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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology June 23, 2014

VOL. 176 NO. 21 June 23, 2014

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article

Solar Power’s A Dim Idea

Jun 23, 2014
“Sun Power” (AW&ST June 9, p. 42) has me worried. Solar power satellites are unacceptable because they would create light pollution worldwide. A 1-km satellite in geosynchronous orbit would have an apparent diameter of 5.7 arc seconds. In a telescope, it would appear similar in size to Mars at a distant point in its orbit. If the albedo (reflectivity) of the satellite was 10% (dark gray), it would appear as a very bright star of 0.4 magnitude.
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SSP Too Powerful To Play With

Jun 23, 2014
I am a retired nuclear engineer who was concerned about the viability of space solar-power (SSP) concepts more than 30 years ago. While the “space” side of the technology may have advanced, it appears proponents are still in denial as to its viability.
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Leave RD-180 In The Dust

Jun 23, 2014
A recent editorial “The Alarm Has Sounded on U.S. Neglect of Rocket Propulsion” (AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 74) echoes my long-term concern about the…
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Norwegian Air Naysayer

Jun 23, 2014
In a recent Viewpoint, “Norwegian Air Deserves Better” (AW&ST June 9, p. 58), Andy Card, in his support for Norwegian Air being granted Transportation Department access to the U.S. under the U.S./EU open skies agreement, cites the Obama administration’s pro-airline competition policies.
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Retaining the F-22

Jun 23, 2014
I have wondered why the F-22 fleet seems to get so little attention or so little duty in active combat zones. I keep reading about what appear to be significant limitations on the F-35—reader Mike Greenway’s letter at the moment—(AW&ST May 12, p. 9), and can only conclude that the air force is clinging to the F-22 because it is more likely to be capable of standing up to the advanced airplanes of our potential adversaries.

Biofuels

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New Biofuel Wins Approval

Jun 24, 2014
Sugar cane-based fuel becomes latest sustainable jet fuel option for aviation

Aerospace Calendar

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Conferences & Exhibitions

Jun 23, 2014
July 16—Farnborough Civil Manufacturing Briefings, Farnborough (England) air show. Oct. 7-9—MRO Europe, Madrid. Nov. 4-6—MRO Asia, Singapore. Nov. 19…
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Upcoming Events

Jun 23, 2014
July 3—Inaugural IOSH Aviation Safety Conference. Duxford Imperial War Museum. Cambridgeshire, England. Contact [email protected] July 14…

Washington Outlook

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Can The Pentagon Execute Acquisition Reform?

Jun 23, 2014
The trouble with most Washington policy is less in the idea than in the execution. So it remains to be seen whether the nuances in Pentagon…
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How U.S. Could Use Air Assets In Iraq

Jun 23, 2014
President Barack Obama may have decided to send 300 military advisers—including special operations forces—into Iraq to stem the advance of the…
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ULA Studies New Engines For Atlas V

Jun 23, 2014
Global politics and a new market rival are forcing the United Launch Alliance to study alternatives to the Russian RD-180 engine for its Atlas V…

Viewpoint

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Opinion: Why The Reluctance On Performance-Based Logistics?

Jun 25, 2014
With budgets nose-diving, the U.S. Defense Department is searching for strategies to preserve mission readiness. There is no need to look far and wide for a big part of the answer.

Air Transport

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How Asian Cargo Handlers Belie Freight Slump

Jun 23, 2014
Freight volumes are slumping worldwide, but Asia bucks the trend with targeted approach
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Why ANA And Cathay Pacific Are Eating

Jun 23, 2014
While cargo operators are parking fuel-hungry Boeing 747s and MD-11s, passenger operators are loading up the belly holds of their new widebody aircraft.
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Changi Tries GAIN To Beat Competition

Jun 23, 2014
Singapore’s Changi faces growing competition as Southeast Asian hub
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Venezuela Holding $4B In Airline Ticket Funds

Jun 25, 2014
Failure to repatriate funds to international airlines puts Venezuela’s connectivity at risk
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Eurowings Becoming A Low-Fare Operation

Jun 23, 2014
Lufthansa looks at launching a new low-fare platform in an already crowded market
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Asian LCC Market Too Hot For Tigerair Mandala

Jun 23, 2014
As Southeast Asian LCCs sprout up, some are wilting just as fast

Defense

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RFPs Issued For USAF Bomber Competition

Jun 26, 2014
Long-awaited competition for new USAF bomber is underway, with many more questions than answers
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Priming JSFs For Transatlantic Trip

Jun 25, 2014
F-35Bs head to U.K. to vet logistics and flight operations overseas
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Downed Il-76 A Big Blow For Ukraine

Jun 25, 2014
Ukraine’s air force recently suffered its biggest blow since the beginning of anti-separatist operations in the breakaway eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk this spring.
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India Buying More Apaches For Its Army

Jun 26, 2014
Indian army wants its own AH-64 helicopters
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India Has Big Missile Export Ambitions

Jun 26, 2014
India has long sought to increase its ability to manufacture defense equipment to end its reliance on imported weapons, and newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to build on that goal as well as capitalize on India’s defense export potential.
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Pentagon Acquisition Chief Vows PBL Revamp

Jun 26, 2014
Performance-based logistics awards urged by Pentagon
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New Pentagon Report Aims To Spur Competition

Jun 26, 2014
U.S. defense business will become more intense after Pentagon data mining
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Pentagon Eyes Incentives For Top Suppliers

Jun 23, 2014
The Pentagon is ranking suppliers, looking to goad leaders and laggards alike

Space

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New Role For ISS: Deep-Space Testbed

Jun 24, 2014
International Space Station partners are beginning to discuss expanding use of the orbital outpost to test “extensible” technology for the long trek to the surface of Mars, with a new pressurized module and year-long tours for as many as a dozen crew members among the topics under consideration.
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Airbus, Safran Take First Step In Consolidating

Jun 24, 2014
European joint venture could scrap solid-fueled Ariane 6 design and give Germany larger role
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New Racks To Promote Payloads

Jun 24, 2014
NanoRacks and Astrium North America are preparing to deploy a $5 million privately funded accommodation for commercial payloads outside the International Space Station, as the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (Casis) continues its effort to promote commercial activities on the orbiting laboratory.

In Orbit

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2016 Balloting Will Shape Exploration For Decades

Jun 25, 2014
U.S. voters will determine spaceflight future in 2016

Airline Intel

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Investment Strength Continues To Elude Airlines

Jun 24, 2014
Airlines are healthier, but returns are still subpar

Reality Check

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Opinion: Ryanair Causing Dust-Up In France

Jun 26, 2014
Ryanair threatens legal action against French publisher for defamation; in an unrelated matter, the airline defends its national benefits pay-in

Leading Edge

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U.K. Government Supports Airship Development

Jun 26, 2014
Without the boost of military funding, large airship builders look for commercial backing

Up Front

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Opinion: Comac Tie-Up With Bombardier A Win-Win

Jun 24, 2014
Customer support will be crucial to the C919’s success

The World

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Hubble Observes Kuiper Belt

Jun 23, 2014
The Hubble Space Telescope has begun preliminary observations with the aim of finding a Kuiper Belt object that NASA’s New Horizons mission can visit…
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Zeroing In

Jun 23, 2014
NASA plans to award $4.9 million for concept studies for its proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission (ARM), slated to launch in 2019. The six-month…
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Reentry Test Delayed

Jun 23, 2014
After two weeks of uncooperative winds at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, NASA is suspending efforts to test-launch a disk-shaped…
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Russia To Launch New Angara

Jun 23, 2014
The first launch of Russia’s light-class Angara rocket is expected from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on June 25, according to Russian space agency…
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Proton Failure Cause ID’d

Jun 23, 2014
The May 16 crash of a Russian Proton M/Briz M rocket has been attributed to the malfunction of a bearing on the upper-stage steering engine turbo pump, according to a Russian federal investigation into the mishap. The failure led to the loss of Russia’s Express AM4R, a telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defense and Space for the Russian Satellite Communications Co. That spacecraft was intended to replace the Express AM4 lost during an August 2011 Proton M/Briz M failure caused by a programming error in the guidance system.
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India To Test Agni-V

Jun 23, 2014
India will conduct the first canister-based trial of the 5,000-km (3,100-mi.), nuclear-capable Agni-V missile in the next few months. As a prelude to…
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DLA Downsizing

Jun 23, 2014
The director of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, Navy Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, says the DLA has “already put money in the bank” as it moves to…
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Cyclone Program Revamped

Jun 23, 2014
Sikorsky plans to deliver at least six operationally capable CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopters by June 2015 to allow Canada to begin replacing its…
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Boeing 787-9 Clinches Certification

Jun 23, 2014
Boeing is preparing to deliver the first 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand early in July following the award of U.S. and European type…
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Qatari Mirages Join Regional Fighter Exercises

Jun 23, 2014
Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of Qatar’s Emiri Air Force have been flying in Anatolian Eagle exercises at Konya Air Base, Turkey, this month…

Who's Where

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Landmark Aviation

Jun 23, 2014
Trevor King has been appointed general manager of Landmark Aviation’s London Luton Airport facility. He was business development director for the…
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Pacific Propeller International

Jun 23, 2014
Tom Konicki (see photos) has been named director of business development for U.S. and foreign government programs, and T.J. Ogden as director of international security and compliance for Pacific Propeller International, Kent, Washington. Konicki was the Southeast Asia branch chief for the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs at the Pentagon. Ogden was manager of security operations and enterprise projects at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Redmond, Washington.
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USAF

Jun 23, 2014
USAF Lt. Gen. James M. Holmes has been appointed deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements at USAF Headquarters at the Pentagon. He…
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Bournemouth Helicopters

Jun 23, 2014
Jim Hammett (see photo) has been appointed chief flying instructor for U.K.-based -Bournemouth Helicopters.
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Bristow Group Inc.

Jun 23, 2014
John Briscoe has become senior vice president/chief financial officer for the Houston-based Bristow Group Inc. He held the same positions at Weatherford International Ltd.
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Russian Helicopters

Jun 23, 2014
Pyotr Motrenko (see photo) has been appointed managing director of Russian Helicopters’ Rostvertol subsidiary. Outgoing General Director Boris Slusar was named chairman of Rostvertol and Dmitry Lelikov, the CEO of parent company Oboronprom, as deputy chairman.
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NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies

Jun 23, 2014
Gavin A. Schmidt has been named head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. He has been deputy director and succeeds James E. Hansen, who has retired.
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B/E Aerospace

Jun 23, 2014
David J. Anderson has been named to the board of directors of B/E Aerospace, Wellington, Florida. He is retired as senior vice president/chief…
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Zenith Aviation

Jun 23, 2014
Todd Duncan has been appointed director of government programs for Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was a subject matter expert in the counterintelligence human intelligence equipment program of URS.
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UMB Financial Corp.

Jun 23, 2014
Morgan Littell has become vice president-business aviation development for the UMB Financial Corp., Kansas City, Missouri. She was manager of sales and customer relations at Ametek B&S Aircraft.
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Circor Aerospace & Defense

Jun 23, 2014
Robert Lenardi has been promoted to general manager for the Circor Aerospace & Defense’s New York City business from director of operations for the…
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Merex Group

Jun 23, 2014
Daniel R. Godin (see photos) has been appointed president of MRO Solutions and Nathan A. Skop executive vice president-contracts and compliance for the Merex Group, Miramar, Florida. Anthony Grant has been named Camarillo, California-based vice president-business transformation. Godin was an executive at Circor, Sermatech and United Technologies. Skop was a lawyer in private practice and had worked for Boeing and General Dynamics.
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USN

Jun 23, 2014
USN Capts. Scott D. Conn, Dale E. Horan, James W. Kilby and Johnny R. Wolfe, Jr., have been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half). Conn will become commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Fallon, Nevada. He has been director of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) at the Pentagon. Horan will be named deputy director for operations for National Joint Operations Intelligence Center, Operations Team Five, at the Pentagon.
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CRMA

Jun 23, 2014
Thierry Lubin has been named vice president-marketing and sales for AFI KLM Engineering and Maintenance group subsidiary CRMA, Elancourt, France. He…
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Bell Helicopter

Jun 23, 2014
Paul Watts has become general manager of the Lafayette, Louisiana, aircraft assembly facility for Bell Helicopter. He will remain Bell 505 program…

Mars Exploration

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Answers To ‘Why Explore Space?

Jun 23, 2014
‘Rationales’ for human space exploration run from the scientific to survival
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Next Steps On The Pathway to Mars

Jun 23, 2014
Mars is the near-term exploration goal; here are some of the hurdles in the way
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Unmanned Probes Blaze Trail For Humans

Jun 23, 2014
Fleet of planetary probes is paving the way for humans to Mars, and pushing deeper
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NASA’S Deep-Space Human Spacecraft Push

Jun 23, 2014
Spacecraft to transport humans to Mars take shape amid uncertainty over their route
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Era Of One-Off Space Missions Ends

Jun 23, 2014
Computer-code model is shaping human-spaceflight developments