The Government Accountability Office issues a new, sobering critique of the Pentagon's indecipherable bookkeeping. Indeed, according to the latest missive, the military's financial statements are so miserably kept that the congressional accountants cannot make sense of them at all—even if they say so via jargon only auditors can appreciate.
“Mr. President, congratulations. You're a tough adversary. No hard feelings, old pal. It's a great two-party system we have. We gave our best and you outdid us. As a matter of fact you stunned us. I never figured you could beat us that badly. I want to wish you all the success in the world.” Those words were spoken three decades ago by then-U.S. House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill, a liberal Massachusetts Democrat, to President Ronald Reagan, a conservative Republican, after the chief executive prevailed in a tough budget battle.
The U.S. Air Force is buying more of the battlefield airborne communications nodes (BACN) that helped kill Osama bin Laden. Northrop Grumman Defense Mission Systems snagged a $47 million contract from the service's Electronic Systems Center to integrate BACN payloads into two more Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems. The upgraded UAS are re-designated as EQ-4Bs.
Paul Daff, head of the Qantas Group's Jetconnect subsidiary, will become interim CEO of Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, following the resignation of Chong Phit Lian, effective Feb. 1. Chong will remain a member of Jetstar Asia's board.
Russia's United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) has reported assembly of the first Ilyushin Il-476 flight prototype, a modernized version of the Il-76MD heavy transport aircraft. The prototype was shown publicly for the first time at the Aviastar-SP production facility in Ulyanovsk in mid-December. A UAC representative told Aviation Week the official rollout will be in early 2012, with first flight expected in the spring.
As a Japanese weapon, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 fighter was built in Japan—and only for Japan. In 2011 the government, taking delivery of the last of 94 F-2s, looked at how much it would cost to build more. The answer: ¥15 billion ($193 million) apiece, more than the marginal price that any country has paid for any fighter from a mature production line.
Goodrich's five-year campaign to get its ACES 5 ejection seat onto the F-35A is likely to meet the same fate as General Electric/Rolls-Royce's push to keep an alternate engine in the Joint Strike Fighter program—failure. Last month, the engine manufacturer finally gave up on its years-long attempts to keep the F136 engine alive after consistent and stiff opposition from Pentagon leadership.
Amen to reader Todd Fredricks for promoting continued use of an upgraded T-38 airframe as the Air Force “fast jet” trainer in lieu of purchasing new/foreign types (AW&ST Dec. 19/26, 2011, p. 8). Yes, the problem with aging airframes is increased maintenance cost and downtime per flight hour. But age is not necessarily the same as obsolescence. The T-38 has trained thousands of USAF pilots, was the proficiency aircraft for SR-71 Blackbird drivers and remained so for NASA's space shuttle pilots.
Dan Garton of American Eagle has been named chairman of the Washington-based Regional Airline Association. Brad Holt of ExpressJet is vice chairman; Dave Bushy of Cape Air, secretary; and Tim Komberec of Empire Airlines, treasurer.
European air forces that provided strike sorties in Operation Unified Protector, the air campaign over Libya, will be digesting its lessons for years. Last November, Defence IQ's International Fighter Conference here brought together a group of pilots, many of whom were involved in planning their nations' operations or carrying them out.
Back when two-way radios the size of bricks were the closest things to cell phones, and beepers the equivalent of texting, a 20-something manager of a General Motors chassis line in Montreal ducked out of work to run an errand. As luck would have it, a glitch shut down the auto line just as he reached the checkout counter. Suddenly, a gargantuan belt strapped around his waist came to life, with two beepers shrieking and flashing and the radio squawking.
Senior Defense Editor Amy Butler's “The Last Raptor Rolls Off Lockheed Martin Line” drew this response among the many commenting on the hail and farewell: Warrant9 noting:
Japan's F-X choice continues to be a hot topic. Beijing Bureau Chief Bradley Perrett's “Japan Judged F-35 To Have Best Performance” elicited: Snowman noting:
Airbus Military, for now, is closing the book on the deal that had South Africa buy eight A400M airlifters only to reverse course when the program hit delays and political dynamics in South Africa shifted. Airbus Military insists the fixed-price €837 million ($1.08 billion)deal never changed. After it was struck in 2005, the company received payments from South Africa's Armscor defense armaments agency, which the company now says have been refunded. South Africa may yet return as a prospective A400M buyer, but other spending needs are receiving priority.
Capt. Hossam Kamal (see photo) has become chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Co., succeeding Hussein Massoud, who has been sworn in as Egyptian minister of civil aviation. Kamal was vice chairman.
Jan. 31- Feb. 2—MRO Middle East 2012. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Feb. 14-16— Defense Technology and Affordability Requirements. Arlington, Va. March 7—54th Annual Laureate Awards. Washington. March 13-14—Innovation Supply Chain Showcase. Orlando, Fla. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 3-6—Aircraft Electronics Association's 55th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. National Harbor, Md.
NASA's inspector general (IG) says the far-flung agency is scrambling to meet aggressive real estate reduction goals outlined by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress, largely because of uncertainties over its future human exploration missions and budget outlook. The 53-year-old agency has grown to become the federal government's ninth-largest property holder, possessing more than 5,000 buildings, laboratories, wind tunnels, launch pads and test stands from coast to coast with a combined replacement value exceeding $29 billion.
European Union emission allowance (EUA) prices sank to €6.95 per metric ton ($9.08 per metric ton) on Dec. 14, 2011, a new low for the 2008-12 Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading System. The price weakness in November and December reflected ongoing troubles in the EU economy as several member-state governments struggle to deal with sovereign debt problems.
Akbar Al Baker (see photo) has been elected to the board of governors of the Geneva-based International Air Transport Association. He is CEO of Qatar Airways and recently was elected to the executive committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
