UNITED AIRCRAFT TO FUND AN-148 PRODUCTION
Russia's United Aircraft is to invest Rb5 billion ($160 million) in affiliated airframer VASO to support manufacture of Antonov An-148 regional jets. VASO needs to achieve an estimated annual output of at least 24 aircraft, and supply between 200 and 250 An-148s, to recoup project costs, but UAC believes there is a potential for selling twice as many if the twinjet receives international certification and is fitted with Western engines.
SAFRAN 'SATISFACTORY' DESPITE CFM56 DIP
Safran Group recorded a 6.8% fall in first-half aerospace propulsion operating profit, to €259 million ($365 million). Total sales for the segment were down 2.8% as CFM56 engine deliveries slid by 86 units to 597 and maintenance shop visits dropped by almost 7%. Safran describes the result as "satisfactory" and notes that the service business appears solid, as second-generation engines, which generate higher service revenue, now account for more than half the delivered CFM56 fleet.
HAL WINS FOLLOW-ON AIRBUS DOOR ORDER
Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics has signed a follow-on contract with Airbus to supply 2,000 forward passenger doors for a variety of aircraft types. The deal follows an order for 1,460 shipsets to be completed by January 2010.
TWO OFFERS FOR ALITALIA MAINTENANCE DIVISIONS
Two firm offers have been received by unidentified investors to acquire stakes in the former Alitalia servicing operations Atitech and Alitalia Maintenance Systems. The administrator for the companies had been tasked with securing buyers for the Alitalia Servizi divisions by the end of this month. Both offers are conditional on "successful" consultation with trade unions.
ISRAEL AEROSPACE SETS SIGHTS ON BRAZIL
Israel Aerospace Industries is bullish about its military and civil prospects in Brazil through its EAE joint venture with Brazil's Synergy. EAE was established in March to supply unmanned air vehicles and other advanced systems and is already evaluating some "major programmes", according to an IAI source.
MILITARY SALES KEEP MEGGITT GROWING
Aerospace equipment, sensing and defence systems maker Meggitt posted a 32% rise in first-half pre-tax profit to £100.1 million ($170 million) as revenue increased 11% to £586.4 million. Civil aerospace revenues were flat at £254.1 million, but military revenues increased 31% to £251.1 million.
EMBRAER HALVES SECOND-QUARTER NET PROFIT
Embraer's net second-quarter profit halved to $67.8 million on an 11% reduction in sales to $1.46 billion as commercial aviation sales fell 4% to $972 million. The airframer delivered 35 commercial aircraft out of 56 deliveries. Its firm order backlog comprised 340 regional aircraft on 30 June.
RISING COSTS HURT ST AERO
Second-quarter net profits at Singapore Technologies Aerospace were down 20% to S$49 million ($34 million). Turnover grew 1% to S$499 million, but cost of sales increased 4% to S$411 million.
Source: Flight International
