Virgin Atlantic, in a partnership that includes Boeing and General Electric, plans to perform the first biofuel flight test next month. A Virgin Boeing 747-400 will fly from London Heathrow to Amsterdam Schiphol using a blend of 20% biofuel and 80% jet fuel. The airline isn’t revealing the feed stock for the biofuel at this time, and will only say the material doesn’t compete with food and fresh-water resources. Engine partner GE has already been performing ground trials, with promising results, according to Virgin Atlantic.
Malaysia-based Measat has deployed a satellite over Eastern Africa to help meet strong demand for telecom services. The spacecraft, renamed Africastar-1, was commissioned last week at 46 deg. E. Long. Launched in 1996 and now in inclined orbit, it is no longer operating at full strength but will offer 12 C-band and up to four Ku-band transponders for customers, Measat says.
Italy plans to spend €100 million this year to increase its aerial firefighting fleet. The country operates Bombardier 415 amphibians and has been closely evaluating the Russian Beriev Be-200. Type selection is pending. The European Union would like to see member states integrate fleets, an idea that is likely to be tested this year in a series of exercises. Italian Civil Protection chief, Guido Bertolaso, says the country is pursuing a two-part approach.
If he’s elected President, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) might make a receptive audience for alternate space exploration goals in preparation by an experienced group of scientists who would drop Bush administration plans for a lunar base (see p. 24). Obama calls for developing the Ares I/Orion combo to replace the space shuttle, and for finishing the International Space Station. But he makes no mention of going on to the Moon, or of building the Ares V heavy launch vehicle that would be needed to get humans beyond Earth orbit.
Flight trials for EADS’s two main electronic warfare developments are headed for a crucial period, with hopes that important production contracts for key helicopter and fighter programs are in reach.
H. Andrew Schwartz has been named vice president-external relations for the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies . He was its deputy director for external relations and director of media relations.
Rockwell Collins will provide primary flight control computers for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet’s fly-by-wire system, as well as pilot controls and the horizontal stabilizer trim system. The pilot controls will include the control wheels, columns, pedals and “feel” systems, and pedestal controls. Mitsubishi had already selected Rockwell Collins’s new Pro Line Fusion suite for the aircraft’s cockpit.
Embraer has signed a contract with LOT Polish Airlines to order a dozen more 175 regional jets. The agreement also has provisions for the purchase of another 12 of the aircraft.
The European Space Agency is embarking on a major overhaul of its budgetary and financial management procedures to ensure that it can function with expanded membership and a broader mandate without suffering administrative gridlock.
Airbus is preparing a round of A380 enhancements even though the basic configuration has enjoyed a successful initial period of in-service operations. The aircraft maker also believes some larger, long-running headaches, particularly excess weight on the megatransport, may effectively be resolved.
Both Afghanistan and Iraq are making progress in fielding air forces, says Central Command’s air chief, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North. He estimates the Iraqi air force may be ready to field a jet fighter as early as 2011. “The Iraqi government is programming a budget of close to $1 billion for next year,” North says. On the other hand, he says, “We’re behind, programmatically, where we would like the Afghan air force to be.” Iraq’s priority is airlift, both fixed-wing and rotary; weaponizing light aircraft, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
American Airlines’ first quarterly loss since early 2006 could signal that the remarkable financial recovery of the U.S. major carriers is running out of gas. More bad news could be around the corner—while demand for air travel is holding up for now, analysts believe the U.S. economic slowdown must eventually hurt airline bookings.
The European Parliament is proposing to curtail the number of airports affected by a European Union policy to harmonize airport regulations, including charges. The Parliament voted to apply the new airport charging system only to facilities with at least 5 million passengers per year (or 15% of traffic of that member state), while the European Commission set the barrier at 1 million travelers.
An increase in aircraft hull losses last year means the airline insurance industry likely ended 2007 in the red, according to a new report by Aon. Losses for 2007 are estimated at around $1.7 billion with hull and liability premiums at $1.51 billion. By comparison, the 2006 price tag associated with losses amounted to $1.29 billion. Aon, the underwriter and insurance brokerage company, says “the airline industry and its insurance market is still sound” despite last year’s issues. Some losses may yet be reclassified to reduce the 2007 total.
SkyWest Airlines will replace Skyway Airlines as the Midwest Connect feeder service for Midwest Airlines in a transition starting in March. Jobs of approximately 380 Skyway pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and dispatchers will be eliminated, but Skyway will retain 750 employees as it continues to provide ramp, dining and customer services for parent Midwest and Midwest Connect.
Congressional Democrats are shifting their attention from the war in Iraq to the sagging U.S. economy. Last year Democrats failed to make any headway with President Bush—or their Republican colleagues—in throttling back Iraq troop levels. But this election year, Democrats in the House of Representatives will be “focusing on the economy,” says Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). The war isn’t even mentioned as Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership lay out plans for developing an economic stimulus package.
South African aerospace manufacturer Denel is in discussions with Embraer over becoming a risk-sharing partner in the latter’s proposed C-390 tactical airlifter. Denel wants to build on experience gained in participation in the Airbus A400M airlifter, and to secure additional work for its aerostructures business. Denel is also keen to broaden its involvement in the AgustaWestland A109 Light Utility Helicopter.
In this artist’s depiction, a U.S. Marine on a rooftop uses a personal communications device to control the surveillance and electronic attack capabilities of tactical UAVs. There also is an EA-6B Prowler standing by with additional electronic and tactical network attack capabilities. Prowlers equipped with Northrop Grumman’s new ICAP-III EW/EA system are entering service with both the Navy and Marine Corps. Antennas are often the gateway into enemy networks and communications. Cover design by BAE Systems artist Dave JanTausch.
The airline industry is financially fragile and seems unable to achieve superior profitability despite impressive traffic growth rates, technological progress and huge economies of scale.
Planetary scientists are beginning to delve into imagery of never-before-seen terrain on Mercury, collected Jan. 14 by NASA’s MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (Messenger) orbiter. The probe flew within about 125 mi. of the surface of Mercury, collecting some 600 images of about half of the surface that was not explored by Mariner 10 on its three flybys, the last of which came on Mar. 16, 1975.
The dissertation in “The Tanker Debate: Why Size Matters” (AW&ST Nov. 19, 2007, p. 58) by USAF Gen. (ret.) Charles Horner really falls short. First of all, F-35 and helicopter procurements have no basis for comparison to the tanker decision. The former are tactical war products with lots of potential backup at crunch time and are based on American technology that takes second place to no one. Light helicopters can all fall into the Pacific Ocean and have no impact on the success of a major wartime engagement.
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) is developing a solid-fuel launch vehicle for International Space Station resupply and scientific space missions based on hardware it already has in production in one form or another. A shortened version of the booster that lifts NASA’s space shuttle off the pad forms the rocket’s first stage. The second stage is a stock Castor 120 motor already used on the Athena and Taurus commercial launchers, and the third stage is a 30-in.-dia. Castor 30 that ATK has been developing based in part on its Castor 4 target.
