Online registration is now open for the Helicopter Association International's Heli-Expo 2013 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., Mar. 4-7, 2014. Attendees and exhibitors can register, book housing and request exhibit space at the association's website: www.rotor.org.
GAMA is teaming with the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) to promote and help develop business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. GAMA and MEBAA plan first to focus on the regulatory environment, including urging aviation authorities to adopt a common set of rules that facilitate business aviation operations.
The TSA could issue foreign repair station certification rules early this year, perhaps as soon as this month, a senior official says. The rules are “hopefully on track to be out in January,” Ann Zipser, director-global programs and engagement in TSA's Office of Global Strategies, said in December at an American Association of Airport Executives aviation security summit.
Too many to mentally process, difficult to read and occasionally understand, not prioritized by importance, archaic in format and distribution in the digital age — Notices to Airmen, good old “NOTAMs” — remain both the bane and deliverance of pilots worldwide.
While many business jet makers initially believed 2013 is shaping up to be another flat year, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeing recent strength in the market and believes there could be moderate growth next year. But AIA's Year-end Review and Forecast, released last week, notes that 80% of those looking to purchase general aviation aircraft over the next five years are planning to do so in the latter part of the time frame. AIA's annual U.S. aerospace and defense forecast estimates that the U.S.
European government bickering scuttled a mega-merger of EADS and BAE Systems, and the Pentagon continues to hold firm against further consolidation among its top contractors. But consolidation amid second- and third-tier contractors is likely to accelerate as defense spending heads down in the U.S. and Europe.
NASA wants $800 million in fiscal 2013 for its program to outsource the transport of crews to and from space, and says if it does not get the funding first commercial flights to the International Space Station will slip to 2018. With station funding set to expire in 2020, that could be a problem.
As the U.S. military pulls out of Afghanistan and “resets” for the Pacific theater, will there be an accompanying shift in the Defense Department's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance forces? The year should see the beginning of a shift away from lower-tech systems geared to detect improvised explosive devices and toward future high-tech sensors.
Dozens of women are filling senior management positions across aerospace and defense, changing the face of an industry not known for diversity. Another glass ceiling will shatter on Jan. 1, when Marillyn Hewson (right) becomes CEO of Lockheed Martin and Phebe Novakovic fills the top spot at General Dynamics.
The U.S. Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, which has not had a successful intercept since 2008, is expected to return to flight in early 2013 after a two-year hiatus. And the U.S. will continue to roll out its Phased Adaptive Approach to protecting Europe, including construction of the first Aegis shore-launch site in Romania and further flights of the improved SM-3 Block 1B interceptor.
After its unveiling of the J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters, it is not unimaginable that Beijing could pull off another technological surprise in 2013. Could it up the superpower stakes by testing an unmanned combat air vehicle, an air-launched strike weapon or even a mini-spaceplane? Speculation abounds.
An inflection point is approaching for rotorcraft manufacturers and their customers, civil and military, where they must decide whether to invest in de-veloping and purchasing a step change in capability or continue on a path of incremental improvement. The decision is particularly pressing for the U.S. military, which by opting to repeatedly upgrade its existing airframes has fallen behind the commercial world in helicopter technology. The choice now lies between simply catching up with the commercial market, or boldly leaping ahead.
Bombardier's future as a major player in the passenger jet business could rest on its new CSeries aircraft. The first flight has been delayed from December until as late as next June, and a key Chinese fuselage supplier fell down on the job. In 2013, Bombardier needs the CSeries to fly and customers to buy. Chinese
Asian investors continue to take big stakes in the aircraft leasing market. A consortium of three Chinese investors plans to close on a deal to acquire the International Lease Finance Corp. That follows earlier sales of Jackson Square Aviation and the Royal Bank of Scotland's aircraft leasing business to Japanese buyers and Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise's acquisition by the Bank of China.
North Korea's successful launch of a satellite in December after 14 years of attempts put the hermit kingdom one step closer toward deploying an intercontinental ballistic missile. And Iran's nuclear weapons program—and the threat of an Israeli attack to cripple it—will keep tensions simmering in the Middle East.
When I began writing this column eight years ago, airlines were reeling as oil prices soared above $50 a barrel. Lockheed Martin was hoping to ramp up production of the Joint Strike Fighter in 2009, and Wall Street analysts were beginning to question whether a run-up in defense stocks had much steam left. Airbus was preparing to launch development of the A350 in response to Boeing's 7E7 (now 787), and the business jet market was embarking on a sales surge that would end in a spectacular crash.
The bifurcation of the business jet market is expected to continue in 2013, with strong demand for larger and pricier jets and sluggish sales of small and mid-sized aircraft. A Chinese company's failed bid in 2012 to acquire bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft is unlikely to slow Beijing's bid to become a significant player in the market.
The Quest Kodiak is a remarkable aircraft for several reasons, among them its super-rugged design, price point and intent. Equally impressive was the aircraft's lightning pace from concept, to design, fabrication, testing, certification and delivery. And this by an all-new company that had manufactured not so much as a paperclip previously, let alone a turbine-powered airplane.
The FAA's NextGen air traffic control modernization effort is a top priority, and 2013 will be a crucial year for its en-route automation modernization and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast programs. Deployment of both is to be largely completed by the end of the year. If that does not occur, there could be serious headaches for other NextGen initiatives.
Corporate Air Parts was selected to provide training for charter operator JetSuite. Corporate Air Parts and its CAPS Flight Crew Training provide emergency crew training, including hypoxia recognition, first aid and cabin training services.
Ametek is solidifying its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base in Miami with the acquisition of Aero Components International (ACI) and Avtech Avionics. ACI expands Ametek’s reach in the Miami market for the repairs and overhaul of hydraulic, pneumatic, power generation and heat exchanger components. Avtech provides repair capabilities for both new and legacy avionics. Both are located near Ametek’s High Standard Aviation MRO operation in Miami, which also specializes in electrical/electromechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic repair services.
French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation has named Eric Trappier to replace outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne, who will step down Jan. 8.
