Interavia Business & Technology back issues from October 2002:
A step backwards.(aircraft industry and laws)(Editorial)
Oct 01, 2002; ... When you are driving your car you probably don't think too much about the full complexity of the Highway Code. It is only when an accident happens that everyone, and especially the police and the insurance companies, refers to the law. It seems that things are going very differently in ...
Fairchid Dornier. (Dateline Berlin).(employees lost since receivership)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Almost 800 of formerly 3,500 employees have left Fairchid Dornier since it went into receivership last July. While talks continue with the Russian Basic Elements Group and its partner Irkutsk Aircraft Production on ...
Rolls-Royce Deutschland. (Dateline Berlin).(forms research pact with Rolls-Royce Plc and German Research Establishment)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Deutschland and the German Research Establishment have signed an agreement aimed at making air transport more efficient and environmentally responsible. Initially ...
Heimann Systems. (Dateline Berlin).(acquired by Smiths Group Plc)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Rheinmetall's X-ray security systems maker Heimann Systems GmbH is to be acquired by UK-based Smiths Group plc. Analysts said the price paid looked decent and that the unit should fit well with Smiths' other security operations. Heimann Systems' luggage and cargo inspection equipment, as ...
MTU Aero Engines. (Dateline Berlin).(developing innovative casting technologies)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Under a programme sponsored by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Technology, MTU Aero Engines is moving ahead with investigations into lightweight materials which, implemented with innovative casting technologies, it can be used to produce ...
Cuts, cuts and more cuts: election results brings more bad news for defence and aerospace programmes. (Dateline Berlin).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Just a few days after the general elections at end-September, finance minister Hans Eichel had some bad news for the narrowly re-elected red-green coalition of Chancellor Gerhard Schroder. Due to declining tax revenues, a lack-lustre economy and the cost of rising unemployment, Eichel will ...
Hans-Joachim Gante: new BDLI chief. (Dateline Berlin).(Association of the German Aerospace Industry)(Brief Article)(Biography)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The Association of the German Aerospace Industry (BDLI) will have a new Managing Director in January. Hans-Joachim Gante has been appointed to succeed Hans Eberhard Birke, who--in a surprise move after 30 years in the aerospace industry--decided to join German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) as ...
Smiths Group. (Dateline London).(profit)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Smiths Group reported an operating profit of 452 million [pounds sterling] (-9%) for the year ending 31 July 2002. The decrease was mainly due to a slowdown in commercial aerospace and telecom markets. Profits at Smiths Aerospace also dropped 9%, on sales of 1.34 billion [pounds ...
BAE Systems. (Dateline London).
Oct 01, 2002; ... * BAE Systems' reported sales of 5.703 billion [pounds sterling] for the first half of 2002, compared with 6.292 billion [pounds sterling] the previous year. Operating profit fell 39 million [pounds sterling] from 393 million [pounds sterling] in the first half of 2001. Progress in the ...
Rolls-Royce. (Dateline London).(first flight of Harrier with engine upgrade)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * A more powerful version of the Boeing/BAE Systems Harrier GR7--the GR7A--has made its first flight with a Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 107 engine that provides an extra 3000lb thrust at ambient temperatures above 30[degrees]C. The engine upgrade is the first step. in a radical ...
GKN Aerospace. (Dateline London).(acquisitions)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * GKN Aerospace is close to completing a first round of strategic business acquisitions aimed at enhancing expertise in its regional and business aircraft sectors. The most recent purchase, ASTECH of the USA, adds to the ...
CVF double take: future carriers will be "future-proofed". (Dateline London).(Future Joint Combat Aircraft)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The UK Ministry of Defence made its long-awaited decision at the end of September on a variant of the US/UK F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to fulfil its requirement for a Future Joint Combat Aircraft for the RAF and Royal Navy. The winner was the short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) model--a ...
Ian Thomas: Boeing's Integrated Defence Systems Chief in the UK. (Dateline London).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... With a master's degree in international relations and a degree in history from Cambridge University, Ian Thomas, the new head of Boeing s Integrated Defense Systems business in the UK, is an American with a keen sense of the USA's place in the world and Britain's--a critical attribute at a ...
Thales. (Dateline Paris).(surveillance systems contract)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Thales has signed a $400 million contract to supply maritime patrol and maritime surveillance systems to the Turkish Navy and the Turkish Coast Guard unde the MELTEM ...
Dassault Aviation. (Dateline Paris).(new facility)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Dassault Aviation has broken ground on a new 226,000[ft.sup.2] final assembly facility at Bordeaux-Merignac for its Falcon bizjet family and in particular the latest addition, the Falcon 7X, which is due to ...
Alcatel--fighting to cope with the telecom sector meltdown--has sold 6.1% of Thales. (Dateline Paris).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Alcatel--fighting to cope with the telecom sector meltdown--has sold 6.1% of Thales, thereby raising, 340 million [euro] in cash and reducing its holding in the defence electronics group to 9.7%. Fellow shareholder Dassault, with whom Alcatel is linked by a shareholders' pact, declined ...
UAV programmes. (Dateline Paris).(multi-sensor multimission system, medium-altitude long-endurance drone)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * The French MoD has officially launched two new UAV programmes--a multi-sensor multimission system (MCMM) for the Army and a medium-altitude long-endurance drone (MALE) for the Air Force. The MCMM programme comprises 80 vehicles for battlefield data gathering, target designation and ...
Gung-Ho on defence again: can government--for once--live up to its spending promises? (Dateline Paris).(France)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The new French multi-year military spending plan for the period 2003-2008 is being hailed by defence hawks as a kind of new dawn amidst the gathering gloom of European defence spending over the past few years. The raw figures have indeed brought smiles to the faces of military ...
Jean-Pierre Subrenat: industrial strategy vice-president at Turbomeca. (Dateline Paris).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The Turbomeca network of subsidiaries and affiliates continues to expand around the world as the company strives to establish localised service centres close to its customers. The latest addition, bringing the total number of centres worldwide to 26, is a new repair centre based in the ...
Finmeccanica. (Dateline Rome).(finance)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Finmeccanica has posted first half 2002 results broadly in line with expectations, with sales up 9.5% to 3.5 billion [euro], and a consolidated net profit of 43 million [euro] (including a 28 million [euro] contribution from STMicroelectronics). New orders were worth 3.09 billion [euro], ...
Teledesic. (Dateline Rome).(cuts satellite program)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * Teledesic, the broadband satellite internet communications project started with much fanfare 10 years ago by Craig McGraw and Bill Gates, has asked ...
Piaggio. (Dateline Rome).(P.180 Avanti turboprop)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * A Piaggio P.180 Avanti turboprop has claimed a speed record in Class C-1E by covering the 865nm from Forth Worth to Orlando in 2:25 hours, an average speed of 361 knots. In a parallel move, three ...
AgustaWestland. (Dateline Rome).(A109 LUH helicopter)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * AgustaWestland has rolled out the first South African Air Force A109 LUH (Light Utility Helicopter). The programme, which is reported to be on time and budget, covers production of the first helicopters in Italy before transferring production and final ...
FiatAvio. (Dateline Rome).(Poland aeronautical engineering center)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... * FiatAvio has opened an advanced centre of aeronautical engineering at Bielsko-Biala, Poland, to work on FiatAvio programmes including ...
New space programme ready for liftoff: but will it fly? (Dateline Rome).
Oct 01, 2002; ... One year down the road from the nomination of Sergio Vetrella as president of ASI, months late, and following much intensive discussion, Italy's new space plan has finally been approved by research minister Letizia Moratti. Described by the minister as a "fundamental step in the updating ...
Sergio Vetrella: ASI president makes a name for himself as Italy's Mr No! (Dateline Rome).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002; ... Key to Italy's strategic plan in space or the next three years is Sergio Vetrella, but he can also be seen as Italy's Mr. No, in as far as he opposes Germany's push to take the lead in the Galileo satellite navigation project. Vetrella became president of Italy's Space Agency (ASI) last ...
Cutbacks hit Boeing Capital, Bombardier, GE. (Business Briefing).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Boeing is to take non-cash charges that will reduce operating earnings by approximately $250 million in 3Q2002. The expected after-tax impact to net earnings is approximately $158 million, or $0.20 per share. Boeing's financing subsidiary, Boeing Capital Corporation (BCC), has assets ...
BAE Systems. (Business Briefing).(two sell-off deals)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * BAE Systems North America has completed the $67.5 million sale of its expendable defensive countermeasures business to Esterline Technologies. In a ...
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE). (Business Briefing).(partnership with NASA's Space Launch Initiative Propulsion Office)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE), in cooperation with NASA's Space Launch Initiative Propulsion Office, has begun a study to develop a jet engine to power reusable flyback rocket boosters for a second-generation reusable launch vehicle. These flyback boosters would be powered by jet engines ...
Indra. (Business Briefing).(Indra buys out joint venture from Raytheon)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Spanish IT company Indra has acquired full ownership of its Indra EWS joint venture with Raytheon, buying out the US company s ...
Zodiac. (Business Briefing).(company to acquire Esco)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Zodiac has entered into an agreement to acquire Pennsylvania-based Esco, the US leader in arresting systems for civil and military aircraft. Esco, which has annual sales of $52 million, is the only FAA-approved supplier of ...
The Carlyle Group. (Business Briefing).(UK Ministry of Defence picks Carlyle as bidder)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * The UK Ministry of Defence has chosen The Carlyle Group as preferred bidder in its selection of a strategic partner to invest in QinetiQ plc, the MoD-owned scientific research organisation. The MoD and Carlyle ...
Saab. (Business Briefing).(company delivers first JAS 39C Gripen to Defence Materiel Administration in Sweden)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Saab has handed over the first JAS 39C Gripen to Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). This latest JAS 39C version adds a host of new capabilities to the Gripen, and is almost identical to the aircraft intended for export. In ...
Gulfstream Aerospace. (Business Briefing).(company rebrands, relaunches products)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Gulfstream Aerospace has rebranded and introduced new products in its business jet lineup. The fleet now consists of the Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream G500, Gulfstream G400, Gulfstream G300, Gulfstream G200, Gulfstream G150 and Gulfstream G100. The G500 will compete directly with ...
Northrop Grumman. (Business Briefing).(company to sell businesses to L-3 Communications)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Northrop Grumman Corporation is to sell its Electron Devices and Ruggedized Displays businesses to L-3 Communications. Acquired as part of the April 2001 purchase of Litton Industries, Electron Devices and Ruggedized Displays are part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector ....
New offerings from Cessna. (Business Briefing).(Cessna Aircraft unveils new aircraft)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Cessna Aircraft unveiled at NBAA its Citation Mustang all-new entry-level business jet, with a VFR range of 1300nm with 45 minutes reserve. According to Russ Meyer, Cessna Chairman and CEO, the Mustang is designed to broaden the base of the business jet market, at a price that is $1.5 ...
On the road to Europe's Strategic Research Agenda. (Business Briefing).(new agenda from the European Commission's Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe)
Oct 01, 2002; ... ACARE--the European Commission's Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe--has unveiled a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) to show how Europe can contribute to the global future of aeronautics. The SRA technical agenda addresses five major challenges: quality and affordability; ...
Northrop Grumman unveils QSP concept. (Business Briefing).(new design for long-range supersonic cruise aircraft)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems division has unveiled a design for an efficient and capable long-range supersonic cruise aircraft that would operate with a less intense sonic boom. The design, or "preferred system concept," which includes variants for a long-range military strike ...
Boeing's bullish cargo forecast. (Business Briefing).(up prospects for global air cargo traffic industry)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Despite the decline of the air cargo industry last year, Boeing projects that world air cargo traffic will expand at an average of 6.4 percent during the next two decades. World air cargo traffic is expected to triple during the 20-year forecast period, and the world freighter fleet will ...
Aero Vodochody. (Business Briefing).(upgrade version of the L-39 advanced military trainer)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * An upgraded version of Aero Vodochody's L-39 advanced military trainer has made its first flight in the Ukraine. The modernization was a joint effort by AVIRS, Progress Design Bureau & Motor Sich of the Ukraine and Israel Aircraft Industries' Lahav Division. AVIRS, with wide experience ...
Flight-SafetyBoeing. (Business Briefing).(Boeing to buy out interest in FlightSafetyBoeing from Berkshire Hathaway)(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... * Boeing has decided to go it alone in the flight-training business and will buy out Berkshire Hathaway's 50% interest in the 5-year-old FlightSafetyBoeing joint venture. Differences over the company's strategic direction spurred Boeing's move. While Boeing has sought to leverage training ...
Space insurance on bumpy road to recovery: it was a nightmare 2001 for insurers, and some observers think the time may have come to rewrite the rules. (Finance, Markets & Industry).
Oct 01, 2002; ... One year ago, the unfortunate conjunction of two major crises in the aerospace world nearly knocked out the space insurance market. Twelve months later, the first signs of a slow recovery are seen with a resumption of underwriting activity. Nevertheless, all the players remain extremely ...
New Eurofighter setup bolsters typhoon in critical year: in the aftermath of JSF's European assault, the four partner companies have decided to increase the prime contractorship role of Eurofighter. (Finance, Markets & Industry).
Oct 01, 2002; ... In a move reminiscent of the re-organization that led to the restructured Airbus company last year, Eurofighter has streamlined its management processes, this year's Farnborough Air Show in July marking the unveiling of Eurofighter as prime contractor for the Typhoon multi-role fighter ....
What's Russian for CALS? The principles of Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support have firmly taken root within the Russian aviation industry. (Finance, Markets & Industry).(Industry Overview)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The Russian aircraft industry's development strategy in the field of R&D, production and commercial activities is firmly anchored on the principles of Continuous Acquisition and Lifecycle Support (CALS). CALS is based on local solutions created and implemented at earlier stages ...
Novespace deal with Zero-G opens door for public parabolic flights: safe, affordable access to weightlessness for all from early 2003. (Finance, Markets & Industry).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Novespace, a subsidiary of the French space agency CNES, is entering a new era of parabolic flights following its recent marketing agreement with Zero Gravity Corp. to provide commercial free-G flights in aircraft to anybody wishing to experience weightlessness without buying the ...
EADS goes west: "We are going west towards the transatlantic market," said Philippe Camus the co-CEO of EADS, explaining the strategy of his group in July. Since then, things have gone fast. (Special Report).
Oct 01, 2002; ... For most analysts, EADS is first and foremost the majority shareholder of Airbus. "EADS prospects and valuation are driven in the main by Airbus," states a recent study by Morgan Stanley, but the management of the European aerospace group has embarked on a policy that aims at reducing its ...
US industry's new role model: GE's influence is all-pervasive, as US industry seeks to keep pace with a rapidly shifting environment. (Special Report).(General Electric)
Oct 01, 2002; ... It's almost impossible to overestimate the influence of General Electric and Jack Welch, recently retired CEO and the architect of today's GE, on the management of the aerospace industry. GE-trained executives pop up everywhere, from Boeing to Honeywell, and GE principles such as "six ...
Europe: load factor up, capacity down. (World Airline Performance).
Oct 01, 2002 ... Overall traffic for AEA members was 9.5% lower than SMLY, accompanied by a reduction in capacity of 12%. As a result the load factor was up 2 points to 71.2%. The North Atlantic saw RPKs down 16%, and capacity reduced by nearly 20%. RPKs were down 4.2% in Europe with capacity down nearly ...
USA: only three in the black. (World Airline Performance).(three airlines; data for May 2002)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Domestic RPMs were 35 billion this month (-9%), while ASMs were 49.5bn (-10.5%). As a result the seat factor went up to 71.1%. Worst hit was again USAirways, which saw seat sales slip by 20%, followed by United at-13.5% in RPMs, though capacity cuts kept the seat factor over 70%. Alaska ...
Asia Pacific: freight boom. (World Airline Performance).(Illustration)
Oct 01, 2002 ... AAPA international scheduled traffic rose again this month, by 3.7% in RPKs, while capacity declined by 1.5%, a combination which resulted in a 3.5 point rise in seat factor, to 70.9%. ASKs were 54 billion, against RPKs of 38 billion. AAPA members carried a total of to 8.9 million ...
Where does the world go next? There is no internationally accepted common standard of crew training and testing, yet surely this is one of the fundamental bases for safe operations. (Flight Crew Training & Licensing).
Oct 01, 2002; ... If ever there was a pipe dream with regard to pilot licensing in this industry, it must have been when ICAO were writing their original thoughts back in the late 1940s--a panacea for a worldwide licence recognised everywhere and of equal standing. It turned out to be a dream too far! ...
European Association of Airline Pilot Schools. (Air Transport & General Aviation).(Illustration)
Oct 01, 2002 ... The European Association of Airline Pilot Schools (EAAPS) was formed on 25 October 1995 to defend the interests of European pilot training schools, and to maintain and improve European standards for commercial pilot training. It is recognised by the JAA as the representative body of the ...
Now or never for Alliance Ground Surveillance: the Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution, as AGS is now known, is finally gathering momentum, but the window of opportunity is limited. (Defence).(Industry Overview)
Oct 01, 2002; ... In 1992, NATO issued an urgent requirement for an Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system comparable to the Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) E-8A Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) that had, just the year before, performed so successfully, albeit in a prototype ...
Russian fighter contest far from over: though Sukhoi has ostensibly "won" the competition to build Russia's next-generation combat aircraft, many uncertainties still lie ahead. (Defence).
Oct 01, 2002; ... On 26 April 2002, a governmental committee chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov announced the selection of Aviation Military-Industrial Complex (AMIC) Sukhoi's offer in the competition for Russia's next-generation fighter, PAK FA (Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi ...
Sole-means satnav: vision or delusion? As Europe's Galileo begins to gather speed, is it possible to hope that the tantalising vision of sole-means satnav will soon be within reach? (Space).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Whatever anyone may tell you, there is such a thing as a free lunch. The world's long-haul airlines eat one every time they use satellite navigation. The only trouble is, they can't be quite sure that the quality of the cooking won't fall off or even that the meal ticket won't suddenly be ...
Calendar.
Oct 01, 2002 ... <Pre> Calendar DATE EVENTCONTACT OCTOBER 1-2 9th Annual MRO Regulations confs@aviation-industry.com Quality & Safety Conference, Amsterdam 1-3 ERA2002 General ...
High and fast: focus swings back to supersonic bombers. (Seen from Washington ...).(Robert S. McNamara)
Oct 01, 2002; ... Air Force secretary Jim Roche has a model of a supersonic bomber on his desk. It represents a Lockheed Martin study for the F/B-22, a delta-winged bomber version of what is now the F/A-22. It's probably the first supersonic bomber model to adorn that particular desk since the ...
General John P. Jumper: US Air Force chief of staff. (Seen from Washington ...).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... General. John P. Jumper is making a strong bid to become the most influential Air Force chief of staff--the senior uniformed USAF officer--in many years. His boss, Air Force secretary Jim Roche, describes him as "the Elmer Gantry of CONOPS" and, indeed, Jumper seems ready to take his ...
Building the future. (Editorial).(European space industry)(Editorial)
Oct 01, 2002; ... The space industry has changed in the 21st century. Originally a strictly national strategic tool, developed and nurtured on government contracts, space technology now trades in an international marketplace and is at the core of established businesses and services such as television and ...
Eurospace, the association of European space industry: Eurospace is now a recognised partner of the European Union and ESA. (Eurospace).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Eurospace was founded in 1961 as the regional organisation of the then emerging space industry. Ever since, Eurospace has included the membership of the major industrial space companies in Europe under the chairmanship of charismatic industry leaders such as Mr Delorme (founding president ...
The space industry in Europe: the space industry contributes to strengthening Europe's geo-strategic positions. (Eurospace).(Industry Overview)
Oct 01, 2002; ... At the beginning of the 1960s European nations began to turn their aspirations in space into reality. National activities were progressively merged and harmonised, while a whole new industrial sector was being established, building on existing know-how to develop the new competences needed ...
A space-conscious Europe. (Alcatel Space).(Brief Article)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Space assets are at the centre of European citizen's lives. Geostationary satellites have transformed the economics of television broadcasting allowing the development of an ever increasing range of channels and services. Weather forecasting has gained in accuracy and global approach by ...
Broadband and positioning are keys of future space communications: satellite technology has still an important role to play in systems useful for the citizen. (Alcatel Space).
Oct 01, 2002; ... No doubt : more than all the other domains of satellite applications, communications, in their widest sense, is the one with the most promising developments. Applications are numerous in our daily lives, fixed and mobile communications, television, data transfer, Internet access, digital ...
Galileo: Europe's navigation system: Alenia Spazio is heavily involved in the definition and development of the Galileo system. (Alenia Spazio).
Oct 01, 2002; ... Generally speaking, a navigation system allows a user to move from a point in space to a destination along a path which could be unpredictable, even to the user: the system gives him the capability to determine his position in space. Starting from this basic assumption, navigation ...
Pioneering industrial consolidation in Europe: Astrium, the first tri-national space group is a major actor of civil and military space in Europe. (Astrium).(Company Profile)
Oct 01, 2002 ... Astrium, the first European Space Company, has activities in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Astrium is a pioneer of European consolidation. The national consolidation in Germany in 1989 led to the formation of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, followed by the merger of the space ...