2011-12-03

JAL’s Performance shows Better-than-Expected Operating Profit of $1.8 Billion

from Mainichi Shimbun, 8 November 2011

Japan Airlines publicly announced its expected result of consolidated performance of a year ending in March. The sales amount showed a sluggish growth due to the effect of the East Japan Earthquakes in last March.  However, following a drastic business restructuring since January 2010 when the airline went bankruptcy, its operating income is expected to reach JPY140 billion which is twice the size of the target of its rehabilitation plans. This better performance is to pave way to re-listing of the stocks of the company expected sometime around September 2012.


The 3-11 disasters brought with a large drop of passengers in April-May period, resulting as its sales amount of JPY1.15 trillion, smaller than the target by the rehabilitation plans.

In terms of business size, ANA still outnumbers JAL by annual sales. However, JAL will earn more than two times of ANA in operating profit.

On the same day, JAL announced its mid-term performance ending September 2011 as JPY599.8 billion of sales and JPY106 billion of operating profit.



2011-10-09

Sales Pitch Getting Hotter in Tokyo for Next Fighter of JASDF

from various reports,

October 9, 2012

Three makers are intensifying to appeal their respective products for sale to Japan as it is closing its selection of next fighter for Air Self-Defense Force.

New type will replace F-4E Phantom II fleet (103 including modified F-4EJ Kai) and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-35A and Eurofighter Typhoon are vying for the selection in coming weeks.

Lockheed Martin has brought in and demonstrated a F-35 cockpit simulator to Tokyo, appealing its high end performance. The company revealed its proposal could satisfy all conditions including delivery time imposed by Japan. Particularly, its stealth performance may appeal to Japan where it would face new generations of fighters in China and Russia in near future.

Boeing, on the other hand, has appealed F-A-18E’s superiority in terms of product supply and cost while emphasizing the company was willing to offer 70-80% of the production for localization with licensing.

BAE Systems, proposing Eurofighter Typhoon,made a presentation in British Embassy in Tokyo with attendance of ambassadors of participating countries, in a unprecedented manner, and called for attention of Japanese decision makers for its superiority and price.

Defense Ministry would choose the type based on not only performance and price but how extensive Japanese corporations can engaged in production and maintenance as to keep production base of fighter business as the last of F-2 production has been completed recently without the immediate project in sight.

The ministry has already submitted its budget request for fiscal 2012 including JPY55.1 billion for acquisition of the first four aircraft of FX and will finalize the selection by the end of November.

2011-09-23

New Intelligence Satellite Launched Successfully by H2A Heavy Lift; More Information on North Korea in Sight

                   From Nihon Keizai Shimbun/Asahi Shimbun, web editions, 23 September 2011       

           
Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and JAXA has launched the 19th unit of heavy lifter H2A carrying the Japanese government’s information gathering satellite Kogaku #4 on 1:36pm, 23 September (JST) from Tanegashima Space Center. The satellite was separated from the rocket and put into planned orbit and the launch was evaluated as successful. H2A has marked 13 consecutive launches without failure.

The new satellite is designed to monitor military installations in North Korea as well as large scale natural calamity by orbiting about 500km distance from the surface. It is equipped telescope and high end digital camera and will replaces the second unit of optical recognisance satellite whose designed life of five yeas had expired.

Japan plans to operate a combination of optical reconnaissance satellites and radar satellites. Current three units are all optical information gathering satellites and two of the three have already passed designed longevity. By launching a new generation of satellites, two optical and two radar equipped, Japan would obtain a new capabilities to monitor any selected place on the surface at least once a day, regardless of time and the weather.
           
Capabilities of the new optical satellite is classified but it may identify an object on the surface as small as 60cm.

Launching of indigenous information gathering satellites was initiated in 1998 after a missile launch over Japan by North Korea.

2011-08-30

Who Is Noda? What implications to aerospace industry?



NODA, Yoshihiko, 95th prime minister since 19th century, born 27 May 1957


Enter the sixth prime minister in five years. Japanese prime minister is given wider authority than most people might think. For instance, he is the commander in chief for all defense affairs.

Let us take a look at what he have spoken before regarding space and aviation matters.

He was showing his initiative to look for defense use of the outer space, as chairman of working team for science and technology application policies at his party. His stance was against the conventional government standpoint to restrain the military use of space. He also showed his idea to pursue ‘Space Treaty’ to allow Japan to use use space for non-aggressive use. He also worked hard to reorganize many divisions in different ministries into ‘Space Agency,’ that is now approved agenda for near future reshuffle of the government organizations.


However, he has so many urgent agenda, mostly domestic such as recovery from natural and nuclear disaster from March 11, too fast appreciation of yen currency, mounting deficit; but it is also true that he must face many unsolved diplomatic issues like Okinawa base relocation, challenges from Korea and China. In this circumstance, it seems he may give lower priority to space policy.

His policy viewpoint is sometimes regarded as ‘hawkish’ and it is a focus of attention whom he would appoint as new Defense Minister. At least my favorite choice of Seiji Maehara has not chance as he was appointed as chief of policy making at his ruling party.

His new cabinet is expected to be launched on September 2.