The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is delaying its next test of the massive Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) anti-missile system to allow time for hardware and software tweaks to the system.
A secret National Reconnaissance Office satellite is undergoing checkout in space following launch from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., Dec. 14 on a U.S. Air Force/Boeing Delta II booster. The Delta 7920 version with nine solid rocket motors was launched at 1 p.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2W. The spacecraft, with characteristics of a technology demonstration mission, was placed into an initial 203 X 191-mi. orbit inclined 58.5 deg.
More than a dozen international space agencies, working toward a way to coordinate their space exploration activities, may produce some sort of framework document at a planned meeting in Kyoto, Japan, in early March. A two-day NASA-sponsored exploration workshop at the Lunar and Planetary Institute drew almost 40 representatives from 14 space agencies, including Australia's, China's, India's, South Korea's and Ukraine's, as well as the International Space Station partners.
The Indonesian Directorate of General Civil Aviation has started an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast demonstration project that could lead to nationwide ADS-B service. Thales, SITA and Airservices Australia are working on the project that will display ADS-B data in the Jakarta and Makassar ATC centers. The majority of international flights headed for Australia pass through this region, so Australian officials are keen to see the Indonesians adopt this new technology. ADS-B will provide more accurate position data on aircraft than ground-based radars.
CHER PRUYS, ASAA "Best Friends" Acrylic 21 X 26.5 inches Two Cessnas make a pleasing sight, nestled in a remote bay in the North Country. Pruys specializes in painting the aircraft and people near her home in northern Ontario. She has received many awards for her watercolor and acrylic paintings. Pruys's work has appeared in numerous magazines and is cover art for two books and 13 magazine issues. She belongs to ASAA, the Canadian Society of Aviation Artists and the Women in Aviation Maintenance Society.
The International Air Transport Assn. has set a 2008 target rate of 0.49 hull losses per million departures. With airlines on track to achieve a record low 0.65 rate this year, IATA members decided to push for further improvements. IATA members themselves achieved an 0.29 accident rate so far this year. Members of the airline group also met with Russian officials last week to urge improvements in air safety there.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending the FAA require Part 121 operators to establish procedures directing flight crews to confirm and cross-check that an aircraft is positioned on the assigned departure runway before crossing the hold-short line for takeoff. In addition, the NTSB recommends operators provide guidance to pilots regarding runway lighting requirements for night takeoffs. The move is part of the ongoing investigation of the Aug. 27 crash of Comair Flight 5191 at Lexington (Ky.) Blue Grass Airport.
It wasn't the merger everyone was talking about, but it was the merger they got. While Wall Street quivered about the possibility of United Airlines linking up with Continental Airlines, AirTran Airways went public with a move to take over Midwest Airlines.
A U.S. Government Accountability Office report on the progress being made on the Next Generation Air Transportation System (Ngats) says the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) and FAA have their work cut out for them in several respects. The National Academy of Sciences and those conducting the GAO study formed a panel of 14 aviation and academic experts to review Ngats. Some of them told the GAO that while the JPDO has generated a lot of activity, it has not made sufficient progress.
A long-running squabble about future strategy at Safran, including what to do with its troubled cell phone business, has morphed into a full-scale corporate and government row that threatens to turn into a replay of the EADS/Airbus fiasco.
OHB affiliate Luxspace Sari is joining with NGO Sant'Egidio and the University of Padova in Italy to identify ways in which satellite communications and other space-based technologies can facilitate HIV/AIDS treatment in Africa. The program is sponsored by the European Space Agency.
MARKET FOCUS Wall Street awaits results of airline merger bidding 8 NEWS BREAKS Lockheed Martin completes taxi trials on F-35, plans to fly this month 10 Final assembly begins for Boeing's initial 737-700ER 14 German army takes delivery of the first NH90 helicopter 15 Former editor-in-chief wins AIA's Lyman Award for journalism excellence 15 EADS Astrium team begins flight testing two-way laser data link for UAVs 16 WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS
The Air Line Pilots Assn. unit at Comair reports that 93% of its 1,500 pilots supported a strike authorization, according to a Dec. 11 count. ALPA and Comair are in the midst of negotiating a consensual agreement at the request of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Comair has court-approved authority to impose a contract if no agreement is reached. "The pilots will not tolerate company-imposed pay and work conditions," said ALPA unit Chairman J.C. Lawson.
Northrop Grumman has received a $104-million contract to outfit the NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with its Large-Aircraft Infrared Counter- measures self-protection system. Deliveries are to start next year and be completed in 2009.
The U.S. Navy's second RQ-4A Global Hawk Maritime Demonstra- tion (GHMD) unmanned reconnaissance aircraft has made an 11.1-hr. flight to its new duty station at NAS Patuxent River, Md., from Edwards AFB, Calif., where it underwent acceptance tests and supported Navy exercises in Hawaii. The demonstration program will involve the development of maritime endurance UAV sensors; concepts of operations; tactics, techniques and procedures; and integration with manned aircraft operations.
MARCEL MIVELAZ Molondin, Switzerland U.K. Royal Air Force Harrier GR.7 at low level in the valleys of nothern Wales. SIMON FITALL Chevy Chase, Md. Saab JAS 39 Gripen completes a spectacular takeoff at the Farnborough air show. MARCEL MIVELAZ Molondin, Switzerland Opening of Axalp flight demonstration by Swiss air force Super Puma. MARK FARMER Anchorage, Alaska
RON WEIL "No Place To Land" Acrylic 24 X 36 inches A de Havilland DH-4 mail plane flies through a pass in the Rocky Mountains. The Liberty Engine growls and the pilot knows if the growl ceases, there's no place to land.
Precision Castparts has announced a deal to acquire GSC Foundries, a privately held manufacturer of aluminum and steel structural investment castings that has operations in Utah and Mexico. JSA Research analyst Peter J. Arment estimates GSC will add $75 million to Precision Castparts' sales.
The Australian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with a team of Boeing Australia and Israel Aircraft Industries to supply I-View unmanned aircraft. The system will be used by the army's 132 Battery, 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment. Service entry is planned for late 2009.
