Those looking for signs that the aircraft financing crisis in Europe is ebbing will take heart from the fact that one of China's main business-jet lessors is turning to Europe to tap the market for dollars. That is a stark turnaround from just a few weeks ago, when there were ample concerns that European lenders, particularly in France, were frozen out of easy dollar access because of counterparty risk concerns among U.S. money markets.
French helicopter engine maker Turbomeca will increase its R&D budget by 25% this year and hire 100 more engineers as it pursues dual goals of renewing its product line by 2020 and developing hybrid powerplants. “This is an intense period of development for us,” says Chairman and CEO Olivier Andries. “R&D spending will represent 15% of revenues. [The company achieved sales of €940 million, or $1.24 billion at current exchange rates, in 2010.] This follows a 20% increase in 2011 over 2010.”
Paul Chun has become managing director of KLM UK Engineering, based in Paris and Amstelveen, Netherlands. He held the same role at Epcor, where he will be succeeded by Romain Helmer, who headed KLM Engineering & Maintenance's Boeing 737 unit. Ton Dortmans was named executive VP-engineering and maintenance of KLM E&M, succeeding Peter de Swert.
Andreas Knoepfel (see photo) has joined Swiss Aviation Consulting of Huenenberg/Zug as managing director of Swiss AeroRisk Management and a board member of Swiss AeroHoldings. He was a senior aviation manager for an insurance broker.
U.S. Army Gen. (ret.) Rick Lynch and Paul McDuffee have joined the board of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Arlington, Va. Lynch commanded the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Div. at Fort Hood, Texas. McDuffee is Insitu's principal interface with the FAA on the commercial viability of unmanned aircraft.
The move is largely an administrative step after Airbus determined the entire fleet would likely suffer component cracking due to a manufacturing process flaw.
David Russell has joined Gogo, Itaska, Ill., as senior VP and general manager of Europe and the Middle East for commercial aviation. He was VP-strategic programs for SITA Group.
Mubadala Aerospace is celebrating in Singapore this morning as Piaggi Aero - the business aircraft manufacturer in which the Abu Dhabi business owns a third share - has made its first entry into the Chinese market.
A decision by CitationAir to exit the fractional business will reshape the industry, but experts believe the model is firmly entrenched and will continue on a smaller scale. CitationAir, which began selling shares in 2000 and grew into the fourth-largest fractional program, notified customers that it was suspending sales of its Jet Shares fractional program and Jet Access membership program to focus solely on its Jet Card and Jet Management businesses.
The U.S. Transportation Department wants to develop new spectrum interference standards to protect GPS signals from transmissions in adjacent bands as the battle between broadband-wireless hopeful LightSquared and the GPS industry enters a new phase.
Brazil’s first airport privatization program generated more than four times the BRL5.5 billion (US$3.2 billion) expected from the government auction, a bonus that may lead to greater private sector involvement in the country’s air transport infrastructure.
A corporate turnaround specialist appointed to the top job at Hawker Beechcraft says his top priority is to revive–not sell–the struggling manufacturer.
Aircraft charter company, Air Charter Service (ACS), is poised to respond to requests to evacuate foreign nationals from troubled Syria, as the situation in the country worsens.
Mergers and acquisitions activity in the aerospace and defense industry reached a record $43.7 billion in 2011, edging out the previous high from 2007 as consolidation in the commercial supply chain gained steam and underperforming defense units were spun off. A PwC study scheduled for release Feb. 7 tallied 341 acquisitions, mergers or spin-offs worth $50 million or more announced during the year.
Hawker Beechcraft has appointed Robert S. “Steve” Miller as chief executive effective from today. Bill Boisture, formerly CEO will remain as Chairman of its operating subsidiary Hawker Beechcraft Corporation.
