel, London. Call +44 (207) 827-6000, fax +44 (207) 827 6001 or see www.jointforcestraining.com Jan. 28—American Heroes Air Show. Lee County Sports Complex, Fort Myers, Fla. See www.heroes-airshow.com/fortmyers/ Jan. 31-Feb. 2—Aerial Refueling Systems Advisory Group's Winter Planning Meeting. Hilton Palacio del Rio, San Antonio. Call +1 (937) 431-8106 or see www.arsaginc.com
Is Hawker Beechcraft down to its last strike? Ever since a brutal downturn took hold in the business aviation sector three years ago, deliveries of T-6 trainers and intelligence-and-reconnaissance versions of King Air models to the Pentagon and other militaries have been a lifeline for the Wichita-based company. Sales have been so brisk that the company's owners have fielded queries about the profitable military business from unsolicited buyers.
