Patricia Arnold has been promoted to senior vice president from vice president-education and workforce development for the Colorado Springs-based Space Foundation. USAF Col. (ret.) Marty Hauser has been appointed vice president-Washington operations, research and analysis. He was assistant director of public affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Eutelsat engineers are attempting to sort out two problems that have hampered operations on two different spacecraft, in one case permanently. Hot Bird 3 suffered an anomaly Oct. 3 at the end of its eclipse period that caused "substantial damage" to a solar array and cut its overall power. Eutelsat and EADS Astrium, which built the spacecraft, are trying to figure out what happened, and the operator is going ahead with plans to shift the spacecraft to 10 from 13 deg. E. Long. (AW&ST Oct. 9, p. 22).
Following an initial order for 3-in.-dia. Pipe Weld Purge Systems for use in the Falkland Islands, the U.K. Defense Ministry (Battlefield Support) ordered similar equipment for use in Afghanistan. The current requirement is for the purging of 75-mm.-dia. pipework welds, such as found in aircraft and used for air ducting, fuel delivery and other services. Argweld Inflatable Pipe Purging systems have a range of 58-84-mm. dia. to prevent oxidation of the inside of the weld, eliminating one of the causes for porosity and weld fracture.
Letters 6-9 Who's Where 10-13 Industry Outlook 17 Airline Outlook 19 In Orbit 21 News Breaks 22-25 Washington Outlook 27 Inside Avionics 70 A European Perspective 71 Classified 78-79 Aerospace Calendar 80 Contact Us 81
Irish government transport executives will meet this week with EC officials in an attempt to block Ryanair's bid to acquire Aer Lingus (AW&ST Oct. 9, p. 46). The government argues that a Ryanair takeover would reduce consumer choices for travel between Ireland and the U.K. Ryanair, which is offering €1.48 billion ($1.85 billion), says it would continue to operate Aer Lingus separately, but at lower costs and fares. The government owns 25% of the flag carrier, whose management and unions oppose Ryanair's offer.
The U.S. Air Force has once again launched a program to transform the B-52 into a standoff electronic jamming aircraft. The Common Core Jammer (CCJ) project, which has now been briefed to the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. J. Michael Moseley, is redlined at $2 billion to keep it safe from requirements creep that drove up costs and doomed the recently canceled B-52 Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ) program.
The first of two work groups created to arrest the erosion of French market share in the international defense sector is to report its results by month's end, says Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie. The group, headed by defense armaments agency DGA, is studying measures such as improved product support and more flexible financing that could aid in contract negotiations. A second group, which is focusing on relaxing export rules, is to submit its findings early next month.
Navy officials say the Air Force is overselling its F-22 and neglecting electronic warfare support to ground troops. "The Air Force will sell its soul, your soul, my soul, to get F-22s," says a Navy official. "Publicly they will make claims of the F-22's ability to conduct a lot of the ancillary EW mission," such as signals- and communications-intelligence gathering and electronic attack.
PCB Piezotronics's model 426A11 is a 0.5-in. preamplifier that operates from ICP sensor power. It allows the user to select 0 or +20 dB. of gain and either a 20-Hz. (-3-dB.) high-pass filter or A-weighted filter output response instead of flat unfiltered response, via two switches, located on the external diameter. An overload detector senses both polarity overload signals in front of the filters. The A-weight filter attenuates signals less responsive to the human ear, normally below 1 kHz.
The air force has formally accepted into service an improved version of the Saturn AL-31 engine--the AL-31F-M1--for its Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighter aircraft. The upgrade offers an 8% increase in maximum power, and is expected to extend engine life.
ExtremeCCTV's Moondance Ballistic stainless steel machined metal ball PTZ dome features a machined metal ball design that is vandal- and hurricane-proof, according to the company. The dome was designed for extreme hostile environments and bullet-proof PTZ performance. Constructed of 316 stainless steel, Moondance incorporates a flat, wiper-equipped UL752 Level 1 ballistic window that optimizes optical performance and protects from gunfire attack. Support arms secure the metal ball head, allowing for a tough, versatile pan-tilt operation.
In early 2008, Delta Air Lines plans to introduce sleeper seats on Business-Elite class on international flights. The project is tied to the planned delivery of two new Boeing 777LRs. The seats unfold 180 deg. to a 6-ft., 3-in.-long bed. A pull-out meal table, foldout video monitor, footrest and stowage compartment are incorporated inside the privacy screen. The rest of the carrier's 777 fleet will get the seats beginning in Fall 2008. Delta will also offer the lie-flat option on its 767 aircraft. Aircraft modifications are expected to be complete by 2010.
Pierre Bosse has been appointed senior vice president of the Components and Logistics Services Div. of Air France Industries, Villeneuve-le-Roi, France. He succeeds Pierre Reville, who has left the company. Bosse was project leader of the company's narrow-body overhaul site at Toulouse. He will be succeeded by Patrice Mathonniere, who has been the division's general manager for product and assets.
Michael A. Taverna (Valencia, Spain and Usingen, Germany)
U.S. and European space planners are moving to more closely integrate oceanography and meteorological programs as Europe prepares to launch its first polar weather satellite.
Paul Bogosian, program executive officer for Army Aviation, says the service has nearly made good on its plan to fund a variety of aviation programs following the termination of the Comanche armed scout helicopter. The remaining step is picking a contractor for the Joint Cargo Aircraft, which is expected soon. However, the post-Comanche plan lacked a clear way ahead for science and technology (S&T) spending, which funds basic research for systems that may be fielded decades later.
Graham Beasley (see photo) has been appointed Boulder, Colo.-based director of business development for defense and intelligence for Analytical Graphics Inc. He held a similar position at Silicon Graphics Inc., Mountain View, Calif.
Bob Kramer has been named senior vice president-marketing and strategic development for Lockheed Martin subsidiary Savi Technology, Sunnyvale, Calif. He was director of military satellite communications programs.
Larry Dickenson (see photo) has been appointed vice president-sales of Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes. He succeeds Scott Carson, who is now president/CEO. Dickenson was head of Asia-Pacific sales. Larry Coughlin has become managing director of BCA's New Delhi-based India operations. He was a director of strategic projects. Mike Devers has been appointed vice president of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' India operations. He has been regional director for Asia and director of Asia market development.
An article inaccurately described the proposed Falcon 9 rocket that SpaceX is developing to launch its planned Dragon vehicle for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) effort (AW&ST Oct. 9, p. 66). The Falcon 9 first stage carries nine engines; its upper stage is a truncated version of the first stage, and both stages are planned to be reusable.
The crash of a Cirrus SR-20 into a New York high-rise residential condominium is raising doubts--yet again--about the security risks of general aviation.
Makino's online seminars for the remainder of 2006 will focus on cutting-edge machining techniques and processes such as machining compacted graphite iron, titanium, large molds and lean cellular automation. The free series employs the company's extensive experience to help shops of all types and sizes to compete in the global market-place. Previously aired seminars on topics ranging from automation to hard milling are available as archives.
Few developments reveal the depth of the crisis at Airbus and EADS more than the departure of Airbus CEO Christian Streiff after only three months on the job. Streiff's decision to throw in the towel so soon casts a harsh light on something European politicians would rather keep in the dark: Airbus is a business that governments in Paris and Berlin can't stop meddling with. When your cost-cutting moves affect one country more than another, you're in trouble all the way up to German and French cabinet levels.
Eugene Hoeven has been appointed Montreal-based director of International Civil Aviation Organization affairs for the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization.
