India has successfully tested a domestic cryogenic rocket stage for 50 sec. at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC), becoming the sixth country to develop such a stage. The engine, which had been static-tested alone for more than 6,000 sec., generated a thrust of 7.5 tons when mounted in its full-up stage. Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, says India plans to launch the stage in its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) flight next year.
The U.S. Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft user survey, which allows operators to see demonstrations of each aircraft, is underway. The Raytheon/ EADS North America C-295 was first up in the survey; its demonstration began in October. Trials begin Nov. 6 for the Alenia North America/Boeing/ L-3 Communications C-27J.
Inspectors general overseeing NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will probe whether the Bush White House suppressed government-funded research linking greenhouse gases to global warming, and global warming to more intense hurricanes. The issue has simmered since James Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, charged he was being censored on the issue by political appointees in NASA's public affairs apparatus.
Michael A. Taverna (Darmstadt, Germany, and Paris)
With the first Metop polar-orbiting satellite now safely aloft, Eumetsat can now begin wrestling in earnest with how far and how fast it should proceed in expanding beyond its original mandate.
Meanwhile, Alteon has named Safety Training Systems of Tulsa, Okla., to produce full-sized door mock-ups for flight attendant training for the 787 program. Alteon has already ordered nine 787 training suites from Thales, including full-flight and flat-panel simulators and desktop simulation systems.
The commander of the 8th Air Force, Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, Jr., is planning to craft a strategy by February for the Air Force to organize its assets and--possibly--buy new systems for its burgeoning defensive and offensive cyberspace role. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne announced Nov. 2 that the 8th Air Force, which traditionally oversees the service's strategic bombers and intelligence aircraft, is assuming authority over cyberspace assets as well.
Four instructors are ready to begin training the first cadets in Alteon's Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) program, the controversial effort to use flight simulators to help speed the transition from a zero-time pilot candidate to a fully licensed first officer for commercial aircraft. The four pilots--Peter Shire, Paul Toomey, Peter Griffiths and James Perry--completed their own training as teachers for the MPL program at the Galvin Flying School at Boeing Field in Seattle. Alteon Training is a Boeing subsidiary.
The Air Force is looking to academe to help supply answers to challenges associated with its transformational efforts. It recently awarded an "indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity" contract to the University of Tennessee's College of Business Administration, with a particular interest in transformational leadership, process improvement and critical thinking skills. In one of the first projects funded under the $25-million award, a faculty member will be assigned to work with Air Force acquisition experts for a year to help them streamline their work.
Avionics engineers here are perfecting software that UPS will need to become the first U.S. airline to use ADS-B to streamline arrivals and surface operations at a hub airport.
Lockheed Martin has formed a team to bid on the FAA's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) program, an effort to deploy and network ground-based receivers in some regions of the U.S. initially, to be followed by a nationwide rollout. The Lockheed Martin team includes Sensis Corp. of Syracuse, N.Y., the supplier of ADS-B receivers for a demonstration program in Australia; and Honeywell Aerospace, the supplier of ADS-B avionics for that same program. Harris Corp., a major communications contractor to the FAA, is also on the team.
Space shuttle Discovery is ready to roll out to Launch Pad 39B this week for final preparation and payload loading for the STS-116 mission, set for launch to the International Space Station as early as Dec. 7. The flight's Spacehab cargo module and ISS P5 port spacer truss section will be transported to the pad separately this week and loaded in the Launch Complex 39B payload changeout room, and inserted into Discovery's bay by week's end.
Thomas Persson (see photo) has been named CEO of Envirotainer, Lagga Marma, Sweden. He was general manager of DPD Nordic for business-to-business parcel activities within the Swedish postal service.
Korean Air is planning new service next year to Houston and is eyeing flights to Miami in 2008, according to President Jong Hee Lee. He says the carrier hopes for strong traffic feed from Continental Airlines, a SkyTeam alliance partner. At the same time, Korean Air may pull out or scale back service at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines cut service radically at DFW in January 2005, which led to a drop in passenger feed to Korean's flight. The carrier serves 14 North American cities, more than any other Asian airline.
To submit Aerospace Calendar Listings, Call +1 (212) 904-2421 Fax +1 (212) 904-6068 e-mail: [email protected] Nov. 13-14--Halldale Media Group's European Airline Training Symposium and Exhibits. Maritim Pro Arte Hotel, Berlin. Call +1 (407) 942-0071, e-mail [email protected] or see www.halldale/com/eats
The French government has removed security clearances from employees at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, deeming the mostly Muslim workers security risks. The employees are challenging the claims made against them.
Comair is seeking bankruptcy court approval to impose pay cuts on its pilots, but will continue to negotiate with the Air Line Pilots Assn. unit toward achieving a consensual agreement. Under a previous management commitment, pilots are scheduled to receive a pay increase on Jan. 1 that would add $8 million to pilot costs. Comair says it is asking for $15.8 million in wage cuts. On Nov. 14, Comair and its Teamsters-represented flight attendants will learn results of a vote on a proposed contract that would reduce the contract cost by $7.9 million.
Alcatel Alenia Space has been selected to supply the X-band transponder, power-specific checkout equipment and mission hardware for Europe's Pathfinder probe. To be launched in 2009, the probe will serve as a precursor for the ESA/NASA Laser Interfero-metry Space Antenna. Prime contractor is EADS Astrium.
Ashley Moore has become manager of government and industry affairs for the Alexandria, Va.-based National Air Transportation Assn. She was an associate editor of Professional Pilot magazine.
John Carroll has become chairman of the SatCon Technology Corp. of Boston. He was an independent director, and succeeds David Eisenhaure, who will remain president/CEO and a director. Carroll also is chairman of the Newgrange Co.
Spirit, the Mars Exploration Rover designed to last only 90 sols--Martian days--has surpassed 1,000 sols in service. Each sol is about 40 min. longer than an Earth day, meaning Spirit has been functioning on Mars more than 1,026 Earth days. During this period, the plucky robot has transmitted more than 87,100 images to Earth. Opportunity, its sister rover that landed on the opposite side of the planet a little later in January 2004, has surpassed 980 sols and returned more than 79,000 images.
Russian state transport company Rossia and Pulkovo Airlines have completed their merger (AW&ST Aug. 8, 2005, p. 55). The combined, state-owned airline maintains the Rossia brand and designations, and absorbs Pulkovo Airlines. The latter's aircraft will be given the Rossia livery by the end of next year. State-owned Pulkovo was the second-largest Russian scheduled international airline after Aeroflot, with 2.8 million passengers carried in 2005.
A longer-range Milan anti-tank missile has begun its formal, system flight trial phase. MBDA completed the first test of the weapon last month at a government test facility in Bourges, France. The trial also involved the weapon's new Advanced Technologies firing post. The missile, which uses a wire-guidance system, hit a target at a range of 3 km. This was the first test involving all elements of the Milan-ER systems, which were previously tested separately. This trial phase should lead to user evaluations next year in France and Germany.
Telesat reported net earnings of $19.8 million for the third quarter, down 22% over a year earlier, chiefly because of one-time charges related to the retirement of Chief Executive Larry Boisvert. Revenues were down 1% to $113.5 million.
A Democratic House and a Republican Senate? That's a likely outcome of this week's national elections, and some financial analysts think it wouldn't be pretty for military contractors. JPMorgan analyst Joseph Nadol, 3rd, says a Democratic-controlled House "would likely mean more investigations of everything from Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib to specific contracts and contractors." And he notes that if the GOP holds the Senate, the likely Armed Services chairman is John McCain (R-Ariz.), whose oversight of Boeing contracts landed two company officials in jail.
Steven H. Flajser has become a principal at Washington Technologies Strategies. He was manager of government relations for Loral Space and Communi- cations.
