GLG News by Defense Industry Consultants (EU)

In what could turn out to be something of a false dawn, Textron subsidiary Bell Helicopter has passed a U.S. Army review of its troubled ARH program but faces a stiffer hurdle this week from a potentially ax-wielding Senate.

As commentators hasten to dissect last Friday's comments by new French president Sarkozy on his vision of the future for EADS and Airbus, the only certainty is that fundamental change is in the offing. Stage I could be the break-up of Airbus, Stage II an EADS-Airbus split, kind of the opposite of, "If...

Virgin America will soon take to the U.S. skies, introducing a Europeanized version of the low-cost-carrier formula first introduced by Southwest Airlines more than 35 years ago. With 'Open Skies' due to come into effect 2Q08, this is a further sign of increasing activity and competition in the U.S....

In an effort to enhance its reputation for quality service, British Airways has announced it is looking at starting direct Europe-U.S. premium-only services. A little bit of the best of the both worlds given its Heathrow dominance, BA is clearly hoping it can steal big-ticket buyers in Europe away from...

The word Commercial doesn't appear in the full version of the EADS name -- the European Aeronautic, Defence & Space company. Yet the Airbus side of the business has dominated the Media since 2005. EADS co-ceo Tom Enders has now given a reminder that there's more to the company than just Airbus......

Being a successful supplier today means looking for business where markets are growing. Stay in your own backyard and you soon run out of opportunities. The news that Spirit AeroSystems has signed a seven-year $150-million aerospace composites-supply deal with Sikorsky Helicopters is another portfolio...

London-based European private equity firm Terra Firma has added to its portfolio of airplane leasing companies with the purchase of San Francisco-based Pegasus Aviation Finance, taking the only short cut to rapid growth that's available today in the lucrative leasing business.

As if Airbus has not been holding the door wide-enough open for Boeing these past two+ years, it seems they're now ready to go at the hinges with a warning from EADS cfo Hans-Peter Ring that the company's 2007 delivery target of 440-450 airplanes is no longer certain to be met.

Supernovae put on a great show when they go terminal. Aerospace companies usually go quiet, and the hush around EADS is assuming deathly proportions. 1Q2007 results of a $13.5 million loss are no catastrophe but they do mask the darkness into which EADS is sliding.

 Buying and flying business jets today is a marker of success. Bombardier for one is well-positioned for future growth in this high-yield, high-visibility sector where prices and profitability are both strengthening as global demand rises steadily.