Societe Europeenne des Satellites is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan to make it a global operator of geostationary telecommunications and broadcasting satellites through strategic alliances with Asian and American partners. The Luxembourg-based direct-to-home (DTH) satellite operator's plan--to be financed largely through a $1.1-billion initial public offering completed in July--began taking form in recent weeks. Last month, SES:
Jonathan Flint (see photo) has become managing director of Marconi Electronic Systems' Avionic Systems business, based in Rochester, England. He was engineering director for Radar and Countermeasure Systems and business director for Airborne Electronic Warfare Systems.
Motorola is putting the finishing touches on a new design for the Teledesic satellite venture and could complete negotiations within weeks on a multibillion-dollar contract to build the massive constellation. ``We've now got a design that meets their requirements,'' Bary R. Bertiger, vice president and general manager of Motorola's Satellite Communications Group, said. ``It's all coming together.''
Radar and mission computer upgrades to the Royal Australian Air Force's F/A-18 and RF/F-111 fleets are designed to stretch current technology in support of regional and world peacekeeping roles while studies continue on long-term replacements.
Airbus Industrie's partners are rapidly boosting production, shortening cycles and cutting costs with a significantly leaner supply chain. European and overseas subcontractors, vendors and suppliers are being tightly monitored in an effort to rapidly identify or prevent delays and component shortages that could endanger on-time deliveries, executives said. In 1998, Airbus delivered 230 aircraft, up from 182 during the previous year. It is scheduled to deliver 285 commercial transports in 1999 and 334 in 2000.
Small package carrier Airborne Express expects to acquire an additional 11 Boeing 767-200 transports, which will increase its planned 767 fleet to 23. The Seattle-based carrier has taken delivery of half the aircraft from a 1995 purchase of 12 767s, with three in service with Airborne at the end of 1998. Airborne's latest order calls for delivery of two aircraft in 2000, four in 2001 and the remainder through 2003. Currently leased to Japan's All Nippon Airlines, the 767s from the latest order will cost Airborne about $25 million each in freighter configuration.
An image of a Boeing 747-400 was captioned incorrectly in the annual Photo Issue (AW&ST Dec. 21/28, 1998, p. 68). The caption should have said the aircraft belongs to KLM.
The race to circle the world in a balloon is on. Aviation has not seen this sort of excitement since the days of Charles Lindbergh, when aviators competed for the Orteig Prize by flying from New York to Paris.
What do Southwest Airlines and the U.S. Marine Corps have in common? Airline and service management teams, at the suggestion of a consulting company researching the strategies of successful organizations, met recently at Quantico, Va., to discuss management philosophies. ``At first, a few airline attendees were intimated by the prospect of confronting a group of U.S. Marines for a 2-day period at their home base,'' according to a Southwest spokesperson.
Sikorsky's S-92 Helibus has completed a 50-min. first flight at the company's West Palm Beach, Fla., Development Flight Center. On Dec. 23, the helicopter made eight takeoffs and landings, hovered and flew forward at speeds up to 30 kt. during its initial flight. It also flew sideways at speeds up to 20 kt. The aircraft was piloted by John Dixson, Sikorsky chief pilot, and Bob Spaulding, S-92 program chief pilot.
SWISSCONTROL HAS DECLARED Raytheon's air traffic management/aeronautical information services data acquisition processing and transfer (Adapt) system operational at both Geneva and Zurich area control centers. Adapt is an interface for radar and flight data processors, weather forecasts, and navigation aid status and provides display processing for more than 40 controller positions. The system has been undergoing operational tests for more than 6 months since it was declared ready for operations in April.
GenCorp. Aerojet's Titan 2/4 program is scheduled to receive a 97% award fee of $627,875 from Lockheed Martin for its launch operations from July 1997-June 1998. Aerojet builds the Titan 2 and 4's first- and second-stage engines.
Laurence A. Price, director of small launch vehicles at Lockheed Martin Astronautics in Denver, has received the George M. Low Space Transportation Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was honored for his ``technical and managerial leadership in developing the Athena family of launch vehicles to service the emerging small satellite market.''
U.S. Air Force special operations forces will rely on the Northrop Grumman Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system to protect their CV-22 tiltrotors against IR-guided missiles. But the forces still face the prospect of flying their C-130s into hostile areas with inadequate defensive gear.
Boeing overcame production problems and parts shortages to surpass its planned 1998 goal of 550 transport deliveries late last week. A total of 556 aircraft had been accepted at press time, with a handful more scheduled by the close of the year. In meeting its goal, Boeing delivered 14 transports on a single day, Dec. 28, tying a previous record. Production of `next generation 737 transports is almost back to the original schedule. Top executives say Boeing is on-track to manufacture its scheduled 620 transports this year.
Steven Gaffney (see photo) has been appointed vice president/director of programs for the Avionics Div. of ITT Industries, Clifton, N.J. He was director of integrated systems at Litton Industries Guidance and Controls.
Having escaped the mid-November Leonids meteor shower largely unscathed, commercial satellite operators and insurers are taking a closer look at an even greater, more-persistent threat--Earth-orbiting debris.
The Air Force has decided to slow its Space-Based Laser program. The service was going to launch ``readiness demonstrators'' around 2005, but now SBL demonstrators won't be launched until around 2010. An operational constellation wouldn't follow until years later. Technology, such as advanced optics, will be allowed to mature, Peters said. The Air Force's Scientific Advisory Board recently recommended slowing the system's development. However, the move may irritate lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) who wants a faster SBL program.
Kellstrom Industries Inc. has acquired Solair Inc., a subsidiary of Banner Aerospace Inc., for $57 million. Solair manufactures aircraft rotables and expendable components including flight data recorders, electrical and mechanical equipment, and radar and navigation systems.
Boeing, in late December, reached the 90% mark in design of its stretched 767-400ER version and has begun parts production. More than 9,000 engineering design packages have been released, according to program manager John Quinlivan. Changes include an updated flight deck, new landing gear, raked wingtips and revised auxiliary power unit installation. In the process, about 80% of the late 1970s-vintage aircraft design has been digitally defined. First delivery, to Delta Air Lines, is scheduled for May 2000.
Looking back, 1998 was a disappointing year for the commercial satellite industry. Three of the most vaunted players--Loral Space&Communications, Hughes Electronics and PanAmSat--were beset by a combination of launch failures, satellite malfunctions and financial disappointments.
Alcatel Space and Matra Marconi Space are moving to boost their positions on the operating side of the satellite communications industry. The two firms have lagged behind their big U.S. competitors in moving into this high-margin business, which in Europe is dominated by dedicated operating firms like Eutelsat, SES and ICO (see pp. 28 and 56).
