Politics

The proposed 60-40 merger of EADS and BAE Systems was called off after management in both companies miscalculated the reaction of governments and shareholders. Paris and Berlin proved unwilling to give up their stakes in EADS, or reduce them to a degree that was acceptable to the two merging companies, to London, and (perhaps) to Washington.

On October 6 Israel shot down a UAV over the northern Negev desert, south of Hebron and near the country’s nuclear weapons site at Dimona. The UAV entered Israeli airspace from the Mediterranean and was intercepted by F-16s from Ramon air base. According to Israeli media reports, the first Python missile fired at the drone missed, but a second was successful. The Israeli air force has released a video purporting to show the engagement.

Gregg Slow joined XOJet as its senior vice president of sales and national accounts, the company announced today. He is also a member of the aircraft charter firm’s senior executive team. In his new role, Slow will be based at XOJet’s New York office and be responsible for new client acquisition and strategic account management nationally. Previously, Slow was a senior vice president at NetJets, where he was responsible for developing and managing sales for the New York City region, the company’s largest territory in the country.

A Syrian Arab Airlines A320 sustained serious damage September 20 when it collided feet with a Syrian military Mi-8 helicopter at 12,000 feet over Duma, Syria. At press time, sources still could not confirm whether the aircraft was on approach to Damascus International Airport (OSDI) or had just departed. The aircraft landed safely without injuries to anyone on board. The Airbus lost a significant portion of its vertical stabilizer. The helicopter, however, crashed, killing both pilots.