I would disagree with the letter from John Jogerst on “America’s Ongoing Space Role” that space travel to low Earth orbit is at the maturity stage of 1930s air travel (AW&ST Mar. 1, p. 8). We are struggling with nearly 40-year-old technology to finish the space shuttle missions this year. While the follow-on program and its “Apollo on steroids” approach was hardly innovative, at least we were aiming higher than 200 mi. above Earth for the first time since Apollo 17.
The U.K. Defense Ministry last week formally accepted the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4, clearing the way for training to begin. Clearance had been expected in December. The Royal Air Force is to receive MRA4s, which eventually will replace Nimrod MR2s that will be withdrawn from service at the end of this month. The first MRA4 production aircraft, PA04, is at BAE’s Warton site, while PA05 was flown for the first time from the Woodford manufacturing site on Mar. 8.
Since a test program began last June, the U.S. Navy says it has shipped thousands of pounds of rhenium, a prime component in turbine blades and stators, that was reclaimed from out-of-service General Electric F404 and F414 engines. The reclaimed precious metal will be used in new engine parts.
Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines last weeksecured U.S. Transportation Dept. authorization to offer service between Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Barranquilla, Colombia. Spirit expects to launch service this summer.
JUDGE ROSEMARY Collyer OF the U.S. DISTRICT court for the District of Columbia has directed the FAA to make available for press scrutiny previously confidential aircraft registration numbers, which the agency had sequestered under the decade-old Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program. Judge Collyer’s Feb. 26 decision was in response to Freedom of Information Act requests filed by Pro Publica, an investigative news organization. The ruling does not permit disclosure of real-time or historical flight data, or operator names.
German aerospace center DLR says it will soon initiate detailed design of an experimental broadband satellite as part of an effort to place German industry at the forefront of satellite telecommunications. The country is already underwriting a number of satcom projects through the European Space Agency (ESA), notably a small telecom bus initiative, Small Geo, and a laser data relay to permit near-real-time download of imagery from low-Earth-orbit satellites. The first SmallGeo mission, Hispasat’s AG1, was contracted to Germany’s OHB Technology last June.
Walt Sirmans (see photos) has become chief operating officer and John F. White vice president-human resources for Sabreliner of St. Louis. Sirmans was vice president-aerostructures programs at GKN Aerospace, also in St. Louis, while White was a human resources executive with Crane Merchandising Systems.
Regarding your In Orbit item on suborbital heavy lift (AW&ST Feb. 22, p. 18), I was reminded of my involvement with the OV-1 (Satar) “payload pod” program in 1965-71, when General Dynamics-Convair built and launched several dozen small satellites (with integral solid-propellant rocket motors), into low Earth orbit using the excess capability of U.S. Air Force Atlas E/F boosters.
USAF Brig. Gen. Otis G. Mannon has been named vice commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He was commander of the 82nd Training Wing of Air Education and Training Command, Sheppard AFB, Tex. Mannon has been succeeded by Brig. Gen. Darryl W. Burke, who was vice commander of the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) of Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
The U.K. plans to kick off competition for a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle in the third quarter, with funding for this phase of the program recently approved.
A recent uptick in global demand means airline losses in 2010 will be less than expected, and even 2009 losses are being revised downward, according to the International Air Transport Assn. IATA has cut its 2010 net loss estimate to $2.8 billion in its latest industry forecast, down from the $5.6-billion deficit it was predicting in December. Last year’s loss is now expected to be $9.4 billion, versus the earlier estimate of $11 billion.
Even as the ink dries on the U.K.’s latest military communications satellite contract, Skynet 5D, industry is already corralling its arguments for research and technology funding for a follow-on system, with ambitions to begin work during the 2011-12 period.
Swedish defense procurement agency FMV has awarded Saab another 2-billion-kronor ($280-million) contract for further work on JAS 39 Gripen upgrades. The latest work package, called MS20, covers integratation of the Small Diameter Bomb on the single-engine fighter. Saab officials say enhanced radar modes also will be developed, to improve beyond-visual-range target-tracking capability. The work is focused on improving the ability to employ the Amraam radar-guided air-to-air missile. MS20 also is to bring enhanced communications capabilities to the fighter.
Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., a brash former fighter pilot and rear admiral who battled a skeptical USAF to win acceptance of unmanned aerial vehicles, is retiring as president of the Aircraft Systems Group at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) effective Mar. 15. Cassidy joined San Diego-based General Atomics in 1987 after a 33-year career in the U.S. Navy. GA-ASI was formed three years later with a staff of five and spun off as an affiliated company in 1993.
Doug Davis, global strategic initiatives director for unmanned aerial systems at the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory, has been appointed to the board of directors of The Hague-based Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and elected its secretary.
Investors are betting that an infusion of government money and a revised business plan will lead to restarting production of the Fokker 100 where previous attempts have failed. If things go well, a prototype could be airborne in 2012 and customer deliveries of the so-called Next-Generation Fokker would commence in 2015.
Air Jamaica’s leadership has proposed a plan to rebuild the financially troubled carrier as a wet-lease operator for Caribbean Airlines while that Trinidad and Tobago-based carrier finalizes takeover negotiations with the Jamaican government. If approved, the wet-lease operation could begin as soon as Apr. 12 when Air Jamaica’s new schedule begins, and continue for up to 12 months to facilitate the takeover.
Turkish Airlines last week finalized an order valued at $1.6 billion for 20 Boeing 737 NextGen aircraft (10 737-800s and 10 -900ERs). They will be fitted with soft blue overhead lighting, sculpted sidewalls and larger, pivoting overhead stowage bins.
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II were honored for their service to the U.S. at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in Washington last week. The WASPs, founded by Jacqueline Cochran, were civilian female pilots employed by the U.S. Army Air Forces to ferry aircraft, including fighters and bombers. Their work paved the way for integration of women pilots into the armed services.
Greece last week joined 35 other countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Dept. To become a member, Greece had to comply with key requirements, which include enhanced law enforcement and security-related data-sharing with the U.S., timely reporting of lost and stolen passports, as well as the maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, aviation and document security standards. In turn, Greek citizens will be permitted to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.
The Air Line Pilots Assn. is backing proposed legislation designed to protect U.S. pilots and other airline workers against outsourcing, without affecting existing code-share agreements. The House bill was introduced last week and would direct the Transportation Dept. to ensure that new revenue-sharing agreements between U.S. and foreign carriers benefit both employees and the carriers. The airlines would be required to conduct an amount of flying that is proportionate to the revenue received, notes ALPA President John Prater.
Mar. 21-24—Institute of Applied Aviation Management/National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University of Law’s Post-Graduate Diploma Seminar: “Aviation Law and Air Transport Management.” Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates. Call +91 (94) 4787-5164 or see www.nalsar.ac.in Mar. 22-25—White Eagle Aerospace’s Short Course: “Aerodynamics for Engineers.” Also, Mar. 29-Apr. 1—“Aerospace Vehicle Performance.” Both events at Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, Oro Valley, Ariz. See www.whiteeagleaerospace.com
Mike Beffel has been named vice president-operations for Chromalloy , Orangeburg, N.Y. He was vice president-operations for the industrial gas turbine, new parts and military sectors.
Aircraft Technical Publishers of Brisbane, Calif., says it has reached a settlement of a patent-infringement lawsuit it filed against Avantext of Longview, Tex., last July. In the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, ATP said Avantext infringed on its AD Basic (and ancillary) Libraries and software, which are used by mechanics in general aviation maintenance. In the settlement, Avantext acknowledged ATP’s patents and will receive a non-exclusive license to use ATP’s portfolio for an undisclosed sum.
