UK TRADE GROUPS JOIN FORCES
UK trade associations the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers, the Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) are to merge, effective from 1 October into AeroSpace, Defence and Security (ADS), representing 800 firms. SBAC chief executive Ian Godden will be chairman and DMA director general Rees Ward will be chief executive. Air show organiser Farnborough International will remain a distinct brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of ADS.
MOOG EYES UK ACTUATION CONTROLS BUSINESS
Moog and GE Aviation Systems are expected soon to agree a sale of GE's Wolverhampton, UK-based flight actuation controls business, which it acquired as part of its $4.8 billion purchase of Smiths Aerospace in May 2007. The business had $100 million of sales in 2008 supplying parts for programmes including the Airbus A350 and A380, Boeing 777 and 787, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rolls-Royce engine for the STOVL version of the Lockheed Martin F-35.
SAFRAN COMPLETES GE SECURITY TAKEOVER
France's Safran Group has completed its $580 million acquisition of an 81% stake in General Electric's Homeland Protection security division, whose products include tomography-based airport baggage-scanning and trace-detection equipment. GE retains the other 19%
RIVALS SNIFF AROUND BMI ASSETS
Lufthansa is still working through options for newly acquired BMI amid indications that competitors are circling the UK carrier in the hope of picking up parts of the business. Lufthansa would say only that the carrier - which controls Swiss International Air Lines and is in the process of absorbing Austrian and Brussels Airlines - is "looking at all the scenarios and possibilities" for BMI, which are thought to include integration into Lufthansa, or its sale in whole or in part. BMI lost £100 million ($155 million) in 2008.
RAVEN DELAYS AT AEROVIRONMENT
AeroVironment's unmanned aircraft systems segment operating profit dropped by 46% year-on-year to just short of $9 million for its first quarter ended 1 August as sales declined 28% to $33.3 million. Chief executive Tim Conver says customers have deferred delivery of Raven systems in anticipation of a new, digital version, and upgrade kits for existing systems, which will be available in the second half of the year.
ENZ IN AS CURTIS REIGN ENDS AT RIZON
Rizon, the Middle East and UK-based corporate aircraft charter, maintenance, trading and management company, is now headed by former Jet Aviation vice-president Patrick Enz. Enz succeeds Will Curtis, who as group chief executive has led the company for two years since start-up. Rizon is soon to opening maintenance, repair and overhaul and fixed-base operations from 11,150m2 (120,000ft2) hangars in Doha, Qatar and London Biggin Hill.
CYLINDERS PUT PRESSURE IN WORTHINGTON
Columbus, Ohio-headquartered Worthington Industries has acquired $36 million-turnover high-pressure cylinders maker Structural Composites Industries, based in Pomona, California, for its Worthington Cylinders unit. SCI products include cylinders for alternative fuel vehicles using natural gas or hydrogen.
Source: Flight International
