SATURN HOPING FOR SAM146 APPROVAL BY JUNE
Russian PowerJet partner NPO Saturn is determined to receive certification for the SaM146 engine within four months, enabling Sukhoi to begin serial production of the Superjet 100. Director general Ilya Fyodorov says: "With 90% of tests over, there are grounds to hope that the engine will be certificated in May."
INDUSTRY GROWTH SET BACK IN 2009: IATA
Passenger air traffic was down 3.5% in 2009, amounting to a "permanent" loss of 2.5 years' growth, and a 10.1% drop in freight traffic wiped out 3.5 years, according to the International Air Transport Association: "In terms of demand, 2009 goes into the history books as the worst year the industry has ever seen."
SIKORSKY GIVES LIFT TO UNITED TECHNOLOGIES
United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney division saw earnings fall 6% to $488 million on sales of $3.3 billion last year, while at its Hamilton Sundstrand unit profits were down 24% to $231 million on sales down 9.5% to $1.4 billion. US military helicopter demand helped Sikorsky buck the trend to lift profits 33% to $202 million on sales up 22% to $1.9 billion.
GULFSTREAM REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER REVENUE
Falling Gulfstream business jet deliveries pushed General Dynamics' aerospace segment operating profit down 30.8% to $707 million last year, as sales slipped by 6.2% to $5.17 billion. General Dynamics says fourth quarter figures indicate strong signs of recovery, however.
PARC ABERPORTH UAV CENTRE UNDER THREAT
The unmanned air vehicles centre at Parc Aberporth airport in west Wales could lose its sole tenant if Selex Galileo opts to move its operations to another location in Europe. The company has completed full envelope testing for its Falco unmanned air vehicle at Parc Aberporth and is re-evaluating its use of the facility.
INDONESIA STARTS WORK ON EC225/725 PARTS
Indonesian Aerospace has started manufacturing its first parts for the Eurocopter EC225/725 family of transport helicopters. Six units will be delivered during 2011, before the rate increases to one a month. The state-owned company will start making fuselage sections in May for delivery from November 2011.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY ACQUIRES CIRRUS SR20S
Cirrus has sold 16 SR20 piston singles to Purdue University's department of aviation technology. The four-seat aircraft will be used to train around 600 students, replacing Purdue's fleet of Piper Warriors in service. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in March.
BANDEIRANTE CRASH KILLS TWO
A chartered Embraer EMB-110C Bandeirante has crashed in Brazil killing two of the eight passengers and two crew on board. The aircraft (PT-TAF), operated by Piquiatuba Táxi Aéreo and chartered to the Reicon Group, came down in farmland on 25 January while attempting to land at a private airfield near Senador José Porfírio. The aircraft departed Belém's Val de Cães International airport at 12:58 local time for a 90min flight to Senador José Porfirio. Initial reports indicate engine failure.
Source: Flight International
