Charles Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, Space Launch Systems, ATK, a speaker at the marcus evans Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Summit 2012, on becoming more competitive in the sector.

New York, NY, July 23, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - The aerospace and defense manufacturing sector is an extremely narrow market that is becoming much more competitive, says Charles Precourt, Vice President and General Manager, Space Launch Systems, ATK. In the current economy, this leaves little roomfor error. Nevertheless, products that do not address a market demand have little chance of being successful.

Ahead of the marcus evans Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Summit 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 25-26, Precourt, a speaker at the event, shares his thoughts on the aerospace and defense marketplace, innovation and green manufacturing.

- What is your outlook on the aerospace and defense marketplace?

This is an extremely narrow market that is becoming much more competitive. It mostly answers to government defense contracts and programs and at the same time, to purely commercial markets, such as satellites and aircraft for commercial use.

The US government wants to achieve more cost savings and exploit the efficiencies that the commercial market has benefited from, but that requires a more commercial approach that it is not accustomed to. A lot of the products for the government customer base are unique and require special contractual mechanisms, so are not commoditized. The industry needs to help the government exploit these opportunities.

- How could the commercial market achieve more cost savings?

In this economic environment, most companies, including those in the aerospace and defense productmanufacturing sector, have taken similar initiatives: consolidation, becoming more lean, positioning for future growth in the economy and in market demand, reducing quality errors and addressing their ability to deliver higher yields.

We have reduced both our staffing and footprint infrastructure by nearly 50 per cent over the last few years. However, we have been very careful to maintain critical skills and capabilities, so that production can be more cost effective when the market stabilizes and demand returns. It has not been easy, but we have had significant positive results and are much better off business-wise.

- Should the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) regulations be revised?

Visit link:

ATK: Boosting Competitiveness in the Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Sector

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - July 23, 2012) - FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (FLY.V) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") is pleased to announce it has received a Verified Supplemental Type Certification ("VSTC") which will allow for the operation of the Automated Flight Information Reporting System ("AFIRS") 228B in China on CRJ-900 aircraft.

The VSTC is an approval granted by the Civil Aviation Authority of China ("CAAC") and is equivalent to an STC issued by Transport Canada. The full activation VSTC, gives any CRJ-900 customer the ability to install and operate the AFIRS 228 in China. The AFIRS 228 is also certified to operate under the license issued to SKYBLUE Technology Development Ltd. ("SKYBLUE") for use of specific bandwidth for aviation in China. This certification is the culmination of our efforts with our partner and customer to make the FLYHT solution fully compliant with the new satellite communication requirements announced in a SKYBLUE in a press release dated October 9, 2011.

"FLYHT has invested in the China market for more than eight years," comments President & CEO Bill Tempany. "This certification, in addition to the approval for bandwidth in China, gives a total solution to CRJ-900 operators desiring a method of compliance with the satcom mandate in China. It is an important milestone in FLYHT's long term strategy to be the leader in satcom connectivity in China."

Additionally, the CRJ-900 is the first new aircraft to have AFIRS 228 installed prior to delivery to the customer.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides proprietary technological products and services designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in the airline industry. The Company has patented and commercialized three products and associated services currently marketed to airlines, manufacturers and maintenance organizations around the world. Its premier technology, AFIRS(TM) UpTime(TM), allows airlines to monitor and manage aircraft operations anywhere, anytime, in real time. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, FLYHT's triggered data streaming mode, FLYHTStream(TM), automatically streams vital data, normally secured in the black box, to designated sites on the ground in real-time. The Company has been publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange since 2003 and recently changed its trading symbol from AMA to FLY. Shareholders approved a Company name change from AeroMechanical Services Ltd. to FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. in May 2012.

AFIRS, UpTime, FLYHT, FLYHTStream and AeroQ are trademarks of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

Join us on social media!

http://www.facebook.com/flyht

http://www.twitter.com/flyhtcorp

Continue reading here:

FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX.V:FLY) Announces First Certification for AFIRS 228 Deployment in China

BOULDER, Colo., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. congratulates NASA and the United States Geological Survey on the 40th anniversary of the Landsat program and its unparalleled global land surface observation record.

The first Earth-observing Landsat satellite launched on July 23, 1972. Since then, Landsat satellites have continuously collected Earth images to create an historical archive unmatched in quality, detail, coverage and length.

Ball Aerospace will provide its first instruments to help maintain Landsat's legacy when the Operational Land Imager and cryocooler for the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) are flown on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) mission scheduled to launch in early 2013.

OLI represents a great advancement in Landsat sensor technology by employing a more reliable design to improve performance. OLI's 14-module detector array enables it to scan with a pushbroom method rather than the older sweeping method. The OLI instrument provides 15-meter (49ft.) panchromatic and 30-meter (98 ft) multi-spectral spatial resolutions along a 185km (115 miles) wide swath allowing the entire globe to be imaged every 16 days. Radiometric performance from OLI and the TIRS instrument will be substantially better than any previous Landsat sensor flown.

"The improved key sensor technology will help scientists achieve a greater understanding of the impact of land use change into a fourth decade," said Ball Aerospace president and CEO David L. Taylor. "OLI's sensitivity ultimately provides improved land surface information with fewer moving parts."

The demand for Landsat data continues to rise, with nearly three million scenes downloaded in 2011.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions for national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. For more information visit http://www.ballaerospace.com.

Ball Corporation (BLL) is a supplier of high quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2011 sales of more than $8.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit http://www.ball.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates, " "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at http://www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the recent global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget and debt limit; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

Go here to read the rest:

Ball Aerospace Salutes NASA and the USGS on 40 Years of Landsat Observations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) -- Woodward Inc., which makes controls for the energy and aerospace industries, said on Monday that its third quarter net income fell 27 percent as profits declined in its aerospace segment.

The company earned $28.3 million, or 40 cents per share, for the quarter that ended June 30. That was down from $36.1 million, or 51 cents per share, during the same period last year. Revenue rose 5 percent to $460.2 million, from $438.5 million a year ago.

Profits from its aerospace business fell 39 percent, to $21.5 million, from $35.4 million a year ago. Earnings in its energy segment rose 7 percent to $31.2 million, from $29.3 million a year ago.

Revenue from aerospace fell slightly to $214.5 million, from $215.2 million a year ago. In its energy segment, revenue rose 10 percent to $245.8 million, from $223.2 million a year ago.

Aerospace profits were hurt by lower defense sales and higher spending for product development and improved production. Some of that spending was offset by price increases. Sales to commercial aircraft makers and aftermarket sellers both increased, the company said.

In addition, companywide revenue was shaved by $8 million because of unfavorable foreign exchange rates.

"Ongoing worldwide economic uncertainty is also pressuring sales growth," Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Gendron said.

For the first nine months of the fiscal year, Woodward said its net income has risen 5.4 percent to $95.5 million, or $1.36 per share, from $90.5 million, or $1.29 per share, during the first three quarters of 2011. Revenue rose 9.4 percent to $1.34 billion, from $1.22 billion a year earlier.

Woodward shares had fallen $1.08, or 3.2 percent, to close at $33.26 before the results were released. They rose $1.08 to $34.34 in aftermarket trading.

View post:

Aerospace weakness pulls down Woodward 3Q net