The X-51A scramjet program is procuring flight hardware for a series of Mach 6-7 tests over the Pacific Ocean to begin in the summer of 2009 to demonstrate that hypersonic propulsion can be practical for a wide array of applications.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] June 12-14--SAE's Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference and Exhibition. Hotel Deca, University District, Seattle. Call +1 (724) 776-4841 or see www.sae.org June 12-14--Halldale Media Group's World Aviation Training Expo. Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Fla. Call +1 (407) 942-0071 or see www.halldale.com/wats
General Electric Aviation Materials will open distribution and sales offices in Singapore and Amsterdam this summer. In July, the 30,000-sq.-ft. Singapore facility will open to serve the region from China to New Zealand; Amsterdam's 50,000-sq.-ft. facility is to open in August for European, African and Middle East customers.
Sandia National Laboratories and Boeing are collaborating to explore the feasibility of using a hydrogen-powered fuel cell for backup power in aircraft. Bill Glover, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' general manager for environmental affairs, says the primary objective is to eliminate the need for auxiliary power units, which have only a 40% fuel efficiency and are basically used only when the aircraft is on the apron. Fuel cells could offer a fuel efficiency of 70% or so, and provide additional electric power in the air as well.
India's aviation ministry has given the green light to government-owned helicopter operator Pawan Hans to apply for scheduled airline status. Founded in 1985 to serve the petroleum sector, link remote areas and conduct tourist charters, Pawan Hans now plans to acquire and operate small fixed-wing aircraft to isolated locations. It has a fleet of 34 helicopters, including the Bell 206L4, Bell 407, Dauphin SA365N, Dauphin AS365N3 and Mi-172, and is acquiring two new Dauphin N3 helicopters, which it expects will be delivered in the fall.
Airbus stresses it won't change the A350XWB design again--in spite of Emirates favoring a different fuselage concept--and experienced a boost in confidence from a large order by Qatar Airways last week. But after visiting the Boeing 787 final assembly line, Emirates President Tim Clark said that "fuselage barrels are the way forward. That's not to say that the Airbus approach is flawed, but I'm of the opinion that it represents an interim step and they will move to the barrel approach eventually."
The White House is threatening to veto the Fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill if "Buy American" language in the House-passed version of the bill isn't removed.
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EADS Astrium says testing for the Automated Transfer Vehicle space tug, intended to resupply the International Space Station, will be completed in time to ensure an end-of-year launch.
Claudia Oliveira Amaro Demenato has been appointed chairman of the board of directors of Brazil-based TAM. She succeeds Noemy Almeida Oliveira Amaro, who remains a board member. Mauricio Rolim Amaro was named vice chairman. Pedro Pullen Parente has become a board member, filling the seat vacated by Henri Philippe Reichstul. Parente is vice president of Rede Brasil Sul.
Horizon Air, junior partner to mainline Alaska Airlines, has always been a "contrarian," says President/CEO Jeff Pinneo. Unlike other U.S. regional carriers that chiefly serve as traffic feeders to mainline airlines, Horizon dedicates two-thirds of its 500 daily flights to operations not connected to its mainline partner. In Horizon's case, only a third of its flying is fee-based and flows traffic between it and Alaska Airlines.
Walter (Woody) Hogle has become vice president-government operations of Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He succeeds Michael K. McDonald, who has retired. Phil Jasper has been named to succeed Hogle as vice president/general manager of integrated systems. Jasper was senior director of Air Force programs.
Japan Airlines will rely on a codeshare with Jetstar budget operation of Oneworld partner Qantas to restore its service on a triangular route connecting Osaka with Brisbane and Sydney. The Japanese carrier abandoned its own flights on the route in March.
Lockheed Martin has won an international patent case that establishes the term "paveway" as a generic term for a technology that uses lasers to guide bombs to a target. In 2005, Raytheon sought a trademark for the term, but the Turkish Patent Institute sided with Lockheed Martin's protest.
With an advanced combat acquisition on hold, the Brazilian air force is looking to purchase 9-12 additional F-5s to expand its ongoing fighter modernization program. Executives at Embraer, which is managing the upgrade, say they hope the deal can be clinched by the end of 2008, when modernization of the present 46-aircraft fleet is expected to be completed. At least 12 units have been delivered.
M. David Kornblatt has become senior vice president/chief financial officer of the Triumph Group Inc., Wayne, Pa. He succeeds John R. Bartholdson, who has retired. Kornblatt held the same positions at the Carpenter Technology Corp.
Students at Cranfield University in the U.K. are the latest group to tackle reducing the environmental impact of commercial aviation. Aerospace Engineering Dept. master of science degree candidates were tasked with conceiving a 380-seat "green" passenger aircraft as part of their course in aerospace vehicle design. The result--the A6 Greenliner--made extensive use of composites, improved aerodynamics and fuselage-mounted engines to reduce environmental impact. Cruise speed was also lowered to enhance environmental performance.
The 787's rollout on July 8 remains on schedule, but the aircraft's worldwide supply chain is likely to experience some opening-day jitters. The aircraft's seven major airframe assemblies--including 98-ft.-long wing sets and an 84-ft.-long center fuselage--have been transported on schedule from a widely dispersed supplier network that includes three factories in Japan, two in Italy and major centers in Kansas and South Carolina (see p. 72).
Consolidation in the European air transport sector could get a major boost if a planned bid for Iberia by a British Airways-led consortium succeeds. Following weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, BA last week confirmed that it "has joined with TPG Capital, Vista Capital de Expansion, Inversiones Ibersuizas, and Quercus Equity to investigate a possible consortium offer for Iberia." BA cautioned that "there is no guarantee that a formal bid will be made," although industry officials say it is likely.
Cebu Pacific has ordered six ATR 72s from the EADS-Alenia joint venture Avion de Transport Regional and says it needs the turboprops for airports that cannot handle A320-family aircraft. The airline has also taken options on another eight and values the total deal, for delivery from 2008-13, at $275 million, based on catalog prices.
U.S. space scientists will set their own priorities for future space- and Earth-science missions, including "trip wires" for killing over-budget missions. Alan Stern, NASA's new associate administrator for science, says the agency will rely on the decadal survey process run by the National Academies of Science to plan its future program, but with much more emphasis on accurate cost estimates at the start and the trip-wire approach to control cost once mission-development is underway.
Jim Taylor has been named senior director of day operations, Gary Stover senior director of Air Park Services, Doug Rudy night operations director of ramp and transportation, Rex Gunning director of flight technical training and compliance, Brian Schlise manager of the Eastern U.S. operations and John Millen manager of the Providence, R.I., regional hub, all for Wilmington, Ohio-based ABX Air Inc.
European business aviation leaders are looking for ways to avoid draconian environmental compliance rules by staying out in front of regulators. One tactic is trying to be "carbon neutral."
Turkey is on a new defense acquisition spree. In addition to bolstering its air defense and command and control capabilities, it wants to give a big boost to its defense industrial complex.
