Sept. 12-15—Practical Aeronautics Short Course: “Introduction to Aeronautics: A Practical Perspective.” National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va. See www.practicalaero.com Sept. 13-14—Transport Security Expo and Conference. Olympia Exhibition Center, London. See www.transec.com Sept. 14-15—MIU Events' “Business Aircraft Europe.” London Biggin Hill Airport. Call +44 (124) 351-3606 or see www.miuevents.com
On Feb. 13, 2008, two Go! airline pilots, cruising at 21,000 ft. over Hawaii in broad daylight, fell asleep. Ignoring repeated calls from air traffic control, they flew 26 mi. past Hilo's airport before waking up, contacting air traffic control and landing safely. The pilots' fatigue that day resulted from several successive days of early flights as well as the captain's undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Key stakeholders in the long-term health of the Aerospace & Defense industry should be pleased to learn that some encouraging news came out of Aviation Week's 2011 annual workforce study. For example, voluntary attrition among young A&D professionals in 2010, which peaked at 22% in the prior year, fell to the single digits. To everyone's relief, a tidal wave of retirements forecast for the last several years did not materialize, thanks partly to a moribund economy.
The first PW1524G engine for the Bombardier's CSeries regional jet is nearing the end of its first flight test cycle as a validation of the performance of its geared turbofan architecture. Pratt & Whitney Canada is conducting the tests from the Montreal-Mirabel Airport, which will also be the home for the most extensively automated engine assembly factory the company has ever used. Coverage of Pratt's engine testing and development of the CSeries engine factory begins on page 40. Chip Yates photo for Pratt & Whitney.
Joe Murphy, ChairmanThe Ferco Aerospace Group (Franklin, Ohio )
A recent Market Focus commentary, “In Washington, There is No Shame” (AW&ST Aug. 8, p. 14), expresses the frustration many people have with Congress and the White House. I live in House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) district. When he issued his constituent newsletter titled “A Win for the American People” following the debt-ceiling debacle, I could not believe it. As you so well note, the “deal” was a political stunt with no sincere attempt at addressing the real issue of reducing the country's debt.
I believe all projects to transport civilians at speeds greater than sound are economic emperors without clothes, including those covered in your “Aviation Unleashed” package (AW&ST July 18/25 pp. 57, 65, 66). Pushing craft faster than conventional airliners will always suffer from higher levels of fuel consumption, making it a very pricey way to travel.
USAF Col. (ret.) Michael R. Gallagher (Hillsboro, Ore. )
In reference to the “Guard Up” item in Washington Outlook (AW&ST Aug. 8, p. 23), senior National Guard leadership should be ashamed of themselves for using the over-tasking of their forces as a justification for a seat on the Joint Chiefs. We don't need a more top-heavy military structure, but we do need to reassess the role of Guard and Reserve forces. Repetitive deployments have taken a toll on the employability of many of these fine men and women. Clearly, budget cuts are coming. We certainly don't need to increase the overhead!
You featured three opinions about the space shuttle's legacy (AW&ST July 18/25, pp. 70, 72, 90). All were valid, but missed some key points. I worked for the program from the beginning and have a different insight. A shuttle selling point was that it would put satellites in orbit for a lower cost than expendables. People experienced with Apollo knew that putting a person in a vehicle pushes up the cost.
This is not Arizona, but a view of the rim of Endeavour Crater on Mars. The still-roving Opportunity recently collected the image. See details at the On Space Blog.
The Ares blog posts some details about the Ghost, a prototype small waterplane twin-hull ship. The aim is to interest the U.S. Navy in a water-borne equivalent of an attack helicopter that could intercept swarms of missile-equipped, small attack boats. Harpooner says:
Also on the Ares blog: Russia wants to revive its air and ballistic missile defense system—with S-500 as its centerpiece. That's no surprise, but now the design bureau for the effort has released a road map. Marcase writes: I'm just worried the S-500 will eventually be sold elsewhere (India, China, Pakistan . . . ). Something which happened with the once-feared S-300. Stan notes:
Rohit Nandan, a joint secretary at India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been named managing director of state-owned Air India, replacing Arvind Jadhav, who was removed from the post.
Larry R. Flynn will become president of Savannah, Ga.-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. on Sept. 1, succeeding Joseph T. Lombardo, who will continue as executive VP of parent company General Dynamics' Aerospace Group. Flynn was VP-aircraft services.
Jack Dorsett (see photo) has been appointed VP-cybersecurity/C4 at Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman. He was U.S. deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and director of naval intelligence.
Damon Cram has been named director of marketing for simulation at FlightSafety International, based at New York LaGuardia Airport. He was business development and sales lead for commercial aircraft training at CAE.
Ray Kaess has been named quality inspector for Twin Commander Aircraft, Arlington, Wash. He was an inspector, quality supervisor and quality engineer at Parker Hannifin's Electronic Systems Division.
Eric Martel (see photo) has been appointed president-customer services and specialized and amphibious aircraft at Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace. He was senior VP-commercial aircraft and had been VP and general manager for the Challenger and Global Express product lines.
Patrick Mouley has been selected as managing director for commercial business for Europe and Russia at Fort Worth-based Bell Helicopter. He was VP-marketing and sales for Southeast Asia for Eurocopter.
Ann Ardizzone has been named VP-strategic sourcing and supply chain management for Alaska Air Group. She was Alaska Airlines' VP-inflight services. Ardizzone will be succeeded by Andy Schneider, who has been senior VP-people and customer services at Alaska's sister carrier, Horizon Air. Shane Tackett has moved to VP-labor relations at Alaska Airlines from managing director of financial planning and analysis, and Yvonne Daverin has become VP-maintenance and engineering at Horizon. She was managing director for airframe, engine and component maintenance at Alaska Airlines.
Ann Ardizzone has been named VP-strategic sourcing and supply chain management for Alaska Air Group. She was Alaska Airlines' VP-inflight services. Ardizzone will be succeeded by Andy Schneider, who has been senior VP-people and customer services at Alaska's sister carrier, Horizon Air. Shane Tackett has moved to VP-labor relations at Alaska Airlines from managing director of financial planning and analysis, and Yvonne Daverin has become VP-maintenance and engineering at Horizon. She was managing director for airframe, engine and component maintenance at Alaska Airlines.
Doris (Connie) Bernal (see photo) has joined the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program as site manager of its incubator at Daytona Beach International Airport. She was manager of the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College.
David Bernstein has been promoted to senior VP-program management from senior executive director of SES programs at Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, Calif. Paul Estey was elevated to senior VP-engineering, manufacturing and test operations from executive director of bus subsystems operations, succeeding Christian Goodman, who retired in July.
Amar Chouaki has been appointed VP-sales for Southern Europe at Air France Industries KLM Engineering and Maintenance, headquartered in Paris and Amstelveen, Netherlands. He was head of cabin modifications product support. Miguel Chiang has been named VP-sales for Latin America. He was product support director for airframe base maintenance.
Itsik Maaravi (see photo) has been appointed president of Piedmont Aviation Component Services, Kernersville, N.C. He was chief marketing officer for Limco Piedmont.
