Boeing has acquired Australia-based Preston Group, which provides the Total Airspace and Airport Modeller (TAAM) software product for "what if" modelling of air traffic management and airport terminal control. Preston, which has offices in Washington DC and London, also offers a terminal management system day-of-operation planning tool. Diversified technology company EG&G of Massachusetts has agreed to buy Vivid Technologies, a supplier of automated explosive detection systems to 43 airports worldwide, in a 1-for-6.2 share deal valued at $62.5 million. EG&G will change its own name to PerkinElmer later this month. The Travelocity division of computer reservation systems giant Sabre Holdings, sister company of American Airlines, is to buy on-line reservations specialist Preview Travel. The deal will create a new publicly traded company which, with turnover of more than $1 billion, will be the largest Internet commerce site in the USA. EFW, the Texan subsidiary of Israel's Elbit Systems, has completed its $15.9 million purchase of Alabama-based International Enterprises, which provides depot level repair and support for air- and sea-based electronic systems. Teledesic has emerged as a potential bidder for the defunct Iridium satellite communications company. Teledesic says it is keen "to explore some opportunities", and Iridium's 66 low-orbit satellites could allow it to provide limited Internet services before the completion of its own system. Canada-based international helicopter operator CHC Helicopter has sold all of its 5.5 million shares in repair business Vector Aerospace for C$34.4 million ($23.3 million), pursuant to a public offering in Canada. St Louis-based ESCO Electronics has completed the sale of its Systems & Electronics defence subsidiary to Engineered Support Systems for $85 million. Sensys Technologies is to buy the SciComm defence electronics business of Andrew Corp.
Source: Flight International
