After breaking records in 2008, revenues in the global aerospace and defense industry were flat in 2009 and profits declined somewhat. But measured against the backdrop of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the performance turned in by the A&D sector was encouraging. “Flat” seems to be the new “up,” and the industry is fortunate to have commercial aircraft backlogs equivalent to more than six years’ worth of production and long-term defense purchase agreements, both of which provide a cushion against the recession.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has authorized Part 147 approval from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority for new instructor-led and advanced aircraft simulation training programs for the Boeing 787 and 747-8. The courses cover mechanical and avionics theory and replicate the classroom work but with students using tablet PCs to access airplane maintenance data using the same software as is used on the flight line or in the hangar.
Business aviation leaders in Europe are urging changes in several new operating rules that they fear, if left as is, will adversely affect the bizav sector. Since 2008, commercial air transport flights throughout the European Union have been governed by an interim set of regulations known as EU-Ops, which were drawn from Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA) specifications and national rules. Noncommercial activities have continued to be guided largely by national regulations.
Arianespace has been selected to launch Britain’s new Skynet 5D satellite, an Astrium-built unit set to be orbited in the first half of 2013. Together with a contract for Intelsat 17, also awarded last week (see p. 18), the Paris-based launch provider says it now has seven telecom satellite orders this year, including two unannounced. Arianespace was slated to return to service late last week, carrying Germany’s second ComsatBw military communications satellite and SES’s Astra 3B broadcasting spacecraft.
FedEx’s alleged failure to revise its Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program last week drew a $1.55-million proposed civil penalty from the FAA, which the carrier is appealing. The FAA alleges that FedEx failed to ensure that it was using “approved standards, inspections and time limitations” for 14 cargo unit load devices that were used on 124 flights from March 20-April 17, 2008.
Honeywell is closely analyzing a pair of TPE331 engines on an aircraft flown through ash clouds over the U.K. as part of efforts to scientifically quantify the true impact of volcanic ash on aircraft engines.
India is embracing medium- and long-range precision-strike weapons, short-range directed-energy air defenses and unmanned combat air vehicles as key aspirations for its future arsenal, according to a technology plan expected to be released imminently.
U.S. regional airlines, facing what seems to be a near-certain future of consolidation and a moment of truth this decade on contract renewals for aircraft of 50 seats or fewer, could find an escape route in the relaxation of scope clauses in pilot contracts of their major airline partners. But they had better not count on it.
Air New Zealand says it will defend against allegations made by Australian regulators that the carrier, among many others, engaged in price-fixing on some cargo operations.
UPS pilots are facing layoffs for the first time in the company’s 103-year history—with 169 to be furloughed from May 23 through Nov. 17, according to the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), the collective bargaining unit for the airline’s 2,800 flight crewmembers. The furlough schedule for the remainder of the 300 pilots facing layoffs is expected to be available in early 2011. Since April 2009, the IPA has tried to preserve pilot jobs by producing $117 million in guaranteed savings for UPS through voluntary program efforts that included pay cuts and unpaid leaves.
Key air force procurement ambitions will be deliberated in the Malaysian parliament by July, possibly determining the fate of fighter and airborne early-warning aircraft acquisitions.
The protracted effort to bring Sea Launch out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection has forced Intelsat to turn to Arianespace to launch its Intelsat 17 commercial telecom satellite. A Ku-/C-band spacecraft being supplied by Space Systems/Loral to serve Africa, the Indian Ocean region, Russia, the Middle East and Europe, Intelsat 17 was initially on the Sea Launch manifest.
Honeywell’s Boeing 757 testbed is used to evaluate an HTF7000 engine on a special fuselage-mounted strut attachment as it banks over Catalina Island, Calif. Engine manufacturers are stepping up investment in flying testbeds despite the availability of sophisticated ground test facilities (see p. 52). In coming weeks, the number of dedicated engine testbeds in North America will grow to comprise an unprecedented fleet of four Boeing 747s and a 757. Paul Bowen photo.
Amy Butler (Washington), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Orbital Sciences Corp. expects its acquisition of the satellite business of General Dynamics to spur the company’s drive to joint the ranks of the major government satellite prime contrators.
Aegean Airlines expects to post losses in the next two years, as it deals with the effects of the Greek financial crisis and significant costs in integrating Olympic Airlines.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a “bloated, ineffective bureaucracy . . . teetering on the brink of disaster” and ought to be reorganized, says Rep. John L. Mica (Fla.), the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. TSA spent a whopping $5.2 billion on passenger screening in Fiscal 2009, the General Accountability Office says.
Tokyo Haneda Airport will open its fourth runway and new international passenger terminal on Oct. 21 and begin handling scheduled international flights on Oct. 31. Japan Airlines will begin flying from the conveniently located airport to San Francisco, Honolulu, Paris, Bangkok and Taipei Songshan on Oct. 31. The move confirms that Haneda is now a serious competitor to Tokyo Narita, which has had a near monopoly on international traffic to the city. All Nippon Airways says it has applied to fly between Haneda and the U.S. West Coast.
In a sign of confidence in its long-haul business, Lufthansa will be using its Airbus A380s for growth rather than as replacements for its sizable Boeing 747-400 fleet.
Is Boeing Co. preparing to up the ante in the race to build a better passenger jet? Morgan Stanley analyst Heidi Wood is predicting the company will spend as much as $13 billion to develop an all-new aircraft to replace the Boeing 737, bypassing a less ambitious move to outfit the aircraft with more efficient engines.
June 1-3—FAA’s Shared Vision of Aviation Safety Conference: “The Current Status & Future of Voluntary Flight Safety Programs.” San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. Call +1 (856) 667-6770, ext. 163 or see www.aviationsafetyconference.com June 2-3—Hegan Basque Aerospace Cluster’s Aerotrends 2010. Bilbao Exhibition Center, Teruel, Spain. See www.hegan.com/aerotrends June 4-6—Australian and New Zealand Societies of Air Safety Investigators Conference. Lakeside Rydges Hotel, Canberra, Australia. See www.asasi.org/anzsasi.htm
