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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology June 16, 2014

VOL. 176 NO. 20 June 16, 2014

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article

Solid Preference: Shaky Choice

Jun 16, 2014
'Solid Preference?' (AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 24) could be dealing with faulty figures. The cost-per-launch target value of €70 million ($95 million) for a future Ariane 6 vehicle was established by the European Space Agency (ESA) in early 2012 in its NELS study (New European Launch Service), based on the price Russia—prime competitor for geostationary transfer orbit launches—was charging for Proton services.
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Escalate Stateside RD-180 Type

Jun 16, 2014
“Playing Monopoly” (AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 22) suggests that the U.S. should develop a new hydrocarbon-core-class engine. But for what end? If I…
article

Regulating DIY UAS Operators

Jun 16, 2014
As a general aviation aviator, I was aghast to read Todd Ross Campbell’s letter suggesting that bird-sized UAVs should not need to be regulated based…
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Which Measures Rule?

Jun 16, 2014
Which Measures Rule? In 2008, while working for a Middle Eastern airline, I spoke with a senior captain who flew a Boeing 767-400ER for Delta Air…
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A-12, Another Angle

Jun 16, 2014
About 13 years ago, I bought a 1/72nd-scale plastic model kit of the A-12, after reading James Stevenson’s “The $5 Billion Misunderstanding,” an…
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‘Sure Things’ Will Go Wrong

Jun 16, 2014
Counter Craft” (AW&ST May 12, p. 30) reports on some measures being taken to counter the threat of shoulder-launched infrared missiles. Speaking specifically about the Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure (Music) systems, an executive of Elbit Systems was quoted as saying live-fire tests were conducted “with the goal of bringing them into the most extreme scenarios, and the result was a 100% success.”
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Questions About Answers

Jun 16, 2014
The Face to Face interview with Chris Chadwick, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 69), continues a trend…
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Those Were The Days

Jun 16, 2014
The Face to Face interview with Chris Chadwick, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (AW&ST May 26/June 2, p. 69), continues a trend of interviews that makes one wonder if the questions were written after the responses were provided. In this instance, Chadwick is asked 10 questions, and in only four does he actually answer the specific query. Essentially, we receive variations of the company line: “We are doing great.”

Intelligence

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Exelis Aims To Export Wide-Area Motion Imagery System

Jun 19, 2014
Ability to track people’s movements across a large area could find nonmilitary applications

Safety

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Reconsidering Upset Recovery Training

Jun 19, 2014
Airlines turn to industry for help with extended envelope training

Washington Outlook

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Election Casts Uncertainty Over Ex-Im Renewal

Jun 16, 2014
The Export-Import Bank is perceived as so important to Boeing that news stories initially blamed House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor’s primary election defeat for a one-day, 2.3% slide in Boeing stock. Financial analysts later stopped hyperventilating and attributed the downgrade more to other factors. But it was a nod to the power Cantor had wielded in the House.
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Spending Committee Backs A-10 Retirement

Jun 16, 2014
Though it is rare these days on Capitol Hill, sometimes lawmakers ally with the administration. In this case, the leaders of the House panel that…
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U.S. Lowers Restriction on Satellite Imagery

Jun 16, 2014
DigitalGlobe, the only producer of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery in the U.S., is now able to sell higher-quality products and is on a…

Business

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What Does Google Gain With Skybox Purchase?

Jun 16, 2014
With Skybox, Google extends its aerospace reach and imaging capabilities
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B/E Aerospace Plans To Split Up

Jun 17, 2014
From rolling up to splitting up, B/E Aerospace keeps transforming
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Key Senator Calls For Price Data In Commercial Space

Jun 18, 2014
How much cost data is needed for commercial space contracts?

Aerospace Calendar

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Conferences & Exhibitions

Jun 16, 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 16, 2014
June 24—Global Flight Tracking. O’Melveny & Myers Conference Center, Washington. www.unanca.org July 3—Inaugural IOSH Aviation Safety Conference. Duxford Imperial War Museum. Cambridgeshire, England. Contact [email protected] July 14-20—Farnborough air show. www.farnborough.com/airshow-20124 July 16-18—Quantum Control User Group Annual Conference. San Diego.

Face to Face

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IAI Diversifies To Strengthen Its Whole

Jun 18, 2014
Just before the start of the Eurosatory defense and security conference in Paris, Joseph Weiss, Israel Aerospace Industries president and CEO, sat down with David Eshel for Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Commander's Intent

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Opinion: GenCorp’s New-Rocket Plan Raises Questions

Jun 17, 2014
Does the U.S. need a new rocket engine?

Who's Where: Honors and Elections

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Tony Jannus Award

Jun 16, 2014
Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbron has been named to receive this year’s Tony Jannus Award, on Oct. 30. Dedicated to “honoring exceptional leaders in…
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers/Institute of Navigation Symposium

Jun 16, 2014
Charles Volk, who is vice president/chief technologist of the Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Advanced Navigation Systems business unit, Woodland Hills,…

Propulsion

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Chinese Engine Industry Faces Verification Challenges

Jun 16, 2014
No one doubts China’s eagerness to move into the civil aircraft-engine sector with a broad range of products. But Avic’s ability to verify the performance and safety of its civil engines, always in question, is now confirmed to be quite lacking.
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Avic Engine Aims At Commercial Turbofans, Big Turboshaft

Jun 16, 2014
As China’s well-funded push to build up its aero-engine industry gathers strength, details are emerging of new aviation powerplants in early development. Three of these—a turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan—form a family built on a common core, a cost-effective development practice that the Western industry now rarely uses. Two others, turbofans for commercial aircraft, are based on the common approach of scaling turbo machinery up or down to meet different thrust requirements.
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Improvements Likely For China’s Combat Aircraft Engines

Jun 16, 2014
China is close to volume production of aero-engines that can handle higher internal temperatures, increasing performance, durability or both, very probably for use in combat aircraft. The shift is revealed in market inquiries for large supplies of rhenium, a rare metal that increases the temperature-resistance of turbine blades. Timing of production of the new or upgraded engines is unclear, but the metal is needed from 2016. Likely, some is intended for stockpiling.

Inside Business Aviation

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SimCom Serves Old And New Aircraft

Jun 19, 2014
Pilots need training, regardless of their mount

Who's Where

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ATR

Jun 16, 2014
Patrick de Castelbajac has been named CEO of ATR. He succeeds Filippo Bagnato, whose four-year term has expired. De Castelbajac has been head of contracts and negotiations in the commercial division of Airbus Group.
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CIT Commercial Air

Jun 16, 2014
Estelle Janer has been appointed vice president for OEMs and contracts for CIT Commercial Air, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She has been senior legal counsel for the Airbus Financing and Commercial Group.
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Columbia Helicopters

Jun 16, 2014
Mike Brunner (see photos) has been named vice president-supply chain and manufacturing of Columbia Helicopters, Portland, Ore. He has been head of business operations for the Radisys Corp. in Malaysia. Kees Blekxtoon has become senior adviser for marketing in the Netherlands and India. Blekxtoon also is senior aerospace industry adviser to the Tata TCS Group of India. He has been Boeing’s president for Northern and Western Europe and president of Stork/Fokker International.
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Ametek Aerospace & Defense

Jun 16, 2014
Paul West has been appointed global distribution sales manager for the Sensors and Fluid Management Systems unit of Ametek Aerospace & Defense, Wilmington, Mass. He was director of sales at Aerospace Products International.
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Universal Avionics

Jun 16, 2014
Ross Dickey (see photo) has been named Middlesex, England-based airline and government sales manager for Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East for Universal Avionics, Tucson, Ariz.
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Tempus Aircraft Sales and Service

Jun 16, 2014
Andrew Wilson has become Pilatus sales director for Southern California for Tempus Aircraft Sales and Service, Englewood, Colo.
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AFI KLM Engineering and Maintenance

Jun 16, 2014
Aristides Ponjuan has been appointed general manager of Aero Technologies and Air-Pro, two subsidiaries of the Aero Maintenance Group (AMG) of AFI KLM Engineering and Maintanence in the Americas. He was the subsidiaries’ vice president-quality and operations.
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Basta Holdings Corp.

Jun 16, 2014
Joseph Hugh Avery has been named vice president-operations for the Basta Holdings Corp., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was vice president of Avantair and had been vice president-operations for Orion Air Group/Tempus Jets.
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UPS

Jun 16, 2014
David Abney has been named CEO of Atlanta-based UPS. He was chief operating officer and had been president of UPS International. Abney succeeds Scott Davis, who plans to retire Sept. 1 and become non-executive chairman.
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AJW Group

Jun 16, 2014
Jason Cordoba has become commercial development officer of the London-based AJW Group. He was director of StockMarket.Aero.
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Piaggio America Inc.

Jun 16, 2014
Giuliano Felten has been been appointed president/CEO of Piaggio America Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla. He succeeds John M. Bingham, who has left the company. Felten was executive vice president-civil sales.
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USAF

Jun 16, 2014
USAF Maj. Gen. Howard B. Baker, Sr., has been appointed director of logistics and sustainment at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. He was commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Air Force Materiel Command, Hill AFB, Utah. Baker succeeds Brig. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, who has become Air Force program executive officer for tankers of the command at Wright-Patterson AFB. Baker has been succeeded by Brig. Gen. Carl A.
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African Airlines Association

Jun 16, 2014
Koussai Mrabet (see photo) has become director commercial of corporate and industry affairs for the Nairobi, Kenya-based African Airlines Association. He was head of international affairs and alliances for Tunisair. Mrabet succeeds Raphael Kuuchi, who is now vice president-Africa for the International Air Transport Association.

The World

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International Carriers Wary on Pakistan Service

Jun 16, 2014
Several international airlines suspended flights to Pakistan in the wake of a series of Taliban attacks that began June 8 at the country’s busiest airport, in its largest city and its commercial capital.
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Spirit Flying

Jun 16, 2014
Spirit Aerosystems this month announced a so-called secondary offering of almost 8.2 million public shares held by controlling investment group Onex…
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Meads Work to Poland

Jun 16, 2014
Lockheed Martin is proposing co-development of a low-altitude anti-aircraft missile as part of its offer of the Medium Extended Air Defense System …
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Spanish Eurofighter Down

Jun 16, 2014
The pilot of a Spanish Eurofighter died when the aircraft crashed near Moron airbase near Seville on June 9. The aircraft came down on approach to the airfield, which is shared with U.S. forces. The accident is the third Eurofighter crash in Spain in 12 years.
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New A330 MRTT Version

Jun 16, 2014
Airbus Defense and Space is to offer a new version of its A330 multi-role tanker-transport (MRTT), using improvements developed for the commercial…
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Lockheed Looking

Jun 16, 2014
Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon’s leading contractor, increasingly is gazing beyond the U.S. border to underpin its revenue stream. CEO Marillyn Hewson…
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CSeries Schedule Hiccup

Jun 16, 2014
The new narrowbody will miss a debut at next month's Farnborough air show to avoid losing more time from the delayed flight-test program.
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OCO-2

Jun 16, 2014
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) is in final preparations for a July 1 launch from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., atop a United Launch Alliance…
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Possible Protest

Jun 16, 2014
The clock has begun for Raytheon to declare whether it is protesting its loss of a $915 million contract for the U.S. Air Force’s new Space Fence…
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777X Japanese Suppliers

Jun 16, 2014
Boeing said June 12 it struck a deal with five Japanese suppliers for 21% of the 777X. The providers are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy…
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Nod to Expand Civil UAS Use

Jun 16, 2014
An Insitu ScanEagle is to be flown from Desert Rock Airport in Nevada to gather data on integration of unmanned aircraft into national airspace after…
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SpaceX/ULA Could Duel for NRO Mission

Jun 16, 2014
The U.S. Air Force has begun the process of conducting the first launch services competition since awarding the monopoly United Launch Alliance (ULA)…

Up Front

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Opinion: Has The U.S. Army Thought Through Future Vertical Lift?

Jun 19, 2014
The coming rotorcraft non-revolution

Airline Intel

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Curbing Corruption Within Chinese Airport Construction

Jun 18, 2014
Beijing’s anti-corruption drive touches the Chinese air transport industry

In Orbit

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Darpa Offers Space-Based Advances

Jun 19, 2014
Darpa-backed membrane optics may deliver deep-space video

Defense

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Airbus Sees Opportunity In Lakota Sales

Jun 16, 2014
Army’s new training helo helps Airbus in the U.S.
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Afghans To Receive 3 Mi-17 Helos This Month

Jun 18, 2014
Russians are supplying U.S.-purchased Mi-17s for Afghanistan
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Airbus Hunts New A400M Opportunities

Jun 18, 2014
With the A400M in service, Airbus looks to secure more airlifter orders

Air Transport

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Frontier Transitions To ULCC Model

Jun 16, 2014
The ultra-low-cost-carrier model is proving just as successful in the U.S. as it has in Europe, with airlines achieving financial performance that most legacy carriers cannot come close to matching.
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Allegiant Prospers With ULCC Business Model

Jun 16, 2014
The ultra-low-cost approach is yielding rich results for Allegiant Air
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New Details About A350, A330neo Options

Jun 16, 2014
Airbus loses important A350 customer as aircraft progresses toward certification
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Comac, UAC Study Moderate Range For Proposed Joint Widebody

Jun 17, 2014
Russo-Chinese widebody would have quite moderate range, avoiding 787 competition
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Air Canada’s LCC Rouge Expands Fleet

Jun 16, 2014
Air Canada tries again to establish a viable lower-cost affiliate
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Freight Terminal Expansion For Cathay Pacific Services

Jun 16, 2014
Hong Kong considers expanding its new freight terminal, mindful of competition from mainland China

Viewpoint

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Opinion: Reagan Would Have Fought For Ex-Im Bank

Jun 17, 2014
In the decade since Ronald Reagan’s death, appraisals of the U.S.’s 40th president have focused on his policies’ bold colorings.

Airspace Management

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UAS Community Backs NASA Program For Low-Altitude Airspace

Jun 17, 2014
Projections for growth in civil unmanned aircraft operations boost NASA plan to create low-altitude airspace system
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NRC Report Sets Agenda For Autonomy In Civil Aviation

Jun 20, 2014
Nondeterministic systems will be key to unmanned operations in civil airspace
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Group Cites Victories To Aid NextGen’s Future

Jun 17, 2014
Group readies “last, best chance” to show NextGen relevance