BOEING'S PROFIT RISEs AS DEFENCE ARM THRIVES
RESULTS Boeing has reported a 17% rise in quarterly profit due to increases in its defence business, while the company's commercial unit saw a 2% revenue decrease due to lower aircraft deliveries and a lower volume of services. Between April and June Boeing recorded a net income of $998 million on $17.2 billion in revenues and delivered 125 commercial aircraft, bringing its 2009 delivery tally to 246.
'FLY-BY-WIRE FAULT' CAUSED INDIAN SU-30 CRASH
INVESTIGATION Preliminary investigations into the crash of an Indian air force Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter on 20 April indicate that the cause "is likely failure of the fly-by-wire system", says defence minister AK Antony. "There is no indication of any serious problem in the maintenance of aircraft by the Indian air force, or any short supply of hardware," he says. The air force's Su-30 inventory was grounded for three weeks after the accident, which killed the co-pilot. India has 98 Su-30 series fighters, and plans to grow the fleet to 230 by 2015.
VASO'S AN-148 TAKES TO THE SKIES
FLIGHT TESTING The first Antonov An-148 built by VASO in Voronezh completed its maiden sortie on 19 July. During the 41min flight the aircraft reached 16,400ft (5,000m) and around 300kt (555km/h).
F-16 SABR FIT-CHECK GOES 'SEAMLESSLY'
RADAR Northrop Grumman has installed the scalable agile beam radar (SABR) on a US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 in the Block 50/52 series. Integrating the active electronically scanned array (AESA) on the F-16 consumed less than 5h and fitted "seamlessly", Northrop says of the 29 June event. SABR is expected to fly on an F-16 by year-end. Northrop plans to offer the scaled down version of the technology, already flying on the Lockheed F-22 and F-35 fighters, for the legacy aircraft market, including F-16s and advanced trainers, such as the KAI/Lockheed T-50.
FLIGHT GROUP GEARS UP FOR SECOND ASIAN EXPO
TRADE SHOW Flight International and Flightglobal group are partnering again with Reed Exhibitions on Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, the commercial aviation gathering taking place in Hong Kong from 8-10 September. The event is actually several rolled into one with a three-day conference and separate mini trade shows covering aircraft interiors, aviation training, air freight and business aviation. Our sister publications Airline Business and Commercial Aviation Online are hosting Inside Air Finance Asia, a networking opportunity for airlines and the finance community at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott on 7 September.
US NTSB CHAIRMAN QUITS
RESIGNATION Mark Rosenker has quit as acting chairman of the US National Transportation Safety Board, less than week after fellow board member Kathryn Higgins resigned from her post. Rosenker, who has served on the board since 2003, says he will pursue private sector opportunities. He will be replaced by Deborah Hersman.
GOVINDASAMY TAKES HELM OF ASIAN EDITORIAL TEAM
APPOINTMENT Flight International and Flightglobal has strengthened its editorial team in Singapore with the promotion of Siva Govindasamy to the role of Asia Managing Editor. Govindasamy is a former Straits Times editor who has been with Flightglobal and its parent company Reed Business Information in Asia for five years.
Source: Flight International