Regarding a recent U.S. House of Representatives hearing on efforts to improve flight safety, the politicians and bureaucrats delivered their typical responses to an accident: Their previous bazillion rules and regulations actually were ineffective (AW&ST Sept. 28, p. 46). But now they will enact the proper new ones. “Sorry our old regs and rules didn’t work, but pay us to fix it. Trust us (we need the work). Listen to us. Heed us.”
European aviation leaders should perhaps take heed of the Muppet character Kermit the Frog’s tuneful lament, “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” and be careful to avoid making promises in vain or of sounding an excessively optimistic tone when discussing research efforts for a more environmentally friendly airline industry. Recent presentations of green initiatives have been rife with overblown hopes and objectives in terms of meeting a logical time frame.
Boeing reports that RC501, the first test aircraft for the 747-8 Freighter program, is more than 90% complete; the second is past the 80% mark and the third is at 75%. Power-on has been achieved for the first two. For its 787 program, the Everett, Wash., factory complex is assembling the 11th airplane—the fifth destined for customers—and shipments of the 12th are starting to arrive.
New Jersey officials and FAA representatives broke ground Oct. 19 for a proposed Next-Generation Aviation Research and Technology Park near Atlantic City International Airport. Plans call for the 55-acre complex to include seven buildings with 408,000 sq. ft. of research facilities. The project is a joint effort by the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center near Atlantic City, the South Jersey Economic Development District and Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
Lee E. Rhyant, who is executive vice president/general manager of the Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Marietta, Ga., facility, has been named 2009 Executive of the Year by the Dayton, Ohio-based National Management Assn. The award recognizes a senior executive for managerial and leadership accomplishments, the conduct of personal and business affairs in accordance with NMA’s Code of Ethics, and contributions to preserving and advancing the free enterprise system. He also was vice president-production operations at Rolls-Royce Aerospace in Indianapolis.
Ocean Sky, a private London-based charter and maintenance management operation, has taken the space at London Luton Airport that airline SilverJet vacated when it went out of business. The spot offers parking and minimal taxi time to the ramp, and passengers can clear U.K. customs and immigration there. Luton provides line maintenance, but will grow its capabilities to provide major inspections. Ocean Sky says it is evaluating at least 10 other fixed-base operations that it hopes to acquire by the end of 2010.
Carey Miller has been named Western U.S. marketing manager for the Universal Avionics Systems Corp. , Tucson, Ariz. He was an account manager for Rockwell Collins.
Business aviation manufacturers are investing in new products and facilities in anticipation of the hard-hit industry’s recovery. Although business aviation is in the same deep economic trough that is inflicting so many sectors—marked by massive layoffs, slowed sales of new and used aircraft, and declines in operations—many airframe, engine, avionics and services companies are making heavy investments in preparation for the industry’s expected rebound.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)is funding a technology acquisition effort in anticipation of a future combat drone program. The company’s work extends to building a scaled version of its design, which it has already put in the air. KAI’s concept, called K-UCAV, would conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, including suppression of enemy air defenses. The stealthy airplane would also operate as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with an “excellent sensor system,” the company says.
SimCom, which is marking its 20th anniversary in the training business, is expanding its Falcon 20 and Westwind II simulators from CAE-SimuFlite, and a King Air 350 simulator built by SimCom and equipped with Pro Line avionics, to provide pilots with advanced training.
The first Saab Erieye airborne early warning and control aircraft destined for the Pakistani air force is beginning the final stage of tests in Sweden. The aircraft will be delivered later this year, with testing to continue in-country.
The global recession is putting pressure on Italian aerospace giant Alenia’s ability to fund an F-35 final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility and prompting the Pentagon to slice C-27J buys. But parent company Finmeccanica’s ambitions to expand sales in the U.S. appear undeterred.
Honeywell’s Illinois-based UOP unit is developing second-generation biofuels, reports Andrea Bozzano, manager of renewable process development. “The goal is to have drop-in fuels that can be made in existing refineries and be moved using existing infrastructure,” he said. Jatropha- and camelina-based fuels could receive ASTM approval as early as next year, he says, while algae-based fuels, which are preferable, are probably a decade away from commercialization.
Federal rule makers are tightening requirements for defense contracts. Under congressional and White House guidance, the Civilian Agency Acquisition and Defense Acquisition Regulations councils have announced moves to tie award fees closer to acquisition objectives in the areas of cost, schedule and technical performance, and minimizing “pass-through” charges by prime contractors.
A computational tool that can estimate how long a component will last even before it is produced promises to revolutionize engineering, but illustrates the hurdles innovations must overcome to earn a place in the heavily regulated aerospace industry. Brentwood, Tenn.-based Vextec developed its Virtual Life Management (VLM) simulation tool with aerospace in mind, but the early adopters have been in the industrial equipment and automotive supplier industries, where warranty costs from premature failures eat directly into the bottom line.
Shawn Vick has been named executive vice president of the Hawker Beechcraft Corp. , Wichita, Kan. He was president/CEO of Landmark Aviation. Matthew Liu has become Beijing-based sales director for China and North Asia. He was an executive in product development and U.S. government sales at Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems.
Transport Canada and European Aviation Safety Agency certification of the Viking Series 400 Twin Otter is scheduled in the next 90 days. Noise testing is complete for land and amphibious versions, and seven airplanes are in various stages of final assembly at the company’s facility in Calgary, Alberta. Work on major subassemblies for the next six aircraft is underway in Victoria, British Columbia. Plans call for manufacturing 12 airplanes in 2010.
Kenneth J. Krieg and Anthony J. Tether have been appointed to the board of directors of Aurora Flight Sciences , Manassas, Va. Krieg heads Samford Global Strategies, McLean, Va., and was undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics from 2005-07. Tether was director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency from 2001-09 and is a fellow at the Council on Competitiveness.
BAA’s decision to sell London Gatwick Airport to Global Infrastructure Partners in a £1.51-billion ($2.51-billion) deal is being well received, although airlines argue still more needs to be done. Ferrovial-owned BAA decided last year to sell Gatwick as the U.K. Competition Commission was finalizing a call for the airport operator to divest the facility along with London Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh. The deal, which is scheduled to close in the first week of December, will put Gatwick in the hands of the majority owner of London City Airport.
South Korea is planning to retrofit an active, electronically scanned array radar to its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, sparking a competition liable to be repeated for a swath of Fighting Falcon operators. The South Korean air force will likely issue a request for proposals in 2010 or early 2011 for an active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for its F‑16C/D aircraft. The air force has around 40 Block 32 aircraft and 140 Block 52-standard aircraft.
To counter the downturn in commercial helicopter sales, Eurocopter has launched restructuring plan that aims to shave €200 million ($300 million) in annual costs and streamline operations. However, Eurocopter says it will not crimp on research and development funding, particularly given the growth of new competitors that will be challenging its market dominance. Part of the effort is a reduction of inventories to preserve cash, with employees also being shifted between jobs. Business processes are also being targeted to simplify the company’s activities.
Northrop Grumman said its first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye test aircraft successfully completed its first land-based catapult launch tests, a significant part of evaluation before the aircraft can roll off a U.S. aircraft carrier.
Denmark has deferred a decision on a new fighter until at least 2010, abandoning a plan to make a choice this year among the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Saab Gripen NG. The Danish government also has concluded that the country’s aging F-16s can fly for two years longer than planned, delaying the arrival of replacements until 2018.
Air France and KLM’s revised baggage policy for economy-class passengers will go into effect with tickets issued Nov. 1. One checked bag weighing up to 50 lb. is free of charge, but a second will require a $50 or €50 fee for departures from the U.S. or Europe, respectively. The penalty for overweight checked bags weighing 50-70 lb. will increase to $100 or €100 from $50 or €50. Passengers checking in a third bag at the maximum 50-lb. allowance will be charged $200 or €200.
The drive for innovation should not come at the expense of fundamental research, which frequently provides the wellspring for the ideas in the first place, cautions Mark Lewis, president-elect of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and chairman of the University of Maryland’s Aerospace Engineering Dept.
