AirTran, which is refusing to take two "no's" for an answer, has again extended the deadline on its bid to acquire Midwest Airlines. In January, AirTran made a hostile $345-million offer for the Milwaukee-based airline. Midwest now has until Apr. 11 to respond to the latest overture.
French Rafale strike fighters will be operational in Afghanistan within days, after undergoing a crash course to integrate precision-guided bombs and other wartime enhancements. Both the French air force and navy are participating in the surge of combat capability, aimed at bolstering NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Most of the world's space agencies are teaming up with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in using their Earth-observing space assets to support protection of Unesco natural and cultural heritage sites worldwide. The agreement is a centerpiece in a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, coming up Mar. 21 at Unesco headquarters in Paris.
Gregg Herman (see photo) has been named director of military sales and marketing for the Aerospace Group of Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Lynwood, Wash. He was a product support executive for the group.
ExpressJet struck a short-term deal with JetBlue to fly four 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145s through April to cover for JetBlue's Embraer 190s that are leaving service for software upgrades. About 30 modifications would be applied to the aircraft to correct software issues resulting from the carrier being the Embraer 190's launch customer. ExpressJet, meanwhile, is flying a total of six daily roundtrips for JetBlue, and it named industry leader Russ Chew as chief operating officer. The former COO of FAA's Air Traffic Organization had accepted a job at Hawaiian Airlines.
Airbus completed one of the last high-profile technical tests for the A380 before it is to be delivered to Singapore Airlines in October. The often-spectacular maximum-energy rejected take-off unfolded at the Istres flight test center in southern France on Mar. 4, when aircraft MSN001 accelerated to 166 kt. before the autobrakes applied full force to stop the aircraft. MSN001 weighed in at around 575,000 metric tons during the trial. Jacques Rosay, Airbus chief test pilot, says the aircraft stopped 20 meters (66 ft.) shorter than expected.
Buyers beware: Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne says Russia and China are doing some false advertising as nations around the globe contemplate fighter aircraft buys. "There are some pretenders out there," he says. "Russians and Chinese--both independently, by the way--are talking about fifth-generation fighters." This term, coined by F-22 and F-35 developer Lockheed Martin, refers to a combination of stealth, speed and sensor technology. But Wynne doesn't want the consumer to be confused. "It is just like branding.
Three accidents that caused at least 123 deaths in 10 weeks are heightening concerns about Indonesia's air safety and the need for remedial action. An NTSB, FAA and Boeing team last week rushed to aid Indonesian investigators to help determine what caused a runway overrun involving a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-400 (PK-GZC) at Yogya- karta-Adisutjipto Indonesia airport.
Southwest Airlines, which plans to add at least 37 new Boeing 737s this year, plans to add 18 nonstop flights to 15 destinations starting in June. The expansion is focused on Denver, Oakland, Calif., and Houston.
A revised French military space plan calls for upping milspace spending 50% to €650 million a year to reinforce and link communications and reconnaissance networks and to introduce new capabilities such as early warning, signal intelligence and space control.
The International Air Transport Assn. (IATA) is criticizing the Indian government's decision to increase landing, parking and route navigation charges at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore airports during peak hours beginning Mar. 25. Already grappling with lack of infrastructure, airlines are now being put under additional pressure, with airfares for peak-hour flights expected to grow 10-15%. "IATA and the Airports Authority of India have a current pricing agreement and expect formal consultations on any proposed changes," says IATA official Albert Tjoeng.
The FAA now expects to see nearly 7,150 air traffic controller retirements over the next decade, which will be an increase of 400 from last year's predictions. The agency also lifted its hiring target for Fiscal 2007 to 1,400 controllers, to achieve its goal of a net increase of 189 this year.
You can now register ONLINE for AVIATION WEEK Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only) Apr. 17-18--MRO Military, Atlanta. Apr. 18-19--MRO Conference, Atlanta. Oct. 17-18--MRO Asia, Shanghai. PARTNERSHIPS Mar. 21-- Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Space Age, Unesco, Paris. Apr. 9-12--National Space Symposium, Colorado Springs. Apr. 30-May 2--RFID Journal Live, Orlando, Fla.
Boeing's KC-767 moved a step closer to maturity when the Italian air force's first tanker was used to demonstrate the first fuel transfer via a new fifth-generation, fly-by-wire air refueling boom. During a 4-hr. flight, the boom was connected to a B-52 73 times, and 10,000 lb. of fuel was pumped to the bomber. The boom is remotely controlled from the flight deck and can push up to 900 gal. per min. for larger receiver aircraft.
Boeing has announced its second package cargo customer for the 767-300ER freighter in the past month with an order for six from DHL. The aircraft will be powered by General Electric CF6-80C2B75 engines. Last month, UPS ordered 27 -300ERFs.
All Nippon Airways has ordered four Boeing 777-300ERs; 14 are already in service or on order. The carrier also plans to sell three 747-400s to a Hong Kong lessor. The intended operator of the 747s appears to be Oasis Hong Kong airlines. Oasis plans to sell a 20% stake to strategic investors in 2007 and later offer shares to the public. It aims for a fleet of 25 aircraft in five years.
Japan Airlines, at the request of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, is taking on the responsibility of flying 99 Japanese war-bereaved relatives and four caregivers to Iwo Jima for memorial services. JAL will use an MD-90 on Mar. 6 to make the 702-mi. trip from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Because so many of the relatives are of advanced age, it was thought that a commercial aircraft would be more comfortable. The return flight will be the same day.
Neil McGilchrist has joined London law firm Barlow Lyde and Gilbert's aerospace team from Gide Loyrette Nouel, with associates Anna Anatolitou and Maria Galan.
Airbus will push back development of the A380 freighter now that UPS has opted to delay its 10-aircraft order for a decade. The courier is the last customer for the cargo version and, based on this recent move, Airbus will formalize an industrial decision to adjust the schedule, says Airbus President/CEO Louis Gallois.
Iridium Satellite is to open a telemetry, tracking and command/control (TTAC) station in Svalbard, Norway, in the third quarter under an agreement with Kongsberg Satellite Services. Initially, two antennas will be used, but three will be added later. This will be Iridium's fifth TTAC ground station.
MARKET FOCUS Cessna strength counters Bell weakness within Textron 10 NEWS BREAKS Inspection set for Atlantis and external tank affter hailstorm damage 18 Israel AF to unveil long-range unmanned aircraft within few weeks 19 Helicopter Assn. International show draws hundreds of exhibitors 22 WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS Iran-North Korean collaboration grows as covert Chinese Asat possibility lingers 24 U.S.-Chinese milspace faceoff could center on Asat concepts 26
Julie Zoller, a program director for ITT's Advanced Engineering and Sciences Div., Reston, Va., has been named U.S. candidate to the 12-member Radio Regulations Board of the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union.
The U.S. Homeland Security Dept. has agreed to delay implementation of the Real ID Act, which sets minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards to be accepted for federal purposes, such as air travel. The 2005 law required compliance by May 11, 2008, but the department extended the deadline to Jan. 1, 2010, for states to begin issuing first compliant cards.
Mike Ferverda has been appointed chief operating officer of the Mesa Air Group's joint venture with Shenzhen Airlines in China. He was president of Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines and senior vice president of Mesa's West Coast operations. Tom Bacon has become Mesa's vice president-planning. He was vice president-marketing for Bombardier Flexjet.
