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Most Clicked AIA dailyLead Stories


1. U.S. manufacturers keep wary eye on Embraer

AIA dailyLead | Nov 02, 2009

As the aviation industry struggles with an extended downturn, experts say Brazil's Embraer appears poised to steal significant market share from U.S. manufacturers. Embraer recently launched its sixth business jet in four years, and "they're entering with price points, size and performance carefully selected," according to Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture. Analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group says Embraer could eventually take 15% to 20% of the market from Hawker and other U.S. manufacturers. Wichita Eagle (Kan.), The (11/01)


2. Pentagon acquisition chief: Contract protests getting routine

AIA dailyLead | Nov 03, 2009

Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter said this week his department is becoming concerned about the number of legal protests being filed against contract awards. In one case, Britain's BAE Systems Plc recently filed a third protest against a potential $3.5 billion medium-sized truck contract awarded to Oshkosh Corp. by the Army. Carter said such protests are expected to be rare and not used frivolously. Reuters (11/02)


3. Air Force willing to make changes on aerial refueling tanker

AIA dailyLead | Nov 02, 2009

The top civilian in charge of the Air Force says the armed service is open to making changes wherever necessary for the KC-X aerial refueling tanker competition. The draft request for proposals for the project was issued Sept. 24 and included 373 pass/fail threshold requirements. Aerospace Daily & Defense Report (10/30)


4. Upgraded video gives UAVs "constant stare" over 1.5 square miles

AIA dailyLead | Nov 04, 2009

By next year, the Pentagon plans to dramatically upgrade the video capabilities of its most advanced UAVs, allowing a single aircraft to monitor "nearly everything that moves within an area of 1.5 square miles," according to the Los Angeles Times. Reaper aircraft currently equipped with a single video feed soon will carry 12 and eventually could boast 65. By 2011, a single UAV will be able to monitor three square miles, allowing the U.S. to "project power without vulnerability," according to one Pentagon official. Los Angeles Times (11/02)


5. Lawmakers urge Air Force to consider ruling against Airbus

AIA dailyLead | Nov 03, 2009

A group of lawmakers are pressing President Barack Obama to require that the Air Force consider a recent World Trade Organization ruling against Airbus in its decision to award a $35 billion tanker contract. The lawmakers support Boeing in its bid for the contract, and they note that the WTO in September found that Airbus received illegal launch aid from European governments to build its aircraft. Google (11/02)


6. Will suppliers follow Boeing to S.C.?

AIA dailyLead | Nov 02, 2009

South Carolina officials believe thousands of jobs will flow to the Palmetto State following Boeing Co.'s announcement last week that it will locate a second 787 assembly line in North Charleston. But even with lower labor costs and a largely non-union workforce, South Carolina may not see the huge influx of jobs it is expecting, according to some experts, who point out that the aerospace industry already is highly diversified geographically. "Will companies in your area pack up and move? That's going to depend on their business model and what's best for their customers," says Brian McDermott of the Aerospace Industries Association. "With modern technology and transportation and infrastructure, it's not necessarily critical that [suppliers] be in the same neighborhood." American City Business Journals (10/30)


7. Alcoa to spend $110M on aluminum press for F-35

AIA dailyLead | Nov 05, 2009

Aluminum giant Alcoa says it will spend $110 million to refurbish the 50,000-ton Cleveland Works press -- one of the largest pieces of industrial equipment in the U.S. -- to boost production of aluminum-alloy bulkheads for the F-35. Under its 10-year, $360 million contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., Alcoa is currently producing parts on a 35,000-ton press, but says the bigger press will be needed to meet the Pentagon's ambitious production goals. "The F-35 absolutely is the driving factor" behind the pricey overhaul, according to Alcoa. Bloomberg (11/05)


8. General aviation deliveries decline 47% in first 9 months

AIA dailyLead | Nov 06, 2009

General-aviation aircraft deliveries tumbled by as much as 47% in the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period a year ago, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. The biggest decline in aviation deliveries was seen in piston aircraft, which fell 59%. Wichita Eagle (Kan.), The (11/06)


9. Small part of F-35 to be redesigned after test shows flaw

AIA dailyLead | Nov 04, 2009

General Electric Co. and Rolls-Royce Group PLC say a small part of the alternate F-35 fighter engine will be redesigned after it was discovered that a nut came loose during testing. Officials said the combustor was performing as expected, and the redesign will involve a diffuser that directs air into the combustor for the engine. Reuters (11/02)


10. Lockheed disputes reports of further SBIRS delays

AIA dailyLead | Nov 05, 2009

Defense officials say the Air Force's Space Based Infrared System program, troubled by cost overruns and schedule delays over the years, will face yet another delay -- this time of 12 to 18 months -- as Lockheed Martin Corp. wraps up testing. But Lockheed disputes that view, insisting that the program is on track for delivery to the Air Force by the fourth quarter of calendar year 2010. Defense News (11/03) AviationWeek.com (11/04)




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