Category Archives: aircraft manufacturers

Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas competition yields innovative ideas

June 10, 201310:54 a.m.

Airplane cabins powered by body heat, planes running on cow power, or methane gas, and luggage floating on a bed of air are some of the ideas developed by university students in a Fly Your Ideas  competition sponsored by Airbus.

Airbus challenged students to develop “radical eco-efficient ideas” for aviation.

The planemaker selected five finalist teams. Each team will travel to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse to present their ideas to a panel of judges for the prize.

The winning team will be announced at the Paris Air Show next week.

The program aims to “highlight the growth opportunities available to young innovators, who could help change the world and work towards a more sustainable aviation industry,” Airbus said.

Teams that made the finals came from Brazil, Australia, India, Italy and Malaysia.

According to Airbus, the concepts include:

Luggage floating on air. Using the principles of air hockey, the cargo hold is fitted with light sliding sections to let baggage handlers quickly load and unload luggage, allowing passengers to get their bags 30 percent faster.

Planes powered by cow power. A sustainable fuel uses liquified methane held in specially-created supercooled pods located next to the engine. The solution could reduce CO2 emissions by 97 percent.

Shape-shifting materials to reduce noise. An engine modification made from shape-shifting materials can change the airflow through the engines and reduce noise.

Battery-powered hybrid engines. Rechargeable batteries drop into the cargo hold and help power efficient hybrid engines. In a short-haul flight, the solution could save up to 60 percent of fuel.

Human body heat powering aircraft cabins. Heat energy from specially-embedded heat-sensitive material in cabin seats captures energy from passengers and could be used to power onboard electronics. That can reduce energy requirements for the flight.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Airbus, aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry | Comments

Beechcraft names heads of planning and programs and human resources

May 30, 201310:59 a.m.

Dave Rosenberg

Beechcraft Corp. has appointed two leaders to its executive team, the company announced.

Dave Rosenberg, who joined the company in 2000, has been appointed vice president of strategic planning and programs.

He is responsible for the company’s planning and programs, including management of commercial product development programs and analysis of joint ventures and potential acquisitions.

Don Alvord was named vice president of human resources. Alvord came to Wichita from Little Rock, Ark., where he served as vice president and general manager of the company’s Little Rock Completions Center.

 

Don Alvord

Beechcraft recently closed the center and moved the work to Wichita.

In his role, Alvord oversees talent acquisition, management and succession planning, diversity initiatives, employee relations and compensation and benefits management.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Beechcraft Corp. | Comments

EBACE concludes with good attendance

May 24, 20135:53 a.m.

The 2013 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition closed in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday with strong attendance, organizers say.

The show drew 12,353 attendees, 460 exhibitors and more than 400 reporters.

Its static display showcased 52 planes and was sold out with a waiting list.

Organizers — the European Business Aviation Association and the National Business Aviation Association — call the show a success.

“EBACE has proven to be of great value to the business aviation community — it has been a place where the industry has rallied together, made new announcements and set a positive tone, all of which has the business aviation community looking forward to the future,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said in a statement.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, associations, aviation industry | Comments

Beechcraft appoints new regional sales director for Sub-Saharan Africa

May 21, 201310:43 a.m.

Beechcraft Corp. has appointed a regional sales director for Beechcraft products in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kingsley Okoli, the company announced.

South Africa continues to be one of the largest growth markets in the world, Scott Plumb, Beechcraft vice president of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement.

The business aviation fleet in the region has grown by more than 20 percent in the past 10 years, Plumb said.

“Having Kingsley stationed in South Africa will provide further impetus to strong Beechcraft sales in the region,” he said.

Okoli spent 13 years in the U.S. Air Force that included work involving the West Africa region and the Nigerian Air Force. He was an F-16 crew chief and later a fighter squadron logistics readiness officer, according to information from the company.

He has experience with Department of Defense acquisition program management, business development and operational management in foreign military sales and foreign military financing.

He most recently served as a senior program analyst for IMSolutions.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Beechcraft Corp. | Comments

Boeing starts certification testing on 747-8 improvements

May 21, 201310:33 a.m.

Boeing’s 747-8 Intercontinental jet successfully completed its first certification test flight with a package of performance improvements, including enhanced engines.

The package is designed to improve fuel efficiency.

The flight took off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., this week and flew for four hours.

“It was a great flight and the engines performed as expected, Capt. Kirk Vining said in a statement. “This is an important milestone for the flight test program.”

The plane’s Performance Improvement Package includes improvements to the engines and flight management computer software.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing | Comments

Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems facilities in Oklahoma not damaged by tornado

May 20, 20135:05 p.m.

Employees at Boeing’s Oklahoma City offices took shelter during the time a massive tornado hit Moore, Okla., about a 20 minute drive away.

Everyone was safe, said Boeing’s Oklahoma City spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan.

The offices have not been damaged.

There’s no word yet on whether any Boeing employees’ homes  have been hit, however.

About 100 employees live in the Moore area. It’s not known how many of them are transfers from Boeing’s Wichita facility, said Boeing spokeswoman Michelle Nalley.

Spirit AeroSystems’ plants in McAlester and Tulsa, Okla., have not been hit, said Spirit spokesman Ken Evans.

“Our thoughts are with those who are working and those who have homes in that area,” Evans said.

He doesn’t know whether any employees’ homes were damaged, he said.

“We’re wanting to make sure everybody is going to be safe,” Evans said. “Safety is our No. 1 priority.”

 

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

Wichita engineering, technology and aerospace job fair to feature several employers

May 16, 20136:37 a.m.

A Wichita Engineering, Technology and Aerospace job fair will be held Tuesday, May 21, at the Wichita Marriott hotel.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens and have at least two years experience in the engineering, technology or defense industry and a degree or certification or comparable military experience, organizers say.

Several employers will be present, including Cirrus Aircraft, Zodiac Seats, Belcan Advanced Engineering and Technology, Dynomax, Honda Aircraft Co., M-E-C Co., and Nustar Energy.

The job fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those unable to attend can submit a resume to resume@expoexpertsllc.com with WI in the subject lin, organizers  say.

For more details and to find a list of jobs, go to www.expoexpertsllc.com.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry | Comments

Spirit AeroSystems recognizes seven suppliers as “Platinum Suppliers”

May 15, 201310:02 a.m.

Quality, cost and on-time delivery counts.

Spirit AeroSystems recognized seven of its suppliers, including five in the Wichita area, as Platinum Suppliers of 2012.

The suppliers were selected based on their performance last year as it relates to quality, on-time delivery, commitment to cost reductions and willingness to partner with Spirit for overall improvement in value to the company, Spirit said.

“In today’s aerospace environment, it is increasingly important to seek suppliers that provide the best total value for cost, quality and delivery,” Rob Mattinson, Spirit vice president of corporate supply chain management and global strategy, said in a statement.

The suppliers honored include:

Dynamic NC, Udall

Globe Engineering Co., Wichita

Labinal Services, Wichita office

Logistics Resources, Wichita

ZTM, Wichita

All Metal Services, London

M. Torres, Pamplona, Spain

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

WSJ report: Boeing names 777X leaders, including Kansan Mike Carriker as chief pilot

May 14, 20136:14 a.m.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Boeing has selected key leaders to lead the development of its Boeing 777X,  an upgrade of its 777 jet.

Boeing has appointed a chief engineer and directors of finance, business operations, supplier management, human resources and leaders for its “integrated product teams,” the report said.

The company also appointed Kansan and Wichita State University graduate Mike Carriker as chief pilot.

Carriker most recently was chief pilot of Boeing’s 777 Dreamliner. He grew up in Baldwin City and is a WSU aeronautical engineering graduate.

The 777X program has not yet officially been launched. That will depend on firm contracts to buy the jet by airline customers.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Boeing | Comments

Aviation industry analyst Richard Aboulafia to headline Tuesday’s Wichita Aero Club

May 13, 201311:09 a.m.

Teal Group aviation industry analyst Richard Aboulafia is heading to Wichita for the third time to address the Wichita Aero Club on Tuesday.

In a survey last year, members selected Aboulafia as their favorite speaker.

Aboulafia, vice president of analysis for the Teal Group, will share his insights into Wichita’s general aviation and commercial aviation industry and give his predictions for where the industries are headed.

He is often quoted by a variety of news outlets, including ABC, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, CBS, CNN, NBC, NPR and PBS.

Aboulafia’s visit is sponsored by Spirit AeroSystems.

The luncheon will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Wichita Airport.

For reservations, call 316-681-4471 or go to www.wichitaaeroclub.org. The luncheons are $40 for non-members and $30 for members.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, associations, aviation industry | Comments