Japan Airlines, which was looking forward to a 25-billion yen ($208-million) profit in fiscal 2001, says all those hopes were washed away by the ``flight phobia'' that has ensued since Sept. 11. Japan's largest international carrier--60% of its revenues come from international traffic--now predicts a 40-billion yen loss for the fiscal year that ends next Mar. 31, its first since 1997. For the first time in four years, it will not pay a dividend and is planning layoffs.
Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter team is developing advanced manufacturing and assembly techniques aimed at significantly reducing build time and costs, compared with methods used to build legacy fighters.
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin's surprise resignation last week leaves the U.S. space agency struggling for lift in a Bush Administration that paid scant attention to the red-ink space program even before the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
An Airbus security task force has made available free of charge to customer airlines plans for reinforced cockpit doors. The strengthened door design, which covers the European manufacturer's range of single-aisle twinjets, was approved by the European Joint Aviation Authorities. Similar upgrades are being developed for Airbus' twin-aisle aircraft while additional measures are being contemplated to minimize terrorism-related risks, company officials said.
Deep Space 1 acquired the first resolved pictures of a comet's nucleus on Sept. 22, despite the spacecraft being designed as a technology demonstrator rather than a cometary explorer. Engineers were amazed that it survived the close encounter through the surrounding dust with no apparent damage.
Alenia has placed an initial order for C-27J components with SME Aerospace, a subsidiary of Aerospace Industries of Malaysia (AIM), under a Memorandum of Understanding concluded in 1999 (AW&ST June 28, 1999, p. 63). The order, for an undisclosed amount, concerns the first set of forward lower lobes on the airlifter, built by Alenia-Lockheed Martin venture LMATTS. The C-27J is in the ``final evaluation'' stage with the Malaysian and Greek air forces, according to Alenia.
Randolph L. Kendall has been promoted to principal director of missions and analysis in the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Div. from systems director of its Mission Integration Directorate at The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif.
Christian Bittencourt has been named London-based managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for L-3 Satellite Networks. He was director of sales engineering for Gilat Europe.
Major U.S. airports have joined the long line of financially stressed businesses reeling in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The ailing status was affirmed recently when investor services Standard&Poor's, Moody's and Fitch independently lowered credit ratings or flagged investments at many of the country's largest airports.
Phase 2 of the Washington Reagan National Airport revival will commence Oct. 26, according to the U.S. Transportation Dept., providing airlines implement ``further'' security measures at 18 additional destinations. The next phase will boost destination cities from eight to 26, including Denver, Seattle and Toronto, and participating airlines from six to 14. At the completion of phase two in mid-December, the airport will be operating at 57% of pre-Sept. 11 volume of 792 flights per day.
Harry C. Stonecipher, vice chairman of Boeing, has received the 2001 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Wings Club of New York. Stonecipher, who was president/CEO of the McDonnell Douglas Corp., was cited for accomplishments in his 40-year aerospace industry career including initiating that company's merger with Boeing in 1997.
Sam Addoms has been appointed chairman of Frontier Airlines. He succeeds LaRae Orullian, who will become a vice chair along with Paul Dempsey. Addoms has been president/CEO. Jon Bartram has returned in an acting capacity to his former position as vice president-maintenance and engineering. He succeeds Bill Schaudt, who has resigned.
In its bid to win the Joint Strike Fighter competition, Boeing promises it will be able to rapidly slash the time it takes to build each of the strike fighters and reduce its cost in parallel. Boeing and its competitor Lockheed Martin are in their final push to convince Pentagon officials they have the winning approach for JSF. The jockeying comes only days before the Pentagon's decision set for Oct. 26, regarding who should build the more than 3,000 aircraft.
Mark Weicher has been promoted to chief financial officer from controller of PartsBase Inc., Boca Raton, Fla. He succeeds Michael Siegel, who has become senior vice president-finance and administration of Heico Aerospace Holdings.
U.K. officials claim ``real successes'' in the allied air attacks to date on Afghanistan, but European skepticism about the efficacy of the bombardment is on the rise. Under Secretary of State for Defense Lewis Moonie said last week that terrorist camps had been damaged beyond use, command and control facilities put out of action, and early warning and air defense systems ``devastated.''
Raytheon Co. last week posted a third-quarter net loss of $285 million, or 79 cents a diluted share, compared with net income of $105 million, or 31 cents a diluted share, a year ago. Extreme weakness in the company's commercial businesses, especially aircraft, led to a charge of more than $700 million. On a positive note, Raytheon's core defense business showed solid gains, with Command, Control, Communications and Information Systems recording an 8% increase in operating income on 12% higher sales.
The post-Sept. 11 harmony between Washington and Moscow is revitalizing ideas for military ties that withered at the beginning of the Kosovo air war in 1999, says Bell. Around 1998, NATO and Russia's military were discussing closer cooperation. Among the proposed projects were demos to see if Russian tankers could refuel NATO aircraft and whether Russian airlifters, such as the An-124, could handle NATO's outsize-cargo requirements. Discussions ended with the Balkan foray. Now, Bell says, everything has changed.
Italian aerospace research organization Cira has inaugurated a unique plasma wind tunnel capable of simulating thermal conditions of space vehicles during the atmospheric reentry phase.
Senior Pentagon officials face a number of difficult choices and expensive options as they try to determine in the coming weeks how to replace the EA-6B Prowler support jammer.
Since converting its air traffic control network to a self-funded, commercial operation, Australia has developed one of the most modern, efficient and reliable ATC systems in the world.
Few if any airport infrastructure projects will be canceled due to the traffic downturn or to free up funding for additional security measures, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey believes. Some runway and terminal projects will be delayed, and airport authorities should both reevaluate traffic projections and reassess security needs, says Garvey, herself a former airport boss. ``I think it's wise to pause for a moment,'' Garvey told a National Press Club luncheon.
Bureau Veritas Quality International has awarded ISO 9002 and Aerospace Standard AS 9001 certification to Turbomeca Engine Corp. and Microturbo Inc. in Grand Prairie, Tex. The systems require stringent compliance with quality controls for both companies, which service, repair and overhaul turbine engines for military and commercial aircraft. The company is working toward obtaining ISO 9000 Version 2000 and AS 9100 certification within the next three years.
Most U.S. air traffic control facilities have little or no security measures in place, and the FAA should protect all of them with armed guards, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. The FAA says it has strengthened security at many facilities since Sept. 11 and will continue to do so.
