Kellstrom Industries completed its acquisition of Certified Aircraft Parts Inc. for about $16 million in cash. CAP, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., provides parts, aftermarket support and logistics for the Lockheed Martin C-130/L100. The acquisition complements the activities of Kellstrom's Aero Support division, which supplies inventory management for C-130 engines.
Boeing isn't likely to offer a very large passenger aircraft, one with more than 500 seats, but it will still be forced to respond to Airbus Industrie's A3XX, says Lehman Brothers. And, says the Aerospace&Defense Research unit of the New York investment firm, that response could be costly to Boeing shareholders.
AIR NAMIBIA has ordered a 747-400 Combi which will be delivered in October, Boeing said. The aircraft will be powered by General Electric engines. Boeing said it will provide customer support such as staff, flight crew and maintenance training, technical assistance and local field service.
Airlines must inspect aft pressure bulkheads of 737-200/500 aircraft for possible fatigue cracks. The schedule for inspections, ordered by the FAA on Monday, depends on how many cycles an aircraft has accumulated. Operators then must repeat the inspections every 1,200 cycles. The order applies to 500 U.S. registered aircraft in the worldwide fleet of 1,020 aircraft.
Globalstar will accelerate its launch schedule, taking advantage of an available launch slot on a Boeing Delta II this summer, but will use the time gained for testing rather than moving the planned initiation of service ahead, the company reported yesterday.
The House Appropriations Committee yesterday marked up a $12.9 billion emergency supplemental to cover the cost of U.S. operations in Yugoslavia, including $1.16 billion to beef up munitions supplies. The supplemental boosts the munitions funds by $461.8 million over the White House request. Overall, the House version doubles the White House's $6 billion request to $12.9 billion (DAILY, April 27).
LT. Gen. Jack Keane has been nominated for promotion to the grade of general and to serve at vice chief of staff for the U.S. Army. Keane, an infantry officer, is currently deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command in Norfolk, Va. If confirmed, he will replace Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, who was nominated to become the Army Chief of Staff.
Fairchild Aerospace's new 728JET regional airliner program was launched by German flag carrier Lufthansa, which ordered 60 of the planes in a deal worth about $1.6 billion. The airline also took 60 options on the 70-seat jet. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2002. Lufthansa, and Swissair subsidiary Crossair, had been mentioned as a strong candidate to become the launch customer.
Boeing said its Joint Strike Fighter design will use a 27mm cannon being developed by a Boeing-led team. The gun is also a candidate for use on the Lockheed Martin version of the JSF. The team consists of Boeing in Mesa, Ariz.; Mauser-Werke Oberndorf of Germany; Primex Technologies of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Western Design of Irvine, Calif. The gun is based on Mauser's combat-proven BK27.
Maj. Gen. Raymond P. Ayres has been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general with assignment as U.S. Marine Corps deputy chief of staff for plans, policies and operations. Ayres is now assistant chief of staff of United Nations Command, Combined Force Command, U.S. Forces Korea.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported that billings in the first quarter increased by 49.2% to a record $1.7 billion over the same period last year. Total shipments were up 5% to 479 units. GAMA President Ed Bolen said that a "ram-up in deliveries of new models, strong industry backlogs and the continuing strength of the [U.S.] economy all contributed to record shipments of jets in the first quarter." Jet deliveries were up 59.7% to 107 aircraft from 67 last year. Export billings rose by 39% to $594 million, Bolen said.
The European Union Council of Industry Ministers will adopt the European Commission's proposed hushkit regulation today in Luxembourg, but it will delay the rule's entry into force until May 1, 2000.
Cordant Technologies Inc. earned $47.2 million in its 1999 first quarter on a 13% increase in sales to $634.1 million. A year ago, the company reported earnings of $32.8 million on sales of $562.7 million. Huck Fastening Systems sales grew 35% to $121.2 million during the quarter, while operating earnings improved 39% to $18.3 million. The improvements reflected the addition of Jacobson Manufacturing's results and continued strength in the industrial markets. Aircraft fastener sales were lower due to weaker domestic demand.
The head of a Boeing team of avionics specialists sat aboard a highly modified Boeing 757 airliner Tuesday as it flew off the East Coast, facing displays of the F-22 fighter's integrated avionics system. At the touch of a button or click of a mouse, he could move radar screens, plot flight plans and monitor all of the fighter's functions. William T. Qualler, a former Air Force fighter pilot, was seated in a mock F-22 cockpit that had been bolted to the cabin floor of the 757, or Flying Test Bed (FTB).
The key Russian element of the International Space Station, the Service Module, has been formally authorized for delivery to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A ceremony to mark the signing of the certificate stating the Module's readiness for shipment was held here April 26 at the S.P. Korolev Energia Rocket and Space Corp. The Service Module, which has been given the name "Zvezda" (Star), will be shipped to Baikonur by train before May 15.
Hughes Electronics Corp. completed the acquisition of the Primestar medium-power direct broadcast satellite (DBS) business for $1.1 billion in cash and 4.9 million shares of General Motors common stock, Hughes reported yesterday. The deal gives Hughes' DirecTV about 4.8 million subscribers, making it the third-largest multichannel video distributor in the U.S., Hughes said.
Last month's failure of the U.S. Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile, including a loss of telemetry about a minute into the flight, probably had a single cause that should be identified soon, program officials said here.
British Aerospace, France's Lagardere and Italy's Finmeccanica are said to be in talks to form a missile powerhouse. The Financial Times quoted John Weston, head of BAe, as saying such a linkup is being discussed. The report comes on the heels of several European defense industry consolidation moves that might make the combination easier to bring together.
British Aerospace and General Electric Co. plc signed the definitive agreement setting out the terms and conditions for BAe's acquisition of GEC's Marconi Electronic Systems, BAe reported Tuesday. The next step will be obtaining regulatory approval from the European Union, U.K., U.S. and Canada and certain tax clearances from the U.K.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings Inc., El Segundo, Calif., has acquired Precision Pattern Inc., a Wichita, Kan., maker of furniture components for business jets. DeCrane said PPI, combined with its Audio International and Dettmers Industries units, makes it the largest supplier of interior products to the bizjet market. PPI will operate as a separate subsidiary of DeCrane.
Yuriy P. Semyonov, general designer of Energia RSC, said the Mir space station is in very good shape and Energia will do its best to find the money to keep it operating, using rights provided by a Jan. 21 governmental decree. The decree modified an earlier firm decision to deorbit Mir in August - September of this year and allowed Energia to continue operating, assuming it could raise sufficient non-budget financing.
AlliedSignal Aerospace, Coherent Technologies Inc. and United Airlines are moving to develop a new sensor for airliners that they hope will detect virtually all types of air turbulence. The system will combine the capabilities of an enhanced version of AlliedSignal Aerospace's microwave radar with those of CTI's new infrared radar to detect nearly all turbulence, including turbulence associated with storms and clear air turbulence.
The third Lockheed Martin Milstar satellite is scheduled to be launched tomorrow from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., by a Titan IVB rocket. The Milstar will be the first to include the medium data rate (MDR) payload which will allow tactical and civil users to access more communications capacity, said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John Clay, AF director of space and nuclear deterrence. He spoke earlier this week at a Pentagon press breakfast hosted by acting AF Secretary F. Whitten Peters.
