United Technologies Corp. Chairman and CEO Louis R. Chenevert shook up the aerospace and defense industry in 2011 with a series of business deals and achievements that improbably came together in a single year. He is pictured in front of a geared turbofan engine developed by UTC's Pratt & Whitney unit at a cost of more than $1 billion. And, UTC has agreed to pony up another $18.4 billion to acquire Goodrich in the biggest aerospace deal in more than a decade. UTC photo by Jeff Corwin.
You wouldn't know it from reading the headlines, but the aerospace and defense industry turned in a strong performance in 2011. A new forecast released last week by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) projects that sales will end the year at $218 billion, up 3.5% from 2010. U.S. contractors are expected to see income from military aircraft rise 7%, civil aircraft grow by 3% and missiles and space increase by 2% each. “It's not as bad as we expected,” says Bill Chadwick, research director at the Washington-based trade group.
The eastern Mediterranean Sea is becoming very crowded now that the Russians have completed a 2007 agreement with Syria, delivering two Bastion coastal missile systems—mobile cruise-missile launchers that use the Yakhont. With more than 60 of the supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles for the two systems, Syria should be able to defend its entire coastline. Remember how hard it was to locate and destroy scuds in Iraq. And also remember that the older and less-stealthy French Exocet raised havoc with the British fleet in the Falklands.
The CEO of Russia's United Aircraft Corp., the entity that unites the country's fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers, expects to see revenue this year hit 200 billion rubles ($6.3 billion), or 20% more than last year. Mikhail Pogosyan says deliveries this year will total 110 aircraft, about 20 of which will be commercial aircraft.
(L to R): Photographer, author and archivist DANA BELL has retired after a 30-year career with the U.S. government. Starting as a photo researcher with the Air Force in 1976, he moved to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington in 1982. Bell has written 24 books on aviation history, and is now a full-time author. This year marked his 14th as a photo contest judge.
Battle lines are being drawn in European efforts to restructure the unmanned aircraft sector. But one big question looms: What front will France be fighting on?
The article on space-based solar power could also mention the impact of wireless transportation of electricity on civil and commercial air transport industries. Compare an airliner to an electric-powered train receiving electricity from above and enjoying an unlimited range. Beaming power from Earth orbit to the Moon can also speed up the creation of permanent settlements there. Alexandria, Va.
Last but not least, with its budget for commercial space crew vehicles halved by Congress, NASA will shift to a more “flexible” procurement strategy to get the so-called space taxis flying as soon as possible (see p. 20). Instead of the standard fixed-price contract it had planned, the agency will continue to use Space Act agreements in its Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program as it rushes to replace space shuttle rides to the International Space Station.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes is showing a strong order finish for 2011, bringing a future revenue flourish to more fundamental advances it has made in production during the past few weeks that should ease the way its factories meet a busy schedule in 2012.
USAF Cols. Michael T. Brewer and Thomas A. Bussiere have been nominated for promotion to brigadier general. Brewer is commander of the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tenn. Bussiere is inspector general at Global Strike Command Headquarters, Barksdale AFB, La. Honors And Elections
Michael Curto has been elected chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority's board of directors. He is a partner in the law firm of Patton Boggs and deputy chair of its Business Department.
David A. Marcontell has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Denver-based TeamSAI. He was president of the company's M&E Solutions.
The American Society of Aviation Artists is pleased to join Aviation Week & Space Technology for the 12th year in presenting the art from ASAA's 2011 International Aerospace Exhibition in this special year-end issue. AW&ST has selected its “Best of the Best” award winner from the exhibition and top choices for honors in the categories of Military, Space, Commercial and General Aviation. ASAA's prize winners were selected by an ASAA-invited judge.
Jan. 31- Feb. 2—MRO Middle East 2012. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Feb. 14-16— Defense Technology and Affordability Requirements. Arlington, Va. March 7—54th Annual Laureate Awards. Washington. March 13-14—Innovation Supply Chain Showcase. Orlando, Fla. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 3-6—Aircraft Electronics Association's 55th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. National Harbor, Md.
Alain Ernoult of Bagneux, France, took third place in the General category of this year's AW&ST photo contest with this shot of the Eurocopter X-3 hybrid helicopter. Based on a Dauphin airframe, the twin-turboshaft helicopter relies on a five-blade rotor with two propellers on short wings to provide its high speed. The X-3 has achieved 232 kt. in sustained forward flight.
Shane Carter has been named public affairs director for Little Rock (Ark.) Airport. He was director of the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Foundation.
