01 Dec 11. QuEST Global Engineering acquires Engineering Services division of GKN Aerospace. As GKN Aerospace looks toward the next stage of its strategy, the company has formed a long-term relationship with QuEST Global Engineering. QuEST has acquired GKN Aerospace Engineering Services and entered into a long-term agreement to provide the engineering skills and resources to support GKN Aerospace’s long term growth strategy. GKN Aerospace retains over 200 engineers and in so doing GKN will retain and continue to grow the core engineering skills necessary to lead future programmes and technology developments.
This sale to QuEST creates a powerful engineering specialist operation, able to operate as an effective strategic partner to GKN Aerospace and many other customers worldwide. It adds 290 skilled engineering personnel to the 2,800 professionals already employed by QuEST across their 18 global ‘delivery centres’. GKN Aerospace Engineering Services has provided skilled, stand-alone engineering support on aerospace and marine projects across military and civil sectors. Customers, including major companies such as AgustaWestland, Airbus, Boeing, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce and Sikorsky, as well as GKN Aerospace, have been assisted with maximising performance in areas such as product development, manufacturing efficiency and life cycle support.
QuEST Global Engineering has a Global Product Development framework that is anchored on a local-global approach to Product Engineering to ensure close co-operation between the customer teams and QuEST’s Global teams. With a proven track record of 14 years of product engineering experience, the company has engaged with highly reputed global technology leaders in the field of aerospace & defence, aero engine, power generation, oil & gas, industrial machines, consumer goods and other vertical sectors.

01 Dec 11. Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., announced that it purchased from General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products its holdings in UAS Dynamics, LLC, a joint venture established by Elbit Systems of America and GDATP to provide UAS to the U.S. market, thus making Elbit Systems of America the sole owner of UAS Dynamics. UAS Dynamics will become part of Elbit Systems of America’s Unmanned Systems business unit which is responsible for both airborne and seaborne unmanned systems. (Source: Yahoo!/PRNewswire)

04 Dec 11. AeroMechanical Services Ltd. (TSX-V: AMA.V – News) has learned that it has been named as a Defendant in an action brought by Sierra Nevada Corporation in the state of Utah seeking damages for the non-payment of invoices totaling approximately $2,042,000 along with interest and costs. The claims are in breach of contract, debt and unjust enrichment. AMA had previously commenced arbitration proceedings against SNC in Alberta. AMA will be contesting the jurisdiction of the Utah court and will be asserting that Alberta is the convenient forum for the determination of both disputes. Pursuant to a press release dated November 18, 2011, AMA had previously announced that it had filed an application with the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta against SNC seeking the appointment of an arbitrator as a result of the absence of progress regarding the outstanding accounts payable. AMA has claimed damages in the amount of $1,329,976 (US) and $2,650,000 (CDN). The Company and SNC were working together on the development of the Automated Flight Information Reporting System (“AFIRS™”) 228. Late in 2010, AMA’s management recognized the progress on the AFIRS 228 was not on track, delayed and over budget and moved development in-house. Since then, the Company has been attempting to resolve the issue with SNC. To date, there has been no satisfactory resolution found and in order to make progress, AMA terminated the License and Manufacturing Agreement that was executed on December 29, 2008 for material breach