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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 1, 2016

VOL. 178 NO. 5 February 01, 2016

Defense

article

KC-46A Refueling Tests Pave Way For Air Mobility Command Priority List

Jan 29, 2016
Testing for the Air Mobility Command’s high-priority aircraft will follow the KC-46A refueling trials now underway.
article

Germany Wants European Collaboration For Tornado Replacement

Jan 28, 2016
Germany wants to find partners for a combat aircraft to replace the Tornado, but are its neighbors willing?
article

Anglo-French UCAV Study Begins To Take Shape

Feb 04, 2016
Anglo-French UCAV study enjoys political support as milestones approach.
article

Lockheed Pushes Lrasm As Navy Looks To Rearm

Jan 29, 2016
Lockheed Martin parlays urgent need for air-launched long-range anti-ship missile into a chance to compete to arm U.S. Navy’s surface vessels.
article

The Week In Defense, Jan. 28-Feb. 4, 2016

Jan 28, 2016
Falcon 9 Upgrade is certified; F-35 tests AIM-9X; new Russian transporter in production; Pakistan’s cruise missile test.

First Take

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First Take (Feb. 1, 2016)

Jan 29, 2016
DEFENSE The first fuel transfer from a Boeing KC-46A tanker to a receiver aircraft was completed on Jan. 24, a key step toward approval of low-rate initial production. EMD-2, the first fully configured test aircraft, boom-refueled an F-16C and in coming weeks will transfer fuel to a C-17, A-10, F/A-18 and AV-8B (page 32).

Aeronautical Engineering

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Boeing Ponders Reviving X-48 For New Tests

Jan 29, 2016
Boeing is still on the hunt for a launch application for its unconventional Blended Wing Body concept, bolstered by positive results from more than two decades of testing at some of the U.S.’s premier research facilities.
article

NASA Eyes Large-Scale Aircraft Demo, 2017 Budget Allowing

Feb 02, 2016
Low-boom supersonics heads NASA’s flight-demonstrator options, but advanced subsonic transports are also in the mix

Commercial Aviation

article

Iran: A Goldmine For Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers?

Jan 29, 2016
Iran promises to order hundreds of commercial aircraft, and Western industry officials evaluate market prospects, but major obstacles remain.
article

Air Cargo Industry Still Fighting Fuel System AD

Jan 29, 2016
New rules designed to guard against Boeing 757F fuel tank explosions offer no significant safety benefit, cargo industry says.
article

Regional Economic Woes Rattle Copa

Jan 26, 2016
Copa Airlines has some core strengths, but currency conflicts of many of its prime destinations are taking a toll on the airline’s bottom line.
article

How ATR Will Weather Falling Oil Prices, Weaker Core Markets

Jan 26, 2016
The world’s leading turboprop manufacturer saw a bumper year in 2015. But with softening markets in Asia and Latin America, and fuel prices hovering around $30 per barrel, Franco-Italian joint venture ATR is seeking new opportunities
article

Aeroflot Consolidates Affiliates Under Rossiya Brand

Jan 26, 2016
Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline, is merging three airlines that will cover leisure and some business routes for the group. The bankruptcy of Transaero has left Aeroflot in an enviable position.

Space

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SpaceX, Blue Origin Accelerate Reusability Progress

Jan 27, 2016
Back-to-back landing tests mark rapid pace of private space sector achievements.
article

Extra Money Means More Early Work For Orion Crew Module

Jan 27, 2016
Election year windfall funding for NASA will allow work on the Orion crew capsule to proceed more quickly than expected.

Rotorcraft

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Airbus, Uber Plan More Helo Rideshare Trials

Jan 29, 2016
Airbus’s first helicopter rideshare trial with Uber is quickly grounded, but the partners vow to continue.
article

China’s Avic Still Pursuing Joint Helicopter Programs With Russia

Jan 26, 2016
Chinese demand for training helicopters probably explains much of Avic’s specific interest in the Mil Mi-34. Chinese helicopter operations are expanding fast, challenging schools to train enough pilots.

Technology

article

Load Alleviation Gets Winglets Onto Cessna CJs

Jan 25, 2016
Fly-by-wire active gust-load alleviation minimizes the penalties of retrofitting drag-reducing winglets to existing aircraft.
article

First Flight For Australian Subscale Reusable Launch Demonstrator

Jan 25, 2016
Australian researchers pursue a different approach to cutting launch costs—a wing-borne, fly-back booster and a reusable, scramjet-powered second stage.
article

The Week In Technology, Jan. 25-29, 2016

Jan 25, 2016
Unmanned aircraft in the news: UAV lands on car; Coyote prowls hurricanes; Black Hawk gives UGV a ride; DHL’s delivery drone evolves; Caterpillar teams up.

MRO

article

Rolls-Royce Seeks Flexibility With New Aftermarket Service

Feb 04, 2016
With more than 50% of its aerospace revenues derived from aftermarket services, Rolls-Royce has stepped up its bid for a greater share of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services segment by launching an aftermarket services program designed for airlines operating aircraft in the later life-cycle stages.

Going Concerns

article

Stock Market Slide Aside, Analysts Say A&D Looks Resilient

Jan 29, 2016
Despite a negative shift in stock market sentiment this month, most analysts remain cautiously optimistic about A&D’s prospects for profitmaking.

Airline Intel

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Opinion: A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX Gain From Past High Fuel Costs

Jan 28, 2016
As the success of the A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX demonstrates, perfect timing is important for new aircraft programs.

Commander's Intent

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Opinion: F-35 Software Fixes Likely To Take Time

Jan 28, 2016
The Pentagon’s weapons-test watchdog and the F-35 program leaders are at loggerheads. Don’t expect it to change any time soon.

In Orbit

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Lightweight Optics Grow From Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits

Jan 27, 2016
U.S. space and defense agencies are helping to fund lightweight optics in a project that could produce a hundredfold reduction in the size, weight and power consumption of remote-sensing telescopes.

Washington Outlook

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McCain’s Russian Engine Offensive | 757 Fuel Tanks

Jan 29, 2016
The Arizona senator accuses United Launch Alliance of “manipulative extortion” on RD-180 engines; cargo carriers fight FAA fuel tank AD; NASA ponders how to use funding windfall; U.S. nuclear weapons seem here to stay.

Feedback

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Letters From Our Readers (Feb. 1, 2016)

Jan 29, 2016
Promise of gelled fuel discussed; merits of AoA on commercial aircraft weighed; A380 commentary debated

Who's Where

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New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections (Feb. 1, 2016)

Jan 29, 2016
Robert Leduc has been appointed president of Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, a United Technologies unit headquartered in East Hartford, Connecticut. Leduc had been president of Sikorsky prior to its sale. He will succeed Paul Adams, who is retiring.

Aerospace Calendar

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Aerospace Calendar And Aviation Week Events (Feb. 1, 2016)

Jan 29, 2016
Feb. 9-10—Microelectronics Reliability and Qualification Working Meeting. The Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, California. See cvent.com/d/5fq8yp Feb. 9-11—PNAA’s 15th Annual Aerospace Manufacturing Conference. Lynnwood Convention Center. Lynnwood, Washington. See pnaa.net/events/annual-conference/2016-conference