The British Parliament’s Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills committee last week strongly criticized the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) about its handling of research spending, including some space science. The committee’s “Science Budget Allocations” report warns that the U.K.’s reputation as a science partner risks being tarnished by the STFC’s funding mess, and the fashion in which the council has tried to handle the budgetary problems.
Capt. (ret.) R.C. Bauer (Green Cove Springs, Fla.)
Kudos for the practical and professional writing on the Southwest Airlines inspection issue. Your editorials on safety (AW&ST Mar. 24, p. 58; Apr. 14, p. 90) are examples of why your publication is read worldwide and respected. I understand the unfortunate link between flying and politics, and have often disagreed with Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.). However, he is accountable to his constituents and as chairman of a congressional committee.
Emirates, one of the world’s most profitable and fastest-growing airlines, is bracing for tougher times ahead and expects profits to decline in the current fiscal year. “We are not far short of where we were last year, but you have to take fuel into account,” Emirates Airline President Tim Clark says. He predicts a net profit of 5 billion United Arab Emirates dirham ($1.36 billion) for the fiscal year ending Mar. 30, 2009. This compares to a $1.45-billion profit for the group in the last financial year.
Boeing has begun final assembly of the third flight-test 787, ZA003, after the static test article was wheeled about 1,000 ft. from the line to its test rig. Final assembly included the checkoff of another manufacturing accomplishment: the arrival of the first aft fuselage structure from Vought Aircraft Industries, which came in nearly ready. Thus is progress measured in a program that’s about 15 months late.
China has succumbed to the temptation of contrasting the success of Beijing Capital Airport’s new Terminal 3 with the fiasco that is Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Beijing’s 1-million-sq.-meter (11-million-sq.-ft.) terminal is larger than London’s new facility, cost less than half as much to build, and was built more quickly, notes the China Daily. Opened on Mar.
The ANA Group relied on strong international cargo and passenger services to overcome revenue lost from the sale of its hotels, and due to flat domestic sales and high energy prices, to finish fiscal 2007 (ending Mar. 31) with revenues off a mere 0.1% at ¥1.488 trillion ($14.80 billion). However, the company says it expects to take a ¥16.2-billion extraordinary loss as an “anti-monopoly-related allowance” following a European Commission investigation into cargo price-fixing.
Franck Aussedat (see photos) has become chief operating officer, Tim Rice vice president-Airbus and European programs, and Thierry Thomas vice president-engineering and research and technology of France-based Messier-Dowty . Aussedat was director of the Supply Chain Group for Rexel, while Rice was managing director of Messier Services (U.K.). He succeeds Joel Berkoukchi, who has been named chairman/CEO of Messier Services International. Thomas was director of the design office in Velizy, France.
In “Embraer Complaints About Japan’s Aircraft Subsidies . . . ” (AW&ST Apr. 14, p. 56), you wrote about Brazilian concern over Japan giving aircraft subsidies to the Mitsubishi Regional Jet program. The Japanese are not the only ones looking for new aircraft launch subsidies. Bombardier is seeking U.S. subsidies (State of Missouri) for the CSeries aircraft. The hybrid approach of subsidies will handcuff the U.S. Trade Representative.
Embraer kicked off a three-aircraft, 1,400-hr. certification campaign for the Phenom 300 with the light jet’s Apr. 29 first flight (aircraft no. 99801) at the manufacturer’s Gaviao Peixoto test facility in Brazil. The flight lasted 1 hr. 20 min., with Capt. John Sevalho Corcao and Embraer chief test pilot Eduardo Alves Menini at the controls. Deliveries are to begin in about a year. The aircraft trails development of the smaller Phenom 100 by about a year; deliveries of 10-15 of those very light jets are forecast for the second half of this year.
Lufthansa is testing a program that would allow true paperless travel—the delivery of boarding passes to passengers via Internet-enabled telephone or PDA. The service, which delivers a two-dimensional barcode pass via e-mail or SMS, is now available to passengers with carry-on baggage only and who are booked on flights between Hamburg and Munich or Frankfurt. The barcode and other travel information would enable passage through security. The barcode is also scanned at the boarding gate.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems won a $177.1-million USAF contract for program management, urgent repairs, logistics support, software maintenance, engineering services, field support, depot repair, flight operations support and enhancements for Predator and Reaper unmanned aircraft.
A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon deployed to the U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, Calif., for trials work last week suffered a gear-up landing.
The Israeli air force’s complete baffling of Syria’s air defenses late last year—as part of a raid on a suspected nuclear facility—may have some of its roots in the raids on Baghdad in 1991 and 2003. Washington winked at Israel’s attack and provided some arm’s-length support. Why? “The Israelis can do things [in the region and within their political structure that] we sometimes can’t do,” says a senior U.S. Air Force official with long experience in clandestine operations.
The Swiss military has taken delivery of the first four of its anticipated six Pilatus PC-21 advanced trainers. The first pilot class using the PC-21 is to start in July. The PC-21 will allow Switzerland to shift jet training away from the F-5.
Pratt & Whitney has named Goodrich to be sole provider of nacelle systems for geared turbofan engines for both the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and Bombardier CSeries family. The award is valued at $5 billion over a 25-year period following the GTF’s service entry in 2013 on the MRJ. The CSeries has yet to be formally launched.
Shanghai Airlines has become the only listed Chinese airline to lose money in 2007. The company, which analysts say is a ripe takeover target because of its strong position in Shanghai and weakness elsewhere, lost 497 million yuan ($71.1 million) last year, compared with a profit of 82.2 million yuan in 2006.
The International Space Station is in position to receive the space shuttle Discovery on the STS-124 mission, now that Europe’s Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ETV) has demonstrated its ability to reboost the station. That was one of the three critical ISS functions the European freighter was designed to perform. A 740-sec. burn by two of the ATV’s four main engines, executed at 12:22 a.m. EDT Apr. 25, raised the orbit of the 280-metric-ton ISS by 4.5 km. (3 mi.) to 342 km.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John E. Seward has been appointed deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii. He has been deputy commanding general for operations of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. Brig. Gen. David L. Mann has been named commanding general of White Sands Missile Range, N.M. He has been deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Ft. Knox, Ky.
EMS Technologies has landed a $13-million contract from Northrop Grumman to supply a new extremely-high-frequency satellite communications system for USAF B-2s. With the upgrade, the aircraft is expected to send and receive battlefield information up to 100 times faster than the current ultra-high-frequency satellite communications. The system also supplies a connection to the Pentagon’s Global Information Network to improve situational awareness.
Lockheed Martin won a $190-million contract increase from the U.S. Navy for advanced acquisition of special tooling and test equipment associated with Lot 2 low-rate initial production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Edward H. Phillips (Atlantic City International Airport, N.J.)
In 2009, the FAA will conduct research into the load interactions of large, multiple-wheel landing gear systems on various types of pavement materials used at major airports worldwide.
Steve Bates (see photo) has been promoted to vice president-completions and modifications from senior director of maintenance sales and product management at St. Louis-based Midcoast Aviation .
European Union Emissions Allowance prices peaked at €25.67 ($40.04) on Apr. 22, as energy prices all rose on the back of crude oil’s run to a record high of just over $120 per barrel. With coal and gas prices both rising strongly, but coal remaining the more competitive fuel for power generation, utilities were the main buyers, backed up by speculative traders. The Apr. 22 price was the highest seen since May 30, 2007, and capped a 10-week bull run that saw the 2008 contract gain 28%.
USN Capts. Donald E. Gaddis, Paul A. Grosklags and Maude E. Young have been nominated for promotion to rear admiral (lower half). Gaddis is program manager for presidential helicopters in the Program Executive Office for Aviation, NAS Patuxent River, Md., while Grosklags is its manager for H-60 programs. Young is the major program manager for the National Reconnaissance Office and National Remote Sensing System, Chantilly, Va.
