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Aviation History
2000
2000-1 - 1420.PDF
Europe looks to close R&D gap DEEDEE DOKE/BRUSSELS KEY FIGURES from Euro pean aerospace companies and the continent's research estab lishment have been tasked with developing a strategy for aeronau tical research and development (R& D) up to 2020, with the aim of encouraging co-operation and closing the gap with the USA. A 14-strong group appointed by European research commissioner Phillippe Busquin includes FADS co-chairmen Jean Luc Lagardere and Manfred Bischoff, and Rolls- Royce chairman Sir Ralph Robins. One means of encouraging greater collaboration proposed by Busquin is to focus European Union (EU) funding on "big technology platforms which show the way forward", rather than on smaller projects which otter shorter-term benefits. The next round of EL research funding - the "Sixth Framework"-will place greater emphasis on proposals with results-orientated business plans, so that project goals are clear and achievements can be measured. Busquin's latest drive is part of a campaign to develop a European Research Area, a concept he is applying to sectors ranging from biotechnology to the car industry. The role of the aerospace group is to identify 20-year goals, and to sug gest ways of encouraging co-oper ation. It reports back in December. First proposals for the Sixth Framework - beginning in 2002 - will be made in January. Aeronau tics was defined as a specific R&D area only in the Fifth Framework in 1998, and was allocated €700 million ($610 million) during the programme's tour-year lifetime. 3 PEOPLE ++ Jerome Gaspar, is to be the acting VP engineering & technology at Rockwell Collins, covering engi neering areas including Collins Advanced Technology Centre and the Displays Centre of Excellence. ++ Thomson-CSF Sextant In- Flight Systems has appointed Olivier Boulart as director of e-services. He was previously Thomson's VP information sys tems. ++ General Dynamics Information Systems has named James Juntilla as its new presi dent. Previously VP information management systems, he replaces James Finleywho has left. ++Craig Arnold has joined Eaton as senior VP and group executive. Fluid Power Group, responsible for Aeroquip, aerospace and hydraulics activities. He was previously corporate VP and president, GE Lighting Services. ++ Philippe De Pooter has been appointed director, sales and mar keting, at Belgium's Virgin Express. He succeeds Paul Sies. Meridiana to renew fleet after sale plan failure TTALY'S SECOND largest JL domestic carrier, Meridiana, is to remain under the ownership of the Aga Khan after he failed to secure a buyer offering an accept able financial and industrial pack age. The airline-and Olbia airport in northern Sardinia, where it is based and which it owns - may be offered for sale again when there are "better market opportunities". Likely bidders had included SAirGroup and Lufthansa, but the former is structuring an Italian airline of its own through stakes in Air Europe and Volare, while the German carrier this month agreed a codeshare deal with Air One. Other carriers in the running included Air France, KLM and Italian regional Gandalf Airlines. Meridiana is 79%-owned by die Aga Khan, with its 1,400 workers controlling 16.7% and a bank a fur ther 3%. The carrier has a 15% share of the domestic passenger market, but last year only generat- Meridiana intends to retire the BAE-146 fleet it uses for Florence services ed 1.2 billion lire ($540,000) net profit on sales of 627.1 billion lire. Traffic has increased further this year, but the improvement has been offset by higher fuel costs and exchange rate fluctuations. Fleet renewal issues, which had been shelved, must now be addressed. Meridiana has 17 BoeingMD-82/83s and four BAE- 146s. Options include Airbus A320 aircraft, Next Generation Boeing 737s or 717s. Meridiana plans to take a single type, which must be able to operate from Florence's short runway. 3 Snecma Services seeks partner to expand on-wing engine repairs JULIAN MOXON/PARIS SNECMA SERVICES chair man Marc Ventre is developing an "aggressive" expansion plan and aims to secure a partner before year-end to co-develop its on-wing engine maintenance operation. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Snecma Moteurs last month opened Europe's first centre tor the repair of high-pressure compressor components on the CFM56 turbofan (jointly manu factured by Snecma and General Electric) after forming a new com pany, International Compressor Technologies, with surface coat ings specialist Praxair of the USA. Customer operations director Jacques Renvier says the "principal target" for Snecma Services is now to find a partner "to develop our on-wing maintenance activities". That partner could be another engine repair specialist or an air line, given the need to fly tooling worldwide. In addition to the ()\'\ 156 turbofan, it is also looking at engines such as GE's CF6-50/80, which Snecma helped to design. Sales last year were Fr2.44 bil lion (S324 million) - up 15% on 1998 - and are expected to rise to Fr3 billion by 2002. The company has just received Fr350 million from Snecma Moteurs to invest in new maintenance joint ventures with airlines, in addition to recent agreements with Sabena, Royal Air Maroc and China Southwest. New contracts signed last year included a 10-year deal with Northwest Airlines for A320 fleet engine maintenance. Renvier says a US joint venture must be formed to bid for upcoming "big mainte nance contracts". J 30 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 17 - 23 October 2000
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