Aircraft News - North America.

Dec 18, 2006

Thales, GoJet Airlines, Bombardier

Thales signed a 16-year deal with GoJet Airlines of St. Louis to provide spare and component services and MRO on avionics on GoJet's fleet of 15 Bombardier CRJ700LRs. Dec 18, 2006

Aerospace Industries Assn. cited a "surging civil aircraft market" as the primary driver behind US aerospace industry sales reaching a record $184.4 billion in 2006, up 8.4% from $170.1 billion in 2005. AIA President and CEO John Douglass said annual US industry sales will "go well beyond $200 billion by the [next US election in] 2008." In remarks this week at AIA's annual review and forecast luncheon in Washington, he noted that the record sales were achieved despite US airlines' recent financial struggles. With bottom lines apparently improving, he predicted: "American airlines are going to start buying planes. There's pent-up demand there." Dec 15, 2006

Civil aircraft sales boost fortunes of aerospace industry. Sales of civil aircraft will help send aerospace industry revenue to an all-time high next year, the Aerospace Industries Association predicts. In 2006, sales of civil aircraft rose to $47.5 billion from $8.3 billion. The industry will post a $52 billion positive trade balance in 2006, says John Douglass, AIA president and chief executive. "It would be hard to overstate aerospace's positive contributions to our national economy, as evidenced by these very strong indicators," he says. Dec 14, 2006

Boeing

Judge reduces lawyers' fees in Boeing shareholder suit. A state court judge in Chicago reduced fees requested by plaintiff lawyers in a shareholder suit against Boeing. The judge noted that the settlement benefits shareholders but called the amount of time attorneys submitted for billing "excessive and unrealistic." Dec 14, 2006

Northrop Grumman 

Northrop, Washington state firm look into building small boats. Northrop Grumman and Aluminum Chambered Boats signed an agreement to study ways to build new boats for the Navy's Riverine/Coastal Warfare program. The relatively small boats would be used for river and shoreline patrols. The Navy eventually plans to launch an industry-wide competition for contracts. Dec 14, 2006

Boeing

Authorities, air carriers differ on enforcing rudder rules. The U.S. government, having tightened rules on rudder performance on Boeing 737 jets after two accidents, wants to tighten monitoring to ensure compliance. Boeing and the airlines, however, argue that the existing level of oversight is adequate. Airlines support extra monitoring for planes fitted with advanced recorder technology on the assembly line but oppose expensive recorder retrofits for the rest of their fleets. "In view of these ongoing measures, we believe the proposal is unnecessary to ensure the safety of Boeing 737 rudder control systems," ATA officials said in a report this month. Dec 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing, Airlines Resist FAA 737 Rudder Plan. Boeing and airlines are resisting a US government proposal to require closer monitoring of rudder performance on 737 aircraft, years after two crashes prompted a design change and other measures. Dec 13, 2006

Boeing

Boeing's soon-toopen showroom for buyers of its 787 is as far removed from an automobile showroom as the Dreamliner is from the family car. But the experience of going to an auto dealership, kicking a few tires, sitting behind the wheel, deciding what cool options to get, is not unlike what 787 customers will experience when it is time to decide on the cabin features of their new $140 million airplane. That's how Boeing's Patty Rhodes describes the concept of the Dreamliner Gallery. She led the team that developed the 54,000-square-foot facility about a mile north of the Everett plant where the first 787 will be assembled starting next year. Among her previous assignments at Boeing was 747-400X program manager in 1998. Dec 13, 2006

Lockheed Martin 

U.K. commits to next phase of Joint Strike Fighter project. A dispute between the U.K. and the Pentagon over the transfer of certain technologies has been resolved, paving the way for Britain to sign on to the development and production phase of the Joint Strike Fighter project. Other nations participating in the Lockheed Martin-led consortium are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey. Dec 13, 2006

SkyWorks Capital, Boeing

Precision Conversions will provide seven full Boeing 757-200PCF conversions that will be leased by VarigLog. SkyWorks Capital of Connecticut is managing the deal. The first aircraft will be delivered in January. Dec 13, 2006

Empire Aero, SR Technics, Airbus

Empire Aero Center in partnership with SR Technics will perform C checks on up to 12 JetBlue A320s in 2007. Dec 12, 2006

Harris

Harris Corp. CEO named to U.S. security advisory panel. Howard Lance -- CEO, chairman and president of Harris Corp. -- will be appointed by President George W. Bush to sit on the the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, the company announced Monday. The panel is charged with providing the government with information and guidance on communications issues as they affect national security and emergency preparedness. Dec 12, 2006

Lockheed Martin

Canada joins Netherlands in renewed support for F-35. Canada, having spent $150 million on the development phase of Lockheed Martin's new F-35 stealthy fighter jet, has committed to further participation in the production and support phases of the aircraft's development. The Netherlands has already pledged further support, while the U.K., Italy, Turkey, Australia, Denmark and Norway -- all of which took part in the development phase -- are also expected to extend their participation. Dec 12, 2006

United Airlines

United to upgrade international fleet, unveils United First Suites. United Airlines will spend $165 million upgrading its wide-body international fleet. The upgrades include the new United First Suites designed to give travelers more privacy and personal space. Each suite includes a flat-panel monitor with an on-demand digital video and music system.

Dec 12, 2006

FAA may raise pilot retirement age to 65, officials say. Government and industry officials say the FAA may soon raise the required retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65. Officials say FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will gauge support from new Democratic leaders in Congress before publicly announcing a policy change. Dec 11, 2006

Midwest Airlines, Boeing

Midwest Airlines signed an agreement Friday to acquire two MD-80s that will be used to expand long-haul flying from its Milwaukee hub. "The acquisition of these aircraft provides new opportunities for Midwest and its customers," said Senior VP and CMO Scott Dickson. The aircraft will be placed into service in the first half of 2007, with routes and schedules to be announced at a later date. Midwest currently operates a fleet of 11 MD-80s and 25 717s. With its wholly owned subsidiary Midwest Connect, it provides service to 47 cities. Dec 11, 2006

Z

Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

For more global news, reviews, features and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/onlinenews.htm

To Subscribe to our Newsletters: http://www.airguideonline.com/order_formsubs.htm#news

To Advertise: [e-mail]

Dec 11, 2006