Every time I see an article featuring the inflatable manned space modules of Bigelow Aerospace Inc. (AW&ST Apr. 9, p. 22), I am struck by the similarity to the Walt Disney Presents television programs of late 1950s that featured space. Using the expertise of scientists Willy Ley and Wernher von Braun as a foundation, the Disney team produced concepts of space stations formed around inflatable cores described as: "The space station consists of airtight plastic into which strong threads or wires are imbedded for greater strength. The sections are carried . . .
GE Aviation's plant at Batesville, Miss., will feature the manufacture of carbon fiber and epoxy resin composite components. Groundbreaking for the 200,000-sq.-ft. facility is set for August. In 2006, GE teamed with Mississippi State University's College of Engineering Raspet Laboratory to demo component production. Raspet fabricates "fan platforms," which are installed between front fan blades of GE commercial jet engines.
CAE has contracted with Nippon Cargo Airlines, launch customer of the Boeing 747-8 Freighter, to design and manufacture an electric-motion-based CAE 7000-Series 747-400 full-flight simulator (FFS) plus a Simfinity suite of 747 training devices. The FFS may be converted to a 747-8F simulator--which would make it the first--pending Japan Civil Aviation Bureau approval.
Barry Eccleston, who is president/ CEO of Airbus North America, has received an honorary doctor of science degree from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York.
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen Dataplan Inc. for allegedly assisting secret CIA rendition flights of suspected terrorists. The federal lawsuit, filed in California, claims flight and logistical support services provided by Jeppesen enabled the clandestine transportation of three men to secret locations, where they were tortured and subjected to other "forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment." Jeppesen officials said they had not seen the lawsuit and had no immediate comment. Neither Boeing nor the U.S.
After a long, hard slog, business aviation leaders are upbeat about amended regulations that will accommodate the specific operating requirements of bizjet owners.
Onera says it plans to begin work on an advanced derivative of the Nostradamus over-the-horizon ionospheric radar that was brought into service in late 2005 with the French air force. The new version, which is expected to receive a green light by early 2008, probably will employ the same star-shaped network architecture as Nostra- damus. But it has not been decided whether to upgrade the existing facility or build a new installation.
Brad Furukawa (see photos), who is vice president/chief information officer for the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Space Technology Sector, and Kim L. Ong, an industrial engineer and statistician within the Information Technology Sector, have been honored for contributions to engineering and community service at the 2007 Asian American Engineer of the Year Awards in Washington. The awards were presented by the Chinese Institute of Engineers-USA.
U.S. Navy Cdr. William Oefelein, the astronaut at the center of the love triangle involving a former astronaut, Navy Lt. Cdr. Lisa Nowak, has been fired from the NASA astronaut office and is being reassigned to a Navy space planning facility in Virginia. Oefelein allegedly had relationships with Nowak and USAF Capt. Colleen Shipman. Nowak's discovery of the Oefelein-Shipman relationship prompted her to allegedly accost Shipman in an Orlando, Fla., parking lot. Nowak's trial for attempted kidnapping and burglary with assault begins in September.
Army acquisition executive Claude Bolton has given the nod for the service to negotiate with officials at Bell Helicopter on a get-well plan for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH). Paul Bogosian, program executive officer for aviation, says he has until the end of June to report back to Bolton with a final restructuring proposal. He predicts an 18-month slip, until April 2010, for the first unit to be equipped with the modified 407 airframe. Cost hasn't yet been ironed out.
Alexey Komarov (Samara, Russia, and Baikonur, Kazakhstan)
Space contractors plan to begin work next year on a rejuvenated version of the venerable Soyuz booster to support Russian development of a new-generation space transportation system. Soyuz builder Samara Space Center (TcSKB Progress) is proposing the new variant, known as the Soyuz 2.3, as a launch system for the Advanced Crew Transportation System (ACTS) and Parom freighter planned by Russian Space Agency Roscosmos and vehicle manufacturer NPO Energia to replace the Soyuz and Progress spaceships.
Alaska Airlines will fly due west for new destinations for the first time in its 75-year history (AW&ST May 28, p. 60). Alaska will launch daily flights Oct. 12 from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Honolulu and will connect Seattle-Lihue on Hawaii's island of Kauai starting Oct. 28. Seasonal service from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Honolulu will start Dec. 9. The Seattle-based carrier has FAA approval of the maintenance program for extended operations in Boeing 737-800s.
MARKET FOCUS Allegheny soars as airframers turn to specialty metals 10 NEWS BREAKS Lockheed Martin begins assembly of first Stovl F-35B 18 Italian air force will start receiving M-346 advanced jet trainers in 2009 20 Fourteen agencies draft Global Exploration Strategy for space programs 21 Northwest Airlines emerges from Chapter 11 with $3.2 billion in cash 22 Guy Norris becomes AW&ST's Southern California senior editor 22 WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS
George Hertz has become chief of staff for Massachusetts Port Authority's Executive Director/CEO Thomas J. Kinton, Jr. Hertz was executive vice president. John Pranckevicius has been named director of administration and finance. He was chief financial officer of the City of Worcester (Mass.).
Fred Messina (see photo) has become vice president-corporate development of the Era Corp., Alexandria, Va., and Bill Colligan vice president/general manager of its Airport Operations Solutions Group. Messina was vice president-strategic programs at the Sensis Corp. Colligan was president/chief operating officer of CSSI.
The U.S. space program is beginning one of its busiest launch surges of the last several years as key military, science and space shuttle missions are set for liftoff in June. The surge begins the evening of June 7 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., when a Delta II will fire an Italian radar reconnaissance satellite into polar orbit. Many Italian guests have been invited to attend but will have little or no access to Vandenberg's new launch and command-and-control facilities because of ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) restrictions. The U.S.
A Chinese Long March 2B launched the Yaogan 2 reconnaissance/remote sensing spacecraft into a polar Sun-synchronous orbit May 25 from the Jiuquan launch site in the Gobi Desert. The flight also carried a small microelectronics research satellite.
The Pentagon has notified Congress of the sale of six Lockheed Martin C-130J aircraft to India as well as spare engines and protection and communications devices associated with the special operations role. The sale is valued at $1.05 billion.
Luxembourg-based Jetfly is adding Socata 850, Avanti II and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to its fleet as it continues to prove that fractional ownership can attract European turboprop as well as jet aircraft customers.
Recent success with the first Space-Based Infrared Sensor on orbit has prompted a potential change in the focus of the program that was once established to act as its backup plan.
Tom Arnsmeyer (see photo) has been named vice president-Homeland Security Solutions for the Raytheon Co.'s Integrated Support Solutions, Reston, Va. He was vice president of the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s Information Technology Security and Infrastructure Solutions.
Gregg Saretsky has been appointed executive vice president-flight and marketing of the Alaska Air Group. He was executive vice president-marketing and planning. Glenn Johnson has been promoted to executive vice president-airport services and maintenance and engineering from senior vice president-customer service for airports. Brad Tilden, who has been chief financial officer/executive vice president-finance, will now be executive vice president-finance and planning.
Robert K. Henry has been named executive vice president/chief operating officer of the Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla. He was executive vice president/president of the Government Communications Systems Div. Jeremy C. Wensinger has been appointed group president for Government Communications Systems and Daniel R. Pearson group president for Defense Communications and Electronics. Wen- singer was head of civil agency, intelligence agency and technical services programs within Government Communications Systems, while Pearson was presi- dent of Harris Defense Dept. Programs.
John Bezner (see photo), who is director of aftermarket enterprises at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, has been selected to receive the annual Edward M. Greer Award from the National Defense Industrial Assn. The award honors service in integrated logistics support and its implementation in maintenance and product support for the U.S. Defense Dept. Bezner will be cited for his contributions to the military logistics community, especially the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
