As a young professional in the aerospace industry, I sometimes second- guess my career choice. At first, I felt stunted because new challenges did not materialize. Recently, however, the monotony, near constant process improvement, bean-counting and notion of having me train higher grade "lateral engineers" have worn down my once insatiable appetite for learning and production into showing up at the last second and clocking out 5 min. early. Other readers and authors ask: How can we recruit more young people into aerospace?
John Uczekaj has been appointed president/CEO of Aspen Avionics, Albuquer- que, N.M. He succeeds cofounder and former CEO Peter Lyons, who will remain on the staff. Uczekaj was president/ CEO of the Nordam Group, Tulsa, Okla.
Ted Spilman has become vice president-business development for BAE Systems' San Diego-based National Security Solutions. He was vice president/ general manager of the division's defense systems unit.
Fighting words and legal filings continue to define the World Trade Organization dispute regarding government subsidies of Airbus and Boeing, although some industry officials hope an easing of tensions on other issues late this year could lead to a negotiated breakthrough.
American Airlines is accelerating its MD-80 replacement program under an agreement with Boeing to start delivery in early 2009 of three 737-800s that had been scheduled for 2016 delivery. American plans to pull forward other deliveries from an order for 44 737s previously scheduled for 2013-16 delivery into a 2009-12 timeframe.
On Apr. 2, 1982, David W. Thompson and two Harvard Business School classmates founded Orbital Sciences Corp. with the goal of making space technology more affordable and accessible. Daring and innovative, the company went public in 1990 and made its mark with products such as the air-launched Pegasus rocket, small satellites and NASA's X-34 experimental reusable launch vehicle. Its leadership team included Michael Griffin, the current NASA administrator. But big bets made during the late-1990s on space-based imagery and data communications proved disastrous.
When Delta Air Lines emerges from bankruptcy reorganization next month, it will be a low-cost competitor among its legacy airline peers. Chairman/CEO Gerald Grinstein, who preserved the carrier from takeover by US Airways, will be absent, and Comair, Delta's wholly owned regional affiliate, could be on its own.
There was some concern in the financial community that the drop in fuel prices and elimination of fuel surcharges could weaken the earnings of some airlines, such as Air France, which benefited from the ticket price add-ons. However, with the price of oil having jumped back to more than $60 per barrel, Air France has moved quickly to impose new fuel surcharges on long-haul routes, adding a €4 ($5.30) cost to each flight segment. The fee will remain in place until the price of oil drops below $60 and remains there for 30 days.
The British government and aerospace industry could face a stormy summer with Whitehall's Comprehensive Spending Review becoming the emerging focus for a fundamental debate over the nature of support for the sector. Industry executives are arguing that the near loss of key Airbus facilities--only secured after last-minute political intervention--should further galvanize the government to review its approach.
Turkey is upgrading its air defense systems. In addition to the likely purchase of PAC-3 interceptors, to upgrade the air force's air and missile defense system, the army is looking to buy medium-range air defense equipment. Also, a short-range air defense competition is expected to emerge soon. Turkey is also mulling the acquisition of a higher-end missile defense capability, along the lines of the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system.
Orbital Sciences co-founder David W. Thompson says he's skeptical about the prospects for the emerging entrepreneurial companies some have termed "new space." But there is no shortage of players looking to follow Orbital's lead in finding profits from commercial space applications.
John Thoma has been named director of business development and Anthony Mongelli corporate controller for DSPCon Inc., Bridgewater, N.J. Thoma held the same position at Honeywell's Electro-Radiation Inc., while Mongelli was chief financial officer of 3CM Packaging Systems Inc.
It's tempting to say that for students of spaceflight, there is no such thing as partial credit; all courses are pass-fail. After all, few would have been impressed if the Apollo program had sent astronauts 95% of the way to the lunar surface and called it quits. But the truth is, such a binary outlook doesn't do this subject justice. If it was that simple, they wouldn't call it rocket science.
An affiliate of GOL, Brazil's low-cost carrier, has agreed to buy the total shares of VRG, parent of Varig, for $98 million in cash and 6.1 million non-voting shares. GOL will assume debentures valued at $45 million, bringing the aggregate transaction value to $320 million. Approvals of Brazil's antitrust agency CADE and the National Civil Aviation Agency are required. Officials say the two companies will maintain separate financials. Varig would operate under its brand name as a low-cost carrier, with one-class domestic service and two-class international service.
Qantas and Airways New Zealand, the air navigation services provider in that nation, will begin continuous descent arrivals (CDAs) at Auckland International Airport in mid-April. By flying closer to the airport before beginning a descent at near-idle power, the Qantas jets will be able to reduce fuel burn using what European ATC agencies label "green approaches."
Amy Butler, Robert Wall and Andy Nativi (Washington)
To minimize looming cost increases to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon is trying to get its international project partners to buy some of their aircraft earlier to offset reductions in the U.S.'s own production plans. But serious barriers would have to be overcome to make these arrangements work. Program officials are now scrambling to assess what terms can be drawn up to allow parties to buy aircraft early without having to pay more for them.
Finnair management is reviewing the future of its ATR 72 operations. "Neither Finnair nor [Estonian subsidiary] Aero has the competitiveness to operate profitably in short-range turboprop traffic," says President/CEO Jukka Hienonen. The regional adjunct will start phasing out ATR 72 turboprops it operates, with four aircraft to be retired in 2007. Some of the routes will then be serviced by Embraer 170/190 regional jets. Other routes will be left to partners to handle, although details remain to be sorted out.
Britain will not consider any pursuit of a dedicated UCAV engine development until the end of its recently launched Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator program. Within industry, there had been some effort to also include engine core development work directly within Taranis. The Defense Ministry, however, intends to get through the technology demonstrator program (TDP) before it decides on whether to pursue a dedicated propulsion program, according to a ministry official.
USAF Lt. Cols. Ted Fordyce and Robert Monroe As soldiers and Marines on the ground continue to wage an increasingly complex war against terrorist elements in Iraq and Afghanistan, they daily depend more on air support from the Air Force's deployed AC-130H/U gunships and their crews. The special operations community often says of the adversaries on the wrong side of its gunships: "You can run, but you'll only die tired."
Joanne Smith has been promoted to senior vice president-inflight service and global product development from vice president-marketing at Delta Air Lines, following the retirement of Paulette Corbin. Succeeding Smith will be Tim Mapes, who is being promoted from managing director for marketing and cultural transformation. Sandy Gordon has been promoted to vice president-inflight service and training from managing director for inflight service.
Robert Rozek has become global director of perishables for Netherlands-based Martinair and Colombia-headquartered Tampa Cargo. He was sales director for Latin America for Martinair.
Raymond J. Wilson has been appointed to the board of directors of Innovative Solutions & Support Inc., Exton, Pa. He is an independent aerospace manufacturing consultant.
French defense minister Michele Alliot-Marie is still in a position to approve the purchase of long-lead items for a second aircraft carrier, PA2, despite the approach of presidential elections next month, defense officials say. In a recent meeting with her British counterpart, Des Browne, the two ministers expressed satisfaction with progress on building the PA2 and Britain's two new CVFs on a cooperative basis.
Benjamin Burton has been named Washington-based staff vice president-compliance and regulatory affairs and John Van Maren director of the Simulation Operation Support unit for New York-headquartered FlightSafety International. Burton was senior director of safety and compliance for America West Airlines, while Van Maren was FSI's director of program management.
