Tom Green has been named president of the Turbomachinery Products Div. of the Goodrich Corp., Chandler, Ariz. He has been vice president-operations for the Aircraft Wheels and Brakes Div.
Members of the U.S. military's electronic attack community worry about a new U.S. Air Force B-52 jammer program. Originally, the Air Force and Navy had split up development of the jamming capability by bands. USAF was interested in identifying and jamming the lower band threats to protect stealth aircraft from low-frequency radars, for example. The Navy worked higher bands, which include advanced air defenses, sophisticated communications and the complex modulations designed to evade detection and jamming.
Your concluding paragraph in "Victoria's Secret" (AW&ST Oct. 2, p. 24) puts the exclamation point on planetary missions to date. The view of Mars's Victoria crater is nothing short of breathless. To think we are actually "there" and can see such interesting detail. One can only hope Opportunity is able to investigate the interior . . . what a "final resting place."
The European Space Agency awarded Qinetiq's Optronics Center a €310,000 ($387,500) contract to expand on the two demonstrator systems to assess the potential of the technology for space missions. Scientists will develop the patented hollow waveguide optical integration technology for use in optical space instrumentation, with the aim of improving performance and reliability of the space sensors at a reduced cost. Optical integration technology could be used in a range of sensors for Earth observation, planetary exploration, atmospheric sensing and optical communications.
Ross Reynolds, who is vice president-air mobility programs for the Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., has won the Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management from the Reston, Va.-based American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was recognized for "leadership in instituting new and robust processes and management disciplines that have brought long-term stability to the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules airlifter program."
Honeywell Aerospace's synthetic vision system (SVS) for business jets is designed to help pilots with a 3D picture to compensate for their "real-world" view, which is often obscured by darkness or low visibility. During a flight in the company's Cessna Citation V, this Aviation Week & Space Technology pilot had an eye-opening view of the terrain ahead while using SVS. It was like flying "virtual VFR" even though the 3D views are meant to enhance situational awareness, rather than serving as primary navigation guidance.
Boeing is slimming down its unmanned rotorcraft development due to a dwindling customer base while Northrop Grumman, its chief competitor in that market, continues to test its Fire Scout unmanned rotorcraft for U.S. Army and Navy use. After more than a year of development on the A/MH-6 Unmanned Little Bird concept, Boeing says it is putting the project on the shelf. The Little Bird has demonstrated a configuration that can be used unmanned for more lethal missions and manned in a traditional role supporting special operations troops.
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.
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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.
