Sky Talk

Air Force looking for easier, cheaper ways to upgrade F-22

When the F-22 was being designed by Lockheed Martin for the Air force back in the technological stone ages of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the computing industry had not yet moved to what is now known as open architecture -- the ability to connect numerous, interoperable devices from different developers.

So the F-22 got a Lockheed Martin developed system that no one else has the tools to upgrade but, you guessed it, Lockheed. Now, according to Defense News, the Air Force wants to change that.

By introducing an open architecture to one of the world's most tightly knit proprietary systems, service officials hope to make it much cheaper and easier to insert new technology - even gear developed for the F-35 Lightning II - into the stealthy air-superiority fighter.

"This jet has a very highly integrated avionics system. Because of that tight coupling and that highly integrated nature, it makes it very difficult, and we are highly reliant upon [Raptor makers] Lockheed Martin and Boeing to do any kinds of modifications to the jet," said David Weber, deputy director of the F-22 System Program Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Weber said the open-architecture effort is meant to allow the Air Force to open upgrade work to competition.

Today, he said, "the architecture is proprietary to Lockheed Martin, and we're kinda stuck with Lockheed Martin when we want to integrate something new."

- Bob Cox

 

D/FW may know Southwest's plans to pull AirTran service out by the end of the week

At Tuesday's Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Board committee meetings, airport chief executive Jeff Fegan said he expects to hear from Southwest Airlines soon on the carrier's plans to end AirTran service at D/FW.

"They have indicated that they plan on sending me a letter," Fegan told board members who inquired on the progress of discussions with the Dallas-based carrier. "There are no official plans...I suspect we will hear in the next couple of days."

Southwest Airlines purchased AirTran Airways on May 2 and announced it plans to end AirTran's service at D/FW in order to remain in compliance with the Wright Amendment Compromise Agreement. 

Under the agreement signed in 2006, Southwest would have to give up one gate at Dallas Love Field for every gate that it uses at D/FW Airport. AirTran currently uses two gates at D/FW Airport for nine daily flights to Orlando, Atlanta and Baltimore.

AirTran flights departing D/FW through November 21 are available for purchase on AirTran's website.

-Andrea Ahles

Textron names new president and CEO of Cessna

Textron Inc. (announced that Scott A. Ernest has been named president and chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft Company, Textron's general aviation business. Ernest replaces Jack Pelton, whose retirement was announced May 2.

Ernest will head the premier U.S. producer of light and mid-size Citation business jets, based in Wichita, KS. Cessna was long a star in the Textron aviation portfolio, but the company has struggled to regain sales and profits in the wake of the 2008-2009 economic debacle and is facing increased competition at home and abroad. Bell Helicopter of Fort Worth, in part due to its heavy military business, has fared better than Cessna the last couple of years.

Ernest will report to Textron CEO Scott Donnelly. He is a 29-year veteran of General Electric Company, where he most recently served as vice president and general manager, global supply chain for GE Aviation, a $16 billion leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft.

Previously, Ernest was vice president and general manager, global services operations for GE Aviation's $6 billion services business. His career at GE Aviation also includes several general manager roles ranging from overseeing its sourcing organization to responsibility for its North American operations and large aviation services businesses located in Singapore and Strother, Kansas.

Donnelly came to Textron from GE Aviation.

"Scott is a talented global business leader who has strong expertise in the aviation industry," Donnelly said in a statement issued by Textron. "Accelerating Cessna's new product and service development, strengthening its manufacturing and sourcing operations, and intensifying its global expansion efforts are key to moving Cessna forward. Scott brings an extensive track record of success in these areas along with a reputation as an outstanding leader. I am confident that he is the ideal person to position Cessna for growth as the business jet market gains momentum."

Ernest earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron and a master of science degree in engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

- Bob Cox

 

A day after Monday Midday Must-Reads

Hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend and had a chance to reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

Since Sky Talk was off, the Monday Midday Must-Reads are a day later than usual. Here's what caught our eyes over the weekend.

-A Delta Air Lines flight landing at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport caught fire as it landed on the runway. The FAA says the plane blew a tire, while Delta says the brakes overheated on the plane. Here's the Atlanta Journal Constitution's take  on the incident.

-American Airlines posted its annual "Corporate Responsibility" reporton its web site. The airline said it has made progress in investing in good business practices and applauded its employees for raising millions for charitable organizations. Take a look and let us know what you think of American's glossy report.

-The New York Times examined when airline award trips aren't really free in this weekend piece. Several foreign carriers have begun adding fuel charges on to "free" award trips and domestic carriers already charge customers "change" fees if they want to change an award ticket.

-And finally, I caught a little flak from Sky Talk readers about the American Airlines NBA Finals post that I put up quickly on Friday morning. So here's the full piece  that ran in Saturday's edition that includes an interview I was able to do on Friday afternoon with a sports economist that discusses the diminishing value of naming rights and some information on how much these deals cost American annually.

-Andrea Ahles

Gulfstream resumes G650 flight testing

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said it resumed test flights of the new G650 business jet on Saturday following a temporary suspension of flying after an April 2 accident at Roswell, N.M. that killed all four crew members.

The first flight since the accident was for 1 hour and 39 minutes. The crew included senior experimental test pilots Jake Howard and Tom Horne and Flight Test Engineer Bill Osborne.

“We have conducted all the necessary reviews to assure ourselves that we can safely resume the flight-test program at this point,” said Pres Henne, Gulfstream's senior vice president, programs, engineering and test.

“We have worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration in this process and received the agency’s concurrence to resume flight testing. It is our responsibility to move forward with the flight-test program, and we will do so in a safe and prudent manner. The G650 will enter service as the flagship of our product line, where it will represent the very best in business aviation technology.”

The G650 flight-test effort has accomplished 470 flights, with 1,560 hours accumulated of the estimated 2,200 hours required for certification. Gulfstream resumed flying with the four remaining flight-test aircraft. The company still anticipates certification in 2011, with service entry in 2012, as was originally planned at the aircraft’s public launch in 2008.

Gulfstream said it continues to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its investigation of the accident.

- Bob Cox

Extra fees generate $22 billion for airlines in 2010, new report says

Airlines around the world are raking in the cash with extra fees, according to a new report.

In 2010, airlines generated almost $22 billion from ancillary revenues streams, including baggage fees, co-branded credit cards and premium club passes. That is a 775 percent increase from the $2.45 billion in ancillary revenue reported by airlines in 2007.

The newly-merged United Continental topped the global list with $5 billion in ancillary revenue in 2010. Delta Air Lines came in second with $3.7 billion while American Airlines came in third with $1.95 billion in extra fee revenue.

"Difficult airline economics are driving this activity," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks Co. which authored the report. "Carriers can boost revenue through a la carte fees to balance damage brought by recession, new competitors, traveler demand for low fares - due to the culture prompted by low-cost airlines - and rising oil prices. Today, ancillary revenue has grown well beyond its low-cost airline beginnings and is practiced around the globe."

IdeaWorks, an airline and travel research firm in Wisconsin, partnered with global travel distribution company, Amadeus to put together the report. Amadeus sells software solutions to airlines and other travel firms to help them maximize their ancillary revenue streams.

Here's the top ten from 2010:

1. United Continental $5 billion

2. Delta Air Lines $3.7 billion

3. American AIrlines $1.95 billion

4. Qantas Airways $1.53 billion

5. US Airways $1.13 billion

6. Ryanair $1.13 billion

7. easyJet $926 million

8. Emirates $603 million

9. Alaska Airlines $552 million

10. TAM Airlines $509 million

-Andrea Ahles

 

Qantas new route to/from D/FW isn't always non-stop

It looks like Qantas Airways is having a little trouble with its new route from Australia to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and back.

Since the carrier launched its new route about two weeks ago, there have been a couple of times where the non-stop route hasn't exactly been non-stop.

On May 23, the flight from Sydney, Australia was diverted to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport for a couple of hours while Dallas/Fort Worth was dealing with severe thunderstorms and hail.

And then this weekend, Qantas' D/FW passengers had an unexpected visit to tropical New Caldeonia, stopping at the country's capital, Noumea, for refueling before continuing on to Brisbane. The airline said strong headwinds increased fuel consumption and the pilots opted to stop for gas before finishing the flight.

Qantas uses a Boeing 747-400 on the Sydney-D/FW and D/FW-Brisbane-Sydney route and the 8,500 mile one-way trip is the third-longest scheduled passenger route in the world. It is already at the end of the 747-400 range which is why Qantas scheduled a stop in Brisbane on the way back to make sure it had enough fuel before continuing on to Sydney.

 "We're a few weeks into the new route and we'll keep monitoring it," Qantas spokesman Thomas Woodward told an Australian newspaper over the weekend. "We're gaining as much operational experience and getting as much data as we can from the flights but it's too early to draw any conclusions.

"If it becomes an ongoing issue, we'll obviously look at ways of addressing it," he added.

-Andrea Ahles

Sabre inks distribution deal with USTravel

USTravel, a travel management company serving the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, said Tuesday it signed a multi-year agreement with Sabre Travel Network to use Sabre’s booking and travel technology.

Sabre will become USTravel’s primary travel technology partner, providing the company with access to travel content from more than 400 airlines, 93,000 hotels, 24 car rental brands and 13 cruise lines via its global distribution system.

-Scott Nishimura

Pentagon review of F-35 progress, costs postponed

Reuters is reporting that the Pentagon's Milestone B review of the F-35 program, originally slated for this month, has been postponed until mid-May.

Now this is not some showdown. It's a session at which senior officials and their staff will try to agree on a new, viable "baseline" plan for the program, set new schedules and cost estimates that will be the yardstick for measuring progress going forward. It's a step required following the 2010 Nunn-McCurdy breach of federal weapons procurement law, a sign of just how badly the program has been screwed up since the original Milestone B in late 2001 led to Lockheed Martin being awarded the development contract.

- Bob Cox

Boeing laying groundwork for new airplane?

Flightblogger, aka Jon Ostrower, sees a clue in a Boeing personnel assignment that the company is likely moving towards launch of an all new airplane, a replacement for the 737.

- Bob Cox