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 conclusions of a recent Rand Corporation report on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) are generating both praise and head-scratching on the part of program finalists Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The report (DAILY, April 9), which was released last week, urges the Pentagon to stick with its winner-take-all strategy for near term development and production of the JSF. However, it also recommends future competition for upgrades to systems such as avionics.
A new circuit breaker technology could one day help prevent wiring-related disasters, as well as significantly cut down on inspection and maintenance costs for aging aircraft. The arc fault circuit breaker (AFCB), currently under development at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, is designed to detect and prevent electrical arcing caused by breaks in wire insulation before that arcing can lead to a fire or other catastrophe.
A Marine Corps Judge Advocate General Manual (JAG) report investigating the fatal December 11 crash of the accident-prone MV-22 Osprey recommends a full review of the hydraulic and software systems, the Pentagon said yesterday.
