Ladislav Simek has been appointed president of Aero Vodochody , Odolena Voda, Czech Republic. He succeeds Igor Hulak, who has resigned. Simek was vice president-strategic programs.
The global economic downturn is having a significant affect on the aviation liberalization movement, but the news is not all bad. While efforts to open new markets are being put on the back burner, the slump is adding urgency to airline calls to ease restrictions on foreign investment and ownership. Meanwhile, some Latin American and Asia-Pacific airlines are making the most progress in breaking down cross-border market barriers (see p. 48). Cover design by Greg Lewis and the AW&ST Art Dept.
Launch of the U.S. Air Force’s secretive Orbital Test Vehicle Flight 1 (OTV-1) spaceplane has been rescheduled for Apr. 10, 2010, on an Atlas V 501 rocket following several shifts in the busy Cape Canaveral launch manifest. The OTV is the Air Force-led X-37B, a Boeing Phantom Works-built derivative of the X-37 technology demonstrator originally developed for NASA’s “Future X” project of the late 1990s, which the agency hoped to fly as early as 2006 as a precursor to a spaceplane for ferrying space station crews (see image).
Launch customers appear to be ready to restructure the contract for the Airbus A400M military transport, which would finally put the troubled program on a firm footing. “We have agreed to a new program baseline and have an agreement in principle on a revised technical schedule,” Rafael Tentor, the A400M program head at Airbus Military, said here last week. “We are now working on the details,” he added, with the aim of signing an addendum to the existing contract by year-end.
The European Space Agency is testing a miniature solid-state gyro sensor that it says will be the smallest ever flown in space. The sugar cube-size gyro uses micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)—a technology already widely employed in the automobile industry that allows moving parts or sensors to be incorporated on a single silicon chip, saving space and weight and improving reliability.
David A. Fulghum (China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center)
It’s Crazy Al’s missile sale. China Lake can put you behind the launch toggle of a Spike—a 2-ft.-long, high-speed, guided missile capable of hitting relatively fast-moving targets—for an estimated $5,000. No word yet on available colors or cash-for-clunkers options.
Airbus is increasing the structural payload capability of the A330-200 freighter thanks to being able to deliver a low manufacturer’s empty weight. The first aircraft still has to be weighed, but Airbus believes it is 500 kg. (1,100 lb.) lighter than thought, which adds to the freighter’s payload capacity. First flight of the A330-200F is due in a few weeks, with certification planned for next spring and initial deliveries next summer.
The FAA has terminated a temporary suspension of amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations that had been in effect since February 2008. The decision allows manufacturers of kit aircraft to resume submitting their kits for FAA evaluation to determine compliance with the long-standing “51% rule.” It requires the purchaser to fabricate a major portion of all tasks associated with construction of an aircraft in order for it to qualify as amateur-built.
Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon has offered to help fund a further search for the voice and data recorders on flight AF447, which crashed into the south Atlantic on June 1. The first phase of the search was terminated by French accident investigation office BEA in late August, but the BEA continues to study how the effort could be resumed (AW&ST Aug. 24/31, p. 20).
Meteorites that excavated fresh craters have revealed evidence of frozen water hiding just below the surface in the mid latitudes of Mars, scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., report. Using instruments on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, they found bright ice exposed in five Martian sites that range from 1.5-8 ft. deep. The craters did not exist in earlier images of the same sites. The findings indicate water ice exists at lower latitudes than previously expected.
More than a year after scathing accusations rocked the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), key senators, government investigators and Obama administration officials appear skeptical about the pace of reform. DCAA Director April Stephenson asserts that the agency has made substantial progress since news broke in mid-2008 that lower-level DCAA auditors were hindered or subverted in some investigations of defense contracts, and that auditors or their reports had become subservient to contractors.
China Great Wall Industry Corp. and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Commission will jointly develop a communications satellite, Paksat-1R, under an agreement signed Sept. 18 in Islamabad. China is backing the project with a soft loan of roughly $200 million, according to China Daily. The new satellite, intended to support the goal of improved satellite communications for Pakistan under its medium-term development plan, will carry 12 C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders, and be ready in about three years.
The ERJ 135/140/145 family is a series of twin-engine, 37-50-seat regional jets. The initial model was the 50-seat ERJ 145, which first flew in August 1995. Deliveries began in late 1996. The next model was the 37-seat ERJ 135, which made its initial flight in July 1998. Deliveries began in July 1999. The 44-passenger ERJ 140 first flew in June 2000, with initial deliveries in July 2001. A longer-range version of the ERJ 145, called the ERJ 145XR, has also been developed. The Rolls-Royce AE 3007A is the engine used on these aircraft.
ATR is a joint venture of EADS and Alenia Aeronautica that builds turboprop-powered regional transport aircraft. The first ATR 42 was delivered in 1985, to Air Littoral. The ATR 72 entered service in 1989. Current production versions are the ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500. The ATR 42-500 seats 46-50 passengers, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127E engines (2,160-shp. each). The ATR 72-500 seats 66-74 passengers, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127F engines (2,475 shp. each).
Ruag Space and AAC Microtec of Sweden are preparing to fly a package of miniaturized control, computer and mass memory components intended to show the feasibility of carrying advanced subsystems on nanosat-class spacecraft. The package, weighing just 120 grams (4.23 oz.), will be the first in space based entirely on 3D wafer-level packaged (3D-WLP) microsystem technology. It features a plug-and-play 3D-WLP architecture, dubbed Inovator, built for OHB System with funding from the Swedish National Space Board.
Avic General Aircraft hopes to begin production next year of two new models—one a jet and one piston engine—as part of a broad push by Chinese manufacturers into the business aviation market. Separately, the Chinese company has launched a four-engine amphibious aircraft, evidently an extensive update of the SH-5 flying boat developed and built in small quantities from the 1960s to 1980s.
Air France-KLM is cutting its winter capacity 2% from last year’s level, the second year running the airline group is taking this action. The medium-haul network will be affected the most with a 2.9% reduction planned, whereas long-haul will see capacity curtailed merely 1.8%. Compared with 2007, total capacity is down 3.6%; in medium-haul operations, 6.4%; and long-haul, 2.8%. Air France says its share of the reduction is 1.7% this year, with the winter season capacity down 4.8% from 2007 levels.
Mitsubishi Aircraft formally launched the Mitsubishi Regional Jet family in March 2008. Two basic models, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofans, are planned: the 70-80-passenger MRJ70 and 86-96-passenger MRJ90. Extended- and long-range versions of each basic model are also envisioned. Service entry is targeted for 2014.
Qantas this month took delivery of its 76th Boeing 737 (shown), an -800, and is to receive its 77th in October as that type closes in on another distinction. As of August (the latest data available), Boeing has recorded 3,105 orders for the 737-800, which nominally seats 162 in a two-class layout. That is about double the order rate for the next-best-selling member of the Next Generation series, the 126-seat 737-700. It also underscores the industry’s general trend toward higher seating capacity in narrow-body aircraft.
Brad Blettner has become director of sales and marketing for Cincinnati-based Delta AirElite Business Jets . He was vice president-business development for the Cincinnati Reds.
South Korea has awarded two contracts to Israel Aerospace Industries worth $280 million for FA/TA-50 training aircraft radars as well as advanced ground radars for air defense. The EL/M 2032 multimode fire control radar, co-produced by Elta Systems and Korea’s LIGNex1, will be installed in aircraft built by Korea Aerospace Industries. The IAI-built air defense radar is to be operational in South Korea by 2012.
Planning details are tucked deep in the new Afghanistan war assessment by Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal. Aviation assets for border control, customs collection and counternarcotics are lacking. Infantry and combat service support troops will be increased at the expense of engineers, artillery and motorized quick-reaction troops. International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) are to serve shoulder to shoulder with Afghan forces to establish a common “battle rhythm.” The plan would break some combat traditions.
The U.S. Air Force expects to announce preferred U.S. basing locations for its Joint Strike Fighter force in late spring 2010. Final decisions are slated for calendar 2011, after environmental studies are performed. The Air Force will evaluate more than 200 sites. The data will be used to identify two candidate basing lists, one for operations and the other for training, to place the 250-300 JSF aircraft scheduled for delivery through 2017.
AerCap’s purchase of Genesis Lease makes it the world’s largest independent leasing company, and has kicked off what is expected to be a prolonged period of reshaping for the multibillion-dollar aircraft leasing market.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100, formerly known as the Russian Regional Jet, is a family of twin-engine regional transports powered by PowerJet SaM146 turbofan engines rated at 13,500-17,500 lb. thrust each. Two models are being developed: a 95-98-seater (which will be the lead version) and 75-78-seat version. Development of a 110-130-passenger variant as well as a smaller 60-seater is also being considered, but this development will depend on sales of the baseline model. The Superjet 100 made its first flight in May 2008.
