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February 4, 2010 February 3, 2010 February 2, 2010

February 4, 2010

A400M rescue goes past the wire

By Chris Pocock

Airbus chief executive officer Tom Enders refused all comment on the A400M airlifter here yesterday as talks to continue the troubled project reached a critical stage in Europe. Defense procurement ministers from the eight European customer nations are to meet again today for the third time in as many weeks to discuss their negotiating position. Enders previously said he would seek permission from more

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Northrop and Raytheon battle for F-16 AESA radar business

By David Donald

Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are going head-to-head with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar programs to update F-16 fighters and other fighters around the world. Northrop Grumman announced yesterday that it now has U.S. State Department licenses to talk to a number of export customers at DSP-5 level, a status that Raytheon announced for its proposals in November.
The RACR (Ra more

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Turkish Airlines first in line for SmartTraffic

Turkish Airlines became the first customer to choose Honeywell’s SmartTraffic system. The contract calls for delivery and installation in 10 Airbus A330s through 2012.
Using ADS-B technology to provide pilots with more information on surrounding air traffic, SmartTraffic is the brand name for the airborne traffic situational awareness (ATSAW) system–a development contract for which Honeyw more

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Lockheed Martin insists F-35 program is just fine

By Chris Pocock

If Lockheed Martin is to be believed, there’s not much wrong with the F-35 program. In a briefing here yesterday, vice president F-35 business development Steve O’Bryan stuck doggedly to the company mantra that development is moving right along, with plenty of accomplishments despite the slow pace of flight testing. Behind-the-scenes though, Monday’s dramatic announcements by Secretary of De more

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Middle East Consortium Opens Shanghai Office

The Middle East Aerospace Consortium (MEAC) has opened an Asia-Pacific office in Shanghai, China. Graham Brant, former CEO of Microsoft Hong Kong, will head up
the new office, which MEAC said will complement its existing presence in the United Arab Emirates, UK, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
MEAC was launched in November 2009 at the Dubai airshow. It is a membership association of bot more

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CAE to Beta-test AirAsia Multi-crew Pilot License

AirAsia pilot cadets are to train under a new multi-crew pilot license (MPL) program to be run by Canadian company CAE. The 56-week program will start in March and should lead to the award of Transport Canada MPL licenses to the cadets. They will also gain authorization from the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia before entering AirAsia’s initial operating experience program for Airbus A320 f more

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Boeing’s Project Vigilare Begins Demo

Boeing Defence Australia is in the process of installing elements of the Project Vigilare network-centric command and control system (N3CS) at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Williamtown, and has begun to demonstrate the system’s connectivity. The installation program continues throughout this and next year.
Vigilare was developed to meet the Australian Department of Defence’s Pr more

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Air Force Nukes Back under One Roof

On Monday three U.S. Air Force nuclear-capable bomber wings joined the new Air Force Global Strike Command, bringing together the USAF’s nuclear strike assets in a single organization for the first time since the dismantling of Strategic Air Command in 1992. The ICBM force joined the new command on December 1 and have now been followed by the 20 Northrop Grumman B-2s and 76 remaining Boeing B-52 more

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THY in $500M V2500 Engine Deal

In an deal valued at $500 million, Turkish Airlines has ordered V2500 SelectOne turbofans to power its A320-family aircraft for which is has placed 20 firm orders and taken options on 10 more. Engine maker International Aero Engines (IAE) is to make deliveries in the 2011-2013 time frame. The firm order covers powerplants for a mix of six A319s and 14 A321s. IAE is a joint venture between Rolls-Ro more

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Bell bullish on military; suffering in civil sales

By Thierry Dubois

Bell Helicopter’s new CEO, John Garrison, is expecting 2010 to be a flat year in terms of civil deliveries, but he said he sees significant growth on the military side, thanks to a production ramp-up for the V-22 tiltrotor and the H-1. Military revenues should jump by 15 percent, he added. Bell is here on Stand Q01 and on the static display with the new Bell 429 light twin, which is touring Asia more

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