Dassault aims for 2007 Thales stake sale
shareholding Dassault is hoping to sell its stake in Thales by the end of the year, says chief executive Charles Edelstenne. Dassault Aviation's holding company Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault (GIMD) owns a 5% stake in Thales (see graph) but Edelstenne says it is "not a strategic holding, only a financial holding".
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ELTA to benefit from ICAO legislation
sales French manufacturer ELTA is expecting to benefit from International Civil Aviation Organisation legislation requiring all aircraft flying internationally with more than 19 seats to carry at least two emergency locator transmitters (ELT). Sales of portable ELTs are forecast to increase by 40% when the legislation comes into force in 2008. The company has also won a contract to supply its ADT 406 S ELT for the Boeing 787. The company says that the Boeing deal could be worth more than $5 million over the life of the programme based on current orders and options.
Qinetiq boosts space risk business
insurance UK-based Qinetiq is planning to continue the development of its space risk assessment product SpaceRAT after signing three-year contracts worth £650,000 ($1.3 million) with space insurer Sciemus, in which it owns a 10% stake. Qinetiq is providing the company with technical advice on spacecraft reliability and risk analysis. Sciemus says it plans to build on the collaboration to develop risk-analysis tools for other industries as well.
P&W boosts inventory with Volvo deal
acquisition US-based engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is buying the majority of Volvo Aero Engine Services' (VAES) inventory for an undisclosed sum. The inventory of tooling, machinery and spare parts, including those for Pratt & Whitney JT8D, JT9D and PW4000 engines, will be distributed among Pratt & Whitney's six Global Service Partner maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centres worldwide and its Texas spare parts hub. VAES is selling the assets as part of plans to close its Bromma facility in Sweden.
Aftermarket success boosts K&F earnings
results K&F Industries is predicting continued growth in earnings and revenue, after reaping the benefits of strength across the sectors it operates in as well as savings as a result of productivity improvements last year. Strong demand for business jet parts, expansion of its maintenance and upgrade offerings for the US military, increased regional jet deliveries and growing aftermarket work on commercial programmes have helped the US-based manufacturer to post 2006 full-year earnings of $169 million on revenues of $424 million, compared with earnings of $147 million and revenues of $385 million in 2005. Its backlog is up 89% at $297 million.
Alpha Aviation targets India and China
training UK-based Alpha Aviation is aiming to set up pilot training centres in China and India to boost its global network of training facilities and take advantage of booming demand for new pilots. Chief executive Mark Pearson says: "China is our next market - there is such a huge deficit there." The company is in talks with several partners in China, where Pearson expects to establish two facilities. The first could be operational within a year, he says. He anticipates setting up "at least one centre in India".
Source: Flight International
