press release

  • |

    Boeing Leaders to Address Bio-Fuels, Growth, Emerging Issues at Asian Aerospace 2011

    HONG KONG, Mar. 2, 2011 – Experts from Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, will present key trends at Asian Aerospace 2011 and discuss their implications for commercial aviation. Asian Aerospace takes place March 8-10, at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.

    Boeing also will provide the latest information about its commercial business, including updates on recent improvements to its existing family of airplanes and the company’s single- and twin-aisle development programs.

    Boeing executives will speak at conference sessions that address sustainable aviation bio-fuels and explore developments in the cargo sector. The company also will conduct a media briefing to share the company’s market outlook for the next 20 years. All Boeing speakers and executives will be available for exclusive interviews prior to and during Asian Aerospace 2011 on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Asia continues to be a growth region for Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) which now has airplanes certified and available for charter in both Hong Kong and mainland China. Media are invited to tour a BBJ, managed by Hong Kong based Metrojet, on static display March 8 and 9 at the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC). Transportation will be provided from AsiaWorld Expo to HKBAC during show business hours, 10:00am – 4:00pm, by Asian Aerospace organizers.
    “Asian Aerospace is a great venue for Boeing to work with Asian customers, partners and suppliers, to share ideas and identify opportunities in technologies, products and services that present the best value,” said Rob Laird, vice president of Sales for India, East and South Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Asia leads the world in terms of growth and the return to profitability. Boeing’s strategy is to provide the right mix of products and services that enable our customers provide a great customer experience, generate more revenue and reduce operating expenses.”

    With the commercial aviation sector growing ever more conscious of environmental issues, Al Bryant, vice president of Boeing Research and Technology, plans to share Boeing’s experience in promoting the development of sustainable aviation biofuels. The presentation will take place during “The Future of Aviation-Emerging Issues & Solutions” conference as part of the Asian Aerospace Congress.

    Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing, and Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing, both of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will provide a commercial airplane and air cargo market update for media, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region. In addition to providing the company’s market projections for the next 20 years, the media briefing also will include product updates.
    Edgar also will participate on a panel at the “Air Freight Asia Conference” on the growth of the air cargo industry in countries neighboring China.

  • | |

    Boeing, TAM Complete Contract for Two 777-300ERs

    TAM 777-300ER fleet will now consist of 12

    SEATTLE, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing and TAM Linhas Aereas today announced the Brazilian carrier ordered two additional 777-300ERs (extended range) with two purchase rights. Today’s order, valued at approximately $568 million at current list prices, brings the total number of 777s TAM has on order to 12.

    “TAM continues to position itself as one of the world’s leading airlines,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are pleased TAM continues to choose Boeing’s 777-300ER for its long-haul fleet needs and look forward to working together with TAM as they grow their international network.”

    The Boeing 777 is the market leader in the 300 to 400 seat market. It is the world’s most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane.

    “These additional airplanes will help us expand our long-haul service capability to meet the growing market demand in Brazil and beyond,” said Marco Antonio Bologna, chief executive officer, TAM Holdings.

    The 777 delivers exceptional value to the airlines that fly it and is consistently ranked at the top of operator and investor polls.

    “The Brazilian aviation market continues to grow at a rapid pace. The 777-300ER provides us the performance and versatility we need to develop our network competitively and capitalize on robust international traffic growth,” added Libano Barroso, chief executive officer, TAM Airlines.

    The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane can seat up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km).

  • |

    Boeing Names Jeffrey Johnson New Leader for Middle East

    CHICAGO, March 1, 2011 — The Boeing Company today named Jeffrey Johnson as president of Boeing Middle East. Johnson succeeds Paul Kinscherff, who has been appointed chief financial officer for international finance.

    Johnson will be based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and report to Shep Hill, president of Boeing International and senior vice president of Business Development and Strategy. Johnson will be responsible for Boeing’s growth and productivity plans across the Middle East region, working closely with Boeing Saudi Arabia president Ahmed Jazzar.

    Johnson will lead company-wide activities that include government affairs and the development and implementation of the Boeing Middle East strategy focused on new business and industrial partnership opportunities, corporate citizenship projects, expanding the Boeing presence and strengthening company relationships with customers and other stakeholders.

    “Jeff’s leadership skills, business development experience and detailed customer knowledge will strengthen our efforts to grow our business in the Middle East,” said Shep Hill. “In this regard, Jeff will continue to build on the solid foundation established by Paul and what he has accomplished across the region.”
    Prior to this appointment, Johnson was a senior director of business development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS). Before that, he served as the Middle East and Africa business development director for BDS. Johnson joined Boeing in 1982 and has managed programs in more than 40 countries during his career. Johnson also worked in Design Engineering, Electronics Design and Manufacturing, System Engineering, Program Management and Flight Test Engineering.

    Kinscherff served as president of Boeing Middle East from March 2008. During his tenure, the company has doubled its presence across the region, expanded its defense and aviation business and forged closer customer relationships. In his new role, Kinscherff will be based at the company’s headquarters in Chicago.
    “Paul was instrumental in expanding our business and strengthening Boeing’s image in the Middle East. Under his leadership, Boeing implemented a robust strategy to grow its business and develop long-term relationships critical to the company’s success,” added Hill.

    Boeing’s relationship with the Middle East dates back more than 60 years. Its first office was established in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 1982. Since then, the company has expanded its presence and relationships across the region. Boeing opened an office in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 1999, a regional office

  • |

    Boeing 777 Freighter Completes 2 Years in Service

    EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Hauling everything from giant panda bears to high-performance race cars the Boeing 777 freighter in its first two years in service is earning the reputation as the work horse of the industry.

    The growing fleet of 777 freighters has flown approximately 120,000 hours and boasts a daily utilization rate of 11.34 hours. Fleet schedule reliability is at 99.37 percent, which means the freighter has a near-perfect record of on-time takeoff and landings. Eighty-three have been ordered, and 39 freighters now are in service with nine airlines.

    FedEx Express is the largest 777 freighter operator with a fleet of 11 currently in operation, and another airplane just delivered. An additional 13 777 freighters remain in Boeing’s backlog for FedEx.

    “The world’s longest range twin-engine freighter is elevating our high level of service to customers around the world,” said James R. Parker, executive vice president of FedEx Express Air Operations. “Our customers are enjoying the nonstop 777 flights that offer them the latest cutoff times in key manufacturing centers in China, an advantage unmatched by the competition.”

    Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, now operates two 777 freighters. The airplane is playing an integral role in Emirates’ freighter fleet due to the airplane’s long-range capability.

    “Emirates has opted for these brand new, super-efficient aircraft to ensure we are best placed to serve the industry’s requirements in the long term,” said Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Cargo Ram Menen. “We are absolutely delighted with this airplane!”

    The 777 freighter is the world’s longest-range, twin-engine freighter and features the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high-cargo density and 10-foot (3.1-meter) interior height capability that complements the popular 747 freighter family.

    Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777 freighter can fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a full payload of 225,200 pounds (102 metric tons). The 777 freighter is powered by General Electric’s GE90-110B1L and meets QC2 noise standards.

    “The 777 freighter is a great example of how Boeing is committed to continuously improving the 777 family to deliver top value to owners and operators,” said Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the 777 program.

    Boeing is the air cargo industry leader, using its expertise to support customers in their success and to promote the industry. The company also offers the most complete family of freighters, which provide superior efficiency and operational economics in support of airline profitability.

  • |

    Northrop Grumman Provides Air Traffic Surveillance Sys for Greek Airport

    LONDON – March 2, 2011 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Europe-based air traffic management subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, is providing its Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System ( for Greece’s Thessaloniki International Airport.

    Under the contract awarded by Greek consultants ATESE following an international competitive tender process, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will deliver its NOVA 9000 A-SMGCS system for operation by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). The company has previously supplied a similar system for Athens International Airport.

    “The NOVA 9000 A-SMGCS is widely accepted as a state-of-the-art system; we know it well and have been operating it for many years at our main airport in Athens. We and the controllers in Thessaloniki, look forward to its commissioning before this 2011 winter season”, said D6 director of Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.

    The air traffic control system has successfully undergone system and sensor testing in Norway, Denmark and Czech Republic. Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems will deliver A-SMGCS to manage the tracking of aircraft and vehicles on the ground and using surveillance systems based on radar and multilateration, it will monitor aircraft at the airport’s two crossing runways. The system will assist the efficient management of air traffic particularly in periods of high volume and during adverse weather conditions.

    “We are pleased that our A-SMGCS capability has been recognised as the system of choice by airport operators”, said Eldar Hauge, managing director for Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems in Norway. “This win maintains our position as a leading supplier of A-SMGCS across Europe.”

    With a 50-year legacy in air traffic management systems ranging from individual airport installations to countrywide, multiple-site turnkey integrated system solutions, Northrop Grumman’s state-of-the-art air traffic management systems are operationally controlling air traffic in numerous countries around the world including recent major programmes in: France, Norway, Brazil, Qatar, Oman, Canada, India, Poland, UAE, U.S. and the U.K., in both civil and military applications.

    Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, based in Oslo and Horten, Norway, and in Peterborough, U.K., supplies communication, navigation and surveillance systems for air-space operations worldwide.

    Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

  • |

    Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Program Facts Released

    Background
    For almost 50 years, the FAA’s wildlife hazard management program has focused on mitigating wildlife hazards on or near airports through various methods including habitat modification, harassment technology, research, and partnerships with academia, military, government, and the aviation industry. The FAA has two wildlife staff biologists who manage the FAA’s wildlife program through the airport regulations (Part 139); advisory circulars and manuals; education and outreach; data collection; and memorandums of agreements and understanding with other government agencies, and the military.
    FAA Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Efforts
    In 2009, following the USAir 1549 bird strike and emergency landing in the Hudson River, the FAA started a number of new initiatives, including:
    National Wildlife Strike Database Goes Public
    On April 24, 2009, the FAA made its entire bird strike database available to the public. Previously, only portions of the database were publicly available. The FAA began collecting data in the 1990s for use by the FAA, academia, and researchers as a means to improve airport safety and reduce wildlife hazards. Over the last three years the FAA has received 21, 489 strike reports – 7,545 strikes in 2008; 9,484 in 2009; and 4,460 through July 2010.
    Certification Alert
    The FAA issued a certification alert to airport operators on June 11, 2009, reminding them of their obligation under the FAA regulations to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments if they experience a triggering event such as wildlife being ingested into an aircraft engine. The FAA provides Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds for assessments and for the development of a follow-on Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, if needed.
    Mandatory Wildlife Hazard Assessments
    The FAA initiated rulemaking in late summer 2009 to make assessments mandatory whether or not an airport has had a triggering event. The FAA plans to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking later this year for Part 139 airports.
    Wildlife Hazards at General Aviation Airports
    The FAA’s Office of Airports is initiating a program to encourage general aviation (GA) airports to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments. The FAA will support GA airports by making Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants available to conduct an assessment. The assessments will help the airport operator understand the nature of wildlife in the vicinity. It can lead to the preparation of a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to implement measures to mitigate the risk of wildlife strikes.
    Level of Reporting and Mandatory Reporting
    In a report dated December 2009, Dr. Richard Dolbeer and SRA International, Inc., estimated that the total number of reported strikes has increased from 20 percent during the period from 1990-1994 to 39 percent from 2004-2008 at the Part 139 airports. Although the number of reports has increased, the number of damaging strikes has not risen. Dolbeer and SRA attributed this to the successful implementation of professionally-run wildlife hazard programs at many certificated airports. Dolbeer determined the current level of reporting (39 percent) is statistically valid and is sufficient for the FAA to develop national trends and mitigation policies, making mandatory reporting unnecessary. The study did identify some reporting gaps among certificated airports, air carriers, and from general aviation airports, that have prompted the FAA conduct educational outreach with the aviation community to emphasize the importance of wildlife strike reporting and to close the reporting gaps.
    Redesigned Web Site
    The FAA redesigned the wildlife hazard web site to make it more user-friendly and to allow more advanced data mining. The new site, FAA Wildlife Strike Database, has search fields that enable users to find data on specific airports, airlines, engine types, as well as the date and state, without having to download the entire database.
    Online Strike Reporting
    The FAA developed mobile application software to make strike reporting easier. Now, anyone who needs to report a wildlife strike can do so via the web or their personal data devices such as the Blackberry and iPhone.
    “One-Stop-Reporting”
    The FAA also has made strike reporting easier by creating a generic web service. When airline and airport employees report a wildlife strike the information is automatically sent to the FAA’s wildlife database.
    Continuing Wildlife Hazard Efforts
    Avian or Bird Radar Technology
    In 2001, the FAA began working with the United States Air Force to develop a radar system for detecting and tracking birds on or near airports. Because of the rapid development of avian radar, the FAA switched its research focus and began evaluating commercially available avian radar. Specifically, the FAA wanted to know how airport operators could use the technology to help implement their wildlife hazard mitigation programs.
    Commercial avian radar systems are designed to detect birds flying on and in the vicinity of an airport and to provide information about the bird targets in terms of position and direction of movement. The target information can be displayed in the form of text, visual display or map. People who need the data will then be able to use that information to mitigate the risks associated with the bird activity and aircraft safety.
    The Center of Excellence for Airport Technology (CEAT) at the University of Illinois has served as the FAA’s research partner for the performance assessments. CEAT selected airports based on size, type of operations, weather condition, and the wildlife programs at the airports. The initial avian radar systems were deployed at Seattle-Tacoma and Whidbey Island Naval Station in 2007, Chicago O’Hare in 2009, and John F. Kennedy and Dallas-Fort Worth in 2010.
    The goal of the avian radar evaluation program is to deploy commercially available avian radar systems and complete assessments that document the performance of the radar. In November, 2010, the FAA published a performance specification in the form of an advisory circular, which airports can reference to competitively purchase bird radar systems. The specification provides the operational guidelines for airport operators to competitively acquire avian radar systems to enhance wildlife hazard mitigation practices.
    The FAA will continue to evaluate commercially available avian radars and emerging sensor technologies such as phased array radar systems. These systems send beams out in all directions rather than using the standard revolving radar antenna. Phased array radar systems eliminate the time delay for scanning that is incurred with standard revolving radar. A new research effort will begin at the end of 2011 and will examine the feasibility and practicality of having pilots and air traffic controllers use aviation radar data to further reduce the likelihood of collisions between birds and aircraft.
    FAA-Smithsonian Interagency Agreement
    The FAA’s working relationship with the Smithsonian goes back to the 1960s, when the two agencies, along with the military and aircraft manufacturers, began working together to identify the bird species from remains after a strike. Bird identification helps airfield personnel implement habitat management schemes that discourage birds from airfields and provides information so aircraft manufacturers can better design engines and aircraft to withstand the impact of bird collisions. The FAA has provided financial support to the Smithsonian to identify bird remains from civil aviation bird strikes as a free-of-charge service to any United States-registered aircraft, regardless of where the strike occurred, and foreign carriers if the strike occurred at a United States airport. The Agency also provided funding for another Smithsonian program for bird strike identification using DNA technology.
    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    For the last 15 years, the FAA and the USDA have conducted a research program to make airports safer by reducing the risks of aircraft-wildlife collisions. The research efforts designed to improve wildlife management techniques and practices on and near airports include:
    Methods for making airport habitats less attractive to species that are the most dangerous in terms of aircraft collisions. This is accomplished by studying which species use the airport property, how they behave in that environment, and why they are attracted;
    Techniques for controlling species by restricting access to attractive features like storm water ponds; and
    Technologies for harassing and deterring hazardous species.
    FAA Partnerships and Outreach
    Bird Strike Committee USA
    The FAA cosponsors the Bird Strike Committee-USA as part of its continued public outreach and education effort to increase awareness within the aviation community about wildlife hazards. This is an international forum where biologists, engineers, airline personnel, and others come together to exchange ideas and learn about the latest technology to mitigate wildlife hazards. The FAA has three members on the Bird Strike Committee – one wildlife staff biologist and two airport safety certification inspectors.

  • |

    Electrical & Electronics Engineers Honor Boeing


    ST. LOUIS, Feb. 25, 2011 – Boeing today received an IEEE Milestone award in Electrical Engineering and Computing from the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in recognition of the company’s work on the Mercury spacecraft. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association.

    The Mercury spacecraft, America’s first manned space vehicle, was designed, developed and built by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft (a Boeing heritage company) in St. Louis. A total of 20 Mercury spacecraft were delivered to NASA, six of which carried astronauts into space between 1961 and 1963. John Glenn piloted Friendship 7 in the first U.S. human orbital flight on Feb. 20, 1962.
    “We are truly honored to receive this recognition and pay tribute to the engineers who worked on the Mercury spacecraft,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “They helped set a strong foundation on which America’s space program continues to grow and thrive. Boeing and our heritage companies have supported human space exploration from the beginning, and our talented, innovative engineers and other employees will continue to build upon this legacy for many years to come.”
    The award cites electrical and electronic systems invented by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft engineers that made the Mercury flights and future space flights possible. Among the engineers’ key contributions were navigation and control instruments, autopilot, rate stabilization and control, and fly-by-wire systems.

    The IEEE Milestones in Electrical Engineering and Computing program honors significant technical achievements that occurred at least 25 years ago in technology areas associated with IEEE. To date, more than 100 Milestones have been approved and dedicated around the world. This award also recognizes technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.
    Home to Boeing Defense, Space & Security headquarters, the Boeing St. Louis site employs approximately 15,600 employees and is Missouri’s largest manufacturer and second-largest employer. Key products manufactured at the site include F/A-18E/Fs, F-15s, C-17s and weapons.

  • |

    FAA Announces Improvements

    Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the completion of the expansion and renovation of the passenger terminal at the Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, N.C. The project was paid for with $7.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

    “Investing in projects like this is critically important to helping us compete in the global economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These improvements at Pitt-Greenville Airport will result in business and employment opportunities in North Carolina that will strengthen America’s future economic competitiveness.”

    The Pitt-Greenville Airport terminal was expanded to a two-story structure that meets current floodplain standards. The airport was severely flooded during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Improvements include a departure waiting area for passengers, two additional gates and a security checkpoint.

    “Recovery Act dollars have given FAA an additional tool to maintain and improve airport infrastructure across the country,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
    Under the Recovery Act, more than $1.3 billion have been made available nationwide for both airport improvement projects and air traffic control facility and system upgrades. Because of low construction bids for projects, more Recovery Act dollars were available for additional facilities, equipment and airport projects. These grants have been distributed to airports that serve commercial passengers, cargo and general aviation flights.

  • |

    Lockheed Martin Delivers 300th Common Cockpit to the U.S. Navy

    OWEGO, N.Y., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has successfully delivered the 300th Common Cockpit, the nerve center for every multi-mission helicopter in the U.S. Navy fleet, aboard an MH-60S.
    “The Common Cockpit underwent one of the most demanding certification processes at NAVAIR, and is now the standard by which all cockpits are judged,” said Capt. Dean Peters, NAVAIR program manager for H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters. “Our MH-60R and MH-60S crews rely on this system to support the broad range of missions and operations they fly every day.”

    The Common Cockpit is the hub of all activity aboard MH-60R and MH-60S aircraft. Four large, flat-panel, multi-function, night-vision-compatible, color display screens provide the crew with instant information on everything from weather to weapons and sensors.

    “The Common Cockpit reduces workload and increases situational awareness for MH-60R and MH-60S crews,” said George Barton, director of Naval Helicopter programs at Lockheed Martin. “Having a common cockpit also reduces the logistics footprint and total ownership cost to the Navy.”

    Upcoming improvements to the Common Cockpit will include the addition of the Situational Awareness Technology Insertion (SATI) package, which is a set of upgrades to the flight management system. A new integrated digital map will provide pilots with a clear picture of their operating area, and an upgrade to the Identification Friend-or-Foe system will ensure there is no interference during transmission and that it is interoperable with the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies.

    Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

  • |

    Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne X-51A WaveRider Team Vies for Collier Trophy

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is among seven nominees competing for one of the most prestigious awards in aerospace, the National Aeronautic Association’s (NAA) Robert J. Collier Trophy. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is being nominated as part of the team that powered the hypersonic X-51A WaveRider vehicle last May in the longest-ever supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) powered flight. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

    The other X-51A team members are the U.S. Air Force, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and The Boeing Company. The Collier Trophy winner will be announced March 15 at NAA’s Spring Awards Luncheon.

    The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne scramjet engine is the world’s first air breathing hydrocarbon-fueled and -cooled propulsion system capable of powering vehicles at hypersonic speeds. The X-51A WaveRider demonstrated a number of critical “firsts” and achievements during its 3:30 minutes of flight, including scramjet ignition, stabilized combustion and thermal balance, and acceleration.

    “This historic flight has quite literally changed the course of aviation history, to the point where we can now be confident that scramjet power will be practical for transporting humans and payloads across the globe and into space at 6,000 mph, while also giving the U.S. military an effective tool to respond rapidly to threats,” said Steve Bouley, Vice President, Launch Vehicle & Hypersonic Systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “The X-51A team would be an appropriate recipient of the 100th presentation of the Collier Trophy, named for a renaissance man whose interest in aviation did so much to encourage breakthroughs such as that demonstrated by the X-51A WaveRider.”
    Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines. For more information about Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, go to www.prattwhitneyrocketdyne.com. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is headquartered in Canoga Park, Calif., and has facilities in Huntsville, Ala.; Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Stennis Space Center, Miss.

  • |

    Southwest Airlines Announces New AirTran Transition Agreement With Its Pilots’ Union

    Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that it has reached an agreement with its Pilots, represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA), on an initial Transition Agreement that establishes a procedural framework for eventually integrating the Pilots of Orlando-based AirTran Airways into Southwest.The integration addressed by the agreement would follow the official legal closing of Southwest’s acquisition of AirTran’s parent company, AirTran Holdings, Inc., which is currently anticipated to occur during the second quarter of 2011. Closing is subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of certain regulatory clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

    With this initial transition agreement, Southwest and SWAPA establish a framework to begin an orderly transition from operating Southwest and AirTran as separate carriers, to a single carrier under one Single Operating Certificate (SOC). This transition agreement is an integral first step in that process.

    “This transition agreement, which was unanimously agreed to by our SWAPA Board of Directors, is an important step in the AirTran acquisition and integration process,” said Chuck Magill, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations. “Our hard-working Pilots are now poised to begin the important and challenging work of integrating their AirTran colleagues into Southwest Airlines.”

    In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded; now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Beginning March 13, 2011, Southwest will initiate service to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on March 27, 2011, service will begin to Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

  • |

    Southwest Airlines Confirms FAA Acceptance of Transition Plan for AirTran Airways Acquisition

    Plan Outlines How the Two Operations Will Combine, Following Financial Close
    DALLAS, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —
    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed Southwest Airlines that it has accepted the carrier’s transition plan to combine the operations of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and Orlando-based AirTran Airways, following the financial close of its transaction to acquire AirTran. On Sept. 27, 2010, Southwest (NYSE: LUV) announced an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), the parent company of AirTran Airways (AirTran), for a combination of cash and Southwest Airlines’ common stock. Closing is subject to the approval of AirTran shareholders, receipt of certain regulatory clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.

    “It’s been a great team effort by a lot of people to reach this initial milestone, but we still have a lot of work to do to ultimately bring our two carriers together. We appreciate the collaborative approach of all parties, including the FAA Joint Transition Team (JTT),” said Brian Hirshman, Southwest’s Vice President Maintenance and Engineering, and Executive Sponsor of the carrier’s Single Operating Certificate (SOC) team. “We consider this acceptance by the FAA as the first major milestone on the journey towards SOC. There are too many people to recognize individually, but we are hopeful the team’s hard work will allow us to achieve our SOC goal in the first quarter 2012.”
    Southwest and AirTran currently have separate operating certificates. The transition plan accepted by the FAA outlines the methodology, processes, tools, and timing to be employed to maintain the safety of their day-to-day operations during the transition period and to ultimately achieve a Single Operating Certificate. The SOC is issued by the FAA once all of the steps outlined in the transition plan have been completed. The carriers’ processes, and procedures may not be fully integrated when the SOC is issued, however; they will operate under a single FAA certificate at that time.

    Relevant to its submitted plan, Southwest clarified that after the transaction close, which is currently anticipated to occur during the second quarter of 2011, all certificated and flight-related AirTran Employees (Pilots, Dispatchers, Flight Attendants, Mechanics, Schedulers, etc.) will maintain their AirTran employment status at least until the SOC is issued by the FAA for the combined carriers. The logistics of how and when this group of certificated employees will then be transitioned to Southwest employment status has yet to be determined.

    In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Beginning March 13, 2011, Southwest will initiate service to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on March 27, 2011, service will begin to Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

  • |

    Boeing Receives US Air Force Contract to Build Next-Generation Refueling Tanker

    ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24, 2011 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to build the next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft that will replace 179 of the service’s 400 KC-135 tankers.
    The contract calls for Boeing to design, develop, manufacture and deliver 18 initial combat-ready tankers by 2017.
    “We’re honored to be given the opportunity to build the Air Force’s next tanker and provide a vital capability to the men and women of our armed forces,” said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. “Our team is ready now to apply our 60 years of tanker experience to develop and build an airplane that will serve the nation for decades to come.”

    In selecting the Boeing NewGen Tanker after a lengthy and rigorous proposal process, the Air Force has chosen an American-built, multi-mission tanker that is based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and meets all requirements at the lowest risk for the warfighter and the best value for taxpayers. The Boeing proposal was created by an integrated “One Boeing” team from various sites across the company, including employees from the Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Engineering, Operations & Technology organizations.
    “This contract award would not have been possible without the hundreds of Boeing employees across the entire company, and the thousands of our industry teammates, who remained laser-focused on our commitment to offer a solution that is first in capability and best in value,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This award is also a tribute to the Air Force and Defense Department officials who worked so tirelessly to make this procurement process fair, ultimately resulting in the selection of the right plane for the mission. We look forward to working with our Air Force customer to deliver this much needed capability to the servicemen and women we are honored to serve.”

    The KC-46A tankers will be built using a low-risk approach to manufacturing by a trained and experienced U.S. work force at existing Boeing facilities. The KC-46A tanker also will fuel the economy as it supports approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

    “Boeing has always been committed to the integrity of the competitive process, and the men and women across our Boeing commercial and defense teams and our entire supplier network are ready to extend that commitment to delivering these tankers on time and on budget,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

    Based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane, the KC-46A Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft updated with the latest and most advanced technology and capable of meeting or exceeding the Air Force’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients. It includes state-of-the-art systems to meet the demanding mission requirements of the future, including a digital flight deck featuring Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic displays and a flight control design philosophy that places aircrews in command rather than allowing computer software to limit combat maneuverability. The NewGen Tanker also features an advanced KC-10 boom with an expanded refueling envelope, increased fuel offload rate and fly-by-wire control system.

  • |

    Boeing Completes 1,000th 787 Flight

    EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its 1,000th flight yesterday, marking another milestone in the flight test program. There are seven airplanes participating in flight testing. The landing of 787 flight test airplane ZA004, just after 1 p.m. MST at Yuma International Airport in Arizona, counted as the official 1,000th flight.

    The program is near its 3,000th hour of flying and 787s have flown a total of more than one million miles.
    “The team is making great progress,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We are getting through the test conditions needed to certify this airplane with nearly 80 percent of the conditions for the first model, with Rolls-Royce engines, already complete. And, we’re more than 60 percent of the way through the test conditions for the 787s with General Electric engines.”

    Capt. Mike Carriker, chief pilot for the 787, Boeing Test & Evaluation, said the airplane continues to behave well in testing.

    “We’re really eager to get this airplane through its flight testing so our customers can see for themselves this airplane’s excellent performance,” said Carriker.

    Pictured here, ZA004 frames Mt. Rainier in Western Washington during a test flight earlier this year.

  • |

    FAA Proposes $227,500 Civil Penalty Against Dover Chemical

    ATLANTA– The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $227,500 civil penalty against Dover Chemical Corporation of Dover, Ohio, for alleged violations of federal hazardous materials regulations.

    The FAA alleges that Dover Chemical offered sulfur monochloride, a hazardous material, to United Parcel Service for transportation by air from Hammond, Ind., to Dover on June 15, 2010. The hazardous materials regulations prohibit carriage of sulfur monochloride aboard any type of aircraft. The chemical’s vapors are poisonous if they are inhaled.
    Dover Chemical allegedly offered the material when it was not packaged, marked, classed, described, labeled or in condition for shipment as required by regulations. UPS workers at the carrier’s sorting hub in Louisville discovered the shipment because it had leaked.

    Dover Chemical has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

  • |

    FAA Announces Recovery Act Funded Improvements

    Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the completion of the expansion and renovation of the passenger terminal at the Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, N.C. The project was paid for with $7.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

    “Investing in projects like this is critically important to helping us compete in the global economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These improvements at Pitt-Greenville Airport will result in business and employment opportunities in North Carolina that will strengthen America’s future economic competitiveness.”
    The Pitt-Greenville Airport terminal was expanded to a two-story structure that meets current floodplain standards. The airport was severely flooded during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Improvements include a departure waiting area for passengers, two additional gates and a security checkpoint.

    “Recovery Act dollars have given FAA an additional tool to maintain and improve airport infrastructure across the country,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

    Under the Recovery Act, more than $1.3 billion have been made available nationwide for both airport improvement projects and air traffic control facility and system upgrades. Because of low construction bids for projects, more Recovery Act dollars were available for additional facilities, equipment and airport projects. These grants have been distributed to airports that serve commercial passengers, cargo and general aviation flights.

  • |

    LUNAR AND PLANETARY CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION

    HOUSTON — NASA researchers and other scientists will present findings that provide new insights into the evolution of the solar system during the 42nd annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

    The conference will run March 7-11 at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Texas.

    Key events include the unveiling of future planetary science strategy; early science results from a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission, called Hayabusa, that returned the first particle samples from an asteroid; presentations about the recent comet Hartley 2 flyby; and the upcoming MESSENGER mission, the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury.

    The conference also will include a briefing about the Planetary Decadal Survey at 5:30 p.m. CST on March 7. The survey is a strategy released by the National Research Council in Washington to prioritize missions, research areas and observations ten or more years into the future. The briefing’s featured speaker will be Steve Squyres of Cornell University. He is the survey’s chair and principal investigator for NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers.

    News media representatives interested in registering or obtaining more information should visit:

    http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/

    The conference is hosted by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in . The institute is managed by the Universities Space Research Association, a national, nonprofit consortium of universities chartered in 1969 by the National Academy of Sciences at NASA’s request.

  • |

    Aircraft Accident Rate is Lowest in History – Still Room for Improvement, Regional Concerns Remain

    Tokyo – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the aviation safety performance for 2010 showing that the year’s accident rate for Western-built jet aircraft as the lowest in aviation history.

    The 2010 global accident rate (measured in hull losses per million flights of Western-built jet aircraft) was 0.61. That is equal to one accident for every 1.6 million flights. This is a significant improvement of the 0.71 rate recorded in 2009 (one accident for 1.4 million flights). The 2010 rate was the lowest in aviation history, just below the 2006 rate of 0.65. Compared to 10 years ago, the accident rate has been cut 42% from the rate recorded in 2001. A hull loss is an accident in which the aircraft is destroyed or substantially damaged and is not subsequently repaired.

    “Safety is the number one priority. Achieving the lowest accident rate in the history of aviation shows that this commitment is bearing results. Flying is safe. But every fatality is a human tragedy that reminds us of the ultimate goal of zero accidents and zero fatalities. We must remain focused and determined to move closer to this goal year by year,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

    In absolute numbers, 2010 saw the following results:

    • 2.4 billion people flew safely on 36.8 million flights (28.4 million jet, 8.4 million turboprop)
    • 17 hull loss accidents involving western-built jet aircraft compared to 19 in 2009
    • 94 accidents (all aircraft types, Eastern and Western built) compared to 90 in 2009
    • 23 fatal accidents (all aircraft types) compared to 18 in 2009
    • 786 fatalities compared to 685 in 2009

    IATA member airlines outperformed the industry average with a Western-built jet hull loss rate of 0.25. That rate is equal to one accident for every 4 million flights. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) became a condition of IATA membership from 1 April 2009. All 234 IATA member airlines are now on the IOSA registry. The IOSA registry is open to all airlines and it currently consists of over 350 airlines.

    “The numbers tell the story. In the first full year after the IOSA became a condition of IATA membership, the accident rate for IATA carriers has never been so low. The data confirms that IOSA is helping to drive safety improvements around the world. It is an important part of a comprehensive safety strategy involving governments and industry working together to further reduce the number of accidents and fatalities,” said Bisignani.

    There are significant regional differences in the Western built jet hull loss accident rate:

    • North America (0.10), Europe (0.45), North Asia (0.34) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (0.0) performed better than the global average of 0.61
    • Asia-Pacific was higher than the global average at 0.80 in 2010 and about the same from the previous year (0.86)
    • The Middle East and North Africa region saw its accident rate fall significantly to 0.72 (compared to 3.32 in 2009) with only one accident involving a carrier from the region
    • Latin America & the Caribbean reported a higher accident rate of 1.87 with four airlines from the region involved in accidents, compared with a zero accident rate in 2009
    • Africa had an accident rate of 7.41, which was lower than the 2009 rate of 9.94. While showing improvement, Africa once again has the worst rate in the world. There were four Western-built jet hull losses with African carriers in 2010. African carriers are 2% of global traffic, but 23% of global western-built jet hull losses.

    Safety in Africa

    In 2010, the accident rate of IOSA carriers in Africa (for all aircraft types) was more than 50% better than non-IOSA airlines. Among IATA’s efforts in Africa, it established the IATA Program for Safe Operations in Africa (IPSOA). IPSOA ensured that flight data analysis tools are available to all IATA carriers in Africa, and as of the last quarter of 2010, all IATA carriers have this essential safety tool in place. IPSOA will provide IATA with the data needed to develop safety programs targeted at specific challenges in the region.

    “Flying must be equally safe in all parts of the world. An accident rate in Africa that is over 12 times the global average is not acceptable. Improvements can happen. IATA’s African carriers performed significantly better than non-IATA airlines in the region. I encourage all governments in the region to make use of the IOSA tool to boost the region’s performance,” said Bisignani.

    An analysis of the causes of the 2010 accidents focuses on several areas:

    Runway excursions, which are instances when an aircraft departs the runway during takeoff or landing, were once again the most common cause of accidents, accounting for 21% of all accidents in 2010 (vs. 26% in 2009). The number of industry runway excursions accidents dropped by 13% (20 vs. 23 in 2009) and IATA members have reduced their runway excursion accidents by 43% since 2008 (4 vs. 7 in 2008).

    IATA analysis shows about 35% of runway excursions on landing occurred on wet runways. Another leading cause of runway excursions on landing is an “unstable approach,” where the aircraft is approaching too fast, too high, or touches down beyond the desired runway touchdown point. IATA is working with industry and regulators to address this safety challenge.

    In 2009, IATA released the Runway Excursion Risk Reduction (RERR) toolkit which provides high-level reference material as well as an in-depth analysis of runway excursion accident data and a compilation of significant risk factors. The toolkit also provides recommendations for operators, pilots, airports, air traffic management, and regulators. A major update to the RERR toolkit is planned for the spring of 2011 and will bring together all major international safety organizations in a collaborative effort to eliminate these types of accidents.

    Ground damage accounted for 11% of all accidents in 2010, improved from 17% in 2008 when IATA launched the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) to address this challenge. ISAGO is the industry’s first global standard for the oversight and auditing of ground handling companies. The program, containing over 400 standards, was launched in February 2008 and the first audits took place in May of the same year. To date, a total of 288 audits have been conducted and 56 providers operating at 81 different locations are already on the ISAGO registry. The program has gained broad support from several aviation authorities and airports and has been mandated in Lebanon and Turkey.

    Data Driving Further Improvements

    Further improvements to the industry’s safety performance will be guided by data that can assist airlines in identifying trends and initiate preventive measures. IATA established the Global Safety Information Center (GSIC) in 2010. This interactive website is a one-stop resource combining safety data from sources such as IOSA and ISAGO audits, flight data analysis, pilot reports and accident investigations without compromising commercial privacy.

    “Safety is a constant challenge. Industry and governments need to accelerate their efforts on data sharing. In 2010, IATA launched GSIC providing its members with unprecedented access to safety information. More than 430 different organizations are already submitting safety data into the GSIC, and over 50% of IATA member carriers are participating. Substantial GSIC expansion is planned over the next few years and the industry will reap the benefits,” said Bisignani.

    In September 2010, IATA signed an historic agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the US Department of Transportation and the Commission of the European Union to launch the Global Safety Information Exchange. This first global private/public partnership will exchange safety information aimed at improving safety by reducing risk.

    “Safety is not a competitive issue—among carriers or governments. Improvement is in everybody’s interest. By sharing data and best practices we will continue to drive improvements to make a safe industry even safer,” said Bisignani.

  • |

    Boeing Forms Commercial Satellite Services Group to Sell Satellite Capacity

    EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 22, 2011 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has established Boeing Commercial Satellite Services to market commercial satellite telecommunications services to the U.S. government and other satellite users. Headquartered in El Segundo, the group is a part of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems.
    “Boeing has received orders for five hosted payloads in the past 18 months,” said Craig Cooning, CEO of Boeing Satellite Systems International and vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. “The market response to hosted payloads as a creative solution to limited military bandwidth availability has been extremely positive, and we believe that the Boeing Commercial Satellite Services unit will perform a valuable service both for the military and for commercial users of satellite services to meet mission needs.”

    Hosted payloads represent an important move Boeing is making to respond to the global demand for more communications bandwidth. Hosted payloads can be designed in a variety of configurations based on customer needs and can be a more affordable and timely option than procuring a complete satellite. A commercial satellite carrying a hosted payload can generally be delivered in less than three years.

    Boeing Commercial Satellite Services will work with the owners of satellite systems to market available bandwidth on active systems as well as to include hosted payloads on their future spacecraft. The new division will market the payloads to prospective customers in cooperation with the host satellites’ owners.

    “The demand for satellite communications continues to be greater than the supply, and in 2010 we entered into an agreement with Inmarsat to assist them in leasing Ka-band services to the U.S. government and others,” said Cooning. “This business model can be applied to a commercial satellite operator interested in leasing service to governments.”
    Boeing’s history of hosted payloads dates back to 1993, when the company helped the U.S. Navy upgrade its ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications system by augmenting several vehicles to host an extremely high frequency (EHF) payload as well as the first military Ka-band payload, which has provided Global Broadcast Service capabilities since 1998. Boeing has also built L-band, X-band and Ka-band hosted payloads that have served foreign governments through spacecraft owned by commercial satellite operators.

    In July 2009, Boeing announced a four-satellite contract from Intelsat; two of these satellites incorporate hosted payloads in the UHF band. In August 2010, Inmarsat ordered three Boeing 702HP satellites, each of which will carry a hosted payload operating in the Ka-band. Boeing also is pursuing opportunities to expand this concept to cover other types of communications capacity.

  • |

    Boeing to Highlight the Products and Services Australia Depends on at Avalon 2011

    MELBOURNE, Victoria, Feb. 22, 2011 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will highlight the products and services that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) depends on every day during this year’s Avalon 2011 Australian International Airshow. The show begins March 1 at Avalon Airport near Melbourne and coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
    “Boeing is committed to providing products and services that allow the ADF to carry out vital operations in-country and overseas,” said Bill Profilet, Boeing Defense, Space & Security vice president, Australia Business Development. “We’re proud of our 85-year relationship with the RAAF and look forward to furthering this partnership for years to come.”

    Boeing products on display during the show include the RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornet, F/A-18A Hornet, C-17 Globemaster III and 737 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft and the Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system. Boeing-manufactured aircraft displayed by other countries will include a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757.
    The Boeing-sponsored Afternoon Airshow and Night Alight Finale on March 4 will feature the RAAF’s new advanced, multirole Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets. Boeing will hold a series of briefings on key products and programs throughout the show. Each day, media can check the briefing schedule at the media center and Boeing chalet for updates.

  • |

    Phillips Service Industries Acquires Skytronics, Inc.


    LIVONIA, Mich., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Phillips Service Industries, Inc. (PSI), a global manufacturing and service corporation that serves a wide variety of industries with its diverse collection of technology-based companies, announced today that it has acquired Skytronics, Inc., a leading aircraft component manufacturer and maintenance repair organization located in El Segundo, CA.

    Skytronics specializes in the manufacturing, repair, overhaul and sales of aircraft ball screw and actuator assemblies and the transmissions that drive them. Skytronics is an OEM that also holds license parts manufacturing authority on stabilizer ball screws installed on Boeing 727/737/747/757/767 aircraft, as well as a distributor of both new and overhauled aircraft components.

    Established in 1956, Skytronics has been an FAA-approved Repair Station for over 50 years, with current FAA, EASA, CAAC and Boeing approvals. Skytronics has expanded its capabilities to include Boeing flight controls, horizontal stabilizer trim actuators (HSTAs), trim tab actuators, flap transmissions and leading-edge actuators. Skytronics also manufactures, repairs, overhauls and sells ignition harnesses, alternators, regulators and ignition lead conduits that are used in general aviation.

    The Skytronics acquisition further expands PSI’s reach into the aerospace market. Other PSI subsidiaries that serve the aerospace industry include Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Sciaky, Inc., Mountain Secure Systems, Evana Automation Specialists and PSI Repair Services.

    “The aerospace industry is very significant to PSI,” said Scott Phillips, CEO and President of Phillips Service Industries, Inc. “The Skytronics acquisition provides additional products and services to our valued customers.”

  • |

    JetSelect Aircraft Maintenance Services, LLC Obtains FAA Certification as a Part 145 Repair Station

    COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2011
    — JetSelect Aviation, LLC, a Global Aviation Service Provider, announced today that its maintenance division has obtained FAA Certification as a Part 145 Repair Station. JetSelect Maintenance Services, LLC operates its repair station and offers aircraft maintenance services from their primary base at the Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), Columbus, Ohio.
    JetSelect’s Maintenance Team consists of highly skilled and experienced technicians who have proven their capabilities maintaining one of the largest private charter fleets in the U.S. With this latest certification, they will be able to market their expertise and private jet maintenance services to the aviation community.

    Robert Austin, CEO for JetSelect Aviation, commented, “Our aircraft maintenance team has worked very hard for this achievement and we are very proud to have our private jet maintenance capabilities stand out in the aviation marketplace. As an organization we are experiencing solid and planned growth on several fronts and this certification will strengthen our ability to support our operations as well as to enhance our revenue streams.”

    Gordon MacSwain, Director of Aircraft Maintenance for JetSelect Aviation, said today, “We are pleased with this major achievement which is the result of a lot of hard work by our team. The timing is right, the location is right, and our market is steadily growing. We are excited about our accomplishments and you can expect us to build upon our outstanding capabilities, technology and experience to create a legacy of superior private jet maintenance service.”

    Mario Bustamante, Manager of JetSelect’s Avionics Department, added, “This is what we have been working towards. Our Airframe, Engine and Avionics capabilities can now be fully leveraged by the marketplace. We are extremely excited about this milestone achievement in the airplane maintenance industry.

  • | |

    Boeing Helps Saudi Arabian Airlines Upgrade 777-200ER Fleet

    SEATTLE, Feb. 20, 2011 / — Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines have teamed to modernize the flag carrier’s 777 fleet to enhance the passenger experience and environment. The project involves modifying the interiors of 22 of Saudi Arabian Airlines’ 23 Boeing 777-200ERs (extended range).

    The passenger cabin modification program began in early 2009 after certification of the new Business Market seating configuration. Modifications on this scale are generally scheduled to coincide with required heavy maintenance checks. However, under this modification program, the majority of the fleet already has been modified and returned to service. The modifications are scheduled to be completed in 2011.

    “This interior modification affects an important segment of our long-haul fleet and our passengers expect the best from us,” said Ali Milaat, CEO of Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries. “With its experience as the airplane manufacturer, Boeing has done a great job in working with us to develop and support this process and we look forward to sharing the great results with our customers.”

    Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, working with the airline team, developed a cabin layout that provides increased comfort and amenities for passengers while providing the airline with an attractive, new in-flight identity. Boeing also provided the engineering services and program integration.
    “Saudi Arabian Airlines plays an important role in Middle East and global aviation and this interior refresh is a great opportunity for Boeing to bring value to an important customer,” said Dennis Floyd, vice president, Fleet Services for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing is uniquely positioned with experience and expertise to engineer, certify and manage modification programs for our customers.”

    Eight of the airplanes feature Saudi Arabian Airlines’ new Business Market configuration with 24 first class, 38 business class and 170 economy class seats. The remaining jetliners are in the new High Density configuration that accommodates 14 business class and 327 economy class seats.

    The airplanes are configured with new Avio Interiors first, business and economy class seats. Widescreen displays are at each seat, connected to a Thales TopSeries i5000 In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system. This system features on-demand movies, music and games and provides for a laptop power connector, USB port and RCA jack.

    The first class seats feature 15.4-inch (39.1-cm) in-seat video monitors with PC power and powered seat adjustment, at a 79-inch pitch. Business class seats have 12.1-inch (30.7-cm) in-seat video monitors, also with PC power and powered adjustment capability, at a 58-inch (147.3-cm) pitch. Economy seats are on a 32-inch (81.3-cm) pitch and have 8.9-inch (22.6-cm) video monitors in-seat.

    Boeing produced the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-certified service bulletin and kit of parts to accommodate the seat installation and the new in-flight entertainment system. Boeing also relocated and updated floor coverings, ceilings, sidewalls, class divider partition walls, stowage bins, closets and plumbing to enable the airplane modernization. As a full-service integrator, Boeing can perform as much of an airline interior upgrade as required, including management of all aspects of the project through certification.

  • |

    ICAO: CLEAR, PROACTIVE AND TARGETED STRATEGY TO MANAGE SUSTAINED GROWTH IN TRAFFIC

    MONTRÉAL, 17 February 2011 – The annual number of passengers worldwide will increase from 2.5 billion to 5 billion over the next 20 years and the number of flights from 26 million to 50 million, Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of ICAO told a luncheon hosted by the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada today.

    The major challenge for the air transport sector will be to manage this sustained growth and, at the same time, improve the safety, security and sustainability of civil aviation.

    “Our strategy is clear, proactive and targeted,” said Mr. Benjamin before a gathering of leaders of the Franco-Canadian business community.

    Through its Global Air Navigation Plan, ICAO will facilitate the harmonization of a variety of large scale regional programmes to be implemented by States in the next 10 years to upgrade their national aeronautical infrastructures.
    To reduce the number of accidents occurring during take-off and landing at airports, today’s leading cause of serious accidents, the United Nations agency has adopted a multi-disciplinary approach involving the relevant government entities and industries.

    Special efforts will also be undertaken to promote closer cooperation between civil and military aviation authorities, which will lead to more efficient use of airspace for the benefit of all users.
    As concerns security, “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the wait times at checkpoints are as short as possible and that the measures deployed are unnoticeable to passengers, while providing the highest level of protection,” the Secretary General explained.

    This will require proactive measures including the application of improved technologies for the detection of prohibited items, the further strengthening of international standards, more effective sharing of security information, the continuation of the mandatory audits by ICAO, and assistance to States that lack the expertise or resources to develop their aviation security systems.

    Finally, although aviation accounts for a very small proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, Mr. Benjamin presented a bold strategy for the aviation sector. “What matters most is that we stick to our targets of zero emissions growth as of 2020 and a 2 per cent annual fuel efficiency improvement up to the year 2050, on the basis of a global approach that takes into account technological progress, operational improvements, market-based measures and sustainable alternative fuels for aviation,” Mr. Benjamin concluded.

  • | |

    Airline Passengers Benefit as Flight Attendants Gain Ground on Sanitation and Temperature Standards

    Flight Attendants Get Cabin Health and Safety Standards in Senate’s FAA Reauthorization

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2011 e-USNewswire/ — Members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) put key U.S. Senate offices on speed dial in a successful call-in campaign to press for long-overdue health and safety protections: Yesterday, the Senate defeated an attempt to strip OSHA protections for Flight Attendants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill. The amendment to remove health and safety protections for Flight Attendants and passengers, including sanitation and temperature standards in the aircraft cabin, was rejected by a 52-47 party line vote.

    “No sanitation standards in the passenger cabin. Really???” said Veda Shook, AFA International President. “It is not funny. To date, OSHA has been kept out of the aircraft cabin and that means Flight Attendants and passengers are subject to an environment absent sanitation standards, temperature standards and proper procedures for clean up of biohazards. This is inexcusable and our union of Flight Attendants will not rest until we get the OSHA protections for passengers and crew. We applaud the Senate for taking this action today and we implore the House to act quickly to include the same provision in their version of the bill.”

    For Flight Attendants, each day on the job brings potential exposure to turbulence, severe air pressure changes, unwieldy service carts, broken luggage bins, balky exit doors and door handles, exposure to toxic chemicals, unruly passengers, communicable diseases, and emergency evacuations. As a result, safety and health violations occur on a daily basis for Flight Attendants yet the Federal Aviation Administration, which claims exclusive jurisdiction over the safety and health of crew members on civil aircraft, has failed to extend basic OSHA protections afforded to other workers across the country.

    The Association of Flight Attendants has already begun a targeted grassroots advocacy campaign to implore members of the House to include the health and safety provisions for Flight Attendants and passengers. The FAA Reauthorization bill has been extended 17 times over three years, delaying critical safety and health protections for Flight Attendants and the traveling public