Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
The FAA commissioned the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) at midnight on July 9, marking the formal beginning of the agency's effort to enable precise satellite navigation for aircraft flying anywhere in the U.S.
XCOR Aerospace's EZ-Rocket demonstrator, which has flown 15 test flights since July 2001, is approaching the end of its mission as engineers focus their attention on two follow-on vehicle designs, according to XCOR President Jeff Greason. "The EZ is pretty much wrapped up," Greason told The DAILY. "We might fly it one or two more times. If we go for a more ambitious test vehicle next, we might retrofit the EZ-Rocket with some of the easier-to-test things, but as far as its primary mission in life, it's pretty much done."
Production of Sikorsky's Collier Trophy-winning S-92 utility helicopter is heating up as the company prepares to deliver its first units to customers next year. The first production S-92 began assembly in March and is expected to fly by mid-January, in time for delivery to the first S-92 customer in March 2004. Sikorsky is committed to producing 12 S-92s in 2004, 18 in 2005, and 27 in 2006. The company expects 27 to be the stable, long-term annual production rate, according to S-92 Program Manager Nick Lappos.
