Bell Helicopter, an American rotorcraft manufacturer, announced a brand new helicopter assembly plant recently, one which would be ultimately responsible for assembling the company’s new Short Light Single (SLS) helicopter line. The factory, located in Lafayette, would be the first modern-era aircraft assembly factory to be located in Louisiana.
Learn MoreEaton Corporation, an international power management company, just recently completed a merger that would see its corporate headquarters moved to Ireland from its current location in Northeast Ohio, a move which would potentially save millions of dollars in US corporate taxes. Eaton joins a list of companies that have moved their headquarters overseas in attempts to shield their profits from US corporate taxation. Among them is Cooper Industries, which merged with Eaton in 2012. Cooper Industries, which was originally a Texas-based company, lists its corporate headquarters as in Ireland as well.
Learn MoreBombardier Aerospace, a pision of Bombardier Inc., was recently begun advanced discussions with some air carriers to become the first operator of its brand new CSeries jet line. The company suffered a recent setback when Sweden’s Braathens Aviations AB pulled out of its commitment to become the first launch operator. Consequently, Bombardier opted to push back deliveries of the jet until the first half of 2015, which is highly unusual.
Learn MoreACR Electronics, Inc. was founded in 1956 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company specializes in manufacturing electronics assembly for emergency and rescue applications including: emergency distress beacons [EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons), ELTs (emergency locator transmitters), and PLBs (personal locator beacons)], distress strobe lights, maritime searchlights, other survival products, GMDSS- (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) and SOLAS- (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) approved products, and much more. In 1999, the company was purchased by Cobham plc and in 2012, ARC merged with ARTEX, another life-saving and emergency equipment manufacturer.
Learn MoreZodiac Aerospace (Euronext: ZC) is a world leader in the production and development of on-board systems and cabin interiors. Their products are used for commercial, regional and business aircraft, as well as helicopters and space applications.This French company’s history dates back to 1896 as a leading balloon airship manufacturer that, in 1909, manufactured the world’s first sporting and tourist balloons. Zodiac’s experience in airplanes can be traced back to 1911 when they contributed to the war effort by constructing airplanes.
Learn MoreEven before the war in Iraq, spearheaded by the US military, began in 2003, Dassault Aviation was feeling the impact of decreased sales in the military jet business. Dassault Aviation, which is France’s only manufacturer of military warplanes, lost several orders to large US-based companies in the past decade. Such orders include a $4.4 billion, 40-jet order in South Korea in Spring of 2003, which was won by US aerospace giant Boeing.
Learn MoreGeneral Dynamics, an American aerospace and defense company, is one of the largest defense contractors in the world. In 2012, they were ranked as the world’s 5th largest defense contractor, and have now earned the 4th spot in recent years. General Dynamic’s total arms sales are valued at $24 billion, with $2.6 billion in total profit. Their core military programs include the Abrams M1 Main Battle Tank, which is the standard tank of the US military. In addition, they support ships, munitions, and military-grade communication systems.
Learn MoreRecently, Northrop Grumman extended its track record of large government contracts with an $89.7 million contract option to continue its support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) system, which is for overseas contingency missions. BACN, a high-altitude, airborne communications gateway, connects warfighters both in the air and on the ground through the use of voice communications, video, and imagery. The system relays battlefield information to sources that help improve situational awareness and help coordinate with all assets. To date, the Air Force has deployed 4 BACN E-11A system and 3 BACN EQ-4B systems in the Iraqi War.
Learn MoreAs technology continues to advance, the way the world communicates, travels, and lives are constantly changing. Panasonic Avionics Corporation looks towards bringing these three things together while keeping up with current technology through In Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) solutions. IFEC plays a big part in the aviation industry and can cost anywhere from $2 million to $5 million for a plane to be equipped with LCD monitors and an IFEC system.
Learn MorePratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate United Technologies Corporation, is vying for dominance of the aircraft engine market alongside major competitors Rolls Royce and General Electric. As such, it has also formed joined ventures with these companies. It is working in conjunction with GE in a joint venture called Engine Alliance in which it is manufacturing engines for the Airbus 380. It is also working with International Aero Engines, a Rolls-Royce company, in a joint venture called MTU Aero Engines for the manufacturing of engines for the Airbus A320 and McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft.
Learn MoreHoneywell Aerospace, a subsidiary of the larger American multinational conglomerate Honeywell International, expects considerable growth in its business jet industry in the foreseeable future. Between 2011 and 2021, Honeywell estimates approximate sales exceeding $230 billion from business jets alone, according to its 20th edition of the annual Business Aviation Outlook. Although this represents only a 2% increase from the company’s previous 10 year sales estimate which was forecasted in 2010, this still accounts for substantial growth in the saturated aviation market.
Learn MoreRolls Royce is the second largest manufacturer of aircraft engines in the world. The first aero engine produced was in 1914. By 1920, aeronautics engines generated most of their business. Nearly half the aircraft engines used in World War I by the allies were produced by Rolls Royce. Today, more than 30 types of commercial aircraft use Rolls-Royce engines. Nearly 13,000 engines are currently in service.
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