INDIAN SATELLITE DATA SALES A LOSS-MAKER
India's Department of Space has been losing money on the sale of data from its remote sensing satellite constellation, according to India's comptroller and auditor general. The data was seen as a revenue booster for the Indian space programme's commercial arm, Antrix, but the comptroller found that sales did not cover constellation operating costs between 2003 and 2008. The report to parliament also found that the Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre, which is responsible for receiving and analysing the satellite data, had no idea of specific user requirements in areas such as urban planning, drought management, underground water prospecting, mineral mapping and environmental impact assessment.
EADS OPENS PATH TO TECHNOLOGY SHARING
EADS'S Technology Licensing is initiating a new "forum" concept to bring together EADS licensees with experts from across the company for an open exchange of experience, expertise and lessons learned in composites production. The first forum will meet during the second half of 2011 with Airbus in Toulouse.
A J WALTER LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE PORTAL
Component support specialist A J Walter Aviation has launched a new interactive web portal offering customers a secure, online, 24/7, real-time view of their component orders.
CHROMALLOY MOVES TO THE SUN
Chromalloy is moving its headquarters from Orangeburg, New York to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where it has established a technology centre dedicated to gas turbine repairs, parts and coatings. Technical staff and 52 administrative staff are to relocate. Last year the company expanded its turbine engine casting operation in Tampa, and is building an adjacent ceramic core facility.
SENIOR BUYS DAMAR MACHINE
Component and systems maker Senior has acquired machinist Damar Machine in Washington state for $24.5 million. Boeing commercial aircraft business represented some 88% of Damar's 2010 revenue of $25.6 million.
JETBLUE TO HOLD LIVETV - FOR NOW
JetBlue Airways believes its LiveTV subsidiary should ultimately not be owned by an airline, but the carrier says it has no near-term plans to divest the in-flight entertainment and connectivity provider, which it purchased in 2002. In June 2008 rising fuel prices saw JetBlue enlist Merrill Lynch to explore options for the subsidiary.
ELBIT TAKES ISRAELI LEAD IN ELECTRONIC WARFARE
Elbit Systems is now Israel's largest electronic warfare company, having acquired the balance of shares in Elisra Electronic Systems still held by Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems subsidiary. Elisra has developed and supplied most of the EW systems carried by Israeli air force fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
MB AEROSPACE EXITS ENERGY BUSINESS
MB Aerospace Holdings has sold its standalone energy services division, MBAe Oil & Gas, to Glacier Energy Services Holdings for £8 million ($12.8 million) in a strategic move to focus the UK group on aerospace and defence supply chain management. The divestment follows the August 2009 sale of MB Faber.
Source: Flight International
