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Category Archives: Aerospace

ST Aerospace Seal New Contracts Worth $780M in 4Q2013

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Singapore, 9 January 2014 ST Aerospace today announced that it has been awarded new orders worth $780m in the fourth quarter (4Q) of 2013. These contracts span the aerospace sectors broad range of capabilities, from airframe, component and engine maintenance, to cabin reconfiguration and engine wash.

Following the launch of the 15-pallet cargo configuration development effort for its 757-200SF freighter conversion program in June 2013, ST Aerospace received its first contract for five 757-200SF converted freighters with the new variant. A six-year contract was also secured with an existing Asian customer for the depot maintenance of its fleet of aircraft, covering airframes, components and engines.

ST Aerospace continued to gain momentum as a complete turnkey cabin reconfiguration provider, with the award of a cabin interior modification contract for 20 Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The first aircraft was inducted in early January 2014, targeted for redelivery by end of first quarter 2014. For VIP cabin reconfiguration, its US affiliate secured its first green aircraft completion contract from an undisclosed European-based VIP Boeing Business Jet customer.

In 4Q2013, ST Aerospace redelivered a total of 198 aircraft for airframe maintenance and modification work. A total of 10,985 components, 67 landing gears and 60 engines were processed, while 2,484 engine washes were conducted for both commercial and military customers.

On airframe capability development, a new narrow-body hangar was added at its Changi facility, capable of accommodating two single-aisle aircraft simultaneously.

In the US, ST Aerospaces affiliate STA Mobile signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Pensacola to jointly explore the development of a satellite airframe facility at the Pensacola International Airport. For engine wash, ST Aerospaces US affiliate EcoServices signed a teaming agreement with Vector-Hawk Aerospace for the launch of a new version of the EcoPower engine cleansing system, specially developed for all international and domestic customers of commercial and military PT6 turboprop engine-powered aircraft.

On pilot training capability development, additional six Cessna 172 single-engine training aircraft with matching flight training device were acquired for its flying operations in Australia.

Other initiatives implemented in 4Q2013 include the setting up of an aircraft leasing business to focus on mid-life to end-of-life aircraft for leasing, conversion and part out; and the establishment of Hondo Aerospace at the South Texas Regional Airport in Hondo, Texas to venture into green harvesting of aircraft parts, components and engines.

The above developments are not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.

ST Aerospace (Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd) is the aerospace arm of ST Engineering with a turnover of $2b in FY2012. Operating a global MRO network with facilities and affiliates in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, it is the worlds largest commercial airframe MRO provider with a global customer base that includes leading airlines, airfreight and military operators. ST Aerospace is an integrated service provider that offers a spectrum of maintenance and engineering services that include airframe, engine and component maintenance, repair and overhaul; engineering design and technical services; and aviation materials and asset management services, including Total Aviation Support. ST Aerospace has a global staff strength of around 9,000 employees worldwide. Please visit http://www.staero.aero.

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ST Aerospace Seal New Contracts Worth $780M in 4Q2013

How I Made It: Wanda M. Austin, president and CEO of Aerospace

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The gig: Wanda M. Austin, 59, is the president and chief executive of Aerospace Corp., an El Segundo brain trust for the Pentagon's space program. Although not well known outside defense circles, it is regarded as one of the nation's most important assets.

Classified space: For decades, Aerospace, which receives federal funds, has provided oversight for development of highly secretive spy satellites, ballistic missiles and launch vehicles. Aerospace scientists and engineers oversee the technical side of contracts awarded to defense firms to ensure the work is being done properly. It's important work in a place where a misplaced decimal point can result is disastrous consequences for billions of dollars' worth of intricate space hardware.

"As an engineer you want to work on those complex programs," Austin said. "People pay attention to people working on the hard problems."

Early days: Austin hopes her background as a black female will help her serve as a role model for young women and minorities. She was raised in a low-income Bronx neighborhood. Her father was a barber and her mother a nurse, who stressed involvement outside of school. Austin participated in the Girl Scouts and church activities.

Passion: From an early age, her favorite subject in school was math. This was due in part to arguments with English teachers in school, but Austin also liked that the answers in math can't be disputed.

She was accepted into the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, whose graduates have gone on to win eight Nobel Prizes, six Pulitzer Prizes and eight National Medals of Science. She played volleyball and enjoyed roller-skating and gymnastics.

School: After she won a scholarship to Franklin & Marshall College, a small liberal arts college in Lancaster, Pa., she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and figured she'd become a teacher. But later, while pursuing a master's degree in math at the University of Pittsburgh, she tutored engineers and realized that engineers make more money.

"Plus," she said, "engineering sounded like a lot more fun."

It was in college that she met her husband, Wade, who is also an engineer. After graduating with a systems engineering degree, Austin was hired as a technical staff member at Rockwell International in Anaheim. She worked on radar modeling systems but left after a downturn in industry spending.

Welcome home: Austin stayed in California and landed at Aerospace in 1982 as an entry-level engineer. She was one of the few women on the organization's campus, but she ultimately got the opportunity to work on massive programs including the GPS satellite constellation, the Pentagon's global network of strategic communications satellites, and Air Force satellite communications.

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How I Made It: Wanda M. Austin, president and CEO of Aerospace

AIA Commends Announcement of UAS Test Sites

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January 3, 2014 - Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) welcomed FAA's selection of six Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) test sites required by FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. According to AIA, this announcement will facilitate research, development, and collection of performance data necessary for eventual UAS integration into National Airspace System. AIA also claimed this announcement is one more step towards realizing full potential benefits of UAS. Aerospace Industries Association 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1700 Arlington, VA, 22209-3928 USA Press release date: December 30, 2013

Statement by the Aerospace Industries Association commending the announcement of the six test sites for unmanned aircraft systems research.

Arlington, Va. The Aerospace Industries Association welcomes FAAs selection of the six Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) test sites required by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. This long awaited announcement will facilitate vital research, development and collection of performance data which is needed for the eventual integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

With the recent release of the UAS Roadmap, comprehensive integration plan, and now todays announcement, we are one step closer to realizing the full potential benefits of UAS. Key ingredients are in place for the public and private sectors to work together toward achieving the tremendous economic and public safety benefits offered by UAS technologies. It is time to roll up our sleeves and make civil UAS a reality.

-AIA- Founded in 1919 shortly after the birth of flight, the Aerospace Industries Association is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the nations leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft systems, space systems, aircraft engines, homeland and cybersecurity systems, materiel and related components, equipment services and information technology.

Daniel N. Stohr Director, Communications Aerospace Industries Association 1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1700 Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA T: 703-358-1078 C: 703-517-8173 dan.stohr@aia-aerospace.org

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AIA Commends Announcement of UAS Test Sites

Aerospace and Defense ETF Investing 101 – ETF News And Commentary

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The aerospace and defense sector found its largest base in the U.S. with a military budget fittingly impressive. Of late, investors may rightly be worried about the fate of the defense industry in the U.S. considering the sequestration and budget austerities that are looming on the industry as a whole. (Read: 3 Hot Sector ETFs for 2014 )

Nevertheless, leading contactors have emerged relatively unscathed so far, thanks to foreign contracts as well as small regular defense contracts.

Growing commercial opportunities on the heels of an improving global economy, a pick-up in defense spending in certain other countries and technological innovations and acquisitions actually made up for the military budget cuts. Meanwhile, from the civilian side, the commercial aircraft fleet is also aging fast which is spurring many airliners to upgrade their fleet.

In this perspective, amongst the big names, The Boeing Co. (BA) remains prudent enough to not only maintain its foothold in the commercial space, but also remains proactive in the defense arena despite budget austerities. (Read: Follow Warren Buffett in 2014 with these Sector ETFs )

ETFs to Tap the Sector

The aerospace and defense sector has been performing well over the past three months, overcoming fears of government spending cuts and sequestration.Exchange traded funds (ETFs) like SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense (XAR) and iShares US Aerospace and Defense (ITA) have provided returns of 57.18% and 53.40%, respectively, in the year-to-date time frame. Investors have been pouring money in these stocks and ETFs over the past few months and the sector has significantly outperformed the broader market this year.

Below, we highlight the ETFs in the aerospace and defense sector, which primarily have a U.S. bias. Investing in these funds in basket form greatly reduces the risk of investing in particular stocks. Moreover, if one is interested in playing a sector, ETFs have an edge because it comes in a packaged form that gives instant access to a specific sector, the Aerospace & Defense sector in this particular case. The aerospace and defense stocks have performed well in the first nine months of the year and the benefits of the same have trickled down to the defense ETFs (Read: Play a Surging Defense Industry with These 3 ETFs ).

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF ( XAR )

This fund follows the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, focusing on the Aerospace and Defense sector of the S&P Total Market Index. The Index is one of 19 S&P Select Industry Indices, each designed to measure the performance of a narrow sub-industry or group of sub-industries as defined by the Global Industry Classification Standards.

With holdings of 34 stocks, the top spots are taken up by Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. Class A., Alliant Techsystems Inc. and The Boeing Co. comprising 5.01%, 4.71% and 4.60%, respectively, of total net assets.

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Aerospace and Defense ETF Investing 101 - ETF News And Commentary

SWARM Quadrotors (Aerial Robots): Coordinated Flight of Small Quadcoptors Interacting with Humans – Video

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SWARM Quadrotors (Aerial Robots): Coordinated Flight of Small Quadcoptors Interacting with Humans
Swarms of Aerial Robots using "inexpensive" small RC quadrotor platforms, autonomous control/guidance algorithms inspired from our work in distributed, coope...

By: Aerospace Robotics and Control

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SWARM Quadrotors (Aerial Robots): Coordinated Flight of Small Quadcoptors Interacting with Humans - Video

Sherwin-Williams Announces 2014 Aerospace Coatings Training Program

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Andover, Kan. - Continuous training for todays aerospace coatings painting professionals is required to stay current on the most up-to-date products and application methods available in the maintenance repair and operations industry. So when they participate in the new 2014 aerospace coatings training program from Sherwin-Williams they will expand their skill sets: from applying new chrome and lead hazard free surface treatments and primer systems; to spraying the latest in technology-driven high-quality topcoats.

The company announces its extensive 2014 training program schedule, which includes a series of two-day classes on: February 12-13, April 16-17; June 18-19; Sept. 17-18; and Nov. 5-6. All classes will be held in the Sherwin-Williams Andover (Wichita) Kan. training facilities.

This particular training will now include work with SKYscapes, a new basecoat/clearcoat exterior paint system that delivers fast processing time, improved color and gloss retention, and easy maintenance. Training and mastering the SKYscapes paint system will allow aviation maintenance repair facilities and their paint shops to augment production schedules and turnaround more paint jobs.

During the two-day session all participants will learn about the latest industry developments and products in the following areas: . Surface Pretreatment . Primer Systems . Top Coats o Jet Glo o Jet Glo Express o Acry Glo and Acry Glo HS o JetFlex o SKYscapes

Our two-day training programs are designed for all levels of paint shop personnel, says Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams Product Manager for Aerospace Coatings. New technicians can become better acquainted with our products and the best application techniques, while seasoned pros can take time to refine their skills in an actual shop setting. Our goal is to have every participant leave with inspiration and ideas to help them create the best paint jobs possible back at their own shops, on every plane, every time.

All training sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A per-person registration fee of $299 includes classroom and hands-on training with skilled industry professionals; a training book and related materials; all necessary safety equipment; catered lunch each day; and certified training certificate. The training center is equipped with many types of spray equipment, including electrostatic guns. However, attendees may bring their own spray equipment if they prefer.

For information on the 2014 aerospace coatings training program, download the registration form at http://www.swaerospace.com/wcm/idc/groups/public/@swpublic/@sherwin-williams-aerospace/@content/documents/webcontent/mdaw/mde3/~edisp/swa-pdf-2013trainingform.pdf or visit http://www.swaerospace.com. For other Sherwin-Williams inquiries, call 1-888-888-5593.

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Sherwin-Williams Announces 2014 Aerospace Coatings Training Program


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