ATR

In 2004, ATR recorded $543 million in sales with the delivery of 13 planes - 5 ATR 42-500s and 8 ATR 72-500s - to six airlines in Europe and the Pacific. At the same time, it logged 12 orders - 1 ATR 42-500 and 11 ATR 72-500s - to three airlines. In addition to its new aircraft sales, ATR handled the sale or lease of 51 used planes - up eight from 2003. In 2005, ATR anticipates delivering 15 new planes and handling at least 40 used aircraft transactions. It anticipates delivering 18 planes in both 2006 and 2007 based on orders already on the books.

BAe

Asian Spirit, a Philippine regional carrier, will lease four BAe 146 regional jets from BAe Systems Regional Aircraft. In its first venture into jet aircraft, Asian Spirit will lease two Series 100 and two Series 200 jets. The first 83-seat RJ was delivered late last month and the second is to be delivered shortly. The two 100-seat Series 200 RJs will be delivered next year. As part of the deal, Asian Spirit has the option to return an ATP turboprop, which it leased in 2003, when the fourth BAe 146 is delivered.

Lockheed Martin

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently awarded a $1.5 billion contract to operate flight service stations to a team lead by Lockheed Martin. The contract is for five years with five additional one-year renewal options. Lockheed Martin was one of five teams that submitted proposals after the FAA decided to outsource the operation of 58 automated flight service stations that employ 2,500 FAA staffers. Each proposal was required to produce at least $1 billion in savings over 10 years. The FAA said the Lockheed Martin proposal will save $2.2 billion. Beginning next April and ending by March 2007, Lockheed will consolidate the 58 centers into 20 facilities. The program also calls for the installation of new technology.

VLM

In an apparent first-of-its-kind marketing and employee recognition device, VLM Airlines, a regional carrier based in London, will stencil the name of an award-winning employee of the side of one of its 14 Fokker 50s. Dubbed "Our Flying Hero" program, VLM is asking its workforce to nominate individuals who have gone the extra mile. The honored employee's name will remain on a plane for two months.

MTS Systems

MTS Systems Corp. [MTSC] recently delivered a state-of-the-art horizontal acceleration crash simulator to the National Institute of Aviation Research at the Wichita State University. The center will use the simulator as part of its Crash Dynamics Laboratory. The simulator will be used by aircraft seat manufacturers to design seats that meet U.S. crash standards. The MTS device can simulate the impact in a collision at 75 times the force of gravity.