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.
Developers and buyers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) must avoid "requirements creep" if their systems are to maintain affordability, according to George Muellner, president of Boeing Phantom Works.
Bell Helicopter/Textron is working on plans to offer an FAA-certified upgrade for commercial users of aging UH-1 Huey helicopters, similar to the company's Huey II upgrade kit for government and military users. Bell is in discussions with the FAA about the program, dubbed "Project 210," and hopes to make a formal announcement this summer, according to Scott Fitzgerald, director of the Huey II program.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Orbital Express program is gearing up for a critical design review (CDR) this winter, in anticipation of a six- to 12-month on-orbit demonstration to begin in fiscal year 2006. The $100 million program is an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) aimed at developing architectures and technologies for refueling, upgrading, and reconfiguring spacecraft while they are in orbit.
