Everybody agrees runway incursions remain a major problem at U.S. airports, but whether it is getting worse remains open to debate. For example, the FAA argues that the total is going down, while the Government Accountability Office says the rate per operation has increased.
The U.S. Army is proposing to carve up its aviation programs and pass over some of its largest legacy ground vehicles as it devotes nearly $45 billion in plus-ups to its controversial Future Combat Systems in coming years.
Dassault has launched development of a Phase II upgrade for the EASy integrated flightdeck on its Falcon business jets. The update will include Honeywell’s synthetic vision system on both pilots’ primary displays. New options will include ADS-B Out, controller-pilot data link communications, GPS precision approach, runway awareness software and paperless charts. EASy Phase II will be certificated on the Falcon 900DX/EX in late 2009, and the Falcon 2000DC/LX and Falcon 7X in mid-2010.
Alenia Aermacchi has flown upgraded MB-339CD for the first time. Fourteen of the aircraft are being modified by the company for the Italian air force. The aircraft were in the first batch delivered to the air force in 1997, and are being brought up to the same standard as the second batch received by the air force. The bulk of the upgrade involves the cockpit and avionics. Additions include a moving map and embedded simulation systems. The €41.2-million contract ($56-million) was awarded in 2007. Delivery of all of the upgraded aircraft is to be completed next year.
Honeywell is developing the stabilized approach monitor (SAM), a software upgrade to its Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System and Runway Awareness and Advisory System designed to avoid runway overruns caused by unstabilized approaches. The software will provide aural reminders on gear and flap settings, as well as speed and height alerts during the approach, and advise the pilot to execute a missed approach or go-around if the approach is not stabilized in time to land safely. SAM is expected to be certificated by mid-2009.
The global economic slowdown looks likely to accelerate the steady shift in the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul industry to developing Asian countries. More immediately, the region’s MRO shops are also better placed to cope with the slowdown than are North American and European operators, although they will not be able to completely avoid foreign price competition from hard-pressed Western MRO providers if and when the market sags.
Louisville, Ky.-based air-taxi startup YourJet has ordered six Diamond D-Jet single-engine jets, and plans to start operations later this year with a twin-diesel Diamond DA42. Toronto-based startup SwiftJet has ordered five D-jets, plus 10 options, to be delivered beginning in 2010 for a regional on-demand charter service. Diamond, meanwhile, has selected Air Transport Professionals, which has 20 D-Jets on order, to provide factory-authorized pilot training on the personal jet.
U.S. Army Gen. (ret.) Richard A. Cody, whose last post was vice chief of staff, has been appointed Washington-based corporate vice president for L-3 Communications .
The commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, Army Gen. Walter Sharp, said Oct. 8 that despite rumors of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s health, and reported missile tests and difficulty in talks over nuclear capabilities, the allied military stance against the hermit country remains the same. “We’ve not seen anything out of the normal,” Sharp said. “We continue to be concerned about the development, the proliferation and testing of missile systems in North Korea.” Meanwhile, Sharp expects to maintain the same U.S.
London’s new, $25-million-plus, Astor advanced airborne radar system—capable of detecting a walking man from 45,000 ft. or identifying an SUV full of Taliban leaders—is being readied for its first combat assignment somewhere in the Middle East or Southwest Asia.
These are perilous times for international space cooperation, and the capability of NASA to meet its objectives for the International Space Station (ISS) depends on other nations, including an energy-rich Russia. Yet the chill from the Russian-Georgian conflict has congressional leaders calling for a suspension on our reliance on Russia for manned space services and keeping the space shuttle flying for another five years. At the same time, the U.S. seeks greater transparency from the Chinese on their space program plans and objectives.
Embraer has selected Kollsman’s EVS II infrared enhanced-vision sensor and a Rockwell Collins’ digital head-up display as an option for the Lineage 1000 large-cabin business jet. EVS II also has been selected by Gulfstream as an option on the midsize G150 and new super-midsize G250, and is now available on all Gulfstreams. Kollsman, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems of America, and Jetcraft Avionics plan to certificate the EVS for retrofit on other aircraft, beginning by year-end with the Bombardier Challenger 604.
Winglet Technology expects to certificate its elliptical winglets for the Citation X in June 2009, and is preparing to work with Cessna on winglets for another, unidentified, Citation. Flight tests on the Mach 0.92 Citation X have shown a 4-5% reduction in fuel consumption, 150 naut. mi. increase in range, 15-kt. higher speed above 41,000 ft., 40 min. faster time to 43,000 ft. and the ability to climb direct to 45,000 ft., at maximum weight. Hot-and-high takeoff performance is also improved, the company says.
The European Space Agency expects to select bidders for the final development phase of Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system by mid-2009, in the hope that it can meet the European Union’s 2013 in-service deadline.
The U.K.’s 3 Commando Brigade last week took over from 16 Air Assault Brigade on deployed operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. During the six-month tour, 16 Air Assault Brigade played a central role in moving a hydroelectric turbine from Kandahar airport to the Kajaki dam.
I read the excerpts of Frank Morring, Jr.’s interview with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin (AW&ST Sept. 29, p. 68) with interest, particularly the question about advice to successors.
Rolls-Royce has signed a £96-million ($165.7-million) contract to provide power and propulsion equipment for the U.K.’s 65,000-ton aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, due to enter service in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Included are MT30 gas turbines, which will be tested and assembled in Bristol. The award was let by the carrier main alliance partner, Thales UK.
Infoterra has bought Imass Ltd., an integrated geospatial information service provider dedicated to civil defense, industrial engineering and public service. Newcastle, England-based Imass will provide value-added knowledge in emergency-response services, public safety and 3D modeling. It should reinforce Infoterra—an affiliate of EADS Astrium Services that specializes in radar imaging—in the U.K. market. Astrium Services recently acquired full control of Spot Image.
Managers at NASA must await checkout of a key piece of hardware for the Hubble Space Telescope before they can set the 2009 schedule for space station assembly missions and the first flight of a full-scale test version of the Ares I crew launch vehicle.
U.S. Navy crews will test new electronic warfare concepts during the operational evaluation (opeval) of the EA-18G Growler electronic attack fighter starting this week at China Lake, Calif.
Demand for high- and low-time pilots continues to remain strong. At least a dozen airlines and four international recruiting agencies are scheduled to participate in a day-long pilot career conference sponsored by FLTops.com Oct. 28 at the International Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel. FLTops.com is a career service for professional pilots. U.S. airlines on the agenda include Compass, Delta, American Eagle, Colgan Air, Mesaba and Pinnacle.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway is accusing the U.S. government of retreating into protectionist aviation policies just when its leadership in liberalization is needed most. While other CEOs would be a little more circumspect, Ridgway’s broadside reflects the frustration of many European carriers at U.S. reluctance to remove foreign ownership restrictions from its airline industry.
