When the president begins his second term, he will be dealing with a new Congress. In the last Congress, Republicans on the armed services committees provided a nearly united front against sequestration, but that opposition to across-the-board reductions to defense could be wavering.
The Swedish government has given the country's armed forces the go-ahead to procure the next-generation version of the Gripen fighter aircraft. Defense minister Karin Enstrom said on Jan. 17 that the armed forces would buy 60 Saab JAS-39E Gripens for an as-yet undisclosed price. The first aircraft would be delivered in 2018 with the full complement by 2027.
LOT Polish Airlines has been in crisis mode for years. But the situation is becoming more precarious and the carrier may soon look much different—if it manages to survive.
John Turner (see photo) has been appointed director of engineering at Denton, Texas-based Odyssey Aerospace Components. He has worked for NASA, American Airlines, Associated Air Center and Weber Aircraft.
This year could see substantial changes to the roster of North American airlines, from the potential merger of US Airways and American Airlines to significant industry expansion that is expected to unfold north of the border. Two prominent Canadian carriers seem unafraid of risk in 2013 as they plan to launch ventures that could have far-reaching impacts on fares, routes and ultimately competition. Rival carriers Air Canada and WestJet are set to create new airlines, each staking a claim over a different corner of the marketplace.
USAF Maj. Gen. (ret.) John Speigel has been elected chairman of the Maxwell AFB, Ala.-based Civil Air Patrol's board of governors, succeeding Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, whose term ends in February. CAP Lt. Col. Ned Lee was elected vice chairman.
“Funding uncertainty” tops the list of concerns raised by the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) in its 2012 report to NASA, and so far the panel's experts do not see the agency doing much about it. “As budgets are reduced and funding uncertainty increases, it is essential that NASA increase its awareness of possible safety implications and address those immediately,” states the report, released Jan. 9, in a reference to the continuing shortfall in funding for NASA's commercial crew program.
Berlin should have opened its new international airport two years ago. But not only has the launch now been delayed a fourth time, the airport operator has conceded for the first time that it has no idea when the facility will be ready.
Sharon Weinberger's “Mining The Gap” (AW&ST Dec. 24, 2012, p. 36) was very informative as to how data extracted from social media and other databases can be intelligently manipulated and “real” threat data extracted. However, using Benghazi as an example illustrates how often we rely on computer algorithms while ignoring common sense. The overthrow of the Libyan government resulted in a country with a very weak regime not fully in control of a large portion of their territory and opposed by a number of armed factions equally hostile to Western governments.
The gridlock and political temper tantrums of the U.S. Congress as 2012 drew to a close threatened to derail America's fragile economic recovery. Now, the specter of weeks of debate on the government's debt ceiling and deep, automatic spending cuts known as “sequestration” promises more chaos.
Michael DiGeorge has been named managing director of Arinc's Singapore-based Asia-Pacific Div. He was senior director for e-enabled programs and based in the company's Hong Kong office.
Jesco von Puttkamer, a protege of Wernher von Braun whose NASA career ranged from the Apollo manned lunar landing project to the International Space Station, died Dec. 27, of a flu-like illness at home in Alexandria, Va. He was 79. At his death, von Puttkamer was still active at the U.S. space agency, producing a daily online rundown of activities on the International Space Station.
June 1, 2012 Tom Enders officially becomes CEO of EADS, succeeding Louis Gallois. Early summer 2012 Initial merger talks begin between EADS and BAE Systems, and European governments are briefed. Mid-August Tom Enders suffers a sporting accident injury that prevents him from accompanying German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a trip to China. Aug. 29
The Welsh government is looking for ways to turn around the fortunes of its capital's long-suffering international airport. Since passenger numbers peaked at just over 2 million in 2007, the number of people using the airport—which sits 15 mi. to the west of the Welsh capital—have fallen by half. Passenger numbers for 2012 were expected to barely break the 1-million mark.
Alex Battaglia (see photo) has been promoted to senior vice president for system operations from vice president-airports and operations of JetBlue Airways.
