Monthly Archives: May 2009

Signs of improvement in aerospace market

May 29, 20099:34 a.m.

Macquarie Research Equities has upgraded Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing, Honeywell, Goodrich, Triumph, TransDigm and United Technologies stock from Neutral to Outperform because of signs of improvement in airline traffic and air freight.

Improvements in April is a “convincing sign that the aerospace end markets have stabilized, and are likely to improve over the next six months,” said report today by Macquarie Research.

The aircraft financing market also appears to be improving. While the market remains tight, the increased role of government guarantors, such as the Ex-Im Bank in the U.S. and the backstop financing by manufacturers is helping. “With the capital markets seeming to have reopened, we think that this will improve the access to finance for new aircraft over time,” the report said.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Aviation, aerospace and defense career fair in Wichita

May 28, 200911:28 a.m.

WICHITA – Companies in the aviation, aerospace and defense businesses will be at a job fair in Wichita June 15.

The job fair will be held at the Marriott Hotel Wichita at 9100 Corporate Hills Drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, June 15.

There are job openings in engineering, defense, modeling and simulation, radar, aircraft, avionics, composites, aircraft and powerplant technicians. satellite, loads, controls, wind turbine, process, software, systems, stress, structures, aeronautical, aerospace, information technology, missiles, jet engine, navigation, quality, design, computer numberical control machinists, production, manufacturing, project and program managers, logistics and other disciplines.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Gulfstream to cut jobs at Love Field in Dallas

May 28, 200911:08 a.m.

Gulfstream Aerospace and an affiliate plans to cut 25 percent of their combined work force, or 219 people, employed at Love Field in Dallas, as the recession affects the aviation industry, Private Jet Daily reports.

The majority of the cuts will occur at the end of July at Gulfstream’s midsize aircraft completion center. The center installs interiors on the G150, G200 and 250 business jets.

The market for midsized business jets has fallen dramatically in the downturn.

Gulfstream’s parent company, General Dynamics, said that the business jetmaker will cut 1,200 jobs and furlough 2,200 more by the end of the year at its Savannah, Ga.-based facility.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Cessna obtains FAA approval for flight instructor safety seminar

May 28, 200910:47 a.m.

WICHITA – Cessna Aircraft has received approval for the Federal Aviation Administration for its Cessna Flight Instructor Safety Stand Down. It’s the first for any aircraft manufacturer, the company said.

The safety standdown is a training seminar for flight instructors, flight instructor candidates and commercial pilots with an interest in becoming flight instructors.

Cessna instructors designed the 18-hour course.

It will be held in San Diego June 13 and 14.  More information can be found at www.cessna.com/training.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Town wants to outlaw flight training, report says

May 28, 200910:36 a.m.

The town council of Grant-Valkaria in Brevard County, Fla., are considering a resolution that would outlaw flight training, including recurrent training, at Valkaria Airport.

The ban would come in the form of a zoning amendment, according to Avweb. An amendment such as that would certainly catch the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration because the airport has received federal funding.

It’s also sure to create a firestorm of opinions.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under airports | Comments

Delta/Northwest merger will be visible at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport

May 27, 20093:52 p.m.

Delta Air Lines’ acquisition of Northwest Airlines last year will become more visible at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport beginning mid-next week.
Northwest’s passenger check-in will be consolidated with Delta’s ticket counter at the west end of the terminal.
All passengers holding tickets on either airline should check in at the Delta counter, said Valerie Wise, Wichita Airport Authority air service and business development manager.
In addition, Gate 11 will no longer be in use, Wise said. Delta will use Gate 2 and Gate 4 on the east side of the terminal, Wise said.
In October, Delta acquired Northwest Airlines in a stock swap  with a combined value of $34.2 billion. The combined airline is now the world’s largest, the company said.
“I’d say the merger has gone very well,” said Delta spokesman Anthony Black. It’s on pace or ahead of schedule.
Customers can merge frequent flier  miles together.
In about a month or so, Delta plans to announce details of a 2010 combined frequent flier program, Black said.
Delta is in the process of painting all of Northwest’s aircraft in Delta’s red, white and blue flagship colors. It will take until the end of 2010 to complete the changes, Black said.
The  combined airline is currently still flying under two separate operating certificates. By the end of the year, it is expected to operate under a single certificate, he said.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Air taxi operator Jetpool takes delivery of Phenom 100

May 27, 200910:59 a.m.

Jetpool, an air taxi operator in Charlotte, N.C., has taken delivery of a Brazil-built Embraer Phenom 100 four-passenger very light jet, the company said.

The air taxi operator has the ability to serve Wichita, said Air Taxi Association president Joe Leader.

The company is offering three plans. The first is a charter plan with a cost of about $2,000 a flight hour.  When shared with other colleagues, the price of a round-trip becomes comparable to an airline, the company said.

It also offers Jetpool shares,  at a cost of about $1,400 per flight hour, which gives a customer 73 days of use a year; and ownership, which costs about $1,200 an hour of flight time and is good for those who need an airplane for more than 150 flight hours a year, according to the company.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Third Boeing refueling tanker joins Japan’s active air wing

May 27, 200910:17 a.m.

tanker-italyThe third KC-767J aerial refueling tanker built by Boeing and modified in Wichita has been put into an active air wing in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, or JASDF.

The tanker was ferried to Japan from Boeing Wichita’s modification facility.

Boeing vice president and general manager of tanker programs Dave Bowman called the achievement a historic one for the nation of Japan, which for the first time has its own aerial refueling capability.

The tanker is the third of four tankers ordered by Japan. The first two tankers were delivered in February and March of 2008.

Wichita workers are doing the final work on a fourth tanker, which is slated to be delivered to Japan in the first quarter of 2010.

Boeing also has two KC-767 tankers in flight testing for the Italian Air Force and is performing modification work on two additional tankers for Italy. The first tanker is scheduled for delivery this year

The photo shows Boeing’s tanker for Italy.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing | Comments Off

Kansas posts record $12.47 billion in 2008 exports

May 22, 200911:14 a.m.

Kansas businesses exported $12.47 billion worth of products in 2008, up 22.2 percent from the previous year.

It marks the fourth year of record-setting exports, the Kansas Department of Commerce said.

The largest export industry for the state is aircraft, which increased exports in 2008 by $862 million, or 28 percent.  It was the largest in increase of any export industry.   The state’s cereals industry, which ranks third in exports, grew its exports by $444 million, or a 56 percent increase.

The vehicle segment grew 44 percent, animal feed grew 25 percent, optics grew 27 percent and electrical machinery grew 27 percent.

Although last year set a record for exports, the state started to feel the affect of the economic downturn midway through the year. Exports peaked at $1.3 billion per month in June before beginning a downward slide, with December exports totaling $791 million.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

House of Representatives pass funding for FAA’s Next Generation Air Traffic Control System

May 22, 200910:59 a.m.

The House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday that will fund the Federal Aviation Administration and the development of the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System, also known as NextGen.

The legislation is called the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009,” and is part of Congress’s multi-year reauthorization of programs and funding for the FAA.  It provides additional funding for the FAA through sources that include an increase in general aviation fuel taxes.

The National Business Aviation Association commended the action that uses the aviation fuel tax to help pay for the modernization.  General aviation opposes a plan that would implement user fees, a system that would hurt the industry, leaders say.

“Aviation plays a critical role in driving economic growth and investment across the country,” said NBAA CEO and president Ed Bolen in a statement. “GA is committed to working in partnership with the government to improve our nation’s aviation system.”

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aviation industry | Comments Off