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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 6, 2017

VOL. 179 NO. 9 March 06, 2017

Space

article

New Virgin Orbit Formed To Lead SmallSat Launch Vehicle

Mar 02, 2017
Virgin is forming a dedicated new company, Virgin Orbit, to spearhead the development, testing and operation of its LauncherOne low-cost smallsat launch vehicle.
article

L3 Completing 747-400 Air-launch Mods For Virgin Orbit

Mar 02, 2017
Modification of an ex-Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 airliner to carry and launch Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne is well underway in Waco, Texas.
article

Q/V-Band Technology Allow Faster High-Throughput Satellites Advances

Mar 01, 2017
Rapid growth in the Ka-band high-throughput satellite market is putting pressure on spectrum. Moving to higher frequencies could unlock more capacity.
article

What Satellite Operators Really Want

Mar 02, 2017
Eutelsat, Viasat explain how manufacturers should provide cheaper and more flexible capacity on commercial satellites.
article

With Time Running Out, Space-debris Removal Picks Up Steam

Feb 28, 2017
Space-debris mitigation is getting more attention as companies prepare to launch thousands of new smallsats into low Earth orbit, where the environment is already filling up with dangerous space junk.
article

Startup To Provide Orbital Debris Tracking For LEO Constellations

Mar 02, 2017
Startup LeoLabs to use a global network of ground radars to track orbital debris and provide collision prevention services to operators of LEO satellite constellations.

First Take

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First Take (March 6, 2017)

Mar 03, 2017
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Rotorcraft

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Leonardo’s Next-Gen Tiltrotor Targeting 2023 First Flight

Mar 03, 2017
Clean Sky Tiltrotor will feature tilt wing to boost payload capability, eliminate complexity involved in tilting engines.
article

Helicopter Industry Has Low Expectations For 2017

Mar 03, 2017
The market for light single- and twin-engine models remains buoyant, while the defense market benefits as military spending rises in many countries.
article

Airbus Moves Ahead With Clean Sky 2 Demonstrator

Mar 03, 2017
Airbus Clean Sky 2 twin demonstrator designed to cruise on one engine.
article

Demand Growing For Bell’s Light-Single Helicopter

Mar 03, 2017
Bell is turning the more than 400 letters of intent received for the Safran Arrius 2R-powered Model 505 JetRanger X into orders.
article

New CEO Growing Swiss Helicopter Developer Into Manufacturer

Mar 03, 2017
Marenco Swisshelicopter investing heavily to be ready for production of single-engine, 2.6-metric-ton SKYe SH09 light helicopter in 2018.

Technology

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Hybrid Wing Body Emerges As Potential C-130 Successor

Feb 28, 2017
Lockheed Martin broadens HWB possibilities as design focuses on bid for NASA X-plane demonstrator
article

World View Enterprises: Era Of Stratospheric Exploitation Underway

Mar 02, 2017
Human-rated and sensor-carrying stratospheric balloon flight development picks up pace.
article

The Week In Technology, Feb. 27-March 3, 2017

Feb 27, 2017
Loon surprises Google; biofuels advance; a COW flies; long-distance delivery; and more UAS news

Commercial Aviation

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Supplier Changes Let Boeing Reap $1 Billion In Savings

Mar 01, 2017
The supply-chain changes are the result of a rigorous category-by-category parts review process.
article

Fixing The Most Inefficient Phase Of Flight: Ground Operations

Mar 01, 2017
NASA is fully immersed in a five-year program to bring scheduling efficiency into the departure queues of the National Airspace System, in other words, getting rid of the “conga line.”
article

Digital Drive Helps European Airlines Boost Ancillary Revenue

Mar 02, 2017
Apps can be an important revenue producer for carriers, so many in Europe are choosing to bring their development and management in-house.
article

ATR Targets Saab In U.S. Market Push

Mar 03, 2017
Replacing dozens of aging 30-seat Saab turboprops flying for U.S. regional airlines could be the sweet spot for French turboprop manufacturer ATR.

Defense

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Next U.S. Air Force Frontier: Smarter Airpower

Feb 28, 2017
Facing a new information age of warfare, the U.S. air arm is launching an effort to overhaul its command and control network.
article

How Should U.S. Military Change Its Space Operations?

Mar 29, 2017
As the nation’s space mission grows, does the service have enough clout to manage it all?
article

ISIS And F-35 Drive Need For More U.S. Air Force Tankers

Mar 02, 2017
Can the U.S. Air Force’s air refueling fleet keep up with the warfighter?
article

India’s AMCA Fighter To Enter Preliminary Design

Feb 27, 2017
Defense ministry fighter developers have completed studies of configurations and feasibility for India’s proposed stealth aircraft. They are awaiting a go-ahead for full-scale development.
article

UAE Leaning To Russia Could Be Price Of U.S. Arms Sale Inaction

Feb 27, 2017
Could Russia, UAE defense deal pave way for Emirati access to F-35?
article

France Will Have No Aircraft Carrier For 24 Months

Mar 02, 2017
Despite having two aircraft carriers until 1997, the French navy will now have none during an extended renovation and testing period of its only one.
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The Week in Defense, March 2-9, 2017

Mar 02, 2017
War crimes in Syria; Australia to buy new Jetwave communications system for transport aircraft; France chooses Leonardo radar for aircraft bound for North Africa; and Raytheon wins massive early-warning radar contract.

Laureates

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Bombardier C Series Service Entry Wins 2017 Civil Aviation Laureate

Mar 03, 2017
Bombardier’s Rob Dewar is the winner of the 2017 Civil Aviation Laureate, for his work on the C Series.
article

Defense Laureate 2017: AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile

Mar 03, 2017
Lockheed Martin's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile was deemed the Laureate for more than quadrupling the striking distance of U.S. combat aircraft against ships.
article

Space Laureate 2017— New Shepard Team, Blue Origin

Mar 03, 2017
For its technical expertise, dedication and unwavering vision, Blue Origin’s New Shepard Team was accorded the Space Laureate for 2016.
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Wheels Up Wins 2017 Business Aviation Laureate

Mar 03, 2017
Private membership Wheels Up was accorded 2016’s Business Aviation Laureate for expanding the use of business aviation beyond a small, select group.
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Lufthansa Technik Wins 2017 MRO Laureate

Mar 03, 2017
The Condition Analytics platform combines condition monitoring with predictive maintenance to make component maintenance, repair and overhaul more efficient.
article

Gulfstream, BAE Systems Win Aviation Week 2017 Technology Laureate

Mar 03, 2017
The companies jointly reintroduced the intuitiveness of flight controls by integrating electronically coupled sidesticks on the G500 and G600 business jets.
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NASA Aeronautics’ Jaiwon Shin Wins 2017 Innovation Laureate

Mar 03, 2017
Shin led efforts to revive NASA’s culture of flight research, embracing risk and learning from doing to address the biggest challenges facing civil aviation.
article

NASA’s Charles Bolden Receives 2017 Klass Lifetime Achievement Award

Mar 03, 2017
Charles Bolden, former NASA administrator and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was named Aviation Week’s 2017 Philip J. Klass Lifetime Achievement Award.
article

Boeing’s John Tracy Receives 2017 Klass Lifetime Achievement Award

Mar 03, 2017
Tracy’s career crossed space, defense and commercial applications, and he was an early proponent of composites.
article

Kenn Borek Air Crew Wins 2017 Laureate for Heroism

Mar 03, 2017
The 2017 Philip J. Kass Laureate for Heroism goes to the rescue crew of Kenn Borek Air for their South Pole flight to rescue sick workers.
article

‘Tomorrow’s Leaders’ 2017 Laureates Go To Four Service Academy Students

Mar 03, 2017
Army Cadet Lt. Michael Cremins, Coast Guard 2/c Cadet David Creswell, Navy Midshipman 1st Class Ryan Speir and Air Force Cadet Colonel Young Yuyang Wu honored.

Up Front

article

Opinion: How ‘America First’ Could Harm U.S. Aerospace

Feb 28, 2017
An import tax could imperil large U.S. aerospace surpluses with China and Mexico.

Airline Intel

article

A320neo And Boeing 737 MAX Spur Market Shifts

Mar 03, 2017
The aircraft’s additional payload/range capabilities are enabling some airlines to expand into new markets.

In Orbit

article

Early Manned Moon Shot Possible, But Is It Worth It?

Mar 01, 2017
The Trump administration’s space agency transition team, NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are all working on various approaches to a crewed Moon flyaround.

Washington Outlook

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House Will Start Debate on 2017 Defense Spending Bill

Mar 03, 2017
In this week’s Washington Outlook, a jaundiced view of this year’s budget debate, NASA plans to buy more Russian rocket rides and a surge in attempts to carry weapons on to passenger aircraft.

Viewpoint

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Opinion: U.S. Air Force Overspending On T-1A, Its Forgotten Trainer

Mar 03, 2017
Buying new aircraft would be cheaper than the plan to keep the bizjet-based T-1A flying.

Feedback

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Letters From Our Readers (March 6, 2017)

Mar 03, 2017
Readers add information to hypersonics overview; discuss U.S. military sustainability issues; comment on Cessna's new venture; and debate likelihood of NAVS.

Who's Where

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New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections (March 6, 2017)

Mar 03, 2017
Northrop Grumman Corp. promoted Stan Crow to chief executive for Japan. Robert J. LaBelle has been hired as CEO of XTI Aircraft Co.

Aerospace Calendar

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Aerospace Calendar And Aviation Week Events (March 6, 2017)

Mar 03, 2017
Upcoming aviation and aerospace industry events and Aviation Week Network events