Return visitors to the Experimental Aircraft Assn.’s (EAA) annual fly-in this summer in Oshkosh, Wis., will likely welcome some changes now underway. The association is investing $3-4 million in a variety of infrastructure improvements including new pedestrian-only thoroughfares, larger exhibit areas and relocation of the “Fly Market” to more accessible space. Also, four buildings that house shower facilities are being fitted with flush toilets, “and for many that will be huge,” said EAA representative Dick Knapinski.
Boeing’s list of 787 cancellations is now at 32 aircraft following Dubai-based LCAL’s decision to drop 16 of the 21 aircraft it ordered in May 2005. Earlier, Azerbaijan Airlines swapped out one 787 order and S7 Airlines canceled its order for 15, although officials of the carrier say they still hope to find 787s to lease.
Its name—Orbiting Carbon Observatory—is a science pun on the O-C-O molecular structure of carbon dioxide. But NASA’s newest platform for chronicling climate change is its first serious effort at a global survey of how CO2 is absorbed and released by the Earth’s soils and oceans (see p. 54). Built by Orbital Sciences Corp., OCO is set for launch Feb. 23. Carl Caruso photo for Orbital Sciences Corp.
EADS North America has added five aircraft to its U.S. order for UH-72A Light Utility Helicopters. The program, led by the U.S. Army, also includes an order of five from the U.S. Navy for pilot training. The total U.S. number of helicopters on order is now 128, with an expected buy of up to 345 through 2016.
Regarding the blended-wing body (BWB) and its bureaucratic relation—the hybrid-wing body (AW&ST Feb. 2, pp. 50 & 58)—while technically the BWB is the best approach given today’s technology, it is still a rerun of design decisions of 60 years ago when the Avro Vulcan was being developed to fulfill much the same requirement as the Boeing B-47. That aircraft was the progenitor of the now-conventional “tube and wing” designs. Aeronautical innovation seems to have stagnated in the intervening decades.
With competing engines for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter achieving crucial milestones, their manufacturers are waiting to learn whether the U.S. Defense Dept. will make another bid this year to cancel the alternative powerplant.
Hoping to win support for F-22 production beyond the current 183 aircraft, Lockheed Martin is revealing proprietary data that show performance in several areas is better than baseline requirements. Moreover, the U.S. Air Force is taking the fighter to the Paris air show for the first time this summer, says Larry Lawson, executive vice president and general manager of the F-22 program. The promise of additional U.S. and, possibly, foreign sales has removed any obstacles.
The NTSB is seeking ways to reverse the escalating accident rate of U.S. helicopter emergency medical service (EMS) operations, which since 2003 have been involved in 85 accidents that killed 77 people. At an NTSB fact-finding hearing last week, the board heard testimony from representatives from EMS-related communities, including pilots and medical personnel, to weigh actions to take to prevent accidents. Of the 19 NTSB recommendations to the FAA in 1978-86, four remain open, including one that would require helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems.
Robinson Helicopter Co. broke its own record by delivering 893 civilian helicopters in 2008. The previous record was 823 helicopters shipped by the Torrance, Calif., manufacturer a year earlier. The four-place R44 (above) accounted for 729 units, while 164 of the two-place R22 made up the balance. The piston-powered, two-blade singles list for $404,000 and $243,000, respectively. Robinson has delivered nearly 9,000 helicopters since shipments began in 1979.
The British Defense Ministry is considering technology insertion programs across key elements of its aerospace engine fleets, with an initial nine-month study contract pending for Rolls-Royce. The study would look at engine reliability, safety and costs on the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado GR4 and Harrier GR9 aircraft, and the WAH-64 Apache and AgustaWestland Merlin helicopters. The initial study work will include looking at technologies that could be introduced within the next 3-5 years.
After a long delay, Europe is finally poised to kick off its Earth Explorer program, with no fewer than three missions planned for this year. Like NASA’s Earth-observation (EO) fleets such as A-Train, the Earth Explorers are intended to help scientists understand how the Earth works and the way in which natural processes—as well as the impact of human activities—respond to climate change. However, the European science teams have benefited from more prominent political support, in keeping with Europe’s commitment to environmental protection.
The Naval Air Systems Command has elected to have Rolls-Royce continue to provide AE 1107C-Liberty engines and services for U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s and U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The $222-million modification includes 96 engines for delivery next year. The bulk of the services’ work is performed at MCAS New River, N.C.; NAS Patuxent River, Md.; Kirtland AFB, N.M.; and Hurlburt Field, Fla. Additional work will be performed at Indianapolis and Amarillo, Tex. Rolls produces the AE 1107Cs at its Indianapolis facility.
Japan’s Hayabusa asteroid sample-return spacecraft is active again, after controllers restarted one of its ion engines Feb. 4 to nudge it toward Earth. The engine was shut down on Oct. 18, 2007, leaving the probe in an unpowered trajectory en route back from the asteroid Itokawa for a June 2010 reentry. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says the operating ion engine, one of four on the probe, should have enough xenon propellant left to add the 400 meters/sec. to the spacecraft’s velocity needed for an Earth return.
U.S. officials want to keep flying their transport aircraft from Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, but that country has apparently cut a deal with the Russians to halt American use of the facility. The Russians have offered Kyrgyzstan a second, $2-billion loan, which would be dedicated to the development of electrical power. The Pentagon says it hasn’t been notified of a shutdown, but losing access will save $17.4 million a year for airbase rights and $150 million in other assistance programs.
Brian McDermott has become vice president-supplier management, Robert Young assistant vice president-civil aviation and Lisa Goldberg director of environment, safety and health, all for the Arlington, Va.-based Aerospace Industries Assn. McDermott was an executive of Paragon Dynamics of Denver, while Young worked on the FAA’s NextGen air transportation system modernization for BAE Systems. Goldberg comes from the Water Environment Research Foundation.
Doug Herring (see photo) has become vice president-operations, finance and strategic planning at American Airlines . He was president/CEO of American Beacon Advisers.
Financially struggling European airlines are trying to buy time through deep cuts, as consolidation efforts are not showing the quick successes the players were targeting. Both SAS Group and Austrian Airlines announced major initiatives that they hope will keep them flying until new investors emerge or the current crisis subsides. Others, like Brussels Airlines, see unexpected regulatory hurdles ahead before they can become part of larger concerns.
The U.S. Army is exploring options to put wide-area staring sensors for “persistent surveillance” in Iraq and Afghanistan on unmanned aerial vehicles, says Tim Owings, deputy Army project manager for the unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Day-only versions of these sensors are now deployed on manned Army Constant Hawk aircraft and day-night options are in development by the U.S. Air Force for future use on Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350s.
The U.S. Air Force is strengthening its relationship with Brazil’s air force as the South American nation moves forward with plans to buy up to 120 new fighters. USAF’s Southern Command hosted Brazil’s air force leadership last month for “high-level discussions” about cooperation on planning and operations, say service officials. This increased cooperation also comes as Venezuela, one of Brazil’s northern neighbors, is being closely watched for anti-U.S. rhetoric from President Hugo Chavez and its budding ties with potential adversaries to Washington.
Arianespace has ordered 35 additional Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicles to cover needs after 2010, when the 14 remaining are used. The new batch, worth more than €4 billion ($5.1 billion), is expected to last through 2015, when the new Ariane 5 ME is slated to be ready. Separately, Arianespace received orders to launch two Arabsat and one Hispasat spacecraft. Arabsat 5C and 6B are to be launched in the third quarter of 2011 and the second half of 2012, respectively; Hispasat 1E, at the end of 2010.
Turkish Airlines will defy current economic trends by adding 10 routes to its Istanbul hub this year and proceeding with an ambitious fleet expansion. The carrier expects to make a $6-billion decision by March regarding purchase of 85 aircraft, with 20 options—including 35 widebodies. The intent is for deliveries to be spread over the next eight years, says CEO Temel Kotil.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad continues to add new destinations as it grows its fleet. This year, the airline expects to add five Airbus A320s, two A330-200s and one -300, two A340-600s and one Boeing 777 to its operations. On Sept. 2, Etihad plans to begin offering three flights a week to Chicago O’Hare, its second U.S. destination after New York JFK, and aims to make the service daily starting Oct. 1. The route will be operated with 240-seat Airbus A340-500s configured in a three-class layout.
After years of heat for disproportionately embracing massive and expensive satellites, the Pentagon is looking harder at small spacecraft. Some in industry say the U.S. is behind its allies—particularly the U.K. and Germany—in small-satellite technology. Now, the Operationally Responsive Space office at Kirtland AFB, N.M., has issued a call to industry for ideas to develop a rapid-response space center, which will focus on using small satellites to augment constellations that could fall victim to technical failures or hostile activity.
