Bill Mostowy has been named director of the operations control center for SkyWest Airlines . He succeeds Michael Mumford, who has retired. Mostowy was senior shift supervisor for flight control.
The MB-339 was developed as a follow-on to Aermacchi’s MB-326. The first prototype flew in 1976. Propulsion is provided by a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 632-43 engine (4,000 lb. thrust) or a Viper Mk 680 (4,400 lb. thrust). More than 220 aircraft for flight training and light air combat have been produced. The MB‑339CD variant is a lead-in trainer for Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon pilots in the Italian air force.
Airports Council International reports that global traffic increased 0.1% in August compared with the same month last year, primarily because of stronger domestic traffic that was up 2.5% with the Asia-Pacific, Latin American and Caribbean regions showing the largest improvement.
Apache The current production model of this twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter is the AH-64D, available both as a new-build aircraft and as a remanufactured helicopter (from existing AH-64As). The AH-64D is generally fitted with GE T700-GE-701C engines, though some rebuilt AH‑64Ds in the U.S. Army inventory retain the earlier -701 engines. The British WAH-64D is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshafts rated at 2,100 shp. each. The AH-64 was developed to meet a U.S. Army requirement for an Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH).
Currently in the definition stage, the Mako is envisioned as a family of single- and two-seat, supersonic advanced trainer and light combat aircraft. There has been little movement by EADS regarding future development. The planned engine is a 16,860-lb. thrust GE F414MT turbofan. The Mako program began in 1989 (as the AT-2000 program) as a collaboration between Dornier (since merged into EADS) and Aermacchi, which left the program in 1994. Several companies have signed memoranda of understanding regarding potential participation in the Mako effort.
The first flight of the J-10 combat aircraft occurred in March 1998. The single-engine, single-seat interceptor/ground attack aircraft is powered by a Lyulka Saturn AL-31FN turbofan rated at 27,560 lb. thrust with reheat, though the Chinese have been working on the development of the WS-10 engine as well. About 64 J-10s were produced through 2008. Current production estimates stand at 240 J-10s for the 2009-18 forecast period.
James (Jay) Caldwell has been named managing director of the New York-based Aerospace and Defense Group of RBC Capital Markets . He was global head of Bank of America’s Aerospace, Defense and Transportation Group.
Oct. 21-22—Supply Chain Management Forum. San Diego. Nov. 2-4—A&D Programs Conference. Phoenix. Nov. 4-5—Lean Six Sigma for MRO. Miami. Dec. 2-3—A&D Finance Conference. New York. Dec. 8-10—MRO Asia Conference & Exhibition. Hong Kong. You can now register ONLINE for Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or call Lydia Janow at +1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only)
Single-turboshaft-powered utility helicopter and military version of the AS350. Approximately 3,602 AS350/550s were produced through 2008, including those assembled under license by Helicopteros do Brasil SA (Helibras). Another 39 military units are forecast to be produced in 2009-18.
The French government has ordered three additional Franco-Italian Fremm multimission frigates, including two for air defense. Originally designed for antisubmarine and antiship duty, the mission of the helicopter-carrying Fremm fleet was later broadened to include air defense, allowing orders for more expensive Horizon air defense frigates to be halved. The first vessel is due in 2012.
EADS North America has opened a 30,000-sq.-ft. MRO delivery center at Mobile (Ala.) Regional Airport. The maintenance, repair and overhaul facility will offer FAA-certified repairs to operators of C-212 and CN-235 tactical transports. The center expands upon the EADS CASA North America facility in operation since 2005.
Lockheed Martin was selected as the winner of the JSF program in 2001. The company’s F-35 JSF is to be available in three variants: the F-35A CTOL, F-35B Stovl and F-35C carrier-based attack model. All versions are powered by a single turbofan engine—either a Pratt & Whitney F135 or a GE/Rolls-Royce F136. Each of these engines is rated at 40,000 lb. thrust. Lockheed Martin’s partners on the F-35 project include Northrop Grumman, BAE and numerous other companies. Planned U.S.
Missed opportunities, misjudged budgets, misunderstood technology and operational imperatives—whipsawing from the big war to the pursuit of individuals on foot—continue to mark the long, frustrating upgrade saga for the E-8C Joint Stars. For the moment, the program has shuddered to a halt. Funding for reengining five or six aircraft that was in the budget expired Oct. 1 because it was not obligated by the U.S. Air Force. The engine upgrades—for greater endurance, shorter takeoffs and higher operational altitudes—were first requested in 1996.
U.S. Army officials are again taking a new direction toward buying an Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) intelligence-collecting aircraft, this time focusing on immediate needs for the ongoing fights in Afghanistan and Iraq rather that yet-to-be-realized future scenarios.
Marketing of the 767 AWACS, also known as the E-767, began in 1991 as a follow-on to the 707 AWACS. The E-767 is powered by two GE CF6-80C2 turbofan engines rated at 61,500 lb. thrust and has a crew of two plus 19 AWACS mission specialists. System suppliers include Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. The 767 AWACS competes with Boeing’s own 737 airborne early warning and control aircraft and the Northrop Grumman E-2D. Only four E-767s have been produced; all are in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Two more aircraft are forecast to be built through 2018.
A single- or two-seat, twin-engine, air superiority fighter manufactured by Boeing, and license-produced by Mitsubishi. All F-15 models built to date are powered by versions of the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine except the new F-15K, which has two GE F110-GE-129 turbofans (29,000 lb. thrust each), and Singapore’s new F-15SGs, which will also be F110-powered. The F-15K is currently in production for the South Korean air force. The initial version in the F-15 series was the F-15A, which first flew in 1972. Deliveries began in 1974.
Over the last decade or so, there have been some problematic acquisition programs in the U.S. intelligence community (IC). The Future Imagery Architecture (FIA) program is a notable example. Most of the problems were caused or exacerbated by a “conspiracy of hope.” Programs were started without the required funding or were not budgeted to independent cost estimates. Insufficient time and funding were allotted for technology maturation. Contractors without the required domain knowledge were selected, sometimes based on “low-ball” bids.
The E-2 Hawkeye is an airborne early warning and control aircraft. The current production version is the E-2C. E-2Cs built after 1988 are powered by two Rolls-Royce T56-A-427 single-shaft, axial-flow turboprops rated at 5,250 shp. each. The E-2 first flew in 1960. Northrop Grumman is now producing the new E-2D derivative. Through 2007, 223 E-2s were produced. An additional 36 E-2Ds are expected to be built during 2009-18.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is a single-seat multirole fighter/attack aircraft. A two-seat trainer version also is being developed. Initial aircraft are powered by GE F404-GE-F2J3 augmented turbofans rated at 18,100 lb. thrust each, although later aircraft will feature the Gas Turbine Research Establishment GTX-35VS Kaveri augmented turbofan now under development. LCA first flight occurred in 2001. Ten aircraft were built through 2008. A total of 121 aircraft are slated to be produced in 2009-18.
Preliminary design studies for the B-52 heavy bomber began in 1946 and, in 1952, a prototype made its maiden flight. Production ran until 1962 and reached a total of 744 aircraft, including two prototypes. The aging aircraft remains in U.S. Air Force service and is the subject of several modernization programs. The bomber is currently powered by eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofans rated at 17,000 lb. thrust each.
The short history of the FAA’s NextGen modernization effort is littered with reports and road maps, but a new review by an independent task force could cause the program’s largest shake-up yet. Industry and FAA officials believe the latest recommendations will lead to a shift in NextGen priorities, redirecting attention to the problems that most concern airspace users. This should go a long way to overcoming airline skepticism that the modernization effort will pay off for them—although carriers may still need convincing that the FAA will follow through.
The MiG-AT advanced jet trainer made its first flight in 1996. The aircraft uses two 3,175-lb. thrust Turbomeca/Snecma Larzac 04-R20 turbofan engines, although aircraft intended for the Russian air force may be fitted with Soyuz RD-1700s. A single-seat light fighter/attack version of the MiG-AT, called the MiG-AS, is also being developed. About six MiG-AT prototypes were built through 2008.
The Tornado is a two-seat multirole strike and air combat fighter. A first prototype flew in 1974. All Tornado versions are powered by two Turbo-Union RB199 turbofan engines. Production was completed in 1998 after 992 aircraft were built.
The K-8 is a two-seat intermediate/advanced trainer produced by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group. Several K-8 components are manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). First flight occurred in 1990. The K-8 is powered by either a 3,600-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731-2-2A turbofan engine or a 3,792-lb.-thrust ZMKB Progress AI-25TL turbofan. Approximately 202 K-8 aircraft were produced through 2008, with 138 forecast for production in 2009-18.
Maybe you have a lot of foreign weapons and want to ship them with no fingerprints. Here’s an option. Kaman Aerospace Corp. was awarded a $9.9-million, five-year U.S. Army firm-fixed-price contract for the continued study and testing of the broad-area, unmanned, responsive, resupply-operations helicopter. This requirement will expand on previous efforts by Kaman.
