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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 16, 2015

Asia-Pacific Defense

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Australia Enjoys F-35 Offsets It Did Not Demand

Feb 12, 2015
A former precision manufacturer for the automobile industry is building tail fins for the F-35.
article

Chinese-Generated Report Details Country’s Aircraft Technology Progress

Feb 12, 2015
An official Chinese report outlines the efforts that Avic’s factories and research institutes are putting into advanced manufacturing technology, from friction-stir welding to resin-transfer infusion.
article

A Turnaround For India’s First Indigenous Fighter

Feb 13, 2015
After nearly three decades, India is sending its indigenous lightweight fighter aircraft to its air force, although full operational capability and a naval version are still in the works.
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India Makes Room For A Private Defense Sector

Feb 10, 2015
India’s private defense contractors are jumping into the space that the government has opened for them. Many have experience, but not always enough. And the biggest projects look too risky for them.
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France, India Disagree Over Key Rafale Contract Issue

Feb 12, 2015
While India’s government complains that Dassault will not provide quality guarantees for Rafale fighters built in India, France says that the original request for proposals did not call for one.
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Foreign Investment In India Still Lags Behind Potential

Feb 11, 2015
India now allows foreign companies to own 49% of joint ventures, but without the ability to control more decisions, global investors are finding other ways to enter the market there.
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Will India and Russia Reach Agreement On Next-Generation Fighter?

Feb 12, 2015
“It has been communicated at the highest levels that India and Russia need to have something to show for the program this year,” says an Indian defense ministry official. But crucial issues remain to be resolved.

First Take

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First Take, Feb. 16-March 1, 2015

Feb 16, 2015
DEFENSE Northrop Grumman has scrapped plans to offer BAE Systems’ Hawk for the $1 billion U.S. Air Force T-38 replacement program, opting instead for a clean-sheet trainer. Subsidiary Scaled Composites is to fly a prototype by year-end. A competition is expected to begin in fiscal 2016, and Boeing also plans a clean-sheet design (page 58).

Indian Airlines

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Air India Restructuring Focuses On Continued Fleet Renewal

Feb 16, 2015
Air India faces myriad challenges as it tries to regroup, not least of which is the creation of two more airlines operating on the domestic market.
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Vistara, AirAsia India Enter India’s Domestic Sector

Feb 10, 2015
Despite the fluctuation in India’s airline sector, outside investors see promise there.
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Indian Airlines Anticipate Profits Soon

Feb 10, 2015
Analysts say India’s airlines are set to post their best operational performance in the last five years.

Commercial Aviation

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China Airlines Focuses On East And South Of Mainland

Feb 12, 2015
Probably more than anything, Taiwan’s China Airlines wants access to transfer traffic from mainland China.
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St. Helena Hunts For International Connections

Feb 12, 2015
Early next year, aviation will help change life on the remote British island of St. Helena.

Defense

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Lockheed Martin Advances Podded AESA Radar For Helicopters

Feb 12, 2015
The system is competing to meet the requirements of Crowsnest, a British Royal Navy program to provide an organic AEW capability on the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
article

Harris Buying Exelis To Form Major Midtier Contractor

Feb 12, 2015
Harris, Exelis merger, if approved, will create second-largest midtier A&D contractor
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General Atomics Claims Laser Weapon Advance

Feb 16, 2015
So far, laser weapons have been deemed too big, too expensive and insufficiently lethal for mainstream use. General Atomics says it has taken steps to solving that problem.
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Navy JSF Cuts Mirror CNO Priorities

Feb 16, 2015
The Navy significantly reduces its planned F-35C orders and starts new investment in standoff weapons, some for Hornets and Growlers.

Space

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Lessons From Shuttle Can Help Commercial Crew

Feb 17, 2015
Hard-won data from 30 years of space shuttle missions can shape the design of next-generation human spacecraft in areas ranging from vehicle reuse to helping crewmembers survive an accident.
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Satellite Imagery To Guide Aerial Mapping By UAS

Feb 11, 2015
With FAA approval to use unmanned aircraft for aerial photography and a deal with Planet Labs to buy satellite imagery, Woolpert plans to bring the two together to enable new geospatial information services.

Technology

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NASA Plans More Flight Demos Under New Strategy

Feb 09, 2015
Low-cost X-planes, electric propulsion and autonomous vehicles to get a boost under NASA’s aeronautics research plans for 2015 and 2016.
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The Week in Technology, Feb. 9-13, 2015

Feb 09, 2015
Unmanned aircraft guides firefighting robot; carrier landings made easier; a simpler approach to thrust vectoring; unmanned helicopter competes on cost with cargo trucks; Europe steps up work on reusable spaceflight.

Up Front

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Opinion: How Bombardier Can Bounce Back

Feb 12, 2015
Bombardier’s cancellation of the Lear 85 is symptomatic of two much larger issues that the company must confront in the near future.

Going Concerns

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Opinion: Expect M&A To Pick Up As Companies Get Positioned

Feb 12, 2015
Merger & Acquisitions will pick up at most levels of industry; the lower level will be the more active.

Airline Intel

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Protectionism Won’t Work Against New Competition

Feb 16, 2015
Chief executives of major airlines in Europe and the U.S. have requested their respective governments ensure fair competition and limit Gulf carriers’ air service—but are such moves the right approach?

Commander’s Intent

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Opinion: Pentagon Budgets Don’t Add Up In the Out-Years

Feb 12, 2015
Don’t look at what new Pentagon projects look like this year. Worry about how to pay for them in the 2020s.

In Orbit

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Companies Developing Training For New Human Spacecraft

Feb 19, 2015
In the future, most astronauts will select themselves, largely on the basis of their ability to buy a ticket.

Washington Outlook

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Fiscal 2016 Federal Budget Issues to Watch

Feb 16, 2015
The Pentagon’s $585 billion request for fiscal 2016 may far outpace spending by other countries, but if current budget caps force a reduction, lawmakers are looking for ways to help balance the books. Five high-profile defense analysts from Washington think tanks offered suggestions to the House Armed Services Committee Feb. 11. Some echoed the Pentagon’s recommendations to cut bases, personnel and compensation. But many of those ideas have been rejected by Congress year after year, and in that light, Rep.

Feedback

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Letters From Our Readers (Feb. 16, 2015)

Feb 16, 2015
Seattle Museum of Flight sets the record straight as to its independent status; NASA AMES researcher responds to reader reaction to its simulator training study.

Who's Where

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New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections (Feb. 16, 2015)

Feb 16, 2015
Patrick Piedrafita has been appointed head of the A350 program at Airbus. He has been head of the A330-family program and succeeds Didier Evrard, who is now executive vice president-programs. Following Piedrafita is Eric Zanin, who has been head of procurement operations. Klaus Roewe, who has been head of the A320neo program, is now head of the A320-family program and succeeds Daniel Baubil, who is now senior adviser to Evrard.

Aerospace Calendar

Editorial

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The Coming U.S. Pilot Shortage Is Real

Feb 16, 2015
Too few bright-eyed students are opting for careers in the cockpit, despite the promise of readily available jobs.