P&W TO OUTSOURCE MORE GTF WORK
Sikorsky helicopters and Pratt & Whitney both shone for parent company United Technologies in 2010, with Sikorsky racking up an 18% jump in profit to $716 million on sales up 6% to $6.68 billion. P&W profit was up 8% to $1.99 billion as sales grew 4% to $12.9 billion. P&W senior vice-president Greg Hayes says the engine maker plans to bring in partners to share as much as 49% of the cost of producing its next-generation PurePower geared turbofan engine, which is exclusive on the Bombardier CSeries airliner and has been selected by Airbus as an option for its A320neo, with the same partners covering around 40% of the engineering and development costs. So far, MTU is the biggest PurePower partner, providing some 15% of the engine, including the low-pressure turbine module. Hayes says another possible partner is Japanese Aero Engine, currently part of the International Aero Engines consortium, with P&W, Rolls-Royce and MTU, which makes the Airbus A320 option IAE V2500 powerplant.
BELL RINGS IN PROFIT WHILE CESSNA DIVES TO RED
Operating profits at Textron's Bell Helicopter unit surged 40% to $427 million as revenue grew 14% to $3.24 billion in 2010, with help from higher deliveries of V-22 and H-1 aircraft. However, despite 12% fourth quarter sales growth, sister business Cessna closed the year with a loss of $29 million, compared with a $198 million profit in 2009, as sales fell 23% to $2.56 billion.
COLLINS UP ON OEMS, AFTERMARKET
In its first quarter to 31 December, Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems' aviation electronics division posted a 24% rise in operating profit to $84 million on sales up 12% to $460 million.
GE, AVIC SEAL AVIONICS JOINT VENTURE
GE Aviation and AVIC have formally signed an agreement reached in November 2009 to develop their new joint venture avionics company, which will supply the Comac C919 programme.
JETSCAPE, M1 COMMERCIAL JETS JOIN FORCES
Aircraft lessor Jetscape has concluded a merger with M1 Commercial Jets, previously owned by M1 Leasing, establishing a new British Virgin Islands-based holding company, Jetscape Aviation Group, 57% owned by M1 Leasing and 43% owned by Jetscape's original shareholders. Jetscape and M1 deal in regional aircraft.
BUDGET WOES LEAVE AIR NEW ZEALAND UP IN AIR
New Zealand could sell part of its 75% stake in Air New Zealand, although it intends to remain the majority shareholder. Prime Minister John Key says the government's need to balance its budget may also see it divest stakes in several power companies.
IFE SERVICES TIES IN CHINESE CONTENT
UK-based in-flight entertainment services provider IFE Services and AirMedia Group of China have pooled their content resources in an alliance agreement giving AirMedia distribution rights to a range of Chinese entertainment content.
AVSTAR SIGNS MAS AS AMERICAS MARKETER
Miami Aviation Specialists is to market AvStar Aviation's services in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. MAS provides parts and component repair services for the Shorts 3-60 and other commercial aircraft.
Source: Flight International
