A new BAE Systems 32-bit digital flight control computer has completed its first flight on board the Taiwanese Air Force Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). Taiwan Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. officials say the new computer, whose PowerPC-based processor is replacing a 16-bit version, will improve IDF performance and safety. The new computer integrates with the aircraft's air data, avionics and head-up display systems.
A pending takeover of Alcatel's share in two space ventures by Thales will be subjected to a full review by the European Commission competition directorate, in a move that could delay or alter the proposed deal, just as it seemed ready to close.
Jeremy Roesler has become chief flight instructor for fixed-wing aircraft at the University of North Dakota's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences in Grand Forks.
Delta Air Lines' response to US Airways' merger proposal presented last week in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Southern District New York was clear: It plans to go its way alone. In a statement, the airline said it plans to file its stand-alone plan by year-end and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by mid-2007 a "highly competitive, independent and financially sound airline." Delta is also planning to recall 200 additional furloughed pilots next year in anticipation of international expansion and acquisition of 13 Boeing 757s in 2007.
Trey Urbahn has been named executive vice president/chief revenue officer and Charles (Duffy) Mees vice president/chief information officer of JetBlue Airways. Urbahn was executive chairman of OneSky Jets, and will remain on its board of directors. Mees was vice president/chief technology officer and succeeds Todd Thompson, who has left the airline.
In an article on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (AW&ST Nov. 27, p. 28), Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control should have been listed as prime contractor for the Electro-Optical Targeting System and Northrop Grumman for the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System, which is installed in the CATBird's airframe.
A new survey of 150 executives responsible for information-technology security at airlines and airfreight companies finds that 80% are feeling the heat to respond to the latest threats. The situation is not surprising, given that 78% of airline systems are now web-enabled--a figure that's expected to rise to 83% by the end of next year and 87% by late 2008. The worldwide web connects airline computer networks to the public where hackers lurk.
Airbus is preparing to start final assembly of A380s featuring a new wiring bundle design, the first sign of the aircraft maker's strategy to fix problems that have delayed the mega-transport's deliveries. Faulty wiring harness designs are the root cause of the repeated A380 delays that have set back the program about two years and delivered a large financial hit to Airbus parent EADS. In the coming months, Airbus hopes to demonstrate the soundness of its multifaceted fix-it plan.
Jacob Vistanetzky (see photos) has been appointed chief accountant of the Bedek Aviation Group of Israel Aircraft Industries. He held the same position at the Commercial Aircraft Group and has been succeeded by Eyal Nahum, who was director of finance at the Military Aircraft Group's Lahav Div. Doron Zakai has been named chief accountant of the IAI Systems, Missiles and Space Group. He was accountant of the Bedek Aviation Group's Engines Div.
Andrey Raschuk has become executive director of Aerosvit Ukrainian Airlines. He was general manager for the Pratt & Whitney-Paton joint venture in Kiev, Ukraine.
Don't even think about it. That's the advice to the White House from top House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democrats, Jim Oberstar (Minn.) and Jerry Costello (Ill.), and two colleagues about the possibility that the Transportation Dept. will resume last summer's attempt to relax restrictions on foreign ownership and control of U.S. airlines. The House voted against relaxation 291-137 when the department's Fiscal 2007 appropriations bill was on the floor, and the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a similar provision 19-6.
NAVAERO'S CLASS 2 ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG IS MAKING INROADS with airlines. Virgin America plans a fleet-wide use of the "tBag" C2 2. As part of that carrier's contract, the company and its partner, Avionics Support Group of Miami, have obtained supplemental type certificates for the system on the Airbus A319, A320 and A321. It has teamed with Jeppesen, a Boeing company, to provide Class 1 and 2 electronic flight bags for airlines, as well as for government and military clients. An 8.4-in. color LCD is standard and a 10.4-in. display is available.
U.K. efforts to revamp military aircrew training are about to begin in earnest with the selection of the Lockheed Martin-VT Group team as the preferred bidder. The program is worth about £6 billion ($11.8 billion) over 25 years. The Ascent team, as the joint venture is known, was chosen to provide the ministry's Military Flying Training System (MFTS) over the Thales-led Sterling bid and the Vector team that included KBR and Bombardier.
Lufthansa and Air Malta have decided to code-share all 21 weekly connections between the island and Frankfurt and Munich. The deal gives Malta daily flights to Lufthansa hubs. The two carriers, which first announced in February they'd work more closely together, also will open frequent-flier services across the two networks. The agreement is part of a broader Lufthansa Group strategy to increase its involvement in Malta (see p. 13).
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is introducing a fingerprint system that identifies a passenger when baggage is checked, at the boarding gate and when baggage is collected at the destination. The system, developed by Precise Biometrics, involves no photos. It is in place at six airports and will be installed in five more this month.
Debut of Canada's new liberalized international aviation policy, Blue Sky, is launching a debate in the aviation community over how the policy will be implemented. The Canadian Airports Council feels vindicated as the policy appears to raise the status of airports as a partner in negotiations, a long-time goal. A council official says the document represents "marching orders" for negotiators to pursue open skies agreements. If a highly liberal accord is not achievable, negotiators are committed to work toward the next best arrangement.
Finmeccanica and Sukhoi have finally signed an agreement to formalize the involvement of Alenia Aeronautica in the Superjet 100 regional jet program. Alenia will take a 25% share in the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co., plus one additional share to give it more control. The shareholding reflects its investment in the aircraft family's development. Alenia and Sukhoi now plan to set up a joint company to market, sell and deliver the Superjet, as well as to provide after-sales support. Alenia will hold 51% of that venture.
Controversy continues to surround the Sept. 29 midair collision of a Gol Airlines Boeing 737 and an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet over the Amazon jungle. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Nov. 25 changed the command of the country's military-run air traffic control organization. The move may be seen as a way to douse the heated contention between military and civilian controllers over demilitarization of ATC.
European airlines flying to Asia through Russian airspace will see their costs reduced substantially, but not until 2010, under a compromise agreement between the European Union and Russia.
Russia delivered the first batch of two Sukhoi Su-30MK2 multipurpose dual-seat fighters to Venezuela last week. The aircraft are part of a 22-aircraft order that will see deliveries through next year.
A two-month RFID pilot program at Madrid-Barajas International Airport's Terminal 4 was able to track 99.7% of bags, according to France's IER, which ran the program. IER's system prints and encodes bag tags and then reads the labels as they pass through three separate areas equipped with RFID readers and encoders.
Boeing researchers say they have completed flight tests of the company's Automated Aerial Refueling program that demonstrated an unmanned air vehicle's ability to autonomously maintain a steady station behind a tanker aircraft as it flies a refueling orbit. The idea is to give UAVs greater combat radius and loiter time over the battlefield. It also could shorten the kill-chain by keeping armed aircraft close to where targets may appear.
Members of the Airbus A380 flight test team have won the Aero-Club de France Golden Medal, for development and flight-testing of the A380. Honored were: Claude Lelaie, senior vice president of Airbus's Flight Div.; Jacques Rosay, vice president/chief test pilot; Fernando Alonso, vice president of the Flight Test Div.; and test flight engineer Gerard Desbois.
A Beechcraft Premier IA flies over eastern Kansas. In the past five years, Raytheon Aircraft Co.'s twin-engine business jet has gained a foothold in the crowded entry-level segment of the market. The latest version, with upgraded avionics capability and a new passenger cabin design, reinforces the airplane's appeal to buyers looking for speed, comfort and economy (see p. 56). John Dibbs photo.
Air Berlin's order of 75 737-700/-800s, valued at $5.1 billion, represents the biggest single 737 order in German aviation history and Boeing's most significant win there since Airbus emerged as a major competitor.
