Nearly 3 years after a Malaysian airliner vanished, it's still possible, if unlikely, for a plane to disappear. But that's changing with new satellites that will soon allow flights to be tracked in real time over oceans. New international safety standards also begin to kick-in beginning next year, although the deadline for airlines to meet most of the standards is still 4 years away. Even then, it could be decades before the changes permeate the entire global airline fleet because some of the requirements apply only to newly manufactured planes. But Atholl Buchan, director of flight operations at IATA said a repeat of MH370 is "highly unlikely" since many airlines have already increased their efforts to keep tabs on planes over open ocean where they are beyond the reach of land-based radar. <br/>
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Airbus is tapping Silicon Valley data mining firm Palantir to help accelerate production of its new A350 aircraft, potentially saving the aerospace group hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming years. The secretive Palantir, which started out more than a decade ago working on national security projects, is valued at US$20b despite not yet delivering a profit. The multimillion-dollar deal with Airbus would help it reach its planned target of profitability this year, said CE Alex Karp. “We did very well last year,” he said, including “moving towards profitability faster than we planned”. Airbus began working with Palantir about 18 months ago, but has recently expanded the relationship — which has not previously been disclosed — to 8 projects across 4 countries, including final assembly of the A350. <br/>
French aerospace firm Safran has revealed it is in exclusive negotiations to acquire seating and cabin interior manufacturer Zodiac Aerospace, in a deal that would rank it as the third largest aerospace firm. Zodiac chairman Olivier Zarrouati said the merger, which would create a company with a E21.2b turnover, represents a new step in the consolidation of the aerospace industry. A previous takeover attempt by Safran failed in 2010 after it was rejected by Zodiac’s board. If the deal goes ahead, the combined companies would rank as the third largest aerospace company in the world, with around 92,000 employees, E21.2b in revenue and a E2.7b operating income. They will also rank as the second largest aircraft equipment supplier, with revenues of around E10b. <br/>
Potholes scarring Abuja airport’s runway are set to add to the frustrations of Nigerians struggling through an economic crisis as repair work is expected to prevent flights from landing in the capital for at least 6 weeks. Nnamdi Azikiwe International — Nigeria’s second busiest after Lagos — is to close from March 8 as its sole runway is resurfaced. The asphalt has ruptured in at least 2 places — a reflection of the poor performance of successive govts, none of which took up the task of resurfacing the runway after its lifespan ended in 2002. After a rocky landing by one foreign airline last year, international carriers threatened to stop flying to the city until the repairs were made. But the timing of the airport’s closure is unfortunate for president Muhammadu Buhari, and the symbolism will not be lost on his growing number of detractors. <br/>