The new seven-window cupola at the Earth-facing center of the International Space Station gives the orbiting outpost greater flexibility for proximity operations under its extended lifetime, affording crew members an alternative to the video views they have been using to operate the station’s robotic arm and monitor approaching vehicles.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is poised to receive FAA approval to start tests of the stealthy, turbofan-powered unmanned Predator C Avenger at the Edwards AFB test range in California. The V-tailed, swept-wing vehicle first flew on Apr.
Engineers at NASA and United Launch Alliance are studying whether it will be possible to fly suborbital scientific payloads piggyback on an Atlas V launch vehicle. They would ride in a side-mounted carrier that mimics the shape and weight of one of the rocket’s optional solid-rocket boosters. The Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is working with ULA and Special Aerospace Services, a small engineering-support company in Boulder, Colo., to move the External Payload Carrier (XLC) concept into the preliminary design phase.
How can air and space power contribute to the U.K.’s future defense and security needs in our uncertain and unpredictable world? I would offer three propositions.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace saw 2009 revenues lowered 3% to S$1.875 billion ($1.331 billion). Earnings before interest and tax were up 15% to S$199.8 million. President Tay Kok Khiang said 2009 revenues were actually comparable to the previous year’s when including the fact that ST Aero delivered two high-value conversions of Boeing 757-200 s in 2008 . A reduction in MD-11 freighter conversion deliveries also hurt last year’s profits, although they were partially offset by more 757 conversions.
Eight German air force personnel have completed training in Israel to operate the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle due for deployment to Afghanistan next month.
Rob Wilson, the president of Honeywell Aerospace’s Business and General Aviation division and chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. (GAMA), had a somber task as he unveiled GAMA’s annual review and outlook last week in Washington. Worldwide shipments of piston aircraft plunged 55% in 2009 to 965, while business jet deliveries fell 34% to 870, and turboprop deliveries declined 18% to 441. And with credit still hard to come by, a whopping 65% of business jet purchases are now in cash.
Continued strong demand for satellite leases and services is prompting Eutelsat to raise its outlook for the 2009-10 fiscal year. In first-half results presented on Feb. 18, Eutelsat said performance suggests revenues will reach €1.02 billion ($1.4 billion) for the full year, compared to the €1 billion previously predicted. Similarly, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to top €795 million versus the forecast €780 million .
“A massive step forward from where we were two years ago” is how one BAE Systems executive describes the events which culminated Oct. 21, 2009, with the first flight of the Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) demonstrator. The Spiral 1 flight-test program from the outset examined the system capability, rather than just initial aerodynamic and air vehicle performance. Mission demonstrations were undertaken from the Mantis’s second test flight, with the results informing the proposed Spiral 2 development and beyond.
The Navy is planning to demonstrate an armed, sensor-equipped, carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft system (UCAS) by 2018, as a follow-on to carrier-suitability and autonomous aerial-refueling demonstrations planned for completion in 2013. A request for information (RFI) will be released this year, said Rear Adm. William Shannon, program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons, last week at Aviation Week’s Defense Technology and Requirements conference in Washington.
In October 2007, not even the design concept had been selected, but 24 months later the Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle demonstrator flew for the first time—even allowing for some non-program-related distractions.
As the U.S. ponders shutting down its capacity to manufacture the largest solid-fuel space-launch boosters, India has tested a 200-metric-ton solid rocket for the latest version of its Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk. III). The S200 strap-on stage fired for 130 sec. in a test Jan. 24 at the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) says the all-domestic booster generated a peak thrust of about 500 metric tons in the static test.
Despite the prospects for improving market conditions in Middle East air travel, many of the region’s carriers are bracing for a difficult year with competition increasing as few airlines are moderating their growth ambitions.
Rohit Philip has become senior vice president-corporate strategy and business development for United Airlines . He was vice president-financial planning and analysis and has been succeeded by John R. Gebo, who was managing director for investor relations. Following Gebo is Tyler Reddien, who was a financial planning and business management executive.
SES says big outlays for new satellites and other investments will trigger a further surge in revenues and profits by the middle of the decade, despite the lingering economic crisis.
An airborne radar that can track individuals on foot over a wide area is to be deployed operationally by U.S. forces in Afghanistan to aid in the fight against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and chairman of the Space Center at the University of Surrey, England, has been awarded the Faraday Medal by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) , for his contributions to the advancement of satellite technology. The medal recognizes scientific or industrial achievement in engineering, or service to the advancement of science, engineering and technology.
Rob Pasterick has been named president of the Chicago-based Boeing Shared Services Group. He was corporate controller/vice president-finance and succeeds Tim Copes, who has become vice president-quality and manufacturing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Greg Smith succeeds Pasterick and was vice president-financial planning and analysis. Smith has been followed by Diana Sands, who will now be corporate vice president-investor relations, financial planning and analysis. USN Adm. (ret.) Edmund Giambastiani, Jr., has been appointed to the Boeing board of directors.
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P (GOES-P) is set for liftoff on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV medium-lift rocket from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., on Mar. 2. Built by Boeing on its 601-series platform under a NASA contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, GOES-P is the third in a series that includes an advanced search-and-rescue link for aircraft or ships in distress.
Regarding the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash, when I was flying 30-seat turboprops, we were trained in recovery from tailplane stalls resulting from ice accretion. We were required to watch a NASA training video in which the research pilots discussed the characteristics of tailplane stalls and recovery methods .
The Transportation Security Administration plans to take another crack at its controversial Large Aircraft Security Plan (LASP) when it meets with general aviation representatives Mar. 9-10. The restriction in the original LASP proposal, which covered all private aircraft weighing more than 12,500 lb., drew such a storm of protest from operators across the U.S. that the agency agreed to rework the plan. Ultimately, changes expected include raising the minimum weight of aircraft covered and lifting bans on carrying tools and sports equipment onboard aircraft.
Edward M. Swallow has become vice president-business development for the Northrop Grumman Corp. Information Systems Sector’s Civil Systems Div., Reston, Va. He was the sector’s vice president-business acquisition process and proposal operations.
Any disgruntlement within the general aviation community over the absence of a candidate from its sector in this year’s Collier Trophy competition is a self-inflicted emotion. “We didn’t get any nominations, and anyone can submit one,” says Walter Boyne, chairman of the National Aeronautic Assn., which oversees the selection.
:The BAE Systems-led Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance UAV demonstrator has completed a first series of development flights using the Woomera test range in Australia. Following the conclusion of the Spiral 1 program, industry is now waiting for the U.K. Defense Ministry to proceed with the next stage (see p. 48). BAE Systems photo.
USAF Maj. Gen. Eric E. Fiel has been named chief of staff at U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters, MacDill AFB, Fla. He was director of the Center for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments at SOC Headquarters and has been succeeded by Brig. Gen. Morris E. Haase.
