The U.S. Air Force doesn’t plan to include funding for the wide-area surveillance version of its Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor in its Fiscal 2009 budget request, says Martha Evans, director of the Air Force’s information dominance acquisition office. A small-scale (1.3 X 4.7-ft.) MP-RTIP is now flying on Northrop Grumman’s Proteus aircraft and will eventually be used by the Global Hawk UAV to monitor moving ground targets. But this electronically scanned array radar can’t track and target cruise missiles.
Japan’s latest geostationary Engineering Test Satellite (ETS-VIII) is having problems with two of its four ion engine thrusters. The southern thruster on System A failed Jan. 15. After that fault was traced to a power source and the control team switched the satellite to System B on Jan. 23, controllers discovered the southern thruster on System B was unstable for continuous firing. The Japan Aerospace Explorations Agency is looking into the problems, but says there’s enough fuel on board to substitute chemical thrusters for the duration of its mission. Launched Dec.
Airbus ended a strong January order intake with commitments from MatlinPatterson for six A330-200 freighters and nine A320s for Niki Luftfahrt. The MatlinPatterson deal adds Brazilian Varig Logistica and Indianapolis-based Global Aero Logistics as new Airbus customers, while the Niki order is a follow-on purchase, raising the Austrian carrier’s A320 fleet to 20 aircraft.
The European Regions Airline Assn. is taking a proactive stance on continuous-descent approaches. ERA board members have agreed to use these procedures at as many airports as possible because of their environmental and flight safety benefits. CDAs avoid the “dive and drive” type of approaches, which put aircraft at low altitude where they are vectored around to line up to land while engines are set at high power settings.
The Japanese Defense Ministry wants to buy more airborne warning and control system aircraft and will fit its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrollers, now under development, with radars that can detect cruise missiles. The moves are responses to rising Chinese cruise missile capabilities, says the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
Kevin Schemm (see photo) has been named Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president-sales for North America. He succeeds Ray Conner, who has become vice president-sales for all of Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Schemm was vice president-contracts. Honors and Elections
The European Joint Aviation Authorities have qualified the first Level D simulator built by FlightSafety International for the Gulfstream G150 and have approved FSI’s maintenance training program for the twin-engine business jet. The simulator is located at FSI’s training facility in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and features electric motion and control loading systems and an advanced Vital visual system.
Robert Wall (Paris), Joris Janssen Lok (The Hague)
Norway and Sweden, wrestling with diverse security and budgetary challenges, are on the verge of making potentially far-reaching decisions that will shape the long-term capabilities of their militaries.
Safran’s Aircelle affiliate plans to double the size of its Morocco plant to meet rising demand, notably for the A380 program. The move, part of a comprehensive Safran effort to expand output in low-cost and dollar-zone countries, will raise factory floor space in the North African country to 20,000 sq. meters and boost the workforce to 500 people by 2009.
In Frances Fiorino’s Commentary “Finding Safety in Numbers” (AW&ST Jan. 7, p. 40), there is a statement attributed to the NASA survey that Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) did not provide estimates of the frequency with which “unwanted events” occurred or whether their frequency was increasing or decreasing.
The European Space Agency says Earth observation, launch tracking, telecom and other existing operational requirements are enough to justify investment in a data relay satellite system, even if interested defense users balk at paying. ESA plans to propose a system funded partly by telecom operators or other private investors at its next ministerial summit in November.
A high-tempo information war is underway between the U.S. and Al Qaeda. “Al Qaeda and insurgents distribute videos every day via nontraditional media operations,” says the Central Command Air Forces chief, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North. “We’re discovering these outlets . . . and attacking them . . . to shut them down.” For wars involving more traditional military foes, a new electronic attack and information warfare road map is being constructed. “I see the capacity to shift that capacity to our Predator and Reaper [unmanned aircraft],” he says.
ATR expects orders to drop slightly this year from the 113-aircraft and 26-option high of 2007. But the turboprop market outlook remains strong even in the U.S., where airlines are bracing for a possible recession. Long-term prospects are also good, the industry leaders believe. After the turboprop market tanked several years ago, high oil prices have allowed the fuel-efficient aircraft to regain market share. ATR CEO Stephane Mayer says, “We are back for the long-term.”
The U.S. Air Force, particularly Air Force Special Operations Command (Afsoc), is following with interest work to reduce the drag of Lockheed Martin C-130s. The endeavor is indicating a significant fuel-saving potential from a relatively minor strake modification.
Raymond Jaworowski/Forecast International/www.forecastinternational.com
Robust demand from customers outside North America has proved to be a key factor in extending and strengthening the current boom in the business jet industry. To take advantage of the healthy market conditions, manufacturers are churning out models, both all-new designs and enhanced derivatives of existing types. Meanwhile, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the industry itself, both corporate awareness of the benefits of private jet travel and public acceptance of business jet operations have grown considerably in recent years.
Boeing has named Telair International to provide the cargo handling systems for the lower hold of the 747-8 passenger aircraft and the main deck of the new freighter. Telair, based in Miesbach, Germany, has long been a supplier for 767 and 747 freighters. Most recently, it has figured in development of the cargo systems for 747-400 passenger airplanes Boeing converted for the 787 Dreamlifter fleet that carries that airplane’s large structural assemblies to the final assembly line in Everett, Wash.
Italy has selected the Bombardier CL-415 in its latest competition for a firefighting aircraft. Four aircraft are being ordered, with two to be delivered this year and two next year.
Larry Dickerson/Forecast International/www.forecastinternational.com
Worldwide demand for missiles of all types remains strong and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Forecast International estimates sales of tactical missiles will top $30 billion through the 2008-12 timeframe. As in the past, the defense industries of the U.S. and Western Europe will dominate this market, accounting for 55% of production value through 2012. Russia’s share is expected to be 9%. The tactical missile market is evolving, with dual-role missiles becoming more common.
O’Hare Airfield Engineers, a joint venture working on the relocation of Runway 10C-28C at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, is using file management software to allow dozens of internal users to share 12 gigabytes of project data. Millhouse Engineering, the lead company, selected Availl wide area file services of Globalscape in San Antonio to provide real-time access to all files.
V Australia, the new long-haul carrier launched by Virgin Blue, will equip all 13 of its Boeing 777-300ERs (seven under firm order and six under option) with Rockwell Collins avionics. In addition to navigation and communications systems, the order covers transponders, traffic-alert and collision avoidance systems and Rockwell Collins multi-scan weather radar. Deliveries begin in September.
Regarding Chris Lutat’s letter “Glass Cockpits Can Benefit All” (AW&ST Dec. 17, 2007, p. 11), we have been adding electronic “gadgets” for several years to cars and have seen the accident rate climb due to driver distraction.
While the U.S. aerospace industry remained strong through 2007—and most indicators point to continued growth for at least the near term—daunting workforce hurdles must be overcome if the industry is to keep thriving. Customer demand looks good for manufacturers as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses, but aerospace companies as a whole face two key challenges that will affect financial success and viability for many years: •Attracting highly qualified, new employees to replenish an aging workforce.
Kellie Priessman-Paskewic has been appointed manager of sales development for mail order avionics and consumer GPS sales for the J.A. Air Center , West Chicago, Ill.
