Baltia Air Lines Begins FAA Certification.
February 5, 2009
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JAMAICA, N.Y., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Baltia Air Lines, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BLTA) announced today that they have begun the FAA Air Carrier Certification.
On December 19, 2008, the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) issued its Show Cause Order finding Baltia Air Lines fit, willing and able to operate proposed service from JFK to St. Petersburg. This Order has allowed Baltia Air Lines to commence the FAA Air Carrier Certification. Baltia’s President, Igor Dmitrowsky, explained “The FAA Certification is essentially comprised of two phases, the documentation phase and the demonstration phase” and “Upon successful completion of the FAA Certification, Baltia will be issued a Part 121 Air Carrier Certificate enabling Baltia to engage in foreign scheduled air transportation of persons, property, and mail from JFK in New York to St. Petersburg, Russia.” Mr. Dmitrowsky further stated “We have worked diligently to get to this point and we are extremely proud of our staff and the accomplishment we as a team have achieved. We have reached a major milestone in the launching of our airline. As for our shareholders, I want to personally thank all of our shareholders for their patience throughout this process. We knew that the day would arrive when the green light would come on and all of this work would start paying off.”
About Baltia
Baltia’s goal is to become the leading U.S. airline in the trans-Atlantic market between the major U.S. cities and the capital cities of Eastern Europe, including Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Baltia’s objective is to provide high quality three-class passenger service, and reliable cargo and mail transportation. Baltia plans to begin foreign scheduled air transportation as the only U.S. airline connecting directly two of the world’s most prominent cities – New York and St. Petersburg. With experienced management and in a lucrative and growing travel market Baltia intends to soar to success.
EADS North America Receives U.S. Army Contract for Five Additional UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters
February 5, 2009
Latest Award Brings Total Order to 128 Aircraft
ARLINGTON, VA–(Marketwire – February 5, 2009) – The U.S. Army awarded EADS North America a contract for five additional UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) Jan. 15, 2009, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 128.
Production of the UH-72A at the American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss. continues to meet U.S. Army and Army National Guard requirements for a highly capable, multi-role helicopter in missions that range from homeland security and medical evacuation to drug interdiction, support and logistics operations. The Army expects to acquire a total of 345 Lakotas through 2016.
More than 54 UH-72As have been delivered by EADS North America, all which have been provided on time or ahead of schedule in one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history.
“EADS North America remains committed to excellence in program management and execution for the UH-72A, which has received high marks from the U.S. Army,” said EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. “We understand the Lakota’s importance to the Army’s helicopter fleet modernization, and our top priority continues to be providing America’s warfighters with the very best equipment to accomplish their important mission.”
More than 8,000 flight hours have been logged by the Army’s UH-72A fleet to date, and the Lakota is now in service at bases and facilities across the nation, including the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Fort Eustis, Va.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Irwin, Calif.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Morrisville, N.C.; Pineville, La.; Tupelo, Miss.; and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
In addition to the 128 Lakotas ordered to fulfill Army and National Guard missions, five Light Utility Helicopters have been ordered by the U.S. Navy for pilot training at the Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md.
UH-72A production averages three to four helicopters per month — with the capability of reaching five aircraft monthly at the Columbus, Miss. production facility of American Eurocopter, an EADS North America business unit. This state-of-the-art production site is a 220,000 sq. ft. addition to American Eurocopter’s Mississippi rotary-wing aircraft center of excellence, which is located adjacent to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The facility has brought high-value jobs into the region with total program employment planned to surpass 200 as the UH-72A program reaches its full production and final assembly capability.
EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $10 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 190,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.
Bombardier Aerospace Delivers 353 Aircraft and Records 378 Net Orders in Fiscal Year 2008/09
February 5, 2009
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – Feb. 5, 2009) –
– Business aircraft: 239 deliveries; 262 net orders
– Commercial aircraft: 110 deliveries; 114 net orders
– Amphibious aircraft: 4 deliveries; 2 net orders
– Book-to-bill ratio for the year stands at 1.07
For fiscal year 2009/10
– Total current fiscal year 2009/10 aircraft deliveries expected to be slightly less than fiscal year 2008/09 with approximately 10 per cent fewer business aircraft, and approximately 10 per cent more commercial aircraft
– Reduction of Learjet and Challenger production rates in response to current market demand; as a result, manpower level is reduced by 1,360 or 4.5 per cent of total labour force of 30,000 workers
– Q400 turboprop production rate increased
– New aircraft programs CSeries, Learjet 85 and CRJ1000 NextGen making excellent progress; recruitment continues for 830 new permanent open positions for new aircraft programs and for the Global Completion Centre
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it delivered 353(i) aircraft for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009. This compares to 361 aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year 2007/08 (year ending January 31, 2008). It also received 378(i) aircraft orders, net of cancellations, compared to an exceptional 698 orders, net of cancellations, for the previous fiscal year. Its book-to-bill ratio for the year stands at 1.07. Overall, Bombardier Aerospace delivered a solid performance in view of the continued worsening of the economy and its impact on the aviation industry.
For the current fiscal year 2009/10, Bombardier expects to deliver a slightly lower total number of aircraft than last fiscal year 2008/09.
Tables at the end of this press release provide delivery totals and net order totals for business, commercial and amphibious aircraft for the previous fiscal year 2008/09.
“The industry is experiencing strong turbulence and we anticipate more volatility in the short term. The fundamentals of Bombardier Aerospace are solid, but we expect we will face more challenges this year,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “While the Corporation has taken significant steps to strengthen its operational and financial position over the last years, we must continue to be prudent and take decisive action. We will thus ensure our continued success over the long term and maintain our leadership position by meeting our customer commitments and by continuing to invest in our current and future products,” he added.
Production rates adjustment
In fiscal year 2008/09, Bombardier delivered 239(i) business jets compared to 232 for the same period last year. It received an intake of 262(i) orders, net of cancellations, compared to an exceptional 452 orders, net of cancellations, for the same period last year. The company has felt the impact of the worldwide economic slowdown through a greater than usual level of deferrals and cancellations for its business aircraft and, as a result, is reducing its Learjet and Challenger production rates. The book-to-bill ratio for fiscal year 2008/09 stands at 1.1.
For the current fiscal year 2009/10, Bombardier expects to deliver approximately 10 per cent fewer business aircraft compared to last fiscal year 2008/09.
For commercial aircraft, in fiscal year 2008/09, Bombardier delivered 110(i) commercial aircraft compared to 128 during the same period last year. The order intake for fiscal year 2008/09 totalled 114(i) aircraft, net of cancellations, compared to 238, net of cancellations, for the previous year, representing a book-to-bill ratio of slightly above one.
As a result of the rising demand for Bombardier’s largest turboprop, the production rate for the 78-seat Q400 aircraft is increased, while the production rate for the CRJ Series regional jets remains unchanged. Recent orders for Bombardier’s Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines and Colgan Air demonstrate Bombardier has the right products for operators looking to take advantage of its aircraft’s competitive operating economics.
Bombardier expects to deliver in the current fiscal year 2009/10, approximately 10 per cent more commercial aircraft compared to last fiscal year 2008/09.
For amphibious aircraft, in fiscal year 2008/09, Bombardier delivered four Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft compared to one aircraft the previous fiscal year 2007/08 and, received two orders for the specialized Bombardier 415 MP, compared to eight orders for Bombardier 415 the previous year.
New CSeries, Learjet 85 and CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft programs progressing well
Bombardier’s new aircraft programs, the CSeries, Learjet 85 and CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft continue to make excellent progress. With continued growth expected in the medium to long term, the market needs new, innovative aircraft that provide operators with the optimized solution to meet their business objectives.
Manpower impact
Bombardier Aerospace’s long-term human resources strategy is to establish stability in its permanent workforce levels by hiring temporary workers mainly through third party contractors to provide increased flexibility in periods of fluctuation.
Therefore, the decision to adjust the Learjet and Challenger business aircraft production rates is expected to result in a total workforce reduction of approximately 1,010 temporary workers/subcontractors and 350 permanent employees, or about 4.5 per cent out of a total workforce of approximately 30,000 workers worldwide. The severance costs associated with the manpower reduction of permanent employees are expected to be less than $5 million.
The workforce reductions will take place at Bombardier Aerospace’s facilities in Montreal, Wichita and Belfast over a five-month period, starting in February 2009. The layoff of permanent employees includes unionized, salaried and management personnel.
A table at the end of this press release provides additional information on the workforce reductions and the number of permanent new open positions.
“These are very challenging times. The decision to reduce our workforce was difficult to make and we fully recognize the impact it will have on our affected workers,” stated Mr. Hachey.
Bombardier Aerospace’s overall employment numbers will remain essentially at a similar level as recruitment for new permanent open positions, mostly for the new aircraft programs, will partly offset the reduction of 1,360 jobs. In fact, recruitment for more than 600 permanent new open positions for Bombardier’s newly launched aircraft, the CSeries and Learjet 85 aircraft continues, and Bombardier is in the process of recruiting about 230 interior completion specialists for its Global aircraft completion centre in Montreal. The total number of permanent open positions is approximately 830 at Bombardier’s Montreal and Belfast sites.
GeoEye Announces the Start of Commercial Operations for Its GeoEye-1 Earth-Imaging Satellite
February 5, 2009
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Pratt & Whitney’s F135 STOVL Engine Cleared for Powered Lift Operations
February 5, 2009
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine program achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first engine to receive a Statement of Qualification for F-35 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) full powered lift operations. The F135 engine is the only fifth generation engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
“This is a significant milestone for the Pratt & Whitney F135 team and the F-35 team,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Program. “Unlike the V-22 Osprey and the AV-8B Harrier propulsion systems that have vertical lift capabilities, the F135 combines vertical powered lift, more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, supersonic capabilities and stealth technology.”
The statement issued by the F-35 Joint Program Office states, “…the STOVL Propulsion System satisfactorily completed the Final Flight Release Verification Activities,…and may therefore be used for all ground testing including full STOVL mode at the Pit and all Up and Away and Powered Lift flight operations.”
“The F135 is the most powerful, versatile, technically advanced fighter engine ever built. We are now qualified and ready to continue supporting the Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 STOVL flight test program.”
“For eight years and more than 11,000 test hours, Pratt & Whitney has been designing, developing and testing the F135 to deliver on our commitment to provide the United States Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as eight international partner countries, with the most advanced fighter engine ever, using mature technology derived from the F119 powering the F-22 Raptor,” Gostic said. “The F135 is in production and we will continue to deliver on this commitment.”
The F135 propulsion system is the power of choice for the F-35 and has proven it can meet diverse aircraft requirements. The ground and flight test experience demonstrates the maturity and the associated reliability of the F135 engine for armed forces around the world.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.
Uruguay-based Buquebus to launch air service to Salto and Colonia
February 5, 2009
The Civil Aviation Authority has approved the river boat shuttle operator’s application to begin air service between Uruguay’s Salto and Colonia on the one hand and Buenos Aires on the other hand in spite of objections from Pluna.
Born Again Lloyd Aereo Boliviano begins domestic service
February 5, 2009
While the airline is waiting for approval to sell tickets through travel agents, it began offering reservations and ticketing on its daily flight between La Paz and Santa Cruz. The employee-led airline hopes to be back in full service, including international flights, in the near future.
Aires and Easy Fly growing significantly in Colombia
February 5, 2009
As the domestic regional airlines add domestic trunk routes in Colombia they are growing significantly. Aires now has been approved to offer 224 frequencies while recent startup, Easy Fly, obtained approval for six. On the other hand, Avianca’s SAM has been authorized seven weekly flights between Cali-Panama and seven between Medellin and Panama. At the same time, Aerolineas Argentinas will operate three weekly flights between Bogota-Lima and Buenos Aires; while Avianca will add two weekly flights to New York.
LAN Peru had 73.4% of the domestic market in 2008
February 5, 2009
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the Chilean subsidiary had 73.4% of the domestic market in Peru during 2008 when more than 4 million passengers were boarded, a 10.9% increase over 2007. Star Peru had a 13.9% share while Aerocondor had 6.2%. The airline has also announced it will begin daily nonstop service between Lima and Washington DC in April.
Pluna is adding flights to Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay
February 5, 2009
Uruguay’s “born again” airline, which recently announced record monthly traffic in January, is increasing service to Chile to 11 weekly flights on March 12, The carrier will grow its current 14 flights to 17 weekly flights to Sao Paulo, as well as daily to Asuncion and six weekly to Cordoba on the same date. On January 16 it carried a record 2,583 passengers. It will be capitalized with an additional $12 million by the two partners, Leadgate (with 75%) and the Uruguayan government with the balance.
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